Rick's Picnic

This was certainly a weekend to reflect upon.

Physically it was not my best: with a snowstorm coming in on Wednesday I did an aggressive hill run on Tuesday, just beating the living daylights out of myself. Wednesday was a “Cross Training” snow shovel day, ....... working hard enough to the point I'm breathing like anyone finishing a hundred meter dash. Thursday and Friday were short hiking days with a thirty pound pack. I assumed that the weekend would see a couple of really good runs.

Saturday yielded perfect weather and with the return of my friend Larry I ran seven miles “In Town”, my first “Off Trail” run since November. We enjoyed the run but my midsection complained moderately from the first to last step. It was not a result of our run, more likely it came from cutting firewood, snow shoveling or one of my hikes.

With the time change (Spring Forward) I looked out our bedroom window Sunday morning to see less sunshine then I would have expected at seven o'clock. Yikes, one hour ............. I need to meet the trail group at eight.

There have been many times in the past, when sleep, finally shook off led to the realization that I had minutes to dress prior to meeting running friends at Hamburg Road. I have been known to show up with different running shoes after utilizing a “Grab and Tie” shoe frenzy..........  Those days are gone ............... not complaining but now I like to have two hours to get ready.

An hour, not enough time .........these days ......... I showed up at Hamburg with my guts spinning but ever hopeful that the act of running would calm everything down. It didn't happen ...... I turned around with the six mile group instead of finishing the full eleven or twelve that I had hoped to run.

Returning home I felt bad but not as bad as I would feel an hour later..... and ..... I started feeling sorry for myself .......... this sucks!

At one o'clock members of the Frederick Steeplechasers would be heading to a small park directly across from Rick O’Donnell's home. Rick is a second “go around” cancer patient, a man who survived years longer than any doctor expected and if you have read my posts has served as an inspiration to me.

No longer able to walk, we wheeled Rick to the Pavilion where all our friends waited. The pain medication Rick is on makes him “Zone Out” yet often .... when you get his attention ...... there is a wry smile that lets you know he is there. I saw that smile quite a few times.

Feeling sorry for myself .............. I ought to be ashamed, but I won't beat myself up ........ for if I have learned anything ............ it's that being human is to lead an imperfect existence .......... problems of others may seem to dwarf ours yet our own issues push and compel us to relate the best we can.

Individuals like Rick and my Mother are those to be looked at as a guideline as to how handle adversity when life throws it your way.I hope I have learned something.

Two more weekends until Terrapin, this should be a hard training week.. I am looking forward to it. 

Mike