It’s finally time I can write a blog post; been one hell
of a year.
Perhaps I should have gotten a clue from one of my very
first races this year, “The Frozen Snot” I walked off a boulder falling
into rocks below looking at the back of a camera screen instead of the
trail ahead. The fall banged me up but no lasting damage was done. (I think)
One good race for an entire year, yes there were a couple of
first place finishes in my age group at some short trail races but those don’t
count. Terrapin Mountain is the only race I will feel good about when I think
about 2015.
Injuries and neuropathy have plagued me for the past six
months and my DNF (did not finish) at JFK 50 last weekend was just another
example of my frustration. To be honest I never expected I would make thirty eight miles but the thought had crossed my mind that if I did I would finish. Well I
made it but could not finish, pain, lack of adequate preparation and
time worked against me. All right, maybe next year.
Perhaps I am ready to write today because I ran a 5K Turkey
Trot with a woman friend whose is fighting stage 4 Breast Cancer, her second
time around. She is a remarkable woman, so full of fight and life even after
being dealt a bad hand twice now. Our conversations centered on what both of us
are going through, interrupted often by shouts from her students, former
students, family and friends. As we approached the finish line she saw a woman
who was struggling. Placing her hand on her back she said, “Come on, you’ve got
this! Finish Strong! ”, the stranger did, later coming up thanking Melinda, “I
just had my best 5K by 14 seconds, thank you”.
This is what it’s all about isn’t it, thanks? I’m not just
talking about the holiday we are currently enjoying (even though I will enjoy
all the fine eats coming up). No, I’m talking about thanks in general for those
things in life that cannot be bought, life, joy, family and friendship.
The death of my very close friend Larry Key back in August
left a sadness that I truly did not know how to deal with. For so long all I
could concentrate on was loss, loss of my not only my friend but the loss to
others, father, friend a compassionate human being. This past Tuesday I proposed a scholarship to
the Frederick Steeplechasers which will be awarded to a Senior high school male
and female track / cross country athlete who embodies the qualities that Larry possessed.
The idea was well received and in some small measure the loss I have been feeling
is offset with joy and excitement. I hope that when these awards are made in
the spring of 2016 I will be the one presenting the awardees.
As I get older Thanksgiving seems to have its mixed
blessings, we celebrate another year given; hopefully wrapped in a warm blanket
of friends and family. We also remember those who are ill or have died (I don’t
like the word passed, too nice, death I think is hard) and in some measures I
wonder about my final demise. All I really want at this point in my life is not
to die a pain in the ass to anyone.
To my friends and family, I love you all, Happy Thanksgiving
…………….. Mike 
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