Yesterday I was reminded what true courage is.
John Godinet, a runner friend with ALS showed up at the Frederick Mission House ten mile run to participate in the one mile fun run. John, a veteran of many hundred mile and lesser distance ultra marathons today requires a crash helmet as his hands and arms are almost useless to him when he falls.
I was at the event to donate time and photography to the race. After the start of the main race there was plenty of time to watch the one mile fun run and to walk with John for the last quarter mile or so.
As we walked we had pleasant conversation, laughs and serious talk about his condition. Approaching the finish I heard a "thump" and turned to see John on the ground.
Looking at a dazed John, I was concerned until the words, "This helmet really works !", came from John's mouth. Not one to give up, he got up and finished.
My father is another one who fell but not at a race. Staying with my brother, Dad fell backwards breaking his pelvis and his back. We have no idea how long he might be in the hospital but almost for certain he will fight tooth and nail about going to a rehab facility or nursing home. Instead he will expect my brother to take care of him and this just may not be possible. I hope I am wrong but I have already experienced this first hand, it was not a good experience.
Last weekend I was at Terrapin Mountain, my favorite race of the entire year. Finally over my foot injury, with armed with some training, out of shape and over prime running weight my expectations were reasonably set. My race turned in to a run when the woman in front of me slipped on a patch of ice and went down hard. It was evident when she was pulled out of a tangle of underbrush that her ankle was broken. "Don't Look" was something I heard from one of the runners attending to her. I dialed 911 at 8:42 and stayed for twenty minutes or so leaving when I could no longer be of help. At four in the afternoon this woman was still on the mountain, on a stretcher being carried down the trail. It was said that she was in good spirits even though she must have been in terrible pain for hours.
We all fall at times in our lives, it is inevitable, I imagine the important part of falling is not the fall itself but afterwards, how you handle yourself and the ones around you after we stumble and fall.
Stay strong stay happy .... Mike
