Trails and
Tribulations
CAT 25K July
15, 2017
I wanted to
be alone with my own thoughts while running the CAT 25 and except for the first
five minutes I was.
 |
| Glen Brake |
Two weeks had
passed since my friend Glen Brake died just after we had completed an eleven
and a half mile training run in hot and humid weather. There was no warning, no
complaints just the sound of a thud as the can of beer he just opened hit the
ground. It took just seconds for me to realize something serious had happened.
When you
think about dying immediately after finishing something you love there is a lot
of benefit. I have now lost two of my friends in this manner and while it may
be good way to go it is difficult for those left behind. Glen’s death was
especially difficult since it was so “up front and personal”. I feel deeply
sorry that Terri, Glen’s wife and family suffered such a quick and terrible
shock.
On Friday I
headed out for a short trail run, just a “stay loose” run for Saturday. It was
very odd that Molly (our dog) refused to follow along. It was warm and muggy
but this was unusual to say the least; most of the time she keeps eyes on me
when I change into my running clothes. Perhaps she knew I needed time to
myself.
As I started
down the trail a wave of emotion overcame me as I thought about my friends,
tears flowed down my cheeks and my legs moved like they had not in a very long
time. If the Strava app on my IPhone was correct I ran the fastest mile I have
run all year not even realizing it until I was finished.
The race
itself almost came off as planned but out of practice I failed to take
electrolytes until almost too late. The result was that after fourteen miles, a
kicked rock sent my right calf into cramps that I would deal with for the final
three.
I sat down
twice to try to work out the calf and both times a “voice” came to me after a
minute or so, “Get up Mike, walk it out”. I was hot, tired, dealing with the
discomfort of the calf and wondering why the hell I do such stupid stuff. As
difficult as it was I knew my friends, living and dead were helping to push me
to the finish. When I finished I may have solved my own question, perhaps I do
this because the physical challenges eases the mental ones.
As far as everything
else is concerned I am still on pain medication for the neuropathy. I can deal
with the discomfort during the day but without medication sleep is almost
impossible. I am going to schedule an appointment with a new Doc for pain
management so hopefully there may be some treatments or changes in medication
that will work better for me. After becoming allergic to Gabapentin then having
bad results with Lyrica / Cymbalta, Hydrocodone has been the answer. I have
very mixed feelings about using medication but without sleep there is not much quality
of life.
We are in “Birthday
Mode”, tomorrow my son Kevin turns twenty seven, earlier this month Patrick turned
twenty four and in May, Maggie twenty one. I feel so blessed to be here to be
here to see them grow into adulthood and share my days with my wonderful wife
Susan.
Stay strong
stay happy …. Mike
