The "A" Word
When one runs long distances with a team there are many words uttered. The “S” word is said so many times it becomes common. The “P” word likewise. On a particularly difficult hill or running on snow or ice the “F” word is oft uttered. Well, I may have overstated that last one a bit, it actually doesn’t take snow, ice or a hill to illicit the “F” word. Running teams borrow from the Las Vegas motto with a slight modification: “What is said on the run---stays on the run.” My team seems more prone to using these words than some other teams, so much so that I actually named them the “SPF’rs?
There is one word however that all runners avoid. A word that if uttered strikes fear into the heart of a marathoner. It is a word that makes the heart sink. Not just for the runner who is unfortunate enough to say the word, but also to all those around him. Whether be they teammates or strangers the mere mention of the “A” word is enough to send a chill down the spine of any runner within earshot.
Saturday, during our scheduled 17 mile run around beautiful Forest Park and into Clayton I was force to utter the “a” word. Please note “a” not “A”, but more on that in a moment. At mile 9 my knee began to stiffen. At mile 10 we stopped for a quick hydration break so I did some stretches to loosen it up and started off again. At 11 we were stopped by a traffic light, another stretch then at 12 I heard that awful word “abandon”. Not “abandon” as in to run with abandon or to ‘give oneself over unrestrainedly’. No it was “abandon” as in ‘to cease intending or attempting to perform’. I began to limp back to the Visitors Center where my car was parked. I attempted several times to run again, choosing pain over the cold that was penetrating my body since I was no longer generating heat.
I actually swear very little (at least out loud) in my life but I must admit that I ran the full gamut during what I considered to be my two mile “march of shame”. The “S” word, the “P” word and the “F” word fluttered across my tongue at a pace much exceeding the pace of my progress. I hate to abandon a run, especially when I am coaching. I am supposed to be the strongest runner in the group. I am supposed to lead them through thick and thin, to pull them up hills, to set a steady pace, to give them strength and encouragement. How can I possibly do that when I abandon the run?
Also running through my mind was what impact this could have on the balance of my training. Would the past 12 weeks be for naught? Would I be able to lead my team during the marathon to help them reach their goals? What would this mean for my Boston attempt? Yes, I hate to abandon a run.
I am grateful however for several things. I am grateful that Kristen & Brandi have trained me well enough to have the sense to know that it is better to abandon a run than to cause serious or possibly permanent injury. To “Live to run another day.”
Also it was the lower case abandon rather than the upper case “Abandon”. I was fortunate that I was not forced to Abandon a race or a marathon and for that I am grateful. I DO have time to work on my IT band. That pesky tendon was pulling my knee out of alignment and time to resume my training. Whether that means that I will be able to run our scheduled 19 miles next Saturday I don’t know but I know I will be back out there as soon as it is advisable for me to do so.
But S#^@, it just P@%%*^ me off that I couldn’t finish that F#^!*%@ run.
Until next time,
Eric
aka RunGrampyRun
