"See No EVIL""Hear No EVIL"
"Speak NO EVIL"
That was pretty much like what I felt or did when I went to go finally go see my orthopedic doc the other day. First it took a month just to get an appointment and I knew what was going to be the outcome.
First the "B" team comes in to see me, aka the physical therapist. Stretches and twist me to check out my flexibility. I tell them I'm an Ultra Runner, surprisingly she knows what that is.
Therapist: So you don't do marathons anymore?
Bubba: kinda of tired of them.
Therapist: So you have done Boston?
Bubba: No! I'm one of those slow runners!
Then the orthopedic Doc comes in:
Doc: So you've done IronMan?
Bubba: Yes..
Doc: Kona?
Bubba: No. Just the one in Wisconsin.
Doc: I did a 32 mile trail run and wanted to do Western States before I got injured.
Okay, why do people equate Marathon's with Boston, and IronMan with Kona, and Ultra's with Western States. Do you know how hard it is to get into any of these, let alone just being fast, you need some lottery luck just to get into Western States 100 miler (considered the Boston marathon of Ultra's).
For some reason I was a little irked by the whole dialogue. Maybe it is just me?
I'll spare you the details of what the evil words a doctor can tell a runner. But I'm running and racing anyway. My MRI test are scheduled for my ankle after my attempt of 100 miles at McNaughton. But the doc did spook me a little bit and I know I need to run cautiously until my final prognosis is determined.
So with a 5:15am start time on Saturday, me and two friends set out into the darkness for a little trail running. I did get them a little lost trying to find the single track trails but they seem to have a good time.
One person fell while running and I said "you've been baptized" to trail running. "As long as you get up", that is the most important thing, I told her while I helped her up.It was a good run, the evil words from the doc left from my thoughts and felt free again to live the life I want to lead.
"the most difficult thing is the decision to act, the rest is merely tenacity. The fears are paper tigers. You can do anything you decide to do. You can act to change and control your life; and the procedure, the process is its own record." ~ Amelia Earhart
So with that, 1st race in the "Illinois Ultra Grand Slam" race series is on Saturday, Clinton Lake Trail race. Thirty miles of trails and probably some mud, it will be a training run, cautiously I will run, but run I will.
posted by RunBubbaRun at 3:29 AM
14 Comments:
Love the quote! :)
That story reminds me of when I went to my first and only Masters swim class, and some older dude who thought he was all cool asked me if "I finished Ironman in over or under 10 hours." I was like, well, since freakin' KATJA SCHUMACHER WHO WON FINISHED IN 10:01, I came in a LITTLE under that."
Sheesh! :)
Recover well--I want to see you up at WIBA this year!
"Okay, why do people equate Marathon's with Boston, and IronMan with Kona, and Ultra's with Western States. "
Yeah I can see what you're saying. Like you're not good enough if you don't?!? What-eva LOL
Yeah I get tired of non-athletes asking if I have done Kona or Boston and then giving a kind of dismissive 'oh' when I tell them those are very difficult to get in.
Whatever evil the doc delivered be sure and take care!
I hear you loud and clear. People are always surprising me with how stupid they can be. I've begun to feign total ignorance. "Have you done Kona?" To which I reply, "Who the hell is that and what kind of person do you think I am?!?!" Or, "Boston has a marathon now? Huh." They leave me alone after that.
I can't stop laughing at xt4's response :)
You rock those trails Bubba. Maybe you should ask your doc what med school she went to and how she placed in the graduating class. Hmmm, just a thought :)
The journey is just beginning ....
I can understand a bit why non-athletes bring up those races. They're the popular ones and they're generally used as an ice breaker to engage in conversation. I lose interest in the converation during the follow up comments when I KNOW they don't know anything.
Now, if they're athletes in the respective sport and that's all they talk about like there's no other race worth talking about, then that would annoy me too.
aside from that....not sure if you've been to Clinton Lake at all to train, but the first 1/2 is a bit easier than the second. The hills are continuously up/down/up/down/up/down. Probably will affect your injury, so be careful.
brian
when i talk to those very unfamiliar to endurance, i just give a very fast description.. anything more than 20 seconds and you can see their eyes glaze over...
they just don't get it...
but, from those ranks, do come some people who are intrigued and before you know it, they get into the sport.
fyi. I have been in the kona lottery for about 10 years now. thats the only way i get in... period..
Hehe.
Reminds me of last year when I was training for my non-IM-branded IM-distance race.
My boss asked if it would qualify me for Kona. I responded "No", to which he responded "Then what's the point?"
So I asked him why he played college football if he had no chance of playing in in the Super Bowl.
He was quiet after that.
You hit a nerve with me since I've never been a big Boston fan, and I'm from Boston. I imagine it's the same for the Kona crowd. I hope the MRI results are favorable, but you'd best take the doctor's advice and take it easy on the trails.
There may be an innocent explanation - Kona and Boston just happen to be the ones people see on TV the most. There are probably lots of people who think those are the only races of their kind.
Nice job on the dark trail run!
Hey, no worries about the vote, man--I'm gonna see ya at WIBA regardless! :) Now recover well, and that's an order!
I agree, but like triguyjt said, after 20 seconds their eyes glaze over anyway.
I am so not ready for the Ice age... I think I am going to skip it!
Hopefully the race went well. Look forward to reading the report.
Following with interest your ankle updates. I've been having ankle issues the past 6 months. Assumed it was something like Arthritis, but maybe I should get it fully checked out.
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