Vintage: I'm not dead

 

Monday, April 2, 2018 (Copied and edited from my previous blog in April 2021)

Last weekend was the Carmel half marathon. I suppose it was also the 5k, 8k, and full marathon as well, but I didn't run those, and their relevance is of slightly less importance in context.

This was one of my hardest half's to date, as well as being my 10th. (11 if one counts the debacle at Columbus a few years back, but hey...) It may have been hard due to lack of training, or that annoying voice in my head that said "you're gonna die." Not my voice, mind you, but my doctor's voice.

I do have a number of health issues, who doesn't, and a few months back, I finally got in to see a doctor. Last week, just days before the race, the doctor outright said "You shouldn't run, you'll have a heart attack and die." Though I guess to be fair, she also said that barring that, I would probably die of cirrhosis of the liver, because of reasons. (Fatty liver, not from drinking. Probably.)

Being the stubborn guy that I am, I arrived at the packet pick up, after driving two hours to Indiana, ready to drop to the 8k instead. Hey, I've done some 3 mile runs, 5 miles wouldn't be too bad. Then I saw it, mocking me.

An innocent shirt?

no...

It literally has my name on it. 

Now, being mocked by a shirt is bad, I guess, but they also told me it would cost ten bucks to downgrade to the 8k. Screw that, I was going to do the half, or die trying. (My deductible for the year is almost fulfilled.)

Now, there were logistical issues to consider with the hotel, which would have been alleviated by downgrading my race, but plan B was for my wife to go back after the race and check out, though that isn't ideal. After having a mishap finding the hotel (the GPS was more thinking Jeep than useful directions after about 275 roundabouts) we were surprised to find that our hotel was a partner hotel for the race, and offered a 2 pm checkout, much better than the 11 am we were expecting. It also gave us a shuttle ride to the start of the race.

Suddenly, almost everything was in place to run the half, except I forgot my hydration belt. By a twist of fate, another runner who we gave a ride to from Dayton gave us a hydration backpack as a thank you for the ride, and I was set to do the half.

In the morning, I got into my corral next to a guy named Greg. Greg had a shirt on that talked about various replacement parts he has received, and he was also a cancer survivor. We talked a bit before the race, and we were together the first few miles. I knew he was a back of packer, and I thought it would be a better idea to hang around him instead of push myself. He made a comment about two miles in about how I was jogging and he was walking, and we were at the same pace. Yes, I am that slow sometimes... He would eventually pass me, and I never caught up. (He finished 15 minutes ahead of me.) I didn't come in last though, by like a dozen people. (I've done worse... )  Still, with an official time of 3:54:55 it was my second worst half marathon. Maybe it would have been better had the first song on my playlist not have been "Climbing a Chair to Bed" by Dropkick Murphys.

You want something out of nothing, you want blood from a stone

To banish all your enemies and wish them safely home

Some would say insanity or crazy, better still

Cut off your nose to spite your face, for life you've lost all will

Now you've mingled with your demons and depression's your excuse

But your lack of conscious effort is a bourbon triple proof

You've expelled the for your lobby but they lurk behind the door

It's a noose of your own making and it's rotten to the core

Are you too afraid of living to make a man's mistakes?

Too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?

Too sad to see the truth never knowing what it takes?

Are you too afraid of dying 'cause you fear what lies in wait?

Seriously, when there is a voice in your head saying you might die, this is not the best song to play. Or maybe it's the best. I really don't know for sure. Either way, this race shows I should be ok for at least the 10k and 5k at the Flying Pig. A bit worried for the half, but still, I am feeling better. I might want to find a doctor that expects me to put up a fight instead of dropping dead though.