40 years a runner. A race report

Triathlon Forum
1

This is a bit inspired by Slowman’s recent reunion piece.

Today marks my 40th year as a runner and I would like to give a little brief race report on how lucky we are to be involved in a sport that allows us to compete at all ages and abilities. It is hard to put into words what 40 years means but this sport has shown me what I could become and made me who I am.
Running has been with me at every possible turn in my life. It has allowed me to cope with life’s good times and bad times. It was there on a chilly February morning before I married my beautiful wife, It was there on a late June Morning the day after my father died. It was there for the 100 mile training weeks of my early to mid 20’s as I strived for that fast marathon and knowing that a sub 2:30 marathon was about all that I would ever reach and being estatic about that. It was there for the Boston’s, the PR’s and the rough races. It was there to allow me to meet friends who would become closer to me than family. It was there for the early morning runs, the interval workout in the San Francisco airport (pre 9/11) It also was there waiting for me to return from injuries and surgeries knowing that the journey and pursuit was for a lihetime. It allowed me to inspire and coach a talented cross country team that reached for their dream amd acheived. I ran fast times because I worked at it but all of that means nothing to anyone but me and knowing we all share and respect each other’s such accomplishments no matter how lofty or small It allows me to be just as happy with races now at paces slower than I ever trained at when I ran competitively. It has allowed me to find a sport like triathlon where not only has it allowed me to compete all over the country and meet friends both older and now younger where age is no barrier. It is still all about the process. The process is what drives all of us to continue . Why did I start I can’t really remember what possesed me to run. I was fascianted by the sensations that running longer. I am just so amazed at something as simple as the sport of running can give us all this joy.

2

You are a lucky man.

3

x2. Great post.

4

Thanks for expressing how many of us feel.

5

applause deserved for that one. Hits home for me. Particularly using running as a therapy to deal with loss. The loss of my dad was in many ways, the inspiration for my first Ironman. I thought about him a lot in those final miles with tears in my eyes.

In my case, first it was age-group swimming at age 6 which was part of my daily routine…and then later I started running at age 14. Now, over thirty years later, I’m still doing both and more memories, good and bad, have come as a result of being an athlete than i can possibly count.

It’s a thread that courses through my entire life and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

6

Scot
That was the best post I have ever read on slowtwitch. It’s been 35 years for me. I cherish every day. Times no longer mean anything, it’s way past that.
Thank you

7

There are a lot of things that running has allowed me to be able to do and people to meet. I was lucky to have lived in an area that now houses Runner’s World. I also was lucky to have had the honor to go for runs with Bill Rodgers, as well as do a 6 am run with Gordon Haller. There are so many moments that we all experience as a runner and now after 40 years it is about just being able to train and compete. I watched some friends of mine compete a few years ago in the US Master’s track cycling championships and these two guys were pro riders in their younger days and the joy they still have to compete allowed me to draw some conclusions about one’s evolution in a sport. You start a sport because it is fun, then you get good at the sport and acheive one’s goals. Then as we age you stay in it because of the reason we started in the first place because it is fun.

8

You start a sport because it is fun, then you get good at the sport and acheive one’s goals. Then as we age you stay in it because of the reason we started in the first place because it is fun.

well said!