Week 15: Now It Gets Interesting

When I was on school sports teams, I was pretty durable physically, never missing a practice, let alone a game or a meet. I would get dinged; but, always onwards.

Now, I'm older and suddenly it is not always that easy. This week my somewhat nagging knee has been bothersome and worse.

Saturday morning I got up not knowing if I could go and if I did how far, how fast, and how well.

I really tried to motivate myself. I played the old "fight songs," was stretching, doing the mental exercises from the past, and began to feel the adrenaline. I decided to give it a go.

I got to the LA Roadrunners' training site and got ready. Group 7 launched fairly quickly. I had a plan of peeling off at the first water station by Casa del Mar Hotel if it was not going to work. The group started off to the north. I soon saw a friend from church walking his dog, someone I see most runs. I was surviving.

We headed onto the Santa Monica Pier, past the gaudy circus tent, and onto Ocean Avenue. Soon, we were at the Totem Pole and I was alright. I made water station #2 and continued up Adelaide and to the now famous San Vicente path. I was staying with the group and doing alright and made the end of the trail and the third water station before starting back towards Ocean Avenue.

I made it onto the southerly approach and felt a little soreness; but, nothing bad, even getting to the Pier. My Garmin 305 electronic conscience was also confirming progress.

Around 4 miles out from the target, I began to feel more soreness. I continued on though as we entered the Strand and the original water station. I was thinking about may be making it to the start point and cutting out for the day.

Still, I kept going and we past the origin and entered Venice. Here, it got challenging. I was starting to limp (or as another runner told me, I had an "asymmetric stride.") I was struggling. I was struggling physically to keep up and go and now a bit mentally.

We cleared the rows of condos in Venice and I was hobbling and dropped back in the group. It was gut check time. I was also fearful of serious injury.

I kept going, slower, but with the group. I was happy at water stations for the break and joyful at the final turnaround.

I was really struggling.

I remembered the old Servite ways and kept on. Somehow I was making it, even though it was step-by-step. I stayed with the group, even if at the end of the line. I was eagerly watching the display for the mileage to tick up .1.

Eventually, we were back on final approach at the Strand, somehow. I kept going and was happy to even make it. Some runners saw the displays hit 16.0 and stopped short. I kept going. Some stopped short by a few stores. I kept going. I made it to the flagpole ... I did it the Servite way ... run to the end. All those practices in rain, the Bowl, Hillcrest, Glover ... they came back when I needed them.

It was tough. It was my worst Roadrunner run. I struggled. I had to fight myself and my body. I made it though. Somehow. I made it!

There is sometimes a fine line between recklessness and courage, between timidity and precaution ... these are difficult boundaries.

I am concerned about my knee; but, I am also proud I lived up to the Servite Code and made it. I hope I can stay with Group 7; but, if I need to drop down, I at least have this gut check run. It was also my longest run ever!

Adelante.

16.32 miles!
11.53 pace
3:14.20