“I hope when I get old I don't sit around thinking about it
Well time slips away and leaves you with nothing, mister
But boring stories of
Glory days, well they'll pass you by
Glory days, in the wink of a young girl's eye
Glory days, glory days”
Bruce Springsteen
Monday is Patriots Day in Massachusetts and that means an 11am Red Sox Baseball Game at Fenway and of course The Boston Marathon. It’s been 30 years now since I ran Boston, qualifying for it the old fashion way, by running another marathon fast enough to make the field.
These days I slog around running 10 minute miles, but back then in the Glory Days (for me) I could run 26 miles at a 7 minute per mile pace. Really. I swear :) I ran 15 marathons, and though never cracking 3 hours - I got close (3:04) -- thanks Jeff for helping push me to train and improve to qualify. I felt I earned my stripes and could call myself a marathoner.
It’s hard, isn’t it, to do something you’ve done all your life - no matter what it is - and see how time has slipped away, your ability to do things at the standards you’d achieved have eroded and you are left with shadows of what once was. There are advantages as we age. I’d like to think I’m wiser and better at knowing how to approach things and get the most out of what I can put into it.
Whether it’s a past career, achievements of physical skill or other past accomplishments it’s hard, at least for me, to transition into a new phase of life where today’s identity is who we are today and not reliant on people seeing us through those Glory Days of the past. There are opportunities to learn and try new things and forge new components of who we are, what we enjoy and how we spend our time. Enjoyment, after all, is one thing I strive for as retirement years fast approach.
So today I’m running from Surry to Walpole knowing that it’s going to be much more of a challenge than it would have been as short as 5 years ago and hoping my body cooperates and I come away in a good state with one more leg in the bank and looking forward to the next one. I plan on taking plenty of breaks and pictures along the way.
So here’s what I want to say to myself before heading out …. Enjoy the fact I can even run at all, appreciate you made it this far and more importantly … stop the whining about slowing down …. “Get over it Dave!”
Look forward and live today. Glory Days are good to look back on, but not where you want to dwell.
I’ll keep an eye on the Boston Marathon on Monday, see how perennial Boston Marathoner Mike Beeman makes out (I encourage you to read this article about his run across NH for Make-a-Wish in 1997 posted in 2010 …. https://sherpajohnhumanpotential.wordpress.com/2010/10/06/ranh-1997-mike-beeman/ - we have inspired each other), reflect on what it was like to be there myself …… and then move on!
Epilogue: I found today's Surry to Walpole run both satisfying and humbling. I got it done and didn’t give in - Apple watch logged over 106 flights of stairs and with over 1000 ft of elevation gain (and loss) this was nothing but hills. I kept at it and the humbling part was hearing a mile split of 14:30 at mile 2. I had been dreading this leg for months. I knew it was tough and am pleased that I saw it through.
One last thought - while running I thought of an answer Mike Beeman gives in the article linked above.
The question asked: How life changing of an experience was it in the end? (to run 240 miles over 8 days for the Make-A-Wish charity pushing his daughter across NH).
Mike’s answer: It made me appreciate life, and allowed me to reconsider why I run. It gave running more purpose and taught me not to give up when people think that your idea is ridiculous.
I would like to add on to the end two simple words: “including yourself”
I’m as inspired as ever to continue to pursue the ridiculous …. Till next time.
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