Before the beginning...

One of the best compliments I ever got, was from a race announcer as I ran that last few yards of a super sprint Triathlon, the Duckathon in Lodi, WI a few years ago.  I was the final finisher, and as I sprinted toward the finish line he said the words that I had to memorialize on a photo from that day, "There is no quit in her"

I don't find myself to be particularly special and I certainly know a lot of runners who have overcome far more than I have.  But I still find it surprising, looking at the entire span of my life, that I ever became a runner/triathlete.  I came so close, so many times to "There is no Start in her"

I have been the final participant in more races than I can remember, and I've also been mid-pack...either is fine with me. Here's why.

Going back to the very beginning.  I was born with a turned in foot that required a cast to correct, and shallow hip sockets. When the pediatrician noted it my parents were sent to Iowa City to a specialist to have me treated.  I've looked at the history of this condition, and in cases like mine sometimes people chose not to treat...I will be eternally grateful that my parents did not choose that option.  The long-term outcome for many, historically, was sometimes debilitating osteoarthritis of the hips.

The treatment was awkward. Something called a "pillow splint"although I'm sure it had a more technical name. I remember many years later my Aunt saying to me at a family gathering that she could not believe how I had taken up running because in her mind I was still a little tiny one learning to crawl and walk with the splint.  The link  below is a video of me doing just that...so you can see what she meant.

 Suellen with the splint

Fast forward to college.  I was a theater major. Every year we did a children's production, and this particular year it was "A Carousel of Tales" which was a compilation of children's stories from around the world.  One of them included a dragon...which in our staging was made up of several people...I was one of them.  When the dragon was slain, we disconnected and did a safe theater-fall from a platform a few inches tall.  One night in rehearsal I executed my fall fine but didn't roll away fast enough to be missed by the person behind me.  My right knee was twisted, but I could walk and it was better in a few days, but from time to time over the years, my knee would swell up and ache.  Many years later, in my 30's, the flare ups became more frequent and I ended up having surgery.  Apparently I had injured some cartilage in my knee and there had been a build up of scar tissue.  Luckily I had a surgeon who believed in the minimal approach when the common treatment was much more invasive.  My knee was much better, and the flares became far less frequent and painful.  But the idea of running seemed ridiculous.

Then in my mid 40's the chronic low back pain I had had on and off for years got really bothersome and an MRI revealed some spinal stenosis.  My doctor told me that I would, "more than likely never walk more than half a mile without pain."  The PT in his office was more encouraging however. But no on there suspected I would ever do a marathon...which I did a few years later (see photo below).

I used all of these physical issues and more when Glenda and Melanie tried to convince me that I needed to come out and trying walking or running with them.  "But my back...my knees...I probably wasn't meant to...."

History is not destiny...and when I was ready I did start. And there is no quit in me. A few years back,  I even had a second surgery on my knee and did a super sprint triathlon just short of 8 weeks later!

Finding the why...looking back to the beginning

The photo above shows Glenda and I each after our own very difficult race.  But the truth is that there is some point in nearly every race, and a lot of runs when I ask myself that question.  And after 12 years of ups and downs as a runner, I find that once every couple of years I have a need to revisit my motivation, usually during times of stress when it becomes more difficult to find the time and motivation to continue...despite the fact that there is a lot to love about it.

So I am in a season of rekindling my motivation. One of the ways I do this is to revisit my running history and the reasons that I started and continued over the years. I'm sure there may be some more posts in the coming months, but here's a start.

I have run for a lot of reasons over the years.  And I posted earlier the role my daughter had in my starting.  But she was not the only factor. 

At the time I began the journey, I was a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Texas, having returned after my daughter's accident and a leave of absence.  I was working on my dissertation (lots of intellectual work every day, but very sedentary) and as you can see about 60 pounds heavier than now. Glenda and Melanie were both working out and racing some.  I designated myself the "cheerleader" and was smugly "the world's greatest indoorswoman" and "would run if chased."

But if you have ever worked in a field that was sedentary, yet required a lot of mental effort, then you might have had the experience I did.  That is, after several hours of concentration, my brain would hurt and my head would feel filled with mud. I had a long distant memory of a time in my life when I was quite depressed and had a similar "muddy-headed" feeling. Back then, I recalled, physical activity had helped.  So what the heck?  I sucked up my pride and told my family I was ready to try something....not running, of course. :)  So I joined Curves, the women's circuit gym and I began to walk on a half mile track near our house. And I began to actually enjoy it!

Fast forward a few months. I was still working on my dissertation and I was still walking and doing Curves.  Sometimes Glenda would walk with me. One afternoon in February or March (so almost exactly 12 years ago) we were walking and I blurted out (and to this day, I'm not sure where it came from) "Do you think I could walk a 5K?"

After Glenda picked herself up off the ground from the shock, she said told me that if I wanted to she would walk it with me. Later that day at home, Melanie said she would come out and cheer me.

Later that day I found the Runnin' of the Horns 5k on the University of Texas campus...April 1, 2006.  And that became the race to shoot for.  I increased my walks and set my goal (modest to be sure, but it seemed huge at the time) to walk this 5K in under an hour.

Race day came.  I was nervous.  It was hot in the way only Austin, TX can be in April....and I will admit that there were moments I didn't think I'd make it.  It helped that Melanie was cheering at a few points and that Glenda was there beside me.  But I finished in 57:55, so well within my goal.  I wasn't dead last....but only because Glenda purposely stepped back at the finish so that I would finish before her! 

When the race was over, we found Mel. We were all in high spirits...and I was tired and sweaty. Suddenly Glenda and Mel exchanged a look, and Glenda said "Oops! I think I forgot something."  And pulled this medal from her back pocket. If you can't read the inscription it says Suellen's First 5k 4/1/2006.

It did not prove to be my last (and I added in the run/walk shortly after).  Nor was this the last time that Glenda came up with just the right encouraging gesture at just the right moment.

Now,  twelve years later I have done over 200 races and relays...more than 100 of them 5ks.  I am much more fit than I was back then. And I am generally a little faster.

But far more important, I'm having fun! And Glenda is still right there with me...what better motivation could there be? Guess I'll keep going ...

The family that plays together

I am a great believer in play.  Far from being trivial or unimportant, I think it is vital...and that's how it became part of my academic interest and research. But beyond that it has always been part of my life.

Some of my earliest memories are of play and humor.  I can remember clearly singing in the car,  "Let's all sing like the birdies sing"  and then we would start "singing" like other animals until we came to the giraffe (which really doesn't 'talk' much)  Let's all sing like the gi-raffes sing...and then we would all stretch our necks and make funny faces until it devolved into laughter.  My dad was most often the instigator, and although he was known to most as an upstanding part of the business community, he was also an entertainer with a huge stock of corny jokes. As a kid I became his chief straight man and often encouraged him to tell his jokes,  much to my mother's chagrin. We often played word games in the car too...sometimes laughing until we cried.

As an adult, my play has tended to be more adventurous and athletic, but just as when I was a kid, I love sharing it with my family, whether it is my wife, my mother, my brother's family or my children and grandchildren.

One such adventure was a whitewater raft trip with my mother and my wife on the Colorado River.  My brother had implored me to be sure that mom held on tight...so of course we had to take this hands-in-the-air picture. (Don't worry, we held on in the rapids).

 Mostly these days it is running, duathlon and triathlon, which I share with my wife.  She is much faster than I am...but we make a weekly point of doing at least one workout together, either choosing something not speed related or having her slow to my speed.  Planks to the song "The Final Countdown" is one of our favorites.  It never fails to make us laugh.  Of course, we often sing ridiculous songs (workout and otherwise to each other and our pet rabbit).  Play and sense of humor had much to do with bringing us together...and helping to keep us strong together.

And running in costume adds another layer of play and fun to the mix.  She had to be convinced at first...but she had such fun the first few times that she now introduces costume ideas as often as I do...and has begun to learn some skills to help me make them.

As you know if you read this blog, my daughter was instrumental in starting us running.  My son has done some races too...but prefers his role-playing game weekends with his friends (which is fine...I'm glad he finds time to play). Recently my daughter-in-law has shown some interest  and we have introduced our granddaughters to both running and running in costume. My daughter-in-law, Aurora and oldest granddaughter Maeve are with us in the picture at the top of this blog.

 Here's another with Maeve at a Girls on the Run event  last November.

After 3 GotR events and a Disney 5k Maeve has become a more confident runner

Little sister (our younger granddaughter Ellowyn...known as Ellie) ran her first race dressed as Moana at Disney.  Look at that face...you can see that this is play!

Playing together, whether it is a word game, a costume run, a whitewater adventure, a trip to the playground, or playing a board game (or anything else) has helped to bring my family together and keep us closer.  I think the fact that one of our main activities is one that keeps us fit and healthy just adds to the enjoyment.  

So, if you are reading this, I encourage you to grab a friend or family member and play today!