J...o...h...n...’...s.....J...o...u...r...n...a...l
A R C H I V E S
Thanks
for
visiting.
1 7 . M a y .
2 0 0 2
"Too many people
simply give up too easily.
You have to keep the desire
to forge ahead."
MILTON BERLE
1908 - 2002
On Mother's Day we took Mombo to the brass band concert at
the bandstand in the courthouse park. It was nice— just like something
that would've happened 50 years ago... or, more likely, 150 years ago.
There are times when it's a true joy to live small-town life to the fullest.
It was a great day that started early. A few of us gathered to "share
silence" at the cabin studio of my friend Mack, a surgeon, artist,
sculptor, saxophonist, rock-fence builder, etc., etc. He's just one of
the superb people I've gotten to know since I've lived in Danville.
.
. .Now
that I'm thinking of my good friends, I should proceed to bring this journal
up to date concerning my landmark birthday run: Monday, 29 April 2002.
How do I begin to tell the story of that day? So full of great experiences
and memories of true friendship. More details in a moment... Let me first
say that I was successful in meeting my self-challenge. I ran to the 50k
mark (31 miles), and then I mostly walked to the end of my carefully planned
50-mile course. What a day to remember! 80.6 kilometers of forward momentum.
The fulfillment of months of training, and one more isolated validation
of Phil Maffetone's fitness method...
.
. .The
Saturday before, the 27th, Dana threw a birthday celebration for me, held
at the "Grayson's Tavern" of Constitution Square Historic Site in Danville.
Most of my fitness companions, plus Clan, and a few longtime friends were
there, and it was a success, too. Meg H, a major inspiration to me with
my collage work, was there with husband Bob H, who took the legendary
Grandybo "Bibs Portrait." Deb S and Bob B even drove down beyond
the "dark
and bloody river" during a storm, as did others, including Darby
H and Uncle Art. My mom was clearly happy to be with her brother, who
had just gotten through a life-threatening crisis caused by a serious
seizure. Heavy rain cut attendance at the afternoon "open house" exhibition
of my hand-crafted greeting
cards. By evening, conditions were dry and over 80 showed up for the
party. Dana outdid herself with the many preparations. Great food (we
used my "famous" salmon that was caught on 9-11-01), great music, great
conversation, and a great spirit of human warmth.
.
. .Personally,
it was a magical night for me, and I was totally numb to be the center
of attention. Everybody seemed to get a kick out of my cards. Two beers
all night, but I was happier than if I'd drunk a dozen. Blew out the candles
on the cake, took a goofy bow, and the whole sweet thing was over much
too fast. I was so overwhelmed by it all that I realized later I'd missed
a rare "Uncle Clarence Moment" to thank everyone for coming.
I'll have to trust they saw the appreciation in my eyes. There were many
who could not be there in person, but certainly in spirit.
.
. .After
a Sunday of good-byes to out-of-towners, exhibit documentation, and final
cleanup at the Tavern, I managed to drive my impending 50-mile course—
as the sun was trading places with a full moon —to distribute some
hidden water bottles and Gatorade. And then it was on to bed, but I didn't
sleep that well... too nervous about the day to come.
.
. .The
next day, my actual birthday, was a unique day in my life, is difficult
to explain, and, of course, there's probably no logical way to justify
what I did. I started out at 5:45 am and began to run my course (with
a cell phone to keep Dana aware, so she could communicate with friends).
Two running pals were there to start out with me. Jeff T the banker ran
the first two miles, but had to return to prepare for his work day. When
I got out to my sister Jeanne's house, Clansman Cliff had only one word
for me— "SURVIVE!" Joni M (track coach, lawyer's wife, and mother
of three running sons) headed back to town at that point, and I continued
out into the country, where I met up with Sarah H (CPA, doctor's wife,
and another mother of three running sons) and Ernst C-W (generous advisor
and proprietor of the local cycle shop). When we got to the Jackson farm,
I ran Mack's soggy cross-country trails and had a "pit stop" at the cabin...
changed into dry shoes and socks. The air was still raw enough that I
borrowed Ernst's gloves to continue on my way.
.
. .I
took a lunch-and-stretching break (at almost 20 miles) after I'd eventually
looped back to the Town House. I had some of Dana's therapeutic kudzu-ginger-plum
soup. It was nothing short of astounding when she brought in the mail
and I'd gotten a postcard from Japan, wishing me good luck and happy birthday!
It was from Yu Saito, my running companion throughout 2001, who had taken
his family home in early March. She said, "the cosmos is in alignment,"
and it gave me a great burst of optimistic enthusiasm. I just love these
synchronicities of life...
.
. .And
then I took off again, running north to the little town of Burgin, near
historic Shaker country. The weather was pleasantly cool now, so I was
comfortable in a short-sleeve shirt. The sky was gorgeous with puffy white
clouds, and the familiar cattle and horse farms were the emerald green
of Kentucky springtime. More friends came out to support me. Dick B (local
running guru and a "50 on 50th" veteran), ran most of our traditional
10k route with me and I finished my 50k with strength. After a short rest
I began again, with 50 total miles as my new goal. Milton S (Centre College
religion scholar and Zen practitioner) was there to walk 10 miles with
me. Jim L (wood artisan and retired insurance man) drove out to wish me
well, and Bill S (tireless volunteer and retired corporate engineer) appeared
on his bike to roll along with a birthday poem! It made all the difference
in my will to keep going, because my stomach was becoming upset. I mentally
clung to Cliff's quotation after the 40-mile point, where I made a "180"
and knew I had only the home stretch to downtown Danville and the finish
line. As one can perhaps tell, I'd been able to link most of my favorite
running venues into a day-long trek. The light at the end of the tunnel
was visible, but my "handlers" were now becoming vital to my effort.
.
. .Fortunately,
I had few complications. Thanks to some cautionary advice from my friend
Eddy M (a urologist and another "50 on 50th" veteran), I had my liquid
situation well planned. I didn't get dehydrated, but I could've managed
my fuel consumption better. Between 40 and 48 miles my legs held up well,
but my vitality was depleted, so I slowed to 3 miles per hour, feeling
chilled. I needed energy, but couldn't hold down anything sweet. I tried
to drink Gatorade and it came back up. I needed something gentle to my
stomach. After Milton left, Jeff and Joni returned to assist. My problem-solving
skills were squandered by then, so I needed their lucid thoughts to keep
me moving forward safely toward home. They called Dana and she drove out
with some whey protein powder mixed in rice milk— easy to digest
—and it boosted me enough that I was able to run the last mile. By
then I'd received my second birthday poem of the day (sung magnificently
to the tune "Dixie" by the one-and-only Lee S) and Bill G (photo
pro and financial advisor) had "taken the baton" to escort me in. Earlier
he'd shot some pictures with a telephoto lens, which I haven't seen yet.
I didn't last long on my feet after I reached home shortly after 9 pm.
A hot bath, a leg massage, and a collapse into bed followed soon after!
.
. .Looking
back with critical thinking, I should've gotten better prior rest, but,
more importantly, I should've had a more coherent plan for my ongoing
caloric intake and energy maintenance. Perhaps I should've trained more
with something in keeping with my usual whole-foods diet, maybe honey
or rice milk. I think I would've kept my momentum better and finished
in less time, but all-in-all I did well and had only that one period of
depletion. My muscles and joints held up fabulously. I just "ran out of
gas."
.
. .I
felt fine and recovered remarkably fast over the next couple of days,
with an occasional wave of fatigue. Only my feet were sore. I was active
on Tuesday and went to watch niece Rita and Godson Nic at a high school
track meet the following evening. Afterwards I accepted a hot tub invitation
with Dana for a soak and some cold refreshment. The day after that (May
1st), I took most of the cards that had been on display at the Tavern
and put together a new exhibit at the Boyle County Library, which will
be up until the end of this month, and then we had severe weather come
through Central KY. I am so thankful nothing like that happened on Monday
the 29th. I could not have asked for a nicer day to do what I did on my
birthday.
.
. .I'm
feeling great, contemplating a new goal— maybe a biathlon or autumn
marathon. It's time to increase my weekly cycling mileage. As of yesterday
I've lost 15 pounds since January (167 to 152). Clearly, I have transformed
my aerobic metabolism. Friday night I decided to test my condition by
running the local "Moonlight Mile." I wondered if I had any speed left
at all. It seemed like ages since I allowed myself to run hard. I thought
perhaps I could break 8 minutes, but I had a 6:53.2 (with a strong kick).
And then on Saturday morning I was able to do an uptempo 8-miler with
the 7-am running group (with miles tapering from 8:10 to 9:37). This is
very interesting. I feel a powerful need to test my fitness, but I don't
want to fall back into overtraining. Balance, as always, is the key.
.
. .And
now the others are calling me the newest "Running Saint." It is somewhat
silly, but it feels like an honor, too. As Dick told me, "John, it becomes
part of your personal character and integrity and no one can ever take
it away from you." I don't think I could have imagined this when I first
got my heart monitor a year ago. Much good change has happened, and there's
much to be learned and remembered, concerning the discipline of aerobic
and dietary preparation, but I think the real story of my birthday experience
is the team effort of good friends.
.
. .Building
physical stamina lays a foundation for inner focus, which leads to mental
toughness. From there, each individual athlete must find the hidden way
to "guts" or "grit" (or whatever one chooses to call it—
my Godfather always called it "the means"). It is a solitary
discovery that must be made before the day is ultimately won— in
my case, the 50-MILE-DAY —before those of us who reach for the ridiculous
can know the "majestic sense of victory." For in that moment
when one truly believes that an outrageous goal is possible, one gains
something permanent, regardless of the outcome.
.
. .
Maybe I should've stuck with the notion that there's no rational explanation
for having done this— an idea that I borrowed from Dick —but
this is my best attempt at describing the prize that can never be taken
away. Now that I've tried, I'm not sure it can be done without forsaking
a certain humility. Forgive me if I have.
.
. .
There are, without a doubt, many paths to that same Self-satisfaction.
May we all trust our Selves to find one. May we all learn that each is
merely one pale shade of Life's eternal victory over sin, disease and
death.
.
. .For
all the kind words of encouragement... for every "thumbs up"
or "high five" or simple smile of support... for each comrade
on the road, I am grateful.
.
. .Here's
to my loving mate. Here's to everyone who helped make it possible. Here's
to all of you. And to Yu... a heartfelt "Domo
arigato gozaimashita."
.
. .And,
finally, here's to the big FIVE-OH!
.
. .(
CUE TV THEME SONG FROM "THE SAINT" )
"You can do anything you
want!"
—LESLIE J
"Hooray!
Hooray!
For life he has a passion.
And so, from dreams
Reality he'll fashion."
—LEE S
"I,
too, am proud.
Very proud."
—DANA D
T O P
