Post-Op

 

So far, so good. I am told that the surgery went well, and now comes the recovery. It's not easy getting around and being careful, but maybe I'll get used to it.

Last Run... (for a while)

I was thinking that yesterday's run would be my last before tomorrow's surgery. I met up with an old friend, Dave Gajewski, and we had a chance to catch up on a lot of things. Surprisingly, when I awoke this morning, I felt like I was ready to run again. Now, this would be my last run before submitting to the knife.

Besides the usual joy of running and getting outside to enjoy nature and getting myself into some kind of shape (better to say keeping myself from getting into worse shape), I had another incentive to get out today. The Moon was full, and it was a blood-orange supermoon, and it was about to be eclipsed by the Earth's shadow. I was aware that it may be obscured by clouds, and even if not, most of the eclipse wouldn't occur until after the Moon had set in these parts.

But it was worth a shot. I could indeed see the Moon, low in the Southwest, as I began my run at 5:00 AM. For the best viewing of the setting moon, I ran to the highest place with the best visibility I could think of: St. Ambrose Church and School. It's adjacent to Brunswick's two water towers, a clue as to its relative elevation. Clouds came and went at times, obscuring the view. But every time I thought it may be gone for good, it would reappear. Each time I saw it, it was more orange. And of course closer to the horizon.

It was pretty cool to watch it set. I couldn't really tell whether the eclipse was visible or not because of the dancing clouds. But it was cool, nonetheless.

After the show, it was back to running. I could just run the two miles back home, but instead, I explored some of the city streets to the East of the church. I'd been on some of those roads before, but not often and definitely not recently.

Eventually, I wound up on Hadcock, and then headed back to the West via Keller-Hanna. By the time I got home, it was time to get ready for my MRI. I was happy to get these slow and easy six and a half in. I hope I'll be able to run again, and the sooner the better.

I can't accept credit for this photo; I found it on the internet. But it IS the way the Moon looked today.

AT Surgery

A little over seven years ago, I began to experience pain in the back of my heel. Of course running seemed to be the cause, but walking and even driving also appear to be culprits. Since then, the pain has subsided at times, but a lot of driving, as well as intense or long runs often bring it back in full swing. It’s always there at some level.

It was diagnosed as Achilles Tendinitis. Over these years, I tried all kinds of non-invasive medical treatments, acupuncture, physical therapy, taping, and a variety of drugs and ointments (ibuprofen works best). Nothing seems to work completely. Even when I don’t run, I still experience pain from walking or driving. Of course, when I do run, the pain is that much worse, mostly afterward.

Being sick and tired of hobbling so much, I’ve decided to get surgery to try to fix the problem. It’s next week. I’m told to expect a recovery of about nine months. I hope that after that, I will be able to run again. Maybe even pain-free.

To my running friends, it’ll be like I am in quarantine again. I’ll miss you all.

Fragrant

Fragrant. That's the word to describe today's run. No, not me. I'm talking about the wildflowers along Lester Rail Trail, lending their scents to any runners who happen by.

~

As it happens, there are some runners on LRT today. They appear to be Harold Dravenstott, Andy Wolff, Michelle Wolff, and Dan Horvath. The sun comes and goes, as clouds move in and out. There's some misty rain, and then other bright times. Harold has to leave, and then later on the Wolffs do as well. Dan is all alone.

This is almost like old times, thinks Dan. He used to do extra miles - more than anyone else, and he's doing so now, he thinks. But then reality occurs. His Achilles tendon makes itself known with the beginnings of what Dan knows will lead to the usual big-time pain. And the other reality is that this run will only be, at most, twelve miles, as opposed to one of Dan's long runs of 18-20. He hasn't done anything like that in months and months. But he's reasonably happy with today's twelve. Even that is the most in several months. 

As he's finishing up. the pain is coming on strong. And it does indeed assert itself even more on the ride home.

Dan tries to think about the fragrant flowers instead.

Over it (the personal reasons)

In an earlier post, I expressed the practical reasons why I wouldn't take back the NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run (NC24) Race Director duties. I finished that post off by saying that "my life has changed, and I've moved on." I thought I'd talk a little bit more about that moving-on statement.

Northeast Ohio is home to a wonderful and accomplished ultrarunning community. Ultrarunners are great people, and they make loyal and lifelong friends. I mentioned Larry Orwin in that previous post. He's one of them. For a good decade or so, I was proud to consider myself a member of this group. 

Unfortunately, a couple years ago, I gradually found that I was no longer able to participate in many of the ultrarunning events due to physical problems and limitations. I won't go into all these, but suffice it to say that they're related to age and injuries. As a result, I've participated in fewer and fewer ultra runs, and I've slowly become out of touch with many (but not all) of my ultrarunning friends. I suppose this is just part of moving on and getting over things.

I am not even going into the toll RDing takes on loved ones. Or the considerations for travel and any other personal events.

It's hard to have a fire in the belly when you're in pain. And it's hard to remain in touch with some of the people who still have that fire. It's enough to get you over it. And to move on.

Over it (the practical reasons)

The NorthCoast 24-Hour Endurance Run (NC24) began in 2009. I was Race Director that year, and I continued to assume the RD duties each year through 2015. Being RD was a ton of work and worry, yet it was enormously fulfilling. This was mostly because we had a dedicated team of individuals, all committed to working together to make and keep NC24 the world-class event that it was. I absolutely loved these friends; they were like family. Here is a post about these wonderful people. 

It was with great gratification that I was able to witness the continuation of the race by Vertical Runner Race Management (now Mid Ohio Race Management). Something I started (and put my heart and soul into) had persevered; I couldn't have been happier. But NC24 did not take place in 2020 due to Covid-19. And now the question arises, what will happen in 2021? Mid Ohio Race Management has not said anything, and many wonder whether the event will take place at all again this year.

My friend Larry Orwin has been one of NC24's greatest promoters. He was part of that great race organization team and has also run the event (often quite well) many times. Because of the uncertainty about Mid Ohio Race Management (and probably without communicating with them), Larry asked me if I would consider taking back the NC24 RD duties. The question gave me pause.

As you may have noticed from what's been said so far, NC24 was a wonderful experience for me. What would happen if I tried to resurrect the race and my position as RD? Here's a shortlist of some of the many things that would need to happen.

1) The reincarnation of the event would need to be financially viable. This means getting substantial sponsorship funding because the race fees are not enough to absorb the costs.

2) The race organization team would need to be rebuilt. NC24 was a Medina County Road Runners (MCRR) club event until 2015. Mid Ohio Race Management made it a for-profit event thereafter. As RD, I was able to get MCRR members to volunteer. Organizers and volunteers would need to come from someplace for any future event.

3) The location would need to be secured. Although there have been challenges, Edgewater is an awesome place to hold a run such as this. NC24 wouldn't be the same anyplace else. Yet obtaining the permit (which was never easy) may no longer even be possible for a lot of reasons.

After thinking about it in these terms, not to mention all the additional considerations, I now realize that I can no longer realistically expect to direct NC24. It's sad but true. My life has changed, and I've moved on. My 'NC24 RD' era is over, and as much as I hate to say it, I'm over it.