TNF MA Half Marathon: 4th- 3 seconds
Chocorua 25K: 11th- Pump Failure- High blood glucose
TARCkey Trot: Passed at mile 9 while in lead- aid station
Trapp Mountain Marathon: Passed at mile 10 in lead: Wrong turn
Ragged 50K National Champs: 14th: No calories after mile 17, Pump failure
Sunapee Turkey Trot: 1st 6:17 pace- snow covered, "Real Feel" -15
You win some and you lose some- From a pure results perspective, it was not the season I hoped for. But its not just about results; as a matter of fact, it seldom is.
From a perforce perspective, diabetes won the battle this year. But I am determined to win the war...Ironically, in celebrating 20 years of diabetes, I had some redemption in winning a frigid Turkey Trot in Sunapee. Normally, I just don't have the speed to compete with fast road runners. But when its sub zero temperatures and the road still has a half inch of snow and ice, you need more than just speed to win the race, you need toughness, strength and Grit. In a way, my surprise win at the Sunapee Turkey Trot summed up my journey as an athlete with diabetes for these 20+ years!
One of the reasons I still compete at a high level after racing as a cyclist and runner for all these years is because of the challenge. The daily grind of training, nutrition and rest truly is a dynamic puzzle of hundreds of variables; Add in a chronic disease and it furthers the difficulty of the process. But isn't it just special when the stars align? Isn't the daily grind worth it, for those couple special days?? Physically, I performed my best in a few training runs and events that weren't technically races, but that doesn't make it any less special. My three best days as an athlete this year were:
1) Jeremy Arlo and Brando- 21+ m Cube and Smarts loop- man I could've run all day and Jeremy's company was just perfect for a tough training run!
2) an FKT for Chad Baker- Running alone for the first half and being joined by my buddy Danny, raising money for Mito disease and breaking a local mountain record made for a day to remember- but that was just the begginning! Ask me about the craziest weekend ever! #Subaru
3) Metallak Adventure race- Danny had a tough day and had to call it quits early, yet I was determined to beat last years time- Putting my head down on the toughest 4m run loop ever, and subsequent 5m final bike leg, I was able to beat our last years time by a few minutes...even though we technically got disqualified, it was quite the adventure indeed- Chad would have been proud...and Team AMP will be back with vengeance!
A well oiled human machine is a beautiful thing. Yet, it is really the friends and family that join, support, cheer and push us that make it all worth it. Running truly is a reflexion of life and the payoffs, though they may be infrequent and unsure, seem to come at just the right time.
Other non-results moments of Awesome Running included:
*Witnessing a friend crush his first 50K
*Sharing some runs with some hurting friends and maybe providing some relief or at least a healthy distraction
*Sharing miles with two good friends and finishing with one of them on a day where negativity could have ruined the race
*A Mountain lion sighting
*Competing with the USA's best on our HOME course
*Reaching over 30 races directed in my career
*Returning to my Home trails of New London
*Team AMPers had success in a multitude of ways, from Marriages, to new distances, to trips and everthing in between- Glad to support the adventure and the journey of you all!
I turn in my racer hat for a Race Directing hat this time of year- Excited for some old favorites next spring and maybe some new challenges too- I will update the blog with races and sponsors as they come together this winter- Thankful for the adventure, for the opportunity and to Explore Gods great earth under my own two feet- Thanks for the support Omer and Bobs sportshop, Inov-8 all terrain running, Untapped maple and Julbo USA-
#Explore4Chad #InspireActiveLiving
Remember kids, diabetes doesn't run you, You Run diabetes!
PS- its Joey time!
