By Dr. Daniel Shaye, Chiropractic Physician
Warming up. Shuffle, then run... readying mind and body. Put on number, shoes... work the routine, get ready.
To the line, a white and deceptively quiet invitation painted on the grass. It will all begin here, in minutes. Striding out... feeling light and quick. But do I belong here? I've prepared... but THEY all look so quick, so at home here. Man kneeling on one knee, praying. It is time.
Runners take your marks... BAM! Fast! Obey the warnings, let them go. Field embracing us, now dipping down... and now, first uphill! Not so bad. FLYING down, hold form but let gravity do the work... more up... down, then STEEP up... getting the rhythm.
Girl chatting behind me. Am I really THAT slow?
First kilometer. OK, good work, but they're still pulling away. Hold on, keep the connection to the next runner... let him go and my day is over. I know that much.
2K. 3K. That girl is still chatting behind me, and I've finally realized she's the "sag wagon," riding a Gator just like the guy who's the lead vehicle. OK, I'm not a slug... yet there is so much Pain, and now I can hear the Doubt. Just do it, left, right, left... the body knows what to do. Listen to the rhythm, keep the intensity. Drop out, you say? Who is that? Ah, I know you-- you are Doubt, the cousin of Fear and Despair. No! Ignore the voice of Doubt... whether or not I remember why, and whether or not I can imagine a world in which He isn't so LOUD.
A little flat... that's even possible? A long down-- friend warns that a hill is coming. 4K, getting almost confused. Was that 3K, or 4K? What was the split? It doesn't matter-- work it...
Up. Up!! UP!!!! Working so hard, yet going SO slow... regroup. Lock on, now MOVE. Heard my name, that helped. 5K... only 3K to go, time to prove what I'm made of. Maybe no one else cares-- but I care, very much.
Small slip. Spikes were wise, or that could have been worse.
6K. I can hear the cheering-- the leaders nearing the finish. Irrelevant, I have work to do. Realization: This is really going to end, and I just need to keep on keeping on. Realization: the last kilometer was good, solid. The Despair is gone, the Doubt is gone. Just Pain left, and the faintest whisper of... no, not Joy, I must be remembering it wrong... just the realization of the remarkable reality of doing this thing, this day. Perhaps a sense that I belong here, now. Time to be tough, be here and now, overcome the hills, lock on to that guy in gold...
7K. Abandon all hope, all reason, and run. The body knows what to do. ½ mile to go now-- that's a hard lap around the Walsingham field, is all. I can do that, I absolutely know I can do that. Can actually feel the next runner-- he's human, after all. Over a shallow stream, no slowing, perfect strides, RUNNING FAST now... the finish, I can see it! Abandoning every restraint, maybe too soon but maybe not, running for pride and burning the memory into my soul with every stride... and it is over.
Breath returning. Happy, satisfied, complete.
It's good to be a runner.
I'll see you on the roads and trails, my friends.
-Dr. Daniel A. Shaye
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician
Fellow, International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Do you have a question you’d like answered? Mail your questions c/o Performance Chiropractic1307 Jamestown Road, Ste. 103, Williamsburg, VA 23185; e-mail pchiro@performancechiropractic.com; or visit http://www.performancechiropractic.com/
To the line, a white and deceptively quiet invitation painted on the grass. It will all begin here, in minutes. Striding out... feeling light and quick. But do I belong here? I've prepared... but THEY all look so quick, so at home here. Man kneeling on one knee, praying. It is time.
Runners take your marks... BAM! Fast! Obey the warnings, let them go. Field embracing us, now dipping down... and now, first uphill! Not so bad. FLYING down, hold form but let gravity do the work... more up... down, then STEEP up... getting the rhythm.
Girl chatting behind me. Am I really THAT slow?
First kilometer. OK, good work, but they're still pulling away. Hold on, keep the connection to the next runner... let him go and my day is over. I know that much.
2K. 3K. That girl is still chatting behind me, and I've finally realized she's the "sag wagon," riding a Gator just like the guy who's the lead vehicle. OK, I'm not a slug... yet there is so much Pain, and now I can hear the Doubt. Just do it, left, right, left... the body knows what to do. Listen to the rhythm, keep the intensity. Drop out, you say? Who is that? Ah, I know you-- you are Doubt, the cousin of Fear and Despair. No! Ignore the voice of Doubt... whether or not I remember why, and whether or not I can imagine a world in which He isn't so LOUD.
A little flat... that's even possible? A long down-- friend warns that a hill is coming. 4K, getting almost confused. Was that 3K, or 4K? What was the split? It doesn't matter-- work it...
Up. Up!! UP!!!! Working so hard, yet going SO slow... regroup. Lock on, now MOVE. Heard my name, that helped. 5K... only 3K to go, time to prove what I'm made of. Maybe no one else cares-- but I care, very much.
Small slip. Spikes were wise, or that could have been worse.
6K. I can hear the cheering-- the leaders nearing the finish. Irrelevant, I have work to do. Realization: This is really going to end, and I just need to keep on keeping on. Realization: the last kilometer was good, solid. The Despair is gone, the Doubt is gone. Just Pain left, and the faintest whisper of... no, not Joy, I must be remembering it wrong... just the realization of the remarkable reality of doing this thing, this day. Perhaps a sense that I belong here, now. Time to be tough, be here and now, overcome the hills, lock on to that guy in gold...
7K. Abandon all hope, all reason, and run. The body knows what to do. ½ mile to go now-- that's a hard lap around the Walsingham field, is all. I can do that, I absolutely know I can do that. Can actually feel the next runner-- he's human, after all. Over a shallow stream, no slowing, perfect strides, RUNNING FAST now... the finish, I can see it! Abandoning every restraint, maybe too soon but maybe not, running for pride and burning the memory into my soul with every stride... and it is over.
Breath returning. Happy, satisfied, complete.
It's good to be a runner.
I'll see you on the roads and trails, my friends.
-Dr. Daniel A. Shaye
Certified Chiropractic Sports Physician
Fellow, International Academy of Medical Acupuncture
Do you have a question you’d like answered? Mail your questions c/o Performance Chiropractic1307 Jamestown Road, Ste. 103, Williamsburg, VA 23185; e-mail pchiro@performancechiropractic.com; or visit http://www.performancechiropractic.com/
No comments:
Post a Comment