November 29, 2007

Thursday, November 29, 2007
3.1 miles from school. 23:59. Brisk pace, but not hard. 3/2 and 2/2. New shoes last couple days (old ones have about 100 miles on them, so I’ve got two serviceable pair). Felt fine. Very nice day, about 40 degrees, light drizzle. Perfect day for shorts.
I am not by nature a patient person.
I like to think I have an iron will, and I probably do when it comes to doing things, but when it comes to refraining from doing things, I do not. I’ve always been very susceptible to temptation. I like doing new things and I’m not afraid of doing stupid stuff. I’ve suffered some stupid injuries as a result (broken neck, leg, wrist, foot run over by a car, yadda yadda yadda). All in all, though, I’m very fortunate to still be in one piece, and not even in chronic pain. I was very lucky with the neck. As a coach, I often tell my athletes that “it takes more discipline to run easy than to run hard.” My high school coach, Joe Bessel, whom I hold in the highest regard, used to check our training diaries every month. Most athletes would receive comments such as “try not to miss so many days.” Mine would have “try to take some easy days.” I remember one month (April 1975) when I managed to run 30 miles one Sunday (my normal long run was 12 miles, but a friend called 30 minutes after I had finished and asked if I wanted to watch the Earth Day Marathon – we had to run 6 miles to get there, about 6 spectating, and 6 back). When Coach Bessel returned my diary, he circled the number “30” three times in red and wrote “What the hell is this?” Coach Bessel was a total straight arrow. I don’t think I ever heard him swear.
When I was much younger, producing prodigious amounts of hgh and other restorative hormones, I was constantly running myself into overuse and acute injuries. Logic dictates that I'm much more susceptible to injuries now. This summer my legs felt injured from driving to Florida. Hell, a couple nights ago all I did was THINK of doing a track workout, and I swear to Einstein I could feel my soleus muscles tearing. That’s why I pay close attention to, and record in my training log, every little ache and twinge, in order to detect any impending injury before it manifests itself. I still hate taking days off, but I must be exceptionally patient, cautious and observant if I’m to avoid injury.
It’s funny, Coach Bessel and I used to butt heads sometimes, but he was a father figure to me, and I’ve become more and more like him as the years have piled on. I’m constantly hearing myself telling my athletes the same things he told me over 30 years ago. In truth, I’ve modeled much of my current life from his example. Thank you Coach Bessel. You’re the best.