I was progressing nicely through my series of challenges, then fate struck.
Doing my last training run before the my Boston Qualifier race, I broke my ankle running down a hill in the trails behind my house.
It was a beautiful morning, 18 degrees C, sunny no humidity.
I decided to hit the trails for my last run thinking it would be better for my legs. As I was climbing up the last big hill on the trail, I was thinking how fit and fast I had become.
My sub 3:30hrs qualifier time was in the bag, I felt I could run a 3:15hrs but decided to just get the standard so I could experience the 2014 Boston Marathon as a running instead of a supporter.
Last year My wife crossed the finish line at 4:06 and the Bombs went off at 4:09.
I made a last minute decision to move from the finish line and go to the shoot where the runner finish. Maybe 400 meters from the finish line.
Hoping to capture my wife's elation on camera right after the race.
The experience changed us both for ever, now it seemed extremely import I get the qualifying standard and do the race next year with my wife as a runner.
I my local community of Stouffvillle Ontario Canada, 9 years ago I helped start a Triathlon Swim club at the local recreation center. Through the club, I met some very cool people over the years.
People come and go but it always amazes me how deep the friendship go when training and suffering with someone.
It was my great fortune at the age of 52 to meet a group of athletes in their 30's to train with. Now that I'm the old man, I wondered what impact they would have on my fitness. These boys, the Markham Boys, can run, but they take no prisoners, if you get dropped, they will meet you at the finish line.
When I was their age I could run their speeds but now that I'm old man I figured I could never get my running back anywhere close to where it was. I used to be able to run 3 hours for the marathon and my half marathon was 1:19.
I started showing up at the Tuesday 10 miler.
5 miles/8K out hard and 5miles back harder.
I could hang on for the 5miles on the way out but on the way back they would roast me.
Every week I tried to hold on longer and longer punishing myself.
I joined the group in January 2013 and religiously showed up week after week.
The weather every Tuesday was f-ing awful.
After 10 weeks of training with the Markham Boys I went from a 5:45 per K runner to a 4:45 per K runner.
They motivated me by their sheer determination and consistency. They were all multi-time Boston qualifiers and were trying to make sure we could share the 2014 Boston Marathon together.
They pushed me beyond where I though a 52 year old man could go.
Then on my last training run, I trip in my Hoka's, hear my ankel snap.
It was broken, 3K in the forest from my car.
The swelling was amazing and instant.
I stood up and touched the ankle, it was like jelly.
I proceeded to hobble out of the forest toward my car, alone no cell, I wanted my last run to be beautiful solitary trail run enjoying the moment with no electronics, just the trail and my breath.
My ankle worked in one direction, but no side to side, pain sometimes is like a 3rd party experience, somehow you can get through it.
At the 2K mark,back to my car, I crossed a stream, it was cold so I lied down in it to freeze my ankle.
Then picked myself up and hobbled out the last 2K.
My season is done, foot in a cast. I feel like I let my training buddies down.
At the Qualifier race I was supposed to run, everyone I trained with qualified for Boston, the mighty Rowe even won the race out right.
Looks like its back to being a supporter at the finish line in Boston 2014.
Safe Training
Doing my last training run before the my Boston Qualifier race, I broke my ankle running down a hill in the trails behind my house.
I decided to hit the trails for my last run thinking it would be better for my legs. As I was climbing up the last big hill on the trail, I was thinking how fit and fast I had become.
My sub 3:30hrs qualifier time was in the bag, I felt I could run a 3:15hrs but decided to just get the standard so I could experience the 2014 Boston Marathon as a running instead of a supporter.
Last year My wife crossed the finish line at 4:06 and the Bombs went off at 4:09.
I made a last minute decision to move from the finish line and go to the shoot where the runner finish. Maybe 400 meters from the finish line.
Hoping to capture my wife's elation on camera right after the race.
The experience changed us both for ever, now it seemed extremely import I get the qualifying standard and do the race next year with my wife as a runner.
I my local community of Stouffvillle Ontario Canada, 9 years ago I helped start a Triathlon Swim club at the local recreation center. Through the club, I met some very cool people over the years.
People come and go but it always amazes me how deep the friendship go when training and suffering with someone.
It was my great fortune at the age of 52 to meet a group of athletes in their 30's to train with. Now that I'm the old man, I wondered what impact they would have on my fitness. These boys, the Markham Boys, can run, but they take no prisoners, if you get dropped, they will meet you at the finish line.
When I was their age I could run their speeds but now that I'm old man I figured I could never get my running back anywhere close to where it was. I used to be able to run 3 hours for the marathon and my half marathon was 1:19.
I started showing up at the Tuesday 10 miler.
5 miles/8K out hard and 5miles back harder.
I could hang on for the 5miles on the way out but on the way back they would roast me.
Every week I tried to hold on longer and longer punishing myself.
I joined the group in January 2013 and religiously showed up week after week.
The weather every Tuesday was f-ing awful.
After 10 weeks of training with the Markham Boys I went from a 5:45 per K runner to a 4:45 per K runner.
They motivated me by their sheer determination and consistency. They were all multi-time Boston qualifiers and were trying to make sure we could share the 2014 Boston Marathon together.
They pushed me beyond where I though a 52 year old man could go.
Then on my last training run, I trip in my Hoka's, hear my ankel snap.
It was broken, 3K in the forest from my car.
The swelling was amazing and instant.
I stood up and touched the ankle, it was like jelly.
I proceeded to hobble out of the forest toward my car, alone no cell, I wanted my last run to be beautiful solitary trail run enjoying the moment with no electronics, just the trail and my breath.
My ankle worked in one direction, but no side to side, pain sometimes is like a 3rd party experience, somehow you can get through it.
At the 2K mark,back to my car, I crossed a stream, it was cold so I lied down in it to freeze my ankle.
Then picked myself up and hobbled out the last 2K.
My season is done, foot in a cast. I feel like I let my training buddies down.
At the Qualifier race I was supposed to run, everyone I trained with qualified for Boston, the mighty Rowe even won the race out right.
Looks like its back to being a supporter at the finish line in Boston 2014.
Safe Training
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