Looking Back....Looking Ahead

In my last post, I was stuck on an airplane waiting to travel to O'Hare Airport so I could visit Jeff and Julie Gudeman.  My plane eventually took off about 2 hours late, and then I was delayed another hour waiting in line at the car rental agency.  I don't want to slam any agency, so I will leave it that you should BUDGET your time accordingly when planning to rent a car.  Not having enough workers to serve the clients is a shame - especially when I am travelling.

In any case, I made it out to Joliet, IL with a little over an hour to visit.  The Gudeman females (Julie and the 3 girls) were waiting for me on the front porch, soon to be joined by Jeff.  Eventually Nick and Jake worked their way outside too.  It was a nice visit, with a chance to catch up on happenings over the past few months, without really talking about the one thing that we constantly think about - Emmah.  She was the unspoken thought which I know I think about regularly, and I am sure they do too.  While the kids played great with one another on the front lawn, Jeff, Julie and I talked of their trip to Camp Sunshine a month earlier in Maine (a bereavement camp for families who lost a loved one), and of my recent Achillies Tendon injury.  I was quite touched when Julie provided me a prayer card from Emmah's visitation.  It contains a prayer that just seemed so fitting.

Unfortunately, the visit ended all too soon, as most visits do with out-of-state friends that you only see once in a while.  It is great that while years may go between visits, it seems like you can pick up right where you left off the last time.  I feel that way every time I connect with them, and I imagine we will always have that kind of relationship.  You have to cherish those close friendships....and I do with them.

My purpose for being in town was to host my company's annual Summer Intern Conference out in St. Charles, IL.  This is the 5th year we have gone out there each summer, and I have the wonderful opportunity to give a keynote presentation to the students each year.  This years presentation was entitled "Success is Easy....it's Failing that's Hard".   I share with the students that I have failed so many times throughout my life, that I am a success. In fact, everyone can be successful if you set the bar low enough.  But when the bar is set high, you are sure to fail a time or two, which motivates you to push even harder towards your goal.  I use personal examples to illustrates the key points

So what does this have to do with Emmah?  This year I revised my presentation to share my goal of running an ultra-marathon, and that one of my inspirations for doing so was to run in Emmah's honor.....now in her memory.  I'd like to think that I give a touching presentation, and I think I hit the mark with my six steps on how not to fail:

1.  Embrace Change
2.  Make a plan. Work the plan.
3.  Be vulnerable
4.  Believe in yourself
5.  Find an inspiration
6.  Know when to recalculate

Sometimes you just know when you do well and your message hits home. In this case, I had a number of interns come up to me afterwards to say they appreciated my words, and that they were near tears in learning about Emmah.  I don't know quite yet if I have the words to describe how that made me feel.  I continue to recognize that no matter how hard my journey to Colorado will be (and has been with a broken rib and sore achillies), it will be a cake-walk compared to what Emmah had to endure for 4 years.

This Friday, I made it out for my first run in two weeks since my achillies was hurt.  I was so nervous, and quite afraid to go out and test it.  I intentionally did not bring any workout clothes on my 5-day trip to Illinois, so I wouldn't be tempted to exercise, and simply allowed my injury to heal.  I had been reaching out to my ultra-marathon friend Lisa Stranc Bliss for advice on how to make it through this, and appreciate her encouragement and support.  Thankfully, I made a 4 mile run Friday pain free.  The true test came Saturday, on the same trail where I felt pain two weeks earlier.  Another success - 12 miles, no pain!   To help get back into the swing of things, I did another 10 miles today - again pain free.  I am concerned about doing too much, too fast....but also realize the clock is ticking.  Lynn and I are only 7 weeks away from our first run in the mountains.  I feel I am far behind where I should be at this time with my weekly mileage, but I have to play with the cards I have been dealt.  I'd prefer a full-house about now, but seem to be settling for about a pair of 2's and 3's.  Not a strong hand, but playable nonetheless.

It seems an Angel is watching over us at this point.  I only hope she will help guide us safely for the next 8 weeks, and can provide the strength to see us through this incredible journey.  A failure here would be awfully hard to take....and putting the bar lower than 113 miles at this point would be unacceptable.  No pressure, huh?

KEIYH