Finding Motivation Unexpectedly

Motivation can come from unexpected places especially when we sometimes need it most. As I approached time to make plans for another trip to finally try to get the last 4 of 48 states raced it seemed that it was easier to find reasons that I couldn’t make it happen. I was still making piecemeal plans but struggled trying to put together a itinerary that I might actually be able to make work. The push I needed came from a quote by George Sheehan, the “Running Cardiologist” that was in a book I recently picked up at a used bookstore. The book was, Soul, Sweat & Survival on the Pacific Crest Trail, by Bob Holtel written in 1994. The quote is as follows:

“The weakest among us can become some kind of athlete, but only the strongest can survive as spectators. Only the hardiest can withstand the perils of inertia, inactivity and immobility…. From the moment you become a spectator, everything is downhill. It’s a life that ends before the cheering and the shouting die.”

That quote really hit me squarely between the eyes. I have been really struggling to see a way to 48 knowing that time is running out due to health issues. The longer I go without finishing the less my chances to finish become. And then as if I needed another push in the afterward Holtel said the following:

“In truth it doesn’t matter what the journey is—-. The point is to plan to do it and then do it. You will find it is well worth the effort making the leap between something envisioned and something done. Those timid souls, who never extend beyond their self-imprisoning comfort levels, will never know their own capacities”.

So this is how I’ve used this motivation to set plans in motion to finish!

The first step is the easiest. Pick a race to be #100 since 70. I looked at a 5k trail race near here but after watching the weather I decided I didn’t want to try to do a trail run in the rain or possibly snow. I decided I would plan to do the Oregon Track Club race #2 at Alton Baker Park, April 13th. I’m just planning to do the mile and Smitty is hoping to do it with me, his first race back since his heart attack.

Then later in April I’m hoping to do a road-trip to Salt Lake City to meet up with Joe who is planning to do the half marathon there. I’ll decide probably at the last minute whether to do the 5K or not, I’m leaning towards doing it. The next week I have to be home for appointments and treatment. The next part of the “plans” is to head to Missouri with a stopover in Colorado to do a “Reunion Run” withe the guys. Because it sells out I signed up for the 5k at Take Five in the Garden. Then my plan is to be at Stacie’s around the 9th of May. Once there I hope to firm up plans to race in the final four of the lower 48.

As of now my plan is to do the following races in those four states. It’ll obviously be two long trips during my stop in Missouri..

May 20th - Kennebunkport, Maine

May 21st - Barnard, Vermont

In these two and the final two I will have a treatment in St. Louis on June 6th.

June 10th - Warwick, Rhode Island

June 11th - Norwalk, Connecticut 

So that’s the plan (hope) now it’s one day at a time until I find out whether it happens or not. (Obviously it won’t just happen or not there will be a lot more planning and scheduling. Good thing I enjoy that). In addition there will hopefully see trips to see family and friends with St. Louis as a home base so to speak. And some chances to see the kids play hockey while I’m there.