Boston Bound: Determination of an Injured Barefoot Runner

"Focus, Glen. Focus!" I repeated in my head just as I started the beginning of my long run with about 500 others in my training group. My legs we're stiff and my body was cold. Somebody in my training group introduced himself as Tom and started conversation with me, "So how long did it take you to get used to barefoot running?..." Multitasking, like running and having a conversation have been especially difficult for me these days. Why? The Ol' Injury Fandango.

As a barefoot runner for almost two years, this is the first time an injury has significantly affected me. In normal circumstances, I would have resigned to cancelling my upcoming race, and run the race some other time. Not this time. I got into the Boston marathon by a mere 43 seconds, which was even in the 60 second grace window. There may not be another time. With this year's record close out after a mere 8 hours, the Boston Athletic Association has tightened qualifying times and the registration process starting next year. They also dropped this year's deferment option.

After dreaming of this moment since I was twelve, and celebrating the achievement of one of my last two lifetime achievement goals, I was not going to give in to quitting that easy. I even made it into the fastest wave start, with a red bib. How could I say no? I made the difficult decision of risking a long term injury for a lifetime dream.

The day was overcast as we powered along the coast highway in Carlsbad, California, watching perfectly formed swells crash against the shore, as groups of cyclists in vividly colored spandex sped past us. "Relax the legs Glen. Shorten your stride. Bend the knees. Breathe. Stay with me knee. Please don't give out on me." There we're at least 15 miles left to go.

Over the last few weeks I've worked with a physical therapist, a sports masseur, a personal trainer, a coach, an internist, an acupuncturist, and an orthopedist to help me through my injury. I started to feel like a celebrity pro athlete rushing through a speed healing regimen to make it to the playoffs. I still haven't gotten a good diagnosis. It's basically a combination of the mcl, meniscus, and sartorius, of the right knee.

Being a barefoot running advocate, I've been professing how barefoot running has rid me of my ankle problems, knee trouble, lower back pain, and other maladies, which it no doubt has. Now as I limp past my running buddies, to add insult to injury, I get the flip remark, "Put on some shoes". Little did they know that this injury did not have its roots from barefoot running.

About six weeks ago, I was waiting in a hospital waiting room waiting for the doctor to call us up for my husband's surgery. The doctor finally called us into surgery. Call it nerves or maybe just not being fully awakened at that time of the morning, I jumped up from the couch and immediately sprained my ankle. Being the brave supportive spouse, I pretended not to be injured, and spent the next few days taking care of my husband, our sick dog, and neglecting myself. That weekend I had to put in an 18 mile long run. I overcompensated for the sprained ankle and ended up causing a much worse problem for my right knee.

"Shoot, where is Rob?!" After several miles into our run, after being thoroughly tranced into my focus mantra, I realize Rob, my supportive running buddy/personal trainer, was nowhere to be seen. We have gotten separated in our long runs with the training group before, which wasn't as much an issue because of the group support and aid stations. Knowing that he would have wanted me to continue running and understanding it would have been risky to throw off my rhythm right now, I decided to keep running.

About three miles from our designated ending point, the group grew sparse and I ran a long section alone with my thoughts. I believe that everything happens for a reason. I already accomplished my goal of qualifying for Boston, so I thought running Boston would be a piece of cake, a mere casual victory lap. Nope. Too easy. My fate has already decided I was going to have to work hard to pass through the most prestigious finish line in marathon running. After going through the five stages of injury grief, hobbling around town, working with the health professionals, running in a pool, I was determined to do this.

My spirit greatly lifted and I smiled as I neared the designated finish point, where I spotted Rob. Apparently his IT band problem flared up and he got a ride back with one of the aide stations. I decided to keep running past the end point and reach the golden 20 mile minimum last long run rule, which would mean another 4 miles. I knew if I got up to 20, I should be able to finish Boston which was in two weeks.

Feeling no pain, I kicked up my focus mantra into high gear, this time with a big smile on my face. "You've got this Glen. Keep steady. Maintain your form." While everyone stopped running, I continued running, feeling joy and peace. A few days ago my husband said, "I feel bad. It's because of me that you got injured." I said, "No, this was supposed to happen. Otherwise this race wouldn't be a challenge for me." As the Barefoot Running Caveman, it seemed only fitting that I wore the bones extracted from his surgery around my neck for my caveman costume during the Boston marathon. How often do you hear about a barefoot caveman running the Boston marathon with his husband's bones around his neck?

Visualizing the Boston finish line and cheering crowds lining both sides of the street, I neared the end of my 20 mile run. It may have been a visualization, but the joy now was real. For better or for worse, in sickness and in health, I dedicate my Boston race to Mike, my wonderful husband of 20 years, who has lovingly put up with all my bs, gave me the wind to fly, the courage to climb the highest mountains, and the perseverance to reach the finish line barefooted and injured at the race of all races -- the Boston Marathon.

Comments

That's dedication! Good job and good luck!
 
Thanks dmcchesney and Abide! We're flying to Boston on Wednesday. I'm pretty excited about it. It's going to be an interesting race for me...
 
Thanks pbarker. Yeah, I'm going to be running it pretty easy, basically treating it like just another long run with my typical 8:30-8:40 pace. I definitely want to work the crowds with the costume.
 
I'm lazy about reading blog posts here, but when I saw you would be in Boston, I had to take a look. What a journey you've been on! I will be spectating Boston with my husband and his 91 year old grandmother. I will look out for you!
 
Awesome jschwab! It will be great seeing other brs folks there. Hopefully I'll be able to stick to my 8:30 pace. These are the times I expect to be at certain mile marks.
 
Assuming I get signal during the marathon and the battery doesn't die out on me, you can follow my race live on runkeeper at http://runkeeper.com/user/barefootglen/profile. Go to this link between 10:20am and 2:00pm Boston time on Monday April 18.
 
Goosebumps Caveman Glen - thanks for putting it out there for all of us to read. I'm rooting for you.
 
Boston Herald
Glen Raines, 44, of San Diego, Calif., might be a high-tech software engineer, but he ran the marathon “caveman” style. In a loincloth. No shoes. He calls himself the “barefoot running caveman.”
Raines says he’s been running barefoot for two years. At the finish line he posed for pictures and took compliments from female runners ... you know how the ladies like a caveman. This is Raines’ first Boston Marathon, caveman or otherwise.

“It was all great. I feel amazing. I just worked off the crowd. The energy of the crowd carried me all the way through ... That makes it so worthwhile. I’m surprised; I thought I was going to freeze,” Raines said. Hey, that’s the way to caveman up!

Congrats Caveman!
 
Hahaha :) Thanks pbarker for posting! Have you seen the finish line video interview:

http://www.boston.com/sports/marathon/blog/2011/04/the_boston_marathon_finishing.html

I'm still a little sore and fatiqued today, but also still on cloud 9... its like a dream
 

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