Saturday, September 6, 2014

50 Shades of Green


I’m hunched over a fence post. A wave of nausea has enveloped me. I’m feeling light- headed and there is tingling all the way down my arms into my fingers.  Any moment I’ll be starting my run.


Why am I going to run if I feel this way? I’m competing in the Green Mountain Relay, a 200 mile team relay race in Vermont.  It is Sunday afternoon, day 2 for the race. I have already run 2 other legs since the race started early Saturday morning.  I am awaiting my teammate, who will be arriving any moment to hand off to me so I can run the final leg. This is a 5 ½ mile section of the course which begins with what appears to be the mother of all hills.


Between driving and running, my team is constantly on the go, leaving very few opportunities for sleep, or eating anything substantial. Whenever there is an opportunity to sleep I find myself unable to because I am so wired.  This hectic pace has taken its toll, resulting in my current state, which is why I am now hunched over in the exchange zone turning 50 shades of green due to nausea, dehydration, and low energy.   If on any other day I awoke feeling this way I would have definitely skipped my run.  I don’t have a choice today.


After much anticipation my teammate is spotted rounding the bend and approaching the exchange zone. I get into position for the handoff, having no idea what’s going to happen once I start running.


As I start my run I just focus on keeping my legs moving. With each turn I look ahead only to see the hill continue upward.  I seem to be running up a never ending hill with the needle on E and no relief from the nausea.  I continue on at whatever pace I can muster.


When I started my run my teammates drove ahead a couple of miles to cheer me on.  I am happy to see them and I get a temporary boost. They tell me I am looking strong. I think to myself, they are either lying or I should be nominated for an Oscar.


After taking turn after turn with no relief in sight a wonderful thing happens. I round a bend and there is what appears to be the top of the hill. This hill has been quite a tease, fooling me many times into thinking it was finally over, only to round the corner and see it continue. But alas, this is in fact the top of the hill, or should I say mountain.


 As I reach the top the road levels off before proceeding downhill. When this happens I feel a wave of energy slowly consume my body and my nausea dissipate.  I, figuratively speaking, do a 180. No longer am I slugging away as if running with cement shoes, now I feel like I have wings. I am setting a faster pace than I had done at any other time in the entire race.


 I spy a runner in the distance approximately ¾ of a mile ahead of me.  I am feeling stronger, can I catch him? I am sure going to try.  I keep my eyes focused on the unsuspecting victim ahead of me, little does he know I am about to strike.  With each foot fall I feel my feet getting lighter and lighter. Like one of those dreams where you are running but your feet never hit the ground.


I continue running, gaining momentum, and finally pass this runner I've had in my sights.  I keep running strong with my pace never wavering. As I approach the finish my entire team joins me and we run together all the way to the finish line. If I had quit while climbing the hills I never would have been able to experience this awesome feeling of exhilaration.


One of the things I like about running is that it is a metaphor for life. You get out of it what you put in.Something I have learned from these types of relay races is that no matter how run down, beat up, and weary I feel, I can rally and do what needs to be done. And when I do I always feel an intense sensation of strength and power unlike any I’ve felt before.


Oftentimes life beats us down, draining our enthusiasm, making it seem like whatever we are trying to accomplish just isn’t going to happen. So we are tempted to succumb to its pressures and give up the hunt.


But if we keep on keepin’ on we grow stronger and stronger, gaining momentum, making it harder and harder to be stopped. This positively affects every aspect of life because it ultimately gives you the feeling that you can handle any situation that comes your way.


One of my favorite motivational speeches comes to mind.  It’s a speech Rocky makes to his son in the film Rocky Balboa. Here is an excerpt;


Let me tell you something you already know. The world ain’t all sunshine and rainbows. It’s a very mean and nasty place and I don’t care how tough you are it will beat you to your knees and keep you there permanently if you let it. You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain’t about how hard you hit. It’s about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That’s how winning is done!




Additionally, in the metaphor department, the road to achieving anything worthwhile is an uphill climb.  Just as a hill often gets steeper towards the top, our obstacles become greater the closer we are to success. It’s as if the universe is saying; “Show me how bad you want this!”
  

However, only by persevering up the hills (taking on life’s obstacles) do we get to experience the rush of the downhills (the rousing sensation of success).  Experiencing the peaks and valleys of life is an essential part of the human experience. They are what make life a thrilling ride and a phenomenal adventure. Without the challenges the successes aren’t as numerous or as rewarding.