[tweetmeme source=”luau” only_single=false http://www.URL.com]
I have a friend. I have only met him in the real world once. He was a large part of why I was able to qualify for Boston back in October of last year – we carried each other for 15 miles. On that day he missed qualifying for Boston by seconds. As joyful as my day was, it was devastating to see him just miss his goal.
Instead of folding up his tent and going home, my friend doubled-down and trained even harder for his next marathon, which took place in May in Pittsburgh. His training was epic to say the least. To put it in perspective, I just passed 1200 running miles for 2011 last night. As of 9 days ago, my friend had logged nearly 1800 miles.
1800 miles!!!
He was a man possessed, and when he crossed the finish line in May, he WAS a Boston Qualifier.
I know the feeling – the joy, the wave of emotion, the satisfaction…the “what now?”
Huh?
That’s right. I recently read in his final post on dailymile that he was “taking a break” from the social network to find his passion for running again. Boy, do I know that feeling. I was fortunate enough to have the New York City Marathon line up just 5 weeks after my BQ and then Boston 2011 5 months after that to keep me focused on my training, but after Boston I simply lost “it”.
I was rudderless. I tried to re-focus my energy by signing up for another marathon, but in the end, I just didn’t have the same drive I had had when I was focused on qualifying for Boston.
Truth be told, I am still wandering, attempting to kick start myself again and again, but I do see signs of my focus coming back. It’s taken my 4 months, but it’s starting to come together again.
I hope my friend doesn’t stay away too long.
His departure will send ripples throughout the dailymile community and will be felt by all. He always had an inspirational word for his friends and his workouts were worth emulating.
***
I hope you find your passion again Brendan. You are an inspiration to many and proof that hard work pays off. You motivated people not by your words but by your actions. Enjoy your break – I hope to see you on the ‘mile in October when we both start training again for Boston 2012.
AMEN!!!! This post pretty much says it all buddy. Your so awesome and caring and inspiring. As is Brenda. As is everybody on Dailymile. I am so happy I got to meet you and spend time with you. Your amazing!!!
Keep running happy OK?
As is Brendan. Ooops sorry for the typo!
Lol!
Thanks Miss Sunshine! That is the plan!
Boy oh boy do I relate to this. Off to read Brendans post. Distance running is quite the beast!
Quite the beast indeed.
As you know all to well, there is ebb and flow to our lives. Just like our kiddos have there ups/downs/struggles, so do we. Taking a break to nurture oneself is a great thing to do, even better getting the opportunity to do so. WTG Brendan for doing just that. Your focus is “coming back”, heck I never really thought you lost it? Displaced a bit, sure. Struggled, yep. Focus, with 1200 miles under you belt, no way Jose! It’s been there all this time……
Thanks Sheila. I guess it’s all relative, right?
Brendan is da bomb…as are you! Ill keep an eye on him for you while he is mia from DM etc..;) hope your passion continues to come back!!
I appreciate you keeping an eye on him.
It’s funny how it suddenly hits. We know and appreciate the great feeling after a run. We know how to get through those days when it’s tough to get out the door. But sometimes, it gets too hard and the desire fades. We try all sorts of ways to re-ignite the flame but something seems to blow it out.
A break is so needed every now and then. It makes me wonder about people such as Dean Karnanzes and other who seem to run mile after mile, day after day without injury and without burn out. Are they super human or something? What do they have that the rest of us don’t? OR..am I missing something?
Good luck to Brendan. Hope he gets his mojo back.
It does make you wonder (people like Karnazes and the like).
I have another big race in October, but I am already worrying over the “what next”. Hate to see others lost because I certainly knows how it feels. Thank you for sharing your thoughts.
What was your solution for finding yourself?
I know exactly how both of you feel. I knew after Boston that I needed a break from training nonstop, and opted to skip the Fall marathon season. I’ve been running 20-25 miles per week at most through the summer, with the sole goal of enjoying my running and not worrying about meeting mileage goals. I think we can all do well to take some time and run just for the pure fun of it, and not make every run a step toward a lofty race goal. I must admit though, I’m starting to get the marathon itch again, and pretty sure I’ll be back at it next year.
Maybe that is the solution right there – a summer of fun running…sounds very appealing!
It’s great to have goals but it is also great to get out there and enjoy running just for the heck of it!!! Hope Brendan find his passion again and comes back strong! I don’t really know him but he sounds like a great guy! A nice person to have as a friend!! Glad to hear, you are starting to feel your passion come back, Luau! keep at it!!!
thanks Magda!
Well said, Luau.
The B-Man was one of my main men when I was getting up at 2:30am every morning to run at 3:30am when I decided to get off the couch and put the Cheetos and potato chips of life away in early-2010.
It was guys like Brendan, you, Greg S, Jen S, myself and others who set the tone for Daily Mile in the predawn hours and let people know that the community was alive and kicking when they woke up in the other time zones.
I’ll always appreciate Brendan’s friendship and support past, present, and of course, in the future, when he refills his well and returns to Daily Mile.
Always with thoughtful, genuine, heart-felt words my friend! YOU are the real deal. Here’s to Brendan refilling that well quickly.
Brendan is one of the kindest, most supportive and generous runner’s I’ve ever met (much like yourself), in fact, I think of the two of you as my pillars of support. He will be missed. I had the pleasure of running with him this past weekend at the Bradbury Mountain Breaker. He is such a great guy, se stayed with me the whole race. He helped me push the pace when I needed to and he stayed with me when I slowed down. He could’ve easily left me in the dust and run his own race, but he didn’t. He stuck with me out of loyalty, or maybe it was the excellent conversation, I don’t know (we literally talked the WHOLE race). We finished that race almost 30 minutes faster than I thought I would. It wouldn’t have been the same without him. Dailymile CERTAINLY won’t be the same…
I know I’ve been focused on training for the Vermont 50, but after Boston, I felt like I needed to find my passion for running again. I ditched the Garmin, ditched the weekly mileage goals and focused on time on my feet and have been COMPLETELY enjoying myself like never before. I started running trail and mountain races as my tune-up/build-up races and have TRULY found my passion again. Sometimes it just takes a change in attitude or scenery or both. I hope the both of you find YOUR passion again, and QUICKLY!!! I need you!
I’m telling ya, he is a great race partner. Sounds like a great race you two had. I’m getting there. At the very least, I am going to do my very best to at least pace you through your final 7 miles on the 29th.
You better! By that time you’ll basically be walking me in anyway. I may just need moral support to keep moving forward…
Been there and felt like that. Brendan is so supportive of everyone he interacts with and we will return the favor and support him however we can. Much love and respect Brendan