So Close

Last week I returned to the trapeze rig for the first time in over a year. It was a thrilling confirmation that I can still do activities I like to do, even with an infant. Thanks to my fabulous husband for being a highly participatory dad.

I opted to spend the lesson working on getting my swing going again. Head trapeze artist Russell suggested that I try a new trick– a full-time straight jump– that requires focusing on the timing of the swing. By the end of the lesson, things were clicking and Russell was able to catch me on my very first attempt.

Today I returned to the rig, sore hands and sore body. I continued to practice my swing, making a few technical, body-position changes, and it started to feel so much better. I moved on to the straight jump, and that trick started to feel much more natural. (Well, as natural as it can feel to hurtle yourself at another person while you’re both high above the earth.) I was ready to try the catch.

In two attempts, I was able to touch hands with the catcher Kenny. But I was not able to complete the catch. This is where I remind myself that it is the catcher’s responsibility to catch me. And, just like in life, you can put all kinds of preparation into a project, but ultimately we rarely have full control.

As much as I want to be caught every time, I’m choosing to focus on the improvements I made today. I’m also reveling in how good it feels to do something for myself, apart from my family commitments. And while I may be more sore than I wish I was post-lesson, taking time for myself to do something physically and mentally engaging reminds me that I can, in fact, continue to take on new challenges.

A Tribute to a Trailblazer

Yesterday’s running of the Boston Marathon was one for the record books. Kenyan Geoffrey Mutai set a new world record for the distance of 2:03:02. That’s so fast that I’m not sure I could keep up with him if I were only running the final 0.2 miles with him. American Ryan Hall finished in 2:04:58 , which is not only a fantastically respectable time but it gives the US hope for medalling in London in 2012.

The women’s race was also wonderfully exciting. American Desiree Devila got outkicked along Boylston Street to finish two seconds behind winner Caroline Kilel of Kenya. Also impressive was the race of American Kara Goucher, who finished fifth in 2:24:52. That’s an impressive finish as it is, but considering Goucher gave birth to her first child just six months ago, it’s a wee bit mindblowing.

I ran the London Marathon in April 2004, eight months after I gave birth to my first child. I still remember pumping and dumping in the staging area minutes before being called to the starting line. Training for the event around my baby’s nursing and sleeping needs required a level of planning in opposition to my usual freeform life. I felt it was important, though, to continue to do what I loved and run a quality marathon post-partum. Well my 3:44 was pure peanuts compared to Goucher’s result.

All of us women marathoners have one key person to thank for paving the way into the sport we love. Norweigan Grete Waitz won the New York City Marathon nine times during my youth. Whereas other girls had teenage movie starts adorning their bedrooms, I had a poster of Waitz breaking the finish tape in Central Park up on my bedroom wall. To me, she represented someone who followed her dreams and played with the boys in their game and on their terms.
I followed Waitz’s career as she garnered Olympic medals in both the marathon and the 1500 meters. (To be so skilled at those two diverse distances is unheard of in today’s specialized sporting world.) The only time I didn’t cheer wholeheartedly for her was when she ran against American Joan Benoit in the 1984 Olympic Marathon in Los Angeles. Grete’s PR in the marathon was 2:24:54, just two seconds off of what Goucher ran at Boston yesterday.

I woke up this morning to read that Grete Waitz died in her native Oslo early today. She was only 57. Cancer doesn’t care that you’re a trailblazer.

Thank you, Grete, for what you did to inspire me and countless other women. May you rest in peace.

My Future Milers

Yesterday The Monkey (age 4.5) and The Bear (age 7.5) toed the line in a quarter-mile race for the “Future Milers of America.” The kids race was part of the Manzano Mile track meet, where adults of all ages and abilities had the chance to race in one of running’s great events: the mile. The whole event was a class act, and it brought me back to my childhood, when going to races and meets with my family to watch my dad run was a weekly event.

The first great element of this event is that it was free. That’s right. Free! Not only was there no registration fee for the kids’ run, but each participant received a bright red technical fabric running shirt as well. Running is one of the few really accessible sports– no fancy footwear, equipment, or court/field is truly necessary to participate. But competing in races can be expensive. Kudos to 1379 Family Sports Shop for sponsoring the kids’ run so everyone could participate.

Packet pick-up, which can be a logistical headache, was handled really well. Not only was everything in order and ready to go, but I was helped by Leo Manzano himself. It’s not too often I get the experience of chatting with an Olympian, and Leo could not have been any nicer. He inquired about my kids’ ages and running experience. He asked if I was racing as well. When I said, “no”, he politely encouraged me to give it a try and started to effuse all of the wonderful benefits running can bring into one’s life. I stopped him to say that he was preaching to the choir, and that I wasn’t running because I have an eight-week old baby. He then gave me a pass and told me he’d be looking for me next year.

The track meet itself was so well organized that it ran perfectly on time while still having that fabulously chaotic vibe a track meet should. There were people milling about the infield, adult runners stretching, and lots of kids ready for their lap around the track. The kids were separated into heats by two-year age groups. The Monkey’s group (4-5 year olds) went first. Although he was in the back of the 40-kid pack at the first turn, he took his dad’s advice on the final straightaway to “turn his speeders on”, and he finished in the top five. The Bear’s heat (6-7 year olds) was next. This heat had about 30 kids, and the first three finishers were girls. The Bear ran a respectable, well-paced race and had fun counting his heart rate at the end.

There was such joy on the kids’ faces as they crossed the finish line. Manzano was there, giving out high fives. It was hard to tell who was having more fun.

My best wishes (and a decent donation) go to the Manzano Foundation, beneficiary of the event, which provides running shoes to disadvantaged kids in Texas. I know there are going to be a lot of happy kids around the Lone Star State….and who knows….maybe there’s another Olympian out there wanting to run.