The Highest Standard of Excellence

Meredith and support crew at entrance of Death Valley National Park

It is amazing the places running takes me. Right now, my “normal” schedule would place me in Europe racing for four weeks in the lead-up to what I had hoped would be Worlds this August. Due to the rupture in my posterior tibilias on my right foot and subsequent foot surgery to rebuild the tendon, I have found myself sidelined and seeking other interesting opportunities within the running field.

And so I find myself at the Badwater 135-mile Ultramarathon in Death Valley, California, this week—the hottest place on earth even above the Sahara Desert. This race is known widely as the “Toughest Footrace on the Planet” and is ranked #1 by National Geographic on their list of hardest events, so I jumped at the chance to take the final crew position for my good friend Meredith Dolhare.

I love to experience all aspects of running, and this is the complete opposite end of the spectrum from what I do: long, grueling, gritty, unpredictable mile-after-mile starting at night and most likely ending at night featuring some of the toughest athletes on the planet in extreme conditions. The last year Meredith was here (2013), temperatures topped out at 129 degrees with wind gusts at night up to 50mph.

Witnessing the preparations involved the past couple of days for both Meredith and the crew has been fascinating and reminds me of what it takes for visionaries like L.L. Bean and In the Arena to build products and programs to last within today’s culture. Just like an ultra-marathoner, both In the Arena and L.L. Bean take the long view and both are ready for anything thrown their way. In fact, both organizations relish helping people find the tools necessary to succeed. Preparedness is key.

That being said, I brought my Vintage L.L. Bean Puff Vest all the way to the “hottest place on the planet” this week because you never know what will happen. I will be ready when we climb from the lowest point in the continental United States in Badwater Basin to the highest point in the U.S.—the top of Mount Whitney. Why? I have L.L. Bean and In the Arena on my side. My puff vest is the only cool weather article of clothing I need for this trip and will keep me warm when Meredith reaches the top of Mt. Whitney as she finishes her race early this Thursday morning!

Meredith running the Badwater 135 in 2013 at mile 110.  She eventually climbed Mt. Whitney in the distance finishing 3rd in her inaugural run.

Embrace the Process for Progress

First Steps in in my Boot Cast using cart at Lowe's as a crutch.

“A person's ability to learn, and translate that learning into action rapidly, is the ultimate competitive advantage.”

 Jack Welch

I'll be the first to admit I have lived an incredibly blessed life; one with very little heartache, surrounded with inspiring and spiritual people. I am grateful to God for giving me gifts on many levels, and my parents for providing opportunities at every turn.

Dealing with an abrupt end to what had been a fairly good 2015 season due to a rupture in my posterior tibialis needing total reconstruction via surgery seemed like a death sentence to someone like me. I'm just being honest. I've never had a major injury requiring this kind of care, I have never been on crutches, never been in a cast and rarely taken unscheduled days off. Frankly, I have only done "performance enhancing pre-hab" in physical therapy, so this sudden change in my lifestyle left me feeling like someone stole my mojo. At first. 

As I adjust to changes out of my control on a daily basis, I begin to find myself grateful for this learning experience, and thankful my Mom instilled the mantra "attitude is everything" in my psyche. Every time I want to feel sorry for myself, I try to remember each phase of this recovery is part of my process goals for the Olympic Trials and subsequently, the dream outcome goal: Rio. 

“A good hockey player plays where the puck is. A great hockey player plays where the puck is going to be.”

 Wayne Gretzky

Sure, it would be easy to sit on my bottom right now dreaming of the 1500m Olympic Team for Rio 2016, but that is the problem with outcome goals, or even performance ones. I know what time I'll most likely have to run, and I'm certainly not there right now considering I just started walking again this week with a boot cast! Process goals, the small daily steps taken (pun intended) to reach outcome and performance markers, keep me focused on my minor successes along the way. With the extra time I have currently, I am able to really step outside myself and help the kids I coach achieve their goals, and gift my experience with causes like RunningWorks to get out of the house. 

Jared and Jacob Coccia leading the pack on their way to duel PR's in the 5k on the track.

The RunningWorks crew at the final meet of the Run For Your Life Summer Track Series.

This week, I got to lose the crutches. I'm walking better every day in my boot cast, but I had to use both crutches and the boot at first. Progress. In another ten days, I start physical therapy--this time with a vengeance and some serious time to make up. I'll be ready because I have learned to embrace this recovery period as a positive, and use it to hone my mind for the competitive year ahead.

PROGRESS