Good Sports

by Budd Glassberg

Reprinted with permission from the Zionsville Times Sentinel on June 28, 2006

Getting by With a Little Help from My Friends

“They cannot make my legs put one foot in front of the other, they cannot feel the exhaustion and muscle pain and try as they might, they cannot alleviate the weariness of my effort.” – Budd Glassberg

If you are wrong, admit it. These words I’d been taught at an early age. Well, regarding the quote above which I made in last week’s column about family and friends helping me on my quest to finish 100 miles on foot in the 24-hour Relay for Life, I was wrong. It was simply ignorant folly on my part.

More than forty angels, too many to mention here (each of you know who you are) came to Lions Park last weekend to assist me in my goal. They, along with so many volunteers and teams at the event encouraging me throughout the day and night, did make my legs put one foot in front of the other. I could feel their empathy which made the exhaustion and muscle pain more tolerable. They did, in fact, make my weariness bearable.

Ultra distance running is considered a solitary sport. Those of us who participate in endurance sports know that we spend many hours in training and races alone with our thoughts. Last weekend was certainly different. From the first lap at 10:00 AM on Friday, through the last lap around 8:30 AM Saturday I traveled the entire 100 miles with friends and family. At times the entourage numbered eight roving the course with me. My helpers varied from runners I had recently coached in fourth grade to college juniors I had coached in high school to members of my daily running group to close friends who are not runners but walked the course. Jessica Sprenkel roved ten miles, six more than she had ever run at a time. Jeff Berger and Mark Englert roved in excess of 28 miles having never run more than 15 miles at a time prior to the Relay.

My family kept me on track (literally) by keeping track of my electrolyte and nutritional needs, headed up by my lovely wife, Maureen. Maureen, who, after me, had the least amount of sleep, was vigilant in assuring that my health was not at risk and was instrumental in my finishing the 100 miles without illness.

I know from my other ultra runs that I am not an especially gifted athlete. There are many runners ahead of me in these races. Because the ultra running community is full of 100 mile runners, finishing an ultra goes unnoticed by those around you. This is where running at the Relay for Life differed for me as a runner. I had alerted the other Relay team captains of my mission to complete 100 miles and throughout the day and night and day, there was a barrage of well wishes and encouragement coming from other walkers, volunteers and spectators. I felt like a celebrity. While I am used to being just one of the runners at an ultra event, in Zionsville they made me feel like I was someone special. I know that there are so many others who do it better at races, but the supporters here in my home town made me feel like a champion.

With this kind of support, I could not allow myself to fail in my goal. I followed my plan for the run up until 10:00 PM when I planned to switch from 3-2 minutes (run to walk ratio) to 2-2. I had hoped to have a two hour cushion at that point but it was only 45 minutes. I had eroded my cushion when I spent ten minutes in Eagle Creek cooling my legs at 4:00 PM during the hottest part of the day and another fifteen minutes (well spent) under the magic hands of Karen Shirley, Massage Therapist in the early evening hours. Having run 100 miles in April of 2005, I knew that in the wee hours of the morning, my pace would slow down and I would need the cushion. Worried about the small cushion of time, I continued 3-2 until 2:00 AM. Then I switched to 2-2 and maintained it through the rest of the 100 miles (I had planned to switch to 2-3 run to walk ration by 6:00 AM).

Despite tired legs and swelling feet, only once did I attempt to stray from my regimen. At 1:30 AM I asked my entourage (made up of four at the time) if I could skip a run segment. Three were ready to give it to me, but fellow coach Andy Sheff said “no, you may need it later.” It was what I needed to hear. After that, I never missed a call of the watch alarm to run.

Weariness and a slowed pace at daylight was offset by the realization that I not only was going to make my goal, but that I would make it with a lot of time to spare. Lap after lap, hour after hour, my confidence was building. My entourage had turned over so many times that I have lost track of who was there at what time, but I have not forgotten each person who selflessly gave their time to help me in my undertaking.

The final lap was a thrill as the loudspeaker encouraged all who were there to cheer me on. We ran the final lap without walking and high fived those in attendance. I will never forget that last one hundred meters. Six of us joined hands and finished together arms above our heads. Teammate Michelle Walters then finished out the final 1 ½ hours for our team.

This little self indulgent column is not meant to overshadow the real reason for the Relay for Life. The event organizers did a spectacular job in planning and arranging the event and moving it to Lions Park. To date more than $86,000 has been raised. Activities and fun were available to all ages throughout the day. Music kept us going through the night. Who could not be moved by the enormity of luminaria lining the course? The candles lit for those who had died from cancer and those still living with cancer remained glowing throughout the night, lighting our way. It was both beautiful and solemn at the same time.

This column is my thanks to everyone who donated money and/or time, worked, organized, planned, walked, run, in this years Relay for Life. I appreciate all of you. Maureen thinks I get off too easy thanking everyone in a column. As usual, she is right.

Budd Glassberg is a resident of Zionsville who is active in the local running community. Visit www.runz.com for reprints of all his columns. You can reach him by email at budd@runz.com.