Getting On-Task (Mile 8)

I've written several entries that are dedicated to teachers.  I believe that speaks to the influence of teachers in my life.

The past week has been very difficult for me.  I had an.. um, running related injury and ended up in severe pain 5 miles away from my car.  I spent the next six days doing the bare minimum of physical activity necessary and lost my drive to run.  When I thought of running, words such as "stressful" and "exhausting" instead of "peaceful" and "strengthening" came to mind.  I was most certainly off-task.

Mr. Lee was a very special teacher.  He taught American history and his pride was his Advanced Placement class that was offered to juniors.  He gave many students their first taste of what a college class is like with his quick pace, his lengthy assignments, and his great expectations.  He took joy when his students succeeded and responsibility when his students lagged behind.  He was well known for his personal catch phrases such as "off-task," "on-task," and, after reproving a student, "Still a good kid, though." He was successful in taking a student's energy and capabilities and funneling it into something positive.  He never let a student settle for less than his or her best.

Another thing I think about when I remember Mr. Lee is the fact that he would open up his classroom to students at lunch time.  Students of all social groups could come eat their lunch, play chess, and be mentored (whether they realized it or not).  His job as a teacher never ended when the bell rang.

Now that my week of being benched is over, it's time to get back on-task. Starting back up is very difficult, but I know Mr. Lee wouldn't accept anything but my very best.  I would have already told him it wasn't possible for me to run 13 miles and he would have already told me I just wasn't trying hard enough, however, he still thinks I'm a good kid.  Mile 8 will be for Mr. Lee.

Day by Day (Mile 7)

I've mentioned before that the proudest moments of my childhood were not related to athletics or even academics, but to the arts.  I was fortunate to have grown up in a town where every child had the opportunity to experience art first hand.  It wasn't until I went to college that I realized not every student has the chance to perform in a community play, submit visual art to be viewed by the community, or take place in a songwriter's convention.  I had these special and life-changing experiences because of the hard work and dedication of Janine Earney.

Ms. Janine was a role model to me before I was old enough to understand what a role model was.  I always admired the way that she found talent in everyone and beauty in everything.  She took the challenge of working in one of the most underprivileged regions in the state and showed students what it meant to love the arts.  She made young actors, artists, and musicians out of countless youth, many of whom are now slightly older actors, artists, and musicians.

Although my career choices have led me away from working full time in the arts, it is a personal goal of mine to be a lifelong patron of the arts in a way that would make Ms. Janine proud.  And for once I'm going to be proud of doing something athletic--but when I'm running mile 7 for Ms. Janine I know it will be more artful than athletic.

If you build it, he will come (Mile 6)

Everyone has something they want to do in their lifetime.  The question is: What are we waiting for?  This is the story of a man who was brave enough to say to death: "Hold on, I have a few things I'd like to do first."

Coach Williams (or just Coach as I call him) was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer while in his thirties.  He was given just months to live but was "coached" back to health by his wife, son, and many friends and family members.  After being told he would never see his 40th birthday, he lived to be 46 years old.

There was nothing more important to Coach than spending time with his family.  After meeting death and walking away, he decided to do the things that were important to him.  He traveled with his wife and son all over the country and even abroad.  He wanted to see all the major baseball stadiums in the country and travel to all 50 states.  He was an inspiration everywhere he went.  His story was simple: you never know when your life will end, so live and love to the fullest extent.  He inspired others to do the things they always wanted to do.  I haven't always wanted to run a half-marathon, but now I can't imagine making it to the end of my life without reaching this goal first.


Coach was a few states short of the 50 at the end of his life but I have heard his wife and son recently completed the journey to Alaska, the 50th state on the list.  I have found when someone dies and you continue to live in their legacy, it is as if they have not left us at all.  They are just living in a different medium. This is the core discovery of my half-marathon journey.

I was always secretly amused that I called him "Coach" because I've never really played a sport.  Now that I am an athlete, and the name is fitting.  Mile 6 will be for Coach.