A Little Pain and Finally Some Gain

by Ethan Doherty

Tilting the camera a little sideways gives the illusion of a much steeper hill.

One of my favorite quotes is that for every piece of heaven there is a little hell to pay. This is very true in the world of running, or at least in my world of running. Right after my first race of the outdoor season I started having pain in my left foot and it got to the point that I couldn’t even run ten feet without a sharp pain shooting through my foot. I first tried taking a few days off to try to see if the pain would go away, which it didn’t – it was just as bad! After finally learning how to log my Plus3 activities I went to see Pieter Kroon and Dr. Spears over at SPI.  To no surprise at all, they were immediately able to help me figure out what had been going on and start fixing it. It was a good thing I went to see them when I did because without the physical therapy work it was not going to get any better. They told me if I was diligent about doing the exercises they gave me to do I would be back before the season was over.

So that’s exactly what I did!  I started doing everything that I could to be back running in full swing as soon as possible! I was back up and running in just over two weeks, which isn’t bad, considering most of which was just the time it took me to actually go to SPI. At that point I took the time to refocus on my goals for the rest of the season; I had lost some ground from the time I had taken off but it was nothing that I couldn’t work through to get back where I was.

After a few weeks steadily working back into workouts to make sure that my foot didn’t start hurting again I was finally able to start picking up the pace on intervals without having pain during the workout or after I was done running. My workouts had been going fairly well but I wasn’t feeling like I was getting back to where I was before my foot started to hurt.  Over the last two weeks, though, my workouts have seemed to change for the better.  In fact, I feel more fit than I was even before my foot started to hurt. I feel like I finally made some gains in my training and also being mentally prepared to race. I’m at the point now where I can not only run the times in workouts, but also, when it comes time to race, fight and push through something I would usually over think and let know me out of the race. In my recent workouts the pace hasn’t felt drastically easier as much as I’ve just learned to accept that the way you feel when running fast isn’t necessarily going to be smooth sailing. I feel like I’m going into my next race ready to run fast and not worry so much about how I feel, but rather how I run the race that I know I can.

My next race is going to be at the Music City Distance Festival in Nashville, TN on June 7^th.  Many of my teammates are going to be running as well and I’m looking forward to making the trip out there with everyone.  I’m hoping to see PR for me or at least a season best, but I’m also excited to just have a good time and cheer my teammates on. As I said earlier, sometimes there’s a little pain before you make any gain, because for every piece of heaven there’s a little hell to pay.

A Little Adi-Based Inspiration

by Michelle Finn

When it comes to the 2014 track season, there are two very different Michelle Finns. The Michelle that isn’t fully back from injury, who has funny biomechanics, who has no base mileage, who’s too short to steeple, and who has just, quite simply, missed too much time to be fit for track season. This Michelle is already full of excuses, stripped from the miles of a runner, feels naked on the track, has low expectations, and has accepted the fact that this track season is over before it even starts.

Then there’s the Michelle that decided to come hang out today. The one that knows how to hustle! This Michelle has a new appreciation for running. She loves everything and everyone. This Michelle has adopted the “Adi England-Sisson” approach!

 Adi attempting the spoon-nose trick.

 Meet Adi. Ruth and Steve’s stud muffin dog. Named after Adidas, Rogue Athletic Club’s sponsor, Adi is a perfect advertisement for the brand’s slogan. A true believer that “impossible is nothing”. Adi does what she wants, when she wants. She has her food and eats it (or everyone else’s!) She sings the alphabet song in any order, and her iPod listens to her. If you know Adi England-Sisson, you already know that she doesn’t throw up; she only throws down! Unfortunately though, Adi’s seemingly endless energy gets her in sticky situations that sometimes lead to broken doggy legs and sprained doggy tails.

Back in February after one of my long runs, – a whopping 25 minutes – I was sitting on the edge of the Zilker Park volleyball courts listening to Steve talking to Andrew “Benny” Benford, who was also just coming back from injury. Steve was talking about how Adi had spent probably 80% of the last few months inside, and a lot of that was inside a little cage in their sitting room, resting her poor broken paw. Adi had recently been given the go-ahead to get out and about, and so Ruth allowed her to come for a run with the other dogs – the usual 10 miler! After months of confinement and no exercise, Adi was free to run with her people again. She didn’t think about how much more training the other’s had than she did, about how unfit she was, or about how she might get dropped and left behind. Adi just ran with them. Panting, yes, but panting with her people – just where she left off.  That’s exactly what I’ve been doing for the last few weeks. Hustling and hanging on at the back of the pack, panting happily! The plan is to get back on the track fairly soon and mix it up in some real races. And this Adi-inspired Michelle can’t wait!

Oh and hey! Look who’s back in Austin for a little bit…and on two feet!

(Nicole)

Retirement at 24

by Nicole Bowler

On January third I was riding home on my lil’ scooter; it was Friday night, I had had a full day of practice, work, practice again and food with friends. I had a backpack full of groceries as I approached the intersection of Berkman and 51st.  The oncoming traffic was supposed to yield when they turned left, but unfortunately for me, that was not the case.

The following moments, days, and weeks, have been a struggle.  In the accident I detached 90% of my patellar tendon, shattered my hip socket, had multiple breaks to my femur, and suffered nerve damage throughout my foot and lower leg.

As I reflect upon the moments since my accident, it is difficult to wrap my mind around all of the physical, emotional, and professional ramifications of the evening of January third. Yet, what has grown stronger every day since the crash is my confidence in the amount of love and support people provide in the moments that matter most.  From Indonesia, to California, to Texas, the love that I have received has been the reason I have been able to heal.

It is that same support that calmed my nerves last week when I learned that on Monday,  February 10th I will be undergoing a third operation that will restructure my hip and decrease my chance of getting arthritis in my early 20’s.

It is with that same support that I know that now is the time to remove the adidas singlet and step off the track.

January third was my last run of 2014.

My accident destroyed the cartilage in my right hip.  Apparently cartilage doesn’t like the pounding of miles when it’s trying to grow.  2014 will be a year of sunbathing, bike rides, and swims at Barton Springs. It will be a year of coating scars with sunscreen and rocking them on a stand up paddle board.

2014 will be a year where I will be screaming from the sidelines of my hometown track at USA’s.  It will be a year where I push myself to be the best young professional I can be.

It is with the support of my family and friend that I know that I can refocus my passion and my drive. I will progress to create positive ripples of change wherever I find myself twelve weeks down the road when I am quite literally back on my feet.

The Happy Button

by Mia Behm

Seeing as I don’t really like writing about myself, I’ll tell you about my teammate Nicole. In case you hadn’t heard, Nicole Bowler is an incredible human being. She’s not just nice; she’s genuinely interested in talking to and hanging out with anyone. She’s always opening up her house for dinner and games, and she’s always willing to be your cross-training buddy, mainly because she somehow finds a way to be at Pure Austin Fitness 23 hours out of the day. Additionally, any time I’ve ever talked to Nicole it’s very obvious that she’s truly interested in what I have to say and honestly enjoys any and all conversation (she’s very good at talking).

Her welcoming nature aside, she also happens to be unbelievably positive and incredibly tough.  For those of you who don’t know, Nicole was recently in a moped accident that left her with a broken femur, patella, and hip. When Mark and I went to visit her in the hospital, I expected her to be somewhat down (rightfully so); however, the only negative thing she had to say about the accident was that despite her request in the ambulance, the paramedics still cut through her adidas puffy jacket RIP. I actually was so shocked and so inspired. She was in a hospital bed with what looked like a crowbar sticking through her leg used as some sort of splint, along with battered legs, and all she did was talk about how nice it was of the nurses to give her a “happy button” (drug control).

In all honesty I was nervous to go because I was scared to see the condition she was in, but as soon as we got there she was smiling and talking as if we were sitting in Rogue before practice was about to start. I left the hospital that day wishing I was just a little more like Nicole: very strong, very selfless, very positive. I really want to thank Nicole for being such a positive influence. I know her road to recovery will be tough, but there’s no way she won’t heal faster and happier than anyone has before. Maybe if you think you’re having a bad day, you can use Nicole’s admirable character as your own personal “happy button”. Good people deserve some props, and Nicole is definitely one of them.

Future’s so bright I gotta wear shades.

P.S. Nicole, I’m sorry the snowman I brought says Christmas 2013, it was just really cute so I got it anyway.