« 28 Degrees | Main | This Taper Stuff Isn't So Bad »
November 3, 2007
Great Day Turned Sad
I've had quite a splendid day so far!
O went to the PA state cross country championships this morning and since we live about 3.5 hours away from the site of the meet, he was up and gone before I knew what happened. When he kissed me goodbye, I didn't bother to look at the clock but it was somewhere around 5 am.
I, on the otherhand, didn't get up until 7:15! I slept in knowing that the pool doesn't open until 8:15 and I certainly would not be getting my ride in before swimming. Much too chilly for that.
So I woke up, did some odds and ends and headed to the pool for a workout. It was a tough one - 100s on a tight interval - but I did just fine and felt good. 3000 yds in and back home I was - just in time to eat breakfast and watch the end of the men's Olympic marathon trials on the internet.
I was delighted to watch Ryan Hall win and Brian Sell (a fellow Pennsylvanian!) make the team. I had it timed just right to see the end of the coverage and watch the celebrations. Watching people finish like that and achieve their dreams is always so inspiring to me. Years and years and thousands of miles of hard work. Love it.
It was still only 31 degrees outside and I wanted it to be 40 or higher before I left for my ride so I did some more odds and ends, did my core exercises and watched IM Florida unfold on ironmanlive.com. The longer I'm in triathlon the more triathles I know and therefore the more interest I have in these races! Anyway, some of my friends and teammates are in the midst of amazing races and I know they will continue on for awesome finishes!
Around 11:30 I deemed it warm enough for my ride (41 degrees on the thermometer) so off I went. I rode my TT bike with race wheels to ensure that everything was working properly and shifting correctly. And WHOA BABY! After doing a lot of my outside riding on my road bike with crappy training wheels, riding the TT with race wheels is like another world! I felt like I was flying! The ride was great otherwise too (2 hours) - I felt good and despite being a little too cold for my liking, the weather was gorgeous - sunny and the biggest, brightest blue sky!
I got home around 1:45, changed and made myself some lunch and was sitting down to eat and ice my feet when I realized the tv coverage of the men's Olympic marathon trials was just about to start on NBC. Perfect!
Of course it was about this time when I realized what had happened earlier in the day as they started the coverage with the tragic news of Ryan Shay's death. How terribly devastating, to say the least.
I don't know Ryan, nor do I know his wife or his parents or any of his friends or family but still I feel a certain heartache for everyone involved. And my prayers are with them all. It's just so sad and of course I can't help but think how Ryan's death parallels my high school cross country coach's death that happened this very weekend one year ago. Both young runners, the picture of health, dying suddenly while out doing what they love, leaving behind young wives. It shouldn't take a tragedy like this to remind me that we just can't take anything for granted. But it does.
We are so lucky to have each day. To run. To swim. To bike. To do whatever we'd like to do. And we are so lucky to have the people we love. Thanks to Ryan and my coach I know that a little bit better now than I ever did before.
Posted by beth at November 3, 2007 4:49 PM