Always a Triton: My final year running for Iowa Central

Always a Triton

My final year as a Triton

A runner, a swimmer, a triathlete, a nerd, an engineer. These are only some of the many words I would use to describe me. I am constantly searching to find out who I am as a person. What is going to be my future, and what I will have to do to get there. The more I think about it, the more I realize I don't ever have to give up on anything of these things. They are just words used to describe someone, while on the inside is what really determines who you are. On the inside I am a competitive, passionate, and hardworking man, who is stubborn in his ways. Sometimes I win and even more of the time I lose. However, they aren't really losses, but rather lessons or humbling I needed to get where I want to in the future.

My past two years at Iowa Central I have matured a ton and have learned about myself. I have been on the edge of glory and the edge of quitting. I have had heartbreaks and successes. I have had setbacks and leaps forward. This year especially has taught me some of my limits and also shattered them at the same time. In this blog I will take you through my adventure and hopefully it can help you when you think all hope is lost or you need a quick boost.

Coming off the summer I was in the best shape of my life, and I was ready to kick some butt in my last year running as a Triton. It started out with me killing it. It seemed as if I couldn't miss a beat in workouts and races. I was indestructible or so I thought. For the weeks leading up to park to park Half-marathon my right foot had been hurting, but my whole serious running career I had had slight pains in it so I did the minimal treatment for it.

Finally, I run Park to Park and the race goes great. Blake and I work together for the first 8 miles and I begin to push the pace just ahead of him. Feeling good I pace myself to 1:10 a PR. Adrenaline lasts for a while after the race, then I head out for a cool down after chatting with a bunch of people. That is where it begins.

State Runner Up Medal for Park to Park

I have had some grueling cool downs, but this one was extra painful in my right foot in particular. I push through to grab a 2 mile cool down, and call it a day. I already make the choice that I will take the next day off and my foot should be good or so I thought.

That Monday however it wasn't quite 100%, and the story continued throughout the week. I would head to the grass as much as possible to lower the impact and I was in the trainer every day hoping it would just pass. I thought I had caught a break during our workout when we were doing 800s on the grass, but even then the pain was very intense. I began to have some doubts about the race in Luther that weekend, but ultimately decide to race since we don't get many 4 mile races.

The Luther All-American cross country meet started with not much pain during the warm up so I thought the problem was solved. We tow the line and are off, I settle in a slow pace to warm up body into it and more specially my foot. Picking up throughout the pace I fell as if every notch I turn up my speed the pain goes up by 2 notches. A few miles in the pain begins to really take a toll on me and my pace takes a hit. I finish the race way slower than I wanted to and struggle to walk afterwards. Dark thoughts begin to creep in my head, but I try to stay positive with my team during the cool down.

The next week brought its own set of problems however. Despite the treatment I had been doing on my foot it wasn't getting better. After a tempo that goes far from how I planned, and some council from coaches I pull the plug on the meet that weekend Woody Greeno to be ready for Chili Pepper Festival the following weekend.

So I rest up in hope that is all I need, but finally after a tempo on Tuesday I head to the doctor on Wednesday. My fears are a reality as they tell me I am done running for a while due to a rare Lis Franc fracture in my foot. This news devastates me as I really wanted to be an All-American and help our team to the national title. I tell the news to them to following day. For now it's time to hit the pool for some Aqua-jogging.

Showing up with the boot...

At first it was hard to really grasp that my season was most likely over, but I had to stay in shape because I still wanted to be a part of history at the national meet. So I hit the pool at least once, most of the time twice a day for hours at a time. While at times it hard to stay positive I remain focused by reminding myself of the fact that if I do get a chance to race again this season I want to be ready. At times I have people with me to keep me company, but most of the time it is a lonely road away from my teammates.

Two weeks after my diagnosis I have a check up so that they can tell me a better estimate of how long I would be out. Upon arrival I am nervous as can be because I want nothing more than to be healthy again. I go in their with my own prayers and those from the amazing people in my life. I get the x-ray done and wait from results for what seems like a lifetime. The doctor comes back in with a smile on her face, and in my head I'm thinking it will be a lot less than what they told me at first.

Finally, the results are in and they are WAY better than I ever thought would be possible. She tells me they she doesn't know how it is possible, but it had healed completely except a little scar tissue that needed to be healed. She told me I could run that very day, light and easy to start out with. It was a miracle and act of god. As I leave the office I can't help, but let some tears of joy out. I got my season back.

I break the good news to everyone I can and I set out to coach to determine what our plan would be for the season now. I start out slow with my first run being a 2 mile run that Blake so kindly ran the first mile slow with me. From their I gain some mileage and start the workouts up again in no time.

Finally, after a few weeks back we make the plan to do a shake out race in La Crosse, WI so that my first race back isn't Regionals where I had to earn my spot back on the top 7. In felt so great to finally be spiking up again and I cherished the moment with some strides the day before the meet. The race goes smooth and although I'm not 100% I race well without pushing too much to risk anything. A successful day that gives me the confidence that I can finish top 7 the following week to secure my spot.

First Race Back

Next up was regionals and I was ready to roll. I line up for my first "offical" race back and the gun goes off. I take off just behind the leaders as I believe I should be there because when I was in shape the pace would have been a good start to race. However, I'm not the me from the beginning of the season and after not too long I begin to fall off. I continue to feel it and before I knew it I was sitting in 8th place with less than a mile to go. Feysel had been having a great race and had a pretty large gap on me, but I wasn't done yet. I dig DEEP and find more gears as I close the gap with each step, but the finish line was coming just as fast. Finally, with only steps to go I catch him and barely pass him. Securing my spot and taking it from Feysel. He put up a great fight and had a tremendous season. It was just my day and I wasn't going to give it up. On to nationals.

Emotional finish for me at regionals with my mom

Nationals is in Lubbock, TX this year and this just happens to be an hour away from a school Blake and I had been looking to run at. So we schedule a visit and bring along Feysel, Dylan, and my dad for an adventure just days before the meet. The visit goes great and I am sold on the program and school. With a college choice most likely in hand it was time to focus on the race ahead of me.

The squad during our visit

The race starts out fast, but our plan for me is to take it easy and progress throughout the race and catch as many people as possible. The plan goes great, but I definatly wasn't in the shape to place where I wanted to. All-american escapes me, but another battle is won. My teammates up from had the battle of their life and as a team we take Iowa Central's first ever men's title for XC. With barely any points seperating the top three teams it had been a dog fight. That we didn't know the outcome of until they announced second, and third place and it wasn't us. The feeling was one that is hard to match and words can barely describe so this picture should help out a bit.

Only seconds after hearing the announcement

National XC Champions 2014

The season was over, but not my time at Iowa Central so I wanted to make the most of it. I put my nose to the grind with Blake the entire winter through the worst of weather. I don't feel any pain in my foot due to a strong steady climb to the best training season I have ever had in running. During this season before the indoor season began Travis, Feysel, Blake, and I take advantage of a meet at Central College to have some fun and race. I competed in the 5k, 60m dash, 1k, and finally the "J" squad 4x400.

Relay starting from right to left

Finally, around a month later indoor season begins. The season starts off with Blake and I going 1-2 in the 3k and continues to be great as I PR in the 5k, 3k, and Mile. Along with a win in the 2nd fastest time in Iowa Central history in the 2k Steeplechase The season ends just short of what I wanted to do at nationals, but was a great comeback.

SDSU home of my mile PR

Tyson Invitational, 3k and 5k PR

2k Steeplechase win

Trying to run away from the field in the mile (unsuccessfully)

Next up we have outdoor season where Blake and I again go 1-2 this time in a 10k at Grand View University. The season is about the same result as I run a great time in the 10k, and the steeplechase. I debut with a win in the steeple at Arkansas, and snag another win in regional steeplechase. A meet where I performed the triple of 10k, 5k, and Steeple. Scoring 19 point in the process for a team victory over Iowa Western. I qualify for nationals in the all three races, but focus in on the steeplechase. I race my heart out, but don't have it at the end.

Regardless I finished higher than the year before and overall had a great track season. Below are a bunch of pictures from the outdoor season for those that want to look. Thanks to those who have read this post and continue to support me in my endeavors. I have the best people in the world surrounding me and will always race my heart out for each and every one of you. On to summer training and triathlon season! Thanks again!!!