I’m reading a Michael Crichton book called “Travels”. I’ve been reading this book now for over a month now. Yes, I am a slow reader. More than a slow reader, I think that I suffer from spreading myself out too thin by trying to read several books at a time, dedicating only short bursts of time to each one. I guess this could be looked at as somewhat of a multitasking ability. I do this in so many areas of my life. I’ll take on several projects at once and slowly and surely push and pull each one making minute progress along the way. Doing things like this can be discouraging at times because I don’t see the progress quick enough but I still keep pushing. And, I almost always follow through until the goal is met, the task is completed. I think that may be one of my strengths. I don’t give up easily. I may take my time but I reach my goal. That’s what I do.
Getting back to the book…Patricia Perrone, a professor at Scad, gave me Travels. For whatever her reasoning she felt this book was one I should read and just gave it to me. Thank you, Pat! I am enjoying the book. I am certainly relating to some of Michael Crichton’s experiences and the way he approached certain things in his life. His experience of trekking up Kilimanjaro reminds me greatly of my experience climbing Long’s Peak in 2007 and running the Boulder 100 in 2008. I feel like my combined experience of climbing Long’s Peak and running the Boulder 100 was like Crichton’s Kili experience.
At mile 95 or 96
During the Boulder 100 when I reached the 63 mile mark I wanted to quit so badly. Every part of my body hurt. My brain screamed “Why are you doing this?”. My body and mind wanted to shut down. It was a “No Mas” moment. Thank God for people like April Mitchell and Cindy Randi the people that never ever quit. April called me and encouraged me to go on. It was April’s spirited voice that got me out of the aid station and back into the cold dark night with 37 more miles to cover. It was in that cold, dark Boulder night that I understood that there was no way that I could quit. I could never go home without achieving what I said that I would. April was right. Cindy Randi, God bless her, had two choices – to fight or to quit -to quit for her, though, was to die. Cindy had fought cancer for the third time. Just thinking that about Cindy made me go through to the end.
Going after Long’s Peak was pretty grueling at times but what was the worse thing of all was the night that I spent at the boulder fields. That night I could hardly sleep because my head hurt so much. And, there was nothing I could do to get rid of that headache. At 5 am we began our ascent to the top of Long’s Peak (14,255 feet). By the time I reached the keyhole I did not have a headache. I teamed up with two locals and we quickly worked our way to the top. I was the sixth person on the summit that day. I was glad that we sped our up because coming back down we saw a long stream of people working their way up bottle-necking along the way.
On Long's Peak
Why am I bringing this stuff up? If you have read what I’ve pointed out on page 164 of “Travels” you’ll know that Crichton’s girlfriend says to him “Let’s go back. We’ll tell everyone we climbed it. Who will know? It won’t matter. Nobody will ever know.” Crichton says, “All I can think is: I’ll know.”
He goes on to talk about not believing in quitting and how quitting can become contagious in every area of your life – and, I agree! But, what hits me the most about what Crichton said at that moment is, “What I believe is, I’ll know. I feel trapped by an inner honesty I didn’t know I had”. That gripped me so much.
You know, when you are in the darkest moment and, to get to the end, -to complete your task seems so far away…its almost like an unattainable dream. You try so hard but it slips through your fingers and vanishes in the night. You try to tell yourself that ‘hey, I’ve made it farther than most would have gone’ and hope that lie will satisfy your inner being but, of course, it will not. It will not if you are truly honest with yourself. And, if there is one thing that I am it is that I am very honest with myself. I don’t sugar-coat the truth with half-lies. At the end, it doesn’t matter what the world thinks about me but it does matter to me how I view myself. Quitting is not in my character. Some may say, ‘Dan, you did your best and you should feel proud’. I don’t. I really am an all or nothing kind of guy.
100 miles in 24 hours, 12 minutes - totally exhausted but happy
When I flew to Colorado in 2008 to run the Boulder 100 it was to run 100 miles in less than 30 hours. My goal was 24 hours but I was willing to accept under 30. The key, though, was that I would complete my task and reach my goal. The same with Climbing Long’s Peak. The night prior to the climb I had the very worst headache I ever remember having but I came to climb a mountain and that’s what I did.
This past Saturday, on a much smaller scale I set out to run the Tybee Island 1/2 marathon in under two hours using my vibram 5 fingers. Several people thought I was nuts, my boss was one of those, I believe. As I ran the race about a dozen people approached me about the shoes. It was friendly and cordial quick conversations. One group of men, though, I overheard as I passed them. It was three or four men probably ranging in ages between 35 and 45. One mentioned my shoes. One of the other men remarked (and I quote verbatim) “I guarantee you that he will drop out by mile 5″. They may have thought that I did not hear them because I had headphones on but my music was on low. I like my music low like elevator music (background music). So, I heard it very clearly and thought, they just don’t know who they’re talking about. I don’t quit. My feet were very uncomfortable by the time I reached the 9 mile mark but I’ve experienced worse and, most importantly, I came out to run a half marathon with my vibram 5 fingers. And, that’s what I was going to do.
And, that’s what I did.
Reading page 164 from Michael Crichton’s book, “Travels” obviously touched a nerve and I felt compelled to share that with you -who ever you may be that stumbles upon my blog and decides to read this. For you, that have gotten this far on my blog, I salute you and I thank you whole-heartedly for discarding a little bit of your time to read what some dude in Savannah, Georgia has to say about quitting and achieving and what-ever else. Thanks.
And, I’ll end with this…next year with the money that I get from my Scad sabbatical I intend to fly to Tanzania and climb Kilimanjaro. And believe me, I will take with me the same attitude and resolve that I have for every other adventure and goal I’ve undertaken. To the roof of Africa is where I’m heading. And, I will not stop until I make it to the top.
Well, I ran the Tybee 1/2 marathon today using my vibram 5 fingers. And, I finished the race with a better time than I expected. My time was 1:43:13. I figured I would finish closer to two hours. So, I’m happy but not my feet. My feet are very upset with me. If I don’t watch myself they will kick me hard! I have burst blisters on each foot in the middle of the ball of the foot.
my v5f's at the end of the 1/2 marathon
I’m very happy and satisfied to have finished the 1/2 and with a time much better than I expected. I didn’t doubt that I would finish but I did not know what to expect of my feet at the end of the race. On my tweeter account I joked around with other runners about my feet falling off during the race or, that I would look like the peg-legged dude on the front of the Tybee run shirt by the time I dragged across the finish line. Thankfully, two little burst blisters and just tired, aching feet was the outcome. Not bad really. If you want to hear about bad, I should perhaps tell you about the 100 miler I did in 2008 in 24 hrs & 12 minutes. That was bad! Both of my feet were like one great, big, nasty blister with another blister over the blisters! It was rough. After I took off my shoes (after the 100 miler) I couldn’t put them back on because my feet were so swollen. That’s why I say that this 1/2 was painful but I’ve been more uncomfortable before during a race. So, I’m glad that I did the run with the v5f’s but I want to focus on my conventional running shoes more now.
Next month, there will be the NYC Marathon Lottery and I hope that my number is picked. If my number is picked I will focus almost entirely on the conventional running for that marathon. If I do not get picked then, I don’t know. There are some other races coming up but they are small. I’m thinking seriously about doing a 50 miler over the summer and that will be using conventional running shoes.
Before the race. there were about 1200 runners
So, will I make the transition completely to minimalist running with the v5f’s? I’m not sold on this movement completely…not yet. For some people the use of the v5f’s has become almost cultish. I’m not an easy convert. I do enjoy the feeling of running almost barefoot and I think there are many benefits to it but I still like regular running shoes, you know what I mean? I mean, I love my Mizunos! They are awesome shoes.
a strange face in the crowd
I saw one guy before the race that had some 5 fingers on. We shook hands and wished each other luck. I’m not sure how many runners ran with 5 fingers but I can tell you that I had about a dozen people run alongside me and ask about the experience of running with these shoes. I told them all the same thing – “if you decide to give these a try give yourself some time to get used to them”. Its taken me almost two months to get used to them some what but I’m still not there. It taxes your calves something intense! If I keep running with these shoes I’m going to have some badass calves. The girls will be drooling over my calves.
my number 511 - remember it;)
Brian Welch, he’s a running buddy of mine that I’ve mentioned in my blogs several times. He had a great race. He finished the 1/2 in 1:26:14. That is an awesome time! That dude is amazing. He’s also 49 freakin years old! I’ve never met anyone as driven as Brian. This is the man that just 18 months ago had over a dozen blood clots in his legs and lung. This is the man that was told that he would never run again. He is now free of blood clots and running stronger than he ever has. I admire this guy so much. Way to go Brian!
coffee, cookie and 5 fingers
After my run today I stopped at Starbucks on Victory and Skidaway (my favorite starbucks) and bought a venti coffee and a great big chocolate chip cookie. I savored that cookie and coffee. And, while sitting there at the shop minding my own business enjoying my cookie several people walked up and asked me about the race at Tybee and about my “funny” looking shoes. I have a twitter friend that refers to my v5f’s as those “silly” shoes. God bless her! She’s been such an encouraging person. Thanks Kim! You mean more to me than you realize. Actually the twitter community tends to be very friendly, supportive and encouraging. I have twitter runner friends from Utah, Savannah, Oregon, South Carolina, Brooklyn, Texas and, we all encourage each other. Its really cool. One of my twitter friends, who’s also a facebook friend, Tim Waz ran the Hilton Head Island 1/2 marathon and kicked butt completely on that race. His time was 1:34 & some seconds. Way to go Tim! I’m looking forward to running with your group in the Spring! Tim heads the Palmetto pacers running club.
Ok, here are the race results for the Tybee 1/2 marathon and 5 k: Race Results
the fleet feet frog
And, above is a picture of the fleet feet frog. Fleet Feet, as always, put together a great event! Those guys are totally awesome but next time that I participate in another one of their packet stuffing parties I would like to get more than one slice of pizza. Is that cool? Any way, they said to take a picture of the fleet feet frog if we saw it at the race. Here it is! Do I get a free slice of pizza? Please!
runners finishing up the 1/2 marathon
I leave you with this pic (above) of runners coming down the last stretch of the half marathon. It was a great race, a great event and, it was just so good to be around a great bunch of runners. Runners are the best!
Thanks for taking the time to read my running blog.
Well, I’m getting ready to head for the Tybee 1/2 marathon. The temp at Tybee is currently at 55 with humidity at 78% and its windy. Aside from the wind you really cannot ask for better weather for running.
I don’t have any pre-race jitters and that’s probably because I do not have high expectations of for me. I’m not going there for a personal best. I’m running this race using my vibram 5 fingers. And, finishing under two hours is what I’m aiming for. I’ll be very happy to finish under two hours. One thing that I’m pretty certain of is that my feet and calves will be very sore at the end of my run. I had a restless night. That’s 3 nights in a row like that. I don’t know why I’ve been so restless while sleeping but I have. I have a feeling that after the run I’m coming straight home…ok, maybe not straight home. Let me start over…
After the race, I’ll probably chat with a few people, take some pictures, stop at starbucks for a much needed jolt of coffee, get home, pet Isabella and let her out, kick Texas the cat only to have my legs shredded to smithereens by her and, take a shower and finally – SLEEP! How’s that for a plan? Lets just hope that my feet don’t fall off during the race.
black-crowned night heron
btw, the unknown bird turned out to be a fairly well-known bird after all. It is called a black-crown night heron. It is the most widely spread of the heron family. It spans 5 continents. Who knew? Apparently, everybody but me. So, so much for me discovering a new bird and giving it a scientific name. I kind of liked the scientific name I gave it: superficious danizgratus. It just flows like a Rilke poem.
Oh, I picked up my race packet on Tybee Island yesterday evening during a torrential storm.
stormy tybee
Its a bad picture but believe me, it was bad. I got soaked. Below is very short video of the packet pickup consortium for the tybee race. it was not as exciting as the one for the savannah river bridge run last year but hey, it was better than nothing and, it was storming out. So what do ya expect, eh?
Some one, some where will know what type of bird this is. I’ve looked every where and asked numerous people but no one knows what kind of bird this is. How can that be? This is America! Everybody knows everything here. At least, we think we do!
Totally crazy.
seriously, what is this bird?
Seriously, I do not know what kind of bird this is? I photographed it at the dairy farm a few days ago. It was hanging out with some snowy egrets, pelicans, wood storks and great egrets. It walks kind of funny but I think that might of been because it was walking on a grated surface. Its a very pretty bird as you can see and its kind of tall. I would say that its perhaps, 14″ tall….that’s inches not feet…just to clear up any possible confusion.
here it is again, the unknown bird
There is a reward for identifying this bird. I just cannot tell you what that reward is. Its for me to know and you to find out.
Seriously, I really would like to know what type of bird this is. I’ve posted it on the dairy farm facebook page and on tweeter but no one seems to know.
If I do not find out what the name of this bird is before too long I’m going to have to say that its a brand spanking new species and will have to give it a scientific name. I do not think any of you would like for me to do that. So, tell me what it is!
If not, it shall be called, superficious danizgratus. That’s the best i can do right now. I think you get it now.
Tonight at Fleet Feet there was a race packet stuffing party. Everybody that showed up to stuff stuff into the race packet bags for this weekend’s Tybee Island 1/2 marathon and 5k got a free slice of pizza and a free race registration (if they had not already registered). Unfortunately, I registered in December for the race. So, I got one slice of pizza and no free registration. I had fun, though, walking around in the human conveyor belt with a bag in my hand having people drop little bits of this and that into each bag. After making your way around the droppers you hand your bag to some one to stuff into a box.
Its a great way to meet people. Everyone is in a good mood and looking forward to this coming run. I did the same thing back in December for the Savannah River Bridge run. Its all really cool. And, as I worked my way round and round carrying bag from dropper to dropper to boxer I had a blast. And, I took lots of pictures and some of the pics are on this blog entry and on the Savannah Running Facebook page. Check out the FB page. Hopefully, next time you can be a part of this fun.
my pizza
Fleet Feet Pizza
After the packet party I went home, cooked a pizza, jumped on the elliptical for 30 minutes while watching Shaun of the Dead and talked to my mother for about 15 minutes. What a mamma’s boy. Ha. Shaun of the Dead is a great movie, if you haven’t seen it.
I’ve decided that I’m going to run the 1/2 marathon Saturday with my 5fingers. What the heck. You only live once. If my feet fall off at the end of the race at least I’ll have the satisfaction of knowing that I ran 13.1 miles with the 5fingers. I’ll just have to learn to hobble along on stubs. No biggie.
packet stuffing party people
On the elliptical I burned 517 calories and logged 1.43 miles. You know, I just had a thought. I wonder how many miles my Iphone would map on the elliptical for the same duration of time? Hmm….that’s a brain twister, eh? If the elliptical said that I ellipticized 1.43 miles, how many miles would my iphone map using the mapmyrun app? Try to figure that one out..
The picture at the top is of the Talmadge Bridge. That’s the bridge we have to run during the Savannah River Bridge run every December. Looks inviting, doesn’t it? Its tougher than it looks to scale…trust me. Anyway, I took that picture this afternoon after lunch as I was going back to training. I’m taking a Windows 7 training course this week. Lots of fun.
Even the sleeping walking kid took part in the packet stuffing fun
Tomorrow, I’ll run again and then lift weights. Thursday, one more run of about 6 miles. Friday, a little ellipticizing. Saturday, 1/2 marathon with 5fingers. Yeah.
Thanks for taking the time to read my running blog.
peace and pizza,
dh
02/02/2010
PS: I’m very ticked off with that dang groundhog, punxsutawny, wow, that’s a mouthful. I say we fire that nasty critter. No, lets eat him! No, that’s gross. I’m sounding just like Fenwick when he said he would eat my dog, Isabella. Btw, he also wanted to eat some one else’s dog. That young lady that I talked to at the dairy farm the other day told me that Fenwick said that her dog would make a good barbecue. That’s just wrong.
Anyway, I’m just not happy that the groundhog saw his shadow and now we have six more weeks of winter. I want summer now!
I ran 6.18 miles this evening in the Berwick and Southbridge area. It was fun and chilly.
My parents live back there. So, after work I went to see them and have dinner with them. I never run in that part of town so I took my running gear with me and squeezed out a little over 6 miles while my mother prepared dinner. It was nice. That whole area is really nice to run at. Its very pretty and quite quiet and I don’t feel like cars are going to run me down the way it feels like when running on highway 80 on the Islands and toward Tybee.
Excellent brownie!
There is a very nice lake behind my parent’s home and that’s where I started my run. I looped the lake and then cruised up to Berwick and followed it to where that Kroger is. I then turned back around and ran back up and into Southbridge and caught a road called Trail Creek Lane and followed it to almost its end. Had I known that it ended about a quarter mile from where I turned around I would of…followed it to the end and then back. But, I didn’t know and it was getting dark and I could smell my mother’s cooking from over a mile away. My stomach was growling and hissing and clawing at me for food. The stomach won. I got back to my parent’s home and scarfed everything put in front of me. It was great. My parent’s stared at me open-jawed in disbelief. Then, came the brownies! I ate four of them! They were so good. Nothing like going back to mom and dad’s for dinner!
Before I left my parent’s home my mother loaded me up with all kinds of food. I got fresh milk, chicken, olives, tomatoes, cheese, apple cider, bananas. I left their home with two grocery bags full of food! I love mom and dad! I really do! I’m never too big and too old for them. I’m still their kid…Funny. Parents…you gotta love em…but live at least on the other side of town from them or they’ll drive you crazy.
Trail and canopy by the lake behind my parent's home
Tonight’s run was with my 5fingers. I’m feeling really good about the 5fingers. I haven’t decided yet whether to run the half this weekend with them, though. I’m going to give myself until Wednesday to make a decision on that. I’m definitely not running very fast with the 5fingers but my times are improving. Tonight’s run was :53:07:50. That breaks down to an 8:36 mile pace -not a good time with my conventional running shoe but I think its pretty decent for the 5fingers.
Running with the 5fingers is no joke on how it taxes your feet and calves. My feet and calves were killing me after the run but I felt better today after this run than I have any of the other runs with the 5fingers. At the end of my run my calves felt like tightly inflated basketballs. I had to spend about five to eight minutes just stretching my calves afterwards. Good stuff.
Saw lots of wildlife! Very cool stuff.
Wildlife inventory
9 canada geese
4 squirrels
1 male cardinal
2 grackles
1 snowy egret
2 geese
8 ducks that submerged themselves under water when i ran past them.
1 large flock of dark birds high above me – I couldn’t identify the species
1 chinese pug – that chased me for about ten feet before it grew tired.
Oh, tomorrow evening at 5pm there’s the packet stuffing party at Fleet Feet for the Tybee half marathon. You should go check it out (if you’re in town). Should be fun. Back in December I attended the Savannah River Bridge run packet stuffing party and it was loads of fun. After the packet stuffing whatchamacallit I’m going home for some serious elliptical time. I do think my mojo’s returning. I got the eye of the tiger, the serpent and the rainbow, Red dawn, Terminator, Goonies. I’m back jack!
Thanks for taking the time to read my running blog.
Isabella patiently waited in the car as I ran into the Starbucks on Victory and Skidaway to get a cup of coffee for the hike at the dairy farm. She’s such a sport. It was a pretty cold but enjoyable and peaceful hike at the dairy farm. We stayed there for about an hour and a half. It was nice. I got some pictures of pelicans and egrets and other fowl. We got our feet very muddy too. It was great fun.
Here is a pic of the pelicans at the dairy farm..
When I got to the dairy farm this morning there was a police officer parked there next to Maccabee’s grave marker. That seemed peculiar. As I walked one of the trails with Isabella we came upon a young lady and we chatted for a few minutes. We talked about Fenwick and the dairy farm page on Facebook. This young lady, Jenny, told me that the police had been at the dairy farm earlier (in the week I think she said) looking for Fenwick and they actually talked with him.
Today was soggy and cold and just a nasty day to be outdoors. I ran anyway. I ran 9.56 miles in Thunderbolt (where I live) with my vibram 5 fingers. That was an experience. My pinky toe on my right foot still aches. The toenail on that pinky is totally black. It looks pretty nasty. Yeah.
After the run my feet were soooo sore. And, my toes were numb too. It was chilly outside when I ran -41 degrees with 98% humidity. That’s pretty chilly for me.
after my 9.56 mile run
I started my run at the Bonaventure cemetery (I’m really liking this area) and ran to the Greenwich cemetery. I left the cemeteries behind me and ran down Bonaventure Rd toward Victory drive. At Victory I hung a louie and ran over the Thunderbolt Bridge and into the marina on the other side of the bridge. I followed some roads back there to a pier and tried to get as close to the water as possible but part of the pier was one of those floating types and with the tide low there was a steep decline at the end of the pier and, when I tried to go down I slipped but by the grace of God I managed to stop my fall by grabbing the rail on one side. That part of the pier was at an angle more like a slide at a child’s playground than a leaning pier. Had I not been able to stop my fall it would have been a very long slide down and probably a nice cold dip in the river. Speaking of the river, I saw TWO DOLPHINS!!! as I crossed the bridge! It was so cool! I love seeing dolphins in their natural habitat. Tomorrow, I’ll try to check out this pier during the low tide and photograph it so that you can see what I’m talking about. It was like a slide at a playground but this slide would not have been any fun, I assure you.
9.56 mile route
After running around a little bit on the other side of the bridge I ran back over it and back toward the cemeteries but passed them up and kept running up bonaventure to Delaware ave, to Tennessee and to the dairy farm. After the dairy farm I ran back to Bonaventure cemetery and ran to the end of it and back but not before running through the portal or gateway (as some may call it) to that other parallel dimension where plants are flourescent and animals have six legs and the people are ten feet tall with blue skin and long tails. It was really cool. I checked out that hot alien…what’s her name?…Neytiri before coming back to our world and finishing my run. I have to say, though, that Neytiri looks so much hotter in human form.
the portal to another world lies just beyond...
The “portal” I speak of is that amazing monument at the far end of the Bonaventure cemetery that has like a doorway with a bearded dude standing along side it. You know the one I’m talking about? Just check out the picture. I always say that its a portal to another world. Its really cool.
there it is
I’m not sure that I will run on Sunday. I’m just very beat up after this run. I will see how I feel in the morning. And, I have to take Isabella for a walk on Sunday. Poor girl has been cooped up all week long in the house. I gotta let her stretch out her legs and get some fresh air in her lungs. So, tomorrow she and I will take a walk at the dairy farm for awhile.
Speaking of the dairy farm, I’ve been informed that Fenwick will be removed from there. It is sad that its come down to this but its probably the best thing for the community and for Fenwick. A 58 year old man should not be living in the woods. Its just not healthy for him. Its been an unusually cold winter in Savannah. I find it miraculous that Fenwick has survived these cold snaps out there in the woods. And, with Fenwick’s unsavory past and his obvious mental instability it just isn’t good for him to be living in an area where children play and where women go for walks with their children and/or dogs. Even for men, Fenwick’s presence at the dairy farm can be unnerving. Just today as I ran at the dairy farm and passed the area where his campsite is I felt a little uncomfortable. To be honest, I had an irrational thought as I ran through a trail back there toward the marsh. For a second I had this image in my head of Fenwick running out of the woods toward me with that big axe he had in his hands last week when we talked in his campsite. I know that was crazy but that image played itself out in my mind as I ran along that trail. And, of course, the thought was because of the crazy thing Fenwick told me about killing, skinning and eating my dog the whole time holding onto that axe.
the serene dairy farm
So, as much as I desire for Fenwick to find a peaceful place in the world for him live out his life I feel uncomfortable knowing that he is living in the woods of the dairy farm. If I had children they would not be allowed back there. I’m so sorry Fenwick. May God give you rest and peace. May He restore you to a right state. God bless you, Fenwick.
Next Saturday is the Tybee half marathon and 5k. I’ve already registered for the half. I already know that my time is going to suck but I’m going to run it nevertheless. I’m just not running as strong and fast as I was just a year ago. I gotta get my mojo back. Some one stole my mojo, I’m afraid. Help me find my mojo, please!
I’m going to let you in on a little secret but please don’t spread this around. I’m thinking of running the half marathon next week with my vibram 5 fingers. Yeah, that’s true. Don’t tell anyone, though. I haven’t made up my mind completely yet on this. I really enjoy running with the 5 fingers and, I’m finally getting my calves and feet strong enough to run longer distances.
If you decide to try out the 5 fingers, the one thing I will tell you is to take your time getting used to running with them or, risk an unnecessary injury.
Wildlife inventory:
2 dolphins
3 pelicans
1 wood stork
3 cormorants
6 seagulls
5 great egrets
1 snowy egret
3 squirrels
3 female cardinals
1 red-tailed hawk
1 crow
5 sparrows
9 doves
2 robins
1 mockingbird
That’s a heck of a lot of wildlife! It was awesome! How many times have you seen a dolphin while out running? Not too many I bet (unless you have a pet dolphin you take running with you). Dolphins cannot run very well, you know. They flip-flop too much.
Today after work I ran 4.33 miles from the Wendy’s parking lot on highway & Johnny Mercer over the Bull River bridge to the end of the old highway going to Tybee to the Rails and back to the parking lot. The temperature was 58 degrees and the night was encroaching quickly. I had my headlight on so that I could be seen by incoming traffic because the last thing I wanted was to be a big blot on a windshield or to become one with a car grill.
my bloody leg
When I ran to the end of the old decrepit highway that partially runs parallel to the Bull river bridge and is quickly being consumed by trees and marsh I scraped my right shin on a log that was protruding from the muddy, mucky marshy ground. Ok, here comes the lie…
Really what happened was that a bus load of little old ladies and children lost control, drove through the pile-ons, knocked over the rails and dangled perilously off of the edge of the bull river bridge, threatening to flip over into the abysmal depths of the raging Bull river.
Me, not one that likes to bring attention to myself felt strangely compelled to use my super hero powers and saved these poor souls. when no one was looking I grabbed the rear bumper of the big yellow bus just as it teetered over the side of the bridge and with all of my strength I threw my weight back, never letting go of the bumper and, managed to jerk the bus back onto the bridge with everyone safe on board except…
I heard her anguished cries before I saw her. This beautiful blue-eyed brunette was hanging over the edge of the bridge on a bent and rusting rebar…bar. The fear in her eyes did not betray her astonishing beauty. Her lips were full and cherry red. She staired deeply into my eyes….we both felt the connection. One of her shoes fell off her feet revealing perfectly manicured toes with red nail polish. Before the shoe hit the waters a shark lunged spectacularly out of the water and gobbled up her shoe. Then suddenly, she lost her grip on the rebar…bar…she gazed into my eyes yet again and silently mouthed the words…”save me, my love”….and then she plunged into the depths of the ocean. I screamed “NO!” at the top of my lungs to no one in particular but to everyone…in particular, or so. Without a second thought I took a deep breath, I tightened up my belt real tight, plugged my nose with my thumb and index finger and dove head first like a swan into the depths of ocean where the seas churned mercilessly with the writhing bodies of sharks and salt water crocodiles yearning for a meal.
As I sailed through the air I didn’t think of myself. I only thought of saving this beautiful woman whom I had just met and connected with. In her eyes I could see our unborn children and then I crashed into the cold churning waters of the Atlantic and I swam down deeply, the whole time kicking and punching every alligator and shark that tried to eat my soulmate and me too.
Really, none of this stuff actually happened. I kind of made it up on the fly but there really are heroes here in Savannah.
Last night an elderly man was at the rails to trails walking with a cane and carrying a camera. Two of my running buddies, Nelson Amos and Don (I’m sorry, I cannot never remember his last name) past this older gentleman while he was conscious and apparently fine. On their return from the end of the rails Don came upon this older man who was now on the grown at the trail. He wasn’t breathing so immediately he began to administer cpr. Nelson ran up a little afterwards and assisted in cpr. They managed to get the man to breathe on his own momentarily. Nelson ran back to his car and called 911. Unfortunately, by the time the ambulance made it to the rails the older gentleman had passed away.
I got the following email from Nelson describing the account that took place Wednesday evening at the rails to trails:
“Don and I found the guy last night on the way back from a loop toward
Savannah. He was not a jogger. He was an old man with a camera and a cane
probably out taking pictures. We did not see him on the way out. Glenn ?
(from the Y) was running with another guy and they saw him walking on their
way out. We passed Glenn and his buddy about the 2 mile mark, we were
coming back Glenn was going out. Don was about 100m ahead of me at this
point. About half way back Don sees the guy laying on the ground and
stops. He is unconscious and not breathing and he starts giving him CPR.
I showed up about 30 seconds later and gave the guy CPR for about 10
minutes. We got him to take a breath on his own a couple of times but we
could not get him to start breathing continuously. I ran the .15 miles
back to my car to call 911 and get an ambulance. Don continued to give him
CPR. He probably had a heart attack. The ambulance guys told Don he was
gone. They opened up his shirt and he had a large scare from heart
surgery. I never saw any Tybee cops on four wheelers.”
It is very sad. My heart does go out to the family of this man that died at the Rails. May God’s comfort and peace be with them.
Don & Nelson did a very honorable and heroic thing, if you ask me. They came upon a tragic situation and responded quickly to try and save a person they did not even know. We live in a world where we all tend to mind our own business more and more. We live in a world where we do not know who our neighbors are nor, do we want to know. We live in a world where we tend to say more and more, “that’s their problem” and continue on with our lives because we do not want to be inconvenienced. Well, Don and Nelson, certainly do not think this way. I know Nelson better than I know Don but both of these men have demonstrated to me what it takes to be a man…what it means to be honorable.
I know both men to be deeply convicted Christian men and their actions last night at the rails proved what they are made of. I’m very proud to know these men and feel honored to be go running with them from time to time.
Both of these men have completed the Boston marathons more than several times and I’ve admired them for the discipline they possess and athletic ability they have to make it to Boston not once or twice but numerous times. After this heroic act last night they are in the stratosphere in my eyes!
It is very sad that the selfless acts of these two men could not save the life of the gentleman who apparently suffered a heart attack at the rails. And, my heart truly goes out the family of this man. These men, though, did everything they could to save the life of another human being.
Don & Nelson, I applaud both of you. May God give comfort and peace to the two of you as well. Thanks for doing all that you could to try and save this man.
Well, this is my running blog. So, let me go back to running…
I had an enjoyable run. I saw some wildlife and that’s always a pleasant thing. I wish I had had a camera with me, though because the sun setting as I ran on the Bull River Bridge was a spectacular sight to behold. Well, I never would have been able to capture the moment with a camera….so instead, I’ve captured it in my heart. It’ll last much longer there.
They were so good. Nothing like going back to mom and dad’s for dinner!
