This weekend, I planned on two long runs, a 28-miler on Saturday and a 20-miler on Sunday, but they were both cut short. The two runs had something else in common — my conversation at the end of both of them made me decide to ask you all to provide positive feedback to two good people. One is my wife. The other is somebody I’ve never met.
My long run was on Saturday, and it didn’t go as planned. I wanted to go 28, but I started feeling sick to my stomach and the sun started getting to me, so I cut it short to 25. I know, 25 isn’t terrible. But they were slow miles, and for me, a long run on the weekend has to be at least 26.2 I’ll call it a fail, but I know I’m beating myself back into shape and I’m going to have to go through a few of these.
The run I was really excited about over the weekend was running with my wife yesterday. After running a half marathon in January, she decided in early February that she wanted to train for a full. She set some lofty goals, hoping to not only run a marathon 16 weeks later, but attempting to qualify for Boston in that race. Tough challenge, although she ran a 1:45 in her 1/2, and needs a 3:40 for the BQ, so I thought it was possible if she could build her endurance.
I told her she’d be redlining, and sure enough, she got injured a little after her first 20-miler in April. She couldn’t run San Diego Rock N Roll on May 31 and was pretty disappointed. She got better, but took some training runs too hard, and got injured again. She’s been battling back and doing well, targeting Long Beach on October 11. Sunday was supposed to be one last crack at a 20-miler, and I thought she had a chance of hitting the run. But five miles in, we did the turnaround.
I felt so terrible for her. She really, really wants this. She’s worked so hard and struggled so much through her training. Part of the problem is that it’s come so easy for me, so she’s not really in touch with reality. I try to remind her that I didn’t qualify for Boston until my eighth marathon. But it doesn’t much matter. She’s really upset about this right now.
She was just about in tears when we got back to our starting point. She feels that if she could have qualified for Boston in her first marathon, she would have felt like she accomplished something. I have a special plaque from my first Boston on the wall in my office at home and she says she dreams of getting one of those, too. She was crying about feeling like a failure with running, and feeling like she hasn’t accomplished anything in life because she doesn’t have a college degree. Running a certain time in a marathon might change that for her in her eyes, and that’s totally ridiculous. Some of you know us personally, and a lot of you don’t. Those of you who do can vouch that she’s an AMAZING mother and that impact she has on our kids is a huge accomplishment.
So, that brings me to my point. I always get ideas in my head when I run, and over the last couple miles of our run yesterday, I came up with this idea. She’s a longshot to get her qualifying time. But she’s worked so hard with her training and I really want her to realize that it’s not all about a finishing time. The bigger thing I want her to realize is that long term, it’s more about the adversity you face, how you react to that and fight through it, and how hard you work to accomplish a goal, even if the journey isn’t what you thought it would be. In a way, it parallels what she goes through with Jack on a daily basis.
I know a fair amount of you read this every day, so I’m hoping I can get one of you to come through on this for Jack’s mama. I want Tiff to finish this off and go complete that marathon, even if she has to walk and crawl and spend 8 hours getting to the finish line. It’s kind of selfish for me to ask this, but I’ll do it anyways. Can I get just one of you to commit to at least a $10 pledge to Operation Jack and to participate in an race next year if she completes her marathon on October 11? You’ll be helping a great cause, and as a result, a good person will see her hard work pay off towards a better purpose than she would have imagined. Anybody? Please? Please?
Thank You, Cassie Walls!
Cassie, I met your dad at the end of my run (and the end of his run) on Saturday and he’s seen me running a lot in the past. We started talking about running and then I told him about Operation Jack and then he told me about you.
For everybody reading this, Cassie works in special education at one of the schools in our local district and works with autistic children. That job is very special and requires a very special person. It takes incredible patience and an incredible touch and I know I’m grateful for all the help Jack has received from everybody over the years. He was in your school at one point, so you might have worked with him. He’s in the first grade now, so he’s at a different school.
Anyways, your dad told me that in the past you’ve talked about maybe not amounting to a whole lot with that job. So, I wanted to take this opportunity to tell you what I told your dad. It’s not about whether or not you can buy that Porsche. It’s about the footprint you leave, the impact you have, the lives you affect. You ARE amounting to something. You’re making a difference and helping sweet little children at an extremely critical point in their development.
I’d like to say thank you for what you do, and I’d also like to beg any parent/relative/friend of a special-needs child reading this to leave a comment here for Cassie to tell her what you think about the job she’s doing.
Video Of The Day
This is for Tiff. She loves this song and it totally applies to her right now.
That’s All For Today, Folks
I’ll be back on Wednesday or Thursday. I have a lot of cool things going on with Operation Jack that I’m totally excited to tell you about! Have a great start to your week!
Shelly Overton says
Hey Tiff!
I guess I get to be the first with comments. The best quote I’ve ever seen was on the back of a t-shirt when I did my first half.
“The miracle isn’t that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.”
-John Bingham, running speaker and writer
My first half was the Disney half in 2007, it took me 3 hours, 38 minutes and seconds. You see I do not run, do like it, makes me breath hard and uncomfortable, so I walk and love it.
So, the words of encouragement I can give you, are: go, go, go! The fact that you can run a half in half the time it takes me to walk, a full will be just the same, just twice a much distance. I believe you can do it. I know Sam knows you can do it. Even if you don’t qualify for the BQ the first time, there’s always another one and then another one, then another one, etc. I’ll be doing 1/2 number 8 at Long Beach, so I’m sure you and Sam will pass me along the way or probably even start way ahead of me. I’ll be doing Surf City in Feb (the half of course). You give so much to your family and believe me that is so much more important than ANYTHING else you can do. I know how hard it is for you and your family. I’d love to tell you gets easier, some days are some days aren’t. But again, it’s not about the finish, it’s about getting out there and giving it a shot, do your best and remember nothing is more important than the day to day stuff you’re doing now for your family.
As for Cassie, I don’t know her, but have had some wonderful special ed teachers in our lives and they do make a difference and it takes alot to work with our kids day in and day out. Theya re appreciated more than words can express.
Happy Monday!
Shelly Overton
Rachel Boyd says
This brought tears to my eyes. I know Tiff reads your blog so I’m addressing my comment to her.
Tiff- You have accomplished more in life than most people could fathom. You have been an amazing wife and mother; you have raised 3 beautiful children and faced and continually overcome the extra challenge of raising one with special needs with more strength than I can even fathom. Success in life is not measured in college degrees or marathon finishing times; it’s measured in the impact you have on others and just your grace and beauty in your life has touched many people, including me. My first marathon was a tremendous struggle, as was my second, third, etc. Training was never easy and was often painful and tiring; that’s part of the challenge. You WILL finish and that’s all that matters; don’t forget I had to walk part of Boston but I still finished- that’s what mattered. The road may be long and filled with obstacles but that’s what will make the marathon finish (and your BQ and running Boston) even sweeter and more rewarding.
john walls says
Hi Sam, on Saturday when I saw you that was after ONLY 25 miles!!!!!! your awsome. That was my first 10 miler since my injury back in April. Anyway you can count on me to be in at least 2 of the upcoming Marathons. I think Surf City in Feb will be a good start. Also Thank you for the kind words about Cassie. She truly LOVES being with her kids as she calls them. They do bring joy to her also. Her true love is in Art and in her spare time(of what she has very little) she’s also a fulltime student at the Art Institute working on her degree in Art. Her life goal is to teach art to special needs children. She is very special young woman and we are very proud of her and what she does. Sam thanks again for acknowledging her. se you on the road.
John Walls
Erin Fortin says
I’ll donate $10! 🙂 And I’ll certainly be trying to fundraise more than that when the time comes. I’ll run the Denver marathon in Oct. next year, too. But Tiff, if you ever read this: be PROUD of what you’ve done! Um, hello, you’ve had three kids (I can’t imagine what that does to our female bods) and you’re still gunnin’ for a BQ?! I’m 23, ran XC and track in college, and I still ran a 5 hour marathon. Not saying that we can’t do it (’cause we totally can/will one day) but just realize it takes patience and a healthy body. Be kind to yourself! I can only imagine how amazing you must be. Come to Denver next year! I’d love to meet you, and maybe we’ll both run 3:40s…
Ally Phillips says
Oh my goodness! Tiff–I am in awe of your dedication and effort. I don’t think I’ll ever qualify for Boston (but if I do, that would be awesome). I can understand your frusteration with injuries as I spent the entire freaking summer with a bum leg and it killed me because I was barely running (heck, walking was painful) and I was doing so well before. I’ve completely lost all my speed and my endurance is not what it was–so, I can understand the feeling of failure. I would go out for a run, get .5 mile in, be in too much pain and just start crying. It’s one of those things that I think only a runner can understand. I live in Texas, so, I won’t actually be cheering you on “live” in Long Beach, but, just know that I’m cheering for you. Cheering for how far you’ve come as a runner–making sure huge goals so quickly–and cheering you on as a mother. I’ve worked with autistic children before, but, clearly am not their parent. It takes a special person and it’s clear and you and Sam are very, very special people.
You’re amazing. Never doubt that. EVER
Deirdre Edwards says
Tiff:
I have run 4 marathons to date with a PR of 4:56. I have no intentions of getting a BQ, I am just not fast. I have no college education. I have no children that I care for. I have no great change I am making in the world.
Would you tell me I am a failure? Would you tell me I am not doing good enough? I don’t think so. I think you would encourage me and say it is wonderful that I have become addicted to this running stuff and that even though I am not a front runner, every race I do is for myself and a major accomplishment. I think you would say that I am a good wife and friend and living a fulfilled life.
So why the hard judgement on yourself of BQ or nothing or holding yourself up to any other bar of measurement. I don’t know you personally but can tell enough from Sam’s words and the photos of your family that you are a wonderful and accomplished woman.
So I will send in my $10.00 this week, I will be there on Team Operation Jack for as many races as possible next year and continue to try and raise what I can. You need to be there on October 11, run with the man who loves you and enjoy every step of it! That is an order!
I will be volunteering at the finish so I hope to put that first FULL MARATHON medal around your neck!
Cindy Kamps says
What a lovely, lovely post today Sam!
Tiffany,
I have met you once very briefly at a race. So I don\’t know you as well as everyone else does however, I just have to say in reading all the sweet things you and Sam say to each other on fb or rw, you are a very special lady! The love you have for your family is just beautiful and inspiring. Don\’t be so hard on yourself. You will get your bq!! See you two at Long Beach:)
Cindy-ocmom
Ben Delaney says
Being that I witnessed Tiff complete her first half, from the race course, I know that if she was in good health, LB would be her race. It was inspiring to run with her. She never gave up, just pushed and pushed, ticking the miles away.
When she needed that little extra push during that first half, she had a picture that she would look at, attached to her wrist. I didn’t know it at the time, but that picture was of Jack. That was all the motivation she needed to get through that race. Tiff knew that her pain would end in 13.1 miles. Jack’s on the other hand…
I know that about all the setbacks with her training, but I also know she never lost her spirit despite all the setbacks. Running in the pool, PT, not running outside, but on the dreadmill, it was all difficult. Yet, at the end of the day she always had a smile. Because deep down, she is the best wife/friend/mom/partner for her family. When you talk about glue, Elmer’s and Krazy got nothin’ on Tiff.
Tiff, go run LB, finish that race, receive your medal, then share it with Jack. Because he will cross that finish line with you. Just like he did in Irvine.
Susan Gillette says
A college education doesn’t make the person.
Tiffany has guts, determination an and the will to do her best at everything.
I could say many nice things about her but I don’t think you want t spend your whole night reading them.
Her Mama.
Erin Ruff says
Sam and Tiff-
Of course I will pledge $10 and I’ll be “running” something for Operation Jack next year, just too scared right now to sign up to make that final commitment. This post today is getting me closer. Sam- Thanks for another great message and Tiff- like my husband tells me when I head out to run, “Go get ‘um!” Much love, Erin
Susan Gillette says
A college education doesn’t make the person.
Tiffany has guts,determination and the will to do the best she can. She is a remarkable person.
Her Mama.