Looking Back after A Huge Step ForwardComing into the Bix 7 USA Championships, I was very confident that things would fall into place. However, I know that GOD is in complete charge of the race and my life, and life in general. Going into my 5th Bix 7 race, I did feel confident, but I also had the same confidence at the USA Olympic Marathon Trails in 2007. I remember being so ready to roll for that race. By October 2007, my preparations for the trials were coming along so well, my good friend, teammate, and eventual winner Ryan Hall said 'I just want to join you on the team." So I was healthy, fit and confident going into the Olympic Trials Marathon.
But GOD had something else in mind for that day. November 3, 2007 is one of those days that is impossible to forget. It was a tragic day, where we as a running community lost the great Ryan Shay. On that day, Ryan Shay's death shocked everyone, Ryan Hall's dominance amazed everyone, and I came out with a Fractured Hip in addition to everyone's broken hearts. I cramped up at mile 13, right when Ryan Hall made his move, and at that time my goal went from trying to win the race to making my third Olympic team. But things would only get worse between Mile 13 and the finish line. The cramping calves led to unbalanced running mechanics and potential for even more severe pain and injury. Despite the extreme pain I felt during the race, I was encouraged by the thousands of fans cheering my name and encouraging me to keep going. Touched by the fans’ encouragement and my internal drive to finish any race that I can, I kept pushing my body to the finish line.
When I crossed the finish line in my second slowest marathon time, I had no idea that I had fractured my hip. Although I was disappointed I didn’t make the Olympic team, I was proud I gave it my best effort under the circumstances. The real heartbreaking news of November 3, 2007 came when my friend Jon Clemmons told me about Ryan Shay immediately after my finish. I have handled disappointing athletic performances and results before, so I am a professional at that. But nobody can ever be prepared to lose a friend in the way we lost Ryan Shay. At that moment I was broken physically and emotionally.
Due to the life and death situation of that day, the last thing on my mind after the race was my body. As time passed, my legs were so swollen that I could not fly to attend Ryan Shay's funeral. As a fit athlete I know my body very well. I had run enough marathons to know it is a painful event, but this was a different pain. I was not able to walk or put any weight on my right leg. In fact, it was my good friend Dr. Johnny D, who helped me get to my hotel room the day of the race.
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