I have earned the Green Bead!!

Even though I spent my middle and high school years running, I have never earned the Green Bead. Until now. I earned my first last night around 9:30 pm. Let me explain the significance of this.

My Junior year was the first time I had run Cross-Country. For those who don't know, XC is where you train to run a 5k every week for about 5 weeks. It goes to 6 weeks if you make State. Training starts about two weeks before school starts in August and goes till about the middle of November. The first meet isn't until the middle of September. By that time your body has started to feel like you have put it through a meat grinder, was spat out, pounded with a tenderizer, and stuffed back through the grinder. That is all before the first meet. Once you start racing the feeling only intensifies.

My High School coach was Neil Gliechman. He was different then most XC coaches I have been around. He trained and ran with his team. He was in his late forties early fifties when I was in school. He was skinny, ecentric, German, and color blind. It definatly made for interesting days when Coach thought he found running tights and a pair of naked shorts (REALLY short running shorts) that he thought matched our school colors. :) We just called him Coach. Well, Coach liked to travel during the summer and share with his team where he went and what he picked up. That year he brought everyone back a tiny safety pin with three tiny hand made beads. It was used as a good-luck charm. Mine was kept on my racing flats. Left shoe the first lace before it started up the shoe. It stayed on that shoe until I got rid of them after I got married. During the season if you did something outstanding, broke a personal record (PR), or pushed yourself to the point that you absolutely cannot go farther, you got a bead to add to your safety pin. During my two years running for Teton High, I only saw the Green Bead go out once.

It was during the Pocatello Race at Bart's Field. This was before the Performing Arts Center, Ridge Crest Apartments, and the Rendezvous Center. The only thing up on the hill was the two stake centers. Ground was getting ready to break on the PAC, but I don't think they started until after school that Spring. It was a lot hotter then the team prepared for. It was my favorite course that year. Everytime I am on Bart's Field I see where I ran and smile.

Well, after the race all of the Girl's Team was sunburned and suffering from Heat Exhaustion. I have never seen Coach get that mad before or since. If anyone has seen a German lose his temper you know what I am talking about. He chewed the entire girls team up one side and down the other. The other memory that has stuck with me since that day was when my best friend, Emily, (Em) crossed the finish line. Em ran her guts out that day. She wasn't near the front or middle of the pack, but Coach was very proud of her.

When Em crossed the line she sank to her knees in exhaustion clutching her mid-section. I heard Dani tell her, "just throw up!! You will feel better!! Come on Em!" Dani was cheering Emily on so that her body could try to free itself of the toxin build-up. Emily did throw up not long after that. She also earned the Green Bead to go on her safety pin. I had a lot of respect for Em that day.

Now to fast-forward to the present. Sunday Rach and I went to the gym with our good friend Sandra. Sandra is training for a marathon and wanted to run on the tread mills. Rachel went to a stair stepper and I ran next to Sandra. We were there for an hour. I decided that I was going to do an interval workout. Throughout the work out I would change my speed from fast to slow and back again. I ran at sprint pace for a few minuets at the end. Well, I am no where near the fitness level I was in during high school Cross-Country. In fact, I am no where near any fitness level. When I got off the treadmill my head was swimming with my vision very jerky. That should have been my first clue. Several hours and a wonderful dinner later, I was kneeling in front of the Porcelain God earning my Green Bead. To say that Rachel was mad is an understatement. She also reminded me after I told her this story that Coach would be mad at me as well. I had pushed myself so completely beyond its current limits that it had to expel anything that had gone into it since the workout. That included water.

So, note to self: Do not go to gym dehyrated.
Do not run for 60 min strait without a break.
Do not try to act like you are in high school.
Follow training as a massage therapist and LISTEN TO YOUR BODY!!!!

I have now earned my Green Bead. May it be my last.