Confessions of a coach-9

**JJ and Bryan**

It's been one week since my last Confession, and I've been all about rewarding myself for my hard work outs. :) Now this is rare, but I was trying to be a wise student, by rewarding myself after my 18 miler. I was lying in my bed, watching TV with my laptop snuggled right up against me when I got a disturbing email, "You're going solo now, better find another training partner." It was from Coach Phelan. What!?! Then, I saw a post on Facebook by Coach Bryan, about how he injured himself at Kickball!?! Yes, KICKBALL! Isn't that what you played in the 1st grade or something? I mean "Kickball"! What the... Oh no, Coach Bryan is a running machine! Bryan has been a soccer coach and a player for over 25 years, and then added running a few years back. His running career has been so impressive with all the breakthroughs he's had. He's been my hero in our training to get to Boston. Watching his improvements, by him simply following the training schedule (hmm, which I still might have issues with) has been inspiring for me and so many other runners. And now he is injured! I felt really bad for him. The whole group has been worried and upset. Okay, now we can all breath a little easier - Coach Bryan went to the doctor and this will only a be a small set back. He's just out a few weeks! He is an awesome runner with a good base and he will only come back stronger!
Thank goodness!

Again, something I learned from the "El Scorcho Midnight Hell Run" (and by the way, my foot might never be the same), I have to be real careful with races and other sports I engage in while I'm in training. Marathon training really puts your body through some stress. So, think twice before you sign up for a race, run trails, go mountain biking, try hang-gliding, enter an ultimate fighting contest, and I can't believe I'm adding this sport to the list...Kickball! I'm sure Coach Bryan's Kickball days are over, just like my midnight trail days are over - well, that is until I complete my Goal Race. :)