"All it takes is all you got." (Marc Davis)

On Monday C.A.H.'s Achilles tendon made its presence known; the pain in his face was undeniable. This late-season injury has been weighing heavily on his heart throughout the week, with the Virginia Cross Country State Meet looming on Saturday (tomorrow). As he wobbled around the house, we all wondered if he would even lace up for The Race. The decision has been made--he's in.

Though there is only one race left, it's the race he has been training for since the start of the year. He has built mileage. He has fined tuned with grueling speed workouts. He has raced to a new personal record, while contributing to two team school record finishes in the process. He partook in a Mountain Dew fast (=SUPER BIG DEAL!). He has tapered. And this week, the primary focus has been tending to his injury. He has popped pills. He has rested. He has iced. He has compressed. He has elevated. He has heated. He has stretched. He has devoted hours to healing. 

I have been hoping for a miracle all week. Where the is witch doctor when you need her/him? My final prayer, to my broken brother, the one with the crumbling spirit:

Dear C.A.H.,

Your goal for The Race has been reduced to finishing, which will be no easy feat. I know how badly you wanted to race with your teammates to a podium finish--to be part of your team doing something more than each individual, to compete for the hardware your were "robbed" of last year. You still can, despite the  crippled condition you are in.

Mute the screaming ankle. Strip yourself of the negativity taunting you right now, and hang in there for the length of time completing the course requires. You will be participating, when you had the option to sub-out.

Go out there and run YOUR race. You are awesome. You are strong. You CAN. You WILL. I will be there, encouraging you like a crazy person.

You have done everything to prepare; don't set limitations. Run with courage. And have faith.

Believe in YOU. With Love, Your Biggest Fan.

Updated November 23, 2011: The Raiders would wind up finishing a disappointing fourth in state. The atmosphere following The Race was somber--sluggish teenage boys unwilling to acknowledge their fans. After a few days to shake the upset, the Raiders would come to recognize that fourth of 90 in Virginia is worth celebrating, and although the end of the season, not actually the end of the world. And for more C.A.H. promoting, he sliced another two seconds off his personal record time, bum ankle and all.