Mike Miller

10/26/2008

Hello,

You have to figure that this phase of my blog might not be all that exciting given that I am not doing much of anything (in terms of running anyway). I am recovering well. I have had a couple of post-op appointments and my doctor (Dr. Michael Steinbaum) is pleased. I am optimistic as well, given that the amount of swelling and post-op pain is much less this time than any of the other surgeries that I have had. Since I began to slowly let people know of my return to training, the number one question that I get is why and how come you have had so many surgeries?

The why is easy, because I can! I am still relatively young and I miss the challenge of training. I got so used to the day-to-day struggle that competitive runners experience. To take that out of my life has been a shock to my system and quite frankly to my mental wellbeing. I am one that needs to always be striving for something and running has always provided that for me. As for the multiple surgeries, I have no one to blame but myself. After every procedure, I rushed back into training. Racing was how I made a living and I needed to get back on the track ASAP. I was never able to fully recover properly and now I am paying the price. This last surgery repaired a tear that went vertically and was all of the way through the tendon. I suppose that you live and learn, but ironically, I am not sure that I would have done anything any differently. My training and attitude was all out all of the time. Could I have been smarter? Absolutely, but I know that I left everything on the track when I walked away from the sport.

My workout plan starts next week. I am going to begin with some light core strengthening work and then I will work my way into the pool over the next couple of weeks (yuck!). I am likely to remain in a walking cast of about 6-8 more weeks. I thought my legs were skinny before, you ought to see them now! In the coming weeks, I will begin to organize my thoughts in terms of a running program. I am very much undecided on the coaching front. I will need some guidance, but I have not thought too much about what direction I will go in. My old coach, Irv Ray is in Riverside and I’d like to have someone close. More on that major decision to come.

Thank you all for your kind emails. John Sprague emailed me to remind me of a relay that we ran years ago at the Easter Relays. Thanks for the trip down memory lane John! That was a fun race. Perhaps we can do another sometime…..am I classified as a “Master’s runner” yet. I HOPE NOT! Take care and happy running.  

Hello Santa Barbara Runners,

Mike Miller here. It has been a long time and some of you may not remember me, but I called Santa Barbara home while I trained for the 2000 Olympic Trials and I frequently came back to the area when I prepared for the 2004 Trials. For months, I have considered making a comeback but after a great deal of soul-searching, I decided that a return to competitive running is not in the cards for me. I have no interest in racing in the US Championships or even the Olympic Trials. However, I do have one more goal in running and that is to run one more sub 4:00 mile.

The 2004 Olympic Trials unfortunately ended with me getting tangled up with Brian Berryhill in the semi-finals and I fell, ending my Olympic dreams. I have not stepped on a track for anything other than a few strides since. So I have decided that it is time for me to go out on my terms. As I mentioned, I want one more shot at the magical sub 4:00 barrier. I have a personal best of 3:57.13 and would love to lower that mark, but I will take 3:59.99! I have decided to write about this journey simply because the odds are not in my favor. I am currently propped up on my couch after having my seventh Achilles tendon surgery just yesterday (So forgive the typos. My friend Mr. Vicodin has a solid grasp on my motor skills). My training has really been put on the back burner as my priorities in life have shifted to my two daughters (Olivia and Emma), my career at UCSB and working on my doctorate degree. Finding time to train at a high level will be a challenge, but it is something that I am committed to once again.

I look forward to this challenge and I hope to gain some support from those that read my entries, but most of all I hope to provide some inspiration to those of you that are suffering injuries or just can’t find time to squeeze in your daily run. Perhaps reading of my suffering to get back in shape will make you feel better! The details of my “comeback” are unclear. The only thing that I know is that my sub 4:00 attempt will either happen in Eugene or Santa Barbara, and that I have a training partner. He is my retirement-bound boss, Ron Andrade. Hey buddy, sorry to keep this under wraps, but we are going to have to step up our training a little bit! I know I can count on you.

I intend on taking this process slow and it will like be a two-year journey as I recover from this surgery, which turned out to be much more serious than originally thought. I will likely post once a month, but if anyone has questions and/or suggestions, please feel free to contact me. I look forward to meeting new people during this journey. Breaking the sub 4:00 barrier was magical; I want to feel that rush one more time! Until next time….

Mike