Starting My Comeback

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