Saturday, July 01, 2006

Droopy Dog

I am working on a humorous post about triathlete idiosyncracies, and I was thinking of posting it tonight, but I can't do it. It's just not coming together. If you'll allow a little wallowing, I am in a real funk.

This has been a tough week. You all have probably experienced the blues or depression after a big race or when you back off your training. This was the week after my Ironman 70.3 race, and I have been resting and intentionally beginning a period of detraining. Add to this that Mrs. Greyhound and the puppy are away, and you can imagine why I'm a bit down.

Tonight, I was sitting at my desk trying to organize the bills as Pararie Home Companion was ending. I flahsed back, eighteen years ago, to a winter evening when I would have been listening to the same progam in my empty quarters at the University of Wisconsin. Most everyone else was out on State Street. I listened to their voices and watched the snow from my window. My afianced Mrs. Greyhound all the way across the country, just like she is tonight.

I am nearly twice as old as I was then, but I feel the same angst of youthful loneliness. In a sense, it is worse now. The Christian marriage liturgy talks of how man and wife become "one flesh." As a younger man, those words meant something primarily physical to me. As an older man, I know tonight that part of who I am--part of me--is not here tonight.

5 comments:

TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian said...
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TriBoomer a.k.a. Brian said...

Solitude plus post-race funk is a pretty nasty pest. But hey, dog, don't let that flea burrow. Soon things will return to normal.

It takes about two weeks after an "A" race until I want to train again and another week for the race bug to return. What works for me is to volunteer at a local road race or tri. Giving back will help lift your doggy spirits and give you something to do beyond the leash.

Stay tuned...

Junie B said...

thats probably the sweetest thing i have ever read...

Unknown said...

seriously, that was just the sweetest thing. brought a tear to this cynic's eye. either that, or it's allergies. who knows?

Skinny said...

dang that was sweet.. sigh.. good for Mrs. Greyhound!