Follow Greely senior Matt Woolverton this fall as he talks about his struggles with injuries, and his battle to overcome them for one healthy season
I had something written up for my “big comeback” this upcoming weekend at Manchester. However I may have ruined my “big comeback”. Last friday I witnessed the last race on Twin Brooks soil I will ever see as a Ranger. I also decided to run in it.
Late thursday night I had trouble sleeping, after time to think I emailed coach Dowling. I almost forgot about it when I woke up the next morning. I went through my daily routine until I checked my email. As I read his response the smile on my face grew bigger.
I was racing.
Now don’t get me wrong. Just because I was racing doesn’t mean I wasn’t
nervous. I spent my second period study hall that day watching and rewatching Derek Redmond at the 92’ Olympics, and yes I am very superstitious.
Coach and I agreed that the only situation in which I would run would be if the hamstring was not going to be a problem. I probably made the wrong choice with racing.
I tried to stick with the Ranger boys during the warmup but I found myself overly stressing about the hills. The Pain Cave to be more specific. I chose to take a different route than the boys and do all of A loop on my own.
I thought more in A loop alone than I did the entire race, after time I determined injured or healthy racing my last eligible race at Twin Brooks was something I needed to do.
Being that it was my first race back I had the honor of giving the annual pump up speech prior to the race. I talked about Twin Brook, I talked about leaving it all on the course. However there was more I wanted to say. I wanted to talk about how each of them kept me going, how all of them motivated me to want to come back. I wanted to thank them for all they did for me and my recovery. For any of you Rangers reading this I want to apologize for my pump-up, it was sub-par in my book. I owe a lot to you all, both guys and girls teams. I’ll see what I can do to make it up to each of you.
Anyway, I’ll admit it I struggled, after clocking 23-24 as a PR in years past, dropping back down to my Freshman year times of 26 was pretty frustrating. The entire time I could just feel my legs tightening up.
I got through the race thanks to one freshman in particular, Will Murphy you’re the real MVP. I was utilizing him throughout the whole race, he was pacing me like you wouldn’t believe. It seemed as though every time my hamstring would hurt particularly bad he would speed up, and there was no chance I would let him out of my sight.
I finally got my cross-country closure as I finished through the Pain Cave and coasted to the finish. I was delighted as I ran the last couple hundred meters to be surrounded by so many familiar faces, Greely’s track coach Coach Folan, Mr. Sandreuter, acquaintances from community service I take part in and parents of friends of mine, as well as my own family.
As I came to the finish I felt shivers go through my spine as the Greely boys let out a harmony of my own signature wolf howls. A memory I will appreciate even after I don’t hear anymore howls. I finished to see our athletic director David Shapiro, my coach and runners who I’ve ran with for years.
As I walked towards my team I was swarmed with high-fives and pats on the back. I was a little out of it so I don’t really know whether my high-fives were up to par or not but that’s a different story.
After a season of struggle and pain, racing last friday at Twin Brook was the best decision I have made all year.
As always I want to thank you all for the continued support.
Keep on working at whatever you want most, eventually with time the work starts to become worth it.
I plan to race at Manchester but I’m not expecting much. After last friday I think my legs don’t have much else left.
If any of you recognize me please introduce yourselves. I love meeting new people and it’s not everyday you get the chance to be in an entire park full of people with similar interests.
Just follow the wolf howls and you’ll find me there. As always. No regrets,
-Matt Woolverton
