Santa Barbara 9 Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run
Below you will find a letter written by Stu Sherman to his running coach and mentor, Lisa Smith. Over the years, Stu has finished the Santa Barbara 9 Trails 35 Mile Endurance Run several times. Like all of us Stu has encountered good days and not so good days. But like a true ultra distance runner Stu is never discouraged, always optimistic, ready for the next adventure, ready to take responsibility for his own actions and decisions. This year Stu was positioned for a top ten finish when disaster struck him down. On Saturday during the race, Stu fell off the Cold Springs Trail, he cut his knee open and broke his leg! Stu did not look to place blame, Stu did not cry about the race he was about to lose. Like a true ultra distance athlete, (with the help of his fellow competitors - who unselfishly gave their race time) Stu scrambled back on to the trail, bloody and in pain he limped back up the Cold Springs Trail to the Gibraltar Aid Station. From there he was transported to the hospital where after a couple of hours he was treated. After the hospital, Stu found his way back to the Cater start / finish area. He did not come back to complain about the hazardous trail or the trail markings. He came back to turn in his bib number and DNF as requested. He came back to encourage his fellow runners. He came back to support the race. They say that "competition does not build character, it reveals it." On Saturday, Stu Sherman was revealed for what he really is. Stu Sherman is a genuine ultra distance athlete. Stu represents what it means to be an ultra runner. We can all learn a lesson from Stu Sherman.
Hi Lisa,
I fractured my ankle in two places today. The injury occurred a little
more
than 2 hours into today's SB Nine Trails race. I was on a not-overly steep
descent on a single-track trail and somehow stepped off the trail with my
left foot. The left side of the trail was the downward slope. When I
then
stepped on my right foot, I must have been at an awkward angle and moving
with sufficient momentum to torque my ankle. I heard it snap. My
momentum
and the steepness and slipperiness of the slope caused me to fall down and
roll perhaps 25 feet down the slope. I used my arms to cover my face and
head. Ultimately, my fall was stopped by the trees on the slope. Two
guys
were right behind me when I fell down the slope, and they scrambled down to
pull me up the embankment. Pulling me up was difficult, so I tested my
ankle to see whether I could climb out unaided. I was able to do so, and
then walked about 15 feet down the trail to ascertain the condition of my
ankle. I then attempted to run, but only took about 5 steps and realized
it
was foolish and my race was over.
I had to hike up the trail for approximately 25 minutes to reach the aid
station. My friends there put ice in my sock and I was given a ride, with
a
nurse friend who coincidentally was at the aid station, to my van at the
start/finish. My friend drove me to an Urgent Care facility, and after a
90
minute wait, I received medical attention. I saw the x-ray which indicates
the double fracture. I received stitches for a gash on the side of my
right
knee, and a splint (temporary cast) was affixed to my lower leg, until the
swelling subsides sufficiently for an orthopedist to apply a solid cast on
Monday.
I am not in any pain. I have been medicating with ibuprophen and keeping
my
ankle elevating to accelerate the de-swelling process.
Barbara my fiancée is moving in with me tomorrow. We are emptying out her
house (with hired help doing all of the lifting) tomorrow. My momentum is
with Barbara and it was not with running the Nine Trails. However, with
the
Nine Trails being my home course and me not having run one ultra race this
year (due primarily to joyfully and wholeheartedly choosing to spend so much
time with Barbara to develop and deepen our relationship), I felt
"compelled" to run the race and to achieve my Nine Trails goal which
has
eluded me for 6 years due to injuries and post-100 mile race fatigue: to
run a sub-7:30. However, I was too tired from the past 8 weeks of intense
work and long hours at my job, and despite sleeping 11 hours per night for 6
days preceding the race, I was not emotionally rejuvenated to run the race
with desire and enthusiasm.
I declare that the lesson I have learned, in hindsight, is that I need to
say "no" when something doesn't feel right or when I am not
wholeheartedly
into something which does require my full enthusiasm and energy. My desire
was to be with Barbara for the final stage of packing up her house, but I
couldn't bring myself to forgo the Nine Trails race when it appeared that
not only would Barbara be able to complete the packing herself but that she
would actually be able to crew for me in today's race. We decided
yesterday
afternoon that she would not crew because there was too much last-minute
packing that needed to be done.
I am at peace with my ultra running career. On a daily basis I savor my
2004 Angeles Crest 23:30 7th place overall and 1st place age 40 and over
finish. I feel indebted to you for your coaching during the four years I
trained under you.
We shall remain close friends, and I will stay in touch.
Big hug,
Stu
Hi Stu,
I had tears as I read your email. Sometimes God has ways of knocking us down only to pick us up to a new level of awareness.
You will race again and you will race well. You need time with your new life, one which you have waited and longed for, for so long.
I'm so proud of the person you are!
Lisa Smith