As of Lately?

I haven't put up a post in a while, but ya, there's some things I'd like to share, as there has been a transitioning of my mindset these past two weeks:

As of lately, things have been... well, 'different' for me.


After my first few weeks of not being able to run, things changed. It's human nature to tell the truth.

AS USUAL, PLEASE RIGHT CLINK THE LINK, AND ADD AS YOUR BACKGROUND MUSIC. PLEASE AND THANK YOU :)!-- www.youtube.com/watch?v=fBiyiU5Blm8


Aside from being more-so ADHD from the lack of running to mellow me down, I went about everything in a very non-chalant way.
As each day of not being able run went by after the first few weeks, I didn't think anything of it. At that point, my body was still damamged, to the extent that I could not even hold up-right while trying to run, let alone walk completely normal. Of course, I cross-trained hard, as ellitptical and aqua jogging beaome my new found niche for 'breaking a sweat'. Let me tell you, I OWNED and put to shame any person that would elliptical in my presence.
As some people don't realize, most people go through the motions in their life. Personally, I am no fan. Think about it, what fun is it subconsciously going through your day without appreciating what you do, what kind of person you are, or perhaps enjoying the true simple things in life. Still lost? Okay, Have you ever drove somewhere, got out of your car and been like, "Wait... I drove, I don't even remember it.... "Well, a lot of people go through motions in their daily lives. And In my instance, it dealt with my mentality of running, or current lack there-of.

Since 7th grade, people referred to me as a runner, rare in my parts of the state... perhaps country. But ya, it was what I was known for. I worked hard, had a genuine liking of the sport, was fascinated by how it worked, and so forth. And when I got hurt, I not only lost sight of what and who I was for a bit, but was no longer consciously missing running, and even failed to remember it... even purposely to an extent.
As school came around, I would do the same thing everyday. As I made my way into the training room, now becoming quite comfortable for being an elite elliptical'ist', I went through the motions.

Football guy: "What up big man!?"
Me: "What little guy?!"
As we both gave a simple handshake on the go, I was unconscious. This was my life. Pouring sweat, with the soles of my feet burning from the friction I was creating, I hammered the elliptical day in and day out. As time went on, I began to wonder from time to time, if my hip flexor and joined tendons would ever heal, nor did I worry that much anymore. Each day would be the same thing, wake up, go to the training room, do the same drills day after day, elliptical, chit chat with the other sports players in the training room, and then go about the rest of my day 'til I aqua jogged. It was life.
To be perfectly honest, I was content. So, I told myself. Well.... wait a minute, "Okay," I wasn't completely content, there were times I was scared to be in the training room during my daily routine. It was when the softball players were there. Let me tell you this, if a cage match were to break out between me and any one of them, I would be ripped in half... And that's saying a lot with my junior high wrestling resume!

The one thing that I kept buried, was that of people continually asking me, "Are you back to running yet?" Each day, the same talks in person, calls, texts, "So can you run yet?" This would include several people primarily ranging from back home, day to day life, some of the guys on the team, and so on, but the most consistent one being my mom. "So, Mud (what my fam calls me)... can you run yet?"

Me: "Let me tell you the plan, Nancy. First off, I'm waiting for the Olympics to add the Elliptical, then and certainly then, I will proceed to represent the U.S. of A. and bring home the gold."

My mom: in a broken up tone, "So, not yet?"

Me: "Perhaps tomorrow."


I proceeded to say, "Perhaps tomorrow," numerous times, and without giving it much thought.

As I went onto campus one day, and this being the only day I have been on campus, I walked along. I am still confused to this very moment what exactly happened... But I will explain it the best I can. As I was heading back home, a young girl walked up to me and simply said, "You miss running." She did not ask it like it was question, rather telling me what I was 'supposed' to be thinking. A little confused, I just gave a slight smile/smirk, light laugh and in a half heartily tone, "Ya... I do." This was the first time it was brought to my attention, my conscious reasoning, in the 3 weeks, now up to 6 weeks at this point. What I forgot, what I missed most... And... that was it. I didn't say much more, it was a simple exchange of words. And ya, I know what you're thinking, who was the girl? Personally, I do not know. I would guess it was one of the girls that ran in some track meets I did back in high school, but I am still unsure.

Regardless, I did not fully cave. I just had that feeling about running, which could be concluded with a simple and slight curious... "huh".

For whatever reason, perhaps a spark from the girl on campus, I decided to try yet ANOTHER kind of therapy, as if the deep tissue massage, stem therapy, ultra sound, strengthening drills, and acupuncture therapy... yes, the therapy where they stab you with needles... "purposely," was not enough already. So, I made the call, set up the appointment and so let it be done. I go in and the doctor explains what's going to happen... "We are going to take this metal bar and manually use it to grind up all the scar tissue that has formed in the area of your injury, and ya, it's going to be pretty painful."

The doctor was a very friendly lady, who in a sense, came off a bit 'hippi-ish.' As she examined my body before the therapy started, proceeding to feel out the injured area, as well as several other places to figure out if I was aligned properly and all that jazz, she gets quiet.

As there is a sense of erieness, I look up, she is hovering over me as I sit there, and in a sense waiting for me to take notice, she tells me, "Clay... your body misses running."



After a confused look, she repeats it again, "Your body is telling me it misses running"
A bit baffled, I begin to think, "First off, I never said I was a runner, nor suggested it (I mean, look at me, I'm clearly basketball player material... 'clearly'). And second, as hard as it is for me to say at the time, it was true." As a rush of feelings came through, I simply sat there with a bit of confusion, a small, yet, trademark smirk of mine, and after a short pause, simply said, "Ya... ya, it does."
No longer "going through the motions" from one moment to the next, I begin to remember what I appreciated. I could entail numerous pages of what all I missed and what came to mind in that instant, but in short, I wanted to run again, sincerely. Well, okay, I'll share 'one' moment: As a good friend of mine is biking beside me on a summer night run in Claremore, I ran alongside. No worries in the world, we discussed all issues that concerned our interest:
Friend: That's crazy a common ground hole squirrel can outrun the fastest man on the planet.
Me: Crazy? No. I call it simple logic, and truth. It IS a squirrel and all.
Friend: Just curious, but what is your position on the role of government in supporting innovation in the field of biotechnology?
Me: "Well, let me put it simply, recent research has shown the empirical evidence for globalization of corporate innovation is very limitied and as a corollary the market for technologies is shrinking. As a world leader, it's important for America to provide systematic research grants for our scientists. I believe strongly there will always be a need for us to have a well articulated innovation policy with emphasis on human resource development. BOOM! Thank You!"

As the run is almost done, and just half a mile away from where we're finishing up, things take a turn As a handful of random people drove by, they proceed to throw a water bottle at my friend on the bike. As they continued onward, "as if it was over:"... they came upon a stop light 200 yards down. Without consciously thinking, I snag the filled water bottle, and track them down. As an argument breaks out, yelling from both sides, I open up the water bottle and thrown it in the their vehicle. My friend arrives over on the bike, as I swiftly say, "Go back to the vehicle, I'm taking care of this."

After some more arguing and the water bottle tossed back out of the vehicle to the other side, it gets more heated... And just as it was all said and done, I was trotting away, and one of the punks chimes in, "YA! I bet you wouldn't throw that water bottle back in here!"

"Oh really?"

Without hesitation and hopping over and grabbing it, still half full at this time, I gladly throw it back in. This time, they get out of the vehicle and face to face arguing is taking fold... and ya... I will finish this story.... "Another day, Another Time" :D.

As the heated 'event' is done with, I go back over to my friend. "Wow, I can't believe that happened..."

Me: That's a weekly thing... man.

Friend: "Same people or something? What were you thinking???"
Me: "Typically, no. And I wasn't?"

Friend: "What should we do now?"
Me: "Are we human, or are we dancers?"
Back to the therapy:
As the therapy starts, it becomes evident, "This sucks." As I can literally hear the scar tissue being grinded with the bar, and the therapist saying, "Wow, this area isn't a happy camper", I begin to "half" jokingly have second thoughts about this.

I am going to cut this entry short, but to put it simply, "They say the hardest step is always the first," so let it be known, the first step has been taken.

Yes... people... I got your comedy right here-- http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DjGwusHrOtk and also:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8F_G2zp-opg&feature=channel

p.s. New squirrel videos will be up 'next' post :)
-clay j mayes the 3rd

Also, I would like everyone to say a prayer or two for a good friend of mine named Jared, who is having some serious heart issues and will be undergoing surgery shortly. So, if it's not too much trouble to ask, a couple prayers for a genuinely good-hearted guy would be great!