View from 24 Hours of Great Glen
Gorham, NEW HAMPSHIRE
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"It's not where you finish, it's how you finish that counts."
My name is Chris Lalmond and I am currently 27 years old. I feel most like myself when I am running in the woods. Though it’s been that way for quite a long time, I am relatively new to the more public side of running, that is, competition. I ran my first races five or six years ago and have been enraptured by the competitive running community, especially the ultrarunning/mountain running community ever since.
In the winter of 2009-10 I experienced a pretty big bump in the trail. I was diagnosed with germ cell cancer. I had a grapefruit sized tumor in my chest that was squishing my left lung. I went through intense chemotherapy from January through April 2010 and had surgery to remove the dead mass in May of 2010. Cancer sucked, yes.
It was a huge surprise to be dealing with, but in the end, it was the best teacher and coach I’ve ever had in my life. It taught me to live. I was already in love with life before cancer, but after cancer, I’m not only in love with life- I am making a life of love. I am pursuing my dreams and disregarding all chatter outside of my heart. With that attitude after surgery I began training bit by bit for my return to racing. I had been an ultra racer before, but by September of 2010, I raced my first post-cancer ultra. The
Athlete Spotlight: Chris Lalmond
Vermont 50k. What a beautiful race, and so much fun. I had the honor of running for my friend Brian who was fighting cancer. Rest peacefully Brian!
My dad was there to cheer me on as I ran around in the technicolor forest all the way to the finish. My sense of accomplishment fueled my next race and my everyday training. I am stuck in a virtuous circle! Training strengthens me and constantly offers me ways to improve my form and speed. Racing gives me direct feedback on how well my training is going. If I keep it all up and keep it fun, there’s no losing! I only race against myself and I find joy as much in other people’s achievement as I find in my own.
Finishing the trail run leg at the Pinnacle Challenge
[Photo Gianina Lindsey]
During his treatment at MGH
[Photo Chris Lalmond]
Follow Chris on his blog at http://chrislalmond.wordpress.com/.
