A (Dear John) Letter

Dear Coach Higdon,

I hope this letter finds you well.

Look, you know I'm not one to beat around the bush, so I'm just going to get right into it...

We've had a good run. You've gotten me through many a marathons, many a recovery periods, and a couple of Personal Records. I've enjoyed our time together. I always enjoyed the paragraph descriptions of each of the workouts for each week, I was always amazed at how much time and effort you put into the communication part of the relationship.

I realize I didn't always follow your lead. Sometimes I was lazy, I thought I knew better and I would find myself straying from you and in the end I would crash and burn and when I finally crossed the finish line in Eugene, I realized that I needed you more than I thought I did. I went back to you and we had a triumphant return to glory later that fall in Georgia. You were always there for me. I stayed with you and was even more of a diligent follower when you lead me to my current marathon PR of 4:12 in St. Louis.

We've had some good times together, Coach. And I will always cherish those times we shared together. But, as I'm growing and moving forward, I'm starting to get an itch. And I think it's an itch that you can't scratch. I want to be with someone who pushes me a little further, who challenges me in a different way.

It's with a heavy heart that I tell you today, that I am leaving. I know you saw it coming. I know you've noticed that these last few weeks I haven't really been in touch with you much. I haven't pulled out the printed out week-by-week schedule that I have on my coffee table very often. At first, I was in denial... I told myself it was because I already knew what you had to say. I already knew what I was supposed to do, but eventually I had to be honest with myself and come to the realization that... I was bored.

You're a great training plan. GREAT. You really are. Please know that it has nothing to do with you. It's me. Another runner will find you and give you the appreciation and dedication that you truly deserve. I know that.

As for me, well hopefully this won't hurt too much when I tell you, but you're bound to find out from someone else anyway. I've kinda already moved on. I promise, it wasn't a quick thing. I flirted and then resisted temptation for a long time... but, I've found a good match for me. He's just what I desire right now... he's challenging, he's high mileage, he's speedy. He's going to take me to the next level, I just know it. His name... is Coach Pete Pfitzinger. I hate to tell you that he and I already hooked up on Monday (and everyday since then). And while I realize... he sounds like a rebound, I know I only finished with you on Saturday and told you I was taking a break. But, I've kinda been planning this for awhile. He has a way with his high mileage that lured me from the start. And I just know that he's going to get me to that sub 4:00 that I need so bad.

So, I guess this is goodbye. I must warn you, there might be some early morning calls where I beg you to take me back, when Pfitz is making me run 15 miles on a Tuesday morning. But please, please... give me the cold shoulder. Don't let me fall back on old habits. You deserve better than that. Really. I'm determined to make this relationship with Pfitz work. It's best for both of us if we just move on entirely.

Thank you, Coach. Thank you for your commitment to me. Thank you for making me the runner that I am today. I truly learned everything I know about running from you. And as for the future? I know my future for now is with Pfitz. But, maybe you and I will cross paths again one day... but for now... I gotta follow my heart. Good luck and best wishes.

Love,
Amy