NO cigar
Oh, yeah, and here’s the ultimate reason why I never did/never could use performance-enhancing drugs:
I recall being in drug testing one time after a major race (where I’d finished, yet again, in the “no cigar” place - 4th) and a competitor in front of me was complaining that she’d been accused of taking drugs because she’d had such a huge, sudden drop in her times … and, possibly, because she looked rather manly after having been a beauty in college. You know the signs: larger forehead, facial hair, lowered voice (often you’ll see steroid-users wearing braces as adults to keep their human growth hormone (HGH) jaws from expanding - and, I assume, separating all their teeth (?). Anyway, she was fuming and cussing, “How dare they say that?!” etc. and, in retrospect, methinks she was protesting too much. At the time, I commiserated with her, saying, “Yeah, its crazy to think of taking drugs and risking infertility. I can’t wait to be a mom; who knows what that stuff will do to your reproductive organs.” To which she responded quickly, TOO quickly, “Oh, I don’t want kids.” As if she’d already calculated and dismissed those risks.
Another competitor once said to me, in her prime, “I don’t need kids. I have my dogs and my running. I don’t need anything else.” But later, when I saw her in her 40’s at a talk we were both giving for a shoe store opening - after I had my first child (and was, no doubt, beaming with love!), this same woman said, “I wish I had children.” But it was too late. Ouch. You see, an athletic career is so short - soooooo short - but when you’re in it, when you’re caught up in the utter ambition of this singular achievement, you lose all perspective. I’m sure it happens in other professions, but the consequences are not as permanent. So many female distance runners can’t and don’t have children because of a choice they made in their foolish 20’s. For them, it’s no cigar for life.
side effects:
In females, the excessive concentrations cause male characteristics to develop and interfere with normal female functions. The drugs can:
* Stimulate hair growth on the face and body
* Suppress or interfere with menstrual cycle, possibly leading to infertility
* Thicken the vocal cords, which causes the voice to deepen, possibly permanently
* If pregnant, interfere with the developing fetus
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Joan, your blog should be required reading for all young athletes.
Comment by JOCKO — 4/25/2006 @ 9:46 am
JOCKO,
The saddest case of all may be that of Kim Gallagher (U.S. 800m silver medalist in 1984). No proof has ever come out - and probably never will, because she is dead from stomach cancer - but the rumor is that she was given steroids by her coach without her knowing it. He told her he was giving her “vitamins” and was even banned from coaching for distributing performance-enhancing drugs. George Muenz says cheaters should be tried as criminals. What about the crime of involuntary manslaughter?!
Wake up, people! Death is also a side effect
Comment by Joan — 4/25/2006 @ 10:26 am
Joan - I used to think that I did not need kids, I was young and dumb. My kids, (9, 7, & 4) bring me the greatest joy in my life. There are days, I am ready to send them to their grandparents for good. Most days, I am so happy to have them that I can not bear to think of life without them!
Any choice that would have kept me from having kids would have been to great a sacrifice to make.
By the way, have you read the book, “Running with the Buffaloes”? I just finished it, I loved it! I was wondering what you thought of it since you have been through that type of life.
Comment by George - FFSG — 4/25/2006 @ 10:38 am
Great Post!
Comment by Scooter — 4/25/2006 @ 12:02 pm
I am glad you get the big picture and realize what really matters in life. I have always respected your running abilities and accomplishments in the sport,however, after recently discovering your web site I am to pleased to discover you seem witty, intelligent, and not self absorbed with your last race time or weekly mileage. I am somewhat new to the running scene, but I have already met many runners who running is their life and their self worth seems to be placed on their performance and last race time. I have heard whispers of local elites who “supplement”. I don’t understand risking one’s health for a race, when in the end nobody will remember your race time or probably care for that matter. I am so glad that you understand that your family and daughters are your greatest accomplishment and that the you made the right choice even if it resulted in a fourth place finish verus a first place. I am quite sure that those people who were dirty have experience negative side effects and question if the result was worth the price.
Comment by k — 4/25/2006 @ 2:04 pm
I thought you post was very insightful. Even though I have not taken drugs to enhance my performance, I have pushed my body too far in training and I am paying for it now and I know I will be regretting it when I am older trying to chase my kids around with my sore knees.
Comment by air-run — 4/25/2006 @ 2:31 pm
Your kids are beautiful.
Comment by mis_nomer — 4/26/2006 @ 4:35 am