On the line. A minute from the start of the race, and all I can think about is that I have prepared myself in the best way I know how. I warmed up properly and completed all the little details that sets me up for success.
Breath in... breath out... I'm ready.
The starter lifts his hands in the air... BANG!
The mess of runners aim to establish their position among the rest of the field. Will power and some luck put me in what I believe is a great position, right behind the lead pack.
As the 8000 meter race progresses forward, the first mile for me, 4:43. This is a great place to be.
I proceed through the race, catching up and putting in strong surges to five more opponents, and then the final 800 arrives. I see a group of three runners fairly close. Coach is yelling, "don't settle! Push now, and have them pull you though, don't settle!" Repeatedly coach is yelling this and I call this in my mind, my responsibility. I will pass them before the finish.
I caught them, and blew by the group of three in the last 200 meters and didn't get challenged by them again. At this point I see our 3rd and 4th man thinking were running well.
Team results: 6th of 9 teams. We definitely ran well, but were bested. We work all summer long, put in the miles, tempos, hard workouts, slept early, ate right, and are talented runners. But did we win?
There are two sides to this, the yes, because we gave it our best, and the no, because we clearly did not accomplish what we set forth to do.
I see the no. We did not win. We gave it a great effort, yes, but not a win. What's there to do after such a defeat? If I have learned anything from running is that, "Its not about how hard you hit. It's about how hard you can get hit and keep moving forward, how much you can take, and keep moving forward, that's how winning is done!" -Rocky Balboa
For an interesting related article, check out, If You Want To Win.
Until next time,
Michael Duncan
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