As amazing as these Olympic Games were, my biggest set of chills were saved for those three little words in today’s column header. Chill scale- Farah = +10, Rupp = +9, Manzano = + 8, Meb = +7, Phelps + 7, Pistorius = + 6, etc.
But when Jaque Rogge made his call for the youth of the world to gather in Rio in 2016, it was full on cutis anserina. As a historian of athletics, particularly Olympic athletics, this is the moment, like no other, that inspires hope and aspiration and hard work. The games themselves concluded yet that spark that is symbolized by the Olympic Flame already ignited in the hearts and dreams of the next generation of Great Athletes. Who will answer the call and have their lives played out in 4 years on the biggest stage, the streets or courts or fields or pools in Brazil? Assume their place in the pantheon of Olympic greatness? I just love this stuff.
York Thomas, Megan Zavorka, Matt Schneider, Meghan Schneider, Matt Pohren, Natalie Come, Kelly Crawford, Luka Thor, Carolyn Meyer, Lee Anderson, Cheto Cerda, Justin Mollak, Linda, Jimmy Doherty, Shain Kephart, David Bohlken and Cory Logsdon attended my Men’s Olympic Marathon viewing party and breakfast yesterday morning. After adding Suzanne Higgins we then headed out for some Team distance running.
While the crowds out at the dojo were down -most people were running the Boxer 500, including our own Agustin Delgado (another new pr!)- those that were out for their Sunday morning constitutional were amazed at this group of studs and studettes. It isn’t every day that you see the best runners in Nebraska gathered at the dojo for a training run. A lot of encouraging and supportive comments, all deserved. 10-18 miles was the order of the day, we left as a group but were soon settled into appropriate pace groups. A treat for me to lead bike with Luka, Lee, York, Cheto, and Los Dos Matts, the first 7.395 mile loop gone @ 6:10 pace. Then Luka and Matt Schneider taking the next loop, quickening to between 5:35- all under 6:00, the full 25K done in just over 90 minutes. Amazing to see how effortless young Luka is, floating along, certainly born to be a Real Runner, Matt bearing down and keeping up, effort and determination also defining a Real Runner. I’ll note here that Luka had a maximum of 3 hours sleep the night before, all the more amazing. Cory, fresh off yet another local road win on Saturday leading Shain and David, their 6:20 pace on any other day would have lit up the course.
Our women too were showing their stuff. Natalie and Megan Z. will be running fall marathons, Megan’s debut, I’m giddy(up!). How fortunate they are to have Meghan Schneider’s wisdom and experience to assist them. M&M cranking 15 at sub 8’s, Como doing that and 3 more with the final 2 at 6:40 pace.
There is a lot of Young Talent in Nebraska. With inspiration, motivation, and Team centered training, dreams will come true.
Finally, I don’t thank you readers nearly often enough. This is the one place that I can be seen and heard and felt as I really am and for that I am truly grateful.
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