Hard for me to not identify with this anthem of my youth. I live my life to the fullest, ranging far and wide, on a tight rope of my own design. Trying to stretch one end to tenuous and unpredictable anchors. Building a web as it were that keeps me giddy and fully alive.
The most reliable end is my devotion to athletic potential realized. Easily recognized and quantified by the trained eye. The other end more risky. Those connections I’ve made with the merely mortal, that have communicated their own commitment to being the very best that they can. Those I mis-identify (in it for the wrong reasons) and fail sting a little, the many successes, my healing balm.
No small coincidence that I ponder this on a Thursday morning. Always rejuvenated and re-energized after watching the hale and hearty pour absolutely everything they have on the track the previous night.
This, my 6th year of Wednesday Night Track Work is by far the smallest and most rewarding. A core group that shows up every week, bound and determined to achieve what others might only dream. To delve deeper into themselves, to be purified through honesty, suffering, and self actualization. To be Real Runners. I care not what “talent” they bring to the track, only that they exhaust themselves completely. And encourage each other to the same. And by 7:00, a band of like minded souls, appreciative of their combined efforts and accomplishments. Real.
Those that come are courageous, and when they finish, are better for it. I’m just the middle man giving them the avenue, precipitous and fraught with failure it may seem, more rewarding than could be imagined when complete. Real.
I tell the athletes, “This is how we do it“, I tell Coach John, “This is why we do it.”
Congratulations to Shain Kephart for being the first to recognize yesterday’s iconic quiz, Thomas Hicks, winner of the 1904 Olympic Marathon in St. Louis. Mike Reilly was only a few minutes behind him with the correct response. They probably remembered that I was the Assistant Operations Director for the Women’s USA Olympic Trials Marathon in 2004. Working under Dave McGillivray, better known as the Race Director for the Boston Marathon. And speaking of Dave, he just finished running 59 miles to celebrate his birthday of the same number. A pretty cool feat made remarkable by the fact that he has run his age in miles every year since he was 12. Think about that.
And Happy Birthday to to my good buddy Dr. Bill Weeks. Turns 47 again, looking forward to raising a pint and burning down the dance floor with him tonight. 7:00 pm., Upstream Brewing Co., be there or be decidedly square!
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