Do you smile before and after you run? Do you feel good about your accomplishments after you compete? Do you not mind coming in second to a better prepared competitor? If you answered yes to any of these questions then you have probably learned some of the many life lessons that this sport has to offer. The great thing is that there are so many more lessons to learn. Enjoying running is a self contained experience. It does not depend on anything else to fulfill its purpose. Having fun and feeling good about oneself is a prime motivator.
We all like to win but winning is relative. I would always tell my charges that “I can always find a race for you to win and one for you to lose; so how important can that really be?” I’ve even heard some track greats say that they are determined to go out a winner even if they have to find a high school race to compete in for their final time. Guess what? Winning that last race won’t make them a winner or loser. It will only remind them of what makes them who they are. I remind all young runners that their careers will not boil down to a single race or even a single moment.
It will be the aggregate of their total achievements in the sport. The most significant race may very well be the last one you run but not because you win or lose but rather it will be the one you will remember forever. The one that defines your effort and your level of commitment to excellence and since none of us really knows the future we can only guess when that race will come. For that reason alone you must vow to run each race as if your legacy depends on it, for it may very well.
Part 2 tomorrow
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