Lane 8 and hurricane season have a common thread. A David versus Goliath type of thread.
A big, formidable foe, and a lowly and weak opponent.
Humans versus a category four hurricane. Who loses? Humans.
David versus Goliath. Looking at the two, most would bet on the giant – the obvious, overwhelmingly physically superior human.
Ya still with me?
With proper preparation, a foe’s strengths can be mitigated.
We can’t stop hurricanes, but we can wisely prepare for them.
We also can’t stop the aging process, but with dedicated and consistent focus, we can age wisely. Certainly, at the very least, we can make it better than if we do nothing.
We also might surprise ourselves at the house we can build, if we plan ahead, and work hard.
That’s why I think going to Finland in August is such a David versus Goliath feat.
Tyson Gay demolished the 200 meter field that included Wallace Spearman and Jeremy Wariner.
I mean, he totally destroyed the field.
In doing so, he clocked a PR 19.58, becoming the third fastest man to run 200 meters, behind only the 200 former world record holder Michael Johnson, and the 100 & 200 current world record holder Usain Bolt.
One of my all-time favorite movies, in any genre, is Without Limits– the Steve Prefontaine story.
He was a front-runner. meaning, he went out front, grabbed the lead and held onto it until the finish line.
His coach, Bill Bowerman, at the University of Oregon, tried to get him to hold back and draft off other runners. Hold back so he could run his last mile faster than his first mile – and probably his overall time would be faster.
Pre, basically, would have none of it.
(Click here – Pre’s attitude – to play the movie trailer)
The only way he knew how to run was flat out, all the way.
Even if he lost, he would always know that he left nothing on the track.
His greatest race was the 5,000 at the 1972 Munich Olympics. He finished fourth.
But it was still his greatest race.
If I have to explain it to you, then you probably won’t understand. But that’s OK. There’s a ton I still don’t understand.
I do understand one thing though, if your goals aren’t impossible, you’re not reaching high enough. You can quote me on that one.
Carpe diem and leave nothing on the track. jeff noel 🙂