SimpleSoleProject

The 2nd of three Lincoln All-Ages Meets saw great weather and a showdown of epic proportions.  These low key events allow runners to get ready for upcoming races, try something different, and get on a track and race with no pressure.  Meet highlights

-Ryan Salem running a self-proclaimed 10 year best in the mile

-Austin McKillip breaking 5:00 for the first time in the mile

-Lucas Kiefer running well in the mile, 800, predict a mile as he gets ready for junior olympic competition

-the Ehlers kids competing in distances from 100 to 800m

-multiple sprint heats as members of Sara Domeier’s crew gear up for State Games

-Ben Cohoon, Jared Carlson, Ross Brown, PJ Grosserode, and Derek Sekora having a showdown over all races.  One of them will have to post the winner.  But go out and try and run a 100, 200, 400, 800, 1600, and paced 1600 in 90 minutes and do them hard.  Well done to those fellows.

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Today’s post is in honor of the upcoming Track and Field National Championships in Eugene, OR.  Catch it on TV or online.

I was lucky enough to talk with Khadevis Robinson a few weeks back. He has been a professional runner for over a decade. Having experienced the highs (Olympic team in 2004, multiple national championships) and the lows (4th at Olympic trials, injury, etc), he had a lot to say in our brief 15 minutes together. In the time that these athletes give me I try to get one or two things out of them that I can pass along to you, and to the athletes I coach.  The title of this post is that “nugget” of wisdom.

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I have never thought about it in these terms, but the thoughts have crossed my mind several times before.  As I was reading an article on Khadevis Robinson, he talked about how he has 2 kids and a wife at home and has never had the luxury of a big contract, personal massage therapists, nutritionists, or the ability to just “hang out in Europe for weeks at a time” but was still determined to compete against the best runners in the world.  I just kind of always assumed that everyone who runs a certain time, or at a professional level for a period of time, will have a lifestyle that curtails them to being able to run as fast as possible – without really having to worry about anything else.  While this might hold true for some, the overwhelming majority of runners don’t have contracts that do anything more for them than just being able to get by. Of course a handful are showered with the best training facilities and riches of a professional athlete – not to be confused with an NBA/NFL player, but gives them enough money to focus on training and support a family.

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Lincoln All Comers Track Meets

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The scene was set.  North Star High School Track had been warmed up by a number of local rec runners and elites in some open races.  The sun was setting.  A small crowd had gathered to witness history.  Competitors were amped.  Drinks had been set out and 15 dozen doughnuts were awaiting the racers in the exchange zone.  The challenge:  to consume a half dozen doughnuts in the middle of completing 5 circuits of the track. 13 brave soles took on their nerves and steeled themselves for the effort.  12 finished.

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I don’t usually get that into writing book/movie reviews about running.  Heck, I am not even that into talking about them (movies that is, I love books).  Often times they don’t seem to quite capture the idea, spirit, meaning of running.  Though books like Once a Runner, Strides, etc do a pretty damn good job.  I also don’t critique that often because I feel like I stink at writing and people’s jobs involve critiquing for pay.  Plus, I am not that critical. I took a photography class in college where an assignment was to analyze photographs by luminaries and classmates.  I saw a nice picture, our professor saw lines and meaning and all of that biznit.  I like being entertained, hard to be critical when that is your standard.

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