Of Dreams and Delusions

[Andrew A.]

http://wpblogs.runningtimes.com/blogs/talktest/?p=639

While Scott Douglas was ostensibly making a point about heroes and villains, his final example seems to have drawn the most attention for the way it singles out someone who is likely undeserving of such attention.  However, this individual clearly desires that level of attention -- I found out about his blog via Letsrun, its mention prompted a now defunct lengthy thread.  Like a giant sinkhole, it is hard to not look -- there is some incredible stuff on Rahm's blog, a fascinating mishmash of amateurish eccentricities.  Of course, I am in agreement with the comments made by Scott, Duncan, Ryan, and Pete at the above link.  In seeking out special treatment by invoking goals that he is nowhere close to and will not be within sniffing distance of in the next 18 months, he does a disservice to all of those who have a real shot at said goals by dint of their talent, determination, and effort.  He gratuitously exploits the image of far better athletes for his own benefit, so he can pretend to be an elite runner.  I keep decent tabs on local race results throughout the year and honestly this guy's name has never stood out to me for any performance from 5K up to the marathon -- if he were at the level of any other OT candidate around here, I would have noticed.  I am all for trying one's very best to fulfill one's highest potential in any chosen endeavor, and would absolutely encourage Rahm to become the best runner that he can be, yet there are far better, much classier ways to go about it.

[Double]

Classic.  Hey, a few of us got to run in HS and College and it was a
great.  Some of us got to know a few outstanding runners and could
see first hand what their wheelhouse was made up of.  At some point
in time you come to the realization you don't have that.  It doesn't
mean you give up; it means you have to be happy in your own skin.
 
Many of us have or have had big goals.  You lay it all out there and get
a small taste of what is required of these athletes.  Sometimes your in
awe, other times it motivates you, and sometimes it makes you face
reality.
 
I used to manage about 60 people.  As in life, you get into conversation
about sports.  If I had a dollar for everyone I met who thought if they
had stuck to their sport they would have turned pro, I could buy lunch
for a week.  Golfers, swimmers, football, hoops, hockey, you name it, they
assumed because they were 1st or 2nd team in HS conference they
could have excelled in college.  I went to college.  Division 2.  Every
sod buster there was good in HS.  As a large physical ed school, at the time
we competed in the most college sports in the nation.  All the major sports,
water polo, field hockey, lacrosse, rifle, softball, judo, you name it.  A very
small percentage could have started Division 1.  In fact, a large percent of incoming athletes stay with the program after a year or two.  It can be
daunting as you have to compete/train for position constantly.  Now when
I compare my small world to the people who tell me they could have been
great I just kind of ponder the mind set.  It was just like Pete said, your
basically dismissing what it really has taken for top flight athletes to achieve.
 
In running the first one across the line wins.  That's what I learned and embraced.  You don't win, you re-evaluate.  You do it and do it and finally
after awhile you accept your accomplishments and find your special place
in the running world.  There are millions of new runners today who come from
the, "everyone can be a winner" mentality.  Almost like, how hard can it be?
Train hard and everyone can make the trials...not so much.  Their world is
so disconnected and this is what Scott was pointing out.  I was shocked at
the responses posted.  A good dose of reality was in order, not necissarily for
the runner in question, but to the general running community.
 
I've had my a$$ chewed.  I was challenged.  I failed and succeded; more of the
first and I wouldn't have had it any other way.  Competing isn't all wide open
pastures and blue skies.  At times it was more like Bear Bryant said, "Be good or
be gone."