The Battle

What if I told you that you were going to place 2^nd or 3^rd in a race, would you care, would you be happy?  Most people would be very happy with 2^nd or 3^rd in a race.  I mean look at the Olympics or the World Championships those that take the silver or the bronze are ecstatic. 

Now what if you gave up 2^nd because others would never know that you had a chance at 2^nd but you did not want to work that hard or suffer that much.  Would you still be happy?  Would the fact that you gave up eat at you? 

Today (9/20/2015) I had that scenario play out in my head.  About 6-miles into a 10-mile trail run I was feeling that feeling that all runners get at some point.  Do I ease up or keep pushing.  For me it was about do I ease up and take third or do I try and break the person behind me or at least make them suffer to pass me.  I had the conversation with my sub-conscience.  Ultimately, I pushed through and worked for that 2^nd place. My driving force was the knowing that if I did not give my all, how could I ask my athletes to do the same in their races.   If I came to practice and it got out that I ran a race a took third many would be, wow that’s cool, 3^rd place is good.  

For me I would have a difficult time knowing that if I had given up that at the next meet I would have a tough time asking them to give that much more to dig just a little deeper.  The kids I coach give it their all and I appreciate that but it is normal for coaches to try to get that little bit more to show these athletes that they can sometimes find that little bit more.  In life, pushing through those difficult times is important to know that persevering is going to pay off.  Now I just have to use that same mentality to learn how to fold a fitted sheet.