Thursday, March 1, 2007

Too Close



During the winter season I partake in what I consider one of the toughest sports ever, track. Just like most sports you really have to train hard and learn perfect technique and strategy of running. This video relates to my essential question of "what is my personal best" because it teaches a key factor of your personal best. Some people may think that whoever is in first will win the race, but apparently after watching this video you never would have guessed the runner from Russia would have won. After watching this video I can tell that this Russian runner was very conservative during his race. He didn't want to lead the race because those runners tend to die out after the first 400 meters. The runner who won the race ran at his own pace and ran comfortably. My coach tells me everyday that it's good to run relaxed in a race. Earlier I said that track was one of the more difficult sports because the work we do in practice really questions how much "heart and desire to win" we have. Our coaches push my teammates and I, so hard to the point we feel like collapsing. Their vision is that by pushing us harder and harder to do better in practice and progress each day then we'll without a doubt be champions. I have faith in their methods of teaching due to their history as runners since one of my coaches currently holds some of the state records for Hawaii. Besides that they teach us that every single inch we cover in a race is important to our success. After every race I've had so far I've always felt that I could have given more to beat someone in a race. I could have ran just a little faster, I could have held my final kick a little longer. Just thoughts like that devastate me, but the one memory that I'll never get rid of was the time when I lost just by one second in a 4 by 400 relay. I was the last man aka anchor to run 400 meters. As soon as I grabbed hold of the baton I ran as fast as I could to beat this Roosevelt runner. It all came down to the last 100 meters and the runner with the most heart would win that last stretch. I ran as fast as my feet would let me and I pumped my arms as wide as my span would allow, but as we were neck to neck he began to break away with a lead. I tried as hard as I could to prevent him from winning, but apparently it wasn't good enough and he ended up winning the race. I felt like I let my team down and I immediately wanted another chance to prove myself. I know for a fact I could have beaten that runner, but when I ever I say the phrase "could have" I feel ashamed. "Could have, would have, should have," is all that people tell me every time I mention my sob story. In this year of 2007 I plan to never let this event reoccur again in my running career. All the tough practices I do, everything I think of during the race and outside the race all add up to just one event. Everything I've worked for up until that race lays on the line. This year more than ever I plan to train and reach my peak, my personal best as a runner, so I will be the one coming out with the lead and winning the race. If I just hold a positive state of mind throughout the race then without a doubt I'll be that best runner I always envisioned myself being.
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1 comment:

Suk said...

You're determination is win Landon. Therefore, you're a winner. Good job on Saturday.

March 4, 2007 at 10:08 PM

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The Gift

Trying To Find Mines This video helped me realize all the possible things we can do in this life. Even though we may set our mind on one thing to help us become good at it, there's still a whole other world out there just waiting to be discovered. It's optimistic and that's what makes this video so inspiring. Even if our life may be facing its hardest times we have to take in the pain and look for a solution. "If you want something go get it," these two rappers Lyricks and Manifest send this message directly to all their listeners out there who want to be something. Their main point was at then end of the song they say, "...we've all been given talents, we've all been given skills abilities some greater than others, but when you find yours and use it to glorify him, use it to encourage someone and make someone smile." This relates to my personal question, what is my personal best because it tells me how lucky I am to be given my own "gift." It only depends on how I use it which is the important thing. I have that choice of whether or not I want to develop that "gift" and share it to the world to help make it a better place. When I sayI want to discover my personal best, I'm referring to not just one subject, but to all the subjects possible in this world. Looking back at the last quote especially the line, "...we've all been given skills abilities some greater than others, but when you find yours ..." it makes me wonder how do I even find what I could be good at. It's true that if I don't try everything I wouldn't I know if I'm good or not. This song in a less demanding way asks us and poses the question if we, as humans are obligated to find that "gift" God has consoled within us.

Just Like Me

This man, Allen Iverson, inspires me to keep trying to become who I want to be. He inspires me to try and continue to work and strive to make something out of what I've been born with. You work all your life with the attitude to be something better. To make a difference in this world that we live in. To turn peoples heads and just be unique, someone people want to be. If I want to achieve my personal best and discover my true potential I'm thinking I have to live by this attitude. He says in the video,"...by the end of my career I want to look myself in the mirror and know I did it my way." Which is exactly how I feel. I'm satisfied with who I am as a person. I don't want to be someone I'm not. That's why this world is so unique. It's filled with an array of different types of people. Allen also said another statement, "Always play with my heart. Always play like it's my last." which informs me he's someone who gives it his all with his imense passion and heart. When he says, "heart" he's talking about the will power to want something. That desire to obtain anything if it's a reputation or of an object. If I'm planning to reach my personal best I have to want whatever it is that bad. Whatever I've decided to head for in life I've got to never give up on it. Strive for it until I die.