We're getting closer to race day, and I know some of you may feel a little anxious about it. It's been some time since I raced, but I vividly recall the feeling in the hours and minutes leading up to the start. Nervousness, excitement, butterflies in my stomach, concern. Many feelings and emotions which somehow miraculously disappeared after the gun went off. It took years to eliminate the pre-race jitters and I'm not sure I ever really did completely, but it got easier. The truth was, beyond excitement, none of those emotions were entirely justified. I never finished first overall, I never failed to complete a race. Nobody, other than family and close friends took note of my finish, and I never had to walk off the course. Oh, it wasn't all hats and horns. I was sick once immediately after finishing a Fall River 10K on a hot day following a breakfast of yogurt. And there was the Falmouth Road Race one year in which I ran the best five miles of my life. Unfortunately, it is a 7 mile race. I finished just ahead of a guy in a lobster costume. But for the most part every race I ever ran was somewhat uneventful. Like Julius Caesar, I might have said "veni, vidi, vici." After which, like me, he went home. I guess the point is, there is nothing to fear, nothing to be anxious about, no need to worry. Just enjoy the moment, or as another great Roman said, "Carpe Diem."
Congratulations to Theo Kamperides, yesterday's neon gaiter award recipient. If you need to ask why, you haven't been paying attention. League/team MVP comes to mind. Leader comes to mind. Indefatigable comes to mind. (Google it!) Need I say more?
Today will be a shakeout run on our course once again for our Girls team, which will get to do it one more time tomorrow along with the ladies from Silver Lake at 3:30. Strides, Stretch to follow.
On the Boys side, Groups 1 and 2 will do some EASY running with 10 X 30 Meter Fly(s). Core and Stretch to follow. Groups 3, 4, and 5 will be running EASY again on our course.
Finally, while like most adults, I have political views, I rarely express all my true thoughts. I don't intend to do so here. But at about the 15 minute mark of last night's Presidential debate I shut off my television and went to YouTube. And for about 60 minutes I went back in time. I was in single digits in 1960 when the first televised Presidential debate was held between John Kennedy and Richard Nixon. I obviously had no political agenda (although I suspect my Irish Catholic immigrant grandmother who lived with us may have.) But I clearly recall the debate between two gentlemen who responded to the impartial moderator respectfully. They spoke with that same respect to each other. There are those among you who may at some time in the future consider a life in politics. I encourage those that wish to pursue that endeavor. You would do well to continue to live a "clean life", committed to public service at every stage, and you could also learn a valuable lesson on debating from 60 years past. I assure you, an hour spent there via YouTube will be far more beneficial than the quarter hour I wasted last evening.
See you at 1:30 following pictures in the Courtyard!!!.
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