Coming out of retirement. Contacted by one of my college room mates who wants me to anchor his 4x400 relay team. Haven't run competitively for 5 or 6 years. What the hell am I thinking? 15 dollar entry fee was probably what I was thinking and a chance to relive the glory days except for one thing.
Division III track was hardly the glory days.
I performed well, hardly won any races, but above all, it just wasn't fun anymore.
In getting a chance to participate in a track meet once again, the temptation was there to attempt events that I've never done, always wanted to, but the coach forbade it. Enter the steeplechase. Ridiculous concept to run a long distance race with hurdles and a friggen pool of water. It was tempting to consider but ultimately for my own piece of mind, I need to answer just one question:
Do I still have competitive 400m speed?
A murderous race blending speed and endurance to both of their respective limits. I found I was adept at running fast for longer periods of time. There were those who could run longer, and those who could run quicker, but to do both in a race is rare. It's a race of heart, not strategy.
When it gets to that last 100m, cinder blocks in your legs, battery acid in your viens, and tunnel vision setting in, that's when you find out what you're made of. All form goes to hell and you just push. I miss that.
Not thrilled about going against college athletes that have been training for months but I haven't worked out this hard or consistently since... ever, really. My old college will be there and the motivation to beat their athletes as like a "screw you. Bet you wish I ran past my freshman year" thing is lacking. That would be making it about them when I'd rather just run my balls off and hopefully post a time that I can live with.
Everyone wants to continue their legacy.
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