Have you ever seen the slow motion version of the video highlighting the Secret Service agents that were protecting President Reagan the day they saved his life? I'm also picturing Michael Jordan, in his prime, orchestrating the most beautiful ballet of grace and poise on the basketball court with what seems to be an effortless display of dramatic war to get a ball in a basket. Or what about listening to the arguments for the 2000 Presidential Election and happening to get a glimpse of David Boies, Al Gore's attorney, as he was so skillfully orating to the US Supreme Court with a very polite, hour and a half diatribe that made it seem like he was reading a poem to his wife; we all know the outcome though. Maybe the simplest visual is a doctor working a triage situation with essentially one focused goal; save lives.
In each case there is this incredible level of instinct, of passion, of thoughtlessness that translates to a level of production that makes you clearly believe that some people are intuitively born to perform. They don't have to think, they don't look at notes, they don't understand that they are under a great amount of pressure and they clearly believe that they are solely responsible for that moment.
When it comes to completing the events to commemorate my 40th year, I am not one of these people. Quite the contrary; I think about everything. Am I going to wear the right shoes?, what should I eat two days before?, should I wear a backpack or try and wing it with aid stations? Should I bring a camera to take photos of a place that I probably will really enjoy or will that be too much weight to carry and ultimately slow me down enough that I don't make the 3 hour/15 mile cut off which would ultimately turn me around to head back the finish line failing to complete the entire race? For this I am overly thoughtful, I am trying to be overly prepared and I want to get past that 15 mile mark so I can finish what I intended.
Its been almost two months since I started and I truly don't feel like an athlete. I see myself as more of a guy trying to be truthful to himself. "I put it writing so I have to do it" sort of thing. Lets hope that changes, because if it doesn't, then I'm just what some of this blog's readers have commented about me:
WCR says: "Lesson to the kids: Make sure you draw attention to yourself at every opportunity. Under no circumstance should you work hard towards a goal without letting everyone know what you're doing and soliciting kudos."
DeenafromClevelar says: "Considering the OP's other post, I believe he is having a mid-life crisis."
Lovethehalf: "Yep. Anyone who thinks they'll inspire others with their running is delusional. Mostly, others think you're nuts. In the interest of fairness, it is quite possible that they are correct."
I'm looking forward to this weekend and getting to that starting line, thoughts, comments and all.
http://daddysdesperateattempt.blogspot.com/
Twitter: @daddysdesperate
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