To use an analogy of how things are right now, I would have to compare it to the feeling I would have before running a cross country race back in the glory days of high school.

We had a lot of fun on the XC team back at Masco. We’d play hacky-sack, T-P girls’ houses, and even had an event where we’d grill and eat exotic types of meats (explaining the shirt in the photo). Amidst all of this, we really were pretty good about our training! Plus, unlike most cross country teams, ours was over 200 people!

Raw talent is a huge component to being a good distance runner. Unfortunately for me, I had none! It’s not like some other sports where you can go out and just happen to have a good day. The training beforehand was the only real driver in my performance. Because of that, I would have to really be diligent in the weeks before big races.

The moments before a cross country race are unique to other sports, in my opinion. In those moments, you will get a more accurate, concrete and pure feel of how confident you really are in your abilities with respect to any other sport I have played. I could justify any shortcomings in my training and practicing… but before a race, I knew if it was going to be a painful one, or a potential personal record. Raw talent wouldn’t help me out and let me scrape by… not at all… so in those moments before the race, knowing that there was nothing more to do before the big event, it was clear whether it’d be a good race or a very painful experience.

I feel like I am hopping off of the bus and getting warmed up. I would have to say that I feel pretty good, too! Soon, all of the prep work will come into play… From those nights in Barnes and Noble back in 2009, all the way to the 5 person strategic analysis meeting we had on Thursday. Everything matters, and I only feel better as we get closer to the day that we sell our first pair of shoes!