September 2, 1979 (Sunday)

From running log:
Ran 3.5 miles at 6:50 pace with Nellie after dark, nice and cool, 68F. I've been wearing the Saucony 1980s and my legs seem to feel better when I do, although still kind of tight. Fast pace for Nellie, he must have felt very good. Mike Bennett ran 9 seconds faster than I did on Saturday. I can beat him. Total weekly miles = 31.1

30 years later:
“With Nellie after dark” sounds like some kind of late night television program, or maybe even a blue movie. But the fact is that we ran after dark quite a bit. There were a couple of common reasons: (1) we’d get busy during the day and simply not have any time to run until the day was over, (2) we’d decide not to run, but by nightfall we were feeling guilty and having second thoughts, so we’d squeeze in a short run before bed. I think there is a kind of joy that can be found while running in the dark; you feel like you are moving faster, and the noise and traffic of the day has given way to the rhythmic serenade of the crickets.

As runners, we are guilty of obsessing over our shoes. After all, they are really the only piece of necessary equipment for our sport. Forgive us for our naivete. We eagerly buy into the advertising for each and every new ‘innovation’ that is announced, wanting so badly to believe that there is that one holy grail of a shoe out there, the one that will deliver us to the nirvana of running: endless, effortless miles without an injury in sight. Yeah, right. But it sure keeps the shoe companies in profit, doesn’t it?

In 1979, the best shoes were using EVA foam midsoles and early versions of carbon rubber outsoles. They were probably good for about 200 miles, but we’d push those limits by dabbing Shoe Goo onto the heels and getting every last mile we could out of them until they just fell apart. These days, shoes are definitely better. When I’m asked for shoe advice, it’s pretty easy: go to a store with a fairly wide selection (preferably a running specialty store), try on at least six pair of shoes from name brand manufacturers which cost more than $80, buy the ones that fit the best, or better yet buy two different pair and alternate them. And shoes these days should last you about 400-500 miles before they need replacing.

You can see from my log entry that I continued to be focused on the competition from within our conference. Mike Bennett’s talent worried me, and the fact that he’d run faster than me the day before increased that worry. But what do you do with that kind of anxiety? In my opinion, there are two basic choices: (1) let the worry overwhelm you, fret and fret about your shortcomings until you have defeated yourself, then sit back and watch the competition leave you behind, or (2) convert the anxiety into action, work harder, push yourself, re-dedicate yourself to the task at hand, close the gap and then pass the competition. I chose the latter. So should you. No matter what hurdle you face, no matter the quality or reputation of your competition, the only thing you can control is your own determination and preparation. Besides, nothing worth achieving comes without hard work and sacrifice. Or, as others have put it:

"Anything in life worth having is worth working for."-- Andrew Carnegie

"I always remember an epitaph which is in the cemetery at Tombstone, Arizona. It says: 'Here lies Jack Williams. He done his damnedest.' I think that is the greatest epitaph a man can have - When he gives everything that is in him to do the job he has before him. That is all you can ask of him and that is what I have tried to do."-- Harry S. Truman

"I learned that the only way you are going to get anywhere in life is to work hard at it. Whether you're a musician, a writer, an athlete or a businessman, there is no getting around it. If you do, you'll win -- if you don't you won't."-- Bruce Jenner

Or, maybe my favorite:
“If you want to win anything- a race, yourself, your life- you have to go a little berserk” -- George Sheehan

Epilogue: on this date in 1979, I turned 18 years old. I was one of the oldest in my class, which was probably a good thing given that I was a late bloomer. I'd been a shrimp in elementary school (the smallest kid in class in grades K-2) and even at age 18 had only recently begun shaving regularly. Oh, that and the fact that I flunked Kindergarten. Yes, it's a long story, but I was immature (some may argue that hasn't ever changed!), and I needed another year before moving to first grade. It was humiliating, but in retrospect I think it was the right thing for me. Today, as I turn 48 (ouch), it all seems so long ago, and yet at moments the memories are crystal clear. In some ways my competition now is old Father Time. So far, I'm winning, but I'm a little worried that he seems to be closing the gap.