Who's The Fastest?
I grew up in an era where the Western genre movie reigned. I remember nights at
the drive-in watching John Wayne with a coonskin cap battling the Mexican Army
at "The Alamo". Or, Saturdays were often spent in front of the TV watching old
Western serials or maybe an old Randolph Scott movie.
One I remember in paricular was "The Fastest Gun Alive". In an online review it
states "... Henry Ford plays a reformed gunfighter who is desperately trying to
live down his reputation in a small town, living a very quiet, peaceful
existence. But events unfold that reveal his identity, and soon Broderick
Crawford, a fast-draw outlaw, comes to town to match skills with Ford."
There was always something to being the fastest kid in the neighborhood, whether
it was quick drawing dime store revolvers from their plastic holsters, or racing
the fastest kid on the block. Seems like everyone was always "gunning" for him
or her. How many times did I hear as a kid, "I'll race ya!" and before we knew
it we were sprinting at break neck speed to be the first.
At age 49, soon to be 50, those days are gone but not forgotten. Every time I
toe the line at a race there is that same excitement. However, then reality sets
in. Chances are, I will never win another race. Sometimes, I think about the
pressure that must be on some Masters who are still fast -- how they always have
someone a year or two younger "gunning" for them. Pressure, yes, but also
exciting I'm sure.
The more I run barefoot, the more enjoyment I get out of just running barefoot.
Maybe I am making excuses for my slower times the past couple of years since I
have been running barefoot, but maybe I am finding a fulfillment that does not
come from necessarily beating the next guy. Sure, I would still like to "place"
occasionally, but to be honest, it does not give me the same satisfaction as
merely the "journey" and the sensation that I am doing something that many can't
or won't try. After all, when is enough, enough? If I won 25 more Age Group
Awards, would that be enough? I don't think so. I would always be looking for
MORE. I look at someone like Todd Byers who runs a heck of lot of marathons a
year barefoot. Many of his times are at the 5 and 6 hour mark. However, my guess
is that he is enjoying the journey a lot more because he is getting enjoyment
from his barefooting, working with his Team in Training, or other reasons
besides going "fast".
So I guess I will just keep enjoying my barefoot journeys with a logical sense
of where I am on life's trail. However, occasionally something will engage in my
brain and I'll say, "I'll race ya!" Doesn't mean that I am the "fastest gun
alive", but what it does mean is that sometimes that child within just wants to
play.