Or Should

Pre in his hometown, Coos Bay, OR

It has already been a long day. Two spin classes and I am one cooked bird. But, with the renewed momentum (re-mo) of the streak (consecutive days blogging) I am done with the physical and onto the cerebral. As much as I can be, anyway.

My short run yesterday, coming on the heels of the post about considering another Ironman, reminded me of how fast, left unattended, our fickle fitness will dash for the door. A measly 5K and I felt afterwords about the same as if it was its 26.2 mile counterpart. And then this morning. Why do I do this?

The second session this morning, a more civilized version of the morning’s non-stop power sprints, allowed a slightly longer degree of extended time between gassers. I took full advantage using the recovery time to explore a few ‘critical’ topics; focus, courage, dedication, honor, gratitude and respect among them. I think it worked out well, providing the final topping of motivation to the main course.

But it was after the session that the diamond hiding in the rough appeared.

In chatting with one of our longest tenured members, I asked, open ended, if he thought there might be something I missed, a ‘reason, inspiration, goal or strategy’ called upon to get us to the level. Specifically the famous quote from Steve Prefontain that suggests that a person giving anything less than their best effort it is sacrificing their gift.

How we get there, how we convince ourselves, and others, to aspire towards this lofty goal and once the aspiration is in effect to then execute, is the subject of our inquiry. There will be no sacrificing of gifts here!

He replies that he would frame it in the form of a question. Is there something inside, some dark and mysterious room where this ultra-personal secret is kept, closely guarded and under lock and key (with video surveillance)? I agree, echoing the idea of the importance and challenge of opening that treasure chest and taking a brutally honest look at its contents. This could also, we agree, be so personal, so deeply protected and guarded, that the mere mention of bringing the subject to the surface is unfathomable. Way too scary.

He goes on to tell me a story that he uses when asked to over-perform and achieve maximum output. It is a beautiful story about his son, in the heat of lacrosse battle finding a reserve supply of high-octane inspiration and presence to single handedly do the seemingly impossible - or at worst, the athletically improbable - to change the outcome of the game.

We have stumbled on a subject that reverberates between us like a thunder bolt. We know the feeling. We respect the power and the hero’s ability to call upon this gift on demand. Some got it. And some ain’t.

Several characteristics align to form this person, someone  the Chinese call the superior man. He or she will possess, and have command over, discipline, dedication, courage, presence, honor, respect, gratitude, devotion and humility. The last being perhaps the most important.

Because every warrior knows that he or she must relentlessly practice their craft with full knowledge that failure, loss and death are all hiding, just ahead, behind the heuristic mask of arrogance.

We know what we know as we know what we don’t know.

Or should.