Eulogy for a Great Coach: Van Townsend
"...if an unusual necessity forces us to press onward, a surprising thing occurs. The fatigue gets worse up to a certain critical point, when gradually or suddenly it passes away, and we are fresher than before. We have evidently tapped a level of new energy, masked until then by the fatigue-obstacle usually obeyed. There may be layer after layer of this experience. A third and a fourth "wind" may supervene. Mental activity shows the phenomenon as well as physical, and in exceptional cases we may find, beyond the very extremity of fatigue-distress, amounts of ease and power that we never dreamed ourselves to own, — sources of strength habitually not taxed at all, because habitually we never push through the obstruction, never pass those early critical points." -- William James, "The Energies of Men" Cowards die many times before their deaths; The valiant never taste of death but once. Of all the wonders that I yet have heard, It seems to me most stran
Sweet post.
ReplyDeleteVery nice! I just plugged your blog on mine today. :^)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Terzah!!
DeleteMost readers probably won't be able to identify everyone in the pictures. I spy Galen Rupp, Chris Solinsky, Mary Decker Slaney and Zola Budd, Steve Prefontaine... Could you please add a comment listing who's who?
ReplyDeleteThank you! Interesting... Kid picture: Which event?
DeleteI presume that's Roger Bannister in the black and white photo.
ReplyDeleteFrom the top down:
ReplyDelete1) The kid inside.
2) John Walker, Steve Ovett, Jurgen Straub, Abderahmane Morceli and Steve Scott at the 1977 World Cup.
3) This is the famous Kamariny track in Iten, Kenya.
4) Shalane Flanagan, after winning Bronze in the 10,000m in the Beijing Olympics.
5) Any college track.
6) Men's steeplechase finals, Beijing Olympics.
7) Galen Rupp at Hayward Field.
8) Random college runners at an indoor meet.
9) Some kids creating glory days.
10) 800m champion Maria Mutola.
11) Jim Ryun, 1964.
12) Henry Rono.
13) Zola Budd in her infamous crash with Mary Slaney.
14) The bumblebee, Chris Solinsky.
15) Pre.
16) Yep, that's Banister breaking 4 minutes.
17) The great Ed Whitlock.
Three days to Millrose!
ReplyDelete(Wait. Left?)
Great photos! I was there in person for #14 :)
ReplyDeleteLove the picture of running on the snow covered track. brings back memories.
ReplyDeleteThat's air under Ed's feet, incredible..
ReplyDelete