Jon Rankin: Actions Versus Words: Am I a Superstar?
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)
Posted January 21st, 2008 at 12:44 PM by Jon Rankin
Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin
Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star
Jon Rankin; the inaugural member of TheFinalSprint.com’s
Elite Athlete Blog Series. Make sure to check back every other Wednesday for Jon’s latest entry.
It’s from the lovely island of Bermuda that I write this 4th blog entry. I’m a little late on updating everyone on my training and whereabouts. And, even though I write to you feeling sincerely apologetic I can confidently say that I have good reason for my tardiness—I was preparing for and competed in my first competition of the year this past Friday, January 18th here in Hamilton, Bermuda. The race is known as the KPMG Invitational Mile, which is part of a 3-day event called the Bermuda International Race Weekend. With the travel from San Diego to Bermuda coupled with preparation for the race I decided to wait until after the competition, when life slowed down, in order to give a more thorough update.
Leading up to my first competition of the year I felt very confident in how my training was progressing. And as I continued to cross off each day on the calendar reminding myself of how close the competition date was getting that confidence was most commonly challenged. In other words, I began to grow a little nervous; which is a reaction I would consider normal under the circumstances.
I wasn’t scared and I didn’t fear that my preparations hadn’t readied me for the day . . . I was just anxious to see if I was heading in the right direction. The first competition is always significant because it can set a positive or negative tone for the rest of the year. Coming into this 1-mile road race in Hamilton, Bermuda I not only wanted to start off on the right note, I wanted to start off on a very good note. It’s the Olympic Year and no one wants to start the year off with a bad day.
I guess that sounds pretty superstitious. In my heart I know that one day shouldn’t dictate how any other day will go, but if my thoughts are pulled one way or the way, towards the positive or negative, that mindset can and will effect every day that follows. I assume that most everyone is superstitious in one way or another whether it has something to do with walking under a ladder, breaking a mirror, or the infamous black cat. I know that as an athlete I have my moments when I can be superstitious. However, even after I’ve experienced a moment of superstition I usually end up laughing at myself because superstition is a funny thing. It’s just our mind playing tricks on us. It’s our confidence being challenged. And more often than not it becomes on internal excuse for why something went wrong and why next time, if everything goes according to plan and remains “perfect” a better result will occur.
It was important to me not focus too much on the possibility of a ‘bad day’ or due to fear or superstition, an undesired result, because I viewed this day as an opportunity to be my best. What I mean by this is I saw this weekend as an opportunity to take steps towards my dream of becoming an Olympian. I try to remind myself that, “With every passing moment, there’s is a chance to turn it all around” (quote from the movie Vanilla Sky). I believe that every day there is a chance for me try and live out my fantasies in both training sessions and competitions. It’s very easy to talk about what one dreams of or will someday do and never actually take action to turn those words into something more tangible and real. I for one am guilty of this on occasion. I love to talk about how I will someday be an Olympian because I love to talk about my dreams. This willingness to vocalize my dreams might have a lot to do with self-confidence, but is meaningless if I’m not willing to live up to those words with action.
This weekend’s first race was made so significant by me because I wanted to do more than just talk about my dreams—I wanted to start trying to make them my reality. And the only way I could truly do that was by running in such a way as to make my words come to life. The question that I had to ask myself as I traveled to Bermuda and while I jogged on the streets of the island was, ‘Am I ready to be a superstar?’ because that’s what I’ve been telling myself I could become in this Olympic year. Prior to the race a desire to be a well-known persona in the sport of track and field had grown within me, but I wasn’t too sure if I was ready for such responsibility. This race would be the first step in the direction of becoming something more and before I ran in the race I needed to decide if I was in fact ready for what I had been telling myself and talking about for so long.
The night of January 18th ended up being a defining moment. As I warmed up for the race I listened to one song more than any other on my ipod. It was Superstar from Lupe Fiasco’s new album The Cool. The first few lines of the song were most significant to me:
If you are what you say you are
A super star
Then have no fear the camera’s here and the microphone and
they wanna know . . .
If you are what you say you are
A super star
Then have no fear the crowd is here and the lights are on and
they want a show . . .- “The Cool” by Lupe Fiasco
I listened to this song repeatedly because here was a moment, a chance, in my life to stop talking and to take action. I was warming up inside this parking garage structure while standing just outside lining Front Street was a crowd awaiting a show and a superstar to entertain them. As I warmed up I wondered if I could be that person that night; and I wondered if I could be that guy every night. In my heart I was scared because I felt that if I couldn’t be that person on that night I would never be able to seize the opportunity when it presented itself again. I challenged myself to set a tone for the rest of the year, not because of fear of superstition, but because every moment is significant and shouldn’t be take for granted. I knew that I might not get another chance. And so, it had to happen that night or it would never happen.
The Result: A close 2nd place finish in 4 minutes 9 seconds.
The Race: After my training partner and official “rabbit” for the race Michael Donawa of Bermuda stepped out of the way at the 800 metes I was left to lead the field and race for first place. There were a few lead changes during the last 600 meters of the race that I was able to overcome to retake the lead. As I neared the finish line four other athletes were trailing closely. Unfortunately, the last surge made by one David Freeman of Puerto Rico, came at just the right moment, and overtook me for 1st place. I was nipped at the tape in a photo finish and yet, I couldn’t be happier to have finished 2nd place.
I ran the best race that I possibly could that night. I ran to win and I truly made it a race and a night that the locals say the will not soon forget. The excitement from such a close finish had everyone so enthused that there were immediate discussions of a bigger crowd for this event next year. I may not have won the race but I did achieve my goal of finding courage within myself to not only have big dreams and talk about them, but to also be willing to challenge myself to honestly make an effort to make them come true.
“Dear Children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.”
- 1 John 3:18
The above is from Book 1 of John. As I read and re-read this verse and I think about being honest about my intentions as an athlete and a person with myself, my peers and those who are fans of our sport. And the honest truth is that I hope my actions always speak louder than my words and that that is what I’m remembered for if I’m lucky enough to be remembered at all.
- Jon
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The Final Sprint
[…] Gadget Venue - The Latest Gadgets and Gizmos wrote an interesting post today onHere’s a quick excerpt Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star Jon Rankin; the inaugural member of TheFinalSprint.com’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Make sure to check back every other Wednesday for Jon’s latest entry. It’s from the lovely island of Bermuda that I write this 4th blog entry. I’m a little late on updating everyone on my training and whereabouts. And, even though I write to you feeling sincerely apologetic I can confidently say that I have good reason for my tardiness—I was prepa […]
January 21st, 2008 at 1:06 pm[…] The Final Sprint (TFS) | The Internetâs Premier Running, Fitness, and Nutrition Publication put an intriguing blog post on Jon Rankin: Actions Versus Words: Am I a Superstar? (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4)Here’s a quick excerpt […]
January 21st, 2008 at 1:10 pm[…] Jon Rankin: Actions Versus Words: Am I a Superstar? (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #4) […]
January 21st, 2008 at 1:54 pm[…] article continues at thefinalsprint.com brought to you by diet.medtrials.info and conSALSITA […]
January 21st, 2008 at 2:11 pm[…] As I thought back to the night of January 18th I realize that the expectation and hope of a course record really influenced my mindset leading up to the race and my performance. There was so much excitement and anticipation about just the attempt at a new record that I began to question whether or not I could do it. I was overcome with feelings of anxiety and nerves. (See blog entry #4). And now that I think about it I wonder if I have an answer to the question posed in blog entry #4: Am I a Superstar? Or rather, am I ready to be one? If Dave Chappelle is right, the only place I’ll find an answer to that question is not from those who expect or hope for my success but from within my own heart. […]
January 30th, 2008 at 2:02 pm[…] Every night I look up into the sky and gaze in admiration at the numerous stars above. I know that in the black skies above I don’t have a place because I’m no Superstar. (Refer to blog entry #4.) This may be a fact, but this fact doesn’t discourage me. I will continue to aspire to grace that world, your world, with my effort until I achieve my aims or I can no longer try. I often see in the stars above much chaos, yet, it’s the type of chaos that reflects order and reason. Believing that my dreams and my place in the world belong somewhere amongst all of the chaos above brings order to my world. That is why my doubts will never fully inhibit me from taking action. […]
February 27th, 2008 at 6:17 pm