Jon Rankin:
The Space Between
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #9)
Posted April 10th, 2008 at 1:00 PM by Jon Rankin
Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin
Welcome to the official blog of rising U.S. track & field star Jon Rankin; the inaugural member of The Final Sprint’s Elite Athlete Blog Series. Be sure to check back every other Wednesday for Jon’s latest entry at http://jonrankin.thefinalsprint.com/
I often think about the moment when I will stand on the line before a packed stadium of people and I wonder what that moment will feel like. I imagine the silence of the crowd as the starter asks us to stand ready, to get set and then fires a gun following a single moment that will seemingly last an eternity. I imagine that moment everyday in the midst of the space between now and then. But that moment is still far away and so I have to remind myself often that I must not get too far ahead of the present.
I’m fearful that if I look way beyond the moment right in front of me that I will become lost. So I’m trying to find a good balance between that moment and right now. To be honest some days are easier than others because I’m so anxious and nervous about the outcome, but I’m finding a way to balance it all in my own way.
At this point in time I’m looking forward to being able to relieve a little of my anxiety by finally beginning my outdoor season. I believe my first competition will be in Eugene, Oregon near the end of this month (April). I greatly anticipate my first outdoor race because I have a lot to celebrate. I have a great new training partner, David Krummenacker, who’s provided me with much needed guidance off the track and a swift kick in the butt on the track. I look forward to honoring our work by racing at a level much higher than I’ve done before beginning with my first race in a few weeks.
While I train in anticipation of my first race I tend to utilize a few gimmicks in order to have fun and stay stress-free. One of the ways that I maintain my sanity during my Olympic Trials preparation is by escaping to the beaches of San Diego as often as I can. I love being near the ocean. (Please keep in mind that I’m a terrible swimmer and I don’t get in the water much deeper than my ankles.) I just love staring out towards the horizon so that I may forget everything that I’m worried about or even hopeful of. I just stare out at the ocean in simple wonder. I’ve become so fascinated with the ocean that I’ve written many poems about it and how significantly insignificant it always makes me feel. The sight and thought of the ocean truly keeps me humble.
I find tranquility and often clarity when I go to the beach: It’s a place where I believe millions upon millions of dreams have been conjured, lost and found over and over again– maybe just as many times as the tide comes in and goes out . . . maybe even more.
-Jon
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Tags: David Krummenacker, elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, jon rankin, professional running blog, san diego, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series
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The Final Sprint
Love it, Jon!
My best advice for controlling that anxiety: Plan for the future, but live in the now.
The future will be whatever it will be. All you can do at this moment is plan your workouts around where you want to be, and then execute them as well as you can.
Keep up the great running and writing!
April 10th, 2008 at 1:46 pm