Ryan Hall: I Can Be Beaten, But Not Defeated
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 10)
Posted May 23rd, 2008 at 12:00 PM by Ryan Hall
Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall
Welcome to the official blog of top U.S. distance runner Ryan Hall as he begins his quest for Olympic gold! Check back every other Friday for Ryan’s latest entry at http://ryanhall.thefinalsprint.com/
While on a run a couple of days ago I found myself laughing at Kai (our miniature Siberian Husky) as she tore off through the woods in hot pursuit of yet another squirrel, only to be left at the bottom of the tree peering up as the hot- tempered squirrel rattled off some expletives in its native tongue. I thought to myself, ‘why does she keep wasting her energy flying after squirrels when she has chased thousands of squirrels during her short life, yet has never, ever, even been close to catching one?’ But as I contemplated her spirit I realized that our spirits aren’t really any different. I have been trying to run with the best runners in the world ever since I was able to enter the same race in which they were competing, and while I have never won a race that would give the honor of being crowned “the best in the world,” I still find myself tearing off after the world beaters as if I have never been unsuccessful in beating them. When I watch Kai’s eyes as she spots a Squirrel I can see her come to attention as I though I put a fat sausage in front of her nose and then I see her wheels turning. I know exactly what she is thinking because I have thought the same thing a million times, “I am going after it.” Then the trigger is pulled and we are off to the races. I think this is what Coach Vigil means when he says that all that matters on the starting line is having big eyes. I love that saying. All that matters on race day is being ready to go after it, to go to war.
What I love about “chasing squirrels” is that it doesn’t matter what your previous track record is, all that matters is that moment. Your past is completely behind you and the present is your opportunity to “take a swing.” If you can’t tell by now, I am a big fan of “taking a swing.” I don’t like to go away from races knowing that I didn’t leave my mark on the race by really going after it at some point. If I die, I die. I have died many times before, however, what I have learned to do very well over the years is simply to get up. My favorite verse in the Bible comes from Proverbs 24.16 and says, “For a righteous man falls seven times, and rises again.” Being an Olympian is not about being perfect. It is about picking yourself up out of the dirt and pouring yourself back into what you are doing, as if you never fell before.
I love the story of Noah Ngeny. I have to admit that I was rooting for Hicham El Guerrouj to win the 1500m in the 2000 Olympic games, but I was captivated by the fact that though Noah had raced El Guerrouj a number of times (I believe twelve times) he had never beaten him before until the final of the Olympic 1500m. It would be easy to say that El Guerrouj “had his number”, but none of that mattered on race day because Noah wasn’t running with a broken spirit, as a defeated man would. That day he ran as if he had never lost to El Guerrouj and, when push came to shove in the last 100 meters of the race, Noah’s spirit was strong and he was able to do something he had never been able to do before. Noah had been beaten numerous times, but apparently he had never been defeated in spirit.
When I am all done with my career I plan to cross the finish line of the marathon, take off my shoes at the finish and walk away having never been defeated. Not in the sense that I will have never lost a marathon, but in the sense that no matter how bad I have been beaten, my competitors will know that I was always willing to show up at the starting line with fire in my eyes, ready for war, with a spirit that cannot be defeated.
I haven’t always had this spirit. It is something that I have had to feed throughout the years. With every poor performance I have grown stronger as I have picked myself up and gotten back up. This is not to say that I wasn’t rattled by poor performances, actually it has been very difficult for me to deal with disappointment but dealing with it, and coming out the other end, is what overcoming is all about. My wife knows well how rattled I can get in the hours and days after a bad competition. It can be hard to deal with “failure” when I have so much invested in the sport I love. But knowing now that I can deal with whatever is thrown my way gives me the courage I need to be bold and courageous out on the race coarse and to “take my swing”, because I know that in my heart of hearts I can deal with the disappointment of coming up short and I know that, though it may take me a while to collect myself, I will be back out there with fire in my eyes. I am going to “take my swing” at some point in the Olympic Marathon, and it might result in gold and it might result in a lot of suffering and pain over the later stages of the race, but one thing I know for sure: I will walk away from the finish line satisfied that I wasn’t, and will never be, defeated.
- Ryan
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(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 21) - Ryan Hall: The Team
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 11) - Ryan Hall: Confidence
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #3) - Ryan Hall: Vision
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #2) - Ryan Hall: Perseverance
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #1)
Tags: 2008 Beijing Olympics, big bear lake, charity, dream, elite athlete, elite athlete blog series, elite runner, friendship, give back, harmony, Kip Keino, Lornah Kiplagat, Move a Million Miles for Ryan Hall, one world one dream, participation, paul tergat, progress, Ryan Hall, sara hall, team running usa, team world vision, Terrence Mahon, tfs elite athlete blog series, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, track and field, travel, Unity, world vision
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The Final Sprint
Hey Ryan,
Just wanted to say what an inspiration you are to me every day. Thanks and Congratulations for everything you’ve accomplished. Good Luck in Beijing! Believe Hall ‘08!
Luke Feldner
May 31st, 2008 at 11:40 amRyan, you are so encouraging!! Keep on praising the Lord every step you take and you’ll be fine. Can’t wait til August!
tom
May 31st, 2008 at 6:42 pmRock on Ryan! 8/8/08 I’ll be cheering you on for a knock out! GOOD LUCK!
June 2nd, 2008 at 12:26 pmThat is encouraging. Makes me think about our walk with God. It’s not that we walk perfect but that every single time we fail and/or falli life, we will not give up but keep getting up because we have a God who is bigger than our problems. We have a God who constantly cheers for us. He invites us to live this life. A gift we should cherish because our days are short. Thanks for being you. I have yet to figure out how God’s plan unfold in my life. Please pray for me.
June 2nd, 2008 at 3:45 pmYou make me proud to be a runner. I think you represent the spirit of the community of runners beautifully. Know that we will be wide eyed with you as you lace up for your Olympic Marathon.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:22 amRyan,
Thanks for your inspiration. We were camping this past weekend in Big Bear and were lucky enough to select the Community Church to attend where you spoke and inspired all of my family. Thanks for all you do, you represent us well and make us proud.
June 3rd, 2008 at 12:28 pmRyan,
This is a fabulous post and message to all runners! It comes at a wonderful time as many runners are trying for their own version of the Olympics, whether it be their first marathon or 5K. Thanks for continuing to inspire all runners. Keeping you in our thoughts and prayers!
June 9th, 2008 at 10:40 pmGreat article, Ryan. Your perspective on racing the past years has grown every bit as much as your fitness. I wish you the very best in Beijing, and I will be rooting for you! (and Brian and Dathan of course!)
June 11th, 2008 at 3:57 pmRyan, you’re an inspiration to people who believe in giving their absolute best to whatever their calling is. I’m not a runner, but I’m inspired watching you pour everything into a run.
June 13th, 2008 at 9:38 amHi Ryan,
I believe the meaning of life is ‘To make God smile’. Congratulations, to both you and Sara for keeping God smiling.
Toe the line…take aim…and SWING!
God Bless,
June 24th, 2008 at 9:59 pmBCKing
Thanks for all the entries you are posting. I read them as soon as they come out. Your entries are really helping me with my determination, training, and raceing. God has really started to play a bigger role in my running. Thank you, keep the great training up.
June 26th, 2008 at 1:09 pm