Ryan Hall: The Countdown
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 12)
Posted June 20th, 2008 at 7:55 PM by Ryan Hall
Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Ryan Hall, Road Racing
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As I laid awake last night trying to fall asleep, I did what I have a tendency to do once training is clicking well and I feel my legs beginning to feel “alive” again after the initial callusing is complete from the first month of marathon training; I began the countdown. Only a little more than two months until I run in the Olympic marathon.
Countdowns are nothing new for me. When I was a little kid my siblings and I used to fight over who gets to open the next day’s door on a Christmas countdown board. I am not going to lie, it was the chocolate behind the door that we were really fighting over, but it did make Christmas all the more special once it finally arrived.
When I got older I had a countdown to the 2004 Olympic Games. Unfortunately, my memories of the Olympic countdown aren’t as fond. I remember I started the countdown with over a thousands days before the Olympic Games. I kept it going for a number of years. It wasn’t until I was at the lowest point in my life, when I left Stanford for the winter quarter of my sophomore year, that I decided I was putting far too much pressure and worth in one day. I ended up watching the Olympic Games on television while at the Altitude Project (a Christian collegiate running camp) up in Mammoth. I remember the pain of watching the opening ceremonies unfold. The opening ceremonies were a joy to most watching, but to all us athletes who had dreamed of competing in Athens, only to be watching it on television was the salt in our wound.
It was a wound that would take some time to heal, but now I am really grateful to have been through the process. Now I know the pain of having dreamed and failed. I know what it is like to invest everything only to come up short. But I also know that I can handle the pain. I know that life goes on and I know that God has a plan even if I can’t understand it from my perspective. Now, I also know that things change. I know that just because I came up short four years ago doesn’t mean that I will always come up short. Plus, the pain makes Beijing all the sweeter.
I have some of my deepest thoughts right before I fall asleep. When Drew Ryun, Jim Ryun’s son (whom I am blessed to call a friend), was training in Big Bear with me during my senior year in high school, we used to have all types of deep conversations late at night. Right before Drew was about to doze off I would always fire at him, “hey Drew,” followed by some deep thought I was pondering. Drew was always gracious enough to give me thoughtful dialogue despite being dead tired from a hard day’s training.
So my thought for last night was, ‘yes it is one day closer until I run in Beijing, but it is also one day closer to my death.’ Kind of a morbid thought I know, but it was one of those “death” moments that just kind of hit me. It is like the kid in “What About Bob,” when he kept telling Bob “I am going to die.” Anyways, it is a pretty funny scene if you have seen the movie. It is a scary thought but it’s true. While I am doing everything in my power to prepare for August 24th, I do not want to wish away any days of my life because these days are a gift and I can’t get them back. As a professional runner it is sometimes challenging to live in the moment. Especially as a marathoner when I prepare hard for four months all for two hours of competition. Sometimes I feel like I am always just living for tomorrow. Always counting down the days, when it is the days between the races that make up my life. I have to constantly remind myself to live in the moment. Even now, with my dream just two months away I must enjoy what I am doing right now, even if it may just be preparation for tomorrow. We all must find a way to balance preparing for tomorrow while living for today.
- Ryan
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The Final Sprint
Hey Ryan thanks for being such an encouragement. I am a pastor from Long Island leading a team of about 30 people to the Chicago Marathon as part of TWV. Thanks for letting God use you and being part of TWV. I will pass along your Big Bear training video to the runners I am overseeing to encourage them. I am praying for you and Sarah.
July 15th, 2008 at 12:13 pmJerry O’Sullivan
i remember watching you run all through high school. i would always keep tabs on you and my close friend Ozzie. i always knew that you would make it to the Olympics. congratulations!!!!!
July 28th, 2008 at 12:10 am