Jon Rankin: Saying What Needs To Be Said
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 17)
Posted August 1st, 2008 at 11:15 AM 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 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 have to admit that I stopped reading, listening or watching anything that related to track & field or running since 2005. It’s not because I don’t love to keep track of what’s going on in the world of running because I love running just as much as any other person who’s a fan of the sport. I stopped doing the latter things only because I didn’t want to be distracted by what was being written about my fellow competitors and I didn’t want to get caught up with myself if there were things, either positive or negative, being written about me. So I developed this habit so as to remain uninfluenced by anything other than what was happening internally, within my self.
So, why bring this up? I bring this up for one reason- my blog here on The Final Sprint. Until recently I had been writing my blogs (blindly) without ever reviewing the beautiful, kind and inspiring comments from you, the readers. My need to remain focused has isolated me from you during this entire process and has made what should be a unique interaction and fun two-sided conversation a one-sided conversation with me doing all the talking. How lame is that?
Well, I want to take the time to apologize to all of those who have taken time to write to me and ask questions and post comments. I have not been a very good blogger, but don’t worry. I see the error in my ways. And I will be better from now until I no longer write this blog (which I hope is a long time from now because I’m looking forward to engaging more and more with all of you while I continue my ‘running’ journey).
Since our last conversation I’ve been extremely busy. I’ve been spending a lot of time between training sessions everyday doing research on the current mass killings occurring in Darfur, Sudan. I want to learn more about this current issue because as an athlete I believe I have many opportunities to spread information to many others. And I want to use this influence to help make positive changes in the world. I believe that it’s a great dream for a child to want to grow up to become a professional athlete. As a child I may have wanted to be a professional athlete for many reasons, but I didn’t know that the most important reason would be to help others. Professional athletes are afforded the opportunity to not only play a game for their occupation, but also educate, help and unite people of all economic, social and ethnic backgrounds.
For me joining the athlete oriented group (called Team Darfur) focused on uniting athletes to fight for the victims of the genocide in Darfur is just one step in what I plan on being many in my effort to give back to my community, both here in the USA and abroad. I may not know everything about the situation in Darfur, Sudan but my willingness to get involved has pushed me to buy books, find articles and ask others what they know to continue to gather more information. Personally, I urge others to, at the very least, do their own research and ask lots of questions to find out more about this genocide. We all have the power to make a positive difference in situations like this if we educate ourselves and each other; and if we speak out when given the chance . . . . (Obviously this topic/research has been keeping me very busy).
Additionally, I’ve been training really hard for the second half of the European track season. I plan on competing quite a bit starting at the end of August until about mid-October. My training has been going really well and I’m excited to start competing again. My next competition could be as early as August 9th here in the U.S. in Falmouth, Massachusetts. If I compete in this competition it will be a 1-mile race on the track. After this competition I’ll return to the ARCO Olympic Training Center here in Chula Vista, California for a few more weeks of training before heading off to Europe to catch the concluding weeks of the track season over there and possibly a few meets in China near the end of September. It’s going to be a fun summer.
I look forward to running fast and hopefully creating some memorable performances for all of us to celebrate before the season is over. I honestly don’t know how the rest of my season will actually turn out, but I do know that I will learn many new lessons that will make me a better runner and a better person in the future. And I venture to say this assuredly because I come to find that in both winning and losing there is always something left to learn:
We can always be better even when we win; and we should never feel fully defeated when we lose. A lose is just an opportunity to see what it is that we still have left to learn. And even in winning there is more to learn and more still to do because only death itself is the only end point and the only definitive moment when the opportunity to be better has fully escaped us all.
Thanks so much,
- Jon
To comment on this entry and to to send questions and/or feedback to Jon, please please click here.
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Tags: elite athlete blog, elite athlete blog series, jon rankin, jon rankin blog, middle distance, professional running blog, the final sprint elite athlete blog series, thefinalsprint.com elite athlete blog series, track and field, u.s olympic track & field trials, u.s. olympic track & field trials, ucla, ucla bruin, UCLA track
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The Final Sprint
wow! another great article!!!! love the idea that you want to use the oppertunities that you have because of your exposure thru running and writing and your nonprofit company to help others,you continue to make me proud of you not just as your mom but as a fan.keep up the good work and don’t loose site of the whole picture.
August 14th, 2008 at 9:16 amlove
mom
dude your awesome, your so humble, and great job at Falmouth, finally a nice win under your belt! keep improving, you’re doing great things
August 14th, 2008 at 10:26 amJon… I have been talking for sometime now with Merhawai in regards to your support for and involvement the SolesInMotion Running Program and Soles4Souls mission through your Shoes 4 the Soul Program that you and Jessica have formed and after reading your heartfelt words, I know that Merhawai hit the nail on the head in regards to your passion not only for running but also for the desire to make a positive change in this world. Regardless of how our paths merge, I truly look forward to working with you on any level possible to use our love of running to give back to the needy and hurting worldwide. Reading your blogs has been an inspiration to me! Thank You! Call on me anytime should you need anything!
Kirk Kellerhals
August 14th, 2008 at 2:26 pmSoles4Souls Running Division Director
www.Soles4Souls.org/running_team
Dan,
I wanted to make sure to thank you for your kind comment. I hope this note finds you doing well.
Your friend,
August 20th, 2008 at 12:48 amJon Rankin
Kirk,
Thank you so much for the thoughtful message. I too look forward to working closely with you and the Soles 4 Souls organization. I highly anticipate meeting all of you at the Inaugural 5k/10k this coming September.
I hope this response finds you all doing well.
Your Friend,
August 20th, 2008 at 12:56 amJon Rankin