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Lead Stories: Saturday, September 6, 2008

Jon Rankin: Limitless
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 18)

Posted August 24th, 2008 at 12:00 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 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 believe the greatest feeling in the world is to know that we’re capable of more than we will ever realize in our lifetime. As I watched the men’s 100m final a few days ago there were a lot of things that went through my mind and my heart. I was in awe of the margin of victory and the ease with which the race was won. And I was inspired because the new world record was a testament to the fact that we’re capable of still going faster than we ever thought possible. Watching that performance motivates me to continue to set my sights high and never limit myself to a time. Such a performance warrants the thought of never being satisfied with my personal best until I stop competitively running. Until that day I must continue to push at the barriers that currently exist.
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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

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?
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Jon Rankin:
Without Fear or Hope
(Elite Athlete Blog Entry 16)

Posted July 24th, 2008 at 1:25 PM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Motivation, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

I cried so much when it was over. . . . . . Sitting in 4th place with 30 meters or so to go, once I realized I wasn’t going to catch the guys in 1st, 2nd or 3rd I unintentionally let go. I didn’t even realize I did this until others told me they saw the look of focus slowly fade from my face moments before crossing the finish line. They could tell that I had stopped racing once I realized I was going to fall short of making the team . . . . And all I could do as I took off my spikes to replace them with my flats was cry.

I cried for many reasons that afternoon. I cried because I had been chasing a dream for over twelve years and was less than 1 second from making it come true. I cried because nothing hurts more than putting your whole heart into something and finally having it come to an end, favorably or not. I was so tired once it was all over.
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Jon Rankin:
And Then There Was Today
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry 15)

Posted June 19th, 2008 at 12:39 PM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

I’m a very emotional guy. There is no denying that. If any of my friends or family members were to be asked to describe me in one word I would venture to say that emotional would be the most popular word used. And so, as I write this final blog entry prior to the Olympic Trials, I write the following words with a hazy view of the computer screen. Why? Well, I’m dually overwhelmed by the feelings of anxiety and gratefulness. I know how lucky I am to be heading the Olympic Trials both healthy and positively motivated. Don’t get me wrong, I’m terrified because I realize how momentous the occasion will be. And yet, I am more terrified because I believe I’m ready and I believe I have a real chance . . . . Holy cow, I might be an Olympian!!
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Jon Rankin: Before It All Begins, I Imagine
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #14)

Posted June 5th, 2008 at 11:30 AM by Jon Rankin

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

As I sit on the bench by the track today and I start to prepare for my training session, I find myself staring off into space. I stare at the trees that surround the track as they rhythmically sway back and forth with the quietly blowing wind; my mind dances from one thought to the next, seeming to follow their oceanic pace. My thoughts are daydreams of a grand performance that I hope to have this coming Sunday in Eugene at the Prefontaine Classic.

These thoughts that I have are often so vivid because I’ve convinced myself a long time ago that they are real moments that have not yet happened. I can’t imagine continuing to pursue what are seemingly pretty wild goals without the belief that they are possible. Honestly, I think that it would make the task of achieving a goal that much harder if I didn’t believe deep down inside that I could really make it happen.
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Jon Rankin: Because You’re the One I Love
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #13)

Posted May 26th, 2008 at 2:14 PM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

Every time I step on the track I ask my self this simple question: why? I ask my self again and again why I put my body and mind through all this trouble and pain. And before I know it I hear Coach Cruz yell ‘GO!’ and I’m off without a second thought or answer. I just start running. Occasionally I’ll hear the voice of a teammate as I run by or the sound of the wind howling past my ears as I put one leg in front of the other as fast as I can. All the while hoping I don’t cave in before they give out. And before I know it the workout is a blur or the race is over, my erratic heart beat has slowly subsided to a subdued pitter-patter and I come to eventually find that I’m still in one piece. And as I cool down I think back to the question that always plagues my mind before every race and every workout: why? And the only answer, in the midst of all the heavy breathing, drowned out voices and splits that have no meaning, which seems to unveil itself to me, is that running is the one thing I love most. And that’s why I’ll never stop.
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Jon Rankin: If I Had It All
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #12)

Posted May 7th, 2008 at 6:00 PM by Jon Rankin

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

Before I took a nap this afternoon I thought about how tired I was from what turned out to be a very challenging interval session I had earlier this morning. Basically, as I sat on the edge of my bed I wondered why it was so hard. I mean, I was running pretty hard and quite fast, but I didn’t think that the workout warranted the type of reaction that my body exhibited. One of the first thoughts that I had as Coach Cruz described the workout to me was ‘this could be a great workout if I could hit the times.’ In retrospect that would be asking a lot more of my body than it was willing to give me on this day.

To say the least the workout wasn’t a great workout. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t great. So, what if the workout had been the ‘great workout’ that I was hoping to have? Would that have changed anything? . . . . . . Maybe. Maybe not. No matter the case, I did learn that, to have the type of expectations I had about my ability to execute a great workout upon hearing what the session would be, I had some clues as to my mental state:

1. It didn’t matter to me that I was tired coming into today’s training session.
2. It didn’t matter what I had done in the days prior to this day.
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Jon Rankin:
Somewhere Only We Know
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #11)

Posted May 1st, 2008 at 10:30 AM by Jon Rankin

Section: News & Results, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Jon Rankin

It’s the end of April and the weather here in San Diego is getting hotter and hotter. I’m grateful for the warm weather, but boy, anything over 90 degrees makes things a little tough for training. However, as hot as it has been I do believe that it must be a blessing in disguise because I’ve been told that the weather in Beijing, China is particularly warm . . . Well, all of the athletes living here at the ARCO Olympic Training Center here in Chula Vista, California are adjusting and making the most of everyday no matter the weather conditions.

I’ve actually been on the opposite ends of the spectrum when it comes to weather conditions. For nearly eight days a small group of track and field athletes from the Chula Vista ARCO Olympic Training Center travelled to Eugene, Oregon for a sneak peek at the Olympic Trials venue at Hayward field on the University of Oregon campus.
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Nick Symmonds: Teammates
(Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #11)

Posted April 22nd, 2008 at 12:45 PM by Nick Symmonds

Section: Elite Athlete Blogs, Nick Symmonds

Welcome to the official blog of elite American middle-distance runner Nick Symmonds. Be sure to check every other Monday at http://nicksymmonds.thefinalsprint.com/ for Nick’s latest entry! For more information about Nick, also please visit: www.nicksymmonds.com

Most mornings I wake up excited at the physical challenges I have planned for me that day. Whether it is an intense set of 200s, a grueling day of mile repeats, or just an easy jog followed by some lifting, I usually roll of out of bed anxious to start my workout. Today however, I woke up and was literally dreading my morning session. On the schedule I had a 5 mile tempo run averaging 5:05 pace. As an 800 meter runner this is a difficult workout, but I’m usually able to key off my teammates and literally let them drag me down the marked bike path that runs along the Willamette River. Today however, I did not have the pleasure of working out with any of them and was left tackle this 5 mile monster by myself.

I am part of a very unique training group here in Eugene, Oregon; there is no other running team in the United States as talented or as deep as the Oregon Track Club Elite. It is a group that has been carefully selected by the great coaching minds of Frank Gagliano and Vin Lananna as well as the higher ups at Nike. We have guys who have run 45 seconds for 400 meters, guys who can run well under 13:30 for 5000m and guy who can race the lights out of any distance in between. It is an honor to be part of this group and sometimes I forget just how important my teammates are to me and how much more difficult and less enjoyable my life would be without them.
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Sara Hall: Success in London for Ryan, Now On To Mt. Sac (Elite Athlete Blog - Entry #7)

Posted April 18th, 2008 at 4:00 PM by Sara Hall

Section: News & Results, Marathons, Track & Field, Olympics, Elite Athlete Blogs, Sara Hall

Welcome to the official blog of U.S. middle-distance runner Sara Hall. Sara’s list of running accolades include being a former NCAA All- American at Stanford, the 2006 USA 5K road champion, and the 2006 champion at the Continental Fifth Avenue Mile. Check back every other Friday for her latest entry at http://sarahall.thefinalsprint.com/

It’s over. I am definitely running a little lighter these days now that London is behind us, successfully completed! There is so much buildup going into marathons, especially for Ryan since he usually doesn’t race too much leading up to it. Just one shot, make or break, all that training and dreaming coming down to one day.

This year, Ryan seemed a lot less nervous than last year and at the Trials, which helped me stay relaxed too. I take Ryan’s races very personally, because we are a team- whether playing Poker with our teammates (much to the frustration of Ian [Dobson] frustration) or cheering each other on in workouts, we are “Team Hall” and try to do it together and support each other to the point where his races seem like my races, his victories my victories, and his failures mine as well. The Bible puts it well when it says, “a man shall leave his father and mother, be joined to his wife, and they shall become one flesh”. Since we’ve been married, I definitely feel like we are “one”, so it was great to be able to be there the whole trip to London and experience it all together!
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