My name is Runshorts and it’s been four days since my last run. According to the 12-step groups, step one is admitting I am powerless over my sloth. Step two, finding inspiration in someone else. Someone else named Simon Whitfield. I think two steps will be enough.
Simon, for those of you who do not already have an Olympic-sized crush on him, won triathlon gold in 2000 and silver in 2008. Both were edge-of-your-seat-yell-at-the-tv finishes. I squealed, yes squealed, with delight when he tossed his hat during the 2008 Olympic race and charged to the finish.
Running royalty often drops by the Nike Runner’s Lounge for a motivational boost. Occasionally they run. I take great pleasure in beating the world’s best runners to the “finish line”. I revel in the day I can tell my hypothetical grandchildren that I outran Simon Whitfield. Nevermind that he was out for an easy jog and I puked at the end. By the time I have hypothetical grandchildren I’ll be too old to remember those unimportant details. I don’t know if Simon is running with us tonight (he’s in town for the Cross Country Championships, so I suspect he won’t lace up), but in my daydream we run together. And I beat him. And then he develops a wee crush on my running magnificence.
Flashback to Sydney 2000:
Title Reference: Kenny Rogers – The Gambler. From the album the Gambler. 1978.
Guess who ran 5K with Simon? I’ll give you a hint. ME. Me, me, me!
Wow! Cool! Did you have a conversation? Did you kick his a$$? hee hee
We did chat during the run — it was a nice conversational pace. He was really friendly. And I think I finished ahead of him, although it was dark and in the final ten metres we went around opposite sides of the giant rock. So yeah, I think I can safely say I kicked his ass
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Awesome!!!
I know! Kyle Jones, the Canadian triathlon silver medalist, also ran with us. So much cuteness. Erm, and talent.
You’re speculative grandkids will be so proud! Joan Benoit kicked my own butt yesterday in a race. Sadly, the excitment garnered from running with her (for one mile before she sped on by me) did not compare to the time I ran behind Matt Damon. Did not compare at all.
JBS kicked my ass in a September race that I no long speak of, for unrelated reasons. A couple of days earlier she came to the Nike run club but didn’t run, thus depriving me of my one opportunity to best her during a training jog. Someone needs to do something about that woman.
And a Matt Damon running story. That must be worthy of a blog post. Do you take requests?
Next race I’ll take Garbanzo’s advice and trip her. That should take care of her. For a minute at least.
And I will put my Damon running story on my list of blog posts to come. Request noted!
So cool! I was also jumping up and down in 2008 in my living room when he threw down the hat. One of my favourite sporting moments ever.
Only running royalty i’ve run with was Henry Rono a few years back. He’s really short and round, and decided to do a half when I did a full! Other that that I love seeing Whitlock racing. He usually demolishes the rest of us.
I admit, I just googled Henry Rono. Now I want to read his autobiography.