I badly wanted to include the previous text from John Eagan, but it's
three feet long and I'm edit deficient...
John, the obvious difference between you and me is that I am slow but
determined to get fast (and that means exposing myself to all the other
fast I can and taking every opportunity to try fast and see fast and read
fast...), but you are quite happy being slow. Maybe you have developed a
defeatist attitude from having limited funds and such strong local
talent. I won't try to psychoanalyze you. We in Texas Region have our
share of overdogs, but when I line up before Mark Madarash and behind
Kurt Janish I just don't get that overwhelmed, heartsick feeling of
impending failure that you seem to be describing in yourself. When I
went to the National Tour and ran 8 seconds slower than my class I didn't
feel like I was in the way of anyone. When I came back on Sunday and ran
less than 6 seconds behind the class I felt like I had accomplished
something. _I_ competed on a higher level and _I_ was a winner that day
because I improved. Now if I continue to make 2 second improvements each
National Tour day I race, in 2 years I will be at the top of my class.
You will still be running slow in your region and I am sure you will
still be comfortable.
Jon FP 73
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