Column: The Power of the Individual
<p>Throughout the spring sports season, Mineral County athletes will test themselves against fellow student athletes in the primarily individual sports of track and field, golf and tennis.</p>
Over the weekend a friend from home visited me. I was excited, figuring we would spend time leisurely driving the county, soaking in hot springs and sampling the amazing food this county offers.
My friend thought otherwise. My friend thought “let’s wake Keith up at 11 am (early by my standards) and force him to run the track at Superior High School.”
After putting up as much of a fight as my tired brain could muster, I reluctantly agreed and threw on some running shoes that are so clean it’s obvious they are not used often.
We headed down to the track and ran a mile.
Well, jogged a mile.
Well, jogged for brief periods of time in between myself walking and my friend running backwards and attempting to motivate me to continue my jog.
After several minutes of briefly jogging and walking, all while trying to catch my breath, the mile was complete. I walked back to my home and in spite of my pitiful performance I felt a certain sense of accomplishment.
I did not want to run that mile. I did not even want to jog it. Walking it was my body screaming at me in pain. But I did it. I pushed myself to and beyond my own meager limits and ran a mile.
As the rush of the accomplishment wore out I began thinking about when I was in high school. About pushing myself to swim 20 laps as quickly as possible to help my swim team win a meet. About the amazing ability we have to push ourselves past our limits.
Then I got excited. Contrary to the weather it is spring and with spring comes a new season of sports. Sports that with the exception of doubles tennis involve individuals pushing themselves to their limits and surpassing them.
Whether it’s the thrill of winning a race or serving an ace or breaking a personal best on the golf course, spring sports celebrate the individual and the individual’s ability to succeed and be one part of a whole team.
Good luck Mineral County athletes, I look forward to watching you push and fight and excel over the course of the season. Maybe I’ll even try to run another mile or two.