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Poster: Hmmmm
Subject: RE: She was once a runner
Body:
Been there, done that wrote:
Well, we are DEFINITELY getting only one side of the story, and I personally believe it's fictionalized. However, I know for a fact that these scenes are played out regularly.
1. People who reach coach in college often get there not because they are the best, but because there are fewer people willing to make the sacrifices, such as low pay and transient, job-chasing lifestyle, to climb the ladder in college. There are many brilliant coaches in college, and there are many others who are assholes/incompetent/insecure who are just looking out for themselves, are a product of their environment, and realistically should never be allowed near insecure, naive, and immature yet talented girls.
2. The girl's trouble, real or not, starts at home. Her parents have sheltered her, her dad and mom clearly live vicariously through her, and her high school coach probably made his reputation by winning the talent lottery. All of these people helped create an environment where she was encouraged to get into unhealthy patterns of thought very early, and rewarded for it.
3. The subject herself clearly STILL doesn't realize that her value as a person is not the same as her value as an athlete. Unfortunately, neither does anyone else around her. This is why great athletes SHOULD have outside friends, interests, etc., so that there is a healthy outlet when things go to hell. What did this girl have? Despite enormous potential, the running world handed her a shit sandwich. My question is this: when she's 50 years old, is she still going to let her life be ruined by this? Because life is about the living, now and in the future, and she will need to get on with it. Here's to hoping the blog is a step towards that.
I've a lot more to say on this subject...I've seen high school girls in a high pressure program turn on themselves and their teammates, and sometimes their coaches. I've had to talk several of them in from the metaphorical ledge. Running isn't life, but you have to approximate devoting your life to it to reach the top, and that line is pretty unclear until you've crossed it.
If you read the about section of the blog, it pretty much foreshadows that this entire story is not going to end well. Regardless of whether or not this story is fictional, I am quite intrigued by this blog, and I am predicting an absolute trainwreck. I've seen it happen in real life before under very similar circumstances, regrettably.
What you said about the non-running outlet however is so incredibly important, but it is tough to reconcile not letting running define you as a person and not letting it devour your entire life, and making the sacrifices necessary to make it to the next level, or to be great, as opposed to just good or okay. I think that is partially what the narrarator is struggling with.Hit the submit button below if you want us to review the post.
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