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Post by kevinspradlin on Jan 11, 2008 21:00:33 GMT -5
I'm too young to write about what happened that prevented Americans from rising to the top of world distance running. But for a clear sign that we're not headed to the top any time soon, check out www.rrca.org. There, an online polls asks for "goals for 2008." Running a personal best ranks just 4th right now after 641 votes - behind improve/maintain fitness, run first marathon and start running. Coincidence? I think not. I think our attitude of "everybody's a winner" has gone a long way and played a major role in thinking we don't need push our bodies to the limit to achieve success (i.e., expanded age group categories). I'm guilty of it, too, and certainly not pointing any fingers. Talent, of course, has something to do with it (which I do not have). Still, finding people with the fire and passion to excel ... generally leaves a lot to be desired.
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Post by frojoe23 on Jan 12, 2008 15:28:18 GMT -5
I totally agree with on this, Kevin. AYSO type sports have killed the competitive drive of most. If a kid sees that David Mertz is the greatest soccer player around and scores 4 goals a game, but they both get the same playing time, what does that teach the kid - it teaches him that he's just as good as everbody else, even if he's not. What happened to the good old days of looking up to kids tht were better than you? Or when your Dad talked about the great kid on your team that wasn't his son, all making him a masochistic workhorse that eventually will be on top when the rest of the talented ones die off?
Aspiration = perspiration!
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