NYC as Mojo

I am fond of the saying, "We will see it in our lifetime."

Most times when I evoke this prophesy it is in reference to the two hour-barrier of the marathon. And with the New York City Marathon taking place Sunday in the 5 boroughs featuring an all-star cast of over 100,000 runners and a handful of the world's best, it could happen sooner than later. After witnessing a 100 year old man and a nine months pregnant woman do the 26.2 recently perhaps the pump is primed.

There has been a lot of discussion lately about the importance of motivation. In our jobs, in our personal lives, in our training and racing. How do we maintain output and achieve our goals?

I think one of the ways is to dial up the drama. Add some spice. Pick something that you see as impossible and take the first step towards it. In TV circles they call it adding conflict. Pile it on. Throw the monkey wrench. Just when you think you have seen it all, BANG!

Then you get to do the heroic. Against all odds. Do the impossible. Be the hero. Rise to the occasion. Do you believe in miracles?

Paula Radcliffe (2:15:25) and Patrick Makau (2:03:38) currently hold the world records for the marathon. Here is a great overview of Sunday's NYC race, an interactive graph that shows the steady fall of times since 1900, and a rather inspiring video from last years event. Just watching makes me want to get out and run. Winners will get $130, 000 each for their speedy efforts Sunday as additional motivation, but really the mojo is to be the one who will forever be known as the Roger Bannister of the marathon. The first person to go sub 2. Mr. Makau needs to find a little over three minutes somewhere (maybe in Queens) for that immortality.

Three minutes. He might not find it Sunday in NYC, but someone will, and soon. We will see it in our lifetime.

The mysterious and elusive moment of motivation. Dial the drama, raise the stakes. Create some conflict with the mundane. Get out of moderation and GO FOR IT.

I guarantee that if you go for it with all you got what get is good as gold.

The Huskies don't stand a chance against the Ducks tomorrow. They also said nobody would ever run a four minute mile and the US would never win Olympic hockey gold. I love nevers.

Pic: Indoor time trial racing at the BAC last night. Mo and EJ in front fell to Chris and Steph by a little over four minutes. Motivation sometimes is very simple. We are at the start, the finish is 16K away. We will be there first. ciao