Okay, guys -- you have to cheer for Alan Webb who is currently competing in the Olympic trials, in track and field.
He won his first race tonight, and will be competing again tomorrow night (Friday), and finally on Sunday. Nine years ago, while still in high school, Alan broke a long-standing record (held for 36 years by Jim Ryun) for running the mile.
I confess that I am VERY much invested in Alan's success. He's the son of my former boarding school roommate, and is the older brother (he's the middle of three boys) of our godson, Chris Webb.
Alan is a real phenomenon as a runner, and also happens to be a very nice young man! He made it to the Athens Olympics, but got blocked in the center of the running pack during the very first trial. It was a shocking turn of events because he was tagged as a serious American contender to win a gold that year. He needs another shot at this, and I was thrilled to see him so far out in front of the pack tonight in his first win during the Olympic trials this time around.
(YouTube video of Alan's record-breaking run: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NF4_V6bOkk4)
So EVERYONE hold good thoughts for ALAN WEBB!
Chants:
ALAN ~~ ALAN ~~ ALAN ~~ALAN ~~ ALAN ~~ ALAN ~~ ALAN ~~ ALAN!!
-- Edited by Moore ideas at 00:54, 2008-07-04
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Lord have mercy! He just about stopped my heart in tonight's heat! He started out in front, and stayed there until about halfway through the last lap. Then he nearly got pinned in again, and I was going nuts. Although he remained in first place until that point, he finished in fifth place which means that he STILL qualifies for the final competition on Sunday. Only the top six can compete.
If Alan qualifies for this Olympics, he'll have to be in the top three on Sunday.
Thanks for the good wishes, and support.
HANG IN THERE, ALAN!!!
__________________
"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Kathy (Alan's mom) just called me a few minutes ago to tell me that Alan looks great this morning, and to also let me know that the race (all the final trials, not just Alan's race) will be broadcast live tonight (7:00 pm, EST) on NBC. This is good news because the past two nights, we've had to watch it on USA, beginning at 11:00 pm!
Alan has to be in the top three to continue to the Olympics...
Keep your fingers crossed!!!
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
I don't know what the strategy was, but tonight he began tonight's competition by staying at the back of the pack. Then, he moved towards the outside and began to move forward, and I felt better!
Towards the end, I was waiting for him to move past everyone like lightening, as he usually does, but he never pushed forward with his usual speed. (We were all going NUTS in our household!!!) He looked like he was about to make his definitive move, but never quite did.
He ran each of these three races differently each night with his best showing the very first night. I don't know what he and his coach had planned, but he didn't make it...
I'm sure that the family is disappointed, but Alan is still a spectacular kid, and competes in races all the time. He has lots of medals, and has broken lots of records. We can only hope that he can have another shot at the Olympics, but he's 25 now, so this may have been his last realistic bid.
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
I'm sorry for your friend, Moore. In the end, it's just not all about ability, but a combination of many factors that make an Olympian athlete. As glorious as it might sound to be an Olympian, Alan may be better off not competing in this thing after all.
One of our business partners in ski country has 2 kids, both Olympic skiers at one point. The son was nearly killed in the damn sport, in Austria, about 15 years ago. The daughter fared much better, but it did skew her life for many years. Then our next door neighbour during my childhood was one of the Crazy Cannucks - remember them? He gave up acceptance at law school in Dalhousie to follow that dream and to this day is more or less a ski bum.
Then again, I'm not a big fan of sports as career. And 25 IS a little "long in the tooth" these days. Condolences to the Webb's, but Alan is probably better off to have let this go.
Alan is a sweetheart, and he's doing very well. He'll continue to run for Nike (as far as I know), and will be okay.
I'm only disappointed because this has been a life-long dream of his. He made it to Athens, and then got pinned into the middle of the pack during the trials, so he didn't get the chance to actually complete for a medal. I would have loved to have seen him have that chance, and come what may.
We're all very proud of him, though!
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
Aw, Moore, that sucks. I'm sorry. I understand how difficult it is when you can't fulfill a dream. Hopefully, if he still has it in him, he won't give up, and can try again.
Well, that 42-year-old swimmer gives me hope! LOL... Maybe Alan will still have it in him the next time around.
I haven't talked to Kathy since the day of the race, and we're going to be in NC this weekend, but I'll catch up with her next week to find out how Alan is doing. Knowing him, I'm sure that he's taking it all in stride...
(Okay, I couldn't resist that one.)
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"It is our choices that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities"
(Dumbledore to Harry Potter)
