I was talking with Kelsi and Kasey Tippets' dad yesterday, as we waited for the two girls to get back from their workout. He commented about how well the team seemed to be doing, excitement for the upcoming competitive season colored his words. I couldn't help but agree!
As we talked, I realized again something that I've been thinking a lot about regarding you all over the last few months. We will have a great season because you are great kids.
By "great" I mean talented, yes, but even more important than that. What makes this team of guys and girls great is your character! You have integrity, you are willing to work, you listen to your coaches, you try to do what we suggest in order to improve. It is these things that make you great, and collectively they make us a great team of distance runners.
I was given an acronym a few days back that describes the great athlete: FAT. I know what you're thinking, fat athletes are pretty much NFL linemen and sumo wrestlers. SKINNY would define us. But no! FAT is the perfect term to describe great runners!
I have come to realize that great runners are "FAT" runners. These kinds of athletes have realized that the only way to improve is to adapt to better workouts, faster paces, longer miles. They are available -- they show up to practice without excuse, they are teammates in every sense of the word. They are hungry for the knowledge they need to improve. They don't walk around thinking they know it all, they seek the advice of coaches and other runners to find ways to get better.
So, so many of you are FAT. Thank you! It was fun bragging to Mr. Tippets about not just his two daughters, but all of you.
No comments:
Post a Comment