In the summer of 2006, I packed all of my possessions into a car and drove to Eugene, Oregon. I had recently signed a contract with Nike to run on a newly created team, the Oregon Track Club Elite.
As I rolled into town, I played Lou Reed's "Walk on the Wild Side" on my car stereo because that's the song Steve Prefontaine was listening to when he rolled into Eugene in the movie Without Limits.
I wanted to be like Steve Prefontaine.
I wanted to be an Olympic Runner.
I was going ALL IN on running.
That term "all in" is a big one for me. Saying it out loud makes my heart race and gives me goosebumps up and down my arms. It comes from poker when a player puts all of his/her chips on a hand.
It's a do-or-die moment. Rise to the occasion or go home.
That summer of '06 I was nervous to go ALL IN on running. I was afraid of the work involved, anxious to relocate my life, second guessing my plan to commit two entire years to the sport. However, I took some comfort in knowing that I was going to do EVERYTHING humanly possible to be successful. With the level of commitment I would be making, I knew that if I failed it wasn't for lack of trying.
As scary as it is, there can also be something very comforting about being ALL IN.
I believe that to be really successful at anything in life requires this level of focus and determination. Recently a very new, very large opportunity has come my way. Like professional running, this new opportunity makes me nervous. Actually, to be completely honest, it scares the hell out of me! I know with absolute certainty that for me to be successful, I will once again need to be ALL IN.
I'm excited to share with you what this incredible new opportunity is, but that will have to wait until May 1st.
Currently, I am ALL IN on training for the Eugene Marathon. That goal is taking up much of my time and attention. The race will take place on April 29th, two days later I will reveal the incredible new opportunity that has come my way.
Until then, I can give you one hint: not only will this new opportunity require me to be ALL IN, it will also require a heck of a lot of Run Gum Extra Strength!
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