every day is a great day!
Think back to the Monday we returned from Spring Break.
The icy roads necessitated a two-hour delay.
Snow was falling as we arrived.
A frigid northerly wind blew directly into the face of the guy (me, by the way) pulling car pool duty on the road behind the science complex.
Though bundled under several layers of warm clothes, I was still shivering. My fingers were numb despite heavy gloves. A thick green-and-gold scarf covered much of my face.
As they walked briskly from the parking lot, several people said, “Sorry you have to be out here.”
Since I was directing traffic and pedestrians at the same time, I responded with, simply, “It’s OK.”
What I really wanted to say was, “No. You don’t understand. Today is a great day. In fact, every day is a great day.”
Fast forward to the Wednesday of that first week back.
The temperature was in the high 30’s as the “spring” track distance runners hustled through their intervals.
The combination of wind and rain pushed the chill factor to what some might consider miserable.
Despite the weather, the kids’ effort was obvious.
Harsh conditions only enhance the narrative, you see. They challenge you to make the moment golden.
To our athletes, the workout felt ugly, ragged, out of kilter.
It was actually beautiful, even spectacular because they were dealing with adversity and refusing to back down.
Their response to the challenge – no complaints, no excuses – was proof positive that sports at its best is truly a metaphor for life.
As coaches, we couldn’t have asked for more.
Friday of that week brought a welcome respite from the cold. The thermometer hovered around 70 throughout the afternoon. The humidity was low. The gentle breeze blew tufts of clouds across the brilliant blue sky.
As Matthew Richardson, Katie Bretz, and I called splits, the kids ran their workout with the same enthusiasm, dedication, and focus they’d brought two days earlier.
They challenged their limits, even when fatigue was setting in.
They stretched themselves beyond their comfort zones.
They summoned an inner strength that they perhaps never thought they had.
They ran not just to, but through, the finish.
They relied on their teammates and made each other better, just as they always do.
What experience on the track – or in life, for that matter – is of value if it’s too easy or if you overlook the lessons?
A year ago in the aftermath of some health challenges, I had difficulty walking from the parking lot to the home stretch of the track, much less moving about the straightaway shouting times and encouragement to our athletes.
Indeed, it was wonderful to be out there with them, sharing the moment, cheering them on, feeding off their energy in the cold as well as in conditions that we could all agree were good.
After all, many of these had been there for me 16 months earlier, offering prayers and support when the events of my life were moving at breakneck speed.
All I was doing was returning the favor.
The message here, folks, is simple.
Enjoy each moment, clichéd as that might sound.
Find value in each experience, for each experience is a gift.
Never underestimate the importance of friends who bring out the best in you, especially when life gets tough and the odds seem stacked high against you.
Only by facing those rough patches head-on and refusing to flinch do we truly improve.
Only by staring down obstacles, on the track and in real life, do we truly grow.
Yet another cold front moved through Central Virginia this past weekend and brought more rain and wind.
By Monday, the sun was shining. Springtime had finally arrived.
More than once, I heard, “What a gorgeous day!”
“They all are,” I responded each time.
