What Does Success Mean to You?

My Coach--Dr. Ruud Van Thienen
P.C. Meredith Dolhare

P.C. Pamela Green

          This past weekend I competed in the USA National Indoor Track and Field Championships in Boston, MA.  I ran my marquee event, the mile, against one of the strongest fields assembled at the 2015 version of the meet.   All three 1500m Olympians from 2012 were slated to compete--Matt Centrowitz, Leo Manzano and Lopez Lomong--as well as two of the strongest milers in the country so far in 2015—Ben Blankenship and Pat Casey.  I had a great deal of confidence going into this race because I knew I had had my best indoor season of my career--running personal best times in both the 1 mile and 3000m runs, and my coach (who came to support me from Belgium) was constantly telling me that I could get a medal (top 4) and prove myself as I did back in 2013.

            I wanted to do my absolute best in this race, but success had a different meaning for me.  My main goal was to have fun and enjoy the experience that only a National Championship can bring.  There are only two opportunities like this each year, indoors and outdoors, and I wanted to relish in the fact that I was in the best shape of my life and wanted to compete at the highest possible level against our nation’s best milers.  I knew that most people look at time and place as a gauge for success, but I feel that for this race (and moving forward) I have a different scale to measure success.  Not that I am becoming soft or less competitive, this way of thinking for me has enabled me to focus and become even more of a warrior on the starting line.

          The outcome of the race was a success, as I did have fun finishing 4^th in a very elite field and enjoying the success of the race with my coach, his sister and one of my biggest supporters and mentors—Meredith Dolhare.  Having them by my side made this experience so much more fulfilling and having their support at this championship will be a memory I will never forget.  I experienced equal joy, however, meeting some of the people who have been extraordinary contributors to my “comeback” and success so far in 2015—the In the Arena team!  I was able to finally connect face to face with the beauty and brains behind my team—Amory Rowe and Margaret Adams, and was fortunate enough to meet Amory’s family including her husband and two children—Torin and Thea.  I was on such a high from my performance and as soon as I returned to the warm-up area to gather my things after the race, I was greeted by my In the Arena family.  I was immediately reminded why I love the sport of track and field and SPORTS so much—relationships!  Even though my immediate family was not able to come and support me directly at this meet (they and many other friends and family were able to watch on television), I had my family with me in Boston.  I cannot tell you in words how blessed I was to be able to give someone a hug after a performance like I had who understands the hard work you put into your trade and who appreciates you for you—no matter if you finished 4^th, first or last. 

Meredith Dolhare--my superwoman + personal angel

This is the message I want to carry, share and charge each of you with today.  No matter what your passion is in life, it is always sweeter when you can share it with the ones you love.  So if you ever have the opportunity to be that person for someone—do it.  I promise you they will never forget the hug, high five or smile you share with them in light of your success—no matter what the level of achievement may have been.

For the rest of the story and even more insight into my feelings about the race—please tune into the interviews below:

FloTrack Post Race Interview

LetsRun.com Post Race Interview

P.C. Mom and NBC Sports Network