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![ol.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ricardo993/23swXuaYQ5cjZWhQyVssf67SbMNpakDCVTfu7oD9fcGbnAmsHkm9bZKLqRK3mvNy8kjns.png)

*“Race pace is how fast you go per kilometer, cadence is how fast your feet touch the ground, the stride is the length of your stride, heart rate is how fast your heart pumps blood. Never forget that, son! Knowing those things will make you the best runner.”*

And never forget it. In the mornings I ran, in the afternoons after work, I ran, and even on the weekends, I ran like a bastard. My training was rigorous, I wasn't a maniac either. Otherwise, I would never fulfill my family's legacy. "An athlete who overtrains is destined to get injured" is another usual phrase from my father.

I enjoyed running, so much so that I got in trouble at work because of it. Sometimes I would come jogging from home and take a few showers in the office restroom. There were countless times that my coworkers would see me in my underpants pouring water from the sink, while I quickly scrubbed my armpits to get to my workstation. I never got fired, because I am one of those who make the fund a lot of money as a broker. I studied finance and knew how to make money, well, although that is acquired through failure. It was just like running, I just hadn't hit the mark yet. Of course, I was prevented from doing those activities, so I opted to jog home from work.

*“Standards! Remember that too. You can enjoy running, but if you want to fulfill your dream you must keep in mind the standards and try to qualify in one of the marathons that comply with IAAF rules, never forget that.”*

And I wasn't. I was running with my smartwatch timing my times. Doing Farletk routines, Tempo, speed intervals, hills and even jogging in the sand, never forgetting technique sessions to improve my performances. I even did weights to tone my muscles, I knew they would be beneficial in racing.

Because I had a dream, the romance didn't blossom much in my life. One time I slept with a girl at her house, in the morning I went jogging and she misinterpreted the message, she thought I had abandoned her for an easy night. Big mistake. On another occasion I invited a girl to the mountains to go hiking, she never spoke to me again after walking so much. Love didn't understand my passion for running.

*“In competitions do not go out like a runaway, go testing the terrain, and if you can run before it would be excellent. Remember son, go out like a donkey and come in like a horse.”*

And so I did, Dad. In the last marathon to qualify, I did it, but I didn't make it. It was the year to qualify, the next would be the Olympics. It was the fourth time I tried and I couldn't make the standards, not even make it to the top six. I ran with all my strength, I left my soul in the street, I got to lead the competition until kilometer 25, that was when the undefeated champion caught up with me and passed me. I cried, even though my father told me not to, but I couldn't help it. Entering the Olympics was a dream I had been carrying since my grandfather.

Every time I went to a marathon I remembered my father's advice, the same advice my grandfather had given him. Of course, I adapted them to my times. However, I couldn't make that dream come true. To represent my country and run with the flag on my chest, representing my entire nation, to hear the cheers of my people, and to leave my family name for posterity.

*“You have the opportunity to make it, you have the talent and the ability. Come on son!”*

My father passed away one day after losing the third opportunity to qualify. That day I promised that the fourth time I would qualify, but now in his grave, I kept failing him. I visited traumatologists, physiotherapists, nutritionists, high-end trainers. Was I destined to fail?

At the age of 30, it was difficult to continue with the performance he had been doing. At this age one is declining, I still didn't want to pass the torch of my dreams. I was in denial.

A person came through the crowd and approached me.

“Hey, kid, I saw you run," an athlete had approached me. His physiognomy said it all, but I didn't know who he was. “You're talented enough to qualify for the Olympics.”

The thin but sinewy guy with an unrecognizable bald head was stabbing me in the heart with those words.

“But I think you're doing them in the wrong discipline," I looked into the guy's blue eyes, he was probably in his 40's and dared to insult me again. “From your expression, I said something wrong, so I guess you want to classify and compete.”

“Of course. I consecrate my life for that moment” sweat was running down my head, I had stopped crying, but my eyes still showed it. “And I couldn't. Now you come and tell me I'm having the wrong dream.”

The bald man did not laugh at my words, as I was sitting on the sidewalk he sat next to me.

“I never said your dream was wrong. Do you want to go to the Olympics running?" the stranger smelled of expensive perfume.

“Of course, I already told you.”

*“Run son, running is in your veins. But not 200 mts or 1500 mts. You have to run long distances. Listen to me well, 42km is the number of the gods, few people achieve such a thing and less go to the Olympics carrying such a load of effort. You are meant to endure long distances.”*

With those words in my head I added:

"But I won't run 1500mts or 400mts, nor any track and field discipline. I want to do 42km in the Olympics, I want a difficult sport!" I thought he would back out, as many had already approached me to say the same thing.

The bald man laughed.

“My name is Bill Henderson," I shook his hand politely. “Tough sport huh! Well let me tell you, I have the perfect discipline for you, although they don't have that distance, you still make up for it if you add it up.....”

He cut his sentence to generate suspense, yes he did.

“What kind of sport is that?" then I sipped my energy drink.

Bill's eyes sparkled with pride.

“Triathlon.”

*“Never stick with the traditional, learn from the modern son. To be the best you have to adapt to new techniques and make them your own.”*

And so I would Dad.





![ol.png](https://files.peakd.com/file/peakd-hive/ricardo993/23swXuaYQ5cjZWhQyVssf67SbMNpakDCVTfu7oD9fcGbnAmsHkm9bZKLqRK3mvNy8kjns.png)

<h4><center>IAAF: International Amateur Athletic Federation or International Association of Athletics Federations </center></h4>


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<center><sub>Cover and Banner made in Canva, Canva Image, Separators made in Photoshop.</sub>
<h2>[The Ink Well Prompt #24](https://peakd.com/hive-170798/@theinkwell/the-ink-well-prompt-24-see-the-post-for-prompt-and-rules)</h2>
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