Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 132 – Dead Last

[Mahler]

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Mahler’s Monday Morning Motivator # 132 – Dead Last


Dead Last


Did you ever notice that when you turn on TV or look at a newspaper or magazine that there always seems to be something about racing? Oh, not just auto racing like NAASCAR. Everything is characterized as a race; the race for the pennant; the race for the Super Bowl; the race for ratings. Even our process of elections is described as being a race for office.

If you are a sports or fitness enthusiast, you also may follow the news about the local 5k, the various marathons, and countless other races done as fund-raisers, community builders and event promotions.

I got to thinking about races in general and conjured up that perennial picture of the winner, crossing the finish line or breaking through a ribbon to the cheers of the crowd, with the media closing in and trying to get a picture, a word or two, perhaps even a quotable quote.

Then suddenly, my mind, like a cameraman about to lose his job, pans beyond the winner, past the crowd of adoring fans and media and down the track to watch the guy that is bringing up the rear; the guy who no one wants to interview; the guy who is coming in dead last. Unless he is a famous star that suffered an injury or a nobody who has a heart wrenching personal story, that guy is already forgotten.

Yes, already forgotten, but not by the likes of me. I am a sucker for the underdogs of life. Think about it. Is the sweat on his brow any less visible? Is the pain and exhaustion he feels not as real as the guy over there with the cameras and microphones in his face? Is his heart not beating as rapidly? And, I wonder (and this is a real possibility), did he put in any less effort?

The difference between the winner and the man who came in dead last, is often only a matter of seconds, or even fractions of a second. Yet, it is a difference that in the grand scheme of things is as wide a gulf as if it had been days, or months or years. Do you imagine that anyone works or trains or pushes their own limits with the idea that they will not somehow succeed?

Our lives are a complex mix of daily races and even when we don’t cross the finish line first, we have made progress. Of course, there will be no one there to give us a pat on the back, no cheers, no accolades, but we will have made a difference. We all have different aspirations and differing abilities, but it is not our failures, but our attempts that define our character.

I look down the track and see him one last time. In many ways he is my hero taking those final, seemingly useless steps to cross a finish line that, too, seems, meaningless. It is then that I understand that he is not a loser, he is not forgotten, he is not dead last, for behind him I see the ghosts of the countless millions who never tried and who never crossed the finish line at all.

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Have a Great Week!

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[Iamjennmedic]

John this is my favorite MMMM yet! I've been the underdog most of my life (still am most of the time) but that only makes me push harder, and value my own personnal successes. I love rooting for the underdog and celebrating their success.

[FlyinM]

Excellent way to start the week. Thanks, John.

[OldGuy]

Thanks, John. I've come to realize in these last few weeks that the only one who can keep me from getting to the finish line first is me. It's my own race, and I can't let me beat me. This MMMM will be my reminder.

[Ogedei]

Life is a triathlon baby!

Finishing is part of the game. Most of us who race in them don't do so to win, but to finish, to do our best and to try and surpass our previous effort.

Great thoughts today.

Og.

[Jean-Paul]

*sigh*

Linus can go back to work now.

Thanks M... Great one as usual.

[GG300]

After my near back of the pack finish in another 5k last weekend I can attest to the fact that just getting better is sometimes all you need to keep going.
Thanks for another thought provoking motivator.

[Tin Man]

Sometimes the one who finishes last does so by design...they may be the ones encouraging and pushing those in front to perservere...

[FishrCutB8]

One of the things that's good about being a MOP Triathlete is that I get encouragement from those in front of me, and get to encourage those who are behind me. I stick around after I am done and cheer for those who are finishing. I love to watch the first-timers finish--it's incredible to watch their faces.

[K-Court]

Thanks, John. I take a lot from this.

[Lost Dog]

There's no need to fear, Underdog is here!

[kingkop182]

Very good one today and particularly relevant to me.. Cheers mate

******

FishcutB8 - the video of the guy dancing from your blog is really good; I couldn't help smiling all the way through

[caffer]

Thanks Mahler,

I read your motivator every week but I felt compelled to reply to this one. I ran a local 10K race this past weekend with a friend of mine and after about the first mile we realized that the only people behind us were the officers in the police car signaling the end of the pack. However, we kept on pace and finished a full four minutes faster than our last 10k 10 months ago.

[Kevin T.]

Amazing post Mr. Mahler. I'm just about to start lifting again after a forced off week due to an injury. I'm motivated and ready to roll

[RacerBill]

This is one of the all-time great MMMMs. And I'm not just saying that because it involves one of my favorite subjects!

[pjhenry]

Another great one Mahler.

[ninja]

Dear Grammar Nazi,

You misspelled the acronym for NASCAR.
National
Association of
Stock
Car
Auto
Racing

Sincerely,

Ninja