A week back (as opposed to a weak back), and I have been inspired on multiple fronts for the next phase of The Running Decathlon. Most especially by my visit to the Bridging Bionics Foundation facility at the Snowmass Club.
There, both Win Charles and Mackenzie Langley climbed into “Tucker,” the Ekso Skeleton, and walked across the length and width of the well-appointed facilities of the club. Both showed such joy as they first used the vibrating Galileo Tilt table to stimulate their legs, and then stood tall and strutted across the room in Tucker.
There were smiles all around. It is so gratifying to see people take such pleasure from taking a stroll, even if it is a physically difficult thing to do.
MACKENZIE LANGLEY TAKES A STROLL AT THE SNOWMASS CLUB IN HER BIONIC EKSO SKELETON.
When I am on a run and feel a little stress or discomfort, I can simply think of these guys and get a burst of perspective. It may sound trite, but they are definitely in my mind when I am trying to run my races and in my training as well.
And then there has been the Olympics. The week started with world records in the Women’s 10000m and the Men’s 400m. I did not see that coming. But watching Usain Bolt’s 100m win, and especially Crested Butte’s Emma Coburn’s Bronze Medal finish in the 3000m Steeplechase, has been truly inspiring as well.
I especially loved watching Emma in her interview with my Sunday Night Football buddy, Al Michaels, when she told him, “You are like a God to me, you are like a hero. I am so star struck right now.” Turns out Emma was a fan of Al’s thanks to his “Do You Believe In Miracles” call during the 1980 Olympics – more than ten years before she was born.
THE EMMA AND AL SHOW ON NBC.
Usain runs again in the 200m semi-finals tonight and the finals tomorrow night. Hope he runs under :19. My half-as-fast time will still be intact.