I Was a Shot-Putter in High School and Competing in the Mile Run was a Stretch...
AleksandarGeorgiev. Getty Images.It was back in the spring of my senior year (1974) that I decided to join my high school's track team. I was a shot-putter and not a very good one. I tried the 100-yard dash, but I was third on the team behind two juniors. I continued working out with the team, which was my initial reason for joining. I lifted and ran 4.5 miles a day with the runners and the coach, which was one lap around Lake Massapoag in Sharon. I continued throwing shot, but no matter how hard I tried, I still sucked at it!
As the track season wound down, so were my chances of lettering, which only required that I finish in the top three once. I decided to enter the mile run during the last track meet of the year against Franklin High School in Franklin. Their best miler was the best in the Hockomock…
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Back then, the Franklin track was 1/6th of a mile, so it took six laps to complete a mile rather than the customary four. I decided to sprint as hard as I could out of the blocks, for as long as I could, hoping to finish in the top three, which would be enough to earn my letter…
I took off hard 'n fast and got up to top speed quickly. I had the lead, and that motivated me to keep sprinting. My lead increased during the second lap, and all my teammates and coaches were going crazy! I was pumpin' my arms like pistons and breathing like a locomotive…
I built a bigger lead on my third lap and an even bigger one during the fourth lap. I had an eighth-of-a-mile lead over Franklin's Best, and the entire crowd gathered around the track to watch this thick dude set a state record in the mile, which I was well on my way to doing… (And the train it won't stop going, no way to slow down)
I sprinted through the fifth lap, increasing my lead, while the entire crowd went wild. There were even kids from Franklin cheering me on. I only wanted to place so I could letter in track, but now I was starting to believe I could win and beat the best miler in the Hock! What a way to go out!
All of a sudden, during the start of the sixth lap, something happened… (Oh, he feels the piston scraping, steam breaking on his brow) I felt my entire body seize up, everything was in slow motion… My muscles were so fatigued and oxygen-deprived I could barely run. I looked behind me, and I still had a healthy lead, but Franklin's Best was closing the gap, and quickly…
I pushed as hard as I could, but I was like a car that wasn't getting any gas, and no matter how hard I tried, I just wasn't moving very fast. As we made the last turn, I still had a slight lead, and I did all I could to hang onto it…
Then it happened. First, I heard footsteps approaching, then heavy breathing. I was being caught, and with less than 40 yards to go, Franklin's Best flew by me, and there was nothing I could do. (And the all-time winner, has got him by the balls) I kept going as hard as I could, hoping I could still finish in the top three and earn my letter, but I was running on empty…
At the finish, two other Franklin runners edged me out, and I came in fourth with a 5:25, which wasn't bad, but not good enough to earn a letter…
After passing the finish line, I went down on the grass hard, unable to even stand. (Oh, he's crawling down the corridor, on his hands and knees) I got up but immediately fell to the ground. Although I had been seriously drunk before, this was more like a bad LSD trip. I was hallucinating…
My coaches and teammates ran over and made me stay on the ground while they hovered over me and gave me some water. It took a few minutes, but I eventually recovered.
As I walked around after the race, people from Franklin and Sharon were high-fiving me for the incredible effort I put in. I thought that despite not finishing in the top three, my effort was enough to earn me a letter, but the coach said I needed a top-three finish to letter. What a prick!
No way to slow down!