The end of the high school track season was bittersweet this year. A few senior boys, who I got to know well, didn’t quite run well enough to advance in the post season.
But being high school senior boys, they soon had another idea: a sprint triathlon.
There’s a great place in Clermont Florida (Choice of Champions) that runs an accessible sprint series each summer in May, June, July, and August. “When are you signing up,” I asked, “I’ll sign up too.”
It’s great to gloat over them with a rare win and they give all the trash talk back (and more) when they beat me.
“July,” Nick said.
“No!” his mom protested, “it’s going to be too hot.”
That’s the point. It’s not really about doing a triathlon, it’s about having an experience. Yes, times kind of matter, but only in the scope of the experience. For a crew of high school swimmers and runners, it might be a better experience and greater stories if it’s the race in July.
Maybe it will be, maybe not. But it’s the right direction. This was an early lesson in Bob Iger’s experiences. He thought sports was about the game, but really it’s about the story. Talking about the wins or losses are meaningless without comparison because context gives us a narrative.
This summer then, take the trip, do the thing, make mistakes. It’s not actually about the outcome – it’s about the experience.
The Waiter's Pad 