14 Replies to “What the Heck Has Luck Got to Do With it? – Running is hardly a sport for the lucky”
You hit on a thought I’ve always wondered about, but never spoken on.
“Good luck”? That just doesn’t make sense. I know it is a way to wish someone well, but you are right on that it doesn’t fit the situation, and that in fact, all the luck of getting to the race and hopefully good weather has been decided. Really, at that point you’re out of luck and have to use something else.
I have tried to say “enjoy your run” or “rock it tomorrow” or something like that. “kick ass” sounds good too. “break a leg” doesnt’ really fit I guess either, huh.
Thanks for writing on a thought I’ve had many times.
“really, at that point you’re out of luck” <--- luv this part! haha...i kno weather can be something of a bit of a luck-swayer but it's almost like, "if all u have to send me off is good luck, then wat the heck, i must be in trouble if luck is all i have to rely on for this race!" 😉
"kick ass" i think we need to make that one spread, deal? 🙂
Hmmm…. Love this – although I think there is SOME luck involved, like the weather or the person who falls in front of you/steps on your foot/spits on you!
I think I’d like hearing – “you got this” or my mantra, “it’s in the bank” – that term gets me though tapering too, to help me to stay PUT instead of running more and exhausting my body!
oh man, yea, getting pulled down by another falling runner is something that nightmares are made of, i just had flashes to poor Mary Decker at the Olympics! that one is where luck, or rather bad luck, certainly would come into play.
I actually think “good luck” is appropriate. All of the training is a necessary item for running a good race, but it still is possible to bomb in a race despite being in shape. Stupid pacing, an injury reappearing, and lousy headwinds are three (of many) items that could overwhelm months of hard training. A little luck never hurt anyone. I see “good luck” as shorthand for “I hope your race goes well”
i’m not one to ever shun luck, and i kno that it really does mean well-wishes from friends/fans. and those are all instances where some luck does come into play, but for the stupid pacing mistakes, u can get better at that with experience and being a smart racer. 😛
I’d rather hear; “You’re a fu**ing champ, kick some ass.” Just telling myself how much work I’ve put in helps. And I tell my friend’s they’ve got this.
I always wondered about the good luck thing too…although i usually assume i need some luck 😉 haha. but i like to say “run hard and run strong”…i should probably go ahead and throw in “confident” there as well. it seems easier to say that to other people but i havent yet mastered the art of attributing confidence to myself yet…working on it though 😉
thanks for your sweet comments lately. running with my bro was incredible…the best race and running experience in a LONG time 🙂 i think he has already signed up for like a bazillion more races. haha! hope you are having a good day friend 🙂
u do NOT need luck, girl u epitomize the hard work…hello, perseverance is in the name. 😉 i kno we all struggle with confidence at time, unless we are Kanye, but u have made big strides forward in that dept. 🙂
aww, i’m glad u like my comments, and honestly i AM so proud of u and lil’ bro…i’m seriously loving that he’s already now totally a race sign-up addict…spread the obsessive compulsive runner status, holla! 🙂
You make a great point. I rattle off “Good Luck”
all the time. The sentiment is there but something
more thoughtful could be rattled off just as easily. I like when people tell me to leave it all out there, get after it, etc.
u hit the perfect point, i think it’s really easy to just numbly say “good luck” without giving it much thought…pick a sentiment that has a little more meaning and basis behind it. 🙂 thanks for stopping by!
You hit on a thought I’ve always wondered about, but never spoken on.
“Good luck”? That just doesn’t make sense. I know it is a way to wish someone well, but you are right on that it doesn’t fit the situation, and that in fact, all the luck of getting to the race and hopefully good weather has been decided. Really, at that point you’re out of luck and have to use something else.
I have tried to say “enjoy your run” or “rock it tomorrow” or something like that. “kick ass” sounds good too. “break a leg” doesnt’ really fit I guess either, huh.
Thanks for writing on a thought I’ve had many times.
“really, at that point you’re out of luck” <--- luv this part! haha...i kno weather can be something of a bit of a luck-swayer but it's almost like, "if all u have to send me off is good luck, then wat the heck, i must be in trouble if luck is all i have to rely on for this race!" 😉 "kick ass" i think we need to make that one spread, deal? 🙂
Hmmm…. Love this – although I think there is SOME luck involved, like the weather or the person who falls in front of you/steps on your foot/spits on you!
I think I’d like hearing – “you got this” or my mantra, “it’s in the bank” – that term gets me though tapering too, to help me to stay PUT instead of running more and exhausting my body!
oh man, yea, getting pulled down by another falling runner is something that nightmares are made of, i just had flashes to poor Mary Decker at the Olympics! that one is where luck, or rather bad luck, certainly would come into play.
i like the “you got this”! 🙂
“You’ve busted your @$$ for this race, get out there and get after it”…I like that one!!
It’s so true though—- no one ever got a PR because they got lucky. PRs come from a HUGE amount of effort, sweat and time!
amen!! seriously, u can’t fake ur way thru training, baby. 🙂
I actually think “good luck” is appropriate. All of the training is a necessary item for running a good race, but it still is possible to bomb in a race despite being in shape. Stupid pacing, an injury reappearing, and lousy headwinds are three (of many) items that could overwhelm months of hard training. A little luck never hurt anyone. I see “good luck” as shorthand for “I hope your race goes well”
i’m not one to ever shun luck, and i kno that it really does mean well-wishes from friends/fans. and those are all instances where some luck does come into play, but for the stupid pacing mistakes, u can get better at that with experience and being a smart racer. 😛
I’d rather hear; “You’re a fu**ing champ, kick some ass.” Just telling myself how much work I’ve put in helps. And I tell my friend’s they’ve got this.
hahaha!!! okay, this one trumps all, i want THAT yelled out at the next race! 🙂
I always wondered about the good luck thing too…although i usually assume i need some luck 😉 haha. but i like to say “run hard and run strong”…i should probably go ahead and throw in “confident” there as well. it seems easier to say that to other people but i havent yet mastered the art of attributing confidence to myself yet…working on it though 😉
thanks for your sweet comments lately. running with my bro was incredible…the best race and running experience in a LONG time 🙂 i think he has already signed up for like a bazillion more races. haha! hope you are having a good day friend 🙂
u do NOT need luck, girl u epitomize the hard work…hello, perseverance is in the name. 😉 i kno we all struggle with confidence at time, unless we are Kanye, but u have made big strides forward in that dept. 🙂
aww, i’m glad u like my comments, and honestly i AM so proud of u and lil’ bro…i’m seriously loving that he’s already now totally a race sign-up addict…spread the obsessive compulsive runner status, holla! 🙂
You make a great point. I rattle off “Good Luck”
all the time. The sentiment is there but something
more thoughtful could be rattled off just as easily. I like when people tell me to leave it all out there, get after it, etc.
u hit the perfect point, i think it’s really easy to just numbly say “good luck” without giving it much thought…pick a sentiment that has a little more meaning and basis behind it. 🙂 thanks for stopping by!