When I was about 11 years old, I was good at running, good
enough to represent my elementary school as the anchor in a relay at a district
track meet. This prompted all the grown-ups in my life to coach me on running. They
told me all sorts of tricks about keeping my hands flat and remembering to
breathe and to keep in a straight line and to keep from dragging my feet and to
start early to get the baton.
The race came and I did all those things – hands, breathing,
straight line, no dragging, start early. I forgot, however, to run. I blew a
huge lead by running in perfect form, but in slow motion.
What's the lesson here?