It's when you get to those state rep levels you see the real freaks, the future national champions, etc, and it can be daunting.
I was a fast runner at school, not a record-setter, but always the fourth guy in the relay team, that sort of thing. As I was handy over all the distances but not outstanding in any, I was used all the time, whereas the 100 metres champ was confined to the 100 and 200, and the 400 metres champ only did the 400. I only made one championship as of right, and it was mind-blowing. I made the semi finals of a 200 metres because 2 runners were disqualified and I was one of the fastest losers in the quarters. I was so proud to be lining up at that level, but I was last by a country mile. Those guys had been holding back in the heats and absolutely blitzed the semis and final.
I've always admired great athletes and wished I had been one. My son Aidan, (the youngest) is very fast, real champion standard, but he doesn't do athletics, just football (soccer). I've been there on the sidelines when he zips past spectators and often try to convince myself it's the McGookin genes, but my wife's brother was actually a County champ and can produce newspaper clippings stating that he did the 100 metres in 11 seconds. You can't argue with that.
