Life Outside the Oval Office: The Track Less Traveled

by Nick Symmonds

  I have continued to work hard on and off the track, both for myself and for my sponsors. Through running I have learned that hard work, and a little bit of cunning, can take someone anywhere they want to go. Often times I am asked what makes successful people successful. If I had to boil it down to one word it would be tenacity. No one has shown me this more clearly than Coach Sam Lapray.

  Back in college, my Bearcat teammates and I recognized in Sam from day one the Midas effect, that incredible ability to turn everything he touched into gold. It took me a while to figure it out, though. Early on I could see that Coach Sam had amazing knowledge and a huge heart, but it wasn’t until he and I were tested at the highest levels of running, business, and life that I fully came to realize what makes Sam a winner. It is his determination and tenacity to overcome anything that gets in the way of what he wants. Of all the gifts he has given me, this lesson is perhaps the most valuable.

  I do not know for certain what the future holds for the sport of track and field, much less what it holds for me. I am a person who loves to have a plan, and as such, it terrifies me that I do not know exactly where my life will take me after I hang up my spikes. I do, however, feel a great sense of excitement for the next chapter of my life and can’t wait for it to begin. I know that no matter what my future holds my loyal family and friends will be by my side to help me along the way.

  I like to think that after I retire from competitive running, there will still be a place for me in the world of track and field. This sport has given me so much and I would very much like to give something back to it. It has taught me about the world and helped me see the really important things in life. Running has taken me on incredible adventures and set me up well financially. I believe the sport of track and field is one of the purest and most beautiful, and I very much want to see it grow and thrive for years to come.

  Sometimes, however, I look at the professional side of track and field and feel that it is broken beyond repair. The often lazy and selfish people who control the sport frequently place their own interests above the interest of the sport. I imagine my role in the world of track and field after my retirement and wonder why I would want to deal with these people for several more decades. I constantly vacillate between wanting to continue the fight to improve professional track and field, and washing my hands of the sport entirely.

  There are days when I imagine myself working for the USOC or the IOC to effect change at the highest level. I daydream about infiltrating their ranks and working tirelessly for the rights of the athletes. Then I remember that working tirelessly is not possible. The fight wears on you, and in my dream I am teleported to a tiny beach bungalow somewhere on a remote part of a Hawaiian island where all I do is surf and fish every day.

  In reality, my life will probably consist of a little of both of those dreams. I will always be on the side of the athletes and every vote I cast or speech I make will have their best interests at heart, because I know first hand how hard the athletes work. This sport can live on without selfish bureaucratic imbeciles, but cannot live on without the athletes.

  I often look at the more popular athletes, people such has Usain Bolt, Mo Farah, and Lolo Jones, and feel that the sport of track and field needs them more than they need the sport. I then look at my own career and my own unique set of skills. Do I need the sport of track and field more than it needs me? I don’t know.

  It is very possible that I, along with the vast majority of athletes in track and field, are replaceable. If I were to retire tomorrow I am certain that a young, hungry athlete fresh out of college would step up to take my place. He would go on to run fast times and make teams. Hopefully, he would also be able to earn a decent living.

  Know, however, that I have the determination and tenacity to finish what I start. These are traits that track and field has taught me. I wonder, though, if these skills are being best put to use in the sport. All my experience has been as a professional athlete, but could the skills I learned on and off my oval office allow me to accomplish more, say, in the world of entrepreneurial business? There is only one way to find out.

  I have learned that to be great at anything takes a great deal of sacrifice. For me, to be a great runner has meant giving up many of the things I want most in life. I have sacrificed time with friends, time with family, time at home, and personal relationships. I gave up some of the things that I loved most as a child, such as skiing, wakeboarding, summers at my cabin in Montana, and time at home in Boise. It has all been well worth the sacrifice, but I must admit as the end of my career draws near, I feel a stronger pull toward these things.

  Perhaps the hardest part of the sacrifice has been personal relationships. As I’m sure you can tell, I have enjoyed being single and traveling the world. That was something I needed to get out of my system. I know that I would have made a terrible husband during this time in my life.

  However, I recognize that one of the most important things a human can do with his or her life is to share it with another person. On the final day of my AP history class in high school, my favorite teacher, Mr. Skinner, left us with one final gem of wisdom. “The most important decision you ever make in your life,” he said, “is who you choose as your partner. They will affect nearly every single moment of the rest of your time on this planet.” That was heavy advice for my then eighteen-year-old brain, but it stuck with me.

  Though I was not actively looking for a wife in my twenties, I enjoyed the process of getting to know women and finding out those qualities that were most important to me in a partner. These may sound like givens, but kindness, affection, quick wit, and a great sense of humor are must haves for me. They can also sometimes be the hardest things to find.

  I like to imagine myself as something of a chameleon, someone who feels comfortable in any situation. I love to dress up in a suit and tie almost as much as I love being decked out in my old hunting clothes and hiking boots. I have a strong feeling that my life partner will have to share this sense of comfort in any situation.

  I also am certain that the partner I am looking for, will, herself, be looking for a man who possesses certain characteristics. For most women, I am sure, “selfish” is not on that list of attributes. I have tried to give back during my career, and acknowledge that my lifestyle during my professional career has been a selfish one. I have asked so much from those around me, from my coaches, sponsors, and family and friends, often without being able to provide much in return, other than, perhaps, an inspirational performance.

  When I look at the way my dad has selflessly loved my mother for decades, and think about how much he has given me, I know I want to emulate him. I want to love someone unselfishly and be there for every moment of my children’s lives. But, I see those things and my job as a professional runner as mutually exclusive. So for now, I will continue to run in circles professionally, knowing that more great adventures await me.

  That, above all, has been my favorite part of my career as a professional runner, the sense of adventure. It is the most addicting drug and one I will never be able to give up. Like a hopeless addict who switches to a nicotine patch, so will I have to find a way to feed my addiction.

  To this end, I have set several goals for myself to help me transition to life off the track. I want to bike across the United States, backpack through South America, run a marathon, and finish a full Ironman. The loftiest goal I have set for myself athletically is to climb the tallest mountain on every continent. These peaks are known as the seven summits.

  But, these goals all pale in comparison to the largest and perhaps most difficult goal I have set for myself in life: to fall in love, to faithfully share my life with someone, raise a family, and be a great father. These are my most important goals and I am confident that running has given me the skill set necessary to tackle them.

  My mom likes to play a game where she asks if I have met my future wife yet. I usually respond with a shrug and a maybe. She then says, “I wonder what she is do
ing right now. Maybe she is hiking or out fishing or with her own family.” At this point my dad usually interjects, “She is probably doing her high school algebra homework.” This makes us all laugh.

  Have I met her yet? I don’t know, and I really have no idea what she is doing. What I do know is that there will come a time when my gut tells me that I would make a terrible decision to let someone go. This is the same instinct that has taken me down many strange paths, but also on many incredible adventures.

  In the meantime, I will continue to go through life choosing the path less taken because it so often leads to wonderful and exciting possibilities. It allows me to live my life the way I want: for myself and for those I love most. I will leave you with the words of one of my favorite authors, Jack London. From the minute I read them they have helped shaped the way I live my life.

  “I would rather be ashes than dust! I would rather that my spark should burn out in a brilliant blaze than it should be stifled by dry-rot. I would rather be a superb meteor, every atom of me in magnificent glow, than a sleepy and permanent planet. The function of man is to live, not to exist. I shall not waste my days trying to prolong them. I shall use my time.”

  THE END

  Resources

  Follow Nick on Twitter: @nicksymmonds

  Follow Nick on Facebook: facebook.com/nick.symmonds

  Follow Nick on Instagram: @nicksymmonds

  Nick’s Web Page: NickSymmonds.com

  Nick’s online Runner’s World column:

  runnersworld.com/nick-symmonds-oval-office

  Nick’s Favorite Running Websites:

  RunnersWorld.com, FloTrack.com, LetsRun.com

  Nick’s Favorite Magazines:

  Field & Stream, Outside Magazine, The Week

  Charities and Causes Nick Supports:

  Heifer International: Heifer.org

  NOH8 Campaign: noh8campaign.com PETA: PETA.org

  Smile Train: SmileTrain.org

  Humane Society of the United States: HumaneSociety.org

  Nick’s Corporate Partners:

  Brooks Running: BrooksRunning.com

  Melaleuca: Melaleuca.com

  Hanson Dodge Creative: HansonDodge.com

  Run Gum: GetRunGum.com

  Soleus Running: SoleusRunning.com Suja Juice: SujaJuice.com

  Acknowledgements

  It is pleasantly surprising to me how similar winning a race is to writing a book. Both take a great deal of dedication and perseverance, but more importantly, both require an incredible amount of help.

  I would like to thank my publisher, Cool Titles, for helping me to share my story. I would also like to thank my editor Lisa Wysocky for helping to shape my grammatically poor writing into something readable.

  Finally, I would like to thank my family for always supporting me in all that I have chosen to do. A special thank you goes to my mom, one of the finest English teachers in the world, who taught me how to express myself through my writing. This book is especially for her, the “dragon lady” of Bishop Kelly High School.

  Cover photo by Becca Walls, Ladies & Gents Photography

  Author photo and back cover photo by Stephen Wayda

  About Nick Symmonds

  Nick Symmonds is a professional athlete and a 2008 and 2012 Olympian for the United States of America. He was also a world silver medalist for 2013. He is the third fastest American ever at 800 meters, a two-time world championship finalist, five-time USA Outdoor Champion at 800 meters, seven-time NCAA Champion (Willamette University), and nine-time state champion (Idaho/Bishop Kelly High School, Boise). When Nick is not running he can be found climbing mountains and fishing in the Pacific Northwest.

  About Coach Frank Gagliano

  Frank Gagliano, “Coach Gags,” is a former director of track and field at Rutgers University, former director of track and field at Georgetown University, founder of the Washington, DC based Reebok Enclave elite professional track and field team, coach of the Nike Farm Team in Palo Alto, California, and the first coach in the resurgence of the Oregon Track Club. At Georgetown alone, Coach Gagliano produced 140 All-America performers, seven individual national champions, and 23 Big East championship teams. Since coaching professionals exclusively, Coach Gags has trained countless numbers of athletes to USATF Nationals Finals, world championship teams, and world championship finals; as well as fourteen Olympians, and numerous Olympic finalists. Coach Gagliano has most recently brought his wealth of talent and knowledge back home to the New Jersey/New York area where he continues his tradition of excellence with his newest venture, the NJ/NY Track Club.

  Book Club Questions

  1. What initially motivated Nick to start running?

  2. Nick’s family was very supportive of his running early on (and still is). How did they support him and what did that mean to Nick?

  3. In high school and early college Nick also ran other distances, such as cross-country and the 1500 meter. What made him zone in on the 800 meter?

  4. Nick has had several injuries during his career. What motivates him to keep going during those times?

  5. What do you think about the Beer Mile?

  6. Who is Mortimer, and why is he important to Nick?

  7. What one thing is most important to Nick as an athlete today?

  8. For the 2012 season Nick auctioned off space on his left shoulder for a temporary tattoo so a sponsor could advertise there. Why?

  9. Nick has a big personal commitment to help other athletes obtain sponsors. Why is that important to Nick?

  10. What are Nick’s biggest challenges, both personally and professionally?

  11. Life on the road, traveling to different meets, can be challenging. What does Nick like and dislike about it?

  12. What does Nick Symmonds represent in the sport of running today?

  IF YOU ENJOYED THIS BOOK, YOU MAY ALSO ENJOY THESE, AND OTHER, AWARD-WINNING BOOKS FROM COOL TITLES.

  Learn more at CoolTitles.com

  The John Wooden Pyramid of Success

  John Wooden, owner of many unequaled and mostly unapproachable records, coached the legendary UCLA basketball teams to ten national championships between 1963 and 1975. His accomplishments on the court alone make him a fascinating person. But Coach Wooden is much more‹a philosopher and creator of the Pyramid of Success, which is a plain-spoken guide to achieving success that is packed with good, honest common sense. In this authorized biography, you will find the wisdom of this extraordinary man. Wooden allowed rare access to members of his family--brothers, children, and grandchildren who for the first time take you into his home life--as well as superstar athletes (Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Bill Walton, Willie Naulls, Walt Hazzard, Gail Goodrich, Sidney Wicks plus many others) as well as nationally known broadcasters.

  Woodenisms

  John Wooden was arguably the greatest coach, the greatest leader, of all time. These Woodenisms, a collection of his wisdom and sayings, inspire, motivate, and prepare you for any challenge. Woodensims provide common sense, assist you in being a leader and a team player, and also give you strength.

  Many of these Woodenisms have been distributed individually. They have also been used in print, and in presentations by Coach and other speakers. Now they are collected here, yours to cherish and enjoy as you strive for success.

  My parents, Andrea and Jeffrey, were all smiles on their wedding day in 1981. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Amazing shades! Here I am at our Rochester, Minnesota home in 1986. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  One of our many family camping trips. This trip was to Trinity Peaks, just north of Mt. Home, Idaho. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Another camping trip. Here we with our dog, Jake, at Lincoln City on the Oregon Coast. I still love camping to this day! Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Halloween 1990. Lauren dressed up as Tiger Lily and I was Peter Pan. Our costumes (as always) were made by our parents. Photo courtesy of Andrea
and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Jake, Lauren and me, catching dinner in Big Sky, Montana in 1991. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Lauren and I did not seem all that excited to go back to school, although Mom and Dad looked pretty happy. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  I loved running cross-country for Bishop Kelly High School. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Lauren and I both did well at the 2000 Idaho State Cross-Country Championships! Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  With Coach Shanahan at the 2002 Idaho State Track and Field Championships in Boise. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Dad and me after a fifty-mile backpacking trip through the Sawtooth Mountains in central Idaho. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  With Mom and Dad in May 2006 at my graduation from Willamette University. Photo courtesy of Andrea and Jeffrey Symmonds.

  Fresh caught lingcod for dinner, thanks to Captain Nate Stansberry and the rich fisheries off the Oregon coast. Photo from the collection of Nick Symmonds.

  Lauren and I had fun riding the train from Valencia to Buñol for La Tomatina. I am so proud of my sister and am not surprised that she has gone into a profession that makes a difference in the lives of children and families. Photo from the collection of Nick Symmonds.