Narrator Casey Neistat extols the virtue and value of following one’s own instincts in Christian Ranby's excellent “No One Knows Anything.” Neistat states/asks (rhetorically) how one tends only to gains appreciation for ignoring naysayers and detractors once success is achieved. And he is right.
The other day I learned with great interest of Olympic Triathlon Champion Gwen Jorgensen’s participation in the New York Marathon later this year. So it was with great interest that I read her post-Rio commentary on her website. I’m not naive and know I won’t have a good build up to prepare, she said of her plans to run in the Big Apple before going on to add that running a marathon has long been a dream of hers and she is relishing the opportunity to test herself. With the New York Marathon scheduled for early November, let’s hope that Gwen approach this self-test with a “no-one-knows-anything” attitude and embraces the process of an unconventional buildup to the 26.2 miles in a similar vein to her nearest Olympic-competitor, the self-directed Nicola Spirig.
Meanwhile across the pond in mainland Europe, the Vuelta a España is in full swing. Traversing the Spanish mainland, the organisers clearly have scant regard for the tried and tested Grand Tour routing format of something for everybody. It seems that almost every stage ends up a mountain – a great racing spectacle indeed although I’m unsure if the riders would agree. Speaking of this Grand Tour (of redemption for some), there is at least one rider in the field that could be classified as an “upstream-er.” Young Hugh Carthy might be sitting well down the general classification (GC) as the race enters stage eleven but that doesn’t matter. What is important to know about Carthy is his path to this point, one which is self-directed especially considering his nationality.
As a young British talent, many might have expected the young man from Preston in Lancashire forged his own path instead, upping, offing and settling in the Basque Country with the Caja Rural Continental squad. Garnering respect from his peers, his results improved catching the eye of several World Tour teams eager to sign him up. Carthy’s decision to go with Cannondale-DRAPAC after declining an offer from Team SKY is perhaps indicative of a young man with a wise head on his shoulders, not caring what “they” say and making his own choices regardless. Function over form, he said, of the principles that his adopted home embrace, an observation that more than likely is reflected by his own path to his current status.
“The only reason why I got here is because I ignored everyone…I wish I knew to ignore everyone from the beginning.”
Well said Casey and food for thought indeed.
