Brycen

Kelvin Kiptum- marathon world record holder- died today in a car crash, with his coach Gervais Hakizimana. Death is the only true enemy of obsession. He broke the world record at 24 years old last fall (2:00:35), after running marathons for only a year. He was already at The Pinnacle, and destined to go faster and further past it, breaking records for years or decades to come. He had the 2024 Olympics right ahead of him. A world-bending sub 2hr marathon in sight. This is such incredible talent and greatness that I wish more people talked about. Seeing news like this resets your perspective on everything. No matter how hard you push, how much you sacrifice, how much you obsess, everything can end in an instant. Lately (not to make this about me)- I've been thinking about death. I enjoy life so much now, I believe in myself so much- that it feels like death is the only true obstacle to achieving my goals. I'll get everything I want- as long as I don't die. This has become a *real,* but mild fear, something I think about often. When Kobe died in 2020, it was a similar feeling. You can do everything right, reach such extreme greatness, and lose everything instantly. I think the more you fear death, the more you love life. This is a paradox, and the ultimate gift/curse. Just like this death. Extreme talent. Unstoppable potential. Cut relentlessly short. This can make some things feel meaningless. Like you're striving for something with an inevitable end, that might come anytime, much sooner than you think. I don't know the solution- except persisting in spite of that feeling. And recognizing that winning and glory should be felt fully, because it may not be felt again. RIP to a legend who inspired me and many others to do what's never been done.