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Did my questions pique your interest? It did for some. I've already heard opinions from some unexpected sources.

Here's what I think, starting with questions #1 and #2.

Are Ryan Collins and Jenna Davidner really unbeatable? Can the margin of excellence displayed by the Mansfield boys and Oliver Ames girls be eclipsed at the league meet by inspired challengers?”

I won't give you a straight answer. Then again, I rarely do. When I want to get a point across to my team I tell a story. Its up to them to decipher the message, then decide whether it is relevant to their position. Maybe it isn't Aesop's fables, but maybe it can be considered Dwight's sound bytes.

If I'm going to cop out here its for a good reason. Predicting the defeat of Davidner, Collins or either of the dual meet team champions would likely void my Mensa membership. They have not only proven their mettle – but have done so in an incredibly convincing fashion. Neither am I going to tell the rest of the Hockomock League to stay home and forfeit the trophies.

I'm pragmatic. I look at all the evidence from XC06 and there is only one conclusion to draw. Collins, Davidner, Mansfield boys and OA girls will come home victorious. Yet, I hear this little voice telling me that nothing, NOTHING is certain.

Sure-fire winners have often become embarrassed losers. One only need look as far as Thomas Dewey to realize that you haven't won until all the votes are counted.

So, without predicting the outcome, I'm going to use this as an opportunity to discuss elements that can affect the outcome of the Hockomock League Championships, both team and individual. Three critical factors for performance on the 20 th will be mindset, motivation and short-term improvement.

Winning breeds confidence and losing teaches lessons. Both can be positives – or negatives. It all depends on mindset.

Winners develop a positive attitude. If you think you can win – there is a greater likelihood that you will. But winning also can breed complacency. It lulls the winner into a false confidence that the current level of performance, training habits and/or race strategies will continue to bring success. Why change what has worked so far? The benefit of this double-edged sword depends on whose wielding it – and how.

Meanwhile, the losers (and I mean that in a literal way) learned valuable lessons. They have found what hasn't worked, or what needs to be worked harder. They have a much better idea of what it will take to close the gap, than a winner has of what it will take to stay ahead. Maybe their confidence might be shaken, but it can survive if their will to win stays strong. And there's plenty of motivation in the quest for payback. The Hockomock Championships is a perfect opportunity to prove “unbeatable” as merely a temporary condition.

I've had ample samples to trample the idea that anyone is unbeatable. I'll use two personal stories as illustration. “Dwight's bytes” if you wish.

The first comes from XC88. Lynn Liberatore was a sophomore running cross-country for the first time. She entered the final race of the dual-meet season undefeated (back when it was a true dual-meet season). She squared off against another undefeated runner, sophomore Lori Kelly of Foxboro. At the time we were running at the WW1 Town Park. This was our home course and a distinct advantage for us, very hilly including two long and steep trips up the “sled hill”. Side by side they strode until hitting the second sled hill, the point where I felt Lynn would assert her superiority. Instead, Lori bounded away from her effortlessly and completely romped over the last half mile. It wasn't a defeat – it was a thrashing.

To some it looked like Lynn was doomed to be the bridesmaid for the next two years. Fortunately, Lynn took it as a sign that she needed to rededicate to her goals. Lynn's progress over the next two years provided her with two undefeated seasons and two consecutive Hock XC MVP awards. Lori also had two great seasons, but Lynn had measured the competition and brought unmeasured dedication to her career goals. Score one for the underdog. Minus one for the seemingly unbeatable.

The second example lies even closer to home, and maybe more relevant this issue. There isn't much time to go back to the drawing board. Many of the big players next Friday don't have another year to get ready. It really becomes as much a question of mindset as it is ability.

For this parable, let's look at spring track '96. My daughter Emily was having a great junior year and was in the hunt for a state championship in the 800M. She wasn't the favorite, but was clearly among the contenders. With 200M to go she took off, moving from 3 rd to 1st and opening up 5M over

2nd place. But halfway down the final straightaway she was caught and passed by two runners, settling for a solid PR and third place. Well, maybe next year.

But to Emily, her season wasn't done. The following week she squared off in the New England Championships against that same group plus many great runners from other states – including a hot-shot favorite from New Hampshire. It was one of the hottest days of the year and runners were spending most of the time under the stadium at Brown University trying to stay cool. My hope was that she would ignore the heat and have a solid race. Maybe even place in the top 6.

Through the first 400M she was content to sit in 6th . Since she had been caught from behind a week earlier, I figured she would wait till the last 100M to make her move. Instead she went into an all-out kick with 300M left. By the time the other runners reacted it was too late. Although they were closing the gap down the straight away, she crossed the finish line in first – another PR.

As important as having the physical conditioning was her ability to retain a winning mindset, despite coming up short of her state meet goal.

Next week the Hock's best toe the line. It will be AWESOME!!! I love this meet!!!

(note : How many times does coach Estey use triple exclamation points?)

The favorites will be trying to live up to their advance publicity. The rest will use the lessons of the last few weeks to mount a challenge. Upsets are more likely team-wise than individually. There are so many more variables in the team competition. A few break-thru runners having an outstanding day can make a huge difference. Yet, even the individual matches are close enough that the favorites will be looking over their shoulders (I hope only figuratively - when did looking over your shoulder or at your watch make you a better runner?).