Sammy and Lillya, he from Kenya and she from Russia, won the Chicago marathon day before yesterday. Standing side by side in Sunday sun to receive their medallions-on-a-ribbon, they looked alike. Same height, same taut cheekbones, same stupified look part elation and part shock.

AND, each won for the SECOND time. How could they? I mean, seriously, HOW?

I know the only way to win, say in writing or golf, is to forgo what I want. if I want to write what people will read, I fail. If I want to hit a golf ball that lofts in a lookie-there! way, I don’t. I have lots of practice writing badly and not hitting golf balls, so I know this to be a fact.

So, how could Sammy and Lillya run just to run? How could they not WANT to win once they had done so once before?

How could they run just to run?