Jun 2013
Interview with the Tortoise and the Hare after the race
Commentator: Hare, you had the race may I ask what happened back there.
Hare: no comment
Commentator: but Hare? You had the tortoise by a mile and as the day progressed, the distance grew shorter. Why, Care to comment?
Hare: no comment.
Commentator: Ok let’s talk to the tortoise maybe he can fill in the blanks about the race.
Commentator to the tortoise: Tortoise would you mind telling us about the fine race you just won?
Tortoise: Sure my pleasure, but forgive me I am slow and it hurts my neck to look way up at you can you sit where I can see you a little easier.
(Commentator adjusts to where the tortoise can see him easier)
Tortoise: Thank you much easier, it really hurts my neck to strain, any way you asked me to tell about the race.
Well I sure thought that hare had me beat he took off in a flash, me and my short legs I couldn’t keep up, all I had on my mind is cross the finish line. I knew he had beaten me just by the way he took off from the starting line. But during the race there were times I saw him sitting on the side line talking to people or rummaging through stores along the race route.
I thought ok maybe he needs a break he is running very fast, then by the time I pass where he is at the time I passed him he was running ahead of me once again. Again I thought just get to the finish line at least I can say I finished the race I can’t turn back now , see I am not a quitter: the tortoise states I was asked to race against him, knowing he is seven times faster than I will ever be.
But something was driving me to continue the race, not to give up take pride in each small step my little legs gave me. Soon again I saw the hare sitting on the side line this time he was asleep.
Funny I thought this is no time to sleep this is a race he is surely faster than I am , he should have already been at the finish line by now I could see the small red flag way off in the distance, why did he stop here when he is only a little ways away from winning the race, I do say I did have to stop for a minute myself there as well. Poor legs are very tired at that point. But the hare never moved much less saw me sitting right next to him while I also took a break. So I got up and continued to walk towards the finish line. And here I am the winner of the race.
Commentator: so at any point did the hare say anything to you during the race as he passed you?
Tortoise : yes , well more he laughed at me as he ran past me and at times would say : he won the race he won the race.
Commentator: ok tortoise do you have anything to say to the people watching the race?
Tortoise: well, I guess: never underestimate what you can do when you put your mind to it. And maybe
Focus on yourself and the task at hand, and everything else will fall into place.
Commentator: Thank you tortoise and very well said, and Congratulations on winning today’s race.
(Commentator to the crowd: ok I will try one more time to interview the hare to hear his story)
Commentator: Hare, one more question if I may ? Would you mind please tell me your side of the race activities today. And how do you feel about the outcome of the day’s events.
Hare: Ok , I will answer these two questions that seems burning in your ears to find out why the event as it be. I lost the race can’t you see to the tortoise so low to the ground .
How can that be I am faster than he? I passed him at the starting gate and took a break and talked to my fans along the way, then when I saw him coming I took off running passed him by as if he was standing still and as I turned around a bend in the road, I took a break and grabbed something to eat and looked around the stores, and bought a few things but I have to go back and pick them up. You cannot run a race with hands so full of bulky objects you know.
So when I saw the tortoise coming near to where I was I started running once again this time I was sure I had won I saw the finish line not far ahead and I had left a lot of space between him and I so I could rest , so I closed my eyes I did not know he had passed me and won the race so when I woke I looked around I did not see him so I was certain he was still a ways behind me , I did not realize the time was so late so I ran to the finish line expecting to win the prize . Only to see the tortoise was standing by the trophy.
Commentator: I am sorry to hear that Hare. Is there anything you would like to tell the people watching the race today?
Hare: Yes, I am bigger and faster than the tortoise is yet he won the race fair and with honor.as for myself I looked at my size as a definite way to win a trophy that would sit on my mantle only thing I wanted really the race wasn’t anything.
And along the way I spent more time thinking and doing other things instead of focusing on the race ahead. I was so sure I had won and had time to play and chat along the way. I was wrong to think a tortoise could ever win a race against a hare
I guess pay more attention to the thing in front of you at the time, all the other pressing things can be dealt with after a race if it is important enough and you remember to go back to it. Slow down and stay focused I guess that is what I am trying to say.
Written by Alan Spivey 6/11/2012
Commentator: Hare, you had the race may I ask what happened back there.
Hare: no comment
Commentator: but Hare? You had the tortoise by a mile and as the day progressed, the distance grew shorter. Why, Care to comment?
Hare: no comment.
Commentator: Ok let’s talk to the tortoise maybe he can fill in the blanks about the race.
Commentator to the tortoise: Tortoise would you mind telling us about the fine race you just won?
Tortoise: Sure my pleasure, but forgive me I am slow and it hurts my neck to look way up at you can you sit where I can see you a little easier.
(Commentator adjusts to where the tortoise can see him easier)
Tortoise: Thank you much easier, it really hurts my neck to strain, any way you asked me to tell about the race.
Well I sure thought that hare had me beat he took off in a flash, me and my short legs I couldn’t keep up, all I had on my mind is cross the finish line. I knew he had beaten me just by the way he took off from the starting line. But during the race there were times I saw him sitting on the side line talking to people or rummaging through stores along the race route.
I thought ok maybe he needs a break he is running very fast, then by the time I pass where he is at the time I passed him he was running ahead of me once again. Again I thought just get to the finish line at least I can say I finished the race I can’t turn back now , see I am not a quitter: the tortoise states I was asked to race against him, knowing he is seven times faster than I will ever be.
But something was driving me to continue the race, not to give up take pride in each small step my little legs gave me. Soon again I saw the hare sitting on the side line this time he was asleep.
Funny I thought this is no time to sleep this is a race he is surely faster than I am , he should have already been at the finish line by now I could see the small red flag way off in the distance, why did he stop here when he is only a little ways away from winning the race, I do say I did have to stop for a minute myself there as well. Poor legs are very tired at that point. But the hare never moved much less saw me sitting right next to him while I also took a break. So I got up and continued to walk towards the finish line. And here I am the winner of the race.
Commentator: so at any point did the hare say anything to you during the race as he passed you?
Tortoise : yes , well more he laughed at me as he ran past me and at times would say : he won the race he won the race.
Commentator: ok tortoise do you have anything to say to the people watching the race?
Tortoise: well, I guess: never underestimate what you can do when you put your mind to it. And maybe
Focus on yourself and the task at hand, and everything else will fall into place.
Commentator: Thank you tortoise and very well said, and Congratulations on winning today’s race.
(Commentator to the crowd: ok I will try one more time to interview the hare to hear his story)
Commentator: Hare, one more question if I may ? Would you mind please tell me your side of the race activities today. And how do you feel about the outcome of the day’s events.
Hare: Ok , I will answer these two questions that seems burning in your ears to find out why the event as it be. I lost the race can’t you see to the tortoise so low to the ground .
How can that be I am faster than he? I passed him at the starting gate and took a break and talked to my fans along the way, then when I saw him coming I took off running passed him by as if he was standing still and as I turned around a bend in the road, I took a break and grabbed something to eat and looked around the stores, and bought a few things but I have to go back and pick them up. You cannot run a race with hands so full of bulky objects you know.
So when I saw the tortoise coming near to where I was I started running once again this time I was sure I had won I saw the finish line not far ahead and I had left a lot of space between him and I so I could rest , so I closed my eyes I did not know he had passed me and won the race so when I woke I looked around I did not see him so I was certain he was still a ways behind me , I did not realize the time was so late so I ran to the finish line expecting to win the prize . Only to see the tortoise was standing by the trophy.
Commentator: I am sorry to hear that Hare. Is there anything you would like to tell the people watching the race today?
Hare: Yes, I am bigger and faster than the tortoise is yet he won the race fair and with honor.as for myself I looked at my size as a definite way to win a trophy that would sit on my mantle only thing I wanted really the race wasn’t anything.
And along the way I spent more time thinking and doing other things instead of focusing on the race ahead. I was so sure I had won and had time to play and chat along the way. I was wrong to think a tortoise could ever win a race against a hare
I guess pay more attention to the thing in front of you at the time, all the other pressing things can be dealt with after a race if it is important enough and you remember to go back to it. Slow down and stay focused I guess that is what I am trying to say.
Written by Alan Spivey 6/11/2012
