BY ASHTON EATON

For The Register-Guard

 

You want to know something? No matter how hard you try, you never know what you have until it’s gone.

The last couple weekends, Hayward was host to the Pac-12 Championships and for both of them I sat in the stands watching young Ducks in retro uniforms dominate everyone with smiles and vigor.

They were having so much fun, the coaches were jumping up and down as their athletes came flying down the home stretch, and Ducks were giving away personal bests like it was Hayward’s birthday. And there I was, sitting in the stands, not on the track.

How did it happen so fast? I was just down there, in my own Duck uniform waving to the crowd and going to practice and competing with my teammates, my friends.

I should have enjoyed it more. I would give anything to have it back.

Then I thought about where I am now, on an Olympic journey, something that will be with me the rest of my life, like my years as a Duck. I thought, I should try harder to soak it all in so I don’t feel like I did sitting in the stands.

Then I realized the key. I will have a lot of moments in my life that I will wish I had again.

But one day, instead of them being gone, I will be gone.

Then, I will see my life and realize what I had, and be happy.