George Tubon
Cross Country
By Ray Wong
In
cross country running, the race is
not in the first two miles; it’s the last two that test your
endurance, will, and ability to survive physical exhaustion and
pain. Your mind has to tell your body to keep going when every
fiber of your being wants to scream, “Stop!”
At the age of
thirty-nine, George Tubon is fulfilling a lifelong dream –
competing in intercollegiate athletics. Ever since Cub Scouts,
George wanted to compete in sports. However, when he went to
college and then joined the army, his academic and career
priorities made it impossible to compete. Still, in the back of
his mind, he had a yearning to test himself against other
athletes.
In the army,
they conducted physical training tests, and George always scored
at the top. He spent eight years in the army and took part in
some team competitions, but not at a national level. Again, his
career and duties in the army took precedence.
After he earned
bachelor’s degrees in Journalism and Biology, George entered the
world of work. He became successful in the fields of Botany and
Public Relations, but the drive to compete still burned in him.
He joined the San Diego Track Club headed by Paul Greer and,
when he heard a presentation to the track club from the former
Cross Country coach at San Diego City College, George jumped at
the opportunity.
He didn’t know
what his teammates would think of someone entering
intercollegiate competition for the first time at his age, but
he didn’t let that stop him. He worked to earn their respect and
admiration, so much so that they named him team captain. George
wasn’t the fastest runner on his team, but for him it’s not
about finishing first. It’s about competing and testing his
personal limits. It’s going beyond the discomfort and past the
point of sheer agony. “It’s like a test in life and how you deal
with it. I always win when I finish a race.”
George has
great people who encourage him. “The caliber of coaches is
incredible. They inspire the whole team.” His teammates never
gave him a hard time about his age and supported him throughout,
just as he supports them. What has being on the team taught him?
To motivate himself and others to accomplish goals. “Some people
think they can’t get an ‘A’ in a class, but they can. If you can
be disciplined in athletics, you can do it academically. Putting
it together is a lot of work, but you have to reach for the best
in both realms.”
What are his
plans for the future? He has a set of goals for himself that
includes competing internationally at the master’s level for
those 40 and over. Continuing his education at San Diego City
College, George has learned more about another of his passions –
photography. He would eventually like to produce and shoot his
own motion pictures. His attitude about competing has filtered
into his life, “I’ll take it as far as I can go.” With George,
the race is just beginning. |
