World's Fastest?
Eastern alum Dallas Robinson makes run at 2008 Summer Olympics in 200-meter or relay race
Cameron Blair
Issue date: 2/7/08 Section: Sports
Eastern graduate Dallas Robinson entered the summer of 2007 in what many would see as a desirable position.
Robinson, 28, had a job in a corporate sales position with a six-figure salary.
However, Robinson was less than satisfied with his position and walked away from his sales career.
"It took about three or four weeks of sleepless nights and squirming around my chair at work to decide I was putting in my two weeks notice," Robinson said. "And I don't know how this is gonna work out or how I'm gonna pay my mortgage, but I know I am supposed to run."
And run he has.
Robinson first ran at the 2007 Bluegrass State Games after being away from competitive running for almost a year. He placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.33, setting a new Kentucky record.
"I walked out onto a track and broke the Kentucky state record in the 100 and just missed the Olympic qualifying standard after sitting on my butt for a year," Robinson said. "So I knew at that point this is what I was supposed to be doing."
After six months of training, Robinson is currently ranked third in the world in the 200-meter and fifth in the 60-meter dash and is looking to represent the United States in the Olympics in either the 200-meter race or the team relay event.
Robinson also works a full time job at S & S Tire in Lexington, working as many as 60 hours per week. Working here pays the bills for Robinson and gives him the opportunity to pursue his training.
"I walked away from a $100,000 dollar per year job into S & S Tire to work the front desk. It's a pretty humbling position to say the least," Robinson said.
Robinson begins each day at 5:45 a.m. and works a 13-hour shift from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. He then trains at the indoor training facility for two and a half hours from 9-11:30 before calling it a night at 12:30 a.m.
Despite the pay cut he took when he left his sales job and the long hours he now puts in every day, staying motivated is not an issue for Robinson.
Robinson, 28, had a job in a corporate sales position with a six-figure salary.
However, Robinson was less than satisfied with his position and walked away from his sales career.
"It took about three or four weeks of sleepless nights and squirming around my chair at work to decide I was putting in my two weeks notice," Robinson said. "And I don't know how this is gonna work out or how I'm gonna pay my mortgage, but I know I am supposed to run."
And run he has.
Robinson first ran at the 2007 Bluegrass State Games after being away from competitive running for almost a year. He placed first in the 100-meter dash with a time of 10.33, setting a new Kentucky record.
"I walked out onto a track and broke the Kentucky state record in the 100 and just missed the Olympic qualifying standard after sitting on my butt for a year," Robinson said. "So I knew at that point this is what I was supposed to be doing."
After six months of training, Robinson is currently ranked third in the world in the 200-meter and fifth in the 60-meter dash and is looking to represent the United States in the Olympics in either the 200-meter race or the team relay event.
Robinson also works a full time job at S & S Tire in Lexington, working as many as 60 hours per week. Working here pays the bills for Robinson and gives him the opportunity to pursue his training.
"I walked away from a $100,000 dollar per year job into S & S Tire to work the front desk. It's a pretty humbling position to say the least," Robinson said.
Robinson begins each day at 5:45 a.m. and works a 13-hour shift from 6:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. He then trains at the indoor training facility for two and a half hours from 9-11:30 before calling it a night at 12:30 a.m.
Despite the pay cut he took when he left his sales job and the long hours he now puts in every day, staying motivated is not an issue for Robinson.
