One of my major competitors was Harold Smith. Smith beat me in 1977. I was loafing during that competition.
My concentration level blocks out everything. Concentration is why some athletes are better than others. You develop that concentration in training and concentrate in a meet.
Lots of people let it go by and never accomplish what they want. I just wanted to see what I could do.
The joint lubrication was not what it was when I was competing, and I decided that not having arthritis or rheumatism for the rest of my life was a lot more important to me than returning to the track.