The Dream Lives On

"I have a dream this afternoon that my four little children will not come up in the same young days that I came up within, but they will be judged on the basis of the content of their character, no the color of their skin." ~ Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

This week we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the March on Washington.  Dr. King's speech, regarded as one of the most pivotal speeches in American history laid the foundation for the civil rights movement.  It was King's vision of freedom, equality, and better jobs for all that united a nation to action.  As we reflect upon that day and to the busy day to day hustle of our daily lives, the many negative stories in the press, and overall view of today's society many are left to wonder... have we truly achieved King's dream?  

To answer that question I look to the running community.  Runners come in all shapes and sizes, with varying backgrounds, and experiences.  Without a doubt runners come from all walks of life.  We are a community that doesn't care about the color of your skin, your ethnicity, religion, or sexual bias.  The many bonds that are formed from the day to day running adventures provides a new perspective on what it means to be a family.

I've seen where a fellow runners will call to check in on each other to see how things are going.  If you have family members or a loved one sick we lean on each other and offer assistance from a shoulder to lean on to offering to help fill a need where we can.  As a community we are one... united towards a common goal to enjoy the sport we love.  It's that unifying love that brings us closer together.  I'm of the opinion that this was the true intent of Dr. King's speech, for each person to have the freedom and opportunity to do whatever they love, be it running, earning an education, or living on a farm in Utah.  Through that shared love we grow as one.

So, as we look back upon that August 28th day in 1963 all runners should thank the leaders of that movement for paving the way for us and  future generations to come for the opportunity to enjoy the sport we've all come to love with any and everybody.

Keep Running!!

Bragging or Motivating?

As runners we've all been there... either you, a family member, friend, close acquaintance, or some random runner has shared a recent running accomplishment.  "I won a race", "I placed in my age group", "I set a personal record (PR)".  Many of our friends congratulate us, like our post, or say they'd like to be able to run like that one day.  Alas, a silent select few may think you're bragging.  Better yet, some runners actually don't post their accomplishments because they feel it is bragging.  Having been a part of the running community for some time I've seen and heard many success stories.  From the novice to the elite runner, we all have a story to share.  The question... is it bragging?

Let's look outside the scope of running.  When people share any accomplishment or achievement, can it be considered bragging?  "I lost 20lbs last week", "My child got an A in class", "I got a promotion on my job".  When we hear statements like these we generally feel happy for the person and share in their excitement. Then again, some may still think it's bragging.  It's tough to tell; people view things differently.  For that reason some runners opt not to share their accomplishments.  Dictionary.com defines bragging as such, "to use boastful language; boast".  Exploring this a bit further, boastful language is, "Brag[ging] implies exaggerated claims and often an air of insolent superiority".  Now, unless I'm mistaken simply stating you ran a PR or you finished your 9th marathon cannot be viewed as insolent. More-so, I would say as a runner you're sharing an intimate experience which made you happy you overcame a personal challenge.  To share your experiences with others seems to be more about making a connection or opening up to others.  But it's much too early, I may be jumping to conclusions. Let's explore further...

Looking at the other side of the coin.  By sharing their accomplishments does the runner motivate others to action?  Is the person receiving the news being made to feel inferior?  Let's see, to motivate - "something that motivates; an inducement or incentive".  Looking back at our definition of bragging we know that any language used to air superiority means one is bragging.  Surely by sharing an accomplishment the persons intent is not to air superiority, but more or less the unintended reason is to possibly motivate.  With that said, can one deduce... If it inspires you to try something new; can it fall into the category of motivation?  As athletes, all runners begin somewhere. Whether running at an early age in high school or running later in life, many runners have a story to tell. Whether it's to lose weight, run a 5K, beat a previous PR by 2 minutes, or to lower their blood pressure.  Despite the reason, overcoming challenges is a runners life.  To reach a certain running accomplishment whether large or small becomes a badge of honor.  Both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts use badges to inspire and motivate their troops to overcome and seek new challenges. Some scouts even have badge pinning ceremonies to publicly acknowledge accomplishments.   So could it be through these shared experiences runners are motivating others by talking about their accomplishments?

So can it be viewed as bragging or is it motivating?  Should a runner share when they've run a sub 7 minute 5K?  The runner may think its bragging, another runner may think they're sharing a personal experience with friends.  Some will say its bragging, some will say the story motivates them.  At the end of the day there is no definitive answer. Whether a person decides to share their accomplishments or not is a personal choice.  Just like whether the person receives it as bragging or inspirational is a personal choice. I'm of the opinion... if through sharing a personal accomplishment  I can encourage others to get off the couch and live a healthier lifestyle through running and exercising then so be it.  With that said, I think I will continue to share my experiences.

Keep Running!!

My GPS Died!!!

Well, I've gone and done it now.  I'm guilty of killing my GPS watch.  I'm trying not to be too sad, it lived a good life... My friend has seen plenty of neighborhoods, roads, a few trails, and many races.  As the miles ticked away my friend would give a subtle beep to let me know he was right there with me.  We've had many ups and downs along our journey.  While the good days were many, it was the bad days what made me most appreciate my friend. As I drown myself in my tears I reminiscence about the time when my watch kept a 8-miler from turning into a 10+ miler.  There was another time when my friend beeped that last interval that indicated it was time to rest..... Oh I can see it like it was yesterday.  

Alas, all good things must come to an end.  I must now look to the future (the sun will come out tomorrow).  There will never be another like my friend, but I must be strong.

My GPS watch during happier times.

So, where do I go from here?  Run without a watch???  Oh that's just silly talk... we have to have our data.  Here are a few watches I just so happen to be looking at.  It's starting to feel like Christmas.  

1. Garmin FR210
2. Garmin FR610
3. Timex Run Trainer GPS 2

I don't plan to write a review of these watches because there's already a person (DC Rainmaker) who does a great job of testing and writing in-depth reviews on just about any sport related device there is.  If you don't know about him you should go over and check him out before deciding on what GPS watch you should buy.  Having said that, I will make this one comment.  When selecting a watch, a couple of things to consider is what options you are looking for from a watch, and you should also talk to other runners you may know or run with.  Runners aren't shy to show off their fancy devices and help you pick a watch to fit your needs.  Also, it's always good to have a person you can talk to for advice on how to use or set some feature up you aren't familiar with.  Selecting a watch that is pretty popular in your running circle isn't a bad choice.

Well enough for now... I have to go review and select my next running companion.  Until next time, lace them up and...

Keep Running!!

Hello World!

I'm an avid runner that got started in this sport, like most other adult runners, accidentally.  What started as a journey to slow down my ever expanded waistline has turned into a passionate hobby.  I started running in 2007 and since then have ran over 75 races - from 5Ks to marathons. In 2012, I qualified for one of the most prestigious events in running, the Boston Marathon, which I plan to run 2014. For me running is something I could do every day - it's a lifestyle.  Being on the open road, focusing on the sound of your breath and the pounding of your feet is the most invigorating experience in the world - a natural high.

Even though I've ran so many events I still consider myself to be a intermediate runner or novice-competitor. Some of my friends may disagree... But I still have so much to learn... Every time I go for a run or participate in a race I'm always learning and trying new things.  Having started out late in running I understand the ups and downs of what it takes to continue to lace up the shoes and get out the door for a run. Through running I've seen places I've never imagined existed, met many new friends that have become like family, and have had the opportunity to introduce many others to the sport of running. I always look forward to sharing my experiences with anyone that wants to hear me ramble on about one of my many runs.

Well that's all for now... I will use this blog to share things I've learned along my journey, tips and tricks, and any random thought that comes to mind on a given day.  Until next time, lace them up, and...

Keep Running!!