The Road Less Traveled

From time to time we have to give acknowledgement and/or look back to thank those that have helped us along the way.  Success is “the achievement of something desired, planned, or attempted”.    Everyday people set out to achieve something they've never done before… these goals become our drive, our passion.  Whether it’s to finish a weekend project, make a ton of money, or to win a race, each and every one of us strive to achieve something or be better than we were yesterday.  


The very nature of being a runner forces you to be goal oriented, to lose weight, to finish a race, or to be socially connected to others.  That’s where mentors, coaches, or other runners come in.  Our community is rich with people from all walks of life.  Our interactions with each other help to grow us, mold us, inspire us to dig deep within ourselves to realize that we can set a goal and achieve it.  Even if we stumble or have a setback, it's our mentors, family, and friends that provide that guidance to help us to continue to move forward.  Many people like to think its hard work and dedication that makes a person successful, and for the most part it is, but if it weren't for the people giving that subtle nudge, that one tip, or by sharing their story then your efforts may have taken longer than originally intended.  

So, I’d like to take the time to thank each and everyone of my past and present mentors, the family and friend, the ones who help me today, and the ones who will help me in the future.  It’s your shoulders I stand on and hope that I would be so fortunate to help others to achieve their dreams as you have helped me to achieve mine.

Keep Running!!

  

Macon Labor Day 10K Race Recap

This week we celebrated Labor Day.  My original intent was to do the usual, get in a run, hang around the house, and veg in front of the TV.  Since the Peachtree Road Race I had been taking some down time to heal up some nagging injuries so I really wasn't too motivated to run a race.  After some consideration I decided to run the Labor Day 10K in Macon.  A few of my buddies had already committed to running the race and after a few conversations they convinced me to just pace another buddy of ours – Tiki.  Great idea I thought, I can get in a run, with no pressure to actually race and worry about my actual time.  Cool beans.

 

As race day approached, due to prior commitments, my friend had to pull out… now what??  Maybe I can run with one of my other running buddies… but alas another idea reared its ugly head…. Why not go for it?    A few weeks prior to Labor Day, I had been slowly building up my miles… low intensity, easy runs, with no speed or tempo work… so I felt pretty good going in that I would be able to help pace Tiki and make it to the finish line in one piece.  I could just run by feel; just to see how things are progressing.  THAT WAS THE dumbest, smartest idea I ever had.  I pull up to the starting line… competitive engine starting to purr…  For the first time in a long while I was a bit nervous.  I look at my other buddy, Cheneda… and ask, ‘hey you want me to pace you?’  She looked in my eye, smiled, and said no if you feel it do what you can.  She must have seen the Kraken pacing back and forth.  By the way, Cheneda got a 10K PR in this race... great job!!

GAME TIME!!  Siren goes off and we begin.  I’m racing again; feeling that familiar sense of adrenaline and that cool sensation from the wind blowing on me as I speed down the road.  I check in with my senses… breathing - check, arm swing - check, watch started - check, legs moving - check.  All systems go UNTIL…. Is that a darn hill before the mile 1 marker?!?  FREAK!!!  No worries, I thought… I've been here before… keep pushing, lean in, dig deep.  I get through that early challenge… 5.2 miles to go.  Mile 2… Things start to settle down a bit… I’m going downhill now, feeling good, feeling great… until things start to level off.  At this point, I’m starting to wonder what did I get myself into.  

OK don’t panic, don’t push it, 4 miles to go, no need to aggravate anything.  Let’s get through this in one piece – mind playing tricks on me.  I fell for it hook, line, and sinker… instead of focusing on the mile I was in… I started rationalizing or thinking about the ENTIRE race.  I've learned through my marathon runs that in order to take on 26.2, mentally you can’t think about it all at once.  The same goes for any race… break it down into stages.  I made a fundamental flaw.  By doing so, your brain will sabotage you by protecting itself and the body.  I immediately switched from race mode to let’s just get out of here in one piece mode – at freaking mile 3.  So, then comes mile 4… OK after a quick argument with myself… the second half of this race was advertised as a fast 5K, so OK its only 2 more miles… dig in… let’s go!!!  BUT WAIT!!  Is that… another freaking hill?!!  You've got to be kidding me.  Mind playing tricks on me, part 2 – that’s all I got Scottie… shut it down, let’s go home, thank you for playing.  I start thinking about the trees, the sun, whatever I could to get through this hill and the next 1 ½ mile.  So, with about a ¼ of a mile to go… I see/hear this kid STRUGGLING (about as hard as me J)… I put my coaching hat on and tell him let’s finish together and we went for it – kind of easy at that point when you see the finish line.  Whew!!!  We made it.  Kid thanks me like it’s his first race… I pat him on the back, where is the freaking water, stretcher, hey I need oxygen!!! 

In the end, overall it was a great event.  I really did like the course, it was challenging, but not so much that I wouldn't do it again… with more preparation.  I came in 3^rd for my age group, helped a kid finish hard, and got to hang out and experience a new running adventure.  The best part… I didn't fall apart and feel pretty happy about my progress.  Until next time… Keep Running!!!

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!!