What's "Running" through your mind?

I just finished my 9th Wasatch Back Ragnar Relay...and even though that is pretty cool (for an old Cuban like me!), I am not sharing my thoughts to put the focus on me, but I WANT to share my thoughts and experiences to hopefully help YOU...Encourage YOU, to be your BEST!

Most of you probably know about the Ragnar Relay, especially the Wasatch Back Relay, since it was the very first Ragnar Relay ever made (Ragnar started in Utah by the way!).  I was asked by some of my runners if I had ran every leg.  I actually have run almost every leg of the relay (in some form of another...over the years the course has changed a lot, so some of the legs overlap from previous years), but what got me really thinking about this (since some of your runs on the relay can allow you to have lots of time to yourself to think), was why do I keep doing this?  It's not that I don't like or dislike the Relay, but after so many times, do I ever get tired of doing the same thing?  Running can sure seem like that...doing the same route every week, or similar courses, maybe even doing the same effort can seem tiresome (Wapiti again...heehee!)!  We have our good days and our "rougher" days...

So what keeps us going?

I figured out for myself, after all these years of running (24 years), after all these Ragnar Relays (24 hours of hot, cold, lack of sleep, sit in a vehicle for hours)...I DON'T WANT TO MISS OUT ON WHAT COULD HAVE BEEN!  So what if I have done a particular run a million times, or a race every year...what if that one time, something amazing happens and something clicks and for the first time I realize that I really can do something like that...Run for the unknown possibilities!!!  What do you have to lose?  Uhhhh...nothing but Greatness, by not being your BEST in every moment possible!   I'm not saying that every run must be your fastest (obviously not!), but so what if you feel like you have done that run a ton...you never know what you might get out of it...maybe just you being there HELPS someone else out simply by the way you inspired them, or what you said to them...LOOK FOR THE GOOD IN WHAT YOU ARE A PART OF...EVEN TRICK YOURSELF AT TIMES IF NEEDED TO BELIEVE THAT YOU LOVE EVERY RUN!  Not because you need to "lie" to yourself, but sometimes we all need a little push out the door (with a smile of course!).

I love doing the Wasatch Back because I don't want to miss out on great moments with "my Kids"...with people like YOU who inspire me to want to be the BEST 40 year old Cuban out there!  :)

I remember a few years back sharing an experience about Ragnar to the team...as I was looking over the different sections of the race (each of the "legs" of the race), I found myself looking first for the HARDEST AND TOUGHEST legs of the course.  Not because I wanted to punish myself, but because I wanted to feel like I was giving my BEST!  So I guess that is why I asked in the title of the post..."What's Running through your mind?"  To be truly INVESTED...YOU must ask yourself if you are being your BEST!  Best at your running...attendance to runs...attitude towards yourself and others...desire to improve every week...listening to your Coaches and others who really care about you!!!!!!    

Next time your run up Wapiti, what will you be thinking?  I know what I will be!  :)

How am I doing? Evaluation Time!

I thought this picture was very appropriate with the evaluating of our Goals this next week, and the World Cup and all...Plus, it just made me LAUGH!

We have been going for 4 weeks now!  I'm telling you guys...it's going by fast!  So that is why it is a good time to evaluate where you are at right now.  Many of you are finding out that you really can do this crazy thing called running...some of you are still unsure (trust me...you BELONG!!!!!), but all in all, we have seen some great running!  We are still having a pretty good turnout of runners at all the runs...some days are better than others, but I RE-CHALLENGE YOU ALL TO EVALUATE YOUR GOALS AND ADJUST IF NECESSARY AND PICK UP WHERE YOU ARE AND JUMP ON BOARD THE "TRAIN" AND ENJOY THE RIDE!!!! 


If things haven't gone as well as you wanted, it's ok...just get back on board now and start coming more consistently...you will never be judged or made to feel less simply because it has been less than ideal for you.  In fact, we will be more proud of you for realizing that you matter to us and that this matters to you and it's worth putting your ego behind and start coming back to the "Family!"

If things are going well, that is Awesome, Blossom...but it is still just as important, if not more, to evaluate where you are and what adjustments you want to make!

Adjustments could be anything from miles (more miles or better miles), to coming to practices, to being more consistent, to how you talk to yourself, to your encouragement to others (are we celebrating enough with each other, the great things we are doing?...I would say, "not enough!"). 

I know many of you have great desires to go to HARC!  For many reasons, it is a very special place and requires that you are giving your best.  If you feel that you are not giving your best, and you want to go...then SIMPLY change, or tweak, what you are doing and start giving your best.  The Standard to be even considered for HARC is your mileage.  After 4 weeks of running, you should have 144 miles to be on track (36 miles a week for 4 weeks)...and that is only to be considered.  If you are not there, it's ok, but you need to re-evaluate and make the adjustments to get back on board.
The reason why HARC is so special is because of what it represents...what it requires to be there...what you have put in to be a part of this.  It's not about separating yourself from others, but it does require that you not only do the "Standard" but that you stand out (whether it be through effort, desire, communication, etc).  It's kind of like when you go to get that job you always wanted someday, or when you find that special someone someday...you want to "Standout"...you need to create a reason for why you are the BEST (while still being YOU, of course!)...so the question is...are you giving your BEST?  That is probably the best place to start with your Evaluation!

We have another 4 weeks before HARC considerations are made...we have another 4 weeks to improve from where we are today!  Please trust your Coaches, we really are giving you everything we have to help you ALL be successful!  We want the BEST for you...not just in Running, but especially in the more important things!  It's up to you though!

Happy Running!

Now is the Time!

It is soooo good to see so many still excited and putting in the time and effort, to reach your goals! 

I am going to make this message this week, short and simple.  I was reading an article in Running Times, and the message was about how as humans, we are more concerned about the immediate well being of ourselves, and that our goals seem farther down the road so we worry less, that we get caught up in moments that take us away from what really matters.  When it comes to our running goals, August sure seems a ways away, and that there is time to get it all in...the truth remains, and I am quoting from professionals, "without an EXTENSIVE BASE, you can only perform at the level you bring to the start of the SEASON.  Whatever you have done by August, is how you will perform the majority of your goals.  The Season is spent fine-tuning and improving in areas that can give you an advantage, but the WORK required to be great is NOW!  Re-evaluate where you are, what you want, how you are personally doing, and lets make this a GREAT WEEK!  Believe it or not...YOU all mean a lot to us Coaches and we just want to help you and never have to look back and wish you could've/should've done more!  Make it a Fantastic Week...Now is the Time to make it happen!

Please...talk to us if you need something.  Please talk to us if you just want to share great things also...let us be a part of the process, so that you can see the great things that you are doing!  See the BIG Picture and realize that before you know it...August will be here!  :)

Time to get INVESTED!

What a difference 2 weeks can make!  The first week, we were still in school, trying to balance things...it was also the hottest week we have had so far this summer, but we survived.  The 2nd week, our bodies had to make some "deep" adaptations it seemed like, with soreness and some tough runs, but we survived.  Now the theme for the year, really seems to stand out to me for this week.  If we are truly INVESTED, we will work through the tough moments, we will trust in the work, we will communicate if there are concerns, we will adapt to things that come up (like camps etc), and we will believe that the INVESTMENTS are worth it!  We will believe that the little things really do matter (hydrating, resting, eating right, getting out when you don't feel like it...), and realizing that all you really have to do is show up...and us Coaches, and your Team will do the rest to keep you going!  If you didn't look at the Canyon run times yet and the top 5 combined times compared to last year, then you are missing out!  Do we have a lot of work to still do?  Of course, but to be INVESTED also means that you see the little steps that we are taking to get to the end result!  
Hang in there...see the big picture and take one day at a time!  Now that our bodies have been shocked...they are ready to adapt and do great things...the question is...are our MINDS ready to adapt and believe there is a little more to accomplish this week?  I guess we will find out!  :)   Remember...INVESTMENTS take a little time to reap the rewards...but it also takes constant, consistent effort to get it!  It is all worth it...YOU are worth it!

Nice Warm up! :)

I always love that first week of summer miles!  Everyone is super-uber excited and have such high goals, and even more important...everyone still believes that they will achieve their goals!  I bring that point up because somewhere along the way, things start to creep up and get in the way...we become easily distracted (whether it be other things coming up, or just tired, or lack of believing, or not following the guidelines to help you get through the tough moments)...whatever it might be, they are still distractions!  That is the nice thing about being able to meet as often as possible with other runners...to help each of us stay motivated...to keep that uber excitement going, to help you keep getting out that door! That is why this first week of team runs, is so nice cause the awesome...blossom routine begins and that first week was a nice warm up for great running!

Also, we all need to remember that even with high goals, we need to work our way up, we need to listen to our bodies, we need to communicate with Coaches, so that we can stay healthy (mentally and physically)!  It's ok to feel beat up and sore...honestly, you should never really feel absolutely fresh for a run because that usually means that you are not giving it on the days that you should and there is nothing for your body to adapt to, but we also need to make sure we are doing the little things to keep our minds and bodies at their best!  Are YOU HYDRATING like you should?  Are YOU Stretching, eating, resting...and also doing your other routine things (like making your beds...etc), to keep you sane and living!  :)

Well, we hope you enjoyed the nice first week of "Warm up!"  Keep those goals "running" through your mind often, and take one week at a time...decide now how you are going to make this week a great week and make it happen!  Happy Running!