What do you gotta lose?

Before I share what I have been feeling this week, I must let you all know that all the HARC considerations have been made and are done.  Like I have said before...it is a very hard thing as a Coach to have to decide who comes and goes.  The honest truth is, that we are glad that it is hard...that "HARD" is what makes it special.  I have often thought, "why don't we just open it up to almost everyone (because we really do NOT want anyone feeling left out in any way), but the truth is that HARC is special because of the way it is set up.  It is not to separate or punish kids, but is set up to reward those who have done the little things, who have chosen to go beyond what they thought they could do.  As Coaches, we really don't have to "DECIDE" who goes...your actions, your desire, your sacrifices, your passion, and even some of your physical abilities, are what determine who goes.  We had a lot of you make the standard mileage...we had a lot of you go beyond the standard mileage, which made the "STANDARD" that much higher for those who were on the border.  Those of you not going...this is your chance to show that even though you may not be going, that you still matter, that you have great things to look forward to doing this season (and hopefully beyond for you younger kids).  This whole experience is what YOU CHOOSE to make it, and if it bothers some of you, that was never the intent, but I would not change how it is done!

As Coaches, we like to share experiences with you, not because we want attention or to be patted on the back, but honestly to help you see that we understand what you are going through, that we are doing all that we can to help you realize that in order to be YOUR BEST, it requires that you be fully INVESTED in what you are doing.  If you are not invested, then you are just going through the motions in some way and you will never fully see or feel the JOY that comes from doing hard things...even if you seem to have success!  Most of you know that I ran the Deseret News Marathon this last week.  I haven't ran a Marathon for just me or for a specific purpose in quite some time.  But I have been very motivated the last little while and I have been trying very hard to be strong and put in the time required to see a difference in my own personal running, along with still supporting you guys! I signed up for this race, to TEST myself, to see where I was at in my training physically, but especially mentally/emotionally! Basically, I wanted to know if I could push more than I thought.  I didn't just want to run it or go through the motions of the race, but I also wasn't really stressed out about my time or what place I got...I just knew deep inside I was going to get out of my comfort zone and see what I could do...Deep inside, I really and honestly wanted to see if I could qualify for the Boston Marathon for my age group, which is 3:15.  The unsure side of this story came 2 days before the race when I woke up and had stomach problems and spent the day not being able to keep anything down.  I was wiped out, and believed that any chances of doing what I thought I could do, were out of the picture and that I was just gonna have to run the race to just run it!  But I also decided that I was just going to keep doing the little things to prepare...hydrate really well, rest as much as possible, and I really focused on staying positive in my head, telling myself that I was going to be ok and that the little bug was going to be gone fast.  Then I decided the day before that I was still going to stick to the plan of hitting a certain pace that would allow me to be close to what I wanted to achieve.  At times I felt I was nuts for thinking I could still do it, but what did I have to lose by trying to run how I have been training?  NOTHING (except a lot of pain...if you screw up in a marathon, you could easily still have 10 miles to go and nothing in the tank...its all part of the fun!)!  My body felt pretty beat up, even after just 4 miles into it...I honestly thought that this might be a long day, but after that, it never seemed to get worse (physically), I focused on keeping the pace as much as possible, staying relaxed in my mind.  I felt alone out there for quite awhile...about half way through (13 miles by the way...heehee!), there was hardly anyone in any direction (come to find out why was because there was only about a dozen or so people in front of me...I didn't know that until it was all over).  But mile 13 to 21, I had a lot of alone time to think...and honestly all I could do was think of you guys...what would I be saying to you, which played over and over in my head...that even though I was physically alone, I really had plenty of support around me as I felt I had little voices telling me that I could keep the pace, to swing my elbows back more, to extend my feet back, to ultimately get that qualifying time (which I was still very close to getting if I could just pick up the pace a little).  Then at mile 22, low and behold, I saw Tanner and Jake, running towards me...just to show the immediate pick me up that it gave me...I was running about a 7 min flat pace for the last few miles but on that mile we ran a 6:30...I told them we needed to slow down a bit or I was not going to survive!  :)   But just having them there, kept me going...in fact, we pretty much kept up the 6:30-40 pace for the rest of the race, which allowed me to run the qualifying time by more than 4 minutes.  I had my little struggles those last 3 miles...I was hot, I was tired, I wanted to stop and walk, but DEEP inside I wanted something more...the truth is, I WAS INVESTED AND THAT MEANT MORE TO ME THAN ANY OTHER THING THAT STOOD IN MY WAY!  I did not come all that way to run just part of it strong...I came to give my BEST that day, the next day...EVERYDAY!  Does that mean everyday will be your Best? Absolutely not, but we should treat everyday like it deserves our BEST, even if we aren't sure if it will work out...what do you gotta lose?  Just the chance that something amazing might happen...like "qualifying" for something you didn't think you could "qualify" for!  :)

Some words from YOBO!
I just have to make an observation or two. It looks very much like we will have 24 or 25 runners over 400 miles before HARC! This is not normal:) There is something extraordinary going on with this team--I can practically feel it on Mondays and Fridays before, during, and after the run. It has even infected me! I simply want to do more!!! This team, from top to bottom, has momentum. I know for me if there is a choice to make on a run of this way vs that way, I choose the harder course! It seems crazy, but I love it, and I do it because of what I see happening around me. There is no sliding back into comfortable this year--we are past the point of no return and it is AWESOME!!!!

Can You Believe it?!

What is amazing to me, not only all the great running that we have been seeing over the summer, but believe it or not, we only have 2 more Canyon Runs!  Can you believe it!  WE have less than a month before our first race (the Premier Invitational @ Settlement Canyon!).  I don't say this to get you nervous, but to get you prepared and EXCITED!  We always wish we had more "time", but at the same "time", we have the exact same amount of the summer as anyone else has!  We may be getting close, but there is also a little bit of "time" to still make a difference.  Put in that little extra everyday...and in a few weeks, you will see the reward...If you choose to do the little extra NOW!  Really decide if you are INVESTED or is it just a cool theme/word that we use! 

As I look at all the miles so far, we are on track to have more people reach 500 miles more than any other year!  We have more people who have reached the Standard mileage for HARC earlier than any other year!  These are great milestones, great things that we need to be celebrating!  But I am also here to remind you that, the BEST in the State, the BEST anywhere, the BEST in YOU, expect more!  We need to remind ourselves that those "milestones" (the mileage, the Canyon run times, etc), are parts of the process to be GREAT...and the main ingredient to take it to the next level, to be able to KNOW that you can RUN with anyone, to RUN better than you ever have, to RUN your BEST...is to be INVESTED!!!!!!!  Are we celebrating those little moments, and then seeing the big picture and doing more?  I guess the question is..."MORE WHAT?"  What should we be doing more of?  This is a question that has been answered all summer...if you are unsure of what you really could be doing, then I challenge you to go READ all the previous POSTS from the summer...if you are really wanting even more, than read last years posts also!  I will tell you that I just read them all and I felt re-excited to be more INVESTED in US...and I am the one who wrote them!  haha!  :)  

I am so excited for all of you!  YOU really are a part of something special, and that is because of what you all bring to this team..doesn't matter if you are the fastest, newest, youngest...you all have a part on this TEAM! 

p.s. HARC considerations are about here.  It is something that many want to do, and the Standards are higher this year due to the INVESTMENT that so many have put in!  This takes nothing away from those who may not go...see the great changes that you have made, see where you have come from and where you are still going!  The Future looks BRIGHT!

Speaking/Running from the HEART!

I need you to know that a lot has been on my mind and heart this week.  Every single one of you, means so much to me...I can look upon any of you and imagine such greatness as I watch, run, and sweat with so many!  :)   But I need to share some truthful thoughts with you...that may seem tough to some of you, but hopefully it should be a REMINDER of why we are striving and working so hard.  If you feel upset with what I am about to share, then most likely you need to make some changes or adjustments (or maybe I have just lost it), OR if you truly are trying your BEST, then hopefully you find the real meaning behind what I am sharing AND YOU ARE INSPIRED TO KEEP DOING AND WANTING MORE!...I can promise you that this goes beyond just Running...or I would stop being your Coach.

HARC is just around the corner.  I know so many of you are trying so hard to go!  When I started HARC 11 years ago, I never really imagined that it would become such a special thing.  I mean, if you really think about it...it's really a lot of torturous, oxygen lacking, mountain goat terrain type running 2 times a day, with an occasional inspirational campfire chat, no real showers, camping on the ground in tents, the possible bloody wound from goblin like tree roots or zombie grabbing rocks of death, and a definite lack of technology...sounds like heaven, right?  But for whatever reason, it has become the Heart and Soul of what this Program represents.  I believe I understand the reasons for so many of you trying to get there...it definitely is a REWARD for those who have given the effort...it is not a punishment for those who don't make it.  HARC does not make or break who you are as a runner or person.  I share this because as I look at the mileage (constantly, by the way), there has been a "Standard" set to help those who really want this, to shoot for that possibility.  As of right now, we have about 30 people who are past the "Standard" mileage or close to it, and there is just no way we can take that many people.  The "Standard" is basically the "minimum" needed to be considered, and quite honestly, the minimum is not going to be enough (of course, there are some exceptions due to injury or situational items, and that is something that your Coaches ponder very sincerely about and are considered very closely).  So we are trying to let you all know how this might play out, because we really do care about all of you and what it takes to go to HARC.  A reminder that HARC is not some Elite only, special club that excludes people...it is simply a Special Place, that has been made special because of the people and what it requires of us, to get there.  HARC considerations are based on ability, attendance to practice, COMMUNICATION WITH COACHES, year in school, working through injuries (this is something that only the Coaches may know and understand), and going above and beyond.  This is not a "favorites" choice by us Coaches...the choice is based on YOU and what you have done to this point.  this is about doing the Best that we can as Coaches and quite honestly, following what we feel is best and right for the Team and individuals.  Some may not like it or may see it differently...if you need an explanation then contact me.  We just want to be upfront and honest with you as we get closer to this because it is one thing not to take people who haven't quite put in the effort, and this year there may be some who may deserve it (to a point), that may not get to this year.  Your Actions (the little things), your communication, your attitude speak louder than any amount of mileage you could do.

Which takes me to what this really is all about (to some degree)!  The Run VIVO Project.  The Project is intended to help those who wanted to take this whole running thing, to another level, not just physically, but in every way possible.  It definitely is a process, and we are learning how to be better at it, but the truth is that only a few are truly living the purpose of the Project...to get the deeper meaning of what it takes to be GREAT (through running!).  It was never created to make separations among our team...it was created to bring out the Best in us through RUNNING!  Honestly, the things that made Team X and Team C special last year, are missing somewhat...there seemed to be more drive, more purpose, more common unity among those who wanted to do something special!  I know not all of you are doing the The Run VIVO Project, but most of you are still striving for greatness and are doing some of the items on that list!  It is time to either really believe that being a part of this project (or even this Team at all...this group of people), is special, or you may need to move onto something else in life.  After every season, for those of you who signed a contract, I will simply go down the VIVO list and ask you if you fulfilled all 17 items, one at a time...if you did, you are living the Project...if not, then hopefully you got something out of it still, and you can restart for the next season.  Sometimes LIFE throws some curve balls at us and it doesn't go exactly as planned...it doesn't mean you are a failure or not trying to be your BEST (like the "project" is trying to help us all do)...it just means you need to adjust and pick yourself back up and keep moving forward...that is what a CHAMPION DOES! My honest thoughts are If you are not 100% INVESTED, then why are you doing this?  Either because you believe that being on this team and running is important and you are getting there, or you are a "Tare" among the Wheat!  I know I am giving you 100%, and so naturally I just want to be around others who want the same thing.  If you feel that you are not there yet, then talk to me, allow me to be your Coach and help you get there...talk to Coach Lund, believe it or not, we really care, (that's what we do as Coaches), 

or you will miss out on some very special things about yourself, and ultimately, that is what it really is all about!

Thanks for reading the Crazy, Heart felt "Rant" of this old Cuban.  I know it was somewhat long, but I feel, that it was very much needed...if not for YOU, for ME!

What is Required?

First of all...there was some very nice racing this last week over the 4th of July Holiday!  I loved seeing the improvements by so many and hopefully YOU can see that the work is paying off, but of course, there is sooooo much more to do...so no comfort zones here...it's time to take the next step!!

We have just finished 6 weeks of our summer! We are nearly HALF-WAY through summer miles.  Can you believe that?!

 I don't want it to end...not because I don't want school to come, but because I have so many things I want to accomplish during summer miles...we need to take advantage of the time we have and really go after those things (goals), that we want. 

Some thoughts that I have for this week begin with the "END" in mind!  It's called backward thinking...what you do is imagine or envision what you want to happen in "the END" and then work your way backwards with the STEPS needed to get there, until you are at the beginning.  Now obviously we are not at the beginning, but I truly feel that we are definitely at a place that MOST of US can really start to see and feel a change happening within each of us!  You may not see it a lot because you all compare yourselves too much to each other and since most of you are improving, it is hard to see the actual improvements that you are making...that is why we do certain runs (like the Canyon run on Fridays), to see how we are doing week to week!  WE are at a "place" where we can START to put more FOUNDATION down (more miles), but especially make the foundation more solid and strong (Quality miles).

By thinking about the "END" in mind, you need to start thinking about what are the STEPS that you must take to get there.  For example, what do you ultimately want to get on the Canyon runs by the end of the summer?  Do you know...if you don't, you should, and are you challenging yourself to go after it or just showing up HOPING everything just goes hunkey-dorey!  :)     I know that STATE and REGION seem quite a long ways away, but if you really want to be the "BEST YOU" in those situations, are you treating the HARD/INTENSE days like they are Region or STATE?  Do you show up for a Monday or Wednesday, or Canyon Run like it is STATE or Region?  Or at least a section of those intense days (which we know can feel like you are putting more pressure on yourself)...but in order to be prepared for what really matters, we need to ACT and DO what is required for those "MOMENTS" in life...just like we need to be more prepared for those moments in running (for any race that we may have!  Don't wait until the end of the season and wish you would have done more, WHEN YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY RIGHT NOW TO MAKE IT HAPPEN!  
So it's time to step it up just a bit...it's time to do just a little more (maybe with your miles, maybe with your attitude, maybe with your help with others...), II'S TIME TO REALIZE THAT THE "END" IS NOT FAR AWAY AND YOU ARE IN CONTROL OF WHAT YOU WANT THE "END" TO BE LIKE!  I know what I want it to be, and I promise you that I am doing all that I can, not just for myself, but especially for all of YOU!  YOU ARE WORTH IT...SO MAKE IT WORTH IT!!!!  Maybe it's time to just Think a little "Backwards!" (with the END in mind!)     :)

We know you can make it happen!!!!!