Take a Moment

Just take a moment to reflect on how your first full month has gone for you.  We are sure that there have been some ups and downs for all of us...we have seen some great goals set by many...we have seen some struggles with motivation for some...we have seen some who have nagging injuries or setbacks that can be frustrating...we have seen lots of little things that constantly come up and deter us from being as consistent as we would like...we understand that it never seems to work out perfectly like it does in our heads when we start this adventure.  We are here to remind you that no matter what has been going on, don't lose sight of what you are trying to accomplish!  Running really is just a simple task, a natural desire of our body and mind, but we still have to work at it and push it (mostly we just have to push the MIND!).  We worry and fret over the things that we seem to NOT have done, instead of focusing on what we have done to this point.  Sure, it may not be as perfect as we had hoped for, but here is the cool thing about all of this! We can start a new day! A new week!  It's not too late to get back "on the Train" and join us and believe that it is all worth it, that YOU can make a difference, because YOU CAN!
We mention this because a little reality check must also be mentioned to help all of us not only reflect on where we are, but WHERE WE ARE HEADED!  To be considered for HARC, you should be around 144 total miles so far for the summer.  We have a good group that are on track for the amount of miles required, but many might be surprised.  We only bring this up because unless you have had an injury (which we know about and are in constant communication about it), or other circumstances that we Coaches know about, there is no guarantee to go (it doesn't matter if you are or have been a Varsity runner, or if you have been before, or anything else...We have Standards to help you learn how to have high Standards!  Yes, HARC is a special place, but whether you go or don't go, doesn't change who you are or why we try to achieve a higher level to attend HARC!  We have plenty of other things that we do as a whole team that are special, but this camp, due to its toughness and standards, require that you not only have the miles (which don't guarantee you will go), but also the ability to handle the runs (there is some major liability involved, even for those who are some of our fastest).  We tell you this so that you can DECIDE whether you are where you want to be...so you can continue to aim HIGH or make adjustments, so that you are heading in that direction.  You can either choose to be discouraged by your obstacles or you can choose to take the Challenge!  Your miles aren't everything (although we haven't seen too many people NOT do their miles and be as successful as we know you all want to be), but your ATTITUDE and CHOICE to be YOUR BEST, are Everything!  So if you have concerns, then you should be communicating with us to help you get where you want to be intelligently.  Even if you don't have concerns, you should be communicating with us so that you can be where you want to be!

We want ALL of YOU to be successful!  It matters more to us how many of you truly realize the power you have inside of you...that you realize that your Destiny really is Determined by YOUR DECISIONS!  Decide to keep going for it.  To overcome any obstacle that plants itself in your path!  TOGETHER, WE WILL DO AMAZING THINGS!

Just a side note: We all must get our physicals and registered on registermyathlete.com (how to do that are on the blog links), before the season starts, but something new that needs to be done is YOU WILL NEED TO HAVE THOSE ITEMS DONE IN ORDER TO GO TO HARC!!!! So get it done.

PURSUE!

I was reading a book this past week and in it, this guy was in a horrible accident (an accident that nearly took his life and was told that he would not run again)...and that accident happened while training big time for this huge endurance race of a lifetime!  He had put in countless hours, days, and even years, to make this dream come true.  So he was confused why this moment had happened to him...right now!  He felt lost.  But his dear wife, while at the hospital, could see the look in his eyes and simply asked "THE QUESTION".  "So if that was it, would you be satisfied with how you pursued your life?"  
Isn't that really how we should pursue all the things that matter to us?  When we look back, at the end of the year, or even years ahead...what will we say about how we PURSUED life, our passions, even our trials, and of course, since this is a running team...how did we PURSUE our running goals?

Just to finish off the story from above, this guy did go on to not only competing in an event called the Ultraman, he WON it.  He mentions in his book, that the accident put things into perspective for him...that he still trained hard and trained smart, but he didn't lose sight of what mattered most to him...his kids, his wife, his work, and it allowed him to really focus on the "little things" (which we now know aren't really LITTLE, but are HUGE in our choices that we make.).  It allowed him to make powerful DECISIONS that affected his life in the NOW and the FUTURE!  We hope that is what you can see and do through this little thing called running, and being a part of this amazing team!  Continue to DECIDE that your DESTINY is DETERMINED by YOU!  It doesn't matter what has happened up to this point!  If your miles have been going great, than keep up the positive talk and help others.  If your running has been struggling here and there...DO NOT GET DISCOURAGED!  DECIDE today that you will begin today, doing the things that you have chosen to do for this upcoming year!  It is never too late, no matter what has been going on, or if you are struggling with something...it is worth the time, the sacrifice, and the work, to be a part of this team, and to PURSUE the things that matter to YOU!

We ask that you trust us, that we are trying to do what's best for ALL OF YOU!  But don't hesitate to ask about things that are personal to you, like if you have concerns about YOUR mileage or your obstacles and how to adjust, or how to help others...please talk to us or your teammates!  We need to be here for each other a little better!

So here are some adjustments for this week...it's one of those TRUST moments (but don't hesitate to ask if you have questions about this).
1. If you have been consistently running high mileage (50 + miles a week because you haven't had many things come up for you YET), then for this upcoming week, we want and need you to back your mileage off by about 5-10 miles total for the week.  So if you have been running 50 miles or more a week, then you need to run about 10 miles less, total for this next week.  Trust that sometimes doing "less" will be more!  It will help you recover a bit from the first few weeks of high miles, so that the following week, you can feel stronger to go back up on your miles.
2.  If you have been doing 30-50 miles a week, then you will want to focus on making sure you don't go over that this week, and really focus on making those same amounts of mileage are QUALITY miles! Really push on the intense days and make them great, not just physically, but ESPECIALLY MENTALLY!  If you have been gone for stuff, and this is a week for you to get caught up a little, then that is ok to do!
3. If you have been struggling, then regroup and DECIDE now that this week is going to be a fresh week and that you are going to get back on track, not just physically, but ESPECIALLY MENTALLY, and treat this week as if you haven't been struggling and that its just another week of going after your goals!  
4. If you are injured or hurt, then please continue to talking to us and let us help you.  Stick to what we have already been telling you to do and you will be amazed at what can happen!

Be strong this week with what we are asking of you.  I will be at Trek on Monday - Wednesday, but I will be back for the Wednesday night run!  This is my last crazy week for stuff (that I know of...haha!), until HARC!

Just real quick...

I have very limited service, but I wanted to leave a quick note.  I never stop being amazed and in awe with the things that I see and am around, daily!  This trip across the country has helped remind me of the things that matter most!  It has helped re-inspire my desire to be my Best and to see the "AWE" in even the seemingly mundane things around us.  Hopefully I will get a chance to share my thoughts with you all on Monday, but for now, this will have to do...we are in South Dakota right now and hoping to make it home late Sunday night!  Until then...can't wait to see you all and help you in any way that we can!  Even though the things of your week might seem mundane, the truth is, they are not and you should be in AWE of what you are accomplishing!

What COUNTS!

What a week!  I have seen so much this week that I can't believe that a week has already gone by...it probably feels the same for many of you, with all the running you have been doing.  If there are a few things that we have noticed over the years is that A LOT OF PEOPLE DO REALLY WELL THE FIRST COUPLE OF WEEKS.  Everyone has high goals...everyone is "gung ho"...and everyone is still mentally strong to keep going.  What is really interesting is what will happen after those couple of weeks...for some reason only a handful will stick with it (except for those who are injured or banged up...that situation is adjustable)!  I only bring this up for a couple of reasons...

1. On this trip that I have spent over 2000 miles of traveling (so far)...I have had the wonderful opportunity to visit many historical sites and witness stories of unbelievable courage, toughness, and most of all, faith!  Many of you are familiar with early pioneer stories and being persecuted and kicked out of their homes and so forth (and those stories should be enough to inspire any of us to want to be better), but what has really stood out to me as I have stood where others have stood and lived, and envisioned what they may have felt, it has inspired me to realize that I can do better, that I WANT to BE BETTER!  I don't have to just think that it would be cool to get a certain amount of miles, or make varsity or not...it is about realizing WHETHER I GAVE MY ABSOLUTE BEST WHEN IT COUNTED!  So the question is...AM I GIVING MY ABSOLUTE BEST, AND WHEN DOES IT ACTUALLY COUNT?  Every place we have visited, the guides would absolutely love what they were sharing with us and their passion made you feel like where you were at that moment was the most sacred spot that happened in history...now how could every spot be the most sacred?  Simple...every spot is sacred!  One thing that happened led to another thing happening and on and on it goes, so in reality EVERY MOMENT COUNTS!  Now, every day is not going to work out perfectly, but our attitude and desire can still count! You can't obviously replace your miles with just good thoughts, but it sure beats thinking miserably about the situation (as many of the historical places we have visited, the people could have definitely said "forget this!" "I've had enough," but they stuck with it, they believed in what they were working for...they had FAITH that in the end, the work, the attitude, the time, the sacrifice, that the DREAM was worth it...no matter the situation!

So, to make it beyond the first couple of weeks, or a crappy day, or an injury, or a struggling teammate, just focus on making the moment COUNT...AND GIVING THE BEST YOU CAN WITH WHAT YOU CAN!  What else can or should you ask of yourself!?

2.  Lots of things come up in the summer and easily "distract" us from sticking with it!  Now we use the word "distraction" only because it can seem like that, but it is not always so negative.  For example, on my trip, it has been very hard to just get in at least one good run a day, which "distracts" me from getting my goal mileage.  But I am not stressed out about it...I know that I am doing my BEST and that there will be opportunities to increase my mileage and AT LEAST RUN GOAL MILES IN FUTURE DAYS or weeks, and so forth.  Don't freak out with difficult days, but be willing to adjust and minimize "distracting" days as much as YOU CAN CONTROL.  Everything else will come...but not without a little sacrifice also...we don't mean sound like or to diminish the high goals we should all have (FOR THAT IS THE ONLY WAY TO TRULY GUARANTEE SUCCESS), but we just need to take one day at a time and STRIVE for the BEST we can be...and as we do this, each day will add upon the next and THEN...BAM!  GREATNESS!  :)

Now, a little story time from our trip so far!  Some experiences that I have encountered along the way!
1. Don't hold your breath while traveling down long tunnels made through the mountains...if you are the DRIVER!  I didn't really do that...the whole way, but some of those tunnels are FAR!
2. While running on trails in new places, know where the trails are going (or at least keep track of the time), because a simple 3 mile run will turn into a 7 mile run! (which I didn't mind anyways!).
3. While driving through Missouri, don't listen to your brother in law when he says to drive through the corn fields to chase a Tornado!  We did witness a Tornado touch the ground just football fields away from us...we could see the ground flying debris and all!  Sorry, I didn't see any houses, cows or witches flying around in it!
4. When leaving Kansas, it is actually fun to say "We're not in Kansas anymore!" Guess you had to be there! :)
5.  Flat tires are not fun in OHIO!
6.  Our Country is BEAUTIFUL!  Every place has something special and unique about it!  I couldn't see myself living anywhere else, but I have been in "AWE" as we have cruised across the landscape!  It is also interesting to drive by other high schools and of course, I always check out their Tracks...I am also intrigued by the marquees that mention State Champions in XC or Track!  Running is amazing everywhere!!!!!  Some cities are more friendly to running than others!
7.  I have come to realize (again and again!), that I am BLESSED!  I have amazing kids, wife and I miss my running kids back home!  Soak up every moment you have!!!!!  The summer has only begun!!! Yahoo!