Just around the corner...Be of Good Cheer!

Believe it or not, we are just around the corner from starting our season! A week from this coming Saturday and we will be having our first race up Settlement Canyon! Yippee!  We know it can also seem like there is still so much to do (WHICH THERE IS!), but we have been doing some great things this summer, and we have been building our Foundations (and we will continue to keep building up the foundation), but now it is time to start working on the rest of our "masterpiece!" It is all part of the process, and we need to look at it with excitement, and not worry!

This is also a reminder to all of us...those going to HARC and those who may not!  We are a team, and even though this week, we will not all be together...WE NEED TO TAKE THIS WEEK AND USE IT TO EVALUATE OURSELVES AND WHERE WE ARE AT AND ESPECIALLY WHERE WE ARE HEADED!  Take the time to see the good things that you have done so far, and make or adjust your "DECISIONS" on where you are headed, and what you are going to do this next week to keep going in that direction!

For most of you who are not going to HARC this year, you definitely still have future chances...you know what you probably need to do a little better at next time, BUT DON'T LET THIS STOP YOU FROM REALIZING THAT YOU MATTER TO US AND THIS TEAM! I have had many kids who didn't realize at first, the abilities they had deep inside, until they took a chance on themselves and on their teammates and we are here to tell you, that we have seen amazing things happen...IT ALL DEPENDS ON HOW YOU ALL LOOK AT IT!  Let this time of year bring us together (even though we will be physically a part this week)...let it be a chance to regroup personally and re-evaluate where YOU personally want to be!  CHOOSE TO SEE THE OBSTACLES YOU/WE HAVE OVERCOME AND HOW WE ARE GOING TO KEEP DOING MORE TO BE BETTER!  Choose to be HAPPY! Either way, YOU are a part of this amazing FAMILY!  Remember...we are just around the corner from starting our season adventure...but be of Good Cheer...because we have lots to look forward to doing!  We love you guys!

CHOOSE to see the Good!

Hopefully short and simple for this week...at least that is how we feel we should focus for the upcoming days!  There will always be things that we can improve...should improve! We should never stop looking for ways to be better, but we also need to spend more time seeing the good things that we are doing.
For some, you have been doing unbelievable, consistent miles! It is not easy to get out there and DECIDE to get that run in because your goals (individually and as a team), mean more than the desire to stay inside (where it is cooler), or because it sure seems better to just not go.  For some, you have extended yourselves more than you ever have before, and that is so cool, because many of us can see the difference it is making for YOU! For some, it might be that you have ran more miles than any time before (even this summer), and that is amazing! Maybe you finally pushed yourself in a workout like you never have before and even though you thought you might "die", you realize that the pursuit of something bigger and better than you, is so worth it! For some, it might be that you showed up for practice one day, with an attitude that it was going to be a good day...and it was! Not necessarily because you ran faster (sometimes Canyon runs don't always have a faster time, but sections were done better), and it helps you see how you can do better next time...all because you CHOSE to have a better attitude.  For some, it is just showing up because there is sooooo much going on in our lives...whatever may be your "thing", let it be a good thing that continues to help you BECOME what it is you are doing this crazy running thing for!  Don't let going or not going to HARC determine what kind of runner or person you are...let that process just help you evaluate what needs to be done better next time or what needs to be continued, in order to see the good things that you are doing! Strive to see the good this week...Let it MOVE YOU!

We still have UNFINISHED business to take care of...!  :)

Moving Forward!

There are many thoughts going through my head, this morning.  It's one of those moments where I feel that what needs to be said, has already been said in previous posts and that we just need to continue to move forward.  But the truth is (and yes, we need to keep moving forward), is that this summer has had it's up's and down's (just like any other summer), but we feel that there has been a deeper desire by some of you, to really make a difference...that it really matters to you to be giving your BEST and to show that in your actions! It may feel that no one really notices, but you would be surprised at how many really pay attention and that the sacrifices are not in vain.  And of course, there are still some of us who can realize that we can improve in areas that we may have lost a little focus on...OUR CHALLENGE TO ALL OF US IS TO TAKE THIS WEEK TO REALLY FOCUS ON THOSE LITTLE IMPROVEMENTS!  Maybe it might be to get more CONSISTENT mileage this week, for others it might just be showing up to team practices, maybe it is to improve on our attitudes toward hard things (or even running in general)...because the TRUTH is there are NO SUBSTITUTES FOR GREATNESS!  You must put in the time, physically and mentally! This life is not going to sit back and be easy on any of us...it is up to us to rise to the occasion and step it up!

1. For those of you who have been CONSISTENTLY putting in high mileage (and you know who you are! This includes kids who are doing a lot more miles than they ever have consistently), this is one of those weeks where we want you to stay consistent, but don't look for those "extra" miles that you sometimes get...you need to run around 10 miles less this week (total), to allow your body and mind, to adapt to all the running you have been doing! This really is a key to improving your ability to run faster, in the future! Trust us with this concept.
2. If your mileage has been inconsistent, then still use this week to increase your mileage, because overall, we are trying to reach certain mileage goals, and even though you might still be feeling beat up, your body and mind still has room for improvement and adapting and it will pay off as we get closer to the season (which is not far away!).
3. Many of us are truly feeling beat up (myself included), but I have done this enough times to tell you that this is part of the process! We are monitoring you closely, I've even had conversations with some of you, telling you that we feel pretty beat up and tired and it seems like it might be too much...but we are here to tell you that we are about to take all this work and it is going to go to another level...we have hit a "plateau" and it feels like not much is happening, but we have seen many people get PR's on Canyon runs feeling dead tired, we have seen amazing workouts from feeling beat up!  It is the mind that holds us back at times, and we need to keep working on that also (which is why this week, for those who have been really working hard, the mental side needs to adapt also, with a little less miles).  We hope this all makes sense to you...it matters to us that YOU know how much we really do all of this because of YOU...no matter what level you may be at!  You all make a difference and we can feel that this TEAM is "turning a corner" and we are so close to making our DESTINY become a REALITY by the DECISIONS that we make NOW!

Now a little HARC chat!  HARC considerations are here.  HARC is the very epitome of what we are trying to reach and become as a team and individuals.  It is a very special place, not because we make it some "Elite" only camp or anything like that...it is special because of the sacrifice, the drive, the hard work, the unique requirements to be there.  If we took everyone, it would lose it's ability to be special and make a difference.  Saying this, does not mean that if you don't go (THIS TIME!), that YOU are not those things...that you haven't sacrificed or don't have the drive...it just means that there are a few things that you may need to keep working on because we had so many show just a little bit more...
whether that be the amount of miles that they put in, or their communication with us Coaches about situations, or how much they showed up to Team workouts, and especially their ability to just handle HARC at this time.  HARC is a reward for those who are ready for it at this time!!!  Not a punishment for those who want to go also, but need a little more.  Believe us, we have thought a lot about taking lots of people vs. just the amount that we do take (and we already take more than we should, but maybe we are too nice...I am a softy!), but I have also talked with a few of my good friends that Coach and that do a camp also (most of the few great programs all have a camp)...and they feel the same way with how many go and how they get there!  So please know, that deep inside, this is not about favorites or only talent...there are just plain and simple, certain requirements that need to be met and there are no substitutes for not doing what is asked.  But with that said, if you don't get an invitation and you feel that you may have been overlooked (we do make mistakes), contact me and I would be glad to explain why or realize that we messed up...most of the time, you are pretty aware of the "why."  Either way, we move forward, we keep improving upon where we are and where we are headed!  D3!
We have sent out the HARC invitations to those invited, on your dailymile accounts in your INBOX. HARC will be August 1st (Monday) through the 4th (Thursday).  Please check that out and respond.  Please remember, not getting an invitation does not mean you are less or not good enough, just that you need to improve in some areas that are required to make it meaningful to you and others there! Plus, we really can take only so many, and you have to be able to show through your actions that you wanted it...through your mileage, your communication, your attendance, and your ability to handle HARC runs. Please talk to me if you have any questions...it matters to us Coaches!

Run Hungry!...and not the "food" hungry!

Another week gone.  Another week closer to the season. Have you given your Best up to this point? The truth is, every single one of us could probably say that there is something that we could be doing better with where we feel we are with our running! For some, your mileage could be more quality miles instead of just miles...for others it could be just more miles...for some it could be a better attitude or perspective, no matter the situation...and others it could be to believe in yourself and each other better.  Whether it may seem to be a big change or a small change...IT MATTERS!  I finally went over all the total miles for our team today, and here was my first observation.
1. Wow...we have a good handful of people who are above the 500 mile destination (as of right now). We have about 20 boys above that and around 11 girls, who are doing some good running! It makes it really hard to limit our numbers to HARC (its a good problem to have!).
2. Second thing I observed...Your Coach has the second most miles on the team!  Now I know that I seem to have this insatiable love to run, but the truth is...I just have some high goals and I want to feel like I gave all that I could, SO THAT WHEN I LOOK BACK, I WILL HAVE NO REGRETS!  Truthfully, I haven't exactly put up staggering miles week to week, but only one of you has more miles than I do!  Now, that doesn't exactly worry us Coaches, but it does make me feel to ask one question!  Are you giving your BEST?  Which comes down to...How Hungry are YOU?  A good rule of thumb is that Varsity level runners are shooting for around 700-750 miles for the summer.  Not many can get around that number and be successful (there are a few exceptions, because we have seen it quite a few times with some of our injured kids who couldn't get those miles, but still trained like a 700 miler mentally!!!!).  For most of us, 500 miles and more is absolutely amazing and great...it definitely paves the way for the potential of Greatness!  But potential is not US! WE know that we are capable of doing better than "potential", and sometimes LIFE just hands us obstacles or struggles (or just lots of things on our plates), that tend to distract us and we lose a little sight of the big reason for doing all of this...WE STOP BEING AS HUNGRY as we can or should! But please remember not to focus on what you haven't been doing, but WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO DO BETTER!  

I guess I got a little excited and caught up on that 2nd observation!  :)

3. My last observation is that we really have so many great kids!  We know that no matter how many miles you all have, that we have lots of kids who are trying so hard to balance it all and challenge themselves in ways that they never seemed possible...yet YOU ARE DOING IT!  We just want to help you all take that next step to being more than just a good runner or good student, or good family member...WE ARE ALL MORE THAN THAT...WE SEE IT EVERYDAY IN YOU AND WE FEEL IT IN YOU! 
So...GET A LITTLE HUNGRY AGAIN! GO MAKE THIS WEEK THE BEST WEEK YET! It doesn't matter what "obstacle" is in the way...YOU CAN MAKE THIS WEEK BETTER...which leads into the following week to be BETTER and then the next week and before you know it, little by little, the HUNGER has created something GREAT!

I just love cool running videos!  They just help inspire!  Watch as many times as you need to this week...let it move you...let it keep the "Hunger" alive!  Enjoy!

Every Second is a Gift!

Sometimes we don't realize the impact we have on this life, on each other, until we "look back" and see what kind of mark we have left...so far!  I had a moment of reflection this last week (as a funeral will cause you to do this), and it got me thinking about what they would say about me, or even, what would I honestly want them to say about me, if I went suddenly?  And even though running is a simple task that we are striving hard to improve together, it is something that is very spiritual and powerful to me...that connects me with the things that matter most to me in this life (my spiritual lessons, my family, my running kids, etc).  So it got me thinking about what goals or desires that I have had throughout my life, if I had pursued them with honor, with passion, with a love that can only be described as selfless and inspiring to others...if I had given my Best, even when it seemed tough or darkest.  This just made me realize that every moment, every second is truly special!  It made me realize that even the simplest of things, like treating others better (whether just smiling or saying hello), or seeing the good in every experience, to seeing the little miracles that happen around us DAILY, to even the pursuit of being a great runner...all made a difference, an impact on who I am and what I am still becoming!  We coaches, talk so often about what we can do for all of you, what is the status of our team, and how are we pursuing excellence, that we hope that sometimes a somewhat "off the wall" Post to you guys on every second is a gift, will come across as something that can hopefully help at least one of you, if not help all of us be just a bit better than before!  :)

I came across this youtube video awhile ago, and it just seems fitting with the moment, to share with you!  Let's have an incredible week and take the time to see the good that we have done, and what we are going to keep doing better!