Memories!

Just got home and pretty tired, but not tired enough not to share some thoughts with the running family! Once again, I had the chance to experience some amazing stuff this weekend while RUNNING! I knew it would be fun and tough doing this relay (I've done it before), but this time, I was able to do it with my wife and kids!  And it was fun and tough, but I had no idea how truly amazing it was really going to be! I won't go into all the details about all the runs, or the amazing scenery, or all the people who were amazed at all my young kids doing this ("what about the old fart here doing it also"...aka ME!), or the miles, or the rope swing (all on video!), or the camping, or the awards, or the slip and slide, or the cool early mornings and the HOT afternoons, or the popsicles, or the dips in the river, or the time together...I wouldn't want to bore you with all that! What really matters are the Memories that will ABSOLUTELY last forever!  I mention all this, because what matters most to me as a Dad is that my kids know that they are loved and matter...that we did things together that were fun, hard, tough, beautiful, crazy, important, magical, etc!  Then it hit me during one of the most spectacular sections of the race, in the heat of the day...that WE really feel the same way about our RUNNING FAMILY!  Sometimes we just get caught up in how many miles we are getting (which is a great place to start with...high goals for our miles), but what about all the OTHER things that really make the MOMENTS into Magical MEMORIES!?  We have to really notice them and find the good in WHY we are doing all of this!  Here is my final thought to try and wrap all of this up...
What would matter more to you...
1. Giving a mediocre effort, so that you don't "hurt" as much, but finish feeling like you missed out on something or...
2. Giving your Best effort, feeling like your legs or lungs might explode (even though they WON'T), but knowing you gave it all when you finished!

It's quite obvious...but interestingly enough, as humans, we miss out way too many times on all the MEMORIES simply because we felt like being mediocre in the MOMENT! As your Coaches, we are really trying hard to give you a well balanced attack for your summer miles (good, strong, lots of miles), with opportunities to build yourselves and not "RUN" ourselves into the ground (SO MAKE SURE YOU ARE COMMUNICATING WITH US ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU SHOULD BE DOING OR IF THINGS ARE AFFECTING YOU).  As long as you are not injured or sick, we need to overcome the "mediocre" MOMENTS, and realize that every single practice, run, time together...is really quite Magical, Special, a Blessing...something that we WILL look back on and Remember!

These MEMORIES will last forever!

The Horizon

Running definitely has its MOMENTS that bring out the Best in US! There are times when you feel that you could go and go, or that you want it to never end because of the Joy it brings you...especially from the people that you are with! Those type of MOMENTS make it all seem worth the time, effort, sweat, frustrations, sacrifice and on and on.  But those true "Blissful" MOMENTS don't happen all that often, so what will keep us going?...what gets us out there day after day, when we feel tired, beat up, unmotivated to go to practice, to see the good in the run?  Maybe we can paint a picture for you to help you realize the power behind what we are doing, and why YOU make a difference.

I personally love trail running!  Most of the time, that involves climbing a mountain (which usually "hides" the full view of the scenery), or it involves following a winding course, that hides ones view of what might be around the next "bend".  The "Trail" may seem long or steep and tiring, and not a whole lot can be seen from time to time...so why keep going?...why keep climbing?...why keep going around to the next "bend"? (why show up to practice...EVERYDAY, or why encourage someone new, or why hold yourself to a Higher Standard?)?   As we were running Saturday out on the Island run (which I have done countless times), I realized this time that I really looked forward to the next possible "bend" in the trail...to see what the VIEW might be...to see others across the way, pursuing their MOMENTS in running!  It didn't matter what pace everyone was doing...everyone was pursuing it differently, but what was amazing was the DRIVE we had to see what was possible around the next "BEND"...to see THE HORIZON!  That "HORIZON" is what makes it all worth it...sure, we were tired and still had to go back the same distance we had just come, but the HORIZON was beautiful and satisfying, so much, that we forgot for a MOMENT, how tired we were, or even how far we had even gone! The miles and the time and the distance, didn't really matter...we knew we would make it back.  That is why we "CLIMB", we run to the next "BEND"...to see what the HORIZON has to offer! It may not seem unbelievable every time, BUT THE ONLY WAY TO KNOW, IS TO PURSUE IT EVERY TIME AS IF IT COULD!  Showing up to practice when we don't feel like it,  when we break down the selfish walls we put up and help others...involve others, when we look forward to the time together as exciting and not just another run...that is when we start to have those MOMENTS bring out the Best in US!

Run to the "HORIZON!"

Here is a little video that I came across awhile ago...seems fitting for what we are doing right now, and what we are shooting for!  (there are a few scenes of non running stuff, but the idea is about pushing our own limits...whatever it may be...to the HORIZON!)

So many things...

There will ALWAYS be many things in our lives...it will seem like we are pulled in so many different directions, and most of "our stuff", will be worth and good things that are important to us.  Sometimes we may need to evaluate how many things we really can and should do...BUT THAT IS NOT THE FOCUS OF WHAT WE ARE THINKING, TO HELP ALL OF US BE OUR BEST!  What we are thinking is..."How can we help every single one of YOU realize HOW to become your BEST, no matter how many things MIGHT be on your plate."  

It seems that every week, we get bombarded with kids telling us, that "I have this," or "I am going to be gone for this,"  PLEASE KNOW THAT THERE IS NOT A PROBLEM WITH THIS...but we are concerned that YOU feel there is a problem with this.  We love that you all have desires to be great at Running...we cannot tell you enough how much we know this running program will change your life if you are willing to give and sacrifice a little, to DISCOVER YOURSELVES AND EACH OTHER!  But also remember, that YOU can definitely work around Running and all the "things" that matter to you!  The SACRIFICE for some of us just might be to plan a little better...for others it might be to not stress out about exactly how many miles I got, but were all my miles AWESOME, QUALITY MILES!...and for others it could be to focus more on others on the team and their struggles, and accomplishments (I can't tell you enough how much we need ALL of your help to really reach out and talk with others on the team...especially new faces...DAILY! I love seeing newbies beginning to realize that they are doing something great and when they realize that they belong somewhere...that does not happen WITHOUT YOU!  I love seeing our kids who have been around for a bit, really start to realize how GREAT they really are and still can be...all from this simple thing called RUNNING!).

We really need to just keep it simple!  Enjoy all that you are a part of and do!  Including your Running!  It is fun and really something to look forward to, to show up to practice and be with others who are striving for more than being the next best runner, but BEING MORE THAN WHAT THEY INITIALLY THOUGHT THEY WERE!  Of course, we can, and still need to do better at balancing all these "things", but the SACRIFICE needed to achieve our goals in running, really are simple...plan ahead better...see the good you are doing...help each other better...realize that the the real ADVANTAGE IS NOT IN JUST THE MILES, BUT IN THE LITTLE "MOMENTS" WE TAKE, EVERY SINGLE DAY, TO BE BETTER...

Even in Running...ESPECIALLY THROUGH RUNNING! 

Do your Best this week to not make excuses, but to focus on being your Best with what you have!  Those are the Moments that will make lasting Memories!

We've only just begun!

We've only just begun is a pretty cool song by the Carpenters (way before your time, but a classic)!  We say that because we saw so many of you have a great first week! We have also seen many great first weeks and then people begin to trickle off!  Help each other to not let this happen!  Encourage each other...don't look at it as someone trying to out do you for bragging rights...in the end, the miles SPEAK for themselves on WHO really did them and WHO gave their best!  So this is just a reminder to PLEASE be honest with your mileage, but also be excited for those who are stepping it up a bit and help others to want more BUT TO BE SMART AND PATIENT AND BUILD UP TO WHAT YOU WANT TO BE!  Nothing...and we mean NOTHING, comes easy or in just a short amount of time...it takes dedication, consistency, belief, and much more...THANK GOODNESS WE HAVE EACH OTHER TO HELP, INSPIRE AND REALIZE THAT ANY THING IS POSSIBLE!  I am excited for the CHALLENGE!  I mean good grief, my awesome vacation has left me a little behind a lot of you, but I am looking forward to gradually working my way up...to keep being inspired by your efforts!  Please...take the time to notice what others are doing (including yourselves), and talk to them about how good they are doing or give some advice and acknowledgement...it will go a long ways for all of us!  The post is short and sweet this week (just got home and I am dead tired...from driving 12 hours!...would have killed a lesser coach! 😜).   Let's have another great week!