Turning Points

Sweet and simple for this weeks message!  I just spent the weekend at a Farm that I have fond memories of, every since I was a little kid.  It was a family reunion that we get together every 2 years at the Farm.  Families come from all over the country to be together, and reminisce, and usually re-introduce each other and talk about how our families have grown.  Lots of really cool things I could talk about, but one item really affected me this weekend as we shared moments together, and the history involved in our Family.  My Great Grandparents both immigrated to the US when they were teenagers...neither one knowing each other, yet giving up everything they had to come to America.  Sounds like a fairly normal story...many people did this...what stood out to me, as we re-enacted stories of how them met, and proposals, and loss, and homes, and jobs, and kids, and grandkids, and so forth...I just couldn't help but recognize that as I listened to the stories, each one had a "Turning Point" that either could lead them down one path vs. another.  Probably didn't seem like a big deal in the moment, but absolutely made huge differences later on.  I know this, because I am a direct affect of some of those "Turning Points!"  2 people who decided to sacrifice, work hard, be happy with what they had, pursue dreams...lead to me having memories that have changed my life.  Now, I can't really compare running itself, to my family history...but I couldn't help but feel a GRATEFUL connection to what some simple, yet hard things my ancestors did, not knowing the impact it would really have on themselves but especially generations later!  Our running...the effort, the drive, the time together, the ups and downs, the mornings, the nights, the races, the laughs, the tears, all are TURNING POINTS that can change your life (and truthfully, can change the life of others who will follow!).  Just might be interesting to think about what your legacy will be after you leave this short time in High School...make the BEST of it!  Don't waste the opportunities...no matter what has happened up to this point...START NOW!  KEEP GOING! Every single Grad we talk to...all mention how they wish they did a few things differently.  It would be nice to know, that YOU tried a little better to work on any weaknesses, smiled a little more, believed a little better, and just LOVED the Moment!  We have really enjoyed the process so far this summer...so many of you are giving and pursuing great things...make this week one of those "Turning Points" that can change the outcome for unforeseen things to come!!!!!!

Individual vs. Together

Running seems and is, in many ways, a very individual/solitary sport.  No one else can make you give what it takes while running, no one else can ultimately feel what you feel while working through the moments, no one can make you get up, or show up to practice, or get out the door...BUT there is also no greater power or influence then EACH OTHER!  Sometimes, the only thing that gets you out that door is because you want to be there for others, sometimes you have no energy or desire to show up to practice but you do because your Team needs you and they are counting on you.  Sometimes, you feel just tired and not wanting to give like you could or should at a workout/race situation, but you do simply because the LOVE you have for your Team, for others, and even for running itself.  We mention this because we want you to understand that all of this is so much more than just getting out there and running your miles, showing up to practice, or even overcoming the "obstacles" that get in the way...it's more than just sacrificing your time and schedule...
What we do through running truly can change your life!  It may not be fully understood how or why, but if you will feel it inside you...if you will feel how much some of your Teammates mean to you (or will mean to you because of your growing struggles together)...if you will realize how much your Coaches are here for you (tough and good times!)...if you will come TOGETHER, see the good in each other, focus on the positive, LOVE a little more in your running-time together-big picture, YOU WILL REALIZE THE TRUE JOY THAT COMES FROM BEING ON THIS TEAM!

That was a lot of "if's" we just mentioned...but that is why we do this day in and day out...to pursue the chance of doing something great TOGETHER!  And the key ingredient...is YOU!

We have 2 weeks left in June!  Let's spend the next 2 weeks really taking the time to get to know each other, to help someone else, look out for each other, be there for each other...no matter how we think we might feel!  All we can really tell you is that it is worth it!  It really is!  You may not see or understand it now, but when YOU look back, YOU will know and realize what mattered most...don't waste another day, another moment.  Let's go make something happen...TOGETHER!

What Stands Out?

I haven't been this sore in a long time...and I can't tell you enough, HOW GOOD IT FEELS!  What an amazing, awe inspiring, and tough run this weekend with the Fam! Some of the crazy, yet awesome things that stood out were the "tough" moments!  Some were obviously my own and still working around my foot (not quite a 100% yet), but some of the best and toughest were watching my kids deal with being tired, hot, climbing steep hills, running far, and so forth.  But what really stood out were watching my family overcome those tough moments, and not just overcome them, but how...they had a smile on their faces, they enjoyed doing this together...the very same things that would seem to make it miserable (or not as fun), were the very things that make it so they want to keep doing this again and again.  As your Coaches, we talk a lot about those little things that stand out about YOU, about running, about our Team/Family, about how to overcome the "OBSTACLES" that will come (or might already be there...like being sore, tired, time, etc).  As I woke up early this morning and just sitting outside our trailer, watching the sun come up and enjoying the peacefulness...I couldn't help but feel GRATITUDE (something us Coaches talk about often)!   To tie this in with our theme of 
"Live, Love, Run"...in order to really live, we need to feel that "love" that drives us to be better, to get up every day and be productive, to really strive to overcome our weaknesses (which we do together!), to RUN when we feel like it and when we don't feel like it!  I was grateful for that peaceful moment this morning that allowed me to really feel blessed and happy to still be running...to be there with my family and sharing that moment...to have a program like we do...to share our LOVE for Life and Running with YOU...to have the opportunity to inspire others to be more than they think they are (even though only a handful showed up to Friday mornings Canyon run...some were out of town and camps...we are Grateful for those who were able to be there...small or large numbers, keep believing that YOU can do this and that anything is possible...we LOVE these type of moments!)...to simply look forward to our daily routine-Monday's routes, every morning run, the strength workouts, the night runs, the CAP runs on Saturdays, and so on...
WE ARE TRULY GRATEFUL FOR THE CHANCE TO DO AND BE A PART OF SOMETHING UNIQUE, SPECIAL, AND AMAZING!  Look for the little things that stand out to YOU!  

OUR CHALLENGE TO YOU FOR THIS WEEK (besides your running of course!), IS TO WRITE A GRATITUDE LIST EVERY NIGHT BEFORE YOU GO TO BED.  Write down a list (small or large) of what you are thankful for on that day (do not repeat items on the following days).  If you do this, we promise you that you will be surprised at how you feel about the next day, about the next run, about the next tough moment...YOU WILL BE AMAZED AT WHAT STANDS OUT!

One Run at a Time...

Looks like we have had quite the first week!  We know that many of you have really worked hard to keep your goals for the week, and many of us are pretty SORE from the "activities" that we have put on our bodies!  PLEASE KNOW THAT IT WILL PAY OFF...YOU WILL RECOVER (if you give your body a chance to, which means sometimes you need to back off just a bit, or you will injure yourselves)...AND ITS WORTH IT! 

Here are a few items to know before we share our thoughts for the week!

• There are a few rumors going around with Coach Q's situation and all of us Coaches...we will chat real quick at Monday mornings run at the Stake Center @ 7:30.  To clear up any misconceptions about stuff (we would rather talk in person then try and write about it).
• We need to clear up any misunderstandings about BIKING miles.  They are very useful for when someone is injured or just needs a change...but the truth is, there is not a real good substitute for running except for running.  I know that biking has helped me stay strong and active (due to my foot), but after MONTHS of doing that, it has definitely left me a little slower than I was (we will blame it on AGE!).    YOU CAN ONLY COUNT YOUR BIKING MILES AS 1/4TH TOWARDS RUNNING MILES.  So if you biked 4 miles, then on dailymile, you can only put your actual mileage as 1 mile of running.  In your comments you should put that you biked 4 miles, and record 1 mile in the distance.  If you have NOT done this on any of your last weeks posts, then please go back and fix it.  Thanks!   Remember, biking is very helpful and a really good cross train and injury help!  In fact, in my prime, I would bike once a week instead of run, just to change it up and give my body a rest...so it is very useful and good...just not a replacement.  Hope that clears up stuff about that!
• I will not be here Thursday through Sunday (a little family vacation! We are running a relay together!).  Coach Lund will be at the First Canyon Run on Friday with the clipboard and watch.  You will need to help each other to get there (ask parents to help if they can).  Don't stress out about your time on this run...just run strong and focus on pushing yourself and being careful.  Get a feel for the Canyon run and trail (watch for the rocks...they will grab you like little trolls!).  Just LOVE the RUN!   This also means that the blog won't be updated until much later on Sunday, since I won't get home until later...but we will still meet at 7:30 am at the Church.
• HYDRATE!  It's going to be in the 90's this week (we lucked out over the last week with cooler temps!).  YOU must take care of yourselves with the temps by hydrating consistently!
• WE ARE DOING THE YOUTH TRACK CLUB AGAIN THIS SUMMER!  Please know that this is our main fundraiser for our running programs.  This is how we are able to do and give many things back to you!  On Tuesday's and Thursday's at 9 am after practice for just about an hour.  YOU will be helping small groups of kids do various activities!  Huge thanks goes out to Coach Bleazard for all the work that she puts in to making this happen...PLEASE BE SUPPORTIVE AND PLAN ON BEING THERE AFTER PRACTICE!   These are the dates that we are doing them.   June 5, 7, 12, 14, 26, 28  and   July 10, 12 

Now to share a few thoughts...nothing big deal necessarily (or maybe it is!), but just a few things!  We LOVE that so many of YOU are excited and really GUNG HO about summer miles!  If there is one thing that we really need to pursue and do better at, that would be our mind set about doing hard things!  And YOU are off to a great start by getting out there, and excited about reaching your goals, working and helping each other!  This is something that MUST continue, because it is one of the DIFFERENCE MAKERS in Running and LIFE!  Please do not let the drive and excitement slowly die off, because it will for some of us...it always does...things come up, the summer gets busy, you feel tired...SACRIFICE is a requirement to be GREAT at anything!  That means looking past how you think you might feel about getting to that Team run, or getting out and running something, just because you are out of town, etc!  We can't just train physically everyday (that is a must), but we MUST always be training mentally, which can be just has hard, if not harder to daily be willing to do the little things that will make a difference!  Start every day with a positive thought about your goals for the day, for the week, and for the summer!  Start every run with a positive idea about what you are going to do for that run...don't focus or dread how far or where it is, or the weather...just tell yourself something good about what you are doing or going to do!  Start every END OF A RUN with a positive thing that you feel you did well on your run!  Forget about what didn't go well and be Happy that you were able to do it and that being a part of this program is special!

If you haven't figured it out...work on being more POSITIVE WITH YOURSELF!  With YOUR RUN, with your goals, with each other, with EVERYTHING!   It's going to be a great week...WE can't wait to be with all of you this week and weeks to come!  Let's get out there and go after those goals/dreams...be smart and careful about your mileage (talk to us if you are unsure), and LOVE what we are doing and what we are all about (Running is just a fun side thing that we do!)

Run on!