Rise UP!

We've heard many times the saying, that when you fall you get back up!  Of course that is what we are always striving for...that is what it means to be Great!  But the real difference is seeing beyond the "fall" or the mistakes that we might make and still pursue the DREAM...to RISE UP not just because it's the right thing to do, but because it is the ONLY THING WE DO!  This is why we train, why we get up everyday, why we run rain or shine-cold or hot, why we FEEL sore and tired (yet stronger every week!), why we encourage the mind with crazy positivity, why we sacrifice, why we hydrate, why we sweat, go to bed early and get up early, why we are considered crazy for what we do (I would call it Passion for Life!), why we RUN!

Rising Up needs to be the only way we know how to do things, because the alternative is to stop, quit, and give up (words and thoughts that we work on eradicating from our thoughts and vocabulary!).  We share these thoughts with you because it is that time of the summer where we start to really FEEL the weight of the miles and the struggles and the time and the sacrifice...BUT THOSE ARE THE KEY INGREDIENTS TO BECOMING GREAT!!!!!  There are no other secret ways to do less and be great.  We must CONTINUE to see the big picture, the DREAM, the reasons for getting up...RISING UP to the challenge (Eye of the tiger lyric!), and helping each other get there!  Even the Elites have struggles, but what separates them from others, is their ability to RISE UP, even when it's not clicking and how to work through the difficulties, to trust the work, to dig deep because for them, the alternative is not an option...and it is not for us either!
Let's RISE UP this week, enjoy the holiday (remember the freedoms that we are blessed with), continue to strengthen your mind and your resolve to sacrifice now for the rewards that will come later!  YOU ARE WORTH IT!

I know we have been putting on some videos the last few posts, but I just love the way it inspires me and makes me feel, like I really can do these things!  So, enjoy watching how the first part will show struggles of runners and then what their resolve is!  Our limits are what we make them.   :)     You have to listen closely when Kipchoge speaks (World Marathon record holder!). His accent can be difficult to understand, but he has the most amazing mental toughness and is sharing what helps him!

How do you Win?

There are many different ideas and thoughts about how to be a champion or how to win!  But you know how we think about this...keep it simple!  The idea is simple, but the PROCESS is much more than that (if it wasn't, then everyone would be doing it).  But that is the beauty about the process...the hours that it takes to be great, the tired muscles, the getting to bed earlier when you'd rather stay up, the being at practice, the trust in your coaches and each other, the early mornings, in the heat or the cold, overcoming the human mindset and sticking with what you started!  ALL OF US go through these moments!  We are definitely at a defining moment time right now!!!!!!!  We have been doing this for a month now.  Those who have stuck with it, are still adjusting but we can sense that we are about to "CREST THE PEAK OF THE FIRST HILL" and what a view it will be as we make it over this first part of the PROCESS!  Those who have been off and on, are either unsure because they have felt more tired than expected (at times!), trying to fit in (help each other a little more!), or they feel they are slipping behind a bit.  NOW IS THE TIME TO DECIDE FOR ALL OF US...DO WE HAVE THE HEART OF A CHAMPION?  It doesn't matter if you are the newest kid on the team, or the slowest, or the fastest, or a Varsity runner, or a mid-pack runner...Take the next step in the PROCESS!  Believe that it is all worth it!  Be your best at working around obstacles (like work, camps, vacations, life!), and see the good that you are doing!  KNOW THAT WHAT YOU DO TODAY, TOMORROW, AND THE NEXT DAY, are what matter more, than the Race itself.  Because what YOU are willing to give today, tomorrow, and the next day...

determines HOW YOU WIN!  

Here's another video to help inspire the desire to keep believing, to keep working, to keep Running!

What Moves Us? Just a Reminder!

We feel like this week is about REMINDING ourselves, what it is we are really doing and why!  We already understand that this "Running thing" can seem odd and strange to many others (sometimes, even to ourselves).  But it isn't until we experience the "RUN" that we find out that there is something special in putting one foot in front of the other and going further than we have before!  I saw a shirt this weekend that said kind of how we feel (I will tweak it a bit to fit our exact thoughts)..."is it still crazy if we are all doing it together?"  What we are pursuing (remember the BIG GOALS that we are aiming for), can appear "Crazy" but to us...together...it is actually a beautiful time, a bonding, an exploration of what will be as we keep putting one foot in front of the other...TOGETHER!

We have 2 videos to watch, that share this REMINDER or what we are BECOMING and why!  It takes realizing that YES, we are "odd," yet a part of something bigger and it only BECOMES special when we go believe in the process and pursue it...TOGETHER!  The other reason is that we need to remember that this summer time...there is no exception as to how important it really is!  There will always be "obstacles," but keep pursuing that dream, the big goals, and recognize that it is the TIME and EFFORT between the "RACES" that is the most important...not the race itself!  Just focus on this week...make this week feel like it is the most important for you, to overcome any obstacles, to get your goals for the week, like it will make all the difference...because it will!

The HEART of what we do

I love being able to take this time with my family and get away for a little bit, right at the beginning of the summer.  It rejuvenates the soul and reminds me of what is most important!  It has been wonderful to just hangout with my family and enjoy new scenery, different cultures, history, just chill for a few moments, and there are 2 specific things that have really touched my Heart, that I didn't expect, while here!
1.  I contemplated while sitting on the beach the other night, watching the sun go down, listening to the waves crash...there were not many others around, and I was in awe of the beauty of this amazing World.  Now, I have witnessed many different kinds of sunsets (even more amazing ones, to be honest), but this evening I just felt so GRATEFUL for what I have!  In this vast Earth, we are pretty insignificant, little beings, compared to the mighty ocean, to the tallest peaks, to the amount of life that surrounds us.  But we have such a special place on this Earth.  The very same things that make this Earth special, are the very same things that make it seem scary...Humans!  With all the beauty around me, I thought to myself, what would it be like if I was the only one here?  Then I looked in the distance and saw a couple of my kids just walking the beach looking for shells, my wife sitting by my side on the bench, and really recognized that the RELATIONSHIPS that I have, are really what make this World amazing!  It is the people that I surround myself with, and share the ups and downs with, work hard with, laugh and cry with, inspire and motivate with...that make it all worth it!  SO... recognize and appreciate the many great things that you have, the people in your life, the ability to pursue things like RUNNING, to help others...to make this amazing World a better place!  Because you do make a difference!  YOU are part of the reason we feel that this World is awesome!

2.  The other thing that really feels significant while I have been here, is the culture of the Polynesians!  They truly understand the importance of "Family" and what it means to represent what they do (and how they do it), with Honor and Respect!  They look out for each other, they enjoy every ounce of what life has to offer, they share everything they have, they pass on stories and precious things from one generation to the next...TRADITION matters to them!  The things that matter most, do not change for these people, no matter what improvements are made in technology, or how many people visit their homeland; they believe in living in the "Now" but never forgetting what makes their people special (the past, the traditions, the way of life, the stories, the kindness, the togetherness!).  We sure hope that what makes "Our Running Family" special, really does seem special to you!  Sure, it requires a lot of work, and time together, and overcoming stinking obstacles, and remembering the big picture...it also requires recognizing those who have paved the way for this program!  Realizing that what YOU are doing and are a part of, really is special because of the Traditions of the past and the Traditions YOU are making!  YOU are a part of something bigger and better than YOU ever imagined!  The HEART of what we do...?  IS YOU!  Pass it on...live it to the fullest and hang onto those Dreams...that is what helps us in our BECOMING the Best version of ourselves!  Run on my Friends!

Foundation of Becoming!

Have you ever really asked yourself, why do we start summer running so early?  Why is it a big deal?  Or maybe even asked why it is that important to focus so much on it at all?  We know that you understand that in order to be great at this running thing, WE MUST BUILD A FOUNDATION for everything that we do.  But how "BIG" does that Foundation need to be?  To answer this, lets look at it from a little different perspective.   BECOMING who YOU are striving to be, truly is a lifetime pursuit!  It is much longer than a summer of training (much longer than 4 years of HS summer training)...it is longer than your college experience will be, it is longer than your marriage...it will out live your future kids and grandkids.
BECOMING is one of the most amazing pursuits that YOU will ever be involved in!  It requires patience, strong-will, consistency, big picture mentality, humility, positive outlook (even when it seems impossible!), determination, dedication, love (for what you do and for others!), forgiving, trust, and more.  It definitely is a PROCESS that can seem long and daunting to stick with, but it is the only way to BECOME who you are BECOMING.  There are no secret shortcuts or skipping steps to jump ahead...it is one day at a time!  And as you use this to help you BECOME the Best Runner possible, it is no different...all the things listed above are the same things that will help YOU BECOME the best version of the Runner you want to be (here's a little secret...it is also the same way YOU BCOME the best PERSON you want to be!).
So why do we spend so much time (from the beginning of the summer and on) for Running?  Because there are no shortcuts to building that Foundation that we all need to be Great!

Here's even a little science behind the time required to do Great things.  We run all summer, we ask you to be consistent all summer, you have constant obstacles to work around to get your miles, but here is the science reason behind it.  To create a STRUCTURAL CHANGE in your body (that means the physical adaptations- mitochondria, red blood cells, muscles for running, strong bones, cadence, form...also the aerobic strength that you need to improve, the strength to last the "Race"),  these changes REQUIRE 20-24 weeks of consistent training to get the FULL EFFECT!  That time frame means that the week before STATE XC is when we will reach our FULL potential...IF WE WORK AT IT NOW...STICK WITH IT NOW...HELP EACH OTHER NOW...START BECOMING WHO WE WANT TO BE...NOW, then and only then, will we have a the opportunity to make it happen!  (just a side note: the speed aspect of running is not a structural change as much as it is an energy system change.  That takes about 9-11 weeks to reach full potential, so that is why we are not pushing a ton of workouts anaerobically in the summer!  Just enough to help create a strong foundation and mental toughness!).
The secret is to realize that Today matters, and we only need to do our BEST TODAY.  If today is a rough day or off a little, it's ok (hopefully there aren't too many of those), but don't try to cram what you may have missed into the next day...reset and make the next day the Best that day should be!

Hopefully this all makes sense to you...all we want for all of you is to see what it takes and that you are capable of doing it!  That the process can seem forever and never-ending (much like a race can feel like), but the Foundation we are creating, that we started last week (and began years ago for many of you), is what will allow you to overcome any obstacle, help you be your Best YOU...create who you are BECOMING!