Still More...

All we can do and should always do, IS GIVE OUR BEST!  It is obvious that we have big goals, high expectations (for ourselves and for our Team), and that those aspirations are absolutely worth training, fighting, and sacrificing for!  All we want as Coaches, for you guys, is to recognize what we see in you...that you begin to FEEL the strength that comes from within and with each other...to go beyond what you ever thought was possible! And we strive to do this in many different ways, but one of the BEST is through RUNNING!  Those who choose to see beyond the daily grind of all the miles, or the minor setbacks of Canyon run times, or injuries...those who choose to have just a little more faith (remember, faith is pretty much trusting without really knowing for sure!), in the process of chasing a dream or goals, that might seem far fetched...that's when GREATNESS happens!  But that is also what makes it all worth it! Something to go after, to believe in...whether we or you actually obtain it, doesn't really matter if you gave all that you could!

There are only so many things that you can control, especially in running!  Here are a few take-aways from my marathon experience this last week, that I feel will continue to help you in this pursuit of RUNNING.
No matter how much you train or think that you have trained, there is always things that we can do better.  This doesn't mean that we aren't doing great things, or that you are a slacker/lazy...it means that there are little things that we can improve on that can be difference makers.  In training for this marathon (which wasn't my ultimate goal for this season...this marathon was a stepping stone towards the one I am doing in September), I wanted to still be able to try and qualify for Boston.  I really believed that I could, especially with all the miles that I have done this summer.  In fact, this is the most miles I have run in any summer!  So even though I was unsure of what I would do exactly (since I haven't ran a fast marathon in several years...injury and surgery), I also felt confident that I could still focus on a good pace and push my comfort zone.  Looking back, I know I was strong enough, that I had put in the miles, but I had missed a key ingredient to having a MORE successful outcome...in running a marathon successfully is dependent on the terrain of the race.  Even though you must be strong and capable of a certain pace, you must be acclimated to the type of terrain.  DNews marathon has some tough hill sections that can really slow your overall time, but it also has mostly long, steady down hills in the course.  Usually I have done at least one long, down hill training run to prepare my body for the "pounding" that will absolutely occur from the terrain.  I never did this...whether it was because of time or maybe over-confidence in just my miles, I didn't do this little thing.  It ended up being the only thing that held me back from "FEELING" I could have done better! Now, don't get me wrong...I am happy with what I did and accomplished...I still ran strong, and ran a lot of the race around the pace I wanted to obtain, BUT I KNOW THERE IS STILL MORE!  And instead of getting down or upset about that, it is actually fueling me to want to do a little better, and give myself the BEST chance possible, next time (it's never a guarantee...but I'm guaranteed to NOT get it if I just do the same thing again!...I prefer to take the chance or being BETTER!).
So many of you are doing great training, great running, pushing your comfort zones, doing just a little more than you have before...just remember, there are always little things that we can do just a little better!  Picture the Teams, or individuals that you know you will be competing against and imagine them training just like you are...are you doing anything different then they are to gain an advantage?  Your training, your attitude, your mentality should be that THERE IS STILL A LITTLE BIT MORE that I can do!  Whether its miles, or working on confidence, or pushing through the comfort zone, or hydrating/eating/sleeping better, or seeing the good that you are doing (improvements along the way), or writing down your goals and training the brain to know what they are EVERY SINGLE DAY!  These are the things that we can control, that we can still do more...without being crazy about all that you are already doing!
Every single one of us are different stages of where we want to be...this is why not everyone is able to attend HARC this week.  But it doesn't matter if you are going to HARC or not...it is obviously a place we all should aim for, but it does not "make or break us" as a runner and especially as a person!  So all of us this week should just look within ourselves and ask...IS THERE STILL A LITTLE MORE?  We are confident, you know the answer...you just need to decide what it is!

ELEVATE

  

We may all seem like we are on the same "path," but as we run along the path, every single one of us recognizes our potential at different times.  Some earlier than others, some along the toughest hills, some along the ridge line, some along the loop back, some along view points, but the amazing thing is that somewhere on the "run," we realize that this is why we started!  It is easy to feel lost as to why we keep doing this...showing up early in the morning, hanging out to stretch after a long run, doing those extra core exercises, getting to bed early even though I'd rather watch a show, remembering that we started all this because we wanted something! We don't always remember why we "wanted it" but we FELT something when we first decided...when we STARTED!  We recognized that it was worth going after...but after the days, and months go by, and we feel tired, or even possibly discouraged about what could be, we get caught up in the routine of just running and forget the bigger reason for trying everyday, we maybe get a little behind or miss an important goal, we forget that we are human and sometimes just need to reset and pick ourselves back up...we remember that there is something BIGGER and we must TRUST that this is enough of a reason to keep going, to keep working at it, to keep running!  We know... easier said than done, but you already know what your DREAMS are, what your GOALS are, what you are "Running towards," so the question is not about what you will do...obviously we keep RUNNING, we keep getting up in the morning, we keep showing up to practice, we keep helping each other, we keep seeing the good in ourselves, we keep trusting the process!  Now is the time, more than ever, to simply ELEVATE all those things that we need to "keep" doing and remember...

Why we started!

It doesn't matter where you are along the "path."  What matters is we learn to recognize what we can BECOME and what we are BECOMING!

"Around the Corner!"

"The things in life that are worth having are never easy to obtain!" 

We know that it may feel like we put a lot into this running thing, that it can feel like its all that matters...but the simple truth is this...Running is what we make it!  As with anything that we work hard at or believe in or are passionate about!  It requires taking a chance on yourself, putting yourself out there and taking a chance that you might mess up a little, and that you might be surprised that you are stronger than you thought!  But we will never know, unless we are willing to put in that time, to maybe have a little FAITH that this running thing just might take us somewhere "farther" than we ever imagined!  But the only way to understand that is to actually do it...to SACRIFICE for the things that matter to you, because in the end, YOU ARE THE ONE THAT HAS TO LIVE WITH WHAT YOU CHOSE TO DO! TO GIVE YOUR BEST!

Even though HARC considerations are pretty much done, no invites have been sent out at this time (July 13 at 8pm).  We know that many of you want to go to HARC, many of you "talked" about doing what it takes, and we still believe that in your heart you really do want to do what it takes, but with HARC (as with many things in LIFE), it requires the best of you in our program.  It's interesting that we feel that we must explain our situation every summer when it comes to HARC, but really, its simple...either you did what you could have, should have, or are able to do. If you feel unsure whether you did enough, then you probably already know.  It's not about leaving people out...trust us on this...it truly breaks my heart most summers to not take some of you (because we know how much a simple, seemingly dumb thing like RUNNING, can change your life!), but that is also what allows each of us to feel and know how to be better, to sacrifice, to learn how to overcome anything! If HARC was given no matter what we did, then it would be just another run in the mountains. But   HARC is NOT the ultimate place to get to!  It definitely is a special place and definitely must be earned, but the BEST is always around the corner...if it wasn't, then explain to me why I keep running?

Because there really is so much more around the corner!

Whether you go to HARC or not, this TEAM, this Program, Running...IS WHAT WE MAKE IT!  Chose to keep making something special, no matter what...have a little faith, keep believing, take a chance on you-this Team, and no matter the outcome, you will look back and know what to do better, what to keep doing, and recognize the Greatness...this is the process of BECOMING!



I saw this video (crazily enough, was just made a few days ago).  I feel it can explain a lot of how we feel and our situation in moving forward...NO MATTER WHERE WE ARE AT RIGHT NOW!  Enjoy, be Happy with YOU!  See where you are and where you want to be and check to see if you are on that path or if there needs to be some adjustments.  In the end, this is all worth doing...yes, Running is really worth doing...WITH YOU!

"Estimate Yourself!"

We can't tell you enough how much we try to make these Posts, to be moments that can hopefully help you or inspire you!  It's definitely not something we plan or know exactly what to say...in fact, while running the Island run yesterday, I wasn't sure what to write.  So these posts/letters to you guys are simple moments of Clarity that we have, that we feel can help you in this process of BECOMING the best US possible!

NEVER UNDERESTIMATE what you can POSSIBLY do!  This post can seem a little personal to some extent only because I will share a little of how I felt this last week (and the weeks leading up to this week).  I only share my story, to help all of you know that WE struggle and work through this process just like the rest of you!  Like many of you, I ran a race this last 4th of July in my hometown of Riverton.  I have ran this 10K many times (since I was a HS runner).  I kind of know what to expect and how tough it can be.  I know that we have been training hard and putting in quite a bit of miles...I know I have been putting in some miles that I haven't been able to do for years (because of my foot).  So I know I have been putting in the time, but like most of you, I wasn't really 100% confident of what I really could do...and the human side of me was nervous that trying to push a decent pace in the 10K would result in just suffering the last couple of miles and hanging on for dear life!  Plus, I really am pursuing the goal of qualifying for the Boston marathon (which requires a certain pace over 26 miles!).  Since the last few weeks of putting in around 60 miles a week, I have been feeling quite tired on some of the runs...in fact, some of the runs I could barely muster out 8-8:30 mile pace for half of the run, so I was truly unsure of how my training was going to help me keep my goal pace for the 10K, let alone the Marathon!

This is where the BECOMING part takes place!!!!!  We have told you many, many times to TRUST the TRAINING or the PROCESS...even I, who tells you this often, had to be reminded to do the same!  When I started the 10K, I felt if I could just run around 7-7:14 min mile pace (which is roughly what I need for the Boston marathon), and still feel ok at the end, then it would be a success.  I was just going to go out, and FEEL strong but be relaxed and not get caught up in the race.  I wasn't going to look at my watch until the first mile and then see how I was doing compared to how I FELT.  Normally, in this race, I am up in the top 10 to begin with (like I said, I've done it many times), but I was around 20th, but I wasn't discouraged at all, because I had a purpose of what I was trying to do plus, I still wasn't sure of what I really could do.  We came by the 1st mile and my watch said 6:45 mile pace.  I was a little shocked, I was going a little faster than planned and also, because I knew I was holding back a bit and felt like I could go much faster (of course, it was still only the first mile!...I reminded myself to be patient, but to also stay positive and that I could keep the pace!).  To make a longer story short, I averaged a 6:35 mile pace for the race...reminding myself that I was strong and that I was capable of doing this!  Of course, by the last 1.5 miles, I was feeling tired and quite spent from pushing a pace that I haven't even come close to training at (ALL SUMMER!), but I truly UNDERESTIMATED myself and what I can do!  Now, this is not to say that you will automatically run much faster pace times, then what we have been training...but what it does say is that putting in the TIME, EFFORT, MILES, PATIENCE, TRUSTING THE PROCESS, UNDERSTANDING WHAT WE ARE BECOMING...is going to get us where we want to be!  BELIEVE in what we are doing...support one another, especially in our struggles because, even though YOU might have some success, it is so much more FUN TOGETHER (that is why I am sharing this and not keeping it to myself...to hopefully help you all see the great things we are doing!)!!!!!

In the famous words of Michael Scott from the office, "instead of underestimating me, maybe next time you'll ESTIMATE ME!"

Keep working like you have so much more to do (because we do...we haven't arrived anywhere yet!), but TRUST what we are doing, be there for each other, do the little things (hydrate, read the blog, update your miles, be to practice, communicate, keep doing just a little bit more for the chance to BECOME the Best YOU!