There are just so many CHANGES that are happening in our World today, that it is obviously difficult to really know how to "respond" to Challenges, or how to "react" to the news, or how to move forward with certain things. What we can tell you though is that there are 2 things that matter to us the most with this running "thing."
1. This program will get you where you want to be (IF you Give).
2. That you are all safe and happy!
Reason #1: I just finished watching a USATF episode of the Bowerman TC team trying to break 5K records. With races and competition cancelled (for everyone), it would seem really hard to keep working for something that feels "out of reach." So the Bowerman TC has been putting on some intrasquad races to help them keep working for their dreams. You can go on youtube and watch some the these races, but it was really cool to see the women's American record get broken (by 2 women), and then 1 of the guys broke his Canadian record (by 14 seconds and be the 10th fastest ever in the World)! But what really stood out to me (and this is why I am writing about this), was watching them after the race, and in their interviews. Multiple people on the team helped pace and run with them, and at the end, I could just see their excitement that they had for each other...they know each other and how hard they are working for their goals (even though they seem uncertain right now). They were genuinely happy and excited for what they did. And then in the interviews, all they could talk about was their Teammates and how they help each other keep going and pushing each other. It just made me feel honored, blessed, and happy to be coaching YOU! This program, this Team, this crazy thing called Running...it really is such a wonderful thing! On Friday, as I watched you (and that was hard to just watch), I couldn't help but feel proud of all of you! It was not easy to "extend" yourselves and feel vulnerable, to the extent that you had never felt so exhausted (at least not like that in a long time). But yet you still kept going, you wanted to TEST the body, but the real TEST was the Mind and Heart! Your bodies will bounce back (even mine will sometime also!), but the next time you feel TESTED or CHALLENGED, you will know that you can keep going...you will know that it is really worth it, even if the "reason" may feel unknown. We may not all be best of friends, or even understand each other perfectly, BUT WE ARE PURSUING THE SAME GOALS, DREAMS, AND THE ONLY WAY TO GET THER IS TOGETHER! See the good in each other, help each other, get excited for each other (and it doesn't matter what level someone is at...LET THEM KNOW YOU NOTICE THEM!). With all the unknown with covid and life as we know it now, the things that matter most are very simple...EACH OTHER! (even if you have to do it alone...we are still in it TOGETHER!). The time spent doing what we love (or at least trusting that the Process will teach and show us), "how" and "what" we do TOGETHER, makes a difference! Friday was amazing to be a part of that and CHALLENGE ourselves to be more! Don't worry, there won't be a Challenge like that (at least mileage wise), until next year!
Reason #2: Speaking of covid...how things use to be will never be the same! We need to just understand that and be ok with the CHANGES that are happening and be GRATEFUL for what we get to do. We mention this because even though we had some GREAT news from UHSAA that we will be having FALL SPORTS (as long as we stay in the yellow or better), there will be significant changes (for now). We must be able and willing to ADJUST to CHANGES and learn to be ok with it (better mental attitude and not get down about unforeseen obstacles, when they come). For example...we just got word from my brother in Colorado (who we just went to visit), that some close friends of their's, just tested positive for covid, and they had been with them just days before we came to visit. They are getting tested, and so now my family and I are unsure of what that exactly means for us. That's the hard thing about this disease...we just don't know. But I will tell you this...I DO NOT regret going to Colorado to visit family! I know that we have been diligent in being safe, and taking precautions (and my brother and his family has also), but there is just no perfect way to 100% contain the virus. But that doesn't mean, we don't do our part to be safe and be safe for others. Reason #2 is one of the things that matters a lot to us...ALL OF YOU BEING SAFE and HAPPY! We would never want to put any of YOU in harms way and so we must be on the safe side when it comes to the unknown of this virus. To keep you all "safer", my family and I will not be at practice's this week. I know...it's stupid all this back and forth of "is it a big deal" or "we need to live our lives"...this is how our World is right now and WE NEED TO BE OK WITH IT (and be ok with other people's feelings)! "Roll with the punches", as they say...and let it help us to become better!
Trust me...I know how frustrating this whole thing has been. I question everyday if we are doing the right things for all of you, with practices and HARC and Challenge runs and so forth. Especially HARC right now. We are being told, no overnighters and no camps (and it's hard to balance the possible risk and my job with the things that really mean a lot to us). But then I think of you guys (each one of YOU, my own kids, seniors...), and how much you have been working so hard to get your miles, and to get to HARC, and go on trips, and be at practice, etc...I can't help but feel like the most important thing to do is make the things that matter most to us happen (as best and as safe as we possibly can...like we did for our Colorado trip), and realize that doing our BEST is the key.
We will be moving forward with HARC because there is just no substitute for that wonderful experience, but there will be some CHANGES that must happen and will happen to allow the risk to be ok. So even though there are constant CHANGES that are happening (like being careful this week for practice and to keep YOU ALL SAFE from the Allen's 😂), we need to be ok with it...we need to be there for each other...we need to do better at practicing our distancing from each other (distancing shouldn't be too hard for us...distancing is what we do...literally! Get it..."distance" running? haha!). We need to know that when the fall comes and school starts, there will be CHANGES... masks WILL BE worn at all races (the only time the mask is off is when you are racing. This is a new rule from UHSAA...if you want to compete). To be on a bus...you must wear a mask. These are all a few of the CHANGES that are happening and instead of getting upset or bent out of shape over it, just be our BEST...let's do our part and be a positive influence so that we can keep doing the things that we LOVE...TOGETHER! YOU are what matters most to us in this wonderful Running thing that we do!
Practices will be normal and the schedule will say what to do (I will still probably be there at the beginning of most practices...keeping my distance with a mask, to help get you going and because I want to see you!). But the truth is, you should be able and want to do the right things, whether we are there or not! Night runs...you can still meet in my backyard, but please do not meet on my deck or front yard...meet on the new basketball court (or on your own), so that you all have a meeting place and keep the wonderful routine of our night runs. We know we all love our routines, but once again...we must be able to adapt and adjust with CHANGE!
We hope you can understand all of this. We know that we have thrown a lot at you with this. We would rather spend our time sharing more motivational stories and thoughts with you (we didn't even get to talk about the book or Traits of a Champion, this week...next week we will pick it up again!), but we all needed to have this chat and know that no matter what comes our way...WE NEED EACH OTHER (in one way or another)!
Just know that a lot of what we do is because of YOU! Not because we have to, or it's our job...we WANT to! Watching those races of the Bowerman Team were really cool...records being broken, pushing the limits...everything that we are trying to do also...but what really stood out was how they talked about EACH OTHER...how they cared and were excited about EACH OTHER'S accomplishments. TOGETHER is what made the difference! This reminds me of a new song from SIA. The chorus goes:
Come now, set the past on fire
Stand up, raise your face to the sky, my love
Together, we can take it higher
Ooh, together, we can take it higher
Come now, set the past on fire
Stand up, raise your face to the sky, my love
Together, we can take it higher
Ooh, together, we can take it higher
Stand up, raise your face to the sky, my love
Together, we can take it higher
Ooh, together, we can take it higher
Come now, set the past on fire
Stand up, raise your face to the sky, my love
Together, we can take it higher
Ooh, together, we can take it higher
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