"Monsters"...WHAT MATTERS MOST!

 

As we look back on this last week and at our races (like yesterday), You can do 2 things...

1. You can feel discouraged, beat down, over-heated, because it was a slower race, or it didn't go as well as anticipated and the first week of school was draining...

or

2. Realize that the Process REQUIRES you to overcome the "Monsters" that stand in your way of what you expect!

We have high expectations, I do for myself and for our Team!  So we understand when the "result" doesn't seem to fit the effort or the sacrifice given, it feels like a downer or we ask ourselves "WHY" doesn't it seem to be clicking?  Many of the times in our SEARCH for the answers, we tend to be the reason or the "Creator of the Monsters" in our way.  You can either pick 2 more choices...

1. Assume that your goals are too high and expect to feel this way in the future, and lessen your expectations (which means you're ok with mediocre)

or

2. Keep working for those HIGH EXPECTATIONS!  Find new ways to overcome, defeat, or not even "create the monsters" in the first place. 

Sounds easy enough, right?  It really can be though...simple as learning to count...one number and then another and so on.

It's not over...this race is not the end.  In fact, it's just the beginning!   Of course we want and expect to be competing better, but as a Team, we just aren't there...yet!  But if we keep wanting it, believing in it...little by little at practice and every new race, we will keep getting there!  It's the ONLY WAY to get to the SUMmit!  No shortcuts, or easy way.  We know that you want to overcome the mental "Monsters" that hold you back, that stop you from being at every practice, or even giving your BEST every day, or cause fear on race day (or any day)!  But if you really want to conquer them, then you need to work on it every day!  How?  Good question!  How do you get better at anything?  PRACTICE...Practice defeating the "Monster!"  It truly is a little different for everyone because we all react differently to pressure and anxiety and we never want any of you to feel discouraged about your running!

If we could, we would take all of us and just go on a trip and run somewhere and not worry about racing.  We would take away all your worries, your heartache, your anxiety, your aches and pains, your injuries...your "Monsters"...

...but the truth is, we need all those things in order to understand and feel the Great things in life...in Running!  I'd still take you on that trip because spending time with people like you means more to me than the possible accolades or the PR's or the trophies or even the races.  We love heading up to the hills and just running through the trails and trees and enjoying the scenery and company, or on the roads and witness the changes (the little ones happening every day and even the changes over the years!)...there is nothing quite like just wanting to push myself with the people who love doing the same.  I just want to go for a run with those who realize that running is kind of a cool thing (even though others don't understand it...sometimes we don't either! 😉) I just want to be with my friends, family, my peeps...enjoying the trails, the trees, the hills, the mud, the loops, the parks, the air, the seasons, the canyons, the Peaks, the experience of being a RUNNER!  

The TRUTH...Little do we know, we actually are already doing this!  If you really think about it, the races should be the FUN part of just seeing if there has been an improvement, or a possible breakthrough, maybe a stronger finish, a better start, a new friend even, better understanding (of ANYTHING REALLY!)...while doing all those things listed above!

Our JOY comes from the EXPERIENCES THAT WE HAVE TOGETHER!  I want you to know, that I really do love my job...I enjoy being a Teacher and a Coach...but since this covid has hit us, it really has reminded me of what matters most!  So continue to go after the PR's, the trophies, the places, and the races (even figuring out the "Monsters!")...BUT NOT AT THE EXPENSE OF MISSING OUT ON WHAT MATTERS MOST!  Figure out what your "Monsters" might be...could be your commitment, or your attitude, or your consistency, or your anxiety on race day, or your internal belief, or your love (or non love) for running, or your expectations, or your reason for running, or your lack of understanding the process...there are many little things that can be the reason for our struggles.  But the really important part is to know that it is worth it to US to keep working on it, to keep showing up, to expect better and really believe this, through our actions!  

We love racing and the chance to leave it on the course, but the real JOY comes from ALL THE LITTLE MOMENTS TOGETHER, facing the "Monster(s)", every single day!   THAT IS WHAT MATTERS MOST...THAT IS HOW THE PROCESS WORKS!

Love you Guys!

A Reminder...

 

This week is about some REMINDERS...

First, from Coach Lund:

We have all become a bit comfortable with our summer routines.  Things are about to change for all of us as school reinserts itself as a major portion of our lives.  We are ready to adapt...it is part of our mental toughness (which we really saw on the DPC).  Here is an adaptation that we must make as a team....

Our circle of contacts is about to increase on a massive scale.  To keep each other safe, physical distancing and mask wearing will be very important.  You have all kind of hung out together through the summer and thankfully everything has really been so far so good.  Starting Tuesday you will all be around 100’s of other people that you haven’t seen for months.  So, do what you need to do to keep your team and your coaches as safe as we can make it!  This is just another bit of a challenge we all need to conquer together!

Coach “Yobo” Lund

So...it is a good REMINDER to be aware that with school starting, we are going to be around A LOT OF PEOPLE.  If we will keep working at staying healthy, wash our hands, avoid hanging out in large groups of people that we don't normally hangout with (you just don't know much about their habits, etc), and realize that it might seem like a sacrifice to be a little more cautious, but it will go a long way...not just for our Team, but to hopefully get to keep our season and just do our part to keep others healthy.

Another REMINDER...if we are looking for things to "go back to normal" then you will miss out in the great things ahead.  We live in a World that is and will constantly change!  Don't overwhelm yourselves with feeling like you must know all the changes, but let us help you (let parents help you), to understand those things while YOU spend your time focused on going after your dreams!  Be excited to go back to school to LEARN.  It may not be perfect, but it's better than not "stretching" your mind to become better and challenged with new ideas!  Realize that the "new normal" is simply adapting to the changes around us and that it is ok to be careful, but at the same time, keep pushing for the BEST to happen!  Don't look back and wish you would have done it better, when you have to chance to do just that, RIGHT NOW!

Another REMINDER...The Habits of a CHAMPION!  Let's revisit the ones we have shared with you.

1. Self-Talk: How do you talk to yourselves?  What you say to yourself FEEDS your self conscious and then it affects your ability...especially when it gets tough.  For example, in a race when the moment gets tough and you're feeling tired, and its hot (or cold), and things are hurting...you might be telling yourself that you are strong, confident, that you can do it, but nothing is changing...why?  Because the other 98% of the time (when you are not racing or hurting), you may not be telling yourself and training your brain to really know that you are strong, confident, that you can do it...ALL THE TIME!  Also, stop telling yourself that something is Hard!  Duh...life is hard!  Start calling things that we would say are hard with other words that can change our brain...call it a CHALLENGE!  Have the mentality of "So What, Now What?"  Things are going to keep changing...so what!  And then have the attitude of Now What...find and work on a solution to improve the situation, not bring it down (that includes you and others!).

2. Process Oriented:  What are you doing right here and now, in the Present, that is getting you one step closer to your goal?  Focus on what is right in front of you!  Let the big picture guide your desires and motivation, but take care of today, and let the PROCESS of taking care of today, automatically lead you to tomorrow, and the next day, and so on.  If you do all you can today, then when the "day" comes, you will know that you are ready to give it...if you slack off here and there, or only push it now and then, then you will most likely be or feel unsure of "tomorrow."

3. MY WHY:   Do you know why you are doing this?  Is it a good reason?  We can tell you that simply being a part of this Team, this Program, is a good enough reason to keep going, to keep trying, but when you know "WHY" you are doing this, or want to do this, even if it still isn't perfectly clear why you are RUNNING, you can know that every day is worth sacrificing a little for, it's worth maybe NOT doing something for the sake of protecting yourself and/or your teammates, family, etc to keep being a part of this Team.  Your "WHY" is the very reason you get out of bed and keep going (even if your "knee" is not working like you want it to but the LOVE you have for others, the sport, REMIND you that it's worth it!).  

4. Visualization:  Being able to look ahead, be prepared as best as you can, SEEING in your mind the GREAT things you are capable of doing, is more than half the battle!  If we can SEE ourselves really doing something, when we actually go to do it...it's not as scary, or it doesn't hold us back as much, or it gives us confidence to take the CHALLENGE of the moment and look forward to it instead of feeling uncertain if you can!  Oh...YOU CAN!  Visualizing the possible outcomes, is a way of "Bracing yourself" for the unknown...to prepare for all different circumstances before they could even happen.  Of course, you can over do this and think about every single outcome and drive yourself nuts about "what if this happens" or "what about this".  But visualizing what you WANT to Become and HOW you will do it...ALONG WITH THE WORK, are HOW you SUM up all the parts to give yourself the CHANCE to succeed! Visualizing is how to minimize stress because you are prepared and it strengthens the MIND to be able to react positively to your situations. 

5.  GRIT:  Do we have the courage to keep moving forward...to recognize the "Toughness" within ourselves...to FEEL HOW BAD YOU WANT IT and use that to overcome obstacles?  Grit is simply a Toughness and a Passion for what you are doing!  In the MOMENT, are we more timid towards a Challenge, or do we accept the Challenge?  Do we find ourselves willing to possibly "hurt" a little to know that as soon as we are done with the "moment" (like in a race), that the hurt will be gone...do we have the courage to work through those moments?  That is GRIT!  And we all can get it...just take a chance on you and each other, and when we cross that "Finish line", you will know!

6. and number six...we haven't shared with you yet.  Are you COMMITTED or Interested?  Do you give your heart to what you are invested in or just give it here and there...go through the motions?  Have you decided to take OWNERSHIP in this journey!  Champions choose to be "OWNERS" in the PROCESS!  Remember that you control the choices that you make!  OWNERSHIP is someone who says "I DECIDE..." to do this or to be a part of that, to hold themselves and each other accountable for what they want to really go after!  Don't pretend to want to be a CHAMPION...either you DECIDE to be like, act like, train like, talk like, eat like, hydrate like, THINK like, a CHAMPION or you won't.  And YOU ARE ONE!

A REMINDER...that you are Loved!

A REMINDER...that YOU are all Worth it!

A REMINDER...that the "SUMmit" awaits!

 

The Sunrise!

 

It's hard to know for sure, what all the work you have been doing...will it pay off...will it make a difference...will it help?

The simple answer is ABSOLUTELY YES!  The actual answer is ABSOLUTELY, but when?  

In my life and running experiences, the effort I give and all the training I have pursued, didn't always SEEM to line up perfectly; it didn't always FEEL like it matched up with what I was aiming for.  BUT I ALWAYS CAME AWAY FROM ALL MY EXPERIENCES BETTER!  I tell you this because after our FIRST races this weekend, I feel that overall, many of us are wondering how this season might play out...all those miles, will they pay off, will they get me to my destination?  We were very pleased with the efforts you ALL gave this weekend.  When we have told you to TRUST the WORK, those are not just words to make you feel better!  Every year, with each new group of kids, we pay attention, we keep track, we watch, we see, that our TRAINING always pays off!  How we do summer miles, how we build on strength and then speed and working the MIND all through out!  You need to remember it's not exactly how you start that's most important (it does help and does affect the outcome), but its how we FINISH that we are aiming for!  And the ONLY WAY TO FINISH is by recognizing the STEPS that are needed to get there!  So, take advantage of every MOMENT you have to keep getting better.  Remember to enjoy the PROCESS...the chance to keep getting better...as an individual, but especially TOGETHER!  Every new day is the opportunity to do something better, to improve, to feel the excitement of recognizing that TODAY is the chance to get closer to the "FINISH".  We can't explain in exact words how it FEELS to LOVE what you do...it is one of those things that must be lived...tried...experienced...sought after...wanted...hoped for...and if we will just continue to LOVE the pursuit of our dreams, goals, beliefs, and the CHANCE to do something GREAT...

then something GREAT WILL HAPPEN!

I couldn't sleep this morning, so as I sit here on my deck, watching the Sunrise and the sky start to light up...typing away on my computer, hoping to share something that might help you recognize that there is soooooo much to look forward to, to keep moving forward, to STILL BELIEVE IN THE BIG PICTURE, to want to keep going after those beliefs...FEELING the SUNRISE reminds me that in the simplest way...its a new day, and there is soooo much to keep fighting for!  

IT IS ABSOLUTELY WORTH IT...IT WILL PAY OFF...IT WILL MAKE A DIFFERENCE...TOGETHER!

Life Becomes What WE Allow it to BE!

"The Gateway to the GOOD STUFF!"  

The only way...and I mean the ONLY WAY, to GREATNESS requires a price!  The "Gateway" is about that "price" and it is about the time we put in...it can be the attitude we MUST adjust and/or improve...it can be the daily drag of getting up for practice...it can be just getting to practice...it can be the extra miles, the 2 runs a day, the little things of hydrating, eating better, sleeping enough...on and on!  Those who are willing to BELIEVE in the "Big Picture"...I say BELIEVE, because sometimes we don't know exactly WHY we keep doing this, other than we FEEL and BELIEVE it is worth it...never let go of that feeling and TRUST that... 

LIFE BECOMES WHAT WE ALLOW IT TO BE!

It's a CHOICE on how we react or handle situations in life! Life WILL throw lots of curve balls or massive punches to the gut when you least expect it (or even when you do expect it...like in a race), but the power of our CHOICE to keep going or working through it, will change your life!   

With the possible CHALLENGES ahead, there is no better attitude to have than to be EXCITED for the CHANCE to do GREAT things!  Worrying about the uncertain things in life will not change them, so we must look to working on the things we can do!  Remembering WHY we do this...WHAT we are doing it for...the FEELING of pushing the limits...and being EXCITED to go after it!  If we will keep working on seeing the good in ourselves, in this Team, in our goals for the end of the season, and in especially just BECOMING BETTER...then we will recognize that the PROCESS of "climbing" to the TOP of the Mountain "SUM"mit was all worth it, and all we really need!

The Standard

After all these years of running and coaching, you begin to recognize the many little things that have CHANGED over time.  You notice how every year, we seem to be willing to do just a little bit more, or go a little bit farther, or dream a little bigger.  I remember when we first went to HARC 17 years ago.  Most of our runs are still the same as back then...EXCEPT we run twice as far!  Not because we are trying to "punish" you or make you...the STANDARD has just CHANGED!  Just 6-8 years ago, a 4.5 mile run after school was a big deal and now that is the STANDARD for our Newbies.  

Sometimes we forget where we have been and how far we have come.  Have you noticed how your STANDARD has improved?  And the real question is "How far can your STANDARD still go?"  Do you still have more to give?  Are you really giving your BEST or do you think that there might just be a little more in you?  If you really take the time to focus on the PROCESS (the day to day things that you do), to know that you are giving ALL that you can at this moment...then you will begin to recognize that 

WHEN THE STANDARD CHANGES, THE PERFORMANCE WILL ALSO!  

That STANDARD can be more than just doing more miles, or being a varsity runner, or doing 2 runs a day, or showing up for practice...it's about becoming stronger mentally (reading the book "How Bad Do You Want It"), about focusing and enjoying the very MOMENT you are in!  Recognizing that TODAY is the most important day because it will take me to the next day, and the next, and the next...BY TAKING CARE OF TODAY!  

We hope you realize that your STANDARD has CHANGED!  But the important step is to know that the STANDARD needs to CHANGE constantly!  Simply Recognize the good that you are doing and keep wanting to improve upon it!  

Do you know if you have more to give?  Evaluate your STANDARD and see!

This short 3 minute video reminded me about how important the PROCESS is over any other part of our focus!  Michael Phelps is the Greatest swimmer of all time!  His STANDARD was as high as anyone could make it...but that was not the focus...the workout for that day was the focus!  Which eventually led to the confidence to pursue the Dream! 

I have shown this video before, but it really seemed to be the perfect time to REMIND each of us to see the PROCESS of where we have come, and where we want to go...and how to get there!  CHANGE THE STANDARD!