Break Away!

              What holds us back?  We are asking you this question, because we ask it of ourselves a lot!  For everyone of us, it may be a little different answer...but one thing is for certain, we all have things that are "holding us back" from becoming what we want to become!  I remembered a little story I came across, a long time ago, and it seemed to share how we are feeling, and how much we want to help you!

As a man was passing the elephants, he suddenly stopped, confused by the fact that these huge creatures were being held by only a small rope tied to their front leg. No chains, no cages. It was obvious that the elephants could, at anytime, break away from their bonds but for some reason, they did not.
He saw a trainer nearby and asked why these animals just stood there and made no attempt to get away. “Well,” the trainer said, “when they are very young and much smaller we use the same size rope to tie them and, at that age, it’s enough to hold them. As they grow up, they are conditioned to believe they cannot break away. They believe the rope can still hold them, so they never try to break free.”
The man was amazed. These animals could at any time break free from their bonds but because they believed they couldn’t, they were stuck right where they were.
Like the elephants, how many of us go through life hanging onto a belief that we cannot do something, simply because we struggled at it once before?

Struggling and "falling down" are part of learning; we should never give up the struggle in life, for that is how we truly TRANSFORM!

Now, that is not to say that we have struggles because we are conditioned or lazy, or bad, or we have horrible luck...what we want to help you understand is that LIFE will throw at us, everything it has...the good with the bad, the ups and the downs, and it is up to US to DECIDE how WE will REACT to those moments.  And truthfully, our "reactions" are usually an automatic response (like the rope situation), due to previous situations we have encountered!  Maybe, we need to focus a little more on being PROACTIVE since we obviously know that LIFE is going to hand us these Amazing moments!  How do we know that they are Amazing?...because the only way to truly understand Happiness is to have felt down...to feel like you're on top of a mountain, we must have felt the struggles of "climbing" to get there!...to understand why we RUN and work so hard for something that seems unexplainable, requires sacrifice, sweat, sometimes tears, soreness, planning ahead, more sweat, more tears, and then over time, we start to see a change!  The "running" doesn't necessarily get easier, but it becomes more relevant, it becomes doable, it becomes worth it, it becomes even fun at times (heaven forbid!), and before you really know it, a TRANSFORMATION has taken place.
BUT IT REQUIRES TIME, EFFORT, AND SACRIFICE, and when you do that, YOU look back and see that what held you back at times, was not LIFE throwing obstacles left and right (that will always happen), what held us back are how WE CHOOSE to see those obstacles!  

How do you look at the "ROPE" (like with the Elephants), that holds you back?...Look at your own personal situations and DECIDE that maybe if I tweak my perspective, that the so called "rope"no longer will hold me back, but will allow us to reach higher, to truly CHANGE into who you are meant to be!  Look at where you have come in your running and continue to see where it is you want to be and

BREAK AWAY...BREAK that "ROPE" 

and make it happen!  It may be hard to "break through", but the decision to PURSUE this, may be all that YOU need to see it differently!  It is WORTH IT!   Break the "ROPE!" 

The next question is HOW do I Break Away...Break that "Rope"?   Well...there are lots of ways and each person must balance reality with expectations...BUT, ALL THE SOLUTIONS ARE RIGHT THERE...we just need to work at it...and that is what we will do in the upcoming season...HELP YOU KNOW HOW TO BREAK AWAY!  

Here is a video about Billy Mills (last American to win Gold in the 10K at the Olympics).  He has some pretty cool insight on the "HOW"!

What do I See?

 We just want to give a quick reminder that these posts, this blog, IS JUST FOR US!  It is specific for our Team and a lot of thought goes into what matters to each of US and OUR TEAM!  The topics are genuine and based on our needs...please be respectful of what is written by US for US!

What do you see...when you look in the mirror?  What do you see...when you think about your running goals?  What do you see...when you picture yourself at a race?  What do you see...when you evaluate your future?   Lot's to kind of think about and could seem overwhelming!

Our focus for you (not just right now, or just this week), because of this program and team, IS TO ALWAYS SEE THE GOOD THAT YOU ARE DOING!  It is easy to "SEE" or "Feel" or "assume" that we are just who we are and that not much will change.  The mind sometimes just thinks that this is what I do, this is where I am at, this is my spot in life...and so forth!   What we love about Running is that we can help each other recognize that there is sooooooo much more to life than just being a part of something, or that I am just a runner, or just an average student, or mediocre!   IF YOU WILL TRULY TRUST AND HOLD ONTO WHAT WE TRY TO SHARE WITH YOU ABOUT YOURSELF (through Running!), THEN THERE ARE SOOOOO MANY THINGS AHEAD FOR YOU TO LOOK FORWARD TO!

Perspective, seeing the big picture and your potential are great things to help guide you to bigger and better things...but YOU NEED TO SEE THE GOOD IN YOU!  YOU NEED TO BELIEVE THAT THERE IS MORE IN YOU!   We all need to work on NOT comparing ourselves to others and focus more on comparing yourself with YOURSELF!   Was your effort better today....was your attitude more positive...did you smile more...are you encouraging others along the way...are you getting out of the comfort zone more or just better...?

The World will often beat us down, make us feel less, assume that you are not good enough or smart enough or tough enough, BUT WHAT MATTERS IS IF YOU SEE THAT!  Look in that mirror differently TODAY!  See something that is worth it!  Make a little Change today that you can do to show all the naysayers that they don't tell you what you can and will do!  There is a quote that I love that just goes along with these thoughts!..."There are clubs you can't belong to.  Neighborhoods you can't live in.  Schools you can't get into.  But the roads are always open!"    Of course, the emphasis is on running here, but we challenge you to take it even further and recognize that the World might assume you are not good enough, but what really matters is that YOU realize that YOU are good enough and that the EFFORT YOU give will make the difference!

We spend the time doing this (all of this) because what WE SEE is something extraordinary in each of YOU and it takes EFFORT, TIME, PASSION, TRUST, SACRIFICE and simply take a chance on YOURSELF to make it happen!  But what really matters is WHAT YOU DO YOU SEE?  Just don't forget...the Roads are always open!

HAPPINESS!

 

This might seem like an odd title for the week but keep reading to find out the significance and the importance of WHY we are working so hard this summer, WHY we are putting in the miles, WHY we are pushing the limits of our bodies and minds.

Start off by asking yourselves "what makes you Happy?"   Now ask yourselves, "what about Running makes you Happy?"    Sometimes it is difficult to see or feel the things that SHOULD make us Happy or feel better.   Running, ideally, should help us relieve stress and feel healthier and better about ourselves.  But we can also see we sometimes feel more stress...is it because of running?   Does running cause stress or do we maybe "add" stress because of HOW we perceive it or how we THINK we should be feeling or doing?   We can achieve HAPPINESS in many ways, but TRUE HAPPINESS is having a balance of the important areas in your life!   Having that balance does require us though, to WORK AT IT AND CHALLENGE OUR CURRENT ABILITIES!  There is no other substitute to better ourselves...we must get out of the comfort zone (in all areas of our life).   

I recently heard a quote that got me thinking about this topic on HAPPINESS.    

"Happiness is NOT the goal.  It is a byproduct of hard work."   

If we truly work hard for something, we definitely can attain feelings of HAPPINESS...but I really started thinking about this... I truthfully believe that 

HAPPINESS IS THE GOAL!  

WHY are we here, WHY are we working hard, WHY are we putting in the time, WHY are we getting out of our comfort zones?  To be HAPPY in some way!   Remember how we have told you that there are NO secret ways to have success or shortcuts to GREATNESS?  It is true!  HAPPINESS requires that we work hard, put in the time, get out of our comfort zone, balance all aspects of our lives (not just running physical, but mental, emotional, and even spiritual), and when we work at this ONE DAY AT A TIME...it starts to add up and next thing you know...YOU ARE BETTER THAN WHEN YOU STARTED!  And that should make us HAPPY!   See the GOOD that you are doing!  Always want to improve, but we must see the GOOD also!

One day at a time, adds UP!

The Path

 

We tend to (as humans), overwhelm ourselves with expectations, things to accomplish for the day/week, over analyze each run or how we might feel after a run or workout.   All these things are pretty typical of what we do throughout the summer (let alone LIFE!).  

So...WE try to spend time helping each other focus on the SIMPLE things and keeping it FUN while still keeping the HIGH GOALS and LOVING what we are doing through running!  

So let's keep this week simple!  Let's see the GREAT things that we are doing!  Let's focus on working through the struggles by TRUSTING, being PERSISTENT, and with a SMILE!  Let's use our book, "Chop Wood, Carry Water" this week to help us remember that the PATH we have chosen to take is the one we LOVE and realize is WORTH IT!

Some thoughts from a few of the first chapters of the book, that you can ask yourself and work on this week!  I will be putting these questions on the strava club page.  It would be nice if you could participate a little by sharing some thoughts when the questions are added throughout the week!

Chapter 1:   What do you think (whether you have read the whole book or not), "Chop wood and Carry water" mean?  What does it represent?

Chapter 2:   What does it mean to "build your own house wisely?"  

Chapter 2:  What is truly significant about today, or any day?  

Chapter 3:  Why does even the smallest of adjustments make a huge difference?

 Chapter 3:  We are often consumed with so many things in our lives!  What things should we focus on (when it comes to running), to help us see the BIG PICTURE?

That should be a good and simple start to be thinking of the LITTLE THINGS THAT WILL HELP US BECOME WHO WE WANT TO BE AND WILL BE!  KIA KAHA!

We have told you before, that GREATNESS is NOT Glamorous...it is repetition, it is blood, sweat, and tears, it is sticking with it, it is getting back up EVERY SINGLE TIME! It is Trusting, it is doing the little things...this is what makes a Champion!  This short video will help remind us of that and hopefully inspire you to keep at it!

The Guarantee!

 

 

Not sure why this thought just wouldn't leave my head as I was thinking about this weeks letter!  Maybe it's because WE WORK SO HARD FOR SOMETHING, it would be nice if there was a guarantee that it would ALL WORK OUT!

That's the interesting thing about guarantee's...can you believe them or trust them?  I've heard this quote before (maybe you have also)..."there are no guarantees in life."   Is that true?  Or is it just a simple line to use to help get a point across, but truthfully I believe there are some guarantees in life...let me explain!

What really keeps me motivated about running (and probably why I love running marathons), is that you GET TO put in the work and then try to show what you have done.  People can't just show up for a marathon (truthfully in any running race!), and expect to do well if they haven't done the work!  I have run quite a few marathons and I can tell you that only a few of them actually turned out the way I thought my training had proven I should race, and got the time and place that I felt I had earned.  That doesn't mean all the other times were a waste or that it wasn't worth it...in fact, those "NOT SO PERFECT" races kept me hungry (not frustrated or disappointed), and believing that I could improve in little areas that would make my next goal or time racing, much better!  You are probably thinking, "Sounds great Coach, but where is the guarantee that all the work is going to pay off...your example doesn't seem to prove that it worked?"   GOOD QUESTION! 😜   The point is that if you want a guarantee, then DON'T DO WHAT IS REQUIRED!  Then you will be guaranteed that you WON'T GET WHAT YOU ARE GOING FOR!  There's your Guarantee!

But if you really want something...if you really want to go after something bigger than you, bigger than you have ever accomplished, THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CHANCE, YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE, YOU GET TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, YOU GET TO PUSH YOURSELF (and hopefully others) TO GO BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR MIND AND BODY, YOU GET TO FALL DOWN SOMETIMES, YOU GET TO LEARN TO GET BACK UP, YOU GET TO DISCOVER THE HIDDEN THINGS ABOUT YOU, YOU GET TO REALIZE THAT IT'S THE CHOPPING WOOD AND CARRYING WATER THAT MATTERS, and so much more!   After all those marathons and only having a few turn out like I thought they should (performance wise!), I must admit that all the "other" marathons MADE ME WHO I AM TODAY AS A RUNNER!  It's not like all the other races were bad or anything...they just didn't turn out "ideal" necessarily, but they GAVE ME SO MUCH MORE IN RETURN AS LONG AS I KEPT PURSUING THE GOAL, THE DREAM, THE REASON!

So, if you want The Guarantee, then simply don't pursue what matters to you...BUT IF YOU WANT THE CHANCE FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HAPPEN, THEN DO WHAT IT TAKES, SACRIFICE, SHOW UP EVERYDAY, CONVINCE YOURSELF ITS WORTH IT THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, TELL YOURSELF GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU, TRUST THE PROCESS, DO THE LITTLE THINGS and IF YOU DO THIS, then you will have become exactly what you wanted and needed to become...WE GUARANTEE IT!  😉

Little short video that always reminds me of what really matters most when it comes to getting out there every day!