Who’s reading this? HMMMM?

 I guess we will find out who actually reads this.   The blog has changed to our SEASON blog.

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"LAST ONE"...Interesting to think about!

 

 

As much as it may be difficult to start school back up, there is also something about it that just gets me excited!  The routine, the mornings, the chance to run after school and put everything that has happened that day behind me (even if it is only for a while), the time together!  It's just a good feeling to be around so many others (even if they don't get what we do as runners!).   

Another thing that is interesting...we had our final Canyon run for those who have been doing it this summer!  We had MOST of those who came, have amazing PR's and times!  Some had minutes shaved off from previous attempts this summer!  So why is that interesting?  Well, the real question is WHY DO WE FINALLY SEEM TO BREAK BARRIERS WHEN IT'S THE "LAST" ONE?  It's interesting that you all knew it was the last Canyon run and all of a sudden you bust through barriers?  Now, this doesn't mean that there is anything wrong with that, but imagine if we treated most days, moments, RACES, and so on, like it was the "Last one".   We know we get easily caught up in the routine of each day, and that key workouts are hard, and sometimes we feel beat down and tired (ok, maybe that is most days! 😂), and we just are trying to get to the next thing we need to do for the day.  But take a step back sometimes...take a deep breath...enjoy the moment...feel the wind in your face or the heat, or the rain...soak in the rays of life for just a bit and be grateful for the simple things in your life!  Heaven forbid...SMILE!

It was super exciting to see so many of you break the barriers on this Canyon run...but we will remind you of something...the ability to do what you did...was always there!  Sure, knowing it was the "Last One" helped get through the barrier, but YOU ALL HAD IT IN YOU...now use that knowledge to keep breaking more barriers...and help others along the way!

What Running can do...

I don't know why, but I always go through some of the PAST videos that I have made for our Team.  This one always gets me! It helps me realize that I LOVE TO RUN...I LOVE TO COACH YOU...THAT THIS IS ALL WORTH IT!  It always reminds me of the GOOD things, which is why we feel it is important that you watch this and then read our short thought for you after!

How can you NOT feel like all that you are trying to do with your 
Running isn't amazing?

IT IS AMAZING!  I tweaked that video awhile ago, to fit one of our XC themes for a past year.  I don't know why I chose to watch this, this morning, but I couldn't help but feel the need to share this with you! 

When I watch this, it takes me back to all the years that I have been running!  It reminds me of WHY I LOVE DOING THIS!  It teaches me that I have gained so much over the years...

HOW has it done this?

It has taught me...given me...

How to push myself.

How to get up early...and enjoy it!

How to Enjoy the Tough moments...and even want more of them.

How to feel Peace in times of chaos

How to work through the struggles

How to see the GOOD in most things in life!

How to change my ATTITUDE and that my ATTITUDE changes everything else!

How to feel CONNECTED... to myself and to others around me.

How to LOVE where I am at and where I still want to be

How to treat others and truly help others! And in doing so, I get back so much more!

How to INSPIRE and be INSPIRED!

How to recognize that it's the LITTLE THINGS that make a difference.

How to sacrifice things in the moment for things that really matter later.

How to want more, but be happy with where I have come from...

How to BELIEVE even when it seems impossible!

How to SMILE in both the darkest moments and highest peaks!

How to Be EXCITED (truthfully), even when I'm nervous or unsure

How to be CONFIDENT because I CHOOSE to RUN and put in the time!

How to be ok with myself and realize what I am still BECOMING!

How to...(keep filling in the blanks!)

Running has truly TRANSFORMED ME for the Better! 

and it will for YOU also!

What's really IMPORTANT!

 

I love COMPETING!  I love the thought of the challenge before me and taking the chance to give my best and see what happens.

I love the OLYMPICS!  Or at least, I love what the Olympic idea is all about!   It is amazing to watch the top athletes in the World go head to head and COMPETE!  So many cool stories, and real struggles for people all over the World, coming together to go up against one another in COMPETITION vs actual fighting due to differences we might have.

As I started watching all the Olympic events, I noticed an interesting advertisement from Nike that kind of threw me off...I can see what they were trying to inspire people to do, but I really feel they missed the mark on what truly is GREATNESS!  The commercial is called, "Am I a bad person?" and then proceeds to link GREATNESS to being "deceptive, obsessive, selfish, obsessed, delusional, not respecting your competition, having zero remorse, no empathy, and no sense of compassion."  

Fist of all, THIS IS UNTRUE!  Second of all, why does the world think that being GREAT requires this mentality...what is the "little boy or girl" watching the Olympics and sees this ad and asks, "Dad, what does it mean to have no sense of compassion?"  Some of it shouldn't be to surprising, there are some top level athletes that are notorious for crazy personalities, but usually are tied to doping or aggressive behaviors.  

Yes, the best athletes (and I KNOW YOU can be included in this statement also), in the World are focused, determined, a little bit crazy, at times obsessive, and live mundane lifestyles that most people would find boring.  But the Best athletes, in the world also have deep respect for their competition, develop identities outside their sport, learn compassion for themselves and others, and do a good job of being realistic about their capabilities.  Some of the more recognizable athletes in the commercial are known for their respect for others, and empathy, and compassion for their competitors and their sport.

I believe that the AD was trying to capture the ferocity, relentlessness, the dedication, and sometimes borderline insanity that is often required to be world-class.  What they missed is that when most athletes, become too hyper-competitive, they often lead to cheating, illness, injury or burnout.  

WHAT MAKES FOR GREATNESS (and not just in sport, but in anything), is being a fierce COMPETITOR, and RESPECTING your competition!  Wanting to win badly and knowing how to lose. Being deeply determined and not letting your entire self-worth balance on a single race.  Being relentless but being kind! Being disciplined and compassionate.

Research proves that when athletes focus on the PROCESS rather than the outcomes, they are more successful!  "Do the work and let the outcome take care of itself!"  Contrary to the AD, when we view sport as win-at-all-costs and about dominating, it pushes most of us to perform out of fear and avoid things instead of facing them head on, and to play NOT to lose instead of playing to WIN!   This is why it is so important...WHAT'S REALLY IMPORTANT, knowing what you stand for, what are our values, creating our foundation and standing up for what is right!  

The entire spirit of the Olympic games (before modern times sometimes tarnishes reality), was about people's desire to COMPETE!  The root of the word COMPETE is COM which in Latin means "together" and PETE, which means "to aspire toward or to rise up!"  So next time we go to "COMPETE" remember what it really stands for and the GREATNESS in each of us!

I think Nike was trying to capture how hard it really is to be Great, and how you can't do it by being ordinary.  By definition GREATNESS is EXTRAORDINARY!  But they may have gotten caught up in the worlds view/motivational culture of today, but hopefully we know better that this is NOT what GREATNESS really is!   The BEST in the World, which is mostly what we see when you watch the Olympics...let the inspiration come from the REAL COMPETITION from within and bettering yourself and understanding what GREATNESS is really all about!  YOU ARE EXTRAORDINARY!  

Here is the Nike ad if you want to watch it.  It really is cool, but hopefully you can see beyond the idea and truly know the difference.