Something To End The Year On.

I really went into this month trying to think what I have to be thankful for in my life. With all that goes on with the month I'm really proud that I have stuck to my guns on this thought. So in this part of my life here are a few things I am thankful for.

I am so thankful I can run. There is nothing physically stopping me from doing what I love to do without any thought. (Now if I can get over this sinus and ear infection I'm good to go.) I know being able to do this seems like a no brainer but it's really a big deal. There are a lot of people who can't hop out of bed and do ten miles or even one. To be able to run, ride, or swim is something I am really thankful for.

Where I live is a big thank you. I have tons of places to run. I have roads with lanes to run on. I have hundreds of miles of trails. I can do long tempo runs, hills, track.... you name it and I can run it. Most of the time the weather is not a problem. There is always sometime during the day when I can run and usually you will see somebody running at all times of the day around here. Which leads me that I'm thankful for living in an area where there is so many runners and running is ingrained into the community. I can a race every weekend if I want to without going any father than twenty miles. I have three running stores and two cycling stores within ten miles of me. Wow! Thank you, thank you, thank you!

And to me the most important thing to be thankful for is the support of great friends. To have so many wonderful people in your corner who love doing the things you do gives me the perfect lift I need to try all the things I love.  To say lets run a marathon and to have people jump in the "lets go" is beyond great. And to have a group that really cheers for each other is the best bonus a person could ask for.

Just take a moment and think of all the things you can be thankful for in your life.

More to come.....

A Few of My Favorite Things.

I had to include something from my Jingle Jog last weekend. Another one of my favorite things.

1. "Don't focus on the fall-focus on getting up!"
It was another day at work when this VP called. I could hear him yelling over the phone three cubes away. Next thing I know I see people freaking out all upset trying to figure out what went wrong. Then there was Lynda. She was a processor of thirty years and she was shaking her head and waving me over. With a slight grin she said to me " Let's fix this.". In less than an hour the problem was solved. Everybody else were still upset blaming this and that, bla, bla, bla. Later I found an email instructing them not to work that file until he approved it. The guy was so nice he didn't even apologize.
Don't waist you time on the problem. I believe in doing so only increases its size. Focus on solving and feel a whole lot better.

2. "If you can't grow corn, grow beans! If you can't grow beans, grow potatoes......."
I admire the guy down the street. I see him the other day putting flyers in the mailboxes and he stops by to say hi. He tells me it's too cold to paint so he was working as a trainer. Also he is running a website. And has another few logs in the fire. The guy doesn't stop! He just keeps on going. You have to love it.
If you run into a wall go around, go under,go through! Just keep going.

3. "The most important things for survival."
Food, fuel, shelter, and the biggie-positive attitude! You can have the first three but you will never get up without the forth. I can rely on this every time to get me out any problem. A positive attitude is the map that shows you all the options (see 1 and 2). Don't get wrong I've crawled into the hole on numerous occasions. But just starting to put myself in a better place opens up those doors and windows keeping me in.

So here has been my situation. Sick kids. A nice little bug that took up camp in school.
Should I just be bummed I can't run and blame the kids? I love my kids and the first thing I want to do is care for them and I always will because they are the greatest kids on earth. (No bias here right). So I'm not going to bummed over the situation if I can't run.
After a second of thought I could figure out when I could run. I have a 1.1 mile route around the block I could  do after the kids go to sleep and my wife could watch them. I have a dozen or so workouts a friend gave me. Those can be 20 minutes that gets the heart and muscles going good. I have a trainer for my bike. And so on...If I want to workout I can.

Another one of my favorite things is my friends. I have great friends. More often than not they show you how to get up, help you figure out what to grow, and give you a shot of positive attitude. All you have to do is be open to it.

More to come....

The First Step is the Hardest. Pt II

I think it's true in what ever we do in our life. My first step today was getting out in 20deg (feels like 14) weather. And like my grandmother would say " just eat it!". So after sitting in my car for five minutes I jumped out and started my run. Why was I dreading this? I love running in the cold! Feels great and I can't wait to get back out there.I can't wait for a long run-most likely Friday.

Also I believe in the saying "Do what you love-love what you do". What can I do to make a living running? I would love to be a running partner. Not a trainer or a coach but a running partner. I would love to help people who want to start or just started running what it's all about. Help with a plan, find some shoes, whatever they want to get out of running. They want to run a marathon- I will be more than happy to take every step with them to achieve their goal. One of the best things I've seen is when I saw a woman run out to her car and proudly put a 26.2 sticker on her back window. She was so proud I had to clap with her. I want to help people get that feeling. That " I did it !" feeling. Is that not the greatest feeling in the world. I will be your biggest cheerleader. I'm not going to yell at you in a negative way. If you don't feel like running that day-no big deal. We just adjust and move on. I would work cheap too. I think I could start at $5 a regular run and more for longer ones. Pay for my race number and I'm there right beside you the whole way. What a way to make a living.

Now I just need to figure out the first step.

Also a moment for John on the anniversary -Give peace a chance...

More to come.......

The First Step is the Hardest

It is cold! I mean freak'n cold! Thanksgiving I was running in shorts and a short sleeve shirt and sweating. Now it's below freezing. What the frak!

The Zen thing is that it would be cold wether I run or not. And it's not like I don't have the cold weather gear. I guess it's age. Every year now it's seems to take a few days to get out into the cold. Once I'm out I'm great. It's just that first step. Might as well break out the gear and go. Once more into the breach...

More to come....

Like a Moth To A Flame!

First I have to say I've crossed over to the other side. I got an IPhone. I resisted forever! Now I'm hooked. You know the first thing I had to get was a running app. Now I'm really hooked, especially now my watch is broke ( Dear Santa- The new Timex GPS with heart rate is really nice)

Ok now for something completely different. Why am I drawn to distance? I see a race across the state and I start to drowl. All I can do is think is that is the coolest thing since butter grits. I want to do that! I have to do it!


Last year it was an Ironman. I could see myself crossing the finish line. I could hear them calling my name and calling me Ironman. Then my life came tumbling down.It is what it is. But I have come to realize it will still be there and my name will be called.

Now on to the ultramarathons !!! So far I've got lined up a 50k and the 100 miler. And they will be mine come hell or high water. The miles are going up and I'm going out.

More to come.....