Monthly Archives: June 2009

“In the 30 years I’ve been a runner I’ve run more than 150,000 miles.  Still some of the hardest steps I take are those first few getting out the door for daily runs.”

Bill Rodgers

We are half way through the year now.  How are you doing with your goals?  I love the start of a new month, or quarter as it allows you to get a fresh start.  As we are halfway through the year this is a great time to assess where you are at physically.  Whether you made or did not make goals in January this is a good time to do so.  You still have 6 long months to make it happen in 2009.

Not sure where to start?  Start slow and start with something you can do.  If you are looking to get started just make a goal to get outside 20-30 minutes 3-4 days a week to start with.  Don’t even worry about running, just get outside and enjoy yourself.  Walk, run or play.  It does not matter, just move.  Give yourself a goal to just get started and take it slow.

Good luck to those running the Seattle Rock-n-Roll marathon this weekend!

Training is going well so far this week.  Just over a week left for the Peachtree and there will be the final speedwork left this week.  I caught a break on Monday with the weather.  I ran in the rain but I also ran with the temp in the 70′s.  I will trade rain for 20 degrees any day.  I did a 60 minute tempo run on Monday with about 35 minutes close to race pace.  I have 400 meter intervals on Wednesday.

It is getting close and I am getting pretty excited and ready to get it going.  As with the Susan Komen 5K, I have no idea what to expect.

Those who live for themselves will rarely be satisfied.  Those who live for others will rarely be let down.  Something to consider on your time alone or run today.

I must admit that there were days I would go out for a run and try to remind myself why I am doing this.  For me there has to be something more than T-shirts and medals.  That is really the whole point behind the blog.  I don’t want this passion of mine to be “all about me”.  There has to be more.  You will hear me talk more about two organizations this year that I deeply support and would love to have help with.   

I heard just this past week that 1 in 3 people are touched by cancer in some way.  It is a disease that we all fight together.  As I train for the Goofy Challenge (39.3 miles over two days, Disney half marathon on Saturday and full marathon on Sunday) this January I do so with a purpose in mind with 50 other committed runners as a part of Team AllEars with the goal of helping to raise money to fight this disease.  Thanks to Mike Scopa, Michelle Scribner-Maclean for putting this team together as we hope to raise money for Deb Wills and The Avon Foundation.

The Avon Foundation is distinguished from most other donors that fund a single institution or scientific investigator by supporting a virtual national network or research, medical, social service and community-based organizations, each of which is making a unique contribution to helping patients or advancing breast cancer research.  The Avon fondation awards funding in breast cancer screening, diagnosis, treatment, support services and scientific research, including prevention and therapeutic vaccine studies.

Please help me raise money to fight this disease.  You can learn more about our team at http://allears.net/pluto/teamallears.htm

Anything you can contribute would be fantastic and I would also like you to contact me directly so that each of the 39.3 miles I run in January during the Goofy Challenge are run with a purpose (tbrush3@yahoo.com).  With each $25 donation I will be letting you name one mile after you or someone you would like for me to run in honor of.  I want to make sure each mile is represented and I want to make sure I know who I am running for each mile.  You can sponsor and name as many miles as you would like.

You can contribute online by visiting http://www.avonwalk.org/goto/debwills2010 Please be sure to put AllEars Trey Brush after your donation.  You can also send checks made out to Avon Walk for Breast Cancer C/O Deb Wills, 3520 Sugarloaf Parkway, Suite F03-105, Fredrick MD 21704.  Please be sure to write Team AllEars Trey Brush on the check in the notes.  Thank you so much for your support.

Many non-runners are always surprised to hear that running is not a solo sport.  My wife somehow has the patience to put up with my running with support and encouragement.  My boys also love to see the t-shirts the medals and especially the lost toe nails!  In 2007 my dad drove me to my first marathon.  Since then he has driven me to countless marathons and even to my first ultra-marathon in who-knows-where Mississippi!  He has been more than a supporter, he has been a part of a support team that what allows me to do what I love to do.  Also along the way I somehow convinced him this was fun to do!  He is preparing for his third Disney Half Marathon and we have even talked my mom into her first this January.

He has saved me from many painful drives back from marathons.  He has encouraged me from the sidelines, he remained silent when I spoke of quitting knowing that I would not.  Happy Father’s Day.  And thanks for the rides!

The dictionary says, to inspire with courage, spirit or hope.  Reading that gives me a different idea of what encouragement really means.  I do love to encourage others and see others accomplish the things they thought were difficult or even impossible.  When I have been encouraged I feel like they have provided me with the courage I did not possess at that moment.  When I did not have the courage they allowed me to borrow their courage at that moment.

I hope to encourage others daily and I hope that when my courage is running low others will continue to encourage me.  I have 8 miles this weekend, good luck with your runs this weekend also and good luck with the heat! 

Find someone to encourage this weekend.

I tend to be pretty competetive so when a challenge is laid out in front of me I usually ignore the problems that go along with it and go all out.  I started to do that this week as someone laid out a 20 day challenge of running the most miles with a group of runners and I begin to find a way to make it happen with my training plan. 

Well thankfully I put some thought into and came to my senses.  My main focus right now is a PR in the Peachtree.  Putting that many miles on my legs in the next three weeks is not wise to meeting that goal.  I am still a little surprised I have continued to let this challenge go but when you have a choice of battles you have to pick which ones means the most.  It is just a nice reminder to pick your battles as you can’t fight them all.

“You will only become what you are becoming right now”.  From, “Developing the Leader Within You” by Dr. John C. Maxwell.

I was told once that, what you eat and what you do will show up in the next ten years.  Two ways to look at.  1- You might be eating great and training hard and feel like the improvements are just not coming.  The evidence will show but it takes time.  Look back at where you were a year ago.  2- You might decide to eat whatever you want and slack on the training.  You might be able to get away with it on the short term and it will feel like you can.  But the results will show up eventually.

Something to think about.  Happy running!

So I have not been “feeling” like my training is as good as it was last year.  I am not sure why but I just have had the “feeling” like last year was a little better.  That is why it is so important to keep a running log somewhere.  I decided this past weekend to look at this time last June.  My runs seem to be much better this year than last.  Especially my speedwork.  I am averaging about 10 seconds faster per 400 meters.  It certainly gave me a little more confidence going into the Peachtree knowing that it is better than I thought.  Don’t always rely only on your ”feelings”.

My runs went really well this past weekend.  I did a long run of over 10 miles and finished at race pace for the final 2.5 miles.  I felt strong and the heat did not zap me too much.  On Sunday it was very tough.  The local track was locked so I had to do my speedwork on the trail.  400 meter intervals with hills is not ideal but it did go really well.  The heat and humidity was also very high.  That being said I don’t mind training in it so it prepares me better for the race.

The one advantage of running the trail yesterday is getting in some hill work with speedwork.  Always a plus if your workout goes well.

12381

My number is here.  We are less than three weeks away.  It is always exciting when your number arrives.  Me and 55,000 of my closest friends!

Well about 10 days ago I felt refreshed and healed and decided to hit it hard.  I probably hit it too hard.  Imagine that!  I am not injured but just felt dead legs and a little tired this week for my runs.  I put myself back on a normal schedule this week and I am already feeling a little better.  I have a 10 miler this weekend so I hope to feel fresh for this one.

Stadiums are for spectators.  We runners have nature and that is much better.

- Juha Väätäine

For those who have run a marathon you can certainly appreciate this, enjoy!

My training is going really well.  After my 10 days off I have been hitting it pretty hard and doing a good bit of speedwork.  My legs felt really tired yesterday and taking the day off today.  I still feel pretty healthy so that is encouraging.  The Peachtree is just over four week away and I am getting pretty excited.  I have said before and still think it certainly is one of my favorite races.  Having said that though I am really looking forward to marathon training.  I am feeling healthy and there is nothing quite like the long process of marathon training with the fantastic reward at the end of knowing you finished.  I will start some base training and July and hit it hard in September.

I love this story and always think about it when I think of discipline.  You have to put in the work on the front end and it will come.  The hard part is getting started and keeping up with it.  It will get a little easier but it will always take persistence.  It gets easier but you can’t stop pumping.  If you quit pumping you have to start all over.  This reminds me of getting up everyday dedicated to your workout.  Once you quit it gets harder as you have to start all over again.  Just keep pumping.  You may not develop the discipline overnight but it will come.  You will not see results overnight but they will come.

I hope you have a chance to appreciate this from 65 years ago.  I am thankful for all who fought and gave up their lives in Normandy on D-Day and those who still protect us today.  

After 10 days of rest it did not take long to get my legs nice and tired again.  Two days of tempo running this week can take care of that.  It is a good tired though as I was hoping for a good hard week or training to get back into it.

I did seven on Thursday and the legs were very tight but once they got warmed up I felt like normal.  It is just one of those you have to run through sometimes.