RunOnPurpose

Thought for today 1/27

tbrush3 — Fri, 27 Jan 2012 13:17:20 +0000

“It’s not hard to make decisions when you know what your values are.” Roy Disney

It is interesting for me to think about that above. As a new runner or a veteran runner we each know how to make decisions. We established our values and what is important to us. The start line and finish line mean something different to us and many times is how we can measure our training. That is why we debate less than others about using discipline to get out the door and get in the miles.

Happy running….

The only way I know how

tbrush3 — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 15:48:12 +0000

A lesson I have learned in the past few weeks reminded me of an old Sammy Davis Jr. song, “I’ve gotta be me”. One thing I am certain of, is that we are each gifted in a unique way and designed amazingly different. I can’t do what you do best and only I can do what I do best.

When you are a little banged up you have a tendency to read a lot and try to fix yourself. When you do too much of this you can get confused. My recovery has had to be done my way and it seems to be working. I actually got in back to back runs this week and feel solid.

I had to quit reading so much and listening to others and do what works for me and my recovery. The rest has done me well, and I will continue to ease into it. I will be ready for Tybee next weekend.

I also had a chance to take an introspective look into others areas of my life recently and just remind myself of what I do well and make sure I am doing it my way. I think it is easy sometimes to lose your way. When you are always searching for the best way, there can come a time that you can get away from what you do best and your natural gifts. It is always good to remind yourself that you need to weigh those ideas with the scale of your natural gifts.

I have heard it said, push yourself out of your comfort zone but not out of your gift zone.

If I fail and fall on face and don’t do it my way, I will be full of regret. However, if I fail doing it my way those are results I can live with. Just a random thought from the sidelines the past week or so! But I am running again!

You gotta be you baby!

Enjoy below from Sammy and Happy Running….

I’ve gotta be me

Whether I’m right or whether I’m wrong
Whether I find a place in this world or never belong
I gotta be me, I’ve gotta be me
What else can I be but what I am

I want to live, not merely survive
And I won’t give up this dream
Of life that keeps me alive
I gotta be me, I gotta be me
The dream that I see makes me what I am

That far-away prize, a world of success
Is waiting for me if I heed the call
I won’t settle down, won’t settle for less
As long as there’s a chance that I can have it all

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else
If I’m not right for me
I gotta be free, I’ve gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I’ve gotta be me

I’ll go it alone, that’s how it must be
I can’t be right for somebody else
If I’m not right for me
I gotta be free, I just gotta be free
Daring to try, to do it or die
I gotta be me

Ownership

tbrush3 — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 12:28:27 +0000

One of the things I talk with my oldest son about is the remote control idea to discipline. As any older brother he gets his fair share of being tested by his younger brother. We often talk about who has control of his emotions. Does he give the remote control of his emotions to his brother or does he take charge.

I know it bothers him but the concept is also liberating to know that he controls his destiny, not somebody else. Each time I seem him battle with this I try to think about the same battle for me.

Who has my remote control?

Does the weather when it gets cold and does it keep me from running or getting to the gym?

Do I give my remote control over to food and temptation?

Do I turn the remote over to leaders in my life and wait for them to lead, or do I take control and be the influencer in our relationship?

The question boils down to, who is in control? Well, I love control! I love independence. With control comes freedom but also restriction. As I take control I can no longer blame others.

We are now in week #4 of 2012 and I try to remind myself who has my remote. Who has my remote control over my 2012 goals?

Does the weather, a warm bed, competitors, excuses, food or any other outside factors? Or have I taken over the remote? It is a constant battle for me, and my son! I have to tell him I can relate!

Happy running….

Thought for today 1/23

tbrush3 — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 19:59:15 +0000

“How far you go in life depends on your being tender with the young, compassionate with the aged, sympathetic with the striving and tolerant of the weak and strong. Because someday in life you will have been all of these.” George Washington Carver

Changing it up

tbrush3 — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 14:46:57 +0000

This is the first time in many years that I have been in January and I don’t have a real goal race on the horizon that I am preparing for. I do have the Tybee races in two weeks, but after that I really have nothing until this summer. I will be running the Georgia Marathon but the goal is just to finish and enjoy the run.

My foot has dictated some of this but I will say the rest of my body of taken advantage of it. This is the first real down time I have taken in quite some time. The thing I am happy with, is that it has allowed me to do some things differently. For instance if you take away weight training my cross training the first 5 months of last year was 30 minutes! 30 minutes total! Seriously. I could not believe it once I looked back at it. I was just running, nothing else.

So far this month alone I have just over 8 hours of cross training! That is called changing it up. I really feel like it is making a difference. I am trying to keep mixing up what I am doing to keep it fresh.

This was one of my goals for 2012. Some of my training has plateaued and not improved by a lot in the past year. I have proved I can run a lot of miles during the year but what kind of miles are they? What I wanted to do this year is to become a better athlete to help make myself a faster runner. Sometimes less is more.

My training since 2007 really has not changed much. I have used different plans but my yearly mileage and how I run those miles has not changed. This year will be different.

This is just one area where I am trying to change things up a bit in my life. If I truly want something different I have to make different decisions and take different actions. Have a great weekend!

Happy running….

Which are you? By Ella Wheeler Wilcox

tbrush3 — Fri, 20 Jan 2012 13:21:50 +0000

There are two kinds of people on earth to-day;
Just two kinds of people, no more, I say.

Not the sinner and saint, for it’s well understood,
The good are half bad, and the bad are half good.

Not the rich and the poor, for to rate a man’s wealth,
You must first know the state of his conscience and health.

Not the humble and proud, for in life’s little span,
Who puts on vain airs, is not counted a man.

Not the happy and sad, for the swift flying years
Bring each man his laughter and each man his tears.

No; the two kinds of people on earth I mean,
Are the people who lift, and the people who lean.

Wherever you go, you will find the earth’s masses,
Are always divided in just these two classes.

And oddly enough, you will find too, I ween,
There’s only one lifter to twenty who lean.

In which class are you? Are you easing the load,
Of overtaxed lifters, who toil down the road?

Or are you a leaner, who lets others share
Your portion of labor, and worry and care?

It’s a community thing, a family thing, or anything

tbrush3 — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 17:36:52 +0000

As I have been planning my races in 2012 races and even looking at 2013 there is one thing that has been fun to think about. Who else is out there with us? I think that is the one thing that has changed over the years and has changed for the good. Most of my races I have coming up are races that I am excited about have to do with the who and not the what.

Running is one of those unique experiences that brings people together. How many things do we do in everyday life that cause separation and not uniting. I know with the growth of the relay races it has done a lot to create a community of runners. I still look at those 11 runners with a brotherhood reflection unlike other experiences because of what we went through. Hills, hill and more hills!

The Disney race experience for us has turned into a family thing with more family being converted for the 2013 race. As you toe the line at your next race, whether this weekend or one coming up I would just encourage you to look around. We are all individuals who have given hours of dedication and miles of training to become something better.

Speaking of something better, I am trying to get my foot to become something better. I have put myself on the shelf for a bit to make sure I am 100% for this year. I have still been fighting a bit of foot pain. It is not debilitating but annoying and I have no desire to make it worse. Each time it begins to feel better I go out and do a hard training effort and irritate it. I have nothing huge coming up I am all that concerned about so I am just trying to take it easy for the next couple of weeks heading into the Tybee races. This is me trying to practice patience…yes, still!

Happy running….

The start line of your year

tbrush3 — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 12:01:59 +0000

Looking at your new goals for 2012 can be a daunting task this early in the year. Many of us have made our goals and have begun to set off to achieve them. A word that comes to mind for me in running and goal setting is Perseverance.

I read this in a John Maxwell book the other day and thought it was perfect for me in trying to wrap my head around going after my 2012 goals, “Perseverance means succeeding because you are determined to, not destined to.”

I have a few little things that seem to help me throughout the year and encourage me to press on to reach me goals. I thought I might share those today just in case it helps.

1- I have to measure my progress. I think it is vital to establish reality, track reality and know where you finish. You have to be able to track your positive momentum.

2- Celebrate the small stuff. It can be very tough in the midst of a big goal to get discouraged when it seems to far away. I love to create little celebrations along the way. If your goal is to lose 20 pounds find a way to celebrate each 5 pounds you lose.

3- Don’t do it alone. You can be so much more effective with accountability. I was able to reach my end of the year weight loss goal and a big reason for that was doing with others. There is nothing quite like positive peer pressure of hopping on those scales with them each Monday morning.

4- Keep the end in mind. Remember your why. Keep in mind what a changed you will look like at the end.

I hope your 2012 is off to an amazing start.

Happy running….

Am I losing my edge?

tbrush3 — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 18:40:57 +0000

So I have to wonder. Am I losing my edge or getting smarter? A couple of years ago I never ran on a treadmill. When I say never, I mean never.

The past few weeks here in the ATL the temps have been dropping. A lot! It has gone from Chilly to cold. (For those of you who live in colder places I do apologize for calling my weather cold.) I have noticed a trend, of me heading to the gym and hopping on the treadmill. In fact the first number on the thermometer has been the gauge. If it has been 40 or above I have been outside. 30′s or colder and I am hitting the gym.

Don’t get me wrong, I still don’t love the treadmill but we are starting to warm up to each other on the colder days. Mr. Treadmill has gone from the evil empire to a respected friend.

So, I have lost my edge. Frankly, I don’t care! And if I have, at least I am warm!

This can be a tough time of the year for training. I know for a fact January has always been my lightest month of the year for running. Most of the time I am recovering from a Disney Marathon. This year is the highest volume January I have probably had. I am also trying to manage myself early in the year. I have a long year ahead of me and I have had a few aches and pains come up. I don’t want any lingering injuries this year so I am trying to watch my intensity this month. I don’t want to lose my year in January and February.

For those of you that are killing the runs outside early in the morning, I respect you greatly. For those like me recently, enjoy the warm temps inside! I trust your training is going well either way.

Happy running….

Give it all…All the time

tbrush3 — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 15:43:10 +0000

This past fall I was driving my oldest son to his last baseball game of the season and we had a little talk about leaving it all out on the field. Giving everything you have. I told him you just never know which game will be your last, so give everything you have and play every game like it could be your last.

In the last few months I have been able to use that in many areas of my life. I often think about that when running a race. It is not just my competitive nature but I truly never know what race could be my last. It might sound a little bit depressing to talk about, but to me it is not. I want to take pride in every effort.

There is no better example of this happening than this past Thanksgiving day with the Atlanta Half Marathon. I put forth everything I had in this race. I ended up setting a PR by about 4 minutes and running it faster than I could have dreamed. I had no idea what that race would really mean.

I have wanted to run the NYC Marathon since I started running marathons but it just has never worked out. My effort on Thanksgiving day paid off and I will be in New York next November. I cannot tell you how excited I am to finally get a chance to run the NYC Marathon.

This changed things for certain for 2012. Many of my goals were based on running Leadville this summer. I just don’t feel like I can run the race I want this November in NYC and run Leadville also. So Leadville will have to wait for a year. My goal race for this year will be the NYC Marathon.

Sometimes you talk about lessons to others and know it is reality but you don’t always see the examples play out in front of you. This is one lesson that is nice to have a good example of.

You never know what your effort on any given day might mean to you or to others.

Every day, every relationship, every effort, every race…Give it all…All the time

Happy running….

Quote for today 1/11

tbrush3 — Wed, 11 Jan 2012 14:12:41 +0000

“Running is just you, the work you put in, and the clock. You can’t cheat yourself. If you don’t put in the miles, you can’t go to the starting line thinking you’re going to pull a miracle out of nowhere. You get out exactly as much as you put in.” –Desiree Davila

Quote for today 1/7

tbrush3 — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:44:45 +0000

“To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain – not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it.” Dr. George Sheehan

What is in a goal?

tbrush3 — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 12:27:12 +0000

Goal setting, new years resolutions, turning a new leaf. How many times have you read, seen or heard these talked about in the past week?

Until a few years ago I did no such thing. I hear most people who don’t do any type of goal setting or those who are not successful all focus on the wrong thing. For years, I did the same. I know it sounds strange, but it is really not about the goal. Say what?

I know, I know. It sounds crazy but it really is not about the goal. I have heard for years John Maxwell and others talk about the journey and not the destination. If one of my goals is to qualify for Boston, think about the things I have to do in order to qualify. I had to lose a little weight. I have to hit the gym more and strength train on a regular basis. I have to do more race pace training. If I reflect back once I am ready to make my attempt and I did the things I had to do in order to put forth the BQ effort, how much better of a runner will I be? Holy smoke!

That is really it for me. I want to set some very lofty goals and expectations because, I am not presently the person I need to be to hit the goals. In order to hit my goals I need to become something and grow into something that I am not currently. That is the reality of setting the goal. I need to become the type of husband, dad, friend, runner and co-worker that will be able to make a run at my goals. It will require me to stretch myself in ways I have not before.

Will I be disappointed if I don’t qualify for Boston? You bet. However, if I do the things I need to do that will help me qualify I will be thrilled with what the journey has done for me.

I am looking forward to the journey in 2012.

Happy running….

The missing race

tbrush3 — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 15:29:10 +0000

January 2006. The was the last time that I did not run a Disney race in Marathon weekend in Disney World. It feels like something is missing this week! I wish best of luck to all my Team AllEars runners and all runners who are racing this weekend. The weather looks to be much better than we had two years away with sleet and freezing temps.

The next race I had on the books was going to be the Tybee Island Races in February. I have always enjoyed the Tybee races and this year they have something new. A 5K Friday night to begin with. On Saturday a 10K at 7am, a half marathon at 830am, a 2.8 mile beach race at 12noon and finish the day with a 1 mile race right after that. It is 26.2 miles in 2 days. It was something different and I just could not resist.

I felt like something was missing in January though. After I decided not to run Disney I certainly have had some regret but I just could not pull it off this year. That being said it left me with a hole in January and I really wanted to run a race. So, kind of last-minute and it is not a Disney race but I did decide on a local 5K this weekend. It gives me a chance to get some speed work in and run a race at the same time.

Who knows, but maybe Disney again in 2013. Wow that sounds a long time away!

Happy running….

The new year

tbrush3 — Sat, 31 Dec 2011 15:03:52 +0000

I hope you are ready for 2012. For some 2011 was a great year and for others, not so much. I trust you have taken some time to prepare for 2012. I read this quote below and thought it was an interesting thought.

“The greatest way to live with honor in this world is to be what we pretend to be.” Socrates

Never be afraid to write your goals in pencil is one thought I have for 2012. In the past I have been so stuck with what I think the year should be but I have learned to be flexible because those goals were made in December or January. It is like an in race adjustment. Sometimes during a marathon you have to adjust your goals. I think it is the same for a new year. Make your goals but remember, each month you might have to make adjustments. Sometimes for the better and sometimes for the worse but don’t be afraid to make the changes.

I wish you a Happy New Year!

Happy running….

Quote for today 12/29

tbrush3 — Thu, 29 Dec 2011 13:15:41 +0000

“A difficult time can be more readily endured if we retain the conviction that our existence holds a purpose—a cause to pursue, a person to love, a goal to achieve.” John C. Maxwell

No wasted days

tbrush3 — Wed, 28 Dec 2011 12:52:46 +0000

4 days left in 2011. I hope 2011 was a great year for you. A simple question to ponder. Have you taken time to spend with yourself this month? One of the best things about doing a year in review is the quiet time to get away and take an honest assessment of what your year really looked like.

I hope you have had a chance to get away and determine what your 2012 plan will be. There is still time. It is easy to just look past the final few days of the year but let me just encourage you to use the final four days of this year to spend time with yourself and plan for 2012.

Happy running….

Quote for today 12/27

tbrush3 — Tue, 27 Dec 2011 12:50:43 +0000

“Treat a man as he appears to be and you make him worse. But treat a man as if he already were what he potentially could be, and you make him what he should be.” Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

Quote for today 12/26

tbrush3 — Mon, 26 Dec 2011 12:47:11 +0000

As we continue to plan for 2012 I thought this was fitting.

“You must have a long-range vision to keep you from being frustrated by short-range failures.” Charles Noble

Happy planning, and Happy running….

Merry Christmas

tbrush3 — Sun, 25 Dec 2011 12:46:37 +0000

I hope you each have the most amazing Christmas day this year. Enjoy time with friends and family and reflect on the magic of the season.

Merry Christmas

Happy running….