Jackson Browne Sang
"Running on - running on empty
Running on - running blind
Running on - running into the sun
But I'm running behind
Everyone I know, everywhere I go
People need some reason to believe
I don't know about anyone but me
If it takes all night, that'll be all right
If I can get you to smile before I leave"
Yesterday, I went to the foot doctor to get some adjustments to my orthotics in preparation for my marathon in 6 weeks (Marine Corps). My index toe on my right foot has a bone that is longer than average and takes the brunt of my weight when I run. We discussed options and my marathon plan (luckily my podiatrist runs marathons) and I shared some of my concerns about physical challenges.
After a few suggestions.
He made my day by saying "my physical challenges were just a small part of the equation, lots of people who are physically better prepared to run a marathon but never will, because mentally will never believe they can run a marathon." He continued with "You believe you can so you will."
My favorite line from Jackson Browne's song Running on Empty is "People need some reason to believe." I gave you a few extra lines above so you can curse me when the song gets stuck in your head, but the line has always really spoke to me. Yesterday, the foot doctor gave me a a reason to believe I could finish this marathon. I suspect I already new it but a little confirmation can go a long way.
As you prepare to run a marathon or set a new goal for yourself keep these words in mind.
Whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe, it can achieve.
W. Clement Stone
Saturday, September 22, 2007
Monday, September 17, 2007
Idea Catcher
You have heard of a dream catcher, how about an Idea Catcher. Over the last few weeks I have been deluged with ideas or "Running Revelations." The farther I run, the more the ideas back up.
When I get back from my runs, I immediately sit down and grab a piece of paper to write down as much as I can remember. I have to admit it's a bit messy. Although, I have considered a digital recorder, for me fun is the anticipation of getting back and writing down the barrage of ideas.
Do yourself a favor, go purchase a nice notebook, you might think any notebook will do but it won't. Consider it an investment in yourself. I know, I just feel better when I have the nicer things in life. I suspect when you feel better you will have more inspired ideas.
This notebook showed up in a gift bag from an event "A Gathering of Greatness" that I attended at Life Success Seminars.
You will notice as you start to write down your ideas, your inspirations will grow. As your inspirations grow, you will grow.
Sunday, September 16, 2007
When are You Inspired?
No run, no ideas, I had a busy week at work and had little time to train.
I noticed this created a lull in my creativity. Although this may sound like a bad thing at least I am aware that running is a great way for me to generate ideas and be inspired.
When do you have your best ideas? What are you doing to take part in that activity more often?
I noticed this created a lull in my creativity. Although this may sound like a bad thing at least I am aware that running is a great way for me to generate ideas and be inspired.
When do you have your best ideas? What are you doing to take part in that activity more often?
Sunday, September 9, 2007
There Is No Place Like Home.
As the saying goes. That includes running. Outside the obvious, when you are home your not running. I like to think that when I am home that means I am all caught up on my running.
Yesterday, when I was out for my 18 mile training run, I was starting to feel a little bogged down and I had an inspiration. I started going through running cadences I used while in the Marine Corps. I shared one of them in a previous post but the point is what do you do when you start to hit the wall.
Do you have a place to go, a home so to speak in your mind where you can ease into a rhythm. You have probably heard about tips for public speaking where you touch your index finger to your thumb. Generally speaking its about distraction.
I encourage you to find a place to go when you are on your long runs. I often recall my Marine Corps Training or a previous marathon training period, these are things that help me push through the pain.
Give it a try and share your ideas.
Yesterday, when I was out for my 18 mile training run, I was starting to feel a little bogged down and I had an inspiration. I started going through running cadences I used while in the Marine Corps. I shared one of them in a previous post but the point is what do you do when you start to hit the wall.
Do you have a place to go, a home so to speak in your mind where you can ease into a rhythm. You have probably heard about tips for public speaking where you touch your index finger to your thumb. Generally speaking its about distraction.
I encourage you to find a place to go when you are on your long runs. I often recall my Marine Corps Training or a previous marathon training period, these are things that help me push through the pain.
Give it a try and share your ideas.
Friday, September 7, 2007
To Legit to Quit, Hammer Time
toothpastefordinner.com
toothpastefordinner.com
I am heading out for my 18 miler tommorow. It gets easier to run when
you get "To LeGit To Quit." Keep Running.
Callaway to The Finish Line,
Tee up your runs with a slice of fun. On your next tempo run take a golf ball or any ball that bounces with you. As you run bounce the ball out in front of you. This is a great way to expand your endurance.
You will notice at times you need to burst to catch up with errant bounces, this is a nice change of pace to an everyday run.
I noticed my run flew by tonight using this technique, the simple act of focusing on the ball distracted me from my mental fatigue.
Try it out and/or share a fun technique below.
Not recommended at intersections or busy roads. May want to consider off road path.
Tuesday, September 4, 2007
Mental Milestones
Tonight I was out with my wife for a leisurely run. I was getting in one of my recovery runs as part of my Marine Corps Marathon training and she was just along for the ride so to speak.
She decided to walk the last 3/4 of a mile but I decided to run ahead and run back to her and repeat. I was having fun doubling back and then decided to sprint the final tenth of a mile to the end of our street. During that sprint I had one of my aha moments.
I realized my marathon training was much more than just pounding out mileage week in and week out, "its a training of the brain." Each run my mind gets stronger. Each run I start to believe.
Oohrah! Marine Corps, I am starting to get excited about crossing the finish line.
She decided to walk the last 3/4 of a mile but I decided to run ahead and run back to her and repeat. I was having fun doubling back and then decided to sprint the final tenth of a mile to the end of our street. During that sprint I had one of my aha moments.
I realized my marathon training was much more than just pounding out mileage week in and week out, "its a training of the brain." Each run my mind gets stronger. Each run I start to believe.
Oohrah! Marine Corps, I am starting to get excited about crossing the finish line.
Monday, September 3, 2007
Labor Days
Seth Godin is one of my favorite authors. He is not a logical choice for a running blog but I have to be honest with you, I am not sure this is really a running blog.
Over the last 3 years I have worked very hard at my career in Audio Visual Sales and have enjoyed it immensely.
When I left my audio visual career in 2001 to start a personal coaching business I was running from myself. I wasn't happy with me. I wasn't living courageously and needed to make some drastic changes. I jumped ship and luckily I learned a thing or two along the way and I made it back to my audio visual ship (asked for my job back).
But back to walking the plank part: for three years I put myself out there testing new ideas and learning about business. What I found out is being a good guy is not enough. However, I did find out being a good guy was still a part of the equation.
After some prompting (pretty much an empty bank account) I started the best journey of my life (fast forward back to the asking for my job part of the story). I decided that whatever I do I was going to give it my all. My number one goal for myself when I returned to my career in audio visual was to give more value than they were paying me. Sounds easy but you might want to check yourself sometime, it took me a few years but the The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
(Malcom Gladwell another great author)came. My audio visual career has taken off.
Now its time for me again. I am very passionate about inspiring people to take chances and live their dreams. I am not sure what has popped in me, I suspect its a few things. Signing up innocently and very scared for the Marine Corps Marathon on Mothers day (after 6 year marathon hiatus) was another tipping point. You see my best ideas come while I am running and it also opens my mind to new concepts.
This led me to the Thirty Day Challenge (which I found through one of Seth's websites Squidoo) one of the exercises in the challenge was to create a blog with great content. I started by researching topics I am currently interested in (marathon training schedules) and led me to create this blog. This blog feels very good to me. A real nice fit for me share some of my inspirations. I hope you followed check out Seth's Post on Labor Day maybe it will make sense.
Over the last 3 years I have worked very hard at my career in Audio Visual Sales and have enjoyed it immensely.
When I left my audio visual career in 2001 to start a personal coaching business I was running from myself. I wasn't happy with me. I wasn't living courageously and needed to make some drastic changes. I jumped ship and luckily I learned a thing or two along the way and I made it back to my audio visual ship (asked for my job back).
But back to walking the plank part: for three years I put myself out there testing new ideas and learning about business. What I found out is being a good guy is not enough. However, I did find out being a good guy was still a part of the equation.
After some prompting (pretty much an empty bank account) I started the best journey of my life (fast forward back to the asking for my job part of the story). I decided that whatever I do I was going to give it my all. My number one goal for myself when I returned to my career in audio visual was to give more value than they were paying me. Sounds easy but you might want to check yourself sometime, it took me a few years but the The Tipping Point: How Little Things Can Make a Big Difference
(Malcom Gladwell another great author)came. My audio visual career has taken off.Now its time for me again. I am very passionate about inspiring people to take chances and live their dreams. I am not sure what has popped in me, I suspect its a few things. Signing up innocently and very scared for the Marine Corps Marathon on Mothers day (after 6 year marathon hiatus) was another tipping point. You see my best ideas come while I am running and it also opens my mind to new concepts.
This led me to the Thirty Day Challenge (which I found through one of Seth's websites Squidoo) one of the exercises in the challenge was to create a blog with great content. I started by researching topics I am currently interested in (marathon training schedules) and led me to create this blog. This blog feels very good to me. A real nice fit for me share some of my inspirations. I hope you followed check out Seth's Post on Labor Day maybe it will make sense.
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Mind Over Matter
Pain in my feet, that's OK I like it there, Pain in my legs, that's OK I like there, Pain in My Back, that's OK I like it there, Pain in my Brain, that's OK, I like it there. Mind Over Matter, If you don't mind it doesn't matter,
One of my favorite cadences from my Marine Corps days was the Mind over Matter ditty.
We all have seen and heard incredible stories of triumph, if you look deeper most of them have nothing to do with physical conditioning. Every result begins with a thought. How have you trained your thoughts when you hit the wall. Next time you feel that pain in your knee try something different, say "that's OK I like it there."
I can't promise it will work for you but its worth a shot.
I went ahead and grabbed a little Marine Corps Cadence for your pleasure but it seems the Mind Over Matter ditty has escaped the internet.
One of my favorite cadences from my Marine Corps days was the Mind over Matter ditty.
We all have seen and heard incredible stories of triumph, if you look deeper most of them have nothing to do with physical conditioning. Every result begins with a thought. How have you trained your thoughts when you hit the wall. Next time you feel that pain in your knee try something different, say "that's OK I like it there."
I can't promise it will work for you but its worth a shot.
I went ahead and grabbed a little Marine Corps Cadence for your pleasure but it seems the Mind Over Matter ditty has escaped the internet.
Saturday, September 1, 2007
Jack It Up
This is where the worlds collide. This idea is something you can use for running or for life.
Often times I start out on my runs feeling uninspired but once that runners high kicks in I find myself inspired to do a little bit more.
Today, I met the beast. A huge hill just off of my planned route. I decided to venture of the proverbial beaten path and try something new. The cool thing is its been years since I have run this hill appropriately located on Alpine Terrace and it Jacked me up. That's a good thing for the most part. My thighs burned, my lungs rebelled and I actually think my feet stopped moving but my spirit soared.
I started my run this morning fearing I would not be able to finish. I finished my run feeling like a champ.
So How can you use this in other areas of your life. Learn from my training run.
1. Have a goal for yourself. My goal for the day was to run 15 miles. Your goal may be to take a dance lesson or research a new career.
2. Give yourself a break its O.K. to feel lethargic. Often times the thoughts of doing something new are actually worse than the experience of doing something new.
3. Do the least you can do. You read it right. Put your shoes on and go outside or pay for your first dance lesson or buy a book about a new career. I find once I am outside with my running shoes on I would feel stupid not to run. Its the law of momentum/inertia. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. The first action often leads to a next action.
4. Jack It Up - Take it to the next level. Enter a dance competition, invite your friends over for a dance recital or call a career coach.
Motivation is fleeting, inspiration is lasting.
-Brian Monahan
Oh by the way here is a link to Alpine. If you are in the Cincinnati Area your owe it to yourself to run the Alpine.
Often times I start out on my runs feeling uninspired but once that runners high kicks in I find myself inspired to do a little bit more.
Today, I met the beast. A huge hill just off of my planned route. I decided to venture of the proverbial beaten path and try something new. The cool thing is its been years since I have run this hill appropriately located on Alpine Terrace and it Jacked me up. That's a good thing for the most part. My thighs burned, my lungs rebelled and I actually think my feet stopped moving but my spirit soared.
I started my run this morning fearing I would not be able to finish. I finished my run feeling like a champ.
So How can you use this in other areas of your life. Learn from my training run.
1. Have a goal for yourself. My goal for the day was to run 15 miles. Your goal may be to take a dance lesson or research a new career.
2. Give yourself a break its O.K. to feel lethargic. Often times the thoughts of doing something new are actually worse than the experience of doing something new.
3. Do the least you can do. You read it right. Put your shoes on and go outside or pay for your first dance lesson or buy a book about a new career. I find once I am outside with my running shoes on I would feel stupid not to run. Its the law of momentum/inertia. An object at rest tends to stay at rest. An object in motion tends to stay in motion. The first action often leads to a next action.
4. Jack It Up - Take it to the next level. Enter a dance competition, invite your friends over for a dance recital or call a career coach.
Motivation is fleeting, inspiration is lasting.
-Brian Monahan
Oh by the way here is a link to Alpine. If you are in the Cincinnati Area your owe it to yourself to run the Alpine.
The Longest Mile.
I am getting ready to head out for a 15 Miler. My longest run in nearly 7 years. I guess I better go before I change my mind.
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