Let it go...

Goodbye 2011!  Let It Go!

Good morning and Happy New Year's Eve!  This is one of my favorite days of the year as I, and you too, get to wrap up one year and start new again.  I've thought a great deal about this final blog post for 2011 and had a draft written yesterday.  Yet, the draft did not convey a message I really wanted to carry forward into 2012.  Today on my last run of the year, a 4.25 mile run in downtown Indianapolis, it finally hit me that I should write about what running teaches me daily:  “let it go.”
You see, when you run you have good days and bad days and if you hold onto the bad days then you end up not being able to reach your full potential.  Likewise, if you celebrate your successes too much then you become complacent and once again become unable to reach your full potential.  The real key in running is to take stock of the good and the bad, learn from both, and then let it go and move forward.  As I think about 2011 and what will be important for 2012 the phrase "let it go" seems most appropriate.

Overall, 2011 was a fantastic year.  I ran 1775 miles and have now run 10,013 miles since January 1, 2006 and I've run 23,852 miles since 1994.  I'm so blessed to be able to run.  I ran a 35:55 10K, which was my fastest since 2007.  At home, Sarah and I had a wonderful year, maybe the best we've had in Indianapolis.  We get along so well, enjoy each other’s company, and really support each other in pursuit of our goals.  Of course, we love our little Myles and he's such a wonderful part of our life.  And...the Hoosiers are looking great once again and after three years of rebuilding by Coach Crean, this team looks poised for a NCAA appearance in March.  At work, the 50 or so staff members I'm responsible for leading are doing a great job, and my co-workers in HRL bonded together and kept the ship moving forward through transitional waters.  It was a great year.
Yet, not everything went well.  While training for the marathon in November, three dogs chased me and I pulled my calf trying to get away and ended up not being able to run the Monumental Marathon.  Indiana had a rough Big 10 season last spring.  And...those transitional waters at work had some rather large icebergs that hit our ship a few times.  There have been points recently where it's been easier to focus on the not so great parts of 2011 rather than the 90% good parts of 2011.  I've been struggling with hanging on to some of those negative things and it clouded my ability to set goals for 2012.  On my run this morning, though, it became very clear that the first goal of 2012 has to be to "let go" of 2011.  In order to set some running goals, some personal goals, and to reach my full potential, I first have to learn from 2011 and then let it go.  It's amazingly simple and so fitting that the answer to my dilemma of what goals to set for 2012 emerged while running.  It's a bit embarrassing too, though, since the title of my blog is "What I Learned While Running."  For me, the answers always come on my daily runs and for that I'm so thankful.

My hope for you is that you have a wonderful last day of the year.  Let go of 2011 so that you can reach your full potential in 2012.  If you like sports, then root like heck for the Hoosiers today as they battle Ohio State.  To all the UK and UL fans, good luck today and be good to each other.  To everyone else, Happy New Year and happy running to you...

It's INDIANA...

Good morning!  Hope that you are doing well.  Just finished up a nice 4 mile run.  As the title of this blog post might indicate, it's going to be about my Hoosiers. 

Yesterday was an unbelievable day for my Indiana Hoosiers and it was a day we've all been waiting for since Tom Crean took over as our basketball coach in March of 2008 in the wake of the disastrous Kelvin Sampson scandal.  Plain and simple, Indiana was not going to lose that game yesterday.  The fans in Assembly Hall, the players, and the coaches weren't going to let it happen.  You could feel the energy in this state building all week and the atmosphere in Assembly Hall was like nothing I've ever encountered.  It was crazy.  It was nuts.  It was pure pandemonium.  And...it was like that an hour before the tip off and folks did not leave for 30 minutes after the game.  The Indiana Basketball Team and fans have been waiting for a game like this for many, many years.  I know that for those outside of the state of Indiana that we've been down, off the radar, and no one gave us a shot to beat Kentucky, a team with 6 McDonalds All-Americans and 7 future NBA players.  But...we've all watched this Indiana team play and this year it's a different team.  It's a team with all the necessary parts to win.  It's a team that plays with heart.  It's a team that plays to best represent the name across the front of the jersey:  INDIANA.  These players and our Coach, Tom Crean, understand what Indiana Basketball means to this state and to our fans.  They get it.  And that, more than anything, was why they weren't going to lose yesterday.  Not after working so hard to get back to where we could compete against a team like Kentucky.  Not after three consecutive losing seasons.  They weren't going to lose.  In the closing moments of the game when it looked bleak, I yelled to the fans around me, "get up, we're not going to lose this game, we're not going to lose this game, we're going to WIN!" 

After the game on the court

It was surreal as Christian Watford's shot swished through the net and the fans stormed the court.  It was a moment filled with disbelief, exuberance, elation, and shock.  It was a cathartic moment for all of us fans.  We've not seen anything like this since beating Duke in the Sweet 16 in 2002.  We've had little to cheer about in nearly a decade.  This game has been circled on my calendar since the date was released in August.  I knew we could be 8-0 heading into it, I knew UK would be 8-0 and #1, and I knew we would have a shot to win.  And...I'll be honest.  If this game was played in Rupp, then UK probably wins by 10 or more.  And...once Cal gets those talented players to play together, then they'll stomp nearly everyone.  But...yesterday we won and we took down a team that most thought would win by double digits.  It was special.  It was fun.  It was amazing. 

I don't think we'll go undefeated this season and we will have a couple bad losses I'm sure.  However, if yesterday is any indication, then this team is well on it's way to being back in the national spotlight once again.  Coach Tom Crean has recruited a bunch of young men who want to play for Indiana and they've all embraced our tradition.  We have a top 5 recruiting class coming in next year to join this team and we should be outstanding for years to come.  But...I'll never forget our seniors--Verdell Jones, Tom Pritchard, Matt Roth, Daniel Moore, Kory Barnett--who laid the foundation for this moment.  We've been 28-66 over a three year span and our seniors have gutted it out, kept working hard, and never quit.  Yesterday happened because of their hard work, their commitment, and their leadership.  It was a wonderful day and not one I'll soon forget.

Indiana vs. Kentucky: One Passionate IU Fan

Good Morning!  Hope that you are having a wonderful Saturday.  For me, this is one of the best days of the year as it's Indiana vs. Kentucky in College Basketball.  Usually, I write about running or about leadership.  Today, I am going to indulge myself in some commentary about the game and what it means to me.

I grew up in Kentucky loving IU Basketball.  I was the crazy one in town that would fly the IU flags and drive around Owensboro honking my horn in my friends driveway after a big win. I'd wear IU clothes nearly every day of the week to school and the stories about me and my behavior while watching games is nothing short of legendary.  I've blocked out Christmas Trees, ran 3 miles at halftime of one game just to try and change the energy of the game, locked myself in a room during the 1992 Final Four, thrown a chair (wonder where I got that idea), dressed in crazy clothes (still do that), and once issued a one game suspension to myself for "possibly losing my cool" during a game (okay, my wife had to suspend me).  In the words of Chuck Rhodes (A legend in Student Affairs who knew me at Sonoma State), "Josh, you become a different person during an Indiana Basketball game--you ain't right."  That...probably sums it up best.

IU Flag Flying Proudly

I am about as passionate and as intense of an IU fan as you'll find.  I love the Hoosiers.  I love that the basketball coach of Indiana never has to leave the state to recruit--if he does not want to--because the state is loaded with talent.  I love the fact that when I went to IU I not only saw the players in classes I took, but I also saw them graduating with me.  I love the fact that IU fired Kelvin Sampson when he made those illegal phone calls, gutted the program, and punished ourselves for doing the wrong thing.  After all, it was an IU graduate assistant who turned in Kelvin Sampson.  It didn't take the NCAA snooping around.  We're INDIANA and when we make a mistake we have to own up to it--even if it means paying a hefty price.  That's what I love about Indiana.  It's more than just about winning at all costs--and I'm not knocking other schools with that comment.  At Indiana, though, the alums and fans expect the team to win, have the players graduate, and recruit guys that represent you well both on and off the court.  Of course, every now and then IU does have a player leave early for the NBA (Eric Gordon comes to mind), but this team is built with a bunch of college students who happen to be good at basketball.  I love this team.

To me, the biggest game of the year for Indiana is the Kentucky game because I grew up right there on the border where the banter between the fans is fierce and unforgiving.  I know that Indiana has lost 17 of the last 21 times to UK and I've been to this games 10 times and seen IU win only once.  Yet, even though we've come up on the short end--sometimes in an embarrassing way--I would never want IU to drop the game.  I'd rather play UK and have a shot to win but come up short, then play a team no one cares about beating.  I care about beating UK.  It will be awesome if we win and crushing if we lose.  I cannot say I feel the same way about playing any other team with the exception of Illinois and Purdue. Winning today will be a tall task for our team, but after three years of rebuilding from the ground up, we finally have a realistic shot.  Assembly Hall is going to be "electric" tonight!

To my friends and family who love UK--and there are quite a few:  I wish you good luck today, a great game, and happy fan exchanges. 

To my IU Peeps:  Let's Go Hoosiers!  Cheer loud and rep IU well!  Go IU! 

To Sarah, my wife:  Thanks for making sure I had tickets and for agreeing to chaperone me so that I behave!  You are amazing and I love you!

Let's go IU!

Run Every Mile: The Character of a Runner

Good morning.  Hope that you are doing well.  I'm so excited for today.  Our Georgia Bulldogs play in the SEC Championship game against a very good LSU team.  I'm hoping for a victory.  Go Georgia!

I had the best run I've had since my injury in October.  My left calf is finally feeling close to 100%.  That makes me very happy.  Every day that my leg heals it makes me more convinced that I made the correct decision in not running the marathon in November.  It was a great 5.25 mile run.

I've been thinking a lot lately about the standards I expect from myself and from others and I think it has a lot to do with being a runner.  The gift that running provides is immeasurable.  Running is demanding and it expects honesty and integrity in order to reward me.  And...Let's be honest for a second.  I'm not an elite runner.  I'll never run in the Olympics.  No one will care if I report that I ran five miles today but really ran three.  Reality is that I'm not that important and no one in the running community will care or probably even know.  But...I'll care and running will care.  And...that's what matters.  For me, running is not so much about being the fastest, running the farthest, or being the best, but rather it's about getting the best from myself by crossing every "I" and dotting every "T" and doing it the honorable, honest way.  In this life, I choose to see others as trying to run the same way and I assume that they are running the same way--I can be guilty of living in my isolated runner mindset.  Every now and then something slaps you in the face and you're reminded that's not everyone runs like that.  Not everyone runs every mile.  Not everyone reports how much they run accurately.  Not everyone who says they run actually runs.  It's crushing when you realize not everyone runs the way that they should.  However, no matter what other runners might do if you know what to do, then it does not make any difference.  None whatsoever.  Running the miles in the way that they are supposed to be run and doing it that way every single time you run is completely doable no matter what.  No matter what.  And...that's what running teaches me.  Running will never expect anything less than my best, most honest effort.  It will not reward me for a half way effort.  And...it will know if I'm not doing it the right way.  That's why I love running.  There is no hiding or misleading.  You are what you run.  Period.

Have a wonderful Saturday.  I hope that your teams (as long as it's not LSU, you mean LSWHO?) win.  Happy running to you...

The next challenge...

Good morning!  If you know me, then you know I don't do the status quo very well.  I'm not content on just staying in the same place or just being.  Good or bad, I don't know, but I am a handful to deal with when I'm not going after something or trying to improve--especially when it relates to running. I'm always thankful for the ability I've been given to run, but I'm also motivated by setting running goals that challenge me.  So...as I sit here on this rainy morning in November, I'm looking for the next thing to challenge me.

This morning I could not help but look at 50K (31 mile) and 50 mile trail ultra marathon races.  The distance is crazy (at least for me) and most people would think I was nuts to try it (which is even more motivating to me).  You see, the great thing about an ultra marathon is that it's a crazy long distance, and generally you have to run a bit slower to finish it.  And...if my major injuries have come from trying to run the marathon too quickly, then being forced to slow down in order to succeed at the ultra marathon distance just might be perfect for me.  It's also something I've never done before, which would be inherently motivating to me.  The winter is approaching quickly and it's tough to train in the winter, but maybe it's not such a bad idea.  I will have the most control over the first half of the year in terms of being able to train for a race so maybe I'll try for a March or April 50K or 50 miler.  We shall see.  I've also been flirting with the idea of an April Half-Marathon in Kentucky or on the north side of Indianapolis.  For me, I'll need to put some thought into it.

As I approach the end of the year I cannot help but be reflective on 2011.  It's been a year in which I'll say that I'm thankful for the four points of balance I have in my life (family, running, sports, work).  I've really needed balance in order to feel good about the year.  I want to talk a little bit here about difficult situations.  At some point in our lives we all face difficult situations--sometimes that put us in a no win position.  If there is one thing I've learned over the years--and this year especially--it's that a positive approach to life and to work pays out ten times more than a negative approach.  Adopting a positive attitude and a strong work ethic for life is the best strategy we have.  Good things and bad things will occur, but it's how you respond to both that will ultimately define your life.  One has to "stick to the fight when they are hardest hit" in order to gain what they would like to achieve.  This is something that running teaches me daily.  So...if you are having a great go of it currently then keep positive and working hard, and if you are struggling do the same.  Hard work, transparency, and ethical behavior always win in the long run.  You may lose out on the short run, but those three things always win out long term.  Always.

Have a wonderful week and I appreciate you reading my thoughts.  If you'd like to give your opinion on my next running endeavor, then please do.  Happy running to you... 

Adjusting the sails...

Good morning and happy weekend to you. I've had a great week. I attended the Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers Conference Sun-Wed and then had two nice days back at work. Once again I'm reminded that I'm blessed to be doing the work I do.

When I last wrote I was pretty bummed about my leg and not being able to run the marathon after all that training. As you may have gathered from the lack of posting I did not run it. It was tough not to run it, but I knew in my heart it would injure my leg and keep me out for many months. This morning I very much enjoyed my five mile run and my leg is really starting to feel better. It's sore just a bit, but there is no reason to believe it won't heal fully. I'm happy because I'm healing and I'm quite sure I'd have been frustrated if I ran the marathon and could not run. Sometimes you have to concede a battle to win the ultimate prize--for me that's the ability to run. Now...I have a new goal. I'm only 63 miles away from reaching 10,000 miles run since 1/1/2006, the date of my comeback. That is a meaningful accomplishment and that's my goal to finish out 2011. These 10,000 miles have been amazing and helped me return to running, lose 20 pounds, process a ton of stress, run a lot of races, and share my running with others. I'm blessed to be a runner.

Currently, I'm reading a great book titled The Energy Bus by Jon Gordon. University of Georgia Coach Mark Richt read the book last year and has been using it with his team. It's really helped him effectively deal with attitude issues he had on his team. Now, I'm fortunate to have a great team, but even great teams can develop bad habits and bad habits lead to bad attiutude issues. A concept I read today was about the "Energy Vampires" who drain the positive energy from your team. Gordon says you really have to get rid of the "Energy Vampires" or get them to change or your team will be limited in what to can achieve. I think that is spot on. I'm almost finished reading the book and I plan to use the concepts with my team this spring. Each person on the team will receive a bus ticket in December with the rules of the "IUPUI HRL Bus." To get on the bus, you have to have your ticket and agree to live up to the rules of the bus. I'll tell you one thing about me and my leadership style: I can deal with most mistakes but I cannot handle bad attitudes and negativity. I'll take a coachable person who learns from mistakes over an "Energy Vampire" that makes fewer mistakes any day of the week! Again, I'm fortunate not to have a ton of "Energy Vampires," but to sustain that I I must work to keep our attitudes positive. Just a small leadership thought for a Saturday.

Have a great day. Go Georgia Football beat UK! Go Hoosier Basketball and Football!

The truth of the matter...

Good morning!  Hope that your week is going well.  It's been a good long while since my last blog post.  I could tell you that I've been super busy and swamped and that would be true, but not any more true than at any other time of the year.  The truth of the matter is that I've just been trying to wrap my mind around the possibility that I just won't be able to compete in the Monumental Marathon on Saturday.  As those of you who read know, I've been training for this marathon since March.  On 10/14 I was chased by three dogs on a long run and while I did out sprint them I ended up tweaking my left calf/foot.  What I thought was a tweak turned out to be a bit more than that and I've been resting it.  Yesterday, I ran for the first time in two weeks.  I ran four miles again this morning.  It's clear that my leg is better, but not close to 100%.

Running is such a gift.  I love it.  It helps me process my life, it helps me make better decisions, and it helps me become less stressed.  When I'm able to run, there is much more balance in my life.  Because I know this, I'm extremely concerned about running a marathon on a left leg that is better but does not seem completely healed.  In 2008 I entered the Eugene Marathon with a nagging knee and hip issue.  I ran my best time ever, a 2:48.  However, I spent the remainder of 2008 and the first three months of 2009 rehabbing my leg.  I was miserable and at the time I remember wondering if it was all worth it.  I was not sure if I would ever be able to run pain free again.  It was awful, I was in a state of disarray, and I was not easy to be around. I told my friend Kevin to knock me on the side of the head if I ever decided to run another marathon.

In our lives we all go down roads that are not good from time to time and we often look back and regret not stopping when we had a chance.  Personally, I've had those moments when I know that I'm in a tough spot and I so desperately want to go back to the point when I had a choice to make a different decision.  Unfortunately, in this life we don't have a rewind button and most of the time what's done is done and you have to live with it and adjust.  Right now at this very moment, I feel like I'm at the point where I still have a choice and don't have to go in a direction that is extremely risky.  Yet, I so desperately want to go down the risky road.  It's really either risk a long term injury to run in a marathon or keep running lightly and let my calf and left leg heal fully.  To the non-runner I'm sure that this seems like a no brainer.  For this runner, though, it's a tough choice.  A really tough choice. 

Fortunately, I have two more days to decide what to do and I have the best medical team in house.  Yes, Sarah is back in Indianapolis.  Myles and I went to Atlanta last weekend to get her.  As you can imagine we had a great time in Atlanta visiting her and family and now we are ecstatic that she's back in Indianapolis!  And...she gives great advice and I typically end up in a great place when I follow it.  Happy running to you...

Highs and a big LOW

Good evening!  Hope that you are doing well.  I'm sitting here with an ice pack on my ankle.  More on that later.

Last weekend was amazing.  Sarah and I celebrated our five year wedding anniversary.  Hard to believe it's been five years.  Seems like yesterday.  It's been such a blessing for me to have Sarah as my partner in this life.  Her patience with me, her understanding, and the lessons she has taught me have been invaluable.  Each day she really does help me become my best self and I love that about her.  She's the perspective when my thoughts are out of whack. She's the listening ear when I need to vent.  She's comfort when I've had a tough day.  She's reality when I need a reality check.  She's simply flat out amazing.  I'm proud of her and the way she has gone after medical school is nothing short of impressive and inspiring.  Both Myles and I are blessed.

Family Photo.  Go GEORGIA!

Running.  Wow am I feeling low right now.  On Friday some of you saw a tweet about me being chased by dogs and tweaking my left lower leg on the inside.  About a mile into my 20 mile run I had to break into a sprint to get away from three dogs who were not friendly (not the first time this has happened to me in this area).  Unfortunately, I believe that I pulled my calf muscle down near my ankle.  I continued my run, but cut it short at mile 17.5.  I took Saturday off and ran on Sunday.  I was sore for the five miles I ran on Sunday so I took Monday off.  Today, I went out again for about 6 miles and the lower inner calf/ankle portion of my leg is just so sore and it hurt.  I have to say, I'm concerned.  It's early in the injury and it could be just sore and it may just heal if I ice, stretch and massage it.  But...I've been injured before (ankle, IT band, shin splints, attacked by dogs) and this feels a lot like the previous injuries in the sense that it feels bad and not minor.  I'm so upset.  I've been training for this marathon for 6  months and I'm less than three weeks away.  I'm in the best shape I've been in since 2007.  I'm ready to PR the marathon.  And...some jerk does not leash his dogs and I get injured.  I'm beyond upset.  Still...I've not allowed myself to accept the fact that I could be injured.  I'm still going to try and run and make a go of it and see if it heals up.  Who knows?  But...I'm not going to quit trying and the pain isn't enough to keep me from running.  I'm just frustrated.  However, running teaches me that optimism and sticking to the fight when you are hardest hit pay off.  So...I'm going to stay upbeat and keep trying. 

Wearing This Wrap to Apply Compression to Increase Blood Flow

All in all, things are great.  Sarah comes back soon from her rotation.  Myles is a wonderful pup.  And...even if I am injured I do know that I'll heal and run again.  I'll never give up.

Step in the right direction...

Good morning!  Hope that your weekend is going very well.  Mine is going well so far.  This morning I had another significant marathon workout planned and I'm pleased to report it went very well.  The goal today was to run 13.5 miles, then race the Spotlight on Nursing 10K, and then run a 1 mile or so cool down.  In total, my goal was to run just over 20 miles. 

What I was most proud of today was that I worked the plan that I created months ago rather than adjust today's workout for short term success.  You see, earlier in the week I seriously considered just racing this 10K without running 13 miles before the race.  I knew that I could run a fast 10K and possibly win the race.  I have not raced this fall on fresh legs, as I've run significant miles before each race to practice running my marathon pace while tired.  One cannot go out and practice to run a fast marathon by running that distance at a high speed.  It would kill your legs for the actual marathon.  So...one has to run some easy miles and then run the hard miles late in the long run to simulate the effect.  I STRUGGLED with sticking to the plan all the way until about 10p last night.  I'm so competitive and I just hate not being rested when I start a race.  But...as I tweeted  yesterday and reminded myself last night the goal for this fall is not to run a fast 10K but rather to run a fast marathon on November 5.  Running teaches patience and discipline--two things our society often forgets--and today was a great lesson on having the discipline and patience to reach the ultimate goal.

All in all, I am ELATED with how things went today.  I got up at 6a and took Myles out to potty.  The race started at 8:45a so I knew I needed to get running early.  I ran 13.5 miles at about a 6:50/mile clip before the 10K.  When I got to the start of the 10K there were a lot of guys from the Runners Forum there and some very talented runners.  While my legs felt somewhat tired, they still felt strong.  During the first mile I felt pretty good and pulled through in about 5:58.  At this point I was in 7th place and I felt like I would catch the two guys in front of me.  I ran the second mile in 5:39 and then the third mile in 5:45.  I was through three miles in 17:23 and was sitting in 5th place.  The fourth mile went pretty well as I hit that in 5:46, but I was starting to feel very tired.  During the fifth mile it was tough, my legs hurt, I was winded and I pulled a 6:00 mile and I knew it was gut check time. About a month ago I raced The Ripple Effect and I let up the last mile, relaxed, and got passed at the end.  Today, I told myself that this pain was what I'd feel in the marathon and that this is why I ran the 13.5 miles before the 10K--to feel this pain and RUN THROUGH IT!  So...I focused on trying to pass the 4th place guy and I ran a 5:46 sixth mile and then finished in 36:06, good for 5th place overall.  Amazingly, today's time is the 4th best 10K I've ever run (I've run 13 10Ks over the years). I'm so pleased with that.  Mainly, though, I'm pleased that when I felt the "marathon wall" type feeling today, I answered the gut check and kept attacking.  That's just what HAS to happen next month. 

Running is such a gift and I'm so very fortunate to be able to do this each day.  It's a lifestyle and I'm sure it seems crazy--who runs 20.75 miles on a Saturday morning for fun?  Well...there are a few of us and we are a bit crazy, quirky, and odd.  But...as Steve Jobs so eloquently put:  "Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life.  Don't be trapped by dogma--which is living with the results of other people's thinking.  Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition."  For me, my inner voice, heart, and intuition SCREAM "Josh, you're a runner."  So...I RUN.   Happy running to you...

Monumental Effort

Good morning to you!  It's going to be a great day in Indianapolis.  It's been rainy and cool for the past week and today it's going to be 70s and sunny.  Myles and I will definitely go on a father/son adventure later on.  It won't be the same without the centerpiece of our family, Sarah, but she returns this month from Atlanta!  Yeah!  Both of us just aren't quite right without our constant (i.e. LOST reference).. 
Training for the Monumental Marathon on November 5 continues to go well.  Hard to believe it's only one month away.  It seems like yesterday I made the decision to run it.  Actually, I made the decision on March 3.  I've run 1250 miles since making that decision and now have run 1532.3 for the year.  This week, I ran 61.2 miles.

Yesterday I embarked on a very challenging morning.  My goal was to run 20 miles total.  I picked out the Running South Race in Southport (about 5 miles from downtown Indianapolis) and made it the focal point of my 20 miles because I could run the 5K at 8:15a and then the 10K at 9a.  I love races where you can double up.  So...the plan was to run 7 miles before the 5K, run the 5K, run 2 miles between the 5K and 10K, run the 10K, and then run two miles to get to 20.  Sound crazy?  Well, the plan worked to perfection and I could not have had a better day.  I ran a 7 mile warm up and then hit the line for the 5K.  There were about 100 people running and as the gun went off there were four of us at the front.  About a mile in I was in 4th place, but the guys in 2nd and 3rd were fading.  I passed them between 1.5 and 2 miles and then did not look back.  I ran a 17:30 (5:39/mile) and finished 2nd.  Then...I ran two miles very quickly and went to the line for the 10K.  Again, there were about 100 people set to run the 10K.  I talked to a couple guys and I was sure that I would have a shot to run very well.  However, at this point I had already run 12 miles.  The gun went off and we all started running and it was just me and another guy leading the pack.  The guy in front of me was clearly faster and I was way in front of the 3rd place guy.  It became very clear that I was on my own for most of the race.  At first, I was disappointed because I wanted to have someone around me to push me.  But...then I remember the purpose of yesterday--teach my legs to run marathon pace when I was tired.  So...I garnered up all the mental concentration I could muster and I just gutted it out.  I finished the 10K in 36:48 (5:56 pace).  All in all, it was a great day.  I ran 9.3 miles of the 20.5 miles ahead of marathon pace (6 minutes), I placed well, and my legs felt strong.  But...it just gets better.  To my surprise, the 2nd place finisher in each race was awarded a $75 gift certificate to Bluemile, my favorite running store.  So...I won $150 in Bluemile gift certificates.  Yes!  It's not very often that I win anything at a race, so this was just awesome. 

This week running once again taught me that when you set a goal, have the discipline to do the work to reach the goal, and do that each day, then the results will come.  I try to carry this principle into my daily life and that tends to work for me.  And...I'm not pretending that I'm some sort of elite athlete because I'm not--my times are not even close to the top folks in running.  But...running is about getting the best out of yourself and I'm very excited about what I can get out of myself next month in the Monumental Marathon.  Have a great day and happy running to you...

Oh September...

Good morning!  Happy September 30!  Myles and I are sitting here together typing out a post on this last day of the month.  I always love the last day of the month because I get to compile my running stats for the month.  I love looking at my day to day running for any given month and then being able to quantify my efforts.  So...this month:
Miles run:  246.2
Days run:  24
Days I ran 10 or more miles:  15
Miles run since June 1:  926.6
Days I ran 10 or more miles since June 1:  63
Miles run in 2011:  1509.6

Overall, I was very happy with September's effort and my overall marathon training effort since June 1st.  I have a big run planned tomorrow as I'm running in an event that has a 5K and a 10K and I'm going to run both of them.  Should be interesting. 

I have a short message this morning.  I recently began watching the show "Revenge" on ABC.  The first episode led with the Confucius quote:  "Before you embark on a journey of revenge, dig two graves."  That quote has really stuck with me and it's powerful.  In life, we have conflicts with people and if we choose to try and get even or get revenge, then we often enter into a never ending cycle of who gets the last word or who gets even last.  In my opinion, no one wins when we become focused on getting the last word, getting even, or getting revenge.  Therefore, you must dig two graves.  This concept reminds me of our current political system.  You have Republicans and Democrats in a constant battle trying to get revenge on the other for a variety of reasons--election defeats, sweetheart deals, leaking embarrassing personal information, etc.  Both parties are engaged in a war of trying to get the last word, get even, or get revenge, and they are using the average American as leverage and as capital.  They are not truly thinking about how to help create jobs or care for our less fortunate.  They are merely concerned with winning and getting revenge if they don't win. If we continue to allow this game of revenge to proceed, then we'll have to dig three graves, a Republican grave, a Democrat grave, and then a grave for all the rest of us.  This has to stop and we have the power to do so.  We have 500 or so people making key decisions for 300,000,000 million Americans.  We have the numbers.  They don't.  So...I encourage you to vote out the revenge seekers, call your elected officials, and demand that they start working on helping us rather than playing twisted games of revenge. 

Have a wonderful day.  I'm off my soap box now and headed to work.  Happy running to you!

20 Miles, The Regatta, & The End of an Era...

Myles & I have Matching Jackets for Regatta

Good morning!  Hope that you are having an outstanding weekend.  I'm having a pretty good one despite the flighty weather--rainy and windy and cloudy oh my.  This week I'm coming back to the concept of #3 best.  The idea is to talk about the three best things that happened this week.  Here goes.

1. Running:  It was a fantastic week of training.  This week I started the first of four 20 mile plus test runs.  With just six weeks until the marathon, I now need to get in four runs of 20 miles or more.  On Friday, I ran 20 miles in 2:15:18 (6:46/mile pace).  I was very pleased with this and surprised by the pace because it felt very comfortable.  If I had run a full marathon on Friday, I would've hit under 3 hours.  I'm well on my way to having a shot at breaking 2:40 on 11/5.  This week I ran 60.3 miles and over the five weeks I've run 290 miles with weeks of 59.3, 54.25, 57.3, 58.25, and 60.3.  Legs are feeling very strong.
2. Regatta:  I had the chance to participate in the IUPUI Regatta yesterday and that was a great event.  The students and staff who planned the Regatta did an outstanding job.  Basically, it's over 100 teams in 14 heats racing about a half mile down the Indianapolis Downtown Canal.  It's tremendous.  The IUPUI Community was out in full force and Housing and Residence Life fielded 5 teams.  We had some racing issues yesterday with the new canoes, but it was fun and a great event.  The HRL Team pulled together and did a great job at our booth and then in the races. 
3. All My Children:  Yes, I watch All My Children, a popular soap opera on ABC.  I've watched it since the early 80s, and I used to watch every single day (either live or on tape).  My Mom and I used to watch every night on tape during my high school years, and I can remember even watching it at my Mom's parents house with my Mom, Uncle, and Grandparents during the lunch hour as a kid if I happened to be over visiting.  For me, All My Children was much more than a show.  It was a show that I spent time watching with my family.  When I went to college it was a show that reminded me of my family and helped me still feel connected when I was away from home.  Also, it was an amazing show that broke social barriers.  It was the first soap opera to feature characters from a variety racial backgrounds and also characters from the LGBT Community.  Sure, there were absurd story lines that involved people coming back to life, having special powers, finding long lost kids, parents, and siblings, but AMC was not afraid to feature characters on their show that more truly reflected the American population.  I think AMC's decision to do that was bold, admirable, and important.  On Friday, I watched the final show and about half expected Erica (the main character) and Jack (her long time love interest) to walk off into the sunset.  Instead, AMC ended on a cliffhanger that left those of us who are fans waiting for a Monday show that will never come.  Goodbye All My Children.  May the residents of Pine Valley live happily ever after.

Thanks for taking time to read my blog today.  I hope that you have a great week.  Happy running to you!

Dear Mum Thiefs...

Good Morning!  You ever wake up excited for the day and then something happens and your like, "well dang?"  That happened to me today.  And...I'm not going to let it ruin my day.  But...I have a little message.
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Dear Mum Thiefs,

Really?  You decided to perfectly extract my beautiful Mums from my patio in the middle of the night?  Really?  I loved those Mums!  Three weeks ago--after a long August and after Sarah left for Atlanta--I went to Lowes to buy some fall flowers for my patio.  I like for it to look nice and I enjoy growing plants and flowers.   I bought these Mums when they had no blooms and I was diligent about watering them and taking care of them each day.  You see, Mums--as my Dad told me--need lots of water.  And...I watered them, cared for them, and they returned the favor with beautiful deep red blooms.  Yesterday, they looked as good as they have all fall.  And...Myles looked out the window all day admiring them and the passers by.  Last night before I went to bed I was thinking about how proud I'd be to show Sarah the Mums when she comes to visit in a couple weeks.  They really looked good.

Mums On Saturday Morning

And then...you stole them.  Perfectly, I might add.  You extracted them and I'm sure that made a small mess.  However, you clearly cleaned up after yourself because there was no soil on the ground when you left.  You also had to be on the patio because you could not have removed them from the sidewalk that sits well below where the Mums sit.  That's just creepy.  And that makes wonder who it could be?  Clearly, whoever took them wanted them because if you were just being mean then you would have ripped them out and tossed them on the ground.  Also, you'd have to live nearby as it would be difficult just to take them out and carry them down the canal.  And...you cleaned up which means you did not want me to know which direction you went.  There are only a couple options of who it could be.  Could it be a neighbor with the open house one street over?  Or...could it be a neighbor who is not a fan of me?  I guess I won't know and really what's the point.  I'd have given them to you if you really just had to have them.

Mums Gone.  No evidence left behind.  :-(

I'm going to miss those Mums.  I'm going to miss looking at them.  Myles is going to miss them.  Sarah isn't even going to get to see them.  Bummer.  Bummer.  Bummer.  But...I'm going to the Colts game today and they are going to win.  Georgia and Indiana won yesterday.  So...you enjoy my Mums and I'll just go have a good day.

Best,

Josh
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All in all it was a great week of running as I hit 58.25 miles this week.  I've now run 1410 miles for 2011.  Have a great week, may no one steal your Mums, and happy running to you...

Step Forward Yo...

Good morning!  Hope that your weekend is off to a great start.  Mine is off to a great start with the exception of missing Sarah.  Myles and I miss her very much, but we pretend she's here, talk to her, and follow all rules.  :-)

Today was a GIGANTIC step forward for me in my marathon training, as a ran the Dick Lugar 10K this morning up at Butler.  My goal for today was to run a 7 mile warm up, the 10K race, and then a five mile cool down so that I could hit 18 miles for today.  My other goal was to run the 10K at or ahead of marathon race pace and to finish strong.  Let's be honest here.  The last race I ran, The Ripple Effect, left a bad taste in my mouth.  When I talked about that race it was not that I was upset with my time--the time was actually pretty good--rather it was that I was FURIOUS with myself for the finish--breaking mental concentration, missing my time goal, and letting someone pass me at the end.  Today...I really did not want that to occur. 

Senator Dick Lugar was at the start of the race and he got us going.  Side note:  While I'm not a Republican it was cool to see a Senator in person and he seemed really nice.  Anyway, at the start there were a couple hundred of us lined up and it was clear we had some speedsters from IUPUI and Butler.  I made an intentional effort to go out at a reasonable pace and I was in about 13th place at the mile.  As I was running today, I just felt strong, relaxed, and in control.  I knew I was running a good pace, but I was not really catching anyone--I passed two people between mile 1 and 2, but spent the last four miles about 15 seconds behind the group in front of me.  I just decided to run my pace and focus on running the best 10K I could rather than running to catch them really quickly and risk going into oxygen debt.  When I hit the third mile in 16:58 (my goal was 17:30) I was feeling good and really knew that I had a chance to break 36 minutes--something I've accomplished only a couple times in my life.  I kept at it and mentally was able to focus and when I hit five miles in 28:50 I knew if I did not repeat what happened two weeks ago that I'd break 36 minutes.  I ran well the last 1.2 miles, held my pace, and finished in 35:55, a 5:45/mile pace.  There was NO repeat of the Ripple effect, as the person who finished after me was about 2 minutes behind. 

Today was a great indicator that my hard work over the past few months is really paying off.  On June 7 I ran a five mile race in 31:45 and felt awful.  Today, at the five mile point of the 10K I was at 28:50 (2:55 faster than in June), and I ran 18 miles for the day.  I'm really pleased with the effort, with the hard work, and the result.  Today once again reminded me of why I love this sport--there is no immediate gratification and it takes some time (sometimes months) to find your potential, but when you have a day when you run to your potential then it just is a fantastic feeling.  In running, there are no shortcuts and you earn what you get.  No one can take from you what you earn and no one can give it to you either.  It's an honest sport.  A tough sport.  And...it's something I love dearly. 

Today should be a great football day.  You've got the Cats and Cards fighting it out in Lexington.  The Hoosiers and Bulldogs have winnable games.  And...the FSU/OU and ND/MSU games should be good.  Have a great day and happy running to you...

Wednesday Ramblings...

Good morning.  Hope that you are doing well this week.  I'm doing pretty well.  Myles and I went to visit Sarah last weekend in Atlanta (she's completing an away rotation at Emory University).  We miss her VERY much and it was so good to see her.  When I last wrote I mentioned that my mind and my body were tired.  Therefore, I took some easy days on Friday through Monday.  I ran 5 miles Friday, was off on Saturday, ran seven miles on Sunday, and then was off on Monday.  Yesterday and today I ran 12 miles each day and ran very well.  Legs felt fresh.  Mind felt fresh.  The rest period had the desired impact.  Again, sometimes you have to actually slow down to speed up. 

Watching Georgia v. S. Carolina.  Isn't Sarah adorable?

I'm excited for Saturday as I'm running a 10K up at Butler University.  This will be another chance to test my legs.  I've not raced much since moving to Indiana a few years ago (In fact, I've run 8 races in three years compared to 30 races in the 3 years prior to that).  I'm not sure it matters much how much I run since I'm enjoying it.  All in all, running is going well.

It's been such a crazy week, month, year, decade in this world.  A couple days ago we marked 10 years since 9/11/01.  That day is one I'll not forget and it forever changed the way we travel, the way we think about safety, and the way we protect ourselves.  There have been a lot of posts about 9/11 and what people recall about that day.  For me, I recall being a lobby with students at UGA in my first year as a professional.  I recall comforting them, talking with them, listening to them, and just watching with disbelief as the day unfolded.  I don't think I'll ever forget the day or the week after 9/11 when this country seemed more united--across race, sexual identity, class, etc.--than at any other point.  For just a few weeks no one cared about what you looked liked, who you loved, how much money you had or didn't have, etc.  It just mattered that you lived in this country and were impacted by 9/11, and we needed to bond together to be there for each other.  My hope at the time was that all Americans could remember the bond they felt with other Americans that day and then use 9/11 as a point from which we all treated each other a little bit better.  Unfortunately, I don't believe we took that away after a few months.  We still fight and struggle internally over resources while our fellow Americans go hungry, are homeless, go uneducated, and have their basic rights denied.  We watch our political leaders continue to fight to stay elected rather than to fight for what's going to help the average person.  Bottom line, if we don't start caring about the fortune and the rights of our friends, neighbors, or just the average person trying to make it, then we will see a decline like we've never seen before.  And...it won't be a wound made by terrorists, but rather a self-inflicted wound of our own making.   So...my hope is that the 10 year mark of 9/11 will once again remind us that if we work together to help everyone move forward, then we can help America reach it's next pinnacle rather than decline down the mountain.  Just my two cents.

Have a great day.  Happy running to you...

Sometimes I don't have it...

Good morning!  Myles and I are sitting here on a rainy morning, drinking some coffee, and blogging together.  It's become our morning ritual for him to sit in my lap while I read the Internet news and check all of my social media accounts.  This is one of my favorite parts of the day.
I've had the good fortune over the past few months to write about my running in nearly all positive ways.  For a couple months, my posts have been about that great "10 mile run" or that "great tempo run workout" that I ran.  However, it does not always go swimmingly for me when I run and I think it's important to write on days when I just did not have "it" on my run.  Today was one of those days.  This morning I was scheduled to complete a Red Mile workout (12 one mile repeats with one minute rest in between each one).  When I went to bed last night I could not mentally prepare and surprisingly this morning I woke up at the right time despite not setting my alarm--that should have been a signal I paid attention to.  I trudged out of bed at 5:07a and got ready for my run.  I ran to the Red Mile Course and kept trying to talk myself into the workout.  I really was not mentally committing to the workout so I made a deal with myself that I'd just run 10 repeats this morning.  After about 1.25 miles of warming up I took off for the first repeat.  When I looked at my watch at the end of my first repeat I was three seconds off my goal pace and I was gassed.  "Coach Josh," the "Josh" that motivates me, was hot.  He muttered a few foul words and yelled at "Runner Josh."  Then...I took off for the second one and hit the pace.  I was pleased but not convinced I wanted to finish the workout.  I ran the third repeat and was four seconds off pace.  At this point Coach Josh exploded---"Josh, YOU have to CONCENTRATE.  YOU'RE just NOT concentrating.  (Bleeping) CONCENTRATE!"  I took off for the fourth mile and "Runner Josh" just did not respond.  I ran the fourth mile repeat at my daily pace.  After the fourth mile "Runner Josh" was frustrated and "Coach Josh" was furious and we agreed that I'd just run about 5 easy miles to get to 10 miles for the day and call the workout.  It's true, I did not finish the Red Mile workout today.

On the five miles to get home I processed a lot in my head about why things went so wrong this morning.  At first, I was very upset and thought, "I'm going to have a bad day, I've got nothing to be proud of today, and I'm going to stink it up at the marathon."  To those of you who have not seen this side of me it may come as a surprise, but I think it's important to be honest about the fact that I can start to have that negative discourse in my head from time to time.  As I was processing, though, I was able to get "Coach Josh" and "Runner Josh" to realize that I today I was tired, I have run 80 miles in 8 days, and I was completely gassed mentally and physically.  Usually if I don't have it physically my mind can push me to reach my goal (last week).  And...usually if I don't have it mentally then my body can still perform and get my mind back on track.  Today, though, I had neither the mental or physical strength to run the workout the way I wanted to run it.  And so...I made the decision to call it off rather than continue to have "Coach Josh" made and upset and "Runner Josh" frustrated and maybe push it too hard and get injured.  It was a real battle out there today and I'm very thankful this does not happen often.  Now...imagine if you could have seen this.  I'm sure it must have been funny to watch a guy talking to himself:  One second yelling and the other second bargaining.  I'm sure I would've looked out of my mind.  Ha Ha Ha.

All in all, there is a silver lining in what happened today--which is that rather than continuing to bang my head against the wall (trying to run a workout when it was clear I was not mentally or physically into it) I decided to alter the plan.  I think that this is a good life lesson that we probably all learn at some point.  Sometimes we have to alter our plans in order to reach our long term goals.  Sure...I was disappointed, but I would have been more angry and upset if I had continued that workout. And...in making a decision to alter the plan I was able to get rid of all that negative self talk that was going on in my brain.  Self talk that is honest is good for us all, but self talk that starts to berate and hit our self-esteem has to quickly be roped in.  I was glad to be able to do that on the five miles home.

Have a great Thursday and thanks for reading my blog.  Happy running to you!

A Labor(ed) Day Effort...

Good morning!  Hope that Labor Day is treating you well.  I kicked of my Labor Day with a 2:00:58 run for about 17 miles.  Not too bad of a run after racing last night. 



Speaking of last night, I appreciate all of the well wishes before the race.  I got back around 9p last night and did not have time to blog (since I was getting up early to run).  So...here's a race update.  Last night I ran the Ripple Effect 4 Mile run in Broadripple.  Believe it or not, it's only the third race I've run in the past year (Ripple Effect 2010, Outrun the Sun June 2011, and last night).  I've been running a lot and training for the Monumental Marathon, but have not run many races.  So...there were 526 of us lined up for the start at 7p.  I ran about 3.5 miles before the race to warm up and to calm my nerves.  Not sure why, but I was kind of nervous.  Anyway, I lined up behind a few folks, which is a trick I use so I don't get out to fast.  The starter issued his command and we were off.  Now...in any race I've ever run there are always about 15-20 people who just start off like gangbusters and run much faster than they can handle.  The key for me was to not go with them and just be patient.  When we approached the half-mile mark I was about in 20th place, but I could hear everyone in front of me breathing pretty hard.  I got settled into what I thought was a good pace and went through the first mile in 5:28 and in about 13th place.  I really wanted to hit 5:40 and was scared I was going to have a repeat of Outrun the Sun, when I got out too fast and then tanked it.  As I got into the second mile, I found my stride and just slowly started moving up and running strong.  At mile two I was 11:18 (5:50 second mile) and had moved into 10th place.  I could see positions 4-9 in front of me and my legs were feeling strong and I knew if I could concentrate then I could possible finish in the top five.  My pace stayed about the same during mile three and I kept moving up.  At the third mile I was 17:08 (5:50 third mile) and in 8th place.  I very quickly took 7th place in the first quarter of the fourth mile and was chasing down the guy in 6th and thought I may even have a shot at 5th.  At the 3.5 mile mark I moved into 6th position and was only about 5 seconds back from 5th place.  The guy in 5th was closing on the guy in 4th and the guy in 3rd was very close.  I started to give chase and cut into the gap a little, but as I hit the last turn it was clear I was not going to take him.  Still, I was going to be pleased.  And then...I got caught sleeping.  As I was finishing and was probably at 3.98 miles, someone flew past me--and that really bothered me.  There is a rule in running that you don't let folks pass you back.  This guy tracked me down.  Funny thing is that he was doing what I was doing--just slowling picking people off.  He was not one of the guys I had been passing and he sort of snuck up on me.  So...I finished the race in 22:51 (5:43 last mile) and landed in 7th place (NOTE:  For some reason the results on the Tuxbro page are off--not sure why but I know what the clock said at the finish). 



Myles & I's Face of Frustration

Overall, I was happy with the race and for 3.98 miles I really ran smart and ran tough.  That last .02 really left a bad taste in my mouth.  It's rare that I get passed like that and I was none too pleased with myself.  None to pleased at all!  I spent a good part of my 17 mile run this morning thinking about it.  You have to finish and I talk to my staff about finishing strong all the time.  And here...I got caught celebrating a great finish before I was done.  It was a great a lesson on not losing concentration.  And...if I'd paid more attention to getting the guy in 5th place instead of enjoying 6th place then it would not have mattered.  Ahhh...frustration.  After the race, though, I did the runnerly thing and went up to the guy who passed me and told him good job and congratulated him.  He did a great job and I will learn a lesson from it.  I know it probably seems ridiculous, but I'm Competitive with a capitol C.  And...I'd never be upset getting passed if I knew that I had not made a mental error.  Last night I just made a mental error. 
As I head into this week I'm very excited to be heading to Atlanta to see Sarah and Sarah's family.  Myles is ready to see his Momma as I make a poor substitute.  Myles loves his Dad, but he LOVES his Momma--and I totally get that!  ;-) 

Have a great Labor Day, don't forget to finish, and happy running to you!

Attack or be attacked...

Good morning!  Hope that you are having an outstanding Labor Day weekend.  I'm having a pretty good one as my parents and their friends came up to Indianapolis for a visit.  We went to the Drag Racing Nationals on Friday evening and then hung out a bit yesterday.  Sarah is in Atlanta completing an away rotation and Myles and I miss her very much.  Yesterday, was an awful football day for both Sarah and I.  We both root for IU and Georgia and they both lost.  Sometimes...that's just the way it goes.

I'm very excited about tonight.  For the first time in three months I'm racing.  Since my last race in early June I've run over 650 miles and have really gotten into shape.  The race is the Ripple Effect in Broadripple and it starts at 7p.  I ran in this race last year and had a great time and a great race finishing in 22:47.  I really am not sure what sort of time I'll run tonight.  I've posted tempo runs of 23:39 for four miles and 29:43 for five miles by myself on a track.  I also ran 12 mile repeats with one minute rest in between each repeat on Thursday morning and kept every mile between 5:51 and 5:57.  Usually, I run faster in races so we will see.  No matter what, it's a great way to see where I'm at and to have some fun. 

I'll tell you one thing about my personal running journey and how it relates to Indiana football and then to life.  So...last night I went to the Indiana football game and they started off great.  They scored on 3/4 possessions and looked better than in years past.  Then...Ball State hit him back, stayed tough, and took it from Indiana.  They broke that tackle for a couple extra yards, they made sure to get first downs at the end of the game to ice the clock, and they stopped IU.  Ball State was much more mentally tough than IU.  Of course, this upset me and I had to analyze it and it made me think of my workouts from last week.  In each marathon specific workout (Tempo Run/Red Mile--mile repeats), there was a point at which I was not sure if I could achieve my workout goal.  In fact, for just a couple seconds on both days (Monday/Thursday) I considered compromising my goal.  And then...I thought about the fact that if I want to run a 2:39 marathon on 11/5, then I have to push through fatigue and pain to train my body to fight through it.  If I want to be a 2:39 marathoner, then I have to train like a 2:39 marathoner.  Most of us are capable of running through more than we give ourselves credit for.  It's just that we don't practice getting through it.  So...on both days I said to myself ("attack or be attacked") and I decided to attack the fatigue, hold my pace, and reach down deep.  I know that if I continue to practice this, as I have in the past, then I'll reach my goals.  In watching IU last night, I just did not see a team that was willing to reach down deep and do what was required to reach a goal (to win).  Ball State had it.  Indiana did not. 

I believe that this same principle applies to one's life.  There are roadblocks we all face and some folks have many more than others.  There is not much one can do about a roadblock that is set in front of them.  However, there is a lot one can do to get past the roadblock.  Personally, during the times in my life when I've decided I could overcome a roadblock despite what the roadblock was then it happened.  On the flip side, when I've let the roadblock dictate my actions then it's stopped me.  Attack or be attacked!  Be the driver or be the passenger along for the ride.  Everyday, running presents me with the option of getting through a roadblock or just stopping and giving into fatigue.  Every time that I choose to find a way, then it just helps me do that in other areas of life as well. 

Have a great Sunday.  If you are in the Broadripple area tonight around 7p then say hello!  Happy running to you...

A sign that caught my attention...

Good morning!  Myles is resting in his rightful place, my lap, as I type a short blog this morning.  First, I have to say Happy Birthday to my Mom!  She turns 29 today.  Ever heard of Benjamin Button?  My Mom is the real life female version.  She just keeps getting younger.  It's amazing.  Really it is.
Today is the last day of August and typically on the last day of the month I rest--especially if I've already hit my monthly mileage goal.  This months goal was 200 miles and I ran 238.3, which is great considering that August is so busy for me with Res Life training and opening.  Anyway, I fully intended to run this morning and even laid my stuff out for the morning.  On my way to bed, though, I made a pit stop (use your imagination) and happened to pick up an article I had been reading in Running Times about Ian Sharman, a successful ultramarathon runner.  I only looked at one page but in 20 point font in bold I read a quote:  "I've learned that all the other stuff you do is wasted if you don't allow the body time to recover properly..."  Wow!  It was like a sign from the Running Gods. I've been running a lot lately and have run 677.3 miles since June 1 after running 585 miles in the first five months of the year.  Almost 100 more miles in the last three months than in the first five months of the year.  I've also run 48 double digit mile runs (over 10 miles) since June 1.  I noticed that I've been a bit more sore than usual over the past few days.  So...when I read that quote, I was like okay I'm going to take off a day.  Whew.

I constantly battle with running just the right amount.  Specifically, I need to run the miles and workouts to hit my goal pace for the Monumental Marathon on 11/5, but at the same time I don't want to over train and injure myself.  It's SUCH a fine line and I really rely on my instincts to tell me when to take a break.  However, sometimes there are signs that just pop out in front of you in the most random places (For example, in the bathroom before bed).  Anyway, I'm a big believer in signs and things happening to give you direction--sometimes they are just subtle or in unexpected places. 

I hope that you have a wonderful day.  Keep your eyes open for signs and happy running to you...

A Year with Myles...

Good Morning!  Hope that you are well.  This morning I ran 15.25 miles and it was a beautiful morning for it.  I woke up early, took Myles out to potty, stretched, and then just went for it.  This week I ran 59.85 miles and have now run over 1240 miles for the year.  Just running along...

August 28, 2010

August 27, 2011

One year ago today, August 28, 2010, my life changed in a way that I could not possibly imagine at the time.  Sarah and I were getting ready to cook some dinner and I had fired up the grill.  I had started on a beer and was checking the players I picked up in the fantasy football league draft that I play with some of my friends.  Sarah looked at me and said, "Josh, what do you think about this one?"  I walked over to her computer, took one look at the picture, and said, "let's go."  Very quickly, Sarah and I packed a quick sandwich and some chips, I grabbed some water while putting the beer in the fridge, and we drove to the north side of Indianapolis.  When we entered the place where he was I was so nervous.  Very quickly, we saw him, picked him up, and as Sarah held the little one in her arms I knew he was going to be our little puppy.  I kid you not--one and a half hours after seeing Myles online, we were sitting at our place in downtown Indy with an eight week old puppy.  We were happy, nervous, scared of screwing it up, but mostly just happy.  It took a couple days for us to name him, but finally we settled on Myles after considering names like Indy, Desmond, and Charlie.  Myles just stuck and it's a perfect name for our perfect boy.
The last year has been wonderful and the impact Myles has had on my life has been immeasurable.  I know that I carry on and on about him on this blog, on Facebook, and on Twitter (he has his own account:  @MylesTweetz), and I would imagine it's difficult to understand if you don't know Myles and you don't know me.  But...if you know me well and you've met Myles, then you know first-hand what an impact he's had on me.  I thought about composing three lessons he's taught me and writing about each one.  However, I think the impact Myles has had can be summed up in one simple story.  Everyday when I come home from work, Myles greets me with unbridled enthusiasm, untempered excitement, and pure love.  When Sarah comes home, he greets her with the excitement  and energy that would make you think he'd not seen her in a thousand years.  Quite simply, Myles is love and he treats Sarah and I like we all would like to be treated.  That, in itself, has helped me take things less seriously, come home from work earlier to care for him, and he's helped me improve my level of patience (OH, the joys of Potty Training and Doggie School!).  I feel so very responsible for Myles and having him and knowing how much he depends on Sarah and I to come through for him has really helped me achieve some balance, both at work and with my mental mindset.  It's tough to be too awfully upset about anything when Myles runs to you, rubs his head and nose against your arms, and just rolls at your feet all because you came home to see him.  You see, Myles understands what many of us don't:  everyone wants to be treated like they are someones "most important" person and it's great to be able to make someone feel that way.  Myles makes me feel that way every single day and that's an absolute gift.

Well, once again I have gone on and on about my Myles.  And...yes, I'm well aware that to the outsider and perhaps to the insider I seem completely ridiculous.  But...there are a few of you who know Myles and you probably feel exactly the same way I do.  And that provides me with some hope that my grip on my sanity is quite tight.  Have a great week and happy running to you...