#3 Best for Week...

Good morning!  Hope that your Sunday is going well.  I ran an easy 6 mile run this morning to finish up my week at 50.2 miles total for the week.  I can really feel my legs getting stronger.  My goal was to run 200 miles in June and I'm over half way there.  Should be able to reach that goal.

Dad with his three kids

Today is Father's Day and I thought a lot about that on my run today.  To best tell you about my Dad, I'll have to share a story.  Last week I played in a tennis tournament in honor of my friend Luke.  At the start of the match I looked over and sitting in the stands next to Sarah was my Dad.  I was surprised because I knew his office was open on Saturday and he needed to be there.  Yet, there he was sitting on the bleachers watching his 34 year-old son hack away at a tennis ball.  As I thought about that while I was running this morning, it just got me thinking about my Dad.  You see, as a kid growing up my Dad was always in the stands (with my Mom) cheering me on--and for my sister and brother in their sports as well.  When I played baseball he was there.  When I played basketball he was there.  Heck, a few times when I ran the Owensboro 10 Mile Road Race he got on his bike and rode along and cheered for me.  My Dad has always been and continues to be interested in our lives and that is absolutely amazing!  I'm a very lucky guy!

Here are my three best for this week:

1. Father's Day!  Of course, it's great to think about my Dad and about Sarah's Dad.  Both of us are fortunate to have wonderful fathers.
2. Summer Staff:  I tell you what.  We have a ton of projects at work right now--some expected and others a surprise.  We are short-staffed right now.  But...the folks who are remaining and that have stepped up are amazing.  I don't want to single any one individual out on my blog, but I'll talk about what I'm seeing.  We have a grad who graduated and has a job already and could go half-speed, but he instead took on the Upward Bound assignment and is working for HRL as well and is busting his tail.  We have the grad who is coming back for a second year and he just steps up whenever asked without any sort of drama and he's leading our summer resident experience efforts.  We've got the undergrad team that is hole punching documents to remove sensitive information.  We've got the undergraduate team that cleans rooms.  We've got the undergraduate team that answers phones in the Contracts Office and the undergrad team that helps move furniture or work on random Josh projects.  We've got the Corner undergraduate manager who just keeps the place running.  And...of course, we have Kat--who does whatever it takes.  When I think about all of these folks stepping up it makes me smile! 
3. Finally, The Myles First Birthday Photo Montage!  Myles's first birthday is one week from today!  I cannot believe he'll be a year old!  I've been working on a photo show to music and I'm pumped about it.  I cannot wait to release it next week.  This little guy has brought so much joy to our lives and I love him very, very much.

Have a wonderful day.  To you father's out there:  Happy Fathers Day!  To everyone else...happy running to you...

Run Your Race...

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day to the Veterans and Troops out there.  I ran a nice 10 miler this morning around 6:20a.  Why so early on a Holiday?  Have to BEAT THE HEAT!  Today's post has been on my mind for a few runs now and today it all came together.  Here goes.

Run your race.  Simple sentence, yes.  Easy implementation, no.  What I mean by "run your race" is simply to live and evaluate your life based on the guidelines you set rather than the expectations of others.  Think about that for a second.  How many of you who read this blog allow what you think about your accomplishments to be defined by a boss, an industry, a profession, or by what your friends or family may accomplish?  I'm as guilty as the next person and I have sometimes compared my accomplishments in life to the accomplishments of others and allowed that to somehow change how I felt about my own accomplishments--sometimes in a bad way.  A very valuable lesson that running has taught me is that if I choose to run another person's race, then it's going to be one long struggle--and the longer the race the longer the struggle.  I firmly believe that we were all meant to run our race, but much like running in the woods sometimes choosing the right path to run down can be unclear.  It takes some careful thought and planning to make sure you head down the right road.  Once you are on the right road, then you have to make sure to allow yourself to navigate it by your own standards so long as those standards do no harm to others. 

Here are some of the standards I use to determine whether or not I am running a successful race:

Effort:  In running and in work it's my goal every single day to give my best effort.  It's pretty simple, but I expect my best effort every single day no matter what.  Sure...the wind may be blowing when I'm running or there might be some crazy stuff going on at work, but I can still give my best effort.  On any given day my best effort will get me different places, but giving it should always be a priority.

Honesty:  I don't play games and I put all my cards on the table.  With me, you know where I stand on something and I will never allow someone else to deliver a tough message.  It's so important to me that I am always transparent in what I do and how I act.  I know that if I am honest no matter what, then I'll be able to sleep well each night.  I once got caught up in the games of my profession and it was awful.  I'd rather be honest and a step behind than dishonest and two steps ahead.  In running, it's as simple as running the correct route in a race or reporting the correct miles you run during training.  Sure, you could lie about the number of miles you run, but when it's time to race then you'll reap what you sow.  At the end of the day, honesty always wins out.

Day Maker:  I'm blessed because every day at work I have the chance to make a person's day better.  I can either add value (Being a Plus One) or subtract value.  This concept not only applies to work, but all areas of my life.  Now...I'm not perfect (just ask Sarah) and I can be a grumpy guy, but more often than not I am a Day Maker instead of a Day Breaker.  At it's core, I ask myself each day whether or not I went the extra mile for the students and staff that I lead.  In running, I try to answer all of the questions that fellow runners have for me and I try to help as many people with their running as I can.  There's always a chance to surprise people with kindness and I try to do that. 

Be Uncommon:  I can think Coach Tony Dungy for this one.  Coach Dungy wrote a whole book about being uncommonly good at what you do.  That's a scary concept because it implies that you have control over what you achieve.  But...I LOVE this simple concept and try to be uncommon daily.  In work, that means I am trying to lead my team to be the best it can be and to be a model for others to achieve.  In running, that means setting goals like trying to run a 2:39 marathon, putting it in writing in a public forum, and then having the discipline to go out there and train to do it.  Many of us want to be unique or stand out in a positive way.  For me, striving to be uncommonly good at what I do is the way I try to achieve that.

At the end of the day I am a husband, father to Myles, a runner, a Res Lifer, and an Indiana University Basketball and Football fan.  All of those entities are on the path I run and I love "running that race" each day.  The real key in life is not to try and run another person's race or what society says your race should be.  Rather, it's important to run your race in the best way that you can. 

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

Testing your limits...

Good morning to you and happy weekend.  It's been a pretty good week of running.  Today I ran my longest run of the year, 13 miles, in 1:30:17.  I left about 7:30a and return right around 9a.  It's important as the summer approaches that I am able to get in my running early before it gets hot.  It gets so dang hot in Indiana.  Overall, running is going well.  

As I train for the marathon and run progressively longer runs each week I am actually training my body to learn to run and push through fatigue.  Yesterday, I had the opportunity to talk with a student, Heather, about her attempt at the Indianapolis Women's Half Marathon on September 3.  I was sharing with her a training plan so that she could run the race.  One of the points I made to her was that as you increase your long runs, your body adapts.  For instance, when I ran 12 miles last week my body really started to feel bad around the 10 mile mark (which was my longest run of their year prior to the 12 mile run).  Today, my body really started to hurt once I pushed beyond the 12 mile mark and went for 13.  Next week, once I hit 12.5 or 13 miles then my body will start to feel it.  Does that make sense?  As you push you "wall" out, then you are able to just keep pushing the amount of distance you can run before you really feel fatigued.  The trick to training for any race is to push you wall--the point at which it feel just God awful to run--past the distance you have to race.  In my previous marathons I've been able to push that wall out each time I've raced.  My first marathon it was about the 20 mile mark, my second marathon it was 22, my third marathon it was 23, and at Eugene in 2008 it was 25.  This type of training is hard, but totally worth it. 



Myles did NOT enjoy the Vet visit



This week Myles was a pretty sick puppy and he was having a hard time keeping anything in.  After Sarah and I were up most of the night with him on Wednesday evening cleaning up his stuff (he usually does not potty in the house), we decided it was best to get him to the vet.  I took him to the vet on Thursday afternoon and despite not taking him to the vet in three months he remembered as he ran out the door and then buried his head in my armpit when I picked him up and carried him in.  Once we sat down with the Vet she said that she was pretty sure he had a GI issue, but then listed out all of the other things it could be--many of which resulted in death.  She said, "so we can give you this or we can do all these extra tests to make sure it's nothing serious."  She said she'd give me some time to think about it, but I immediately replied, "let's do what we need to do to make sure he's going to be just fine.  I love him too much to take a chance."  So...they did the extra tests and they came back negative and he's just fine.  He probably did not need the tests and they were expensive, but I would have NEVER forgiven myself if I did not agree to the tests.  Some things just don't have a monetary value and the life of my Myles is one of them.  As we were leaving Myles greeted another dog--a very large lab mix (60LBS).  I walked over and talked to the owner and I could see tears in her eyes.  She said, "today is his day."  Oh my, it broke my heart.  I bent down next to her dog and Myles, petted her dog, and gave her dog a kiss on the head.  Yes, I know that sounds COMPLETELY INAPPROPRIATE, but in the situation it seemed so natural.  As Myles and I left I told her how sorry I was and wished her the best.  I smiled.  Then...I went to my car and I was just moved to sobbing--yes, actual crying.  It BROKE MY HEART to think about the poor woman having to watch her dog be put down.  I just cannot imagine.  It was strange to be driving down the road and crying about some woman and her dog that I met in passing.  But...I think that in that moment it just reminded me of how much I love Myles and how heartbroken I would have been if I was in her position.  Many of my family and friends have had to make that tough call--it's a call that has to be made--and one that I'm sure is just so tough.

I submitted my program proposal for GLACUHO (Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers) and it's titled:  "What I Learned--About Housing & Residence Life--While Running."  I'm pretty pumped up about it and I hope it's accepted.  Generally my programs are about residence hall apartment communities, Social Justice and Multicultural Competence, and Leadership.  So...this is a new program.  Cross your fingers.

Have a great day and happy running to you...

Grandparents...

Good morning.  Hope you are having a nice Easter Sunday.  Sarah is working at the hospital this morning and Myles and I are blogging together after my nice 5.25 mile run in the misty rain.  It was a nice morning to run as the rain was gentle and not too overwhelming.  This week I ran 33.5 miles, which is my best week of the year so far.  That's three weeks in a row of 30 miles or more.  Look out. 

Grandma's Cup from Singapore:  Sarah's Birthplace

This morning I was trying to select a coffee cup to use, as all of our's are in the dishwasher.  I saw that I still had my IU Cup, a random silver cup, and then I saw a red cup with a floral design hiding behind a couple bowls.  I could not help but smile as this was one of my Grandmother's coffee cups (actually, probably a tea cup) that she acquired when she and my Grandfather lived in Singapore long ago.  Before she died, she gave me a few pieces of her China from that set.  Funny thing:  Sarah was born in Singapore.  Talk about fate.  I'm a sentimental guy in case you did not know and I love to hold onto to things from family members who have passed.  I was fortunate to have outstanding Grandparents in my life and I'm very fortunate to still have my Grandad (Speer) in my life currently.  All of them were part of the "Greatest Generation," and there is something very special about them and I've learned so much from them.  Therefore, I keep as much stuff to remind me of them in my daily life as possible.  For example, on a daily basis I carry my Grandad Gorrell's wallet that he used up until the day he died.  I've been using that wallet since 2002 and I've not purchased another one since.  I'll probably use it until the day that I die.  Right now, as I stated, I'm using my Grandmother Gorrell's tea/coffee cup.  My grandmother GiGi and Grandad Skillman used to have these rotary phones in their house into the late 90s.  I still have one of those phones and I used it all the time until I dropped our landline for a cellphone when we moved to Indiana.  I also have all of the IU Campus Photos they had in their house and they are all currently on display in my office.  My grandmother MiMi and Grandad Speer used to give me some of their dishes (first dishes I ever had in grad school and at Georgia) and I even had one of their old couches for several years.  MiMi, while I die hard UK fan, gave me a pillow one Christmas with the stitching "It's hard to be humble when your from Indiana University."  That particular pillow also sits in my office for all to see.   On Holiday's, the memories of family members are acutely present and it's nice to know that they are a part of my life on a daily basis--whether physical or spiritual. 

My three best for this week:

One, kindness of friends.  A few friends of mine displayed a ton of integrity and loyalty this week because they value me.  Enough said.

Two, RUNNING.  Specifically, I had a great conversation with Nick Estrada (a future star in Student Affairs) about running a marathon.  It's funny because I would only consider myself at a pseudo-expert level in three things:  Res Life, Running, & Indiana Basketball.  It's nice when someone who knows me in one area (in this case Res Life) gets to talk with me about something like running.  I love coaching runners of all levels and it's easy for me to talk about.  I've always thought down the line that the perfect job for me would be one that would allow me to work with college students and coach runners.  I'm sure that will be a reality in the future.

Three and most important:  SARAH.  No one is as supportive and as understanding as Sarah when it comes to me.  Her support of my running and my professional life is amazing.  I love her.

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

Lessons Learned...

Good morning!  Ran a very nice 5 miler on a cool Sunday morning.  I ended up running 32 miles this week and that makes it 63 miles in the last two weeks.  Very soon, I'll be up to the 40 miles a week that I typically run when training for a race. 

The title of my blog is "Lessons Learned" for two reasons:  one because of a song that is new to me by Matt & Kim and two because I learn lessons all the time.  Sometimes I like to write about what drove me to become a runner.  If you don't know, I grew up wanting to play basketball and I was even good enough to make the varsity squad.  However, I was really only good enough to make the team and I did not really play all that much.  I was the fastest guy on the team and usually won all of the preseason conditioning running events.  If playing time was only related to conditioning, then I would have been a starter.  However, I was not a particularly good shooter and I was not quick.  North and South speed is different than East to West speed and I did not have the lateral quickness (East and West) to go with my speed and endurance.  People could blow right past me and that surely did not help my teammates.  The day after my junior year of basketball ended, I went out for the track team. On March 1, 1994 I ran 7 miles at the first practice and after that practice I began to realize that I just might be a runner after all.  Yet, I still wanted to be a basketball player.  I'll never forget the mid-July 1994 day when the new head basketball coach called me to his office.  He said, "Josh, we really appreciate what you've done and you're probably good enough to be a practice player but we're not going to play you much this year.  We will be going with the younger players."  Man, that hurt bad.  I went home, cried a little a bit, and at that moment decided I was going to totally dedicate myself to cracking the top 7 of the Cross Country Team so I could run at the State Meet (Coach Rowe's team always make the State Meet).  I never told my parents about what the coach said verbatim or really anyone for that matter.  I was too embarrassed.  While it hurt, it was actually a gift that I just did not understand at the time.  The fall of 1994 was one of the best of my life as I became a contributing member of a team--the defending State Champion Cross Country Team.  I mentioned having stamina and speed and that was perfect for Cross Country.  I worked myself into the top 5 of the team and we had a pretty good season.  We did not win it all at the State Meet, but it was special to be a member of that team and the lessons I learned that fall are still a part of my daily life.  To this day I'm still running all because two coaches were very honest with me:  Coach Rowe told me I was a runner and should stop trying to be a basketball player and the basketball Coach told me that I was not going to play.  When I think about the song "Lessons Learned," I think about how I became a runner.  It was born out of disappointment, but in the disappointment I found something I loved more than I could imagine.  I deal with a lot of parents who don't want their kids to be disappointed and the problem with this is that if you don't experience disappointment, then you may never figure out what you are truly good at doing.  This is true.

My Three Best for the Week:

One, Staff in-service on Tuesday:  "You would not accept a bottle of pee so you certainly should not accept someones key."  It's a long story, but it was me being me to illustrate a point about closing.

Two, the two Multicultural Competence Sessions I led on Friday and Saturday.  I could see that they made a difference and that's so very key.  It also helped remind me of what I already know to be true.

Three (and most important):  Time spent with Sarah & Myles.  I never get tired of being with them.

Have a great day.  Don't be afraid to learn a tough lesson and happy running to you...

The Scorpio...

"A Scorpio never gives up, they are so determined to reach their goal. The key to their success is their flexibility. They are able to re-survey a situation and take a different approach if necessary. This makes them very adaptable and versatile. Scorpios are fierce competitors..." --Zodiac Signs

The Face of A Scorpio

I do a lot of thinking while I run--especially about my life, personality, goals, successes, disappointments, ideas, etc.  On my run yesterday I thought a lot about my personality and I happened to read a bit about my Zodiac sign, The Scorpio, this morning.  While I was running this morning I felt inspired to write a blog entry about my sign.  There is so much about me that is definitely so Scorpio.  I am competitive with a capital C.  It's true that I never give up or think I'm beaten and I'll move and change and do whatever necessary to reach my goal.  I'm fierce when it comes to going after my goals and when I think I've been wronged.  I trust wholeheartedly, but never forget being burned or underestimated.  I love being the underdog and often root against the favorite, the favored, or the elite.  I'm drawn to situations that put me in an underdog role or in an impossible situation because I love to be the one that that changed or completed what no one thought possible.  Scorpios are also loyal to a fault.  For me, this is so true.  I value loyalty over most any other trait.  Heck, I am such a loyal Indiana University fan and my basketball and football teams have struggled for many years.  Yet, I love IU every bit as much now as I did when they were at the top of the basketball world.  When I think about many of the traits of a Scorpio, I embody many of them. 

There is not doubt that being a Scorpio helps me greatly as a runner.  I so identify with the statement "a Scorpio never gives up, they are so determined to reach their goal."  As a runner--especially as I embark on another marathon--that statement is the key to my training and a key to my personality.  When you are in the marathon, as I've stated on a few occasions, there are times when quitting seems much more desirable than finishing.  However, it's that drive inside of me that will not allow for me to quit, let up, or stop.  In addition, it's the flexible part of being a Scorpio that helps me readjust during a race, during a run, or in life to make sure that small set backs don't end up blocking progress.  In life, we all get beat every now and then, but you've got to get up, keep fighting, and get ready to win the next one.  You cannot get what you want if you are not willing to risk the possibility of defeat or failure.  I think that this outlook has a lot to do with being a Scorpio and also being a runner, and the combination of those two traits makes me a pretty odd but interesting character. 

I ran 9 miles this morning in about 61:30 and I finished out the last 3-4 miles at about a 6:30 per mile clip.  I'm so excited about running a marathon this fall and I'm ready.  The fire is back inside of me ignited by a few things, but it's back.  I'm thinking that I'm 99% sure I'll run the Indianapolis Monumental Marathon on November 5, 2011.  It's truly and Indianapolis specific race past all of the sites and areas I love.  On my run today I thought about using the Monumental Marathon to qualify for the Boston Marathon next April (one year from Monday).  I'm pumped.  As a runner, one of the things I've always wanted to do is run Boston.  I've qualified three times and never signed up.  It's time to go after it.  It's time to once again push the envelope of what I'm capable of doing at the 26.2 mile distance.  It's time.

Happy running to you...

Character...

Good morning.  Going to write another short blog as I'm inspired this morning after my run.  Ran 6 miles this morning at 5:15a.  It was a nice run and it felt good.  I really became focused two weeks ago when committing to the marathon for the fall and I've run a lot more.  Already, my mental and physical ability has increased positively by a ton.  When I run and am focused on a race, then I'm at my best.

On my run this morning I was thinking about a conversation I had  yesterday with a teammate about my Grandad.  We were in my office and I was telling him about the Kentucky Wesleyan College chair that sits in my office that my Grandad was awarded when he retired from KWC as the Dean of Students.  I keep that chair in my office because it reminds me of him and it serves as a guide post for decision making.  You see, my Grandad always did the right thing and the right thing was always about what was fair and just for the student.  Whenever I have a tough decision to make, I generally think about what would he do.  What would be the most just or must fair way to proceed?  Whenever I would go out to eat with he and my Grandmother in Owensboro--even after her retired--it was common for someone to come up to the table and say, "Hello Dean Gorrell" and that would be followed by a "thank you for the time you gave me a second shot when I did X or thank you for helping me when I needed it most."  I grew up around that positive energy and positive influence and I still carry it with me to this day.  In this life, it's character that counts.  My Grandad had excellent character and then some.  His life was not always easy, but he carried himself the same way in good times and in bad times.  He always did the right thing--even when difficult and even when it required more work.  I admired that so much growing up, and that example he set drives me daily.  I'm a fortunate person to have had a person like that in my life.

Off to work.  Happy running to you....

Celebrating Running Tights...

Good morning universe.  Just finished up a very nice 6.25 mile run this morning.  It is brisk once again in Indiana proving that you can have winter and summer in the same week (mid 70s one day and high 20s the next).  I very much enjoyed my run today despite another cold run--but I was in my tights that I've had since 1994 and I love these things.  I cannot wait to celebrate the 20th anniversary of my black running tights.

My Aunt Grace & Uncle Brian (UK Fans) w/ Sarah & I at RUPP

You cannot really have a blog without mentioning March Madness.  Wow Butler!  I'm very excited for their team and fans and hope the can make the Final 4 again.  And...Wow UK.  Last year I thought they'd win it all and they stumbled.  This year I thought they'd lose in the first round and they end up knocking off Ohio State.  Great for UK and their fans.  As I stated a couple blogs ago, I've taken on a new approach to UK.  Rather than seeing UK as the enemy of Indiana, I've decided to see UK as a team Indiana competes against but can respect and be civil to the rest of the year.  I have a lot of friends and family who feel as strongly about UK as I do about IU, so I think the best thing to do is be competitors respectful of each other.  In many ways, this is a lot like the philosophy of running.  I've known some guys over the years that I really respected and got along well with even though we competed against each other in local races.  In running, it's about competing hard on the course or on the track, but being good to each other outside of the competition.  I've never really thought about applying the philosophy of running to being a basketball fan, but it makes sense.  Why not just really want to beat UK when they play IU, but be respectful friends outside of that one day?  For me, I'm so competitive and I let my basketball emotions get the best of me at times, but I'm working on it.  One day we will have kids and I'd want them to be good sports.  So...I need to do the same. 

Today is our New Staff Welcome event for our team for next year.  I look forward to this every year even though it's always with mixed emotion.  On one hand it's exciting to assemble the new team, but on the other hand you have to say goodbye to some of your current team members.  We have been so fortunate this year to have an outstanding team and it's humbling to have the staff give everything they have to our program and team.  I'm excited about the team we have coming in, but also EXTREMELY PROUD of the current team.  If you work in the Res Life and Housing World then you probably understand.  We become so close to the folks working in the Residence Halls and it's tough sometimes to let folks go.  One thing I'll be talking about today is the phrase, "people become what the most important people in their lives think that they will become."  In the Res Halls there are times when that "most important person" is the student staff member, the graduate residence director, or the RD for the building because they really come through for a student in a time of need.  We may not be that "most important person" all the time, but in Res Life you have the chance to be that "most important person" during a time in which a student may choose to stay in college or depart.  There are many times when the Res Life staff makes the difference in a person's college experience and there are times when Res Life staff make little to no difference.  I'm proud to say that in our program at IUPUI we are ALWAYS trying to make the positive difference in our work.  I know for me at IU, my RA made the difference just by asking me to get involved.  I know that our staff at IUPUI make the difference by connecting, encouraging, and supporting our students.  Very proud of them.  Maybe I'll show up in my black running tights and spandex shirt.  ;-)

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

A Nice Surprise...

Hello.  Happy Saturday evening to you.  Just a short blog entry before we head to dinner.  It's been a great week.  Students were on Spring Break and I was able to get some tasky work assignments done that sometimes get pushed back by more pressing issues.  I have missed have the students around, so it will be nice to have them back on Monday.

Had a very nice run this morning.  The weather is changing to Spring and that's a great thing.  The winter has been especially harsh this year and I am looking forward to running in some shorts and short sleeves soon.  I've not made much headway on trying to break a 5 minute mile, but I'm hopeful to start pushing towards that here in a week or so. 

My Mom & Dad came in for a visit last night and we've had a nice time thus far.  We are headed out for dinner tonight.  Sarah and I had brunch with my Mom and then headed up to the Northside for some shopping.  Don't fall over, but I actually purchased some nice brown shoes.  Every now and then I do need some brown shoes that are not too dressy but nice for dinner.  The running shoes don't quite cut it sometimes.  Regrettably, I must wear dress shoes from time to time.  It's just a reality that I have to accept. 

Congrats to Kentucky and the UK fans who read the blog.  As many of you know, I'm not the biggest UK fan in the world--okay not a fan at all--but I am a fan of my friends and family who like UK so I'm happy for them.  Happy running to you and I promise a wing-dinger of a blog very soon.

Perfect mornings...

He loves his Mommy & Daddy

It's the little things in life.  Truly, I believe that.  And this morning was spectacular.  My alarm went off at 5:30a and I shut it off quickly.  I laid there in the dark next to Sarah with Myles in his crate.  I knew I had to SLOWLY get out of bed as not to wake up Myles (Sarah was sleeping like a log).  Carefully, I stepped out of bed knowing that one misstep would wake up Myles and hijack my running plans.  To my delight, I snuck out of the room successfully and got ready for my run.

The run this morning was awesome.  It was windy, but the 90% chance of rain that was predicted for 6a was not there and the temps were in the high 40s.  As I ran step by step through the darkness I just felt terrific.  My right foot hurt badly after Sunday's 8 mile run so I took two days off.  I've learned over the years that resting when you feel just slightly sore is better than just pushing through it and ending up with a long term ailment.  I ran 5 miles this morning, into the wind and then with the wind on the way back.  I felt great. 

When I returned home I snuck back into the bedroom and sat down next to Myles's crate.  He raised up his head and stuck his tiny nose through the metal.  I opened the door and he jumped out and plopped right into my lap.  I picked him up, hugged him, and kissed the top of his head.  He returned the favor by giving me a little Myles kiss (lick) on my face.  And...then he just did that smell thing dogs do--they love their keepers smell--and he just smelled my neck and face.  As I held him, I just let myself be in the moment and totally focus on the joy that Myles has brought into our lives.  I felt this overwhelming sense of love for him and it nearly brought me to tears.  Yes, I know, I know, I know he's a dog, but he's our dog and I love him.

After a successful potty time for Myles the grand finale of the morning came when I returned, Sarah was awake, and Myles and I greeted here with a "Good Morning!"  Myles and I are both crazy about Sarah and I just love asking Myles, "where's Mommy" and watching him SPRINT to wherever he thinks she is.  As we got ready for work and then as Sarah left and we kissed goodbye, I just could not help but think about what a perfect morning it was today.  Simple, yes, but perfect because I was surrounded by love and was able to do something I love (run).

I'm looking forward to interviewing some great potential stars for our team over the next few days at TPE.  I'm so proud of our department and what we accomplish and stand for and I'm looking forward to finding great individuals to join us.  Have a great day and happy running to you!

Loyalty, Pride, & Unconditional Support...



Getting Food Before the Game



Dang.  The Hoosiers lost again last night, and on senior night to boot.  It was a tough loss, like so many this season, and we were in the game and just could not make enough plays to win.  We are now 12-18 and have lost 6 in a row.  This is a team that has been 16-46 in the two years before this year.  Everyone knows that we cleared out the roster and started over brand new in 2008.  I don't think anyone thought it would be this tough to get it going again. 

With that said, I don't think I've ever been prouder of my university and it's fans than right now.  Assembly Hall was sold out (again) last night and the fans had the place rocking.  They cheered loudly for the team and saved their boos only for the officiating.  For the umpteenth time I was decked out in my IU shorts and Jersey living, breathing, and dying every second of the game.  I argued with the refs through my TV screen, I pleaded with team to make good decisions, I ran around like a crazy person when we got it to one and had a chance to win.  And then...Wisconsin went on a run, got up by 10, and that was that.  I took the dog out to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, and went to bed.  I know that so many other people feel the same way about IU Basketball.  It's special.  It's a great program to love.  It will be back sooner than later and all of us diehards who have stuck with them through thick and thin will see another NCAA Banner up again.  And...that's what it's all about:  Loyalty, Pride, & Unconditional Support.  Honestly, I don't care what people say about IU and never have.  I LOVE IU, I love the program, I love everything about being a IU fan.  If anything defines what being an IU fan means it's this:  Last night after the game in a season full of disappointment, the fans stayed to pay tribute to the seniors.  They listened to them, cheered for them, and showed the players how much they appreciated their effort.  Honestly, that had me in tears.  Say what you want about IU this year, but the effort these guys have given has been outstanding.  So many teams with winning records that are headed to the NCAAs don't give the effort this team does.  I love them for it.

I had a very nice run this morning and beat the rain.  6 miles at an easy pace.  I'm headed out to work.  Myles has a "dingle berry," if you know what I mean, and that's going to take two people to get that off.  I know what Sarah and I will be doing tonight!  Ha ha Ha.  Happy running to you...

Competitive...

I've seen a lot lately about people using a word or two to describe themselves.  It's a cool concept, although I've not really participated.  I'd have a difficult time coming up with a "few" words because I'm so long-winded, but one word I know would be there is "competitive."  Being competitive helps me be very good at my work and a pretty good runner.  If unchecked, though, being competitive can also be quite maddening for those around me.

Since I can recall, I've been extremely competitive.  As a kid I HATED to lose and I always wanted to be first or the best.  In youth baseball I can recall a time where I was so mad about striking out that I threw my bat, tossed my gum, ran to the dugout and tossed my batting gloves on the roof.  I was competitive with a capitol "C."  In fact, I once skipped a nice family vacation to Dallas when I was 13 so that I could play in a rec league baseball tournament.  Thinking back on it, that was crazy, but I worked on my parents for weeks to let me stay and play. 

When I was a junior in high school I finally found a very positive way to channel my competitive energy when a cross country and track coach, Coach Rowe, finally convinced me to use my running talent to actually run instead of just sitting on the bench as a basketball player.  I immediately loved running because running allowed me to channel my competitive nature in a more positive way for two reasons.  One, running is about being a member of a larger community that is peaceful and kind.  Chest thumping and trying to simply beat another person is not really valued.  Two, Coach Rowe did not allow for us to lose our cool or to act like Bob Knight.  I respected (and still respect) Coach Rowe so much and he would have never allowed me or any teammate to lose our cool like I used to do in recreational baseball.  One time I lost my cool after a race, and you better believe Coach Rowe had me running stairs in the stadium.  At the time, I needed that type of caring discipline.  I still think of Coach Rowe to this day when I start to lose my cool. 

I'm not perfect by any means and I learn that daily.  At work, I'm not only competitive and want our department to be one of the best around, but I'm also a perfectionist.  When you put those two together, look out.  While I don't  have Coach Rowe in my daily life, I have the best wife in the world, Sarah.  Sarah often reminds me that I need to cool it and relax and she extends a great deal of patience when I'm in a tizzy.  I love her for it and I"m extremely lucky to have her. 

Being competitive is something I love about me and it's something I hate about me too sometimes.  It drives me to get up and run a 5a when it's 10 degrees outside, but it also causes me to lose my temper over an email that I probably won't even care about next week.  My competitive nature helps me achieve great feats in running and in my profession, but it also causes me to be frustrated with a bad race or mistakes by myself or others.  When in balance, my competitive nature is a wonderful asset.  When out of balance, my competitive nature can make me insufferable.  Fortunately, I spend most of my time in balance.  However, when I'm feeling out of balance, I'm fortunate that I have three things that bring me quickly back to reality:  Sarah, Myles, and Running.  This morning I was feeling a bit restless and agitated and I went for a run.  I came back much happier, calmer, and with the perspective I needed. 

We all probably have strengths that are good and bad for us and we need some forces to help balance those.  My hope for you is that you have that, and my really hope that running can help.  Have a great Sunday.  I'm wearing my Peyton Manning jersey and going to watch the Superbowl.  Go Colts!  I know that they are not playing, but I love my Colts!  Happy running to you...

Passion baby...

Passion.  When I used to teach a first-year seminar class at Sonoma State I would always ask the students to share with me "what they were passionate about."  I was amazed how they often times struggled and said "what do you mean?"  I rephrased for them, "what gets you out of the bed in the morning?"  I continued, "what is it that you lose time doing, that makes you feel on top of the world, that you just get up ready to go and do as quickly as you can."  Often times, I was met with only a handful out of 30 that could answer the question.  So...our challenge became over the 18 week semester to help them find at least one of those things.

You see, I'm big on passion--going all in.  There are four thing for me:  Family (Sarah, Myles and our family), Running, Residence Life at IUPUI, and Indiana Basketball.  If you had to sum me up you could say, "oh, Josh...that's that crazy runner who loves IU basketball, seems married to his job, and he cannot stop talking about his wife and dog, Myles.  For me, passion and being passionate about those things just makes life so enjoyable.  I really never struggle to wake up and get going because I truly look forward to those four things.  Of course, there are other things as well, such as my friends, the Colts, etc., but passion is being so excited about something that you feel GREAT when it's going well and you feel TERRIBLE when it's going bad.  I think it's the feeling TERRIBLE part that people are afraid of and that sometimes prevents them from being passionate about things in life.  When things to go wrong, then it can feel just awful.  Most of us don't ever want to feel that way.  Yet, if you don't allow yourself on some level to feel bad or sad because of something, then you truly will never feel that GREAT feeling when things go so well. 

Anyway, I was thinking about passion on my run today.  The first thing I did this morning was take out Myles to the bathroom.  The second thing I did was drive Sarah to work at 6a.  The third thing I did was go for a run and I actually sang the IU fight song down White River PKWY because we play tonight, and now I'm about to head to work.  I've already hit all four and it's 7:15a.  Well...I am off to get ready for work.  Yes, I really did sing the IU fight song down White River PKWY across from the VA Hospital, and no I'm not crazy.  Just passionate.  Have a great day.  Happy running to you.  GO HOOSIERS BEAT the illini.  And...if you've not found what you just have to get out of bed for very single day, then my hope is you find it...

An Unexpected Honor...

Today is Martin Luther King Jr. Day here in the United States and millions of people pay tribute to the man who was largely responsible for ending racial inequality in America.  Growing up as a kid and studying history in school I was always enamored with Martin Luther King Jr. and absolutely in awe of the fortitude it must have taken to lead the way.  He was met with hateful words, water shot at him through hoses, arrests for "civil disobedience," and ultimately he was killed standing up for what was right.  Perhaps, no one in American history serves as an example of what the concept of "America" is supposed to be than Martin Luther King Jr. 

Last night I had the good fortune to attend IUPUI's Martin Luther King Jr. Dinner, which was planned and hosted by the IUPUI Black Student Union.  This event has been an IUPUI tradition for over 40 years and the students really do a great job with the dinner for nearly 500 people.  The food was fantastic, the speakers were inspiring, and the entire event was simply first class all the way. 

There is a part of the evening where the Black Student Union gives out some special recognition to people who have been considered to be "Advocates of the Dream."  One of the students who serves as a Resident Assistant in our department, Ose Agho, started reading about how the award goes to someone who tries to promote diversity, social justice, and human awareness on campus and tries to really help all students--someone who not just says it but lives it.  Then...she said something that nearly made me pass out.  She said, "and our Assistant Director of Housing and Residence Life..."  At that point, I'm thinking wow that's me, and before I could process it she named me as one of the winners of The Advocate of the Dream" award.  She called me up to the stage and several of the students in our program were standing up and cheering.  It was surreal as I just could not believe that they selected me.  It was one of those moments that was so personally humbling and amazing.

Since my days in Bloomington back in the late 90s I have really worked hard to be an advocate for students who are underrepresented on campus, and I have continued to try and do that in my career at UGA, Sonoma State, and now at IUPUI.  While I do my best to reach out and let students know that I am a "safe" person to rely on, it really takes the students taking a leap of faith to trust me--a white guy with a southern accent from Kentucky.  I think that's why this award means so very much to me--because it comes from students.  In my work it's all about the students and all about helping them reach their dreams and to do well in college.  In 2001 I graduated from the IU HESA Program.  At that time I was writing cover letters to apply for jobs and I recall writing the statement, "every day I get up out of bed feeling so fortunate to be able to make a positive impact on students."  Ten years later, I still feel the same way...each day I have an opportunity to make someones day--to be a "plus one."  Any accomplishment that I may receive is really a shared accomplishment between the students I have led and myself.  It is just as much about them buying into to me and what I stand for as it is about what I do on a day to day basis.  When I try to connect to all students regardless of what they look like, who they love, how much money they have, where the come from, etc., it really takes the students being open to someone who may be "different" from them in order for it to work.  Martin Luther King Jr. dreamed of a world where people worked together, trusted each other, and helped each other succeed regardless of skin color or difference.  For me, to win an award that is named after Martin Luther King Jr. and given by students is something I'll forever cherish, never forget, and work hard every day to live up to what being an "Advocate of the Dream" means.  It's an unexpected honor and it's one that I will forever deeply appreciate.