214.7 Miles Run in June...

Good morning.  It's a glorious morning as my puppy and I sit and write this blog together.  This morning I ran 10.3 miles and that brought my June miles total to 214.7 miles.  I'm taking tomorrow off as my goal was 200 miles for June and I'm over that.  Time to get ready for a 200 mile July.  The last time I ran 200 miles in a month was in March of 2008.  So...it's been a great month of training.  Here is some data for you:

Days Run in June:  22
Total Miles Run:  214.7
# of 10+ Mile Runs in June:  17
Total Miles for 2011:  800.2
Total Miles Run Since The Comeback (1/1/2006):  9038

Today really felt like I introduced a new gear to my running.  I ran the 10.3 in 69:44 and I was not really pushing it.  I think my body may slowly be adapting to the mileage and the pace will start to drop.  I'm excited as I head to July because I think I can have another great month of training.  If I can string together 200 mile months in June, July, & August, then my running base will be prime for September and October marathon specific training. 

Running teaches toughness and endurance.  And...I'm off to work where it's been all about toughness and endurance over the past few months.  With the things I can control it's been great.  With the things I cannot...well...let's just say the 214 miles run in June were good for processing and directing some energy.  Have an outstanding day and happy running to you...

"Clear eyes. Full hearts. Can't lose!"

I love these two.  Lucky guy am I!

It's Saturday morning.  Yeah!  I'm sitting here drinking some coffee with Myles in my lap and I'm ready to blog.  This morning I awoke at 6a and ran 14.25 miles in about 1hr42min.  It rained--the kind of rain where you are soaked to the bone--the entire time.  Ten minutes into the run I was drenched.  By the end of the run I was I was dripping wet, covered in mud/sand/rock (from the TowPath), and just flat nasty.  I loved every second of it--okay--almost every second of it.

Last night Sarah and I watched the series finale of the show Friday Night Lights.  We absolutely love that show and we identify with Coach Taylor and his wife Tammy Taylor (Guidance Counselor/Principal).  One, their relationship banter reminds us of how we sometimes go back and forth.  Two, what they stand for--helping out young students and pushing them to reach their potential--resonates loudly with us both.  The show is outstanding if you love the underdog, believe in the good of young people, and just love watching examples of how you should deal with character and ethical issues in your life. 

Coach Taylor always tells his players:  "Clear Eyes.  Full Hearts.  Can't Lose!"  I thought a great deal about that phrase on my run this morning and how it applies to my life.  For me, "clear eyes" refers to how you represent yourself to others and to the world.  It's all about being honest, telling the truth, and working hard.  It's about working through the end of your contract, it's about running in the rain, it's about doing the right thing.  I had one of the most powerful conversations with a student yesterday and we talked about how much better it feels to live life with no hidden skeletons and just open.  I know we all get into situations where we have a skeleton--some bigger than others--in the closet.  It always feels better when the skeleton is out.  Again--clear eyes means you can totally focus on your goals because nothing is blocking your vision--which leads to "Full Hearts."  When I think about "full hearts" I think about putting everything you have into what you love. It's running and pushing yourself to reach your potential.  It's caring about something so much that you feel unrivaled elation when everything goes well and you feel profound disappointment when things go wrong.  It's living with emotion and laying it on the line.  In my job at IUPUI in HRL I approach my work this day.  There is not a person who would doubt that I put everything I have into work and the people I lead.  In return, 98.5% of them give me their best everyday.  You cannot beg people to work hard.  But...when you work with a "full heart" approach many of the folks you lead will come right along with you.  Finally, "can't lose."  This is not about an actual win or loss or reaching some professional milestone.  "Can't lose" is about being able to look at your self in the mirror and be very, very proud of how you reached accomplishments--even if you come up a bit short.  We cannot all win the game.  I'm not going to go out and win an Olympic Gold Medal.  But...My goal for the Monumental Marathon on 11/5 is to run a 2:39.  For me, that would be about as well as I think I'm capable of running a marathon.    However, if I put in the miles and train with integrity (clear eyes) and I train hard and push the limit of my physical capabilities (full hearts), then no matter what happens I'll be proud (can't lose).  The same applies to life.  I would rather go all out and try hard for something and come up short, then to settle for the easy path and never really push myself to the limit.  So...my challenge to myself will remain to approach everything I do within the spirit of the phrase:  "Clear eyes.  Full hearts.  Can't Lose."

I hope you have a great day and weekend.  Mine has really gotten off to a good start and I'm happy about that.  Myles and I are getting ready to do some cleaning.  Happy running to you...

"When you're happy like a fool, let it take you over"

Good morning.  Hope you are having an outstanding Tuesday thus far.  I'm about to head off for work.  I ran an 11 mile run starting at about 5:30a this morning.  It was a fantastic run in which I encountered the Geese (again), four ducks, a cat, and a Deer!  Therefore, it's only natural that I write this blog entry with my dog, Myles, in my lap.  Ha Ha.  What's amazing about living in Indianapolis is that just 3.5 miles from downtown I can run and see some wildlife you would not normally see in a city.  A Deer?  That made me chuckle.  The Geese were back today and as agressive as ever on this trail I run.  So...I decided to alter my route to another trailhead so I can avoid the crazy geese.  Those things are unreal.

Today was a day that I listened to music while I ran and a song that has struck a chord with me lately is "Good Life" by OneRepublic.  See the video (you have to wait for the commercial):



There is a line in the song that says "when you're happy like a fool, let it take you over," and that line just stuck with me.  As I've talked about a few times on this blog there are times when I'm so happy to be running that I'm actually smiling, laughing out loud, and am down right giddy.  Today, was one of those days.  When I saw the Deer on the gravel path leading up to Broadripple I just started giggling and then laughing.  It was just so unexpected that I could not help but laugh.  After my run I felt moved and just started an impromtu interpretative dance to this song in our parking lot.  I must have looked so strange dancing around the parking lot in my running shorts and blue smurf shoes.  About a football field away I could see a couple people just looking at me like I lost my mind.  But...when you consider the line in this song, "when you're happy like a fool, let it take you over," I think me interpretative dancing in the parking lot or laughing hysterically about seeing a deer on my run in Indianapolis is captured perfectly by that line.  In this life there are times when we feel bad or upset so I think it's important that when you're happy you just run with it.  And...I do.

One last thing before I head to work.  The Bachelorette was crazy last night.  That guy, Bently, is a jerk.  That was just wrong.  If you watch the show, then you know what I"m talk

Smurf Shoes...

Good morning!  Hope that you are doing well and enjoying the first Sunday morning in June.  I had a 4.5 mile recovery run this morning and ended a great week of training:  48.5 miles run this week.  This is the third time in four weeks I've run 40 miles or more.  So...here goes.  My race update!

Smurf Shoes, Glove Socks!

First and foremost:  Smurf Shoes.  Last week I went to Bluemile in Broadripple and tried on the new Nike Pegasus running shoes.  They felt great, were light, and well cushioned.  They were also Smurf Blue.  I love them.  I know, can you imagine me wearing blue shoes?  I bet they would sell out of these in Lexington or any town sans Louisville in the great state of Kentucky.  Regardless, I love my smurf shoes.  The race yesterday went pretty well.  First off, it was hot--88 degree and humid hot.  I knew at the start line that I'd have to pace myself well.  In my head the real trade off I was making was try and average around 6 minutes a mile and break 30 minutes or start a bit slower and see what happens.  Gun went off and we started the race.  I felt really good the first mile and hit a 6:09 for the first mile and was in 7th place.  Then....I got carried away.  I picked up my pace and ran a 5:39 second mile and was in a very solid 5th place.  The third mile was run in 6:09 and that was 17:58 for three miles.  Not too bad.   However, my breathing was labored, my legs felt like jelly, and the fourth mile was rough.  I ran a 6:47 4th mile and could feel my 5th place standing in real jeopardy.  The heat kicked my tail on the 5th mile and I was just done.  I struggled to run a 6:59 last mile for a 31:45 time and a 7th place finish.  I did not finish the way I had hoped and probably would have finished 5th had I not pushed the second mile.  Running is funny.  After 100s of races and 23,000 miles of running I can still make a very simple mistake.  The lure of feeling good early in a race sometimes makes you forget that you'll pay if you don't pace right.  Being off on my pacing is typically how my first race of the season goes.  If I waited until I was in perfect shape to race, then I'd never race.  Getting out there and getting after it is much more important than running the perfect race.  To put it in perspective, typically in a five mile race I would run each mile within 10 seconds of each other.  Yesterday, there was a 1:20 difference between my fastest and slowest mile--yes, I have some work to do.  Overall, though, I am proud to have finished 7th out of 295 people.  I ran three miles at my goal marathon pace and I have five months to get ready.  This is a great starting point. 

Before diving in to my #3 best for the week I wanted to write a couple comments about Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel who resigned this week in the face of a NCAA Investigation.  For me, Jim Tressel resigning was inevitable.  Honestly, it's not because his players traded OSU memorabilia and bowl game rings for tattoos and cash.  It's not because the OSU players were driving cars from a local car dealership without paying.  For me, it's that when Jim Tressel was presented with the information last fall he did not do the right thing.  Coach Tressel could have notified his compliance office and the NCAA.  If he had done that, then the players would have been suspended.  But...Jim Tressel would still have a job, would be seen as extraordinarily ethical, and the good name of Ohio State would not have a huge blemish.  Instead, he covered it up and lied about it. Jim Tressel is an influential coach and was charged with the responsibility of coaching and developing young men.  Part of that development has to be development of character.  By not stepping up and telling the truth, Jim Tressel did everyone of those young men a disservice.  Coach Tressel let winning become more important than doing the right thing.   In my line of work--working with college students--I am always talking about doing the right thing even if it's the hard thing to do.  As a society, we don't teach this concept enough.  One of the most influential individuals in my life was my high school cross country coach (as referenced above).  While I will not go into specifics on this blog, I know for a fact that when presented with ethical challenges Coach Rowe always went the hard way and erred on the side of accountability.  I also know that he probably could have had a couple more state titles if he ignored character type issues.  However, for him teaching young men about character was more important than simply winning.  For me, that lesson is one I remember and is far more significant than winning a cross country meet or state title.  Being able to win in running comes and goes.  Having character and always doing what's right stays with you forever.  And that...folks...is why I'm so adamant that Jim Tressel needed to be gone--it's not what the players did but rather that he lied.  Lying is unacceptable and winning can never become more important than character.

Three best for the week:





Spent At End of Race


1. Sarah!  She came to my race last night and brought Myles.  It was not easy because it was hot and humid and there were 100s of people.  Myles is not the easiest to deal with in the heat.  I was very glad to see her at the end of the race and happy she came!
2. Racing!  I enjoyed being able to race.  It was great.  Enough said.
3. HRL Student Staff:  Their work, dedication to attending interviews to help us select RD, and just their commitment to giving their best effort is humbling to me.  Even the undergraduate student staff that have graduated have not checked out.  Their work speaks volumes about their character and it's been needed as I've used some of them more than others.

Have a great week.  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...

Run Dancing...

Good morning!  Happy mid-week to you.  Myles is here with me and we are blogging.  Next to taking him for a walk, this is one of his favorite times of the day (and mine too).  Our number one is when it's me, him, and Sarah just hanging out.  Number two is our daily walk followed closely by number three, blogging together.   I'll tell you one thing:  this dog has it MADE!  And...I got it made too.  He's a terrific pup!

Had a fantastic run this morning.  Ran about 6 miles in downtown Indianapolis.  Because it was not raining, I was able to listen to some music.  I cannot lie.  Every now and then a song just hits me, moves me, and causes me to start "run dancing."  That's right.  I'll actually dance while running.  Today, this song called Block After Block came on and I was just stoked.  Here it is by Matt & Kim:


Anyway, it's catchy, isn't it?  I ended my run with the song playing.  I jumped up on the bench outside our patio on the canal and just started dancing like I was on the team that won the NBA Finals.  Silly, yes.  Liberating and fun?  ABSOLUTELY!  Running moves me and when you couple that with a fun song, then I'm just about ready to pop with good feelings.  I'm sure to passers-by I looked foolish.  But...I don't care.  I won't let others define my relationship with running or music.  I love it.  I have fun with it.  I make people laugh with it.  And...if you want to come "run dancing" with me, then come.  Some people dance at the club at 2a all decked out in party gear.  I dance in the streets in my running gear at 5a.  Either way, we're both decked out dancing. 

Have a fantastic day.  Go to iTunes and try out Matt & Kim.  They are fantastic and Sarah introduced me to them about a month ago.  It's worth it!  Be a plus one to somebody (make their day) and happy running to you.

Running Partners...

Amazing Running Gear!  Ask me for details!

Hello!  Happy Saturday to you.  Today is a great day already and it's going to get even better as I am going to plant some flowers this afternoon.  Who knew I'd get such a kick out of flower planting?  Ha Ha.  I ran 12 miles this morning in about 84 minutes.  Not too shabby.  For those of you familiar with downtown Indianapolis, I ran from Creation Cafe area up to the Butler athletic fields (on the toe path) and back.  Fun run.  Check out my socks and arch aids.  Both really help on a long run.  The socks prevent blisters between the toes and the arch aids support my unnaturally high arches.

I really appreciate all of the personal emails and messages about my blog entry titled "Grandparents."  That specific entry meant a lot to me and the feedback from those who read that entry was fantastic.  My blog is simple and intended for me to form and maintain personal connections with those who read.  Feel free to keep the comments flowing. 

Today I wanted to write a little bit about my running partners.  For me, my running partners are not people who run with me physically because I run most miles by myself.  Rather, my running partners are the people who read this blog and coorespond with me about their personal running journeys.  For instance, there is Tracy, my cousin, who started running in the last year.  This week I sent her an email letting her know that she was the person I listed on my Indianapolis Monumental Marathon entry form as the person who inspired me to sign up.  Her comment was something to the effect of, "really?"  Yes, it's true.  You see, I'm inspired by Tracy's fearlessness in tackling half and full marathons when she's never run like that before.  That sort of courage is inspiring to me.  And...while I may inspire her, she can equally inspire me.  There is also Shelly in Washington State who is training for a marathon while raising four young kids.  I have a hard time getting my miles in and I just have a dog.  I cannot imagine training for a marathon and also having responsibility for children.  That's absolutely amazing.  There is Zac, my friend from Bloomington who lives in Colorado, who is an outstanding runner training for his first marathon.  My friend Aaron in Kentucky ran his first marathon about a year ago while running a business and taking care of his family.  And...in Res Life at IUPUI you have Erica, Theresa, Billy, Jillian, Amy, Rachel, Kevin, and Nick (and I'm sure others) who are training for different marathons and half-marathons.  Plus,  Thomas and Heather form OSI who run.  There is even Brian, who says he "slogs."  All of these people (plus all of the other folks I used to coach in California) are my running partners in the sense that I gain strength, motivation, and inspiration to run in hearing about their running journeys.  It's a two way street and that's the beauty of running.  Inspiration can come from anywhere and it does not matter how fast, how slow, or how long.  All that matters is you give it a shot.

Have an outstanding day.  I promise to post pictures of my flower planting and mulching efforts later today.  Happy running to you.

Just run...

Good morning!  Myles and I are just sitting here chilln' before I head to work.  I would like to write a very long blog post this morning, but I cannot.  However, I would be remiss if I did not make a short entry. 

Yesterday, I received some disappointing news (not family related--all good there).  It was news I expected, but a bit disheartening none-the-less.  It is not something really appropriate to go into on a blog so I won't go there.  What I will say though is this.  When I woke up this morning I laced up my shoes, headed out the door, and ran.  It's what I do, it's who I am, and I'm proud to be a runner.  Running is about honor, integrity, discipline, sharing, kindness, hard-work, struggle, overcoming struggle, victory, defeat, hills, downhills, rain, snow, sleet, hail, sun, hot, cold, mud, concrete, grass, and the list could go on and on.  My point is this:  there is very little in this life that can occur that running has not already prepared me to handle.  In this life there will be disappointment.  Running helps me deal with it, learn from it, and improve. 

Myles is whining at me so I think he needs to go potty.  Happy running to you...

Dripping w/ Sweat!

Write this down!  April 10 was the first time after running that I was completely drenched in sweat in 2011.  Yeah, gross, I know.  But...the sweat means that the warmer temps are nearly here to stay and that Spring will be in full effect soon.  I ran about 1p this afternoon and it was a little over 80.  It was hot, my body temp rose quickly, and I did not feel very good on the six mile run--I will say, though, that it's pretty normal to feel bad on you first few runs as temperatures increase.  Your body has to get used to the heat.  So...if it's pretty outside and you are looking forward to running but you get out there and feel like junk...don't worry.  It's normal for the first few runs when the temps increase.  Just drink lots of Gatorade and Water.



Myles & The Foam Roller



I thought I may take a minute to give folks a tip about something I use after every run, a Foam Roller.  What I learned the last time I was injured (2008 with IT Band Syndrome) is that your muscle tissue (especially in your outside quad areas) can get banded up and actually provide less flexibility for your IT band.  This can cause pain in your knee (inside or outside), in your hip area, and even into your back.  When I worked at the Running Company (now Bluemile) the good folks of St. Vincent Sports performance talked to us about the Foam Roller.  The Foam roller is a little cylinder that you roll on (outside of your legs) an

d it helps smooth out the tissue and keep it from banding up.  Sometimes, it causes light bruising, but using it daily has keep me running injury free for about two  years now (knock on wood).  I've included a picture of it next to Myles--he thinks of it as his friend too.  Email me or comment in the blog if you have questions on how to best use it.

Now...for my three best for the week.  I've enjoyed doing this the past two weeks so it's back for a third week.

#1:  Going on a date with Sarah last Thursday to eat at Napolese in Broadripple and then see to Matt & Kim for Rock for Riley at the Vogue.  She convinced me to go and I had no idea who Matt & Kim were, but dang was it fun and dang were they good.  I'm telling you right now to go to iTunes, search for Matt & Kim, and listen to their music.  It's good stuff in my opinion.  Sarah and I don't get to go out much with our schedules so it was great to be out with her before her crazy surgery rotation this next month.

#2:  Sitting outside reading on the porch with Myles while having an adult beverage.  It was a great way to spend the early evening last night.  I cannot believe he just sat in the chair next to me.  He loves people watching and I love him.

#3:  Brunch with Sarah at 3 Sisters in Broadripple.  Once again, Sarah does not disappoint with her dining selections.  I enjoyed a healthy dose of French Toast and it was outstanding.  Great time spent with Sarah just enjoying the moment.

All in all, this week was pretty good.  I ran five days this week and hit over 30 miles for the week.  Slowly, I'm getting back to where I know I can be in terms of running and it's nice.  Happy running to you...

Fight On! A Lesson from the Marathon...

There is a point, actually more than one, during a marathon where you think you're not going to make it.  Your quads hurt, calves hurt, arms hurt, and you feel like a tractor-trailer just backed over you about five times.  Often times people refer to this as the wall.  In every single marathon I've run, I have hit this point at least 2-3 times during the race.  The first time it hits you just take take some GU and have some Gatorade, focus on something else for a mile or two, and then you feel better.  The second time is a bit rougher and you might need to slow down for a bit, take in more GU or sport beans, and drink just a bit more Gatorade.  But when the big one hits and you've already been weakened by the first two walls (for lack of a better terms), that's when your metal is truly tested.  That's when you become a marathon runner because it takes extraordinary mental and physical strength to push through pain that makes you just want to lay on the side of the road and have a beer.  It becomes a matter of just moving step to step, breath to breath, and minute to minute.  And...if you can eek it out for just a few minutes, then you finally push through to this state of elation that simply cannot be understood unless you've had to do it.  No matter what your time, if you've finished a marathon, then you've done something that most simply won't try to do.  An extraordinary accomplishment.

What I love about running is how often it applies to your daily life.  For example, April is a busy month in my work world and if you look at the totality of everything that has to be done, then it can look daunting.  Much like the marathon, I know there will be walls to push through.  Much like the marathon, there will be times that multiple walls may hit you and you have to figure out how to get through them.  All the tasks that need to be accomplished will get accomplished, but I've found that focusing on it one step and one day at a time is the only way to do it.  Figure out what has to be done in the moment to keep things moving forward in the right way, do that every day, and then by the end of the month you will have accomplished what you set out to accomplish.  In the marathon it's the same concept, run the third mile and concentrate on the third mile so you'll be ready for the fourth mile.  That, my friends, is why I love running and why it helps me.  Running helps me practice how to approach challenges in a self-controlled environment so that I am ready to handle challenges in an environment where there are a ton of moving parts.

Have a great day.  At this point my marathon selections are down to 10/2 (Trail Marathon in Battle Ground Indiana) or 11/5 (Monumental Marathon in Indy).  I was thinking of the Indianapolis Marathon, but as Sarah point out that's the day after our 5th wedding anniversary.  That would be sort of silly for me to plan a marathon on that weekend.  No doubt.  So...the Indianapolis Marathon is out.  It's either road or trail and I've got some time to decide.  That's another blog post in itself.  Happy running to you!

I've got the bug...

Good morning!  Wow.  April Fools Day was yesterday and let me tell you I got pranked!  It was pretty funny indeed.  I'm probably the biggest IU Basketball Fan in the world, and I was definitely the biggest IU Hoops fan growing up in Kentucky.  Imagine my surprise when my office was COMPLETELY changed into an office only a UK fan could love.  Pretty darn funny.  I love my staff.  They went all out for this prank and it made me feel good.  I love a good prank from time to time and I surely give it as good as I get it.  See the video for the full effect.  Good luck to UK and Butler today!

I've been thinking a lot lately about my running and what I want to do next.  About a month ago I mentioned trying to run a sub 5 mile and a sub 17 minute 5K.  While those are great goals and I know I can get them, those goals are not motivating me.  I've been stuck in this rut of just running without a purpose.  That's just not me.  I run best when I have a tangible goal in sight that has some accountability.  For example, signing up for a race helps hold you accountable because you have to train for it and you've made a financial commitment.  The other thing about me as a runner and as a person is that I like to do the extreme or most difficult thing.  I love challenge.  So...running a fast 5K, while great, is not extreme enough for my personal satisfaction of reaching a goal.  You know what is?  The Marathon!  I've run four and my injury issues with the marathon are well documented in this blog.  But...I've got the bug again.  I need a nice running challenge to really train for, sweat for, prepare for, and look forward to.  I talked to Sarah this morning and she was in agreement that I could train for the Indianapolis Marathon on October 15.  Honestly, I need a goal that is difficult, hard, and where there is a chance you don't make it.  The Marathon meets all of those requirements:  Great risk, very tough, big time reward.  I'm almost sure this will be what I'll be training for over the next six months.

For those who know me and know of my running issues with the marathon then you are probably concerned.  Heck, I am too.  Passing out,Shin splints, foot issues, IT Band Syndrome, and Piraformis pain are all injuries I've suffered in my marathons.  Yet, I've learned from every issue.  This time around, I believe if I continue to pay attention to my core, stretch out my calves, and use arch aids for my feet, then I can do this.  My first thoughts on training are 4-5 days a week of running with runs of 6-8 miles three days a week and runs of 18-24 miles one day a week.  On off days, I'll really work my core and upper body.  I believe that this just may work. 

I've been so restless of late--like I'm just never satisfied and that usually means something is out of balance.  When I focus in too much on one or two areas of my life and ignore other parts, then I tend to lose perspective in all areas.  What running has done for me historically, has been to give me a part of my life that's just me and it serves to balance out other parts of my life.  Having a very clear running goal provides me with something that I can focus on, control, and completely be responsible for the outcome--and in an environment where it's not related to work or IU Hoops.  I need that and I think it's about time just to go for it.  I'm going to think it over for a few days, but I"m pretty sure this is the way I'm headed. 

Have a fantastic Saturday.  May the team you are rooting for win.  Happy running to you.

Maybe It's Nothing...

Good morning.  Myles and I are at it again writing our blog.  He's in my lap and I'm doing the writing.  Someone got the good end of this deal.  At least I have some coffee. 

"Maybe it's nothing," I said to myself as I was walking down the stairs to our place last night.  I was walking and just immediately felt shooting pain on the outside toes of my left foot.  I've felt this sort of pain before and I know it's probably related to some nerve issues that may calm down in a day or two.  But...it's never felt like this...pain that prevented me from walking very easily and pain all the way into the inside of my left ankle.  This morning it felt a little bit better and I can walk on it, but it's tender.  It's tingly and numb and painful.  Again, I had this happen before for a few hours and it went away.  Here's to hoping it's nothing and that I'll be back on the road tomorrow running strong.  I've mentioned before that it's tough for me to write when I've not been running.  Heck, the title of my blog is "What I learned While Running."  But...I think it's so important for me to write when I'm possibly injured because I can help those of you who are new to running.  See, when I was younger I would have tried to run through this and just gutted it out.  However, often times that turns a day or two off into a month or two off.  Running through pain is sometimes okay, but mostly it's just going to lead to a major injury.  If there is one key thing I've learned in my 17 year running career it's that you have to know when to call it and rest.  Today was one of those days for me. 

All in all things are going well this week.  Work is fun and I am enjoying the work week.  Myles is as curious as ever and this week he really like to chew on power cords--what fun for us.  The Final Four is this weekend.  My gut says Kentucky will win.  However, I would not be shocked to see Butler or VCU win the whole thing.  While both UK and UCONN are good teams, they are not heads and shoulders above anyone in the Final 4.  So...why Kentucky?  Well, they clearly have the most talent and they have three NBA guys on that team--Jones, Knight, and Lamb.  They are loaded with talent and then some nice veteran leadership in Liggins, Miller, and Harrelson.  I will say on record that I think that this Kentucky team is Coach Cal's best work ever as a coach.  There are not a lot of guys on the team that just wow you, they don't out talent you like last year's team.  Yet, here they are in the Final 4 and that's in large part to them playing as a team and in large part to the development of Miller, Liggins, and Harrelson.  Development of players is the Coach and so I must give Coach Cal credit.  Who will I be rooting for in the Final 4 you may wonder?  I'll be rooting for the team that's behind at the end of the game and hoping they can come back and win.  That's who I'll root for.

Have a great day.  Happy running to you or in my case happy resting to you...

"I need a Doctor..."

Good morning.  Myles, who is sitting in my lap, says hello too.  Time for a short blog.  Ok, the title.  I rarely talk about the title because the blog entry usually speaks for itself.  But...I love that Eminem and Dr. Dre song that is on the radio all the time.  I love it. 

Had a great run this morning and on Tuesday morning as well.  I mentioned in my last blog that I was just feisty and grumpy on Sunday.  That continued into Monday and Tuesday as well.  I was sooooooo frustrated with myself for feeling so antsy.  So...on my runs today and on Tuesday I really concentrated on that negative energy while I ran and just ran it out.  I ran hard and the more I felt grumpy the harder I ran.  I know that this might sound strange for folks who do not use running as a stress management tool.  Me?  Well, I am competitive and I work hard and I am a perfectionist.  When I think things are not the absolute best that they can be then I get frustrated--even if I should not be; even if perfection is a silly goal.  So...I run.  And running really helps me burn energy and process information and feelings.  Last year I ran 40 miles/week for 40 consecutive weeks.  I am now only running about 20 miles a week.  So...I've got a lot more energy and less time.  So...I've decided to really push the runs--even if they are shorter.  Basically, it's run in the morning before work and then walk with Mr. Myles in the afternoon. 

We have our New Staff Welcome for our new student staff this weekend.  I've been working on a PowerPoint presentation that will get folks FIRED UP about being on our team.  I'm pumped about getting the undergraduate staff team together for the first time.  We've had an exceptional group this year and the future looks to be bright as well.  I'm so very fortunate to work with some of the most talented students in all the land!  We have a lot of "Prime time Players"--to steal another Dick Vitale phrase.  We continue to have a really good run of outstanding staff performance at IUPUI and it starts with the students and is really hammered home by our supervisory team. 

OK.  Time to go to work.  Myles is ready for a nap in his crate.  Happy running to you...

"I need a Doctor, Doctor, Doctor..."  (Good thing I have one)  ;-)

I needed a run...

Sometimes, I get inexplicably cranky.  It's odd that a normally calm and easy going guy can become a pain in the butt.  After my trip to Target today for weekly shopping, I came back and was just flat out cranky and I was driving Sarah crazy.  Finally, I told Sarah that I needed to run and she said something to the effect of "yeah, I think that would be good."  So...I headed out the door and went for it.



I love this hat...



My picture today is fitting as often times I do become much happier after a run.  Additionally, there are days when I'm running that I just have the biggest smile on my face as I'm running down the street.  Sometimes, I'm thinking about something that makes me laugh.  Other times, it might be a song that elicits a memory that makes me smile.  Currently, that's the "This is Indiana" song as I just cannot help but smile when thinking about how much I love the Hoosiers!  In either instance, the hat I'm wearing in the photo that simply says "Run Happy" often times describes me perfectly.  On a day like today when it was sunny outside and there was a nice breeze I just felt great.  And...I returned from my run a lot less crankier, which is good me and my ability to stay out of the dog house.  Thankfully, I'm married to a person who understands my inherent need to run.  I'm sure being married to a runner has it's frustrations and it is such a sport for compulsive and obsessive type individuals.  Those two traits can be great (as it helps get you out of bed to run) and bad (as you feel guilty and/or cranky when you don't run).

On my run today I was thinking about work and and just prepping mentally for the next two months.  It's going to be a sprint as we get ready for our day to day business, closing, and preparing for the summer.  I'm ready and excited as we will be recruiting two new professional Residence Directors and at the same time closing out the year with an outstanding group of graduating undergraduate and graduate staff.  I've got to make sure to remember to have fun, enjoy these two months, and "run happy" on a daily basis.  Happy running to you...

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!

Mile 23 at Big Sur...

Good morning.  This will not be a very long entry.  Just wanted to jot down some thoughts.  I had a very nice run this morning at 5:45a.  Another day of ice and temps in the teens, but I ran through it.  The ice now, at least, is not falling but rather deeply embedded into the sidewalks.  Anyway, it was a nice 4.5 mile run.

At work things have become very busy lately and we are down three key staff members.  Much of the workload falls to our Res Life Supervisory Team--and a good deal falls to me.  I have been asked if I'm going to get tired, warn out, or burned out.  My answer is always, "no."  My "no" is generally met with the shaking of the head and some disbelief.  But...I know I won't get tired.  I know it as sure as I know we need oxygen to breathe.  My capacity to handle fatigue is tested daily when I run and I have learned so much about handling fatigue through running.

In April of 2006 I ran in the Big Sur Marathon (that's me in the red hat).  This was my comeback marathon after being out of running for about three years.  Big Sur is beautiful, but also extremely hilly.  Extremely.  It generally chews people up and spits them out.  At mile 23 of Big Sur I was hurting!!!  My quads felt like someone was slamming bricks on them and I just wanted to quit.  I stopped for a second, regained my composure, and devised a plan of walking and running to the finish so I could make it.  And...that got me through mile 23, and then I was able to run all of mile 24, 25, and 26.  I mention Mile 23 because that was my wall in the race and I had to figure out how to get around it.  Sure, it would not have mattered in the scheme of life if I hitched a ride back to the finish, but I was not about to do that.  Similarly, if I hit a wall at work, and hit them I have and will, I'll find a way around it or a way through it.  I do it every day when I run.  Consequently, I'm ready to do it everyday in my work.  And...at Big Sur I gave my absolute best effort on the course and finished in 3:08--qualifying for the Boston Marathon, which is tough to do on the Big Sur Race Course. 

Have a great day.  Get out there, go for a run, and practice breaking through walls.  If you practice everyday, you'll never run out of steam (NOTE:  you have to allow yourself an appropriate amount of rest, patience, and common sense as well).  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...

Wear A Hat In The Winter

Good morning! This morning I ran a nice and easy five miler. It was cold and windy out and I was thankful for my IU Sock Cap. When I first began running in 1994 my High School Coach, Coach Rowe, always told us to wear a cap to keep the head warm. 17 years later, I'm still wearing a cap in the winter (and gloves too). I have heard a lot of running advice over the years, but wearing something on your head in the winter or when it's cold is some of the best advice I've ever received when it comes to running.

In other news...we begin our Undergraduate Student Staff Training today. I'm looking forward to that as we've put a great plan together and we kick of with the 80s Themed Celebration Event tonight. We just finished up what I thought was two good days of Supervisor Training. We really worked hard at reconnecting and improving our team communication.

Finally, my boy Myles is sleeping through the night. From 8/28 until December 30 I was up every single night in the middle of the night except for one night. Now...Mr. Myles is sleeping through the night and I'm resting better and thus will be able to run more. Right now, the little guy is curled up next to my feet looking all cute. For those who don't know, Myles is our puppy who we think of as a son. Happy running to you...

An All Out Effort...

Happy Labor Day! Last night I had the good fortune of running a race in Broadripple...The Ripple Effect 4 Miler. I circled this race on my calendar earlier this year because I love Broadripple (home of The Running Company) and I knew that with Student Staff Training and Opening over I would be able to race. We did end up with little Myles and that's kept us busy, but totally worth it!

Heading into last night's race I really had two goals: run under 23 minutes and give an all out effort. It's been a couple months since I ran a road race and I was looking forward to racing, but at the same time my pacing is usually off a little when I don't race. At the start of the race it was about 80 and sunny--a little warmer than I thought it would be--still not 90 which was good.

The race started and I settled in well after running out a bit too fast. I hit the first mile in 5:28 and was hoping for a 5:35. Still, I did back off around the half mile point or I could've ended up at 5:15. That would have been WAY TOO FAST. After the first mile I was in 6th place and I could see the folks in 3, 4, and 5. I knew I just needed to keep them in my sight and just keep running hard. I hit the second mile in a 11:06 (5:38 second mile) and was feeling good. I was breathing hard and the heat was making it's mark on me, but I still was mentally holding strong. At the 3 mile mark I was still in 6th place and could see the folks in front of me. I went through there in 16:58 (5:52 3rd mile). At this point I knew that I was fading and that I was in danger of not achieving my goal of a sub 23 unless I really got it into gear. I locked in on the 2 guys in front of me and tried to make a run at them. At about 3.5 miles I had closed the gap to about 6 seconds, but then they started to race each other and pulled away. However, I really stayed locked in and finished strong to close out the race in 22:47 (5:48 last mile). Overall, I finished in 6th (out of 518 runners), averaged a 5:41.9 mile, and ran splits of 5:28, 5:38, 5:52, and 5:48.

All in all, I was very pleased with my effort. I got out too fast in 5:28, but I did not let it ruin my race. I was able to pull it together and still finish strong and reach my goal. Earlier in my running career getting out too fast would've meant I'd have bombed. The difference now is just mental toughness and the ability to hang on and deal with the pain. I knew I gave my absolute best effort because at the finish I just fell down and hit the ground. I was wiped out and tired. I LOVE that feelig. The feeling of giving it everything you have. Every ounce of effort you can muster. Running yourself to exhaustion. Call me crazy, or stupid, or whatever. For me, running like that honors the gift I've been given and it once again allows me to practice what I preach: Giving everything I do 100% of my effort. To not give 100% to what you do is dishonorable and really limits what you can achieve as a person. I'll never want to be like that...

Here are a couple cool pictures from the race. Myles and Sarah and then Myles and I after the race. Happy Labor Day and Happy Running to you...