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....

Mid-Week Check-In

Hello.  Just a short blog this evening as it's been a hectic week.  I most likely won't post this to Twitter or Facebook.  I've run six miles on Monday and Wednesday and plan to do the same tomorrow.  This will keep me on track to hit the 30 mile mark again this week.  I'm still planning on training for a marathon. 

So much I'd like to blog about.  Enough said.  It's not personal as all is good on the home front.  Sarah, Myles & I are doing so well.

I'm so very proud of our three grad students who are out there interviewing and having great success.  They started when I started and I've not known HRL without them as a part of it.  I'm going to miss them terribly when they leave, but I'm so dog gone proud of them.  What I do is all about helping people achieve their goals and dreams.  It's great to see it happen!

Happy running to you.  I promise to write more soon...

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...

30 Percent Chance of Rain My Tail...

Good morning!  "It's the freaking weekend baby I'm about to have me a run..."  Ha Ha Ha.  ROTFLMAO!  This morning I woke up excited about running.  It looked like it was going to rain.  I've learned over the 17 years of running that when the sky looks a certain way--no matter what the forecasters say--it's going to rain.  However, I looked at my Weather Channel App on my IPhone and it said 30% chance.  I thought, "well, there's a 70 percent shot it won't rain."  Just in case, I slipped on my water and wind proof jacket and went for it.  Let me tell you something:  There is a 100% shot it rained the ENTIRE time I ran.  Not just rained, but stormed.  Once again, I should trust my gut.  I always get into trouble when I don't.  I guess I really did not get into trouble, but I really did get very, very wet.  Overall, I ran a little over 8 miles in about 59 minutes.  Not too bad. 

This week has been a great week.  It's been busy as I've been leading the charge in recruiting a couple new staff members to work in our department.  I am always very appreciative of candidates who choose to spend time with us and really give us a look.  Over the past month or so I've spoken with some outstanding individuals and I wish we had more spots available.  A candidate gave me a huge compliment this week whether this person knew it or not.  The person said to me, "I interviewed with over 20 schools at TPE and not one school asked the sorts of questions you asked and that's what kept me interested in your department."  For me, this was a fantastic observation as I did rewrite our questions with the thought of just asking exactly what we needed to know to see if the person would be a good fit.  Job searches are about fit, and to steal a quote from a coach whose name escapes me, "we are who we say we are."  Or...to steal a line from Lupe Fiasco, "if you are what you say you are..."  I love that about the folks that I work with daily--we are transparent, sincere, and really focused on students.  At the same time, I feel we are a group always trying to get better and improve.  That's key.  As soon as you think you are perfect and don't need to get better, then you get knocked on your tail.  No doubt about it.



One of my favorite Myles pictures

I love to present at conferences and I'm thinking of submitting a program proposal  again this year for GLACUHO (Great Lakes Association of College and University Housing Officers) titled:  "What I Learned about Working in Housing and Residence Life While Running."  Yeah, I know it's a spoof of my blog, but it's so true for me.  The work I do is so deeply personal to me and I'm so proud of it and focused on it (and I'm sure others feel the same way).  I'm a Blue on the True Colors and a Feeler on the Myers Briggs and a Get Along on the Lens of Understanding.  What this means for me is that I'm deeply impacted when things change, or tough decisions get made, or I upset someone.  Without balance, I am vulnerable to making a hurtful comment or making a dumb decision.  Running balances me out, helps me process possible decisions, and really provides me with a way to explore my feelings before acting.  In Housing and Residence Life work making good choices and staying calm is SO KEY to your leadership.  For me, I've seen good people just lose it because they became so invested in their work that they lost perspective.  I know I could do the same, and that's why running helps me so much.  Yes, I was already a runner, but running truly helps make me good at what I do.  So...Maybe I will submit a proposal and see what happens.  Have a great weekend!  Tomorrow will be my three best for the week.  Stay dry, stay balanced, and 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!

Sunday Best for April 3...



Myles Meets a Bulldog



Good morning to you.  Hope that you are having a splendid Sunday thus far.  Mine has been good.  Woke up early and took Myles out, ate some breakfast and enjoyed some coffee, and just finished up a 6.25 mile run.  Last Sunday I introduced the concept of my three best for the week and it seemed to work well and served as a nice reflective end to my week.  So...I'm going to try it again.

#1:  Spending time with Sarah and Myles yesterday afternoon.  The three of us headed up to the Butler campus and walked around.  There was a street fair and lots of Butler fans.  We had a great time walking Myles around and just spending some time together.  While I did not attend Butler, I have been rooting for them in the NCAA Tourney.  I love what they stand for and really enjoy watching them play.  Sarah and I had a great time with the patrons and staff at Mesh last night watching the game.  It's amazing how this city has adopted Butler and been really supportive.   I hope that the beat UCONN on Monday. 


#2:  IUPUI graduate staff.  I'm very proud of our three graduate students (Danielle, Drew, & Brian) who are out there interviewing for full time positions currently.  All three had on-campus interviews at prospective schools this week and they are doing a great job representing themselves and IUPUI HRL.  In my work, helping to develop leaders is what it's all about and like I've said a few times I have really enjoyed working with these three.  They are talented and hard-working, but most importantly coachable.  You can have all the talent in the world, but if you cannot be coached then your potential is limited.

#3:  Running refocus.  The more I have thought about it, the more I think running a fall marathon makes sense.  Like I said yesterday, I love tough challenges that take a lot of work and where the outcome will come down to the wire.  Big risk, big reward.  The marathon is such a beast and such a difficult challenge, and it's giving me chills just writing about it.  It's been since 2008 at Eugene since I've run a marathon, but I think I'm ready to tackle marathon number 5.  I know I said never again, but how many time did Brett Favre come back?  I'm excited about this and really think I'll commit. to the Indianapolis Marathon.  Why Indianapolis Marathon?  Well, that's where it all started in the fall of 1999.  I signed up for the Indianapolis Marathon, trained for it, ran in it, but was sent the wrong direction by a volunteer during the race and never completed it.  So...I should have five marathons, but only have finished four.  I was so devastated on that October day in 1999, so maybe it's time to write a new chapter for myself in that race.  I'll let you all know what I decide very soon.  For now, I'm approaching each run like I'm building for the marathon.

All in all it's been a great week.  My job continues to be very busy and unpredictable on some days, but I really enjoy it.  I could never just stay in a job where the same thing happened daily.  I'm blessed to work in Housing & Residence Life and I work with some of the best students around.  Have a great day.  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.