Running Partners...

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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.

400 Miles for the Year...

Hello.  Short post for this morning.  I ran about 6 miles in the pouring rain.  Seems like it's pouring rain every time I run these days.  None-the-less, I ran anyway.  I told a friend over twitter this morning that "you know you're a runner on a day like today."  That's an old New Balance advertisement. 

Today I eclipsed the 400 mile mark for the year.  I'm a little off where I'd normally be, but I think that will actually be a good thing.  I tapered out near the end of last year so I think that having a strong April-November will be just fine.  After all, I want to be a life long runner and not just burn out.  I officially signed up for the Monumental Marathon on November 5 in Indianapolis.  Woo Hoo!  I cannot believe I'm signed up.  I'm like Brett Farve and Michael Jordan--I just cannot quit and keep coming out of retirement (marathon retirement).  ;-)

One little thought for the morning:  "Attitude reflects leadership, Captain."  I never forget this quote--especially when my team is struggling.  If they are struggling it's on me and it's my responsibility to get them back on track.  Fortunately, my team does not struggle often, but when it does I never forget it's on me to get it fixed first.  Sometimes, it's a person or a couple people, but it starts with me.  As David Cottrell says, "until you accept total responsibility, you will not be able to reach your leadership potential."  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...

Nice Long Run...

Happy Saturday!  Hope you are well.  I'm am ecstatic this morning.  I just finished up a 10.25 mile run in about 73 minutes in 28 seconds.  Not too shabby for my first double digit run of the year.  The week of TPE I ran 9 miles in 7 days.  Today I ran 10.25.  So...needless to say I'm getting serious about my 2011 training and am ready to keep up the good mileage and build the base to rock the Monumental Marathon in November.

This week was a week full of lessons, challenges, and successes.  I think the best way to discuss these is through the lens of running.  Here goes.  When you run, your plan constantly is adjusted based on the elements, terrain, and how you feel internally.  It's rare, that all of those fire in your favor at the same time.  Sometimes, the terrain is inviting and is begging you to run and saying the road is yours.  However, sometimes the elements and how you feel prevent you from really taking advantage of the terrain.  Sometimes, the terrain is rough, uninviting, and is saying don't even try to run here.  Yet, you feel great and confident and the elements are all pointing to giving it a go (sunny, slightly warm, small breeze of encouragement).  Sometimes, both the terrain and the elements are perfect, but you just don't internally feel it.  It's smooth terrain, perfect conditions, but you just feel like junk and cannot feel good about running.  It's rare that the terrain, elements, and your internal feelings all line up, but when it does--like it did for me today--the run is great.  When it doesn't--you have a choice, run or keep the shoes in the closet and sit on the couch.  Mostly, I choose to run and go with the elements, terrain, and what my body gives me.  In life, I mostly choose to do the same.  Point is, no matter what the conditions (elements + terrain + internal feelings), I'll be running and getting after it.  In the end, those who "stick to the fight when they are hardest hit" prevail.  Same goes for life.  Same goes for last week. 

A great day lies ahead and a great start to the week could happen (cross your fingers).  Our team could get two outstanding additions--even you know what I mean.  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...

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...