I'm Such A Dope!

Right around November or December of this year if you ask me, "Steve, you're about to turn 40.  What are you going to do?"  I'm going to say, "I'm going to Disney World!"  However, not for the reason you might think.  You might be thinking I'm some insane Disney fan who lives for every Disney movie ever made and wants to meet every Disney character there is while they sign my "official Disney character autograph book."  Nope, I'm insane for a completely different reason.  In fact, you might call me a "dope".

This afternoon I have signed myself up for my first (and probably only) Dopey Challenge for the Walt Disney Marathon Weekend in January 2016.  What is the Dopey Challenge you ask?  If you are not in the running world, Walt Disney World created a great set of races to run through the Disney parks -- 5K (3.1 Miles), 10K (6.2 Miles), Half Marathon (13.1 Miles), and Full Marathon (26.2 Miles) -- which do not all occur on the same day.  In 2006, Disney created the Goofy Challenge which gave you the opportunity to run both the Half Marathon and the Full Marathon all in one weekend.  Not only would you receive medals for finishing both (Donald Duck for the Half, Mickey for the Full), you would also receive a Goofy medal and a hearty pat on the back from your family, friends, and loved ones.  My running "career" was not ready for that challenge at the time, but I knew one day I had hoped that I would be physically able to accomplish this lofty goal.  Then came the Dopey Challenge in 2014 and it had my attention.

The Dopey Challenge is a feat in of itself.  How would you like to finish all four races in four days?  Start with the 5K on Thursday, serve up the 10K on Friday, tee up the Half Marathon on Saturday, and button it all up with a nice Full Marathon on Sunday.  48.6 miles and six medals . . . a 5K Medal, a 10K Medal, a Half Marathon Medal, a Full Marathon Medal, a Goofy Medal, and a Dopey Medal.  Yep, one Dopey Medal.  A Dopey Medal for a dope finishing the Dopey Challenge.  I'm all in.  It's a once in a lifetime chance, but not for the reason you think.  I could see myself doing this several times over.  Yes, I might hem and haw right after about how I will never do it again, but I say the same thing about marathons.  This is my 40th Birthday present.  In other words . . . it's a lot of money!  All to be called a dope(y challenge finisher).

Boston . . . Maybe One Of These Days

I don't consider myself a fast runner.  I don't consider myself a slow runner either.  I'm (pardon the pun) "even Steven".  As much as I love to run and as much as I want to be faster, it's a tough road to travel.  I know what the key is.  I know how to get there.  I just don't put in the effort.  I watched those runners on Patriots' Day cruising through Boston like it was nothing.  I don't necessarily want to be at the front of the pack, but I want to be there.

I have a marathon bucket list and Boston is on it.  Starting next year (I will be in a different age group), I need to shave 20 minutes off my marathon time to qualify.  That's a lot.  I know it can be done and I know I have it in me.  The quote goes, "You can do anything if you put your mind to it."  I believe that.  You should too.  Anything you do in life, dedicate yourself to it and I guarantee you will make it happen.  I am going to make Boston happen -- probably not next year, probably not the following year, but one day I will.  I will be there at the starting line knowing I put my mind to it.

Fire It Up, Fire It Up

Me???  Run???  That's exactly what I was thinking in 1999 at 268 pounds.  To say I was overweight is an understatement.  I could hardly walk let alone run without choking on my on air and looking like I just took a shower.  That was THE sign.  It was time to buy running shoes.  It was time to get off my ass.  It was time to stop eating out for lunch every day.  It was time to "fire it up."

When are you going to "fire it up"?  How about today?  Have you been thinking about running or getting in shape or losing weight?  Then do it!  Running might not be the way, but how do you know?  Try it out!  Go out to your local running store.  Wal-mart, Target, Sports Authority, Rack Room Shoes, Payless Shoes DO NOT QUALIFY.  Find the local folks.  They know running and running shoes and gaits and everything there is to know to get yourself started.  You don't have to buy from them, but I would recommend it to give them the business since they gave you the push.  There you will find the shoes for your fit.  I guarantee buying any old shoe will be trouble.  Blisters, hurt feet, turned ankles -- all can happen because of the wrong running shoe.  And guess what?  Most folks stop running because of it.  Yes, you will need to break in your new shoes and it will take a couple of weeks, but find the right shoe by getting fitted.  And yes, I'm spending a lot of time on shoes, but think about it -- running shoes are the ONLY equipment you really need in the sport.

"Fire it up, fire it up."  Get outside and start today.  I found my passion in running.  It clears my mind.  It gets me outside.  It brings me joy.  It makes me who I am today.  Who knows?  Maybe you'll find your passion in running.  Start today!

I Love My Running Routines

One of my favorite books to read to my son and daughter is the "Pete The Cat" series.  If you don't have kids or haven't read these books to your kids, the book is about a cat named Pete and no matter what happens in his life, "It's all good."  I wish I could be as cool, calm, and collected as Pete The Cat.

To me, that is one of my toughest problems.  I run on a schedule, literally and figuratively.  If my schedule changes at the last minute in any way I get a little anxious (and my wife would say that's an understatement).  And I am working my way to better at adapting to change.  And why do I have to worry about it?  Ninety-nine percent of the time it all works out.  I think I worry too much and think that I won't be able to run at all.  Worst case scenario is I'll run a little later.

Lately, I've been trying to change that.  Have a more positive outlook not just about when I go out for a run, but on everything.  "What's the plus side of doing x?  What is the good reason for this last minute change?"  Or just act like Pete The Cat and just say "It's all good."

You Can't Always Get What You Want

I wasn't really rooting for anyone yesterday.  My team has the first pick in the NFL draft.  THAT'S how close they got to the Super Bowl this year.  Will the Bucs screw up their pick?  Probably.  Whoever they pick, the OTHER guy will blow it up in the NFL.  But that's just the way it goes and Mick Jagger said it best, "You can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might find you get what you need."  I WANTED the Seahawks to win if I were really rooting for anyone.  I didn't get what I wanted last night.  And that happens.  Everything happens for a reason and everything will work out in the end.

Take that attitude with running and you'll be just fine.  Train hard.  Work for that PR.  You didn't track with your average pace on your easy run?  Had to cut your run a bit short because you didn't have time?  There was a stitch in your side for half your intervals?  Stopped dead in your tracks and walked everso gingerly to the nearest restroom (aka, the bush that will definitely hide you from the morning traffic)?  Don't (no pun intended) sweat it.

Focus on the positive side to that workout.  What did you do right?  Did you make it up that hill for the first time without stopping?  Run your fastest mile in that tempo run?  Haven't run that far ever in your life?  Look for those little pluses throughout your workout and you'll see that it wasn't so bad after all.  And learn from what went wrong.  That stitch in your side?  Did you drink too much before the run?  Now you know for next time.  Find the good in your workout and learn from the issues you had.  You'll find that when you start to see the better side of the run you will feel better about yourself and enjoy your workouts much more.

Throwback Thur-- . . . I Mean . . . Every Day!

I moved back to my home state of Florida from the Northern Virginia area in July.  Never move back to Florida in July from . . . ANYWHERE.  Move back in December or January or right before that big snow storm hits.  It just makes sense.  It was bittersweet leaving Virginia.  While I moved closer to family and down to MUCH warmer weather, I was sad to leave many aspects of my life including all my running routes.  I fell in love with running in Northern Virginia -- accessible paved and unpaved trails, unbeatable scenery in the Fall, and (you might not agree) runs after a snowstorm.

And ever since I've moved back to Florida a strange phenomenon started to occur -- throwbacks.  Throwbacks to my routes in Northern Virginia.  A turn in the trail here.  An unimaginable hill there.  Random insignificant throwbacks to my routes.  What the heck was going on here?  Nostalgia -- a sentimental place in time that make me happy.  Go figure.  And every single throwback made me smile.  I loved it.  And still do.  It keeps me happy, keeps me motivated, and encourages me to discover new routes in my new city.  Because I want those nostalgic throwbacks too.  I want to smile when I think about that view of the beach from the Clearwater Causeway.  Actually who wouldn't be happy about THAT view???  It's gorgeous.  Especially at sunrise and sunset.  Go ahead.  Let those throwback images pop in your head.  I guarantee you'll be happy they did -- especially on your toughest days.

With The Help Of My Friends (And Family)

I run alone today, but that was not always the case.  And on some days (not all), I do wish there was someone running along side me.  My own internal alarm goes off every day at 10 minutes before the time my actual alarm rears its ugly head, and sometimes I just need someone else there telling me to get up and go.  Maybe there is . . .

I had been thinking about starting this blog for quite some time, but I never really thought I had the time nor the patience to create it.  Then someone inspired me.  My good friend Julie started her own tales of inspiration and motivation.  Not only that, but she was my running partner when I decided it was time to get serious about running and losing weight.  Our lunchtime runs became an addiction.  Our escape.  Our motivation.  "You ready?" was all she needed to say, text, or IM to start lacing up my running shoes.  And those mornings after that infernal internal alarm rouses me, one of the many motivational maxims I hear is "You ready?"  Yep, Julie, I sure am.

On a chilly Halloween night in 2001, I met a girl who would change my life forever.  We met playing club soccer, and I found out that night that wasn't our only connection.  "I'm running such-and-such half marathon this Sunday."  "Really?  So am I!"  My wife has always been all about exercise and getting in shape and keeping healthy.  Me, I did it to afford the calories in booze, burgers, and bonbonbonbons (OK, I stole that last one -- but for my sweet tooth).  Today, she keeps me motivated in both health and exercise.  Keeps me whole.  And kicks me out of bed when I even think about sleeping another minute.

Eight hours of sleep is a luxury for me these days.  I'll attribute that to the two monkeys who run our household.  When I wasn't running at lunchtime with Julie, I was waking up Saturday mornings, heading out for my longer treks through the city.  And my wife's favorite investment in all of my running accessories was a jogging stroller -- and the double jogging stroller when my son was born (and old enough to keep his head afloat).  My daughter went out for long runs before she could walk.  It was one of the many bonding moments (and probably one of my favorite) we had together.  I'd strap her in the jogging stroller at 7 AM, give her a nice bowl of dry cereal, and off we went for a nice 2-hour run.  Running through the city and eventually the suburbs became a routine for my daughter and I.  Every driveway we passed, two words were on her 2- and 3-year-old-mind -- "Newspaper!" and "Mailbox!".  Talk about a running mantra.  And today, I can think of it as inspiration when that internal alarm sounds and I don't move.  Run for your kids.  Run because you want to be there for them most of their life.

That's why I run.  Yes, I do love being outside, enjoying the scenery, and taking in some fresh air.  But, I do this for my health and happiness as well.  I do it because I have the help of my friends and family, speaking to me before the day is a twinkle in the sun's eye.  My Road ID's inspirational message is "Run For Your Life".  I do.  I run for the life I have -- the family, the friends who motivate me, who inspire me -- and the life I want to keep.

The Marathon Cooldown

There is no such thing.  It doesn't exist.  I don't believe in it.  It's in my blood.  It's in my nature.  I have sweated the pains, the chafing, the sores, "can't move it hurts so bad" on my first few marathons, yes.  But 15 years later?  Learning running form has changed all that.  It's only been a week since I completed the Clearwater Distance Classic and I want more.  I'm already planning my next marathon, my next challenge, my next accomplishment.  I can't get enough of running.

It's not because of the medals, T-shirts, nor the challenge of running 26.2 miles.  I love getting outside and seeing how far I can go.  I want to discover new places and new trails.  I love getting out on that road or that trail and enjoying the day.  There is so much to discover, so much to see, and so far to go.  That's the runner's high.  That's how you enjoy the thrill of running.  It's not the distance you go that takes you to that runner's high.  It's the experience.  

I can't cooldown.  I don't know how to do that.  As soon as I'm done with a marathon I want more.  Does that make me crazy?  Maybe.  However, I do know what it makes me -- a runner.  And more importantly -- a marathon runner.