Gonna do it!!

This is the year. 2011. A new era has arrived! After years of pursuing, or more hoping for but not sufficiently training for, a sub three marathon; I have seen the light! I have committed to follow the advice of every sub three marathoner that I know. Run More! Yes, that is the strategy I am going to use this year. Run More! I have never really gotten to the point where I was running more than 25 to 30 miles a week. I will be hitting 60 miles a week this year at the time of the marathon, and if all calculations are correct; On October 1st I will be crossing the finish line of the St. George Marathon with a time of 2:55 (or somewhere there about, but definitely under 3:00)! Stand by friends...this is it! See you after the race.

"Hey, That's not cookies!"

A great lesson observed this morning. When my three year old was picking her breakfast cereal, she picked the box with a picture of cookies on the side panel. When I began to pour her choice of cereals into her bowl she was quite disappointed, "Hey, that's not cookies!...I don't want it!" A classic lesson on not judging a book by it's cover. Or from the other side of things, being careful not to portray to others something we are not. Or, before we commit to something or someone, making sure we have looked at all four sides of the box so we have a clear picture of what we are really getting. Or, in my profession of sales, being careful not to prejudge a customer by assuming by the way they are dressed or by what they drive that we know exactly what they can afford. We need to be careful of what we assume is on the inside of the box based on the limited info we get from the outside.

Just over 3 hours...again.

Nate Bundy and Me
I am the good looking guy in the blue shorts on the right there.

I set out this year to become a member of the elite group of sub three marathoners. I trained with a buddy who was also looking to make this lofty goal. To run a marathon in under three hours you need to maintain under a 6:50 per mile pace. Try as we might, I came across in 3:02:11 with my running partner right behind me with a 3:03. Looks like I will have something to shoot for another year. My strategy this year was to fuel up during aid stations so I would have some energy at the end to pick it up a bit. I did fuel up, grabbing "Gu" , Gatorade, and water as often as I could. I saw at mile 21 and 22 that I was on track, I was running a 6:51. It wasn't a matter of if I would beat three hours, but by how much. I wasn't prepared for how hard the last three miles would be. By the time I was at mile 24 My Garmin started showing that I was running 7:30 and 7:45. I would try to focus, to dig deep and kick it in..thinking to myself, "You only have two miles! Two miles of gut wrenching work is a lot easier than another year of regret that you didn't make your goal!" Then I thought, " No don't get all stressed out, you will run tighter and slower. Stay loose and run strong, that will help you get your speed" Well, whatever I thought, nothing seemed to make up for the fact that I had nothing more to give. Whatever I tried seemed to have no impact on increasing my speed at that time. I was now running 8 minute miles as I drug myself along Diagonal street and I even hit 9 minute miles on Tabernacle. I was just coming up on the last turn when my watch showed 3 hrs. I had about .3 miles to go. Ugh!! Thanks to the crowd at the finish line, I did finish as fast as I could to get myself back down to a 7 minute mile for those last 3 tenths of a mile, knowing that I would be back to face this challenge again.

Long time...no post.

I just linked to my Blog through the SUU Alumni Relations blog. I guess if I have a current link there I should keep my blog somewhat current too. Was anyone else inspired this weekend from the LDS General Conference? I liked President Monson's comment, "Your future is as bright as your faith" Have a great day!

Try my poll. What are you doing to balance your budget? Have you felt the pinch of the current economy? Do you think you will?

I had to try the new cool gadget. Humor me here eh?

What would you do first?

I received an email last night from a friend in prison. (Yeah, I have a friend in prison) I was reminded of how much I have to be grateful for. His release date is coming up in April and he sent me an interesting question.

If you were gonna be FREE to do whatever (after being locked up for 20 months, or whatever) what would be your first meals? What would be ALL of your 'firsts"?

My friend's list came in a second email; it was surprisingly simple. He talked of going to Olive Garden, getting a frozen yogurt from Maverick, Eating a big Mac from McDonald's and a Whopper from Burger King, having a crispy chicken burrito from Taco Time, visiting Bryce Canyon and going camping and rappelling. He talked of going to plays, and attending any "event" that his nieces and nephews are in. He is even looking forward to attending his family reunions!This Thanksgiving, as you ponder on your blessings, remember the little things that we so often taken for granted. Right now, you could go and order anything you want from any restaurant in town. You may choose not to, but you could. You have the freedom to do it. You could take your lunch break and go meet your child, a friend or your spouse for a nice lunch together. You could go camping tonight, a little cold probably, but you could do it. You have the option. You could put up Christmas lights, bake a pie, watch a movie, work out at the gym, go for a run, visit a neighbor, buy a pet, call a friend, go out to eat. All of these are available to you right now. If you want to do any of this and more, no one is stopping you. You have the freedom and the option to do them.

"If you were gonna be free to do whatever [and the great thing is...YOU ARE!]...what would you do first?"

There is so much to do, so much to enjoy, and so much to be thankful for right now in your life. When we complain about what we don't have, we miss finding joy in what we do have. We are free to do so many things! This Thanksgiving I am grateful to be free; grateful to be free to do whatever. Hm-mm...now what to do first!

Happy Thanksgiving!

A thought on parenting...not that I do it right

I find a lot of truth in this quote. You may see this in your own life or the lives of your children

Publish Post

Children Learn What They Live
By Dorothy Law Nolte, Ph.D.

If children live with criticism, they learn to condemn.
If children live with hostility, they learn to fight.
If children live with fear, they learn to be apprehensive.
If children live with pity, they learn to feel sorry for themselves.
If children live with ridicule, they learn to feel shy.
If children live with jealousy, they learn to feel envy.
If children live with shame, they learn to feel guilty.
If children live with encouragement, they learn confidence.
If children live with tolerance, they learn patience.
If children live with praise, they learn appreciation.
If children live with acceptance, they learn to love.
If children live with approval, they learn to like themselves.
If children live with recognition, they learn it is good to have a goal.
If children live with sharing, they learn generosity.
If children live with honesty, they learn truthfulness.
If children live with fairness, they learn justice.
If children live with kindness and consideration, they learn respect.
If children live with security, they learn to have faith in themselves and in those about them.
If children live with friendliness, they learn the world is a nice place in which to live.

Copyright © 1972 by Dorothy Law Nolte