Dealing With Discouragement (TB&B)

This post is a continuation of a series detailing my journey as I attempt to qualify for the Boston Marathon in 2011.

As I’ve been running, I’ve noticed two thought patterns that open the door wide for discouragement to creep in:

1. Comparison of myself and where I am now, to where I have to go

2. Comparison to others

I’m focusing more on the first part of comparison than the second.

Comparison doesn’t have to be bad if done with the right perspective and purpose, but many times it can be poisonous. There’s no way we can reach our goals if we don’t take stock of where we are compared to where we need to be, but we also need to be patient with the process.

Feeling Good

This post is a continuation of a series detailing my journey as I attempt to qualify for the Boston Marathon.

By nature I am a very passionate, borderline compulsive individual.  When I latch onto something, I tend to hold on for dear life like a pit bull and a piece of meat, sometimes for better, sometimes for worse.  The problem lately is I haven’t had any compelling vision to throw my heart into.   What I really want to have is a fire for is Jesus and His Kingdom, which is slowly starting to happen, but I’ve been burnt out (on a couple things) and reluctant to really thrust myself into ministry (mostly because I’m apt to try and go too hard in my own strength).

Running is helping me find passion again…

To Boston and Beyond (Back in the groove)

I’m glad to finally have some time to bring you an update.  Since my last post I’ve battled injuries, traveled to Ethiopia and bought a bike. I really wanted to run in the country that continuously produces the best runners in the world, but with a lack of showers and a busy schedule it didn’t happen. We did drive by some runners training in the mountains running incredible hills at an awesome pace.

I’ve also been experiening knee pain for the past month or so that really slowed my running.  After the two weeks off in Ethiopia I thought I would be fully healed.  As soon as I started running again the knee started hurting.  Turns out it was a shoe problem.  I went and bought some Asics stability shoes and have felt great since.  I’m really glad it was a shoe problem and not a serious injury.  I’ve had Asics twice now and they’ve been great, so I might never buy another type of running shoe.

I’m signed up for the Chicago half marathon in September which I’m pretty excited about. I haven’t run a race yet, so I might sign up for something a little shorter just to get my racing legs under me. A couple boring statistics just so I can keep track of where I am…

1. Running 20 miles per week (will increase to 30-35 miles over the next 5 weeks)

2. Tempo runs are at 7:30 pace over 4 miles

3. Running 7 miles or more at 8 minute pace pretty comfortably

Hopefully I’ll have something a little more interesting to say soon, but thought I’d let you know what’s up.

Sean

To Boston and Beyond (Colorado Update)

One of the things I really wanted to do while being in Colorado was get out to the mountains and run on some trails.  I decided to go to the Mesa trail after reading a tweet by Ryan Hall an American Olympian.  The only regret I have is not taking more pictures, but the run itself was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had.  Mesa trail is a winding 6.2 mile course through the foothills of Boulder.  It’s a famous trail and you can find out more about it HERE.  I really wasn’t sure what to expect on the run, having only been serious about running for a few weeks.  I can tell you that I will be a trail junkie for the rest of my life, looking for new and exciting places to run.  As we ran (a friend from work and me) I felt like a giddy little kid running through the woods with his buddy’s on a summer day.  The scenery was beautiful and diverse.  Pine forrest, flatirons, water, mountains and open spaces that seemed to stretch for eternity were our playground for a day.  I;m still not over the excitement of bounding over rocks, ducking trees and hopping streams all while running up the side of these foothills.  Here’s a couple post-run pictures back at the start of the trail.

To Boston and Beyond (Quickie)

I know I know, the new header I’ve put up is not that glamorous or eye catching (quite frankly it’s pretty ugly), but these are really my shoes and feet, and it’s symbolic in an un-artistic sort of way.

I started a six week training program today to run a 5k .  It will be my first 5k since high school which was (gulp)… a decade ago.  The program was taken from www.runnersworld.com which you should check out if you like running at all.  Lot’s of good tips, work out programs, current racing news, product reviews and the list goes on.