Too Much or Too Little?

All throughout this last week circumstances have come up in the lives of people I know that have made me want to sit down and start typing in my blog.  But on each occasion I would sit down, and the words just wouldn't come.  I didn't know what to say, or what I wanted to say seemed almost inadequate.

Those things that came to mind were both positive and not so positive.  While I want to be a positive person, I think it's also important to be realistic.  And while I want to be realistic, I don't want to focus so much on the negative that I forget that positive things are happening.  And while I don't want to be too negative, I want to let those that have been dealt a rough hand know that I am not trying to minimize what they're dealing with.

So, that being said, a phrase from a class I was in last week comes to mind, "It is what it is....until it ain't."

I can only say that those in my life who are struggling with whatever they're struggling with are in my thoughts and prayers.  While I believe in the "power of positivity" (I know...it's not even a thing), I believe more in the "power of negativity."  I don't think positive thoughts necessarily heal, but I do think they can hold off the negative side effects of ... well, whatever.  I also believe that negativity can speed up decline of one's health if that person is dealing with a health issue.

That may not make much sense, and I know it's a little muddled in how I presented it, but really this is my blog, and as long as I understand what I'm saying then that's really all that matters... ;-)

So basically I will say this, to my mother, father and sister, who are all dealing with health issues, I love you all and you are in my thoughts and prayers.

To my "I Run 4 Buddy" Brett, you and your family are in my thoughts and prayers, and I'll remember your toughness and bravery every time I hit the road for a run.

To Pastor Jay, I pray for your mother to recover from her stroke and for you and your family to find strength in a difficult time.

To 115 who, as I type this is probably being prepped for surgery, you too are in my prayers, especially today, but always as you move forward in your fight.

To Mollie and her daughter, to 125, and to so many other people who have entered my life and are dealing with things they'd surely rather not be dealing with, I'm thinking about you, I'm praying for you, and I'll do what I can to keep it positive.

Having said all that....don't you think a spelling bee would be more entertaining if the contestants had to say "to the" between each letter of their word?

Not a Good Run - But a Good Time

Well, over the last couple of weeks I've checked off a couple more states in my quest to run a race in all 50 states.  New Jersey and Virginia are both done.  Last weekend I ran the Virginia Beach Rock 'n' Roll Half Marathon.

I've been a fan of the Rock 'n' Roll Marathons that are put on by a company called "The Competitor Group".  They do a really good job of putting on an event that appeals to runners of all capabilities and speeds and really work to make the entire experience a fun one.  In the case of Virginia Beach, I'll be honest and say that I had more fun attending the expo than I did actually running the race.

Now when I say in the title to this blog that it was a "Good Time" I'm not referring to the time it took me to run the half marathon.  As a matter of fact, this was my worst half marathon time in over two years.  I came no where close to accomplishing any of the three goals I had set for this race.  The weather was very hot and humid.  I can only remember running one race in hotter, stickier weather, and that race was 3.1...NOT 13.1!  However, the Competitor Group, as well as the residents in Virginia Beach who came out to watch the race, did a good job of supplying enough water, gatorade, cold sponges and other treats, to keep runners as cool and hydrated as they could.  It didn't make running in that weather any more pleasurable, but it allowed me to actually finish the race.

Now combine the weather with what I will loosely call my "training schedule" this year, and I did not have a good race.

With all of that in mind, I've already decided that, in all likelihood, I will be going back to day shift next year.  Although I've adjusted well on nights, that adjustment has come at a price.  That "price" has been that my training for runs has suffered.  I can make all the excuses in the world, but the fact is, I just am better at sticking to my schedule when I'm working day time hours and not adjusting to sleeping different hours on the weekends.

But I don't want to leave the impression that I did not enjoy my trip to Virginia Beach.  I didn't do everything that I had originally planned, but I did get out and do a little site seeing while I was in Virginia.  In addition to getting to the Virginia Aquarium, I also enjoyed the runners expo, and actually attended that both days.  For someone of my ability to be able to sit, listen to, and have conversations with Olympic God Medalists and other accomplished athletes is something you really can't find in any other sport. The running community is different however.  I've run races with World Record Holders and Olympic Medalists.  No, I won't pretend that I'm "in their league". I can't keep up with them on the course, nor would I try.  But I can say I've run the course with them, been in the race with them.  You can't do that in other sports, and that's one of the things that makes running so much for fun for me.

(With 1972 Olympic Marathon Gold Medalist Frank Shorter)

(With author and columnist John Bingham)

(With Olympic Medalist and 2014 Boston Marathon Winner Meb Keflezighi)

With that being said, there's something else that makes running even more enjoyable.  While I can say I've run the course that Olympic Gold Medalist Frank Shorter ran, I also get to say that I ran with friends, I met new people and we had a good time.  Running with friends will always mean more, and bring me more joy than I can find doing other things.  It's also helped me meet new friends, and running friends are like no other friends in the world.  I've run the same course as Steph, Jan, Kristin, Jeff, Jen, Ben and so many others.

(With Jan & Steph after my first race)

(With Steph after we had finished running in Myrtle Beach)

(With a different Steph just before we ran the Cap City Half Marathon)

 

(With Kristin just before her first Half Marathon)

 (With Chip, Dale and Pluto after the Disney World Half Marathon)

(With Chad, Christy and Sara before the Tunnel to Towers Run in NYC)

(With Jeff, Jen and others from the WCUCC running group after running the Hoover Hustle)