A week in the life of an endurance runner... 8/3-8/9
First of all, I don't run every hour I wake up. I just wish that I could. Haha. But the thing is, most people don't know what it takes to be an endurance runner, and it's not too much. It's just building a habit for yourself. It's a lifestyle that supports me and as I live my life, I take steps towards my goals. Here's a recap of the runs I did during this past week.
Sunday: 8.67 miles at 6:56 min/mile average, speed work trading off 1 mile easy with 2 miles hard. 12.52 miles at 7:10 min/mile average, just sped up as I went on.
Monday: Led a running group, ran 1.66 miles at a 10:52 min/mile.
Tuesday: 10.33 miles at 7:42 min/mile, speeding up as I went on. 8.63 miles at 9:50 min/mile running with a running group at Haw Ridge, just a fun run and miles!
Wednesday: 12.04 miles at 8:26 min/mile. I was dehydrated and was running back from dropping my car off at the shop, so it wasn't exactly the most fun I've had while running.
Thursday: 16.43 miles at 7:17 min/mile speeding up as I ran. Rested over 24 hours since Wednesday's run, so I felt good and it was a night run in a park, so really easy to run fast.
Friday: 0 miles because it's my absolute rest day.
Saturday: 21.33 miles at 8:07 min/mile doing a big loop. First 6 miles were extra slow so I wouldn't run out of water or energy during the later part of the day. 8.05 miles at 6:51 min/mile at the park speeding up as I ran on but I stopped because I developed a blister that popped. No fun, but hey, that's one reason to stop.
Total: 99.5 miles
My original plan for the week was 70, but apparently, my legs are stronger because Mondays and Fridays are my break days and I'm able to somewhat recover on those days. I've talked to quite a few people and have been told that if I can, I should just add more miles every week so that I would be able to maximize however many miles I could do in 24 hours. Eventually, I'm hoping that I'll get close to running 200 miles of running each week... but we'll see what happens, haha.
After each of these runs, I would make sure to do a full body stretch, which is important because I want my muscles to fully recover for the next run. Thursdays, I also lead a fitness group so we do a little more, so that'll be my core workout day. I'm hoping to incorporate more push ups, crunches, pull ups, calf raises, and squats to my workout, but we'll see what happens as I get closer to my goal. First stop, 103.8 mile race in GA, the Georgia Jewel. Going to see how well I can do that, and I've got 7 more weeks to train for it! The most important thing I want to come out with from that race is the psychological strength... but it would be nice to get the course record too!
As for meals, it's rather simple. Unfortunately, I only eat three times a day, and eat pretty simply. Breakfast consists of a generous portion of rice, 6 eggs with the yolk warm and runny mixed with soy sauce, and natto on the rice. Packed with carbs and protein, I want to make sure I start out the day great. Lunch and dinner would most of the time be rice with chicken or tilapia with assorted vegetables, and once in a while pasta. Once a week, I try to eat something bad so that I would be able to visit my grandparents as they don't exactly eat the healthiest and I end up sick to my stomach because their instant food just kills me... but yeah. Try to eat healthy all the time. I only drink water (or unsweet tea) so not much other than that.
Of course, being a little on the serious side, I'm always researching online for ways that I could improve my training, change my race plan, adjusting my race training schedule, nutrition research... but other than that, my life is pretty normal. I also would randomly read manga (Japanese comics) that have motivational characters, or I would just go on youtube and look up motivational videos that would encourage me as I go through my training.
Since training only takes out a little over 12 hours a week (so far), it isn't too much of a bother, and doesn't really intrude on anything else that goes on. As the training gets harder and the 12 turns into 20 or 30 hours a week, then it starts affecting the other portions of my life, but thus far, I've been able to balance everything out. The thing is, if you really want to become better, you put time and effort in it. It doesn't matter if it's running, schoolwork, a relationship, learning an instrument, if you really care about it and want to improve as much as you can, you have to sacrifice a little to do your best. I think that it's easy for me to do that because I'm a pretty simple person. If I want to become a better runner, I will whole-heartedly go for it, because I'm that kind of guy. I go where my heart wants me to go, and I will relentlessly pursue it because it matters to me, and I will take all the necessary steps to make it happen. Having a dream of being one of the top endurance runners in the world, I feel like I have what it takes. All I need to do is pursue it.
Hope everyone enjoyed reading a little about this one week of Sho-ness!
Sunday, August 10, 2014
Thursday, August 7, 2014
The Unconventional Truth: DESIRE
I have run marathons to train for different races, I've run a few races that have gone beyond 100 miles, I have made a course record last month, running 123.775 miles in 24 hours, but I am your average everyday person.
I have never believed that I had exceptional talent when it came to running these endurance races. I don't see how I could possibly have a gift when it came to running because I consider myself to be just the same as everyone else in the world. The only gift I believe I have is the gift of music, learning to play most instruments I can lay my hands on... but when it comes to running... I don't think I'm any different than the person that's sitting across from me as I'm typing all this down at Starbucks.
There is one thing, however, that does separate me from others. I have embedded in me this hunger. It was a hunger that could not be satisfied because there was always something more I could do to reach higher, run faster, become stronger...
Running has been with me since 7th grade when I got bored of my soccer team and wanted to do something else. I joined Cross Country because it wasn't just a team sport, but also an individual sport. In getting into it, I learned that the more I practiced, the more I could improve, and so I started practicing harder than the others, and push myself more... but I could only get to a certain point. There was always somebody faster than me, someone with more talent. Even with hard work, I could never beat talent... but I wanted to see how far I could go with the hard work I put in. By the time high school came around, I was slowly going up and getting to the point where I would be able to somewhat be in the top 20, but there was always that one guy who had so much talent that he would beat every single one of us... but I was catching up. In the summer, I would go out and run 10+ miles every other day, while doing push ups and calf raises so that I could become stronger. I kept pushing myself harder and eventually became stronger... but I could still never catch up with the number one runner... who was also one of my good friends.
My senior year, we were able to go down to Guam to battle it out against all the other international schools in the Far East, and after getting 14th place, the next day we did the team relays, and I don't even remember how we did there... but the Sunday afterwards, our coach asked the team if we would like to run a half marathon, 13.1 miles. I had never run a race that long and being curious, a couple guys and I decided that we would run it. I finished in 1:37:23 at 10th place, and first in my age group, over ten minutes ahead of the second place individual in my age group. I shook hands with the 1972 gold medalist Frank Shorter, who handed me my award, and that was the moment, I knew I had something. The following year, when I came to America for college, I signed up, trained, and finished my first marathon at 12th place with a time of 3:11:38, 1st place in my age group. Two years later, I trained for that same marathon and finished in 7th place at 2:56:05, 1st place in my age group... but even with the hard work, it seemed as if I was missing something. There was so much intensity in the training, but the results weren't good enough for me. After graduating college, a friend of mine told me about a 50 mile race in Atlanta, which would take place in 2 months, and being the not so smart individual that I am, I decided to sign up train, and run. I finished in 58th place... and that hunger was there. I knew I could do more. I knew that I could get better, run faster, and finish stronger.
You see, the hunger that I found was my desire to see how far I could go. I wanted to test my limits, break them even, and forge new ones. From that point, I started studying about ultradistance races, trained and ran a few, and came to a point where that desire was pulling me to the next level. I have talked to several amazing runners and have learned from them all, I have studied thousands of articles, some for facts, others for inspiration, and come out stronger but mentally and psychologically. You see, I am but a normal person who is forging himself to become a monster. In order to challenge the monsters that are at the top of the ultra running spectrum, I need to bring in everything I've got. The results I have right now come from the thousands of hours of research, experimentation, application, training that I've put in. It's not talent that drives me forward. It's my desire.
My desire to grow and challenge myself in the best possible way to lead to the best possible result has slowly put me up to being able to compete against a few of the monsters in this side of the States. Through my desire, I have been able to grow steadily, pushing my very own body to the next level, and achieved so much... and now I have the opportunity to start challenging the elite runners. It could still be too early for me to challenge the monsters that 'rule' the world of ultramarathon running, but the fact is that my desire was able to get me up to that point where I have the opportunity to do so. Talent is not the sole variable which allows an individual to compete at a higher level, especially in the field of ultra marathon distances. It's the hunger within that drives people to greatness.
Desire gives strength to those who wield it. It creates opportunities where there seems to be none. Desire gives a boost to the individual's ability, sharpening their senses, pushing the unimportant things aside thus allowing more energy to be used for the individual's journey towards their goal.
When I was in middle school, I was an avid reader, reading a dozen books a week, and taking in everything each book had to offer. The biggest thing reading has done for me was helping me understand that there is always a bigger picture, an 'outside of the box' way of thinking. If we nurture our minds, it can create anything, and make impossible things exist. The more we learn about rules, we learn how we can break them, and because of that, it's now possible to fly to the moon. Impossible was a limit that people set, but creativity allowed others to break those rules and create new ones. Desire is one of the driving forces that allows the impossible to become possible, and the best part about it is that we all have that potential.
Whether it be running a 100 mile race at an elite level, or finishing a paper with 1 hour left before midnight, the stronger the desire is, the the greater power it gives you. If you want it as badly as you want to live, you will find away. Haven't you always wondered how there are families in this world that can barely survive because of the lack of income, but when something tragic happens and there's a great need for money, they are somehow able to raise enough money to get through. The thing is that if there is enough desire, the laws of this world do not apply. Desire is the fuel for success, and if you desire success badly, there isn't anything in the world that can stop you.
We all have the potential of using that desire to fuel us to our success, however, the problem with most people is the lack of desire, the unbelief, the weak willed and 'realistic' people who deem various things impossible. It's great that you may be realistic, that you may listen to how logic states that certain things are impossible, but completely living in that world puts a lid to your growth potential. It pushes dreams down, and growth becomes minimal.
So how can you tap into your desire? How can you break away from the realistic and logical world that we live in? If we let go of everything and stop differentiating between the realistic and unrealistic, it's as if the world we live in could fall apart.
Realistic and unrealistic doesn't draw a line between possible and impossible, and most people seem to forget that. Sure, being unrealistic may seem impossible, but in actuality, it falls under the category 'improbable' which is a subcategory of possible. Understanding that simple thing can help a few people take a step towards allowing their desire to fuel them to take steps forward towards their dreams. Simply put, you don't have to forsake everything in order to pursue your desire. Find the root of that desire, and let that be what guides you. It's not the million dollar goal that people have that fuels them to finding a way to earn that amount of money, it's the security that comes with it that they're yearning for. Get to your roots, understand what you really want, and let that be the desire that fuels you onward.
and hey...
If you do desire something so badly, nothing can stop you.
I'm just a normal person rising up in the ranks, about to challenge the monsters in the ultra distance world. What gives me that opportunity is my desire. I want to be the best that I can be, the best in the world, and I will take whatever steps I can in order to achieve that. Desire gives me strength, it gives me opportunities, and it gives me hope.
I have never believed that I had exceptional talent when it came to running these endurance races. I don't see how I could possibly have a gift when it came to running because I consider myself to be just the same as everyone else in the world. The only gift I believe I have is the gift of music, learning to play most instruments I can lay my hands on... but when it comes to running... I don't think I'm any different than the person that's sitting across from me as I'm typing all this down at Starbucks.
There is one thing, however, that does separate me from others. I have embedded in me this hunger. It was a hunger that could not be satisfied because there was always something more I could do to reach higher, run faster, become stronger...
Running has been with me since 7th grade when I got bored of my soccer team and wanted to do something else. I joined Cross Country because it wasn't just a team sport, but also an individual sport. In getting into it, I learned that the more I practiced, the more I could improve, and so I started practicing harder than the others, and push myself more... but I could only get to a certain point. There was always somebody faster than me, someone with more talent. Even with hard work, I could never beat talent... but I wanted to see how far I could go with the hard work I put in. By the time high school came around, I was slowly going up and getting to the point where I would be able to somewhat be in the top 20, but there was always that one guy who had so much talent that he would beat every single one of us... but I was catching up. In the summer, I would go out and run 10+ miles every other day, while doing push ups and calf raises so that I could become stronger. I kept pushing myself harder and eventually became stronger... but I could still never catch up with the number one runner... who was also one of my good friends.
My senior year, we were able to go down to Guam to battle it out against all the other international schools in the Far East, and after getting 14th place, the next day we did the team relays, and I don't even remember how we did there... but the Sunday afterwards, our coach asked the team if we would like to run a half marathon, 13.1 miles. I had never run a race that long and being curious, a couple guys and I decided that we would run it. I finished in 1:37:23 at 10th place, and first in my age group, over ten minutes ahead of the second place individual in my age group. I shook hands with the 1972 gold medalist Frank Shorter, who handed me my award, and that was the moment, I knew I had something. The following year, when I came to America for college, I signed up, trained, and finished my first marathon at 12th place with a time of 3:11:38, 1st place in my age group. Two years later, I trained for that same marathon and finished in 7th place at 2:56:05, 1st place in my age group... but even with the hard work, it seemed as if I was missing something. There was so much intensity in the training, but the results weren't good enough for me. After graduating college, a friend of mine told me about a 50 mile race in Atlanta, which would take place in 2 months, and being the not so smart individual that I am, I decided to sign up train, and run. I finished in 58th place... and that hunger was there. I knew I could do more. I knew that I could get better, run faster, and finish stronger.
You see, the hunger that I found was my desire to see how far I could go. I wanted to test my limits, break them even, and forge new ones. From that point, I started studying about ultradistance races, trained and ran a few, and came to a point where that desire was pulling me to the next level. I have talked to several amazing runners and have learned from them all, I have studied thousands of articles, some for facts, others for inspiration, and come out stronger but mentally and psychologically. You see, I am but a normal person who is forging himself to become a monster. In order to challenge the monsters that are at the top of the ultra running spectrum, I need to bring in everything I've got. The results I have right now come from the thousands of hours of research, experimentation, application, training that I've put in. It's not talent that drives me forward. It's my desire.
My desire to grow and challenge myself in the best possible way to lead to the best possible result has slowly put me up to being able to compete against a few of the monsters in this side of the States. Through my desire, I have been able to grow steadily, pushing my very own body to the next level, and achieved so much... and now I have the opportunity to start challenging the elite runners. It could still be too early for me to challenge the monsters that 'rule' the world of ultramarathon running, but the fact is that my desire was able to get me up to that point where I have the opportunity to do so. Talent is not the sole variable which allows an individual to compete at a higher level, especially in the field of ultra marathon distances. It's the hunger within that drives people to greatness.
Desire gives strength to those who wield it. It creates opportunities where there seems to be none. Desire gives a boost to the individual's ability, sharpening their senses, pushing the unimportant things aside thus allowing more energy to be used for the individual's journey towards their goal.
When I was in middle school, I was an avid reader, reading a dozen books a week, and taking in everything each book had to offer. The biggest thing reading has done for me was helping me understand that there is always a bigger picture, an 'outside of the box' way of thinking. If we nurture our minds, it can create anything, and make impossible things exist. The more we learn about rules, we learn how we can break them, and because of that, it's now possible to fly to the moon. Impossible was a limit that people set, but creativity allowed others to break those rules and create new ones. Desire is one of the driving forces that allows the impossible to become possible, and the best part about it is that we all have that potential.
Whether it be running a 100 mile race at an elite level, or finishing a paper with 1 hour left before midnight, the stronger the desire is, the the greater power it gives you. If you want it as badly as you want to live, you will find away. Haven't you always wondered how there are families in this world that can barely survive because of the lack of income, but when something tragic happens and there's a great need for money, they are somehow able to raise enough money to get through. The thing is that if there is enough desire, the laws of this world do not apply. Desire is the fuel for success, and if you desire success badly, there isn't anything in the world that can stop you.
We all have the potential of using that desire to fuel us to our success, however, the problem with most people is the lack of desire, the unbelief, the weak willed and 'realistic' people who deem various things impossible. It's great that you may be realistic, that you may listen to how logic states that certain things are impossible, but completely living in that world puts a lid to your growth potential. It pushes dreams down, and growth becomes minimal.
So how can you tap into your desire? How can you break away from the realistic and logical world that we live in? If we let go of everything and stop differentiating between the realistic and unrealistic, it's as if the world we live in could fall apart.
Realistic and unrealistic doesn't draw a line between possible and impossible, and most people seem to forget that. Sure, being unrealistic may seem impossible, but in actuality, it falls under the category 'improbable' which is a subcategory of possible. Understanding that simple thing can help a few people take a step towards allowing their desire to fuel them to take steps forward towards their dreams. Simply put, you don't have to forsake everything in order to pursue your desire. Find the root of that desire, and let that be what guides you. It's not the million dollar goal that people have that fuels them to finding a way to earn that amount of money, it's the security that comes with it that they're yearning for. Get to your roots, understand what you really want, and let that be the desire that fuels you onward.
and hey...
If you do desire something so badly, nothing can stop you.
I'm just a normal person rising up in the ranks, about to challenge the monsters in the ultra distance world. What gives me that opportunity is my desire. I want to be the best that I can be, the best in the world, and I will take whatever steps I can in order to achieve that. Desire gives me strength, it gives me opportunities, and it gives me hope.
Wednesday, July 23, 2014
Dreams Don't Die. They're Forgotten.
When I was in kindergarten, what I wanted to be when I grew up was to be a sumo wrestler. I watched them fight each other and hit hard and thought it was a cool thing to do and wanted to be a winner like the ones I saw on TV back at home... but as I got older, that dream sort of disappeared. The thing was, I had more than one dream. I had a multitude of dreams, and when different dreams got in the way of each other, one won and the other slowly disappeared. However, after graduating college, I noticed a lot of things happening to those around me. Dreams were disappearing, but it wasn't because of another stronger dream that appeared... it was due to the fact that people were just forgetting what their dreams were.
Some dream of travelling the world, yet because of a new job they were able to find, put it off til 'later' which never came. Other people dreamed of going up the ladder of success and eventually getting to a point where they were free to spend time with their family, but became content with their lives the way it was, and didn't really push to do anything more. The thing is, we live in a world where most of us have become content with living the average life.
So is it wrong to do so? To be complacent with where we are?
When water is moving in a river, it's crystal clear and beautiful, and as it moves around, it provides the fish with water rich with oxygen and gathering the nutrients from upriver and bringing it down, giving life. However, when the water stops moving, little by little it becomes stagnant, void of life. As the mud thickens and the water becomes dirty, the life from the river is forgotten... and I believe we are similar to that. When we move and grow, we take and give... as we move towards our dreams, we are filled with life and we can truly live, but being complacent with where we are now, and forgetting our dreams, little by little, we stop growing and we stop... living.
Having a dream and working towards it is a wonderful thing. It's also one of the hardest things to do because life can hit you pretty hard. Right now, I have a dream to become a world class runner. It's definitely going to be a hard road, but as long as I keep walking, I'm confident that I'll reach my destination. In order to achieve that, I need to start winning races and doing well in both 24 hour races and 100 mile races. Winning can only happen as a result of harsh training, and looking back at what I've been doing, I realize that I would need to add more training in order to make it happen. Instead of running 120 miles a week, I'm probably going to end up running close to 160 miles a week. Instead of going to the gym for 2 hours a day, I'm probably going to end up going 4 hours a day. Having a dream and going towards it is hard. It's easy to lay back down and be content with where I am right now. But easier isn't the way to live. As I want to truly live my life to its fullest, I want to push myself, to challenge myself to reach my potential, and take off my limitations. In order to live the dream, I need to grow, to move, and ultimately LIVE.
So when you look back at your life, see where you are, and where you originally wanted to go, ask yourself, "Am I living the dream? Am I moving forward to achieve the dream that I once had?" or maybe you need to ask yourself, "What was my dream?"
When you wake up in the morning, sometimes you can clearly remember the dreams you've had, but as you wake up, you forget that dream you just had... and it's the same with our dreams we've had before. The moment we dreamed about something happening, it was vivid, it was filled with life, and we were filled with life... but as time went on and we didn't focus or grow towards that dream, we start to forget.
So don't forget your dream. Remember that moment that you felt so alive. Remember the excitement that filled you up. Remember that spark that brought light to your life.
Remember what your dream was...
Some dream of travelling the world, yet because of a new job they were able to find, put it off til 'later' which never came. Other people dreamed of going up the ladder of success and eventually getting to a point where they were free to spend time with their family, but became content with their lives the way it was, and didn't really push to do anything more. The thing is, we live in a world where most of us have become content with living the average life.
So is it wrong to do so? To be complacent with where we are?
When water is moving in a river, it's crystal clear and beautiful, and as it moves around, it provides the fish with water rich with oxygen and gathering the nutrients from upriver and bringing it down, giving life. However, when the water stops moving, little by little it becomes stagnant, void of life. As the mud thickens and the water becomes dirty, the life from the river is forgotten... and I believe we are similar to that. When we move and grow, we take and give... as we move towards our dreams, we are filled with life and we can truly live, but being complacent with where we are now, and forgetting our dreams, little by little, we stop growing and we stop... living.
Having a dream and working towards it is a wonderful thing. It's also one of the hardest things to do because life can hit you pretty hard. Right now, I have a dream to become a world class runner. It's definitely going to be a hard road, but as long as I keep walking, I'm confident that I'll reach my destination. In order to achieve that, I need to start winning races and doing well in both 24 hour races and 100 mile races. Winning can only happen as a result of harsh training, and looking back at what I've been doing, I realize that I would need to add more training in order to make it happen. Instead of running 120 miles a week, I'm probably going to end up running close to 160 miles a week. Instead of going to the gym for 2 hours a day, I'm probably going to end up going 4 hours a day. Having a dream and going towards it is hard. It's easy to lay back down and be content with where I am right now. But easier isn't the way to live. As I want to truly live my life to its fullest, I want to push myself, to challenge myself to reach my potential, and take off my limitations. In order to live the dream, I need to grow, to move, and ultimately LIVE.
So when you look back at your life, see where you are, and where you originally wanted to go, ask yourself, "Am I living the dream? Am I moving forward to achieve the dream that I once had?" or maybe you need to ask yourself, "What was my dream?"
When you wake up in the morning, sometimes you can clearly remember the dreams you've had, but as you wake up, you forget that dream you just had... and it's the same with our dreams we've had before. The moment we dreamed about something happening, it was vivid, it was filled with life, and we were filled with life... but as time went on and we didn't focus or grow towards that dream, we start to forget.
So don't forget your dream. Remember that moment that you felt so alive. Remember the excitement that filled you up. Remember that spark that brought light to your life.
Remember what your dream was...
and run towards it.
Tuesday, July 8, 2014
Merrill's Mile 24 Hr
Wow... I sure did a lot of things this past week... it just seems a little unbelievable that all this happened in one week. Thursday morning, I bought a house, became a landlord, and received my first rent check, and soon after, I went down to Georgia, celebrated Jordan's birthday at Maggiano's, and then back at her place... it was prep time. It was nice to have someone to talk to while packing because otherwise, my mind would have gone crazy thinking about the race, but in a chill atmosphere, I was able to pack my things up and divided them up and just enjoy a good night's rest. The medial side of my right knee had been giving me problems, so I was fortunate she was skilled in putting KT tape on it, and so I had that put on in the night before I went to sleep. In the morning, I got my stuff and made some onigiri (rice balls) and headed off to Dahlonega, GA. The trip was nice... but when I followed google maps on my iPhone... it stopped at a certain place and told me that I was there. The only problem was that I wasn't. So with a little adrenaline rush, I drove around, found a person driving, he stopped, he told me that the race was further down the road, and that I better make it there in time.... and I may have broken the speed limit to get to the camp in time to partake in this wonderful event, with only 20 minutes to spare.
Not having a support crew really bummed me out, so I had to bring all my stuff and make a makeshift picnic area, and dressed in my battle gear:
2 pairs of Asics Gel Lyte 33
2 pairs of Asics Gel Lyte 33 2 (my favorite pair!!)
Underarmour Compression Shorts and Shirt (helped me from chafing)
Your average running shorts that I bought at Hammers...
My first ultra shirt I received running TNF Endurance Challenge 50 mi
My wonderful bandana (x2)
Asics running gloves for the night
The first sunny parts, I would go shirtless and get a free suntan, but knowing my weakness to the cold, I was prepared with the compression shirt and good thing!!
The other things I brought to give me whatever help I needed was... Pedialyte, Pickle juice, Equate Pain Relieving Cream, Ibuprofen, Riceball (onigiri), bananas, chocolate covered espresso beans, and a headlamp (I'm sure I brought more... but this is pretty much the important stuff)
At first, I divided up the 24 hours into the 6 hour increments when we were suppose to switch directions... so here's what happened.
The Plan:
I decided that I wanted to get as close to 144 miles as I could, which would be a 10:00 minute per mile pace, but would be happy with a 120. As the loop was .9902 miles long, I needed some way to keep myself sane, and so I decided that I would tackle this thing 6 laps at a time. Each lap, I would run the full lap, but as soon as I finished the lap, I gave myself a 40 second break. I would take 40 seconds to walk, get whatever I needed from the aid station, and then go run another lap. If I could do 6 laps under an hour, that would get me close to the 144 mile goal because I knew I wouldn't be able to hold that pace. As the first 12 hours involved a lot of sun and high temperatures, I made sure to drink enough fluids, so made my own little system. Lap 1: water, Lap 2: water, Lap 3: coke and water, Lap 4: water, Lap 5: water, Lap 6: pedialyte, pickle juice, food.... and then go with the next set. On the 6th lap, I would drop the 40 second rest rule, and give myself enough time to rest as long as I wanted so that I could take care of myself.
There are three important things that we need in order to get through the race. Water, Electrolytes, and Energy. Should you deprive yourself of one of them, your body will not work efficiently and you will slow down. Previously, I kept on playing with my hydration, drinking too much at times, drinking too little at times, but the main thing that allowed me to know how I was doing was when I went to the bathroom. Though it's gross topic to talk about, it's still very important. Whenever I dropped by the rest room, I was able to see how much fluid I had inside of me, and that allowed me to understand how much or how little I needed during the next ten, twenty minutes. Another thing that helped me get through was the fact that I was licking the salt encrusted on my shoulders and arms. It has the perfect balance of what I was losing, so why shouldn't I take it in? As for food, it's important that you take in as much as you can so that you'll be able to stay ahead of your glucose usage, but not too much so your stomach is working too hard. It was important that I eat whenever I felt hungry, breaking guidelines because it's important that I listen to my body. Using these barbaric methods of understanding where I was and how I was doing, I believe I could add extra miles under my belt.
First 6 Hours:
The first lap was led by Beth McCurdy, who was just running for fun (didn't she do like 60 miles or something? haha) and I was following her lead, but decided afterwards that I just needed to do what I usually did and just take it easy and warm up during the first couple of miles. After slowing down, I was passed by a couple of guys and didn't care about it because the only person I was actually racing against... was myself. Instead, I focused on how I was going to get through the race. As I explained to the aid station crew what was going on, they immediately asked me every time I finished a lap what set and rep I was on, and that really helped out because I was able to work through this whole thing one set at a time, focusing on finishing the set, instead of looking at the 24 hours as a whole. As the sun came out, the temperature went up, but I actually sort of enjoyed the heat and had trained for it, so I pushed through at a decently fast pace. I remember passing the 42nd lap and then having to turn around because I had finished the 7th set. I was doing pretty well and knew that I wouldn't be able to keep it up, but it would give me a good cushion towards the end of the race when it got dark and cold. The aid station crew was so kind I was encouraged to continue what I was doing and get myself through to the 12th hour so that I could do my best.
Second 6 Hours:
By then, it was 3:00 in the afternoon, the temperature was going down... but we were all suffering from it. By this time, I was still going strong, but I was starting to slow down. I wasn't able to get my 7 sets in, but if my memory serves to be correct, I was able to get in 6 sets, 36 laps... but by then, I was exhausted and even right now, I can't truly recollect how many laps I did... I just remember that I was going for 6 sets for this quarter. 12 hours had gone by and I had done about 77 miles. By then, my higher end goal was 135 miles, and the lower end still at 120. I knew that 144 miles would be next to impossible to reach, but I didn't want to throw that away and see if I could get as close as I could possibly get. By this time, the physical battle was over and the mental battle was about to start. The aid station crew was still supportive and even though the 144 miles was out of the picture, they encouraged me to continue to do my best. The runners at that point also started really cheering for me because I was going at a quick pace... I honestly don't know what I would've done if I hadn't had such a strong group always encouraging me as I ran.
Third 6 Hours:
I honestly don't remember how many laps or miles I did on this quarter. All I know was that I finished 100 miles at 17:42, which is my personal best for a 100 mile run. Understanding that, I know I did one more lap before I turned around, because I stopped early before the time went to 18 hours just so that I could drink and just turn around... something about waiting made it easier for me to start anew. This third quarter was the hardest quarter. I had kept up the 40 seconds of rest/walking each lap and then running, but after 12 hours and 77 miles, I knew that I needed to slow down or I would self destruct.... and made the executive decision to walk a lap for the first time. It was a long lap. I walked and although it was a mile... it took longer than it should have, and my pace was a mess. After that, I kept it going as much as I could, but I was quickly shutting down. As it got colder, I put on my underarmour compression shirt, my running shirt, and gloves. I was slowing down and it was getting colder. As I was using an extreme amount of energy to continue on, it was important that I keep myself warm so that I would be able to use the energy to move instead of keeping myself warm. There was an inverse relationship between the battle of the physical body and the battle of the mind. If the 1st 12 hours was about the body, the 2nd 12 hours was definitely about how my mind handled this race. This quarter, I was only able to get in 24 loops... 4 sets... 23 miles... and things weren't looking good. I had slowed down a lot, and at 3:00am in the morning, things were looking bleak. Before the loop ended, Willy (the RD) encouraged me and told me that I was going at an exceptionally well pace... but at that point, I didn't care too much, and I wasn't feeling that great.
Final 6 Hours:
All I needed was 20 laps in 6 hours to get to 122 laps... which would be 120 miles. The goal was within reach... but I was too exhausted to get there and it was a dangerous place. Physically, I was more than capable of finishing... but mentally, I was ready to drop out. The aid station was really supportive but I was not the happy Sho that I usually was. It was in the wee hours of the morning, and I was tired of running, still miles away from my goal, and I just wanted to stop. At one point, I was broken... I couldn't smile, I couldn't go forward... I couldn't go on... so I found a seat and stopped for 5 minutes. It was the first time I stopped to sit that wasn't part of the 6 loop plan. It was then that I looked back at the different people that supported me before the race, the people that believed in what I could do. I wasn't running just for myself, I was also running for them. The people in Haw Ridge that I run with on Tuesdays, my friends that started their running after meeting me, the people on Facebook that encouraged me, Jordan for giving me a bed and taping me up, Beth who kept on saying, "Go Sho Go Sho Go Sho" and making me smile, Keith who cheered me on and cracking jokes at me, Chris who encouraged me and believed in me when I couldn't, I built relationships during the miles around the track, and there were a lot of people that kept me going, and with that thought in my head, I had to get up and keep going. I got up, and began my trek towards 120 miles. I pushed through every miserable loop thinking about the people that supported me, and though it wasn't fast, it was still a forward progression. By this point, the 10ft elevation change was very apparent when going out, that I found it hard to run. However, I talked with a husband and wife (curses... I forgot what their names were... but I know all about them, haha... silly how ultras mess with your head), and was able to walk with them up the 'hill' and run the rest of the way down to finish each lap under 15 minutes. I held on for about 3-5 loops, but after that, I couldn't keep up because I was still mentally exhausted... but by then, the sun began to come out. As the track became visible, I became stronger, and as I became stronger, I found hope. The people that supported me, the 2 hours I had left, the opportunity I had in not making a personal record, but a course record, the fact that I could see the road ahead of me... they pulled me. At about an hour and a half left in the race, I started running. I started running because I saw that it was possible. I could finish, and I could finish strong, and as the light became stronger, so did my run. As I finished the last few laps, Keith was there with my cup filled with water, bringing the water to me so I didn't have to walk that extra 10 feet, and encouraged me as I went on. The blisters on my feet hurt, but I knew I could handle it. I pushed on, getting closer to that 122 lap mark. But I still had more time. I could go further. I could push forward and get myself further. As Philip encouraged me to push on, I knew I could get in a few more laps. I knew that I could get in 125 laps.
and so I did.
After 124 laps, my blister on my right leg really got big and hurt, so even though there was a slight chance I could have gotten to 126 laps, I decided that I would walk my victory lap in the end, and walk I did. My head held high, as I finished 123.775 miles, making a PR, 1st place, and a course record.
When I came to this race, I didn't expect to go far. I was sick a few weeks ago and only ran 3 times the last 2 weeks. My right knee was hurt and hadn't been fully healed. I didn't even have a support crew.... but the rest that I was able to get during the last two weeks gave my body to rest and fully recover from my training. The right knee that was hurt was well rested during that time and it was wrapped up... and I made sure to run properly and not too fast, so I was able to pace myself properly. I didn't bring a support crew, but there were always people around me that was willing to help me as I made my way through. Willy, Philip, Beth, and the rest of the aid station as well as other runners encouraged me and gave me exactly what I needed to push on.
Looking back, the things I thought would prevent me from doing what I did became the stepping stones to being able to do something great. I was able to meet a lot of new friends, and I was able to run a great race... and now I feel like I can take steps towards my next big goal.
I thought that becoming part of the USA National 24 Hour Team was something that I wouldn't be able to achieve in the near future, but with this race, my perspective changed. Now, I believe that it is very possible that I can become a part of the team a lot sooner than my original plan. If I put in the work, I race wisely, and take the right steps... it's possible. I'm definitely excited for what this next year is going to bring me. I'm going to make my dream a reality and continue to become the best that I can be.
Thanks to everyone who supported me in this race, and special thanks to Willy for putting up such an amazing race. Should I come back next year to see if I can beat myself? Haha. I appreciate the support I got from my old and new friends, and I want to encourage everyone who ran to continue running and beat themselves and constantly get better. Never give up and be the best you can be, because if you never give up... then eventually you will succeed.
Not having a support crew really bummed me out, so I had to bring all my stuff and make a makeshift picnic area, and dressed in my battle gear:
2 pairs of Asics Gel Lyte 332 pairs of Asics Gel Lyte 33 2 (my favorite pair!!)
Underarmour Compression Shorts and Shirt (helped me from chafing)
Your average running shorts that I bought at Hammers...
My first ultra shirt I received running TNF Endurance Challenge 50 mi
My wonderful bandana (x2)
Asics running gloves for the night
The first sunny parts, I would go shirtless and get a free suntan, but knowing my weakness to the cold, I was prepared with the compression shirt and good thing!!
The other things I brought to give me whatever help I needed was... Pedialyte, Pickle juice, Equate Pain Relieving Cream, Ibuprofen, Riceball (onigiri), bananas, chocolate covered espresso beans, and a headlamp (I'm sure I brought more... but this is pretty much the important stuff)
At first, I divided up the 24 hours into the 6 hour increments when we were suppose to switch directions... so here's what happened.
The Plan:
I decided that I wanted to get as close to 144 miles as I could, which would be a 10:00 minute per mile pace, but would be happy with a 120. As the loop was .9902 miles long, I needed some way to keep myself sane, and so I decided that I would tackle this thing 6 laps at a time. Each lap, I would run the full lap, but as soon as I finished the lap, I gave myself a 40 second break. I would take 40 seconds to walk, get whatever I needed from the aid station, and then go run another lap. If I could do 6 laps under an hour, that would get me close to the 144 mile goal because I knew I wouldn't be able to hold that pace. As the first 12 hours involved a lot of sun and high temperatures, I made sure to drink enough fluids, so made my own little system. Lap 1: water, Lap 2: water, Lap 3: coke and water, Lap 4: water, Lap 5: water, Lap 6: pedialyte, pickle juice, food.... and then go with the next set. On the 6th lap, I would drop the 40 second rest rule, and give myself enough time to rest as long as I wanted so that I could take care of myself.
There are three important things that we need in order to get through the race. Water, Electrolytes, and Energy. Should you deprive yourself of one of them, your body will not work efficiently and you will slow down. Previously, I kept on playing with my hydration, drinking too much at times, drinking too little at times, but the main thing that allowed me to know how I was doing was when I went to the bathroom. Though it's gross topic to talk about, it's still very important. Whenever I dropped by the rest room, I was able to see how much fluid I had inside of me, and that allowed me to understand how much or how little I needed during the next ten, twenty minutes. Another thing that helped me get through was the fact that I was licking the salt encrusted on my shoulders and arms. It has the perfect balance of what I was losing, so why shouldn't I take it in? As for food, it's important that you take in as much as you can so that you'll be able to stay ahead of your glucose usage, but not too much so your stomach is working too hard. It was important that I eat whenever I felt hungry, breaking guidelines because it's important that I listen to my body. Using these barbaric methods of understanding where I was and how I was doing, I believe I could add extra miles under my belt.
First 6 Hours:
The first lap was led by Beth McCurdy, who was just running for fun (didn't she do like 60 miles or something? haha) and I was following her lead, but decided afterwards that I just needed to do what I usually did and just take it easy and warm up during the first couple of miles. After slowing down, I was passed by a couple of guys and didn't care about it because the only person I was actually racing against... was myself. Instead, I focused on how I was going to get through the race. As I explained to the aid station crew what was going on, they immediately asked me every time I finished a lap what set and rep I was on, and that really helped out because I was able to work through this whole thing one set at a time, focusing on finishing the set, instead of looking at the 24 hours as a whole. As the sun came out, the temperature went up, but I actually sort of enjoyed the heat and had trained for it, so I pushed through at a decently fast pace. I remember passing the 42nd lap and then having to turn around because I had finished the 7th set. I was doing pretty well and knew that I wouldn't be able to keep it up, but it would give me a good cushion towards the end of the race when it got dark and cold. The aid station crew was so kind I was encouraged to continue what I was doing and get myself through to the 12th hour so that I could do my best.
Second 6 Hours:
By then, it was 3:00 in the afternoon, the temperature was going down... but we were all suffering from it. By this time, I was still going strong, but I was starting to slow down. I wasn't able to get my 7 sets in, but if my memory serves to be correct, I was able to get in 6 sets, 36 laps... but by then, I was exhausted and even right now, I can't truly recollect how many laps I did... I just remember that I was going for 6 sets for this quarter. 12 hours had gone by and I had done about 77 miles. By then, my higher end goal was 135 miles, and the lower end still at 120. I knew that 144 miles would be next to impossible to reach, but I didn't want to throw that away and see if I could get as close as I could possibly get. By this time, the physical battle was over and the mental battle was about to start. The aid station crew was still supportive and even though the 144 miles was out of the picture, they encouraged me to continue to do my best. The runners at that point also started really cheering for me because I was going at a quick pace... I honestly don't know what I would've done if I hadn't had such a strong group always encouraging me as I ran.
Third 6 Hours:
I honestly don't remember how many laps or miles I did on this quarter. All I know was that I finished 100 miles at 17:42, which is my personal best for a 100 mile run. Understanding that, I know I did one more lap before I turned around, because I stopped early before the time went to 18 hours just so that I could drink and just turn around... something about waiting made it easier for me to start anew. This third quarter was the hardest quarter. I had kept up the 40 seconds of rest/walking each lap and then running, but after 12 hours and 77 miles, I knew that I needed to slow down or I would self destruct.... and made the executive decision to walk a lap for the first time. It was a long lap. I walked and although it was a mile... it took longer than it should have, and my pace was a mess. After that, I kept it going as much as I could, but I was quickly shutting down. As it got colder, I put on my underarmour compression shirt, my running shirt, and gloves. I was slowing down and it was getting colder. As I was using an extreme amount of energy to continue on, it was important that I keep myself warm so that I would be able to use the energy to move instead of keeping myself warm. There was an inverse relationship between the battle of the physical body and the battle of the mind. If the 1st 12 hours was about the body, the 2nd 12 hours was definitely about how my mind handled this race. This quarter, I was only able to get in 24 loops... 4 sets... 23 miles... and things weren't looking good. I had slowed down a lot, and at 3:00am in the morning, things were looking bleak. Before the loop ended, Willy (the RD) encouraged me and told me that I was going at an exceptionally well pace... but at that point, I didn't care too much, and I wasn't feeling that great.
Final 6 Hours:
All I needed was 20 laps in 6 hours to get to 122 laps... which would be 120 miles. The goal was within reach... but I was too exhausted to get there and it was a dangerous place. Physically, I was more than capable of finishing... but mentally, I was ready to drop out. The aid station was really supportive but I was not the happy Sho that I usually was. It was in the wee hours of the morning, and I was tired of running, still miles away from my goal, and I just wanted to stop. At one point, I was broken... I couldn't smile, I couldn't go forward... I couldn't go on... so I found a seat and stopped for 5 minutes. It was the first time I stopped to sit that wasn't part of the 6 loop plan. It was then that I looked back at the different people that supported me before the race, the people that believed in what I could do. I wasn't running just for myself, I was also running for them. The people in Haw Ridge that I run with on Tuesdays, my friends that started their running after meeting me, the people on Facebook that encouraged me, Jordan for giving me a bed and taping me up, Beth who kept on saying, "Go Sho Go Sho Go Sho" and making me smile, Keith who cheered me on and cracking jokes at me, Chris who encouraged me and believed in me when I couldn't, I built relationships during the miles around the track, and there were a lot of people that kept me going, and with that thought in my head, I had to get up and keep going. I got up, and began my trek towards 120 miles. I pushed through every miserable loop thinking about the people that supported me, and though it wasn't fast, it was still a forward progression. By this point, the 10ft elevation change was very apparent when going out, that I found it hard to run. However, I talked with a husband and wife (curses... I forgot what their names were... but I know all about them, haha... silly how ultras mess with your head), and was able to walk with them up the 'hill' and run the rest of the way down to finish each lap under 15 minutes. I held on for about 3-5 loops, but after that, I couldn't keep up because I was still mentally exhausted... but by then, the sun began to come out. As the track became visible, I became stronger, and as I became stronger, I found hope. The people that supported me, the 2 hours I had left, the opportunity I had in not making a personal record, but a course record, the fact that I could see the road ahead of me... they pulled me. At about an hour and a half left in the race, I started running. I started running because I saw that it was possible. I could finish, and I could finish strong, and as the light became stronger, so did my run. As I finished the last few laps, Keith was there with my cup filled with water, bringing the water to me so I didn't have to walk that extra 10 feet, and encouraged me as I went on. The blisters on my feet hurt, but I knew I could handle it. I pushed on, getting closer to that 122 lap mark. But I still had more time. I could go further. I could push forward and get myself further. As Philip encouraged me to push on, I knew I could get in a few more laps. I knew that I could get in 125 laps.
and so I did.
After 124 laps, my blister on my right leg really got big and hurt, so even though there was a slight chance I could have gotten to 126 laps, I decided that I would walk my victory lap in the end, and walk I did. My head held high, as I finished 123.775 miles, making a PR, 1st place, and a course record.
When I came to this race, I didn't expect to go far. I was sick a few weeks ago and only ran 3 times the last 2 weeks. My right knee was hurt and hadn't been fully healed. I didn't even have a support crew.... but the rest that I was able to get during the last two weeks gave my body to rest and fully recover from my training. The right knee that was hurt was well rested during that time and it was wrapped up... and I made sure to run properly and not too fast, so I was able to pace myself properly. I didn't bring a support crew, but there were always people around me that was willing to help me as I made my way through. Willy, Philip, Beth, and the rest of the aid station as well as other runners encouraged me and gave me exactly what I needed to push on.
Looking back, the things I thought would prevent me from doing what I did became the stepping stones to being able to do something great. I was able to meet a lot of new friends, and I was able to run a great race... and now I feel like I can take steps towards my next big goal.
I thought that becoming part of the USA National 24 Hour Team was something that I wouldn't be able to achieve in the near future, but with this race, my perspective changed. Now, I believe that it is very possible that I can become a part of the team a lot sooner than my original plan. If I put in the work, I race wisely, and take the right steps... it's possible. I'm definitely excited for what this next year is going to bring me. I'm going to make my dream a reality and continue to become the best that I can be.
Thanks to everyone who supported me in this race, and special thanks to Willy for putting up such an amazing race. Should I come back next year to see if I can beat myself? Haha. I appreciate the support I got from my old and new friends, and I want to encourage everyone who ran to continue running and beat themselves and constantly get better. Never give up and be the best you can be, because if you never give up... then eventually you will succeed.
Friday, June 27, 2014
Letting Your Environment Support Your Dreams
So in the past, I have always talked about how we need steps to get to our goals, and from one goal to another, work towards our dreams... however, we still fail to grasp that and do not take the steps required to achieve our goals. How is it that we understand what steps we need to take, yet fail to follow through and work towards that?
It's because we lack the foundation that supports us to our goals. We do not have a system that pushes us forward. In order to achieve your goal, you need to change your environment to being able to support you instead of push you down. Friends family, house, finances... everything can either help or hurt you. The thing is, whether we truly understand it or not, there are things that will bring you closer to your goals, and there are things that will take you away from these goals. The little things that occur in your everyday life is your environment. Should your environment be supportive, you will have a higher chance of success in achieving your dreams. However, should your environment not be supportive, you may end up having a rough time taking steps towards your dreams.
In having an environment that not only allows us to push forward, but also pushes us, we create a system where we can only press on towards our goals. For example, should an individual want to become healthier, a simple way to create an environment that supports his or her goal would be to simply throw away unhealthy snacks that are in their homes. I always like to tell myself, "no temptation, no sin" and that's served me well when working towards my goals.
So how can we create an environment that would support us and help us get to our goal? Can we find a one size fits all solution to our problem? Well... unfortunately, there is no 'one size fits all' solution because we are all unique and react in different ways to various catalysts. However, I believe there could be a few guidelines that would help anyone create this self supported environment.
First of all, we can divide what is in our lives into two parts. First, there's the things that helps us or supports us towards our goal. Then, there's the things that prevents us from achieving our goals. It could be a habit, it could be a family member... it could be anything. In order to create this ideal environment that would support you, you have to add habits that supports you, take away habits that prevents you from achieving your goals. In order to do that, you must put away the material objects that would remind you of things that prevents you from progressing while adding material objects in your life that would encourage you to go towards your goal. If it's family, you need to insure that whatever they do, they ought to be supportive of you and your goals instead of being distant... or perhaps you need the space and need their distance in order for you to achieve your goals.
Basically, in order to achieve your goals and create an environment that supports you, it is IMPORTANT that you know yourself. The more you know about yourself and how you work, the more you can change the environment around you to support you as you take the steps towards your goals. As you find more about who you are and how you work, your strengths as well as your weaknesses, you can manipulate the things around you so that making the best choice becomes the only option.
Whether it be losing weight or acing a test, it's important that you have an environment that supports you. The more supportive the environment is, the easier it is to stay on the path towards your dreams. Create an environment that urges you to grow, that provides energy for you to push on, to support you in whatever way you need to get to where you want yourself to be.
It's because we lack the foundation that supports us to our goals. We do not have a system that pushes us forward. In order to achieve your goal, you need to change your environment to being able to support you instead of push you down. Friends family, house, finances... everything can either help or hurt you. The thing is, whether we truly understand it or not, there are things that will bring you closer to your goals, and there are things that will take you away from these goals. The little things that occur in your everyday life is your environment. Should your environment be supportive, you will have a higher chance of success in achieving your dreams. However, should your environment not be supportive, you may end up having a rough time taking steps towards your dreams.
In having an environment that not only allows us to push forward, but also pushes us, we create a system where we can only press on towards our goals. For example, should an individual want to become healthier, a simple way to create an environment that supports his or her goal would be to simply throw away unhealthy snacks that are in their homes. I always like to tell myself, "no temptation, no sin" and that's served me well when working towards my goals.
So how can we create an environment that would support us and help us get to our goal? Can we find a one size fits all solution to our problem? Well... unfortunately, there is no 'one size fits all' solution because we are all unique and react in different ways to various catalysts. However, I believe there could be a few guidelines that would help anyone create this self supported environment.
First of all, we can divide what is in our lives into two parts. First, there's the things that helps us or supports us towards our goal. Then, there's the things that prevents us from achieving our goals. It could be a habit, it could be a family member... it could be anything. In order to create this ideal environment that would support you, you have to add habits that supports you, take away habits that prevents you from achieving your goals. In order to do that, you must put away the material objects that would remind you of things that prevents you from progressing while adding material objects in your life that would encourage you to go towards your goal. If it's family, you need to insure that whatever they do, they ought to be supportive of you and your goals instead of being distant... or perhaps you need the space and need their distance in order for you to achieve your goals.
Basically, in order to achieve your goals and create an environment that supports you, it is IMPORTANT that you know yourself. The more you know about yourself and how you work, the more you can change the environment around you to support you as you take the steps towards your goals. As you find more about who you are and how you work, your strengths as well as your weaknesses, you can manipulate the things around you so that making the best choice becomes the only option.
Whether it be losing weight or acing a test, it's important that you have an environment that supports you. The more supportive the environment is, the easier it is to stay on the path towards your dreams. Create an environment that urges you to grow, that provides energy for you to push on, to support you in whatever way you need to get to where you want yourself to be.
Monday, June 23, 2014
3 Steps to Becoming an Effective Leader
There is a difference between being an average leader and an effective leader. The circle of influence of the effective leader far greater than that of the average leader. With a larger circle of influence, there is a greater impact, and with a positive impact, one can change the entire world.
As a runner, I really want to encourage those around me to live a healthy lifestyle (not necessarily just running) as well as motivating others to achieving their dreams... and I wondered how could I do better? I figured that there are a lot of people that do what I do and inspire others, but only a few actually stood out as an effective leader. I yearned to be like one of those who were able to touch the lives of millions of people. I desired the charisma of the leaders that blew the minds of the people and impacted lives and brought hope to those that needed it... and I came across these 3 steps.
First. You need to understand the current situation as it is. Where you are now is very important because if you don't know where you are now, how are you to know where you're wanting to go or how to get there? In understanding the current situation as it is, you give yourself the starting point, the materials you have, and live in this real world. You're not underestimating yourself and what you have, because then your dreams you want to achieve will become smaller. You don't overestimate yourself and what you have because then your dreams will be too big and impossible. You go with what you have. That way, you can focus clearly on the next step.
Second. You need to have a vision. In having this vision, you use the knowledge of the here and now to focus on the endless possibilities you can do with it, and work towards your goal. Without an end goal, you will end up unfocused and working towards several things that you never had to work on, but with an end goal, you can focus all your time and effort towards that vision, and wisely work your way to taking the steps needed in order to accomplish that. Make the vision as real as you can. Understand what you need to do to reach that and plan things out. Realize what's possible with the different materials and talents you are given in the beginning and connect everything together to create a path to your dreams.
Third. You need to take the steps. What good is it to have a road-map to success if you're not going to use it? The thing is, even if you put so much work in creating the perfect plan... if you don't execute it, nothing happens. A leader needs to not only understand the current situation and create a vision. A leader ought to take the steps towards making it happen. In taking the steps, the leader puts him/herself in the front lines, works towards that vision, and as they take those steps forward to making their dreams come true, the leader will attract those who believe in the same thing and naturally will follow the one with a clear vision and work towards making it a reality.
The thing is, there are an awful lot of people working towards a bunch of goals. Some of them don't understand the first step and therefore their vision becomes tainted and not as good as it could be. Others will not create this clear vision and work towards a series of goals and waste their time, energy, and money on some projects that they didn't need to work on. Still others will not take the steps to working towards their goals and have others do the work for them. In doing so, things will get done... but it becomes a passionless progress, not as fast and not as effective.
In working with these 3 steps, it is possible to become an effective leader that can impact the world... and here's the kicker. Effective leaders cannot quit. In being an example, in being an inspiration, we are part of what gives hope to those around us. Should we stop... should we quit... that gives the people around us a reason to quit. As an effective leader, we shoulder the responsibility of not just ourselves and our dreams, but also of those around us. There are always people following what we do, and they are encouraged by our accomplishments, so understand that there will be a time when we feel like quitting. There will be a time when you don't feel like progressing.... However, as an effective leader, we need to prevail because we may be what gives hope to another individual as they work towards their dreams.
Effective leaders aren't effective because they just follow these 3 steps. Effective leaders are effective because no matter what happens, they choose to push on towards their dreams, making the impossible possible, and giving hope to those around them.
As a runner, I really want to encourage those around me to live a healthy lifestyle (not necessarily just running) as well as motivating others to achieving their dreams... and I wondered how could I do better? I figured that there are a lot of people that do what I do and inspire others, but only a few actually stood out as an effective leader. I yearned to be like one of those who were able to touch the lives of millions of people. I desired the charisma of the leaders that blew the minds of the people and impacted lives and brought hope to those that needed it... and I came across these 3 steps.
First. You need to understand the current situation as it is. Where you are now is very important because if you don't know where you are now, how are you to know where you're wanting to go or how to get there? In understanding the current situation as it is, you give yourself the starting point, the materials you have, and live in this real world. You're not underestimating yourself and what you have, because then your dreams you want to achieve will become smaller. You don't overestimate yourself and what you have because then your dreams will be too big and impossible. You go with what you have. That way, you can focus clearly on the next step.The thing is, there are an awful lot of people working towards a bunch of goals. Some of them don't understand the first step and therefore their vision becomes tainted and not as good as it could be. Others will not create this clear vision and work towards a series of goals and waste their time, energy, and money on some projects that they didn't need to work on. Still others will not take the steps to working towards their goals and have others do the work for them. In doing so, things will get done... but it becomes a passionless progress, not as fast and not as effective.
In working with these 3 steps, it is possible to become an effective leader that can impact the world... and here's the kicker. Effective leaders cannot quit. In being an example, in being an inspiration, we are part of what gives hope to those around us. Should we stop... should we quit... that gives the people around us a reason to quit. As an effective leader, we shoulder the responsibility of not just ourselves and our dreams, but also of those around us. There are always people following what we do, and they are encouraged by our accomplishments, so understand that there will be a time when we feel like quitting. There will be a time when you don't feel like progressing.... However, as an effective leader, we need to prevail because we may be what gives hope to another individual as they work towards their dreams.
Effective leaders aren't effective because they just follow these 3 steps. Effective leaders are effective because no matter what happens, they choose to push on towards their dreams, making the impossible possible, and giving hope to those around them.
Wednesday, June 18, 2014
Lakeshore Trail Trek 16 Miler
Considering that my first trail race was the 50 mile race in Atlanta, this 16 mile race was very different. It was fast, and I was experienced. Since my first trail race in 2011, I've gotten my fair share of trail running, and as I've been working on my speed since getting sick at Black Mountains, I felt ready for this race. The Thursday before the race, I did a trial road run of 16 miles, 8 miles out and 8 miles back. I did the first half in exactly an hour, and on the way back, I was able to finish it in under 52 minutes. With this, I knew that for the race, it would be possible for me to finish the 16 mile race in under 2 hours. However, after Friday's downpour, I was a little worried that the trail would be muddied and harder to run. Saturday morning arrived and I woke up and drove over to the start of the race, and met up with my friends from Haw Ridge, and we talked about how I need to watch out for this bearded guy. Wearing my wonderful Asics Gel Lyte 33 2, I was ready to rock the field.
The race was a 9ish mile out and back followed by a 7ish mile out and back, and the first part of the race involved climbing up a bridge and going across... it was definitely different than the other races I've done, and for the first mile, I led the pack. I talked to a couple of the guys behind me and learned that two of them had marathon times of 2:44 and 2:54, which meant that they were definitely good road runners (faster than my own 2:56), and figuring out who I was up against, I decided that the best thing that I could do was to race my race. I dropped back and went down to 4th place, where I begin the real warm up of the race, and then as time went on, little by little, I started to pick up the pace. Between mile 3 and 4, I passed the person who was in 3rd, and little by little gained on the 1st and 2nd place runners. At a little past 4 miles, there was a part of the race where you have to go over a fence, and that's where I caught the two runners and paused because we weren't sure what we were suppose to do. By the time the runner I passed came, I stood on the fence and figured out that that was the direction we were suppose to go, and leading the pack, I went to the water station, dropped off my water bottle, and decided that I would start taking the race from then on, as seriously as I could.
On the return trip, I had previously heard the top runners talk about how they had wasted 30 seconds figuring out what the course was, I figured that I would need to beat them by a minute to make the victory feel real. I had one runner running right behind me at that point, and I had the "Happy" song going in my head keeping the beat (must have been on the radio) and little by little, I pulled away, and as I passed my teammates, they all cheered me on, which encouraged me to continue the effort. With switchbacks and rolling hills, the pace was never constant, but with the experience from Haw Ridge and all the other trail races I've done, it wasn't really a set back. Whenever I could pick it up with the same effort, I would pick it up, and whenever I needed to slow down... I would slow down. Every so often, I would pretend that there was someone coming up behind me, so that would jolt me forward with renewed energy, but other than that, it was a nice run all the way back to the start.
After climbing back over the bridge and getting to the starting area, I stopped to drink a little water and dump the rest on my head. Talked to Tony for a little bit, and off I went. For a little bit, it was roads and though I was faster, changing from trails to roads really was something different, and I felt it in my legs. As I met up with the 8 mile finishers, we cheered each other on, but as I got faster and faster, the words of encouragement changed from a sentence to a phrase, but I was finishing the course as fast as I possibly could, and I knew I'd have to push the end if I wanted to make it under 2 hours. After going through the trails to the aid station which was less than half way (because on the way back, we would add a few longer loops in the mix), I drank a little bit and dumped the rest on my head and said goodbye and thanks to the workers and started my return.
I wasn't sure how much I was ahead of the group behind me, but I wanted to make sure that it would be as large of a gap as I could possibly make it, and after a minute or so, I met up with the 2nd place runner, Bob Adams, who was headed towards the aid station. As he is a very fast runner, I knew that a few minutes was something that he could definitely get back, and so that made me want to go even faster... which I did. I passed by the other guys and then my teammates, as I zipped through the course, and being glad that I had the energy to run fast (since it was only 16 miles) I knew that the only thing that'll stop me is if I ran too fast and tired out my muscles... but the clip I was going at was decent and my cadence was strong, and I knew that as I got closer to the beginning, that I had a real decent chance at getting under 2 hours. I was a little worried when I had about 10 minutes left and I wasn't sure exactly how far I was from the start, so I did pick it up even more, but as soon as I hit the road, I knew that I would be able to finish strong and achieve my goal of running under 2 hours. In fact, as I finished, I saw that I had 3 minutes to spare! Being a trail course and not having done any research on it, I was happy with my 1st place finish with a time of 1:56:53.
Top 3 Overall
Sho Gray 1:56:53
Bob Adams 2:00:54
Jesse Fine 2:04:44
Male and Female 1st place Finishers!!
Overall, it was a very fun race, well organized, and enjoyed the people that ran in it. I'm looking forward to next year and see if I can lower the course record~ Definitely pumping me up for the 24 hour race coming up in July!! (and happy that now I can just run slowly and not work on my speed~ haha)
You put in hard work and persevere, the results will follow.
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