One With Nature

When was the last time you got "lost" in the wilderness? When was the last time you went off the grid and left behind all those worries and concerns that plague your mind on a day to day basis? For some, its been a while, for others, like myself, its been recently. Its a experience that we as human beings need to have every now and then. Just escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and just surround ourselves with nature. All my life, I have felt the "call of the wild." Growing up, I would find any excuse to go into the woods. Usually it was with my childhood friends and we would hike and camp out. We made memories and to this day, I still find myself thinking of those more simpler times. And now as a runner, I go into the woods to run the trails and enjoy the sights and sounds of the forest. It feels natural to me and I would even go as far as saying that I feel at home. The last thing on my mind is the worries of life and work. Being out there reminds me that I am a creature of nature. There is no need to worry about where the trail will take me because I a get lost in enjoying nature around me.

But you do not have to be runner to enjoy the trails. You can get out there and hike the trails. You can also bike them. Not only are you getting great exercise, but you are also giving your mind a break and recharging your batteries.You get a chance to disconnect from the society and civilization and "return to your roots." Plus you get faced with new challenges such as navigating unfamiliar territory at times and possibly walking up steep hills. But you also have to go into nature with a sense of respect since you are sharing your surroundings with other creatures who call the forest home. But it is definitely a great perk to see them in their natural habitat and observe them as you run or walk deeper into the wilderness. If you have never been out on the trails in the forest, I suggest that you give it a chance and see for yourself the many benefits it has to offer. But I must warn you, once you experience it, you might just get hooked!

The Road of Life

Life is like a long road that offers us different routes to take at certain times. The decisions that we make while on this road will lead us down a certain route and usually its not until you get a few miles into the route that you have chosen that you realize just what the consequences of your decision are. I like to think that I am running down this road and I have no map or GPS system to guide me where I am going. So I am constantly running forward not knowing where this road is going to take me. When I come to a fork in the road, I try my best to choose the better route to continue my journey forward. I pace myself enough to make sure that I am always moving forward, but not too fast so that I may enjoy the experience. But this road is filled with challenges. Sometimes there is a hill that will force me to work harder and fight to rise to the top. Sometimes there may be a hole in the road that I will step into and fall. But as much as it hurts me, I will have to get back to my feet and shake off the pain and continue my run forward. 

I compare living my life to running because it makes sense to me. Running makes you come face to face with your own mortality. But at the same time, it makes you feel incredible. You are challenged in so many different ways, just like how life itself challenges you. You are faced with the challenge of fighting the fatigue, forcing yourself to keep going despite how much your mind wants you to quit, and overcoming your own doubts and proving to yourself that you are so much stronger than you think. You also discover so much about yourself, and with this comes a better understanding of who you are. You begin to understand where you are going and you begin to find your way in life. You find confidence and learn to better deal with trial and error. The setbacks will happen, but you learn how to bounce back from them. Who knew so much could come from the simple act of running? 

But what is also great about this road that we are all running on is that we are all moving at our own pace. Everyone comes from different walks of life and we are all moving at different paces on this road. We all choose different routes and face different challenges. Just because someone is moving at a faster pace, does not mean that you should run at theirs. Its your life and its your pace. Just make sure the pace you choose allows you to enjoy the long run. 

Running Will Change You

If you have read my previous blog posts, then you know how much running has changed me physically. But what you may not know is just how much it has changed me also mentally and spiritually as well. To me, running is not just a hobby or a sport. Its also a form of therapy and healing for both the mind and body. Of course, the physical changes are a great bonus, and for most people, its for the physical changes that they include it in their lifestyle. But as many have found out, including myself, the biggest changes are the ones that no one can see at first glance. Running has helped me come out of my shell so to speak. It has helped me become more mentally sharp and helped me learn to to express myself better. Because when you are out there putting in mile after mile, you have plenty of time to think. You have time to shuffle through the thoughts you stored in the back of your mind. You are forced to face feelings that you may have stuffed away. You ultimately become your own therapist and you can clear your head. Doing this will also help relieve stress in your life. Running brings happiness in one's life. Don't believe me? Go to a local race or hang around a avid runner. You cant help but feel the positivity around you. And when runners come together, it creates a community of people who share a similar passion.

When I started running, I loved the way it made me feel. I loved the "rush" I got out of it. And before I knew it, the physical benefits began to show. But as much as I loved the physical benefits from running, it was ultimately the inner feeling that I got that kept me going. There was a point in my life years back when I had anger and I just had no outlet for it. I did not know how to handle the stress in my life and my thoughts were always so jumbled that I could not think clearly. But running changed my life and now I am a better person because of it. Oh, and not to mention the amazing people who come into your life as well! You meet so many great people at races or online through social media. I have met and interacted with fellow runners from all walks of life who inspire me and motivate me in different ways. And when a bunch of people tell you that you inspire them, its a feeling that I just cannot describe!

But you also learn so much about yourself from running. You learn that you are so much stronger than you or anyone else ever thought. You learn just how strong willed you are and you also learn to ignore that voice in your head that instills doubt in yourself. Running can make you feel unstoppable at times but can also keep you humble by reminding you that you are only human. Running can ignite creativity in you and help you think out solutions to problems you may be facing in life. Running can help you evolve into the person who you always wanted to be and erase all doubts. It can help you build up the courage to conquer your fears and take those leap of faiths in life.

You would be amazed by just how much running can change your life. And you don't need an appointment. Just put on your shoes and run to your happy place!

Into The Inferno

This past Saturday (June 20th) was my second trail race and it was by far the most challenging. The race was called the 777 Inferno and it consisted of three different stages. The first stage started at 7 am and consisted of 25.4 miles, the second started at 7 pm and consisted of 22 miles, and the third started at 7 am the next day and consisted of 26.2 miles. I joined up with two other runners and we set out to tackle the three stages separately. I elected to take on the first stage of the race, Autumn would take on the second stage, and Jason would take on the third stage. The three of us along with my wife arrived at the event a little after 6 am and I mentally and physically prepared myself for the challenge ahead. I made sure I had everything I needed and put on my hydration vest as the final minutes before the race kicked off ticked by. The race director, Jeff, had a pre race meeting with us to make sure we were informed about what to expect from the course. A minute later, he counted down the final seconds and gave us the signal to take off! I intended to set into a comfortable pace as I headed into the woods and onto the trail. The sound of the runners behind began to slowly fade away and soon all I could hear (other than the sounds of the forest) was the sound of my feet pounding the trail. The first 5 miles consisted of a lot of steep hills. But my body was prepared for this challenge from running Hell's Hills the previous week. Shortly after mile 5, I arrived at the first aid station and got some water before I continued on. As I got deeper into the forest, I found myself admiring the surroundings around me. Just being out there alone with nature was so peaceful. I made sure to pay close attention to the markings in front of me to make sure I stayed on course. I ran past a few hikers and bikers as I approached the manned aid station at mile 12. It was also not until this point did I realize just how strong of a lead I had. As I came out of the woods and onto the beach in front of the lake, I was met by my fellow teammate Jason. He ran with me to the aid station and I was informed on just how fast I was moving. At this point, I was holding a little over a 9:00 minute pace! I took a few minutes to refuel and talk to my wife, the race director Jeff, and Jason before I took off for the second half of the race. At about mile 14, I felt a stitch in my side and began to slow down a little to allow my energy to replenish and my body to recover. I started a strategic plan of alternating my pace to conserve energy and ration water. Before I knew it, I arrived at the next to last aid station and grabbed a carbonated soda (something I almost never drink) but this time I made an exception as I needed the sugar. This was at about mile 17 and I began to feel a lot better. I stepped up the pace a little bit and still was holding a strong lead. About 3 miles later, I arrived at the last aid station and refilled my hydration pack for the last time. At this point, I was going through a lot of water quickly. The fatigue and rising temperatures were draining my fluids at a fast rate. I took off to tackle the last five miles. These last miles were going to be hard since there was going to be a lot of hills. About 2 and half miles away from the finish line, a biker went to pass me and told me that the guy behind me was about 8 minutes away. This motivated me to step up the pace and push through these last two miles with everything I had left! I ended up paying a price for this though as I fell pretty hard at the last mile marker. But I quickly got back up and continued forward! At last, I could see the opening to the boat launch where the finish line was! I came out of the woods to cheering and clapping and I sprinted forward! I was in first place and I was done! It was an amazing feeling! This course was mentally and physically challenging, but I loved every minute of it! I am already looking forward to the next trail race!

Autumn, Me, and Jason

Running to the finish line!

Conquering Hell's Hills

This past Saturday (6/13/15) I took on a half marathon that was 90% trail. The name of the race was Hell's Hills and the course lived up to that name! My wife and I left the apartment at 4:30 in the morning to make the two hour drive to the town the race was being held in. We arrived 30 minutes early which gave me enough time to pick up my packet and get warmed up for the race. Before we started, the race director had a meeting with all the runners to let them know what to expect from the course. The race also had a 5k and 10k option as well. But since I was running the half marathon, I would be running one lap around the lake before heading into the woods with the 5k and 10k runners. Also, since I was running the half marathon, I would be required to make a double loop on the 10k course. After the meeting, we all lined up and waited for the signal to take off! Once the race started, I took off with the half marathoners and began the loop around the lake. It was not long before everyone started to slowly separate according to the pace in which they were running. I stayed behind the first place runner and let him set the pace. We finished our loop around the lake and off into the woods we went! The hills started almost immediately and for the first mile, it was hill after hill after hill! Around the second mile into the woods, the course got a little easier and was flat most of the time. But occasionally I would run into small dips on the course that required me to slow down to avoid falling. The last big hill was downhill and almost looked like a slide because it was so steep. After we got out of the woods. we got a little lost due to a wrong turn me and some other runners took. We were falling orange tape which marked where we were to go along the course and the last bit of orange tape was next to another hill and also next to an exit from the woods.We ended up taking the hill instead of the exit from the woods which we were supposed to take. This only slowed us down for about two minutes, but we got back on course and began the second loop on the trail. Due to the confusion from earlier, the guy I had been staying with since the race started was now in third place and I was still right behind him in fourth and holding strong. Before I knew it, I finished the second loop and sprinted toward the finish line! My time was 1 hour and 49 minutes! After the race ended, it was time for the awards ceremony! I was not sure if I had won anything, but I stuck around to enjoy the moment with the others. As it turns out, I won first place in my age group! After leaving the lake, my wife and I met up with a fellow team member of mine who ran with me in the Rouge-Orleans in February of this year, We had lunch and discussed the upcoming challenge of the 777's which will have me running 25.4 miles. All in all it was a successful and great race! Now I look toward the challenge I will be tackling this weekend! Bring on the 25 miles of trail!!

Picking up the pace on the trails!

Showing off my medal!

Keep Fueling The Fire

Motivation helps us accomplish some of the most toughest and intimidating things in life. Motivation can help you accomplish that new personal best at a race, it can help you work harder and make a big accomplishment such as obtaining a college degree, or it can help you make a strong comeback when you encountered a setback in life. I always hear about different ways people get motivated, but something I do not hear about a lot is just how they keep that motivation. Because if you do not continue to feed your motivation, you will eventually run out of it. As a runner, I find that my motivation can quickly be drained by the most grueling runs day after day. Not only is my body taking a beating, but so is my mind. And taking a beating like that for so long can drive you into the ground and zap away even the strongest motivation. So what do I do to keep my motivation strong? I remind myself every day why I am doing this. I think about and focus on the goals I want to obtain. Do I still have bad days despite this? Of course I do! But I do not let it faze me. I keep my eyes on the prize and remind myself that there will always be highs and lows. And I do this everyday, because I know that motivation is hard to hold on to. And in my opinion I think everyone should do something to feed their motivation everyday. Why? Because think of it this way, you would not let your car run on empty before you fill it up with gas again. So why would you let your motivation do the same?  And sometimes I find it resourceful to look back on past accomplishments to remind myself of the feeling I got when that moment happened. It makes me crave that feeling again. But the only way I am going to get it back is to go out there and put in the hard work to earn it. Things will get tough, whether its during training, during studying, or during life in general. But motivation is what will help you keep moving forward through those tough times. And it will help you discover an inner strength inside you that you may have not known was there.

Two More Weeks

Well, it would seem that plans have changed. With all the rain lately here in the south, there has been severe flooding. And due to this flooding, the half marathon that I was running today has been postponed until June 13th. This actually sets up a interesting situation. I will now be running two long distance races within a week of each other. I will have the half marathon on June 13th and a full marathon on June 20th. Keep in mind that both these races are on trails, which is a first for me. On the bright side I have two more weeks to run on the trails around my area to help me prepare for the race. But this news also came almost last minute, thus making my taper week obsolete. But on the bright side, I got a nice long run in this morning and was able to take advantage of my body being at 100% strength. Also, this gives me the chance to do trial half marathon on the trails to give myself an idea on how well I should do at Hell's Hills. I am not intimidated with these two races being so close together. I have done something similar before. I ran a half marathon in early February of this year and then a week later I ran the Rouge-Orleans which had me running a total of 24 miles. I am really excited and now the anticipation is only getting worse. But these two weeks will fly by before I know it and it will be time to conquer the hills!

Preparing For The Trails

Its been about a week since my last blog post, but I have been really busy training and preparing myself for my next half marathon. I have already completed two half marathons before, but this one is going to be different. Its all trail and it will have a lot of hills. As a matter of fact, the name of the race (Hell's Hills) should say it all. I have been spending my time running on both the road and the trails. I am still getting myself comfortable with being isolated and being in unfamiliar territory, but I am getting there. Its a nice change of scenery and pace. I can not hold the same speed that I can on the road due to the trails being unpredictable and caution being warranted, You could trip over something, you could run into a snake, and you have to be aware of any wild animals near by. Its definitely a new and exciting challenge and I am looking forward to the race. Also, the course I have been running on for training has a ton of steep hills, which is perfect for preparing for the Hell's Hills course. But the fun does not end there, on June 20th, I will be running another trail race. But this race will not be 13 miles long, it will be 25 miles long and have the same steep hills as the half marathon. So as you can see, I have a lot of training ahead of me. I look forward to sharing with you my experience at Hell's Hills and the results of the race. Until then, I am out for the long run!

Always A Student

Conrad Hall once said "You are always a student, never a master. You have to keep moving forward." These words ring true for me. You are always going to learn something new and you should be open to that idea. I know that the title "master" is put on certain things when it comes to athletics or education. But to claim to be a master at something means that you know all there is or all there will be about a particular subject. Maybe some do not see it this way and you do not have to agree with me, but its how I see things. I find that life is a never ending learning experience and we always have something new to learn. One individual who I discovered through social media reminded me of this fact. On Instagram most of the people I follow are fellow runners like me. But one man caught my attention and became an inspiration to me. His name is Runnermarx and he has 25 years of running experience and 10 years of experience as a running coach. Now most people would consider an individual with those credentials to be a "master" of running. But he does not see himself this way. After reading through his bio I came across these words, "Here to educate and learn." That really spoke to me. Here was a individual with years upon years of experience running, and yet he acknowledged that he was still learning. I respected that about him and he became an inspiration to me. So this brings me back to my main point, we are and always will be students, no matter what sport, subject, or field of study. Life itself is lesson and we will always be learning from it. I go into each new day with the mind frame of learning something new. An example of a lesson that I learned took place at my last 5k. Their were a total of three hills on the course and the last hill was right at the finish line. I "kicked it" right at the bottom of the hill and was exhausted by the time I reached the crest. I was talking to Micah, who is a track coach in Texas and he explained to me that I had made a mistake. His advice was to save the "kick" for the middle of the hill, that way I would still have energy left to surge toward the finish line. I tried this during a training run and noticed a difference in how I felt when I reached the top of the hill. I still had energy left over and did not feel worn out. Always be open to learning new things, even if you feel as if you know a lot or have years of experience, you can always learn something new. You can always get better and keep moving forward.



On a side note, my friend Runnermarx who I talked about in this post is currently participating in the Runner's World Cover Photo Contest. Aside from being a teacher and student, he is also a giver. He always puts others first and does charitable work. He truly deserves this amazing opportunity! You can read more about him by clicking.here You can also vote each day as well!

                                                               Runnermarx

Run For Your Life 5k

Another great 5k is in the books! This was my third 5k and it was my first year running this particular race. The run for your life 5k helped raise money for the American Stroke Association and had a ton of local sponsors. The course was beautiful and was in an area of my town I had not explored before. I arrived at 7:30 am, 30 minutes before the start of the race and I started to warm up. I took a few small trails that ran along the river and sometimes would stop to take in the scenery. I arrived back at the starting line with 6 minutes to spare. We all lined up and payed our respects to the flag as the Start Spangled Banner played. 1 minute later, it was go time! The first mile had a pretty steep hill, but I was already prepared for it. After clearing the hill, I was holding third place. I kept switching between third place and second place as me and another runner were staying neck and neck. Shortly after hitting mile two, we came up to another hill, which I was not expecting. This hill brought us up onto the levee by the river where we turned around and started heading back to the finish line. By this time, I could feel the guy behind me start to slowly get closer and closer. I was still staying neck and neck with the guy in second place. At almost the 3 mile mark, I surged ahead and took over second place. But it was at that moment that I realized that yet another hill awaited me right before the finish line! I had some energy left to spare and began to realize that my second place finish was being challenged by Zachary, the guy in third place, He was creeping up on me fast and I kicked it into gear, putting out everything I had left to get to the finish line. I crossed the finish about 4 seconds faster than him, sealing my first ever 2nd overall finish in a race! After crossing, I turned around and shook his hand, thanking him for pushing me to a strong finish. I walked away from the finish line and got to meet the first place finisher who I talked to for a few minutes. He was a track coach from Texas and was a genuinely nice guy. Zachary and I spent most of the time talking about our previous 5k together back in October of last year where he came in first place. Overall the event was great and well organized. I do not think the reality of me coming in top three overall for the first time has sunk in yet. But the best thing I gained from this race is two new friends and memories I wont soon forget!

Micah (the first place finisher) and I talking after the race.

Chicago Bound

Last month I saw that one if my friends had submitted her name into the Chicago Marathon lottery. So, I thought I would take a shot and do the same. I honestly did not get my hopes up as I figured that the odds of my name being drawn was low. I actually put it into the back of my mind until near the end of April when I received a email from the Chicago Marathon notifying me that the lottery had closed and they would be emailing those who are picked throughout the day. I started to get a little anxious. Now o was thinking to myself of how amazing it would be to run in a huge marathon with a long history. When they day came that they were going to draw the names, I watched my email like a hawk. It was approaching evening and I still had no email yet. So I figured that my name was not drawn and I called it a night. I woke up the next morning and went through my notifications on my phone. As I scrolled through my email, I saw one titled "Chicago Marathon Lottery Status." I opened it up and had to read it twice before the reality of the situation hit me, I was approved to run the race! I immediately registered and started planning my trip for October. Right now it still feels like a dream to me. I don't think it's going to feel real until I arrive in Chicago. This will be first major marathon and also will be first time visiting Chicago! I have a lot of training ahead of me to prepare for this marathon. I want to bring my best and to do that I have to endure some tough running to reach the level I am aiming for. Three races stand between me and Chicago. And the first of the three will take place on May 9th as I tackle my third 5k!

Going Downhill

When you hear someone say "Its all downhill from here." As a runner, its a good thing. Well in the literal sense it is, but not figuratively. As a runner or any athlete for that matter, there are gong to be times where you fall short of a certain goal. Maybe it was just a bad day, maybe your body and mind were not on the same page, or maybe you had an unexpected injury. None of us want to think about something like this happening, but the reality of the situation is that it happens to the best of us. Recently, one of my friends had a bad experience happen to her during a marathon. She was ready and excited for the race. This was not her first marathon, so she was no stranger to what it takes to prepare for one. The race started off well at first, but halfway into the marathon, she felt a twitch in her quad and it became painful. She had to slow her pace down and by mile 21, she was holding back tears. Despite falling short of her goal time, she finished the race! I admire her determination. It took a lot for her to fight through the pain and cross that finish line, but she did it! As expected, she was hard on herself for not finishing in the time she expected, but even I would feel the same if I were in her situation. Despite this, she lives to run another day and there will be another marathon in her future. When things like this happen, you can not let it bring you down mentally. I know its easier said than done but when we have a downhill experience, we should use it as motivation to come back stronger and redeem ourselves. I could sit here and tell you to be prepared for situations like this, but there is only so much that you can prepare for. Mentally you have to accept that you wont be at your best every single day. The best thing that you can do is give as much as you can and live to fight another day. Also, do not make excuses for yourself. Doing that can only hurt you and you wont be able to learn from what went wrong. We are all human, and we are all going to be tested mentally in different ways. I still find that I get down on myself if I fall short in my training runs or races. I have gotten better about not doing this, but I am still human. Just know this, when things go downhill, its going to be an uphill battle to come back from it. It takes perseverance and determination to overcome it. But I promise you this, when you reach the crest, its going to be all worth it!

Training Update And Random Thoughts

Ever since I have ran my first marathon, I have not been putting pressure on myself to put in 50+ mile weeks. Largely in part to the fact that I have no marathons lined up in the near future. But I do have a 5k lined up for May 9th and my 3rd half marathon (which will be all trail) lined up for May 30th. After this half marathon, I may have a team race that will consist of three members. Each team member will have to run 20 or more miles (all trail) separately. The first member would start at 7 am and the second would start at 7 pm with the last member starting at 7 am the next day. As far as my training is going, I have been making great progress with my pace. Last week I was forced to do some pretty quick runs due to isolated storms occurring each day. I took advantage of gaps in the storms to get my runs in. I ended up running a lot of tempo miles and found that my average pace had dropped to a sub 6 minute mile! Of course holding this pace is really taxing on my body. With more training at this pace, my body will adapt to it and I will be able to put in more miles at that speed. I ran today at a slower and more comfortable speed and did not put any pressure on myself to maintain any sort of average pace per mile. I am excited to see how much I have progressed when I tackle the 5k on May 9th. My current 5k race PR is 20:50. I set that PR back in October of last year. I also had the opportunity to watch part of the Boston Marathon on Monday. I have to admit, Its crazy to see those elite runners tackle a mile at 4 minutes and 39 seconds in a marathon! Very impressive! And a huge congratulations to Lelisa Desisa for winning in the time of 2:09:17! I also had my eyes on Meb Keflezighi who crossed the finish line holding hands with Hilary Dionne who is an elite Boston area runner who he had never met, until then. The event was inspiring and motivating to me! I can not wait for the day that I get to run in Boston! It is definitely on my list of running goals! But until then, I will continue to train hard, take one day at a time, and enjoy the journey that is layed out in front of me!

Running Through My Veins

It's a Sunday morning as I type this and I find my self itching to go out for a run. This is nothing new of course as I am always thinking about running. But as I sit here thinking, my thoughts go back to when I was a younger. I remember going outside and just running around. Usually it would be in the front or backyard of our house. I remember how much I enjoyed doing it and it really help clear my head and let my imagination run wild. Of course at the time I was not aware of the health benefits of physical activity and I really was not doing it to stay in shape. But I loved the feeling I got from it and I continued to do this up to my teen years. If you read my first blog post, you will see that I just recently discovered my passion for running. But maybe it's been there the entire time and I only just recently became conscious of it. Looking back, I believe this to be true. I would find an excuse to go outside and just run around. I was not the type to sit in front of the television or play video games all day. I was very active and enjoyed being outside. Shortly after I got into high school, I started focusing more on weight training and my running slowly dwindled down. As I entered adulthood, this passion for running got tucked away somewhere. And it was not until after I had lost motivation all together and gained weight that I started picking up on running again. This ultimately led me to finding that passion for running that was hidden away. And now that it's reignited, I feel whole again. To some, this may sound crazy, but to me, it makes perfect sense. You could spend your whole life not doing what makes you happy or you could find your passion and look forward to each new day doing what you love.  For me, my happiness is running. Because running is in my blood.

Listen To Your Body

We runners are crazy. We hear it all the time and we take it as a compliment. Not everyone wants to get out there and run 5, 10, or 20 miles for fun. But its what we runners find enjoyable. We also enjoy getting faster and setting new PRs in races. It feels great knowing that all those miles we put in are paying off. But most of us just do not know when to pull it back and let our body properly recover. I have been there and done that. I can not count how many times I have ran with aches and pains. Hardheaded? Maybe, but I wanted to do what I loved despite the aches. And I know a lot of runners do the same thing. Sometimes you can run with some type of nagging pain and still have a decent run, and then other times, you just need to take some time off and let your body recover. This is hard to do, especially for me since I want to continue making progress. Plus I would just feel lazy for taking time off from running. Its a hard pill to swallow but its necessary. You have to look at the bigger picture. Would you rather take a few days off and let your body recover properly or would you rather risk suffering an injury that could sideline you for weeks maybe even months? Some runners may ask "how do I know the difference between general soreness and something worse?" Soreness is something you can still run with. Usually its in the muscles and you can still work out with it. But something worse will not "feel right" at all. Its a type of pain that only gets worse and worse with more use of the particular area that it is in. Take for example my experience with shin splints, I could feel that something was not right during one of my long runs. With each heel strike, the pain in my right leg keep getting worse and it was getting to a point where no matter how much I slowed down, the pain only kept building. Finally I just had to stop completely. Even walking back home was hard as I was not trying to put much weight on my right leg. The previous day, I felt some pain in my leg that just did not feel right at all, but I kept going and finished my run. And the next day, I payed for not taking time off to recover. It was not easy for me to do this, but after taking three days off, I came back recovered and in better shape. When in doubt, listen to your body. Set aside your ego and your pursuit to keep moving forward. In my experience, it is not always easy to take more rest days than you planned. But it is truly worth it in the long run. (Pun Intended)

Boston Strong

The subject of this blog post is one of great importance to me. Everything you are about to read are from my thoughts and opinions just like the previous posts I have put into this blog. As you may have heard, the verdict came in for the person responsible for the Boston Marathon bombings. I am not going to mention his or his brother's name, they do not deserve to have the attention on them at all. The attention should go to the runners, their families, the spectators, and the city of Boston. I am not the first to say this, and I know I wont be the last, but the attention during horrible events like this is misguided. We should always know and remember the names of those who are affected. Not of the person or people who carry out these horrible acts. But that is the media for you and quite honestly I do not see the media changing its ways anytime soon. I remember where I was and what I was doing when I first heard of the bombings. I was living in a hotel room because a tree had fallen and destroyed my trailer. I felt like my situation was a bad one, but when I heard the news, I was quickly reminded that there were bigger things in the world than my situation. I felt empathy for those who were affected by the bombings and I also felt angry that someone could do this to people who worked so hard to run in prestigious marathon. Instead of enjoying a amazing moment crossing the finishing line, they experienced tragedy. These feelings I felt only got stronger as my passion grew for running. Now, I have not ran in the Boston Marathon, but it is a dream of mine to do so. And so many other runners out there like me share that dream. I cant imagine just how those runners felt when their dream turned into a nightmare. Whatever the end result the bombers had in mind, ultimately failed. The people of Boston did not curl up into balls and shake with fear. The came together and grew stronger because of it! The term Boston Strong was all over the place. This event, if anything, just made me want to run in Boston even more. Rose Kennedy once stated “It has been said, 'time heals all wounds.' I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.” I agree with this quote whole heartily. We wont forget about what happened that day in Boston, but we will continue to move forward as time goes by.

The list of the Boston Marathon Victims 

Supporting A Great Cause

A week ago I registered to be a community athlete for the Wounded Warrior Project. And two days ago, I received an email confirming that my registration was accepted! For those of you who may not be familiar with the Wounded Warrior Project, it is an organization that was set up after the events of September 11th to provide support to the men and women in the armed forces as they transition from active duty service to a civilian life. The project helps those veterans with both physical wounds and PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). It has many services that also include helping veterans come together and support one another.As a community athlete I will be running and raising money until my half marathon on December 13th of this year. My goal is to raise $500. This organization is very important to me, especially since I have family members and friends who are veterans. I will provide a link to the Wounded Warrior Project website at the bottom of this post so that you can learn more. I will also provide a link to my donation site at the bottom as well. If you do donate, please know that any amount is appreciated and you will be making a difference in a veteran's life. Words may not be able to express just how thankful we are for their service and sacrifice, but showing our support will do justice where words cannot. 

Wounded Warrior Project Official Site- http://www.woundedwarriorproject.org/

Miles For The Warriors Donation Site- https://support.woundedwarriorproject.org/individual-fundraising/MFTW/

The Running Community

Imagine a community of people who are always positive and supportive of each other. A group of people who accepts anyone no matter how they look or where they come from. This group I just described is the running community. Since the day that I stood at the starting line of my first race, this community has made a major positive impact on my life. The energy that you feed off your fellow runners and the spectators is incredible and powerful. And each time I crossed that finish line, I felt like a rock star! This feeling is what got me hooked on running in races. I remember standing at the starting line for the first time and being nervous and it was pretty obvious from the look on my face. But the guy standing next to me patted me on the shoulder and told me that feeling nervous was normal and to just enjoy the race. "Just soak it all in and enjoy the experience" he said with a smile on his face. I nodded and the countdown to the start began. We took off and before I knew it the race was over. It all felt surreal and my adrenaline was still pumping. I wanted to do it all again! I could not find that guy who helped calm me to thank him for his reassurance. But he definitely made a difference. I also remember one time during a half marathon, I was passing by runners that were far behind me in the race. And yet each runner I passed by was giving me a thumbs up and cheering me on. The support at every race was unbelievable. And its not only at the races that runners show support and provide motivation. Through social networks and during my training runs here in my hometown, runners are not shy to cheer you on or pay you a compliment. Many runners I pass by on the sidewalks or streets of my hometown either will give a thumbs up or say "great job." It really is a great experience being apart of this community. And I have yet to see or hear anything negative from anyone in the runners community. It really feels like a family more than anything. I find myself cheering on runners as they cross the finish line after I have already finished the race. The positive vibe is contagious and you just want to share it with everyone else! The way I see it, we may not be on a official team, but from the moment that we stand at that starting line and during the race, we all share one common goal, crossing that finish line! And that makes us a team!

Adventure Waits

Running a race is an exciting experience! The hard work and preparation that goes into it just makes it that much more enjoyable. I am always looking forward to my next race because of the experience and challenge it offers. But its the time between races that is enjoyable as well. During my training runs, I make it a point to change up my routes and go into unfamiliar territory. This keeps things fresh in my mind so that I do not get burned out of the same scenery over and over. I have discovered so many new and beautiful places because of running. Places that I normally would not go to. I have discovered neighborhoods tucked away from the main highways, trails that run next to beautiful lakes, and areas of downtown that I would not see if I was just driving around. One day I took a small trail that ran behind a neighborhood that I had recently discovered and it led me to a scenic wooded area! I also found a trail that followed the Red River here in my town. There are so many things that you may be missing by not getting out there on foot and exploring your world. Change your routes up and take a different path every now and then. It will make your training runs more enjoyable and you can focus on the new scenery around you and less on the hard work you are putting in. Once, I lost track of the amount of miles I had run due to a different route I took and ended up at 12 miles before I knew it! You will find yourself looking forward to your runs even more when you change things up. Running is not just for training, its also for exploring your world. An adventure waits for you out there, go out and enjoy it!

New Goals To Achieve

The last 4 months have brought me both memories and challenges. In December I tackled my first half marathon and then a month and half later, I took on my second half. A week later I joined up with 5 other runners and conquered a 126 mile ultramarathon. And then 3 weeks after that, I ran in my first marathon. A 10k followed that 6 days later. So, in a nutshell, I have been pretty busy for the last 4 months. But now its time to look toward the future and set out to accomplish new personal goals. One of these goals is to set new personal records in races. Some runners count their personal records they set in training and others only count the ones they set in races. I am one of those who counts the current personal records I have in races. My current personal records are as follows.

5k - 20:50 (October 2014)

10k - 42:35 (March 2015)

13.1 - 01:33 (December 2014)

26.2 - 03:55 (March 2015)

Now some of these records (such as the 5k) have been broken during my training runs. But as I stated before, I only count the official race times. My first goal is to run another 5k and officially set a new best time. That 5k will be May 9th. I know for sure my next half marathon is going to be in December as I recently got a free entry to one close to me locally. My next 10k will be sometime in November but there may be another sooner if I can find one before then. I would like to find another marathon to run sometime during the summer and focus on bringing my current time down. When I ran my first marathon, I was not as prepared as I could have been, But I do not regret anything at all. I knew the first one was going to be a learning experience for me and I wanted to get it under my belt. As far as my current training is going, I am building back up from the first marathon. My mileage is slowly building back up and my speed is increasing day by day. I wont be focusing too much on placement in these races, the main focus of my current goals is to be better than I was before. I am my own competition and that is the way it should always be. I look forward to what the future holds and can not wait to return to that starting line!

Rise With The Sun

Recently I made a change to my running schedule so that I could have more time to cross train later in the day. I usually would go for my morning runs around 9 am or 10 am depending on the day of the week. But now I have changed that time frame to 6:30-7:00 am. Not only did I create more time in the day for me to go to the gym, but I also got another bonus out of this time change. It allowed me to watch the sunrise during my runs which is something you can really take in when you are outside running and you have the streets to yourself. If you are not a morning runner due to your schedule, I highly recommend that you take at least one day out of your week to make it a point to run right before sunrise. Running has allowed to reconnect with nature and the outside environment. I feel more alive when I am outside and it just feels more natural. Also, with summer fast approaching, it is the perfect time to beat the higher temps in the daytime. I will admit, I have come a long way from who I was years ago. And I am not just talking about physically either. I was not a morning person at all and hated getting out of bed. But since I found my love for running, I find myself looking forward to the mornings and beginning the day. I could really go on and on about how running has changed me life, but we can save that for future blog entries. But back to the main subject of this entry. As I stated before, if your schedule does not allow you to experience a beautiful sunrise during your run, at least use a day off from work and other commitments and get out there before the sun comes up. It really is a great feeling knowing that you are starting to conquer the day before the day has even started!

Pardon The Mess

There are many benefits to going out for a run. One of them is clearing your mind. This is why you hear many people call running their own personal therapy. I have to agree with this whole heartily. When you are outside and its just you and the open road, you have plenty of time to think. This has helped me put things into perspective and look at things from a different point of view. All the stresses of the day melt away and all the jumbled thoughts get pieced together. When things become clear, creativity and inspiration flow. I feel like a whole new person after a run and I love the mood it puts me in. Before I picked up on running, I did not know how to handle all these thoughts in my mind and stress I was feeling. It was a mess up there and nothing I did helped to clean it up. But once I started pounding the pavement, that all changed. I was a better man all around. I could not help but be happy and it was contagious. I feel as though I am also a better husband as well. As a matter of fact, running is the reason why I started this blog. I can sit here and put my thoughts into words because my mind is clear and not cluttered. And you do not have to be the type of person who runs everyday either to get these benefits. If you get out 4 times a week for at least 30 minutes a day, you will feel a difference! It can be outside, on the treadmill, or even on the elliptical. As a matter of fact, I started on the elliptical before I went running outside on the pavement. It is definitely freeing and will make positive changes to you mentally. Life can make your mind a mess, but running will clear it up!

Unmeasured Determination

What does the word determination mean to you? Perhaps its doing whatever it takes to achieve a goal no matter what stands in your way. Maybe its tackling a daunting task in which it seems like there is nothing but endless obstacles in front of you, and yet you do not back down. Determination has got me through some of the toughest things in life. I wanted to achieve something so bad that it did not matter how much work I had to put in or how much it was going to hurt. Pain itself could not stop me, no matter how much agony I was in. My most recent experience in which pure determination kept me going was my first marathon. My muscles were giving out, my energy was zapping away, and each time I tried to breath I felt pain in my sides. But I was going to cross that finish line no matter what it took. And I did. But I was also motivated by a story I had read in Runners World 3 weeks earlier. Hyvon Ngetich was running in the Austin marathon and was leading the way until her body just gave out on her 50 meters away from the finish line. She literally fell to the ground and could no longer run or stand. But this did not stop her. She began to crawl to the finish line, having to stop more than once because she was so depleted. But she crossed the finish line unassisted. Now that is determination! Even after her body had failed her, she continued forward and would not be denied that finish! That is what determination means to me. When the odds are stacked against you, keep moving forward. Do not be denied what goal or dream you are running after. You are going to have to deal with setbacks, obstacles, and odds that may seem impossible to overcome. But if you want it bad enough, you can achieve it! 

                                          Hyvon Ngetich crosses the finish line at the 
                                                                   Austin marathon


You can find the article about Hyvon Ngetich in Runners World here

Taking a Chance

We are dreamers. What makes me say that? Because I am sure at least once in your life you thought about doing something to better yourself. Whether it was health, financial, or career related, we all want to do better for ourselves. But what is stopping you? I had to ask myself this same question once before. I had changed my life for the better. I had lost a lot of weight and was getting in great shape. But yet I still wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to run in a race and put all my hard work I had put in at the gym to the test. Was I intimated by this idea? Yes I was. I had already ran a 5k and did so much better than I thought I was going to do. But this was a half marathon I was considering. It was 10 miles longer than my last race and the most miles I had put in during a single run was 8 at this point. I heard somewhere before that the main reason why people do not try something is because of the fear of failure. I did not want to fail. So, I changed my thinking. I asked myself "Would you rather try and possibly fail? Or not try at all and wonder what could have been?' I would rather try and give myself the chance I deserved. So I trained harder and ran longer. I put myself through uncharted territory and pushed myself past my comfort zone. The half marathon creeped up fast on me. Before I knew it, the day was here. Not only did I do so much better than I gave myself credit for, but I placed in the top 10 overall and took second in my age group! Because of this half marathon, my confidence grew a lot and I was hooked on racing. It only took me a month and I was already registered for my second half marathon. So whats my point? My point is that you just have to take that leap even if scares you. Even if you have your own self doubts or are unsure what the outcome may be. Will you fail? Well, you might, then again, you might not. But even if you do, you took that chance. And you can learn from your downfalls. You can use them to build yourself back up and come back with a different game plan. So if you are debating on taking a chance on something, ask yourself this. Would you rather regret taking a chance on yourself, or regret not taking a chance at all and wondering what could have been?

The Red River Run

This past Saturday I ran my first 10k race. This race was 6 days removed from my first marathon. I felt recovered enough to do it and I really did not want this opportunity to pass me by. This was the first local race I had run in a while. The race was set to start at 3 pm and this was going to be my first afternoon race as well. I arrived an hour early and was getting anxious to line up at the starting line. This race was in its 17th year and attendance had doubled since the previous year. We lined up and the countdown began. The race director shouted go and off I took! My goal was to keep up with the runners in front as long as I could. I stayed with the guy in second place for the first three miles and then the fatigue began to slow my pace. I got to mile four and now I was not concerned with what place I was in, the goal now was to keep my speed up and not let the fatigue slow me down. I was moving as fast as possible and that voice in my head was screaming for me to stop. But I was determined to keep going and I was keeping the runners in front in view. Then came the hill during mile five. I was not going to let this incline slow me down. When I got to the hill, I started pushing myself so the hill would not slow me down. At last it was mile 6 and I could see the finish line. Another runner and I were neck and neck now and we started sprinting toward the finish. The other runner began to take the lead and before I knew it, we crossed the finish line! My time was a little over 42 minutes and I came in seventh place overall. After the race had concluded, the final results were posted. I ended up taking first place in my age group! I was proud of myself! The post race festivities were awesome! Great food and great music! I found myself wanting to do it all again! This was a small town race, but it had a big town feel! A day later, I was looking in the local newspaper to see if they had a story about the race, I opened up to the sports section and there on the front page was a picture of the runners taking off from the starting line. And I was in it! Overall the entire week was great! A marathon on Sunday and a 10k on Saturday. What a great experience!

The Constant Battle

If you were to ask me what is one of the hardest things about running, I would tell you its the constant battle of fatigue. Fatigue can make us or break us. Its when the fatigue sets in that the real battle in our mind begins. Sure the physical fatigue is tough, but it is what it does to you mentally is what is tougher. That little voice in your head tells you to slow down or stop. It makes you want to question yourself. Why are you doing this? Why do you keep going? Will slowing down or stopping really hurt you? It comes to a point where you just have to ignore that voice in your head and carry on. Because its when the fatigue gets so bad and still decide to keep going that we begin to grow stronger! We grow both physically and mentally stronger than we were before. We tap into our true potential and do things we did not think we could possibly do! Do not let that voice in your head lie to you. Do not let it slow you down or stop you! You are capable of so much more than your mind gives you credit for! Strive to win the battle every day and you will do great things!

First marathon is in the books!

Well its official! My first Marathon is in the books! I could not have asked for a better race. The event was organized very well and the race volunteers and the community of Lafayette was very supportive! I shared this amazing experience with my fellow Team Infinite Force member Autumn, who ran the half marathon and did an great job! The race began at 7 am sharp. The first few miles were nice and smooth and I made it a point to take it easy and not start off fast. By mile 7 I was still staying with much of the half marathoners in front and started to slow myself down to conserve energy. Before I knew, the first loop was coming to an end. It was mile 13 and I started to feel my body begin to fatigue. I started to take advantage of almost every aid station to make sure I stayed Hydrated. I also grabbed some Guu and bananas as I continued forward. By mile 19 I was in bad shape. My calf muscles were cramping up on me and my legs tried to give out on me a few times. I almost face planted at one time, but luckily, I caught myself by the tips of my toes. The last six miles were like a dream to me. I kept moving and it seemed like the last few miles were slowly creeping by. But before I knew it, I saw the marker that said mile 25! I was almost there! I pushed myself to tackle this last mile and used whatever energy I had left that I had conserved. At last, I saw the finish line! I winced in pain and felt like I was running with a limp, but I got one last dose of adrenaline and ran to the finish line with everything I had! I was finished! I could not believe it! I had finished a marathon! After the race, we headed over to the post race party and grabbed some free food. Even after I got home later that night, I had to look at my medal and remind myself that this was real! I enjoyed this experience and it challenged me in ways that I was not prepared for. But I arose to the occasion and finished strong! Now I look toward the future to the next one...

Discovering the runner in me.

I have been on this Earth for 28 years and I just recently discovered my true passion. Running is not something I thought I would love to do 10 years ago. As a matter of fact, 10 years ago, I tried to avoid it as much as possible. I was more focused on weightlifting and building muscle than to concern myself with how many miles I could run or just how fast my pace was. As a teenager, I was constantly reminded, whether it was through magazines, talking to friends, even in movies that a true man was big and muscular. If you wanted to be in shape, you had to be big and lift heavy weights. Of course, if you are into bodybuilding, there is nothing wrong with working toward that goal. But that was just not for me. I was not passionate about it. But when I was younger, I was in denial about this fact. So, that is what I did, I lifted and focused on improving my maxes and building muscle. It was not until my early 20s that I came to a point that I could no longer keep this going. I just did not have the motivation nor the passion for it. I started to gain weight and at my heaviest I was over 230 pounds. I had to make a change! So I started going back to the gym but except this time I focused more on cardio. After months of mostly doing cardio on the elliptical and treadmill, I started to find a joy in the way it challenged me and made me feel. The weight started to fall off me and my passion for going to the gym was back in full force! My weight went from 230 pounds down to 165 pounds! It was around this time that I ran a 5k. My ultimate goal was to finish but I ended up coming in 4th place overall and finishing with a time of 20 minutes and 50 seconds! I was hooked! I started to run outside more and started to improve my pace. About two months later, I ran my first half marathon and ended up coming in 9th place overall and 2nd place in my age group! My finishing time was 1 hour and 33 minutes! I could not wait to do it again! I spent a lot of January of this year building up my mileage and clocked in a total of 240 miles for that month! My second half marathon was on February 7th, and despite having shin splints halfway through the race, I finished! A week later, I had the honor of running with 5 other athletes in a team relay ultra marathon! I ran 5 non consecutive legs each averaging about 4 and a half miles. My total mileage for that race was 23.5 miles! And that brings me to now. On March 8th, I will be running my first marathon. I am anxious, excited, and nervous at all the same time! The passion that I discovered for running has brought me to this point. This is only the beginning for me. And I look forward to sharing this journey with each of you.