Tag Archive: inspiration

Cold winds, warm thoughts

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Sun. January 23, 2011

I spoke about how I wanted my running group to have a story to tell once the clinic is over. I thought that last Sunday made for a good one, but today…holy crap. The night before, I got an email from one of my group members asking whether or not the run was cancelled. There was a bit of apprehension because the weather was forecasted to be -17°C/-30 wind chill. There were a lot of warnings saying that exposed skin could freeze in ten minutes. How could running out there be safe? Well, I’ve never had to cancel a run in the past, so I told her to show up prepared to run, but to also be prepared to have the clinic cancelled if the store manager says so.

This morning, I layered up really well. When I got in, I was a little apprehensive myself. Yeah, it was damn cold. Could I manage? Then someone reminded me that people in Edmonton probably have it much worse more often, and they probably still run. No kidding. So I put on a brave face for everyone. Sixteen kilometres! Whoo!

The run itself was tough. I didn’t have a balaclava so for some good chunks of the route I was pulling my jacket up to cover my cheeks. Whenever one part of me was feeling a bit too cold I focused my energy on warming that part up just to prevent frostbite. That was a real danger. When we got to the long north-south corridor part of the route the cold north winds were pummeling us. My fingers were going numb. I could feel my inner-thighs burning. It was rough, but it wasn’t permanent. As soon as we turned the corner the conditions got better as we got some protection from the wind from the houses in the area. Things eventually warmed up, and the rest of the run became tolerable. By the end I felt a great deal of relief.

This run was worthy of reflection. I mean, there were a lot of people who decided to stay home today. They didn’t want to risk heading out there for fear of being cold. Fair enough. Indeed, parts of the run were harsh, but it wasn’t representative of the run as a whole. Surviving the run wasn’t that much of an issue with the right amount of preparation. The only thing blocking us is our mind. Guaranteed, everyone that finished the run was happy to have done it. That’s the way it should be.

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Running log: 2010/03/21

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Sun. March 21, 2010

As I go through my running journey, I feel like I’m trying to take a relaxed approach (relatively speaking, I guess) while striving to reach little goals I’ve set for myself along the way. All of this has been a very personal struggle, and really, I didn’t expect anyone but me to feel involved with my story. Of course though, I don’t exist in isolation. I’m in a lot of contact with fellow runners through Running Room, and with a lot of people through social media outlets. Sure, it seems obvious now when I think about it, but it seems that I’ve had something of a positive effect on those around me.

For me, one reason my story is powerful because of my starting point. I had every reason to give up in the first few weeks. The associated pain was horrific at times. I was also constantly far behind everyone else, ensuring that I had to keep my sense of humility, and that I had to be sure that I was doing it because I really wanted to be doing it. It can get really lonely at the back, you know? From there, I stayed consistent with my training to the best of my ability, and surely I eventually got better.

Due to all of my resulting triumphs, I’ve gotten a bit of attention. Whenever I tell my story, I feel like people are able to relate, and see themselves in my struggles. It almost seems a little bit cliché when I say it, but if I can find success, then I know that others can as well. During my runs, if I happen to be running with a bunch of people who’re new to the group, I share so many tips and experiences to ease any worries that they may have. I kind of feel like all of this positivity and good will has built a fair bit of momentum. I’m still surprised though whenever I hear someone tell me that I’ve inspired them in one way or another. It’s such a good feeling. It tells me that I must be doing something right.

I’m not the fastest person out there. I’m not the strongest, or the most experienced. I don’t run marathons on a monthly basis. I guess I make up for a lot of that by having a lot of heart. I take pride in my small personal accomplishments. As long as I put emphasis on how important all of those are to me, I know that other people can follow that by example.

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It’s all about the small victories

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Wed. March 10, 2010

I guess it’s only natural that when I’m busy doing my coaching thing I go into something of an inspirational mode. When the people in my group struggle, I’m there to ease them through and help them find the motivation to keep going. I really do care about them, and I hope that they can see that. So, that’s the face that I show them. It’s all well intentioned, right? Thing is, I seem to have a bit of trouble applying the same principles on myself. I mean, look at my latest race results for example. My goal was to break a certain time barrier, and I did. Despite that, I’ve been beating myself up for not surpassing that barrier by as much as I secretly intended to. It was a hard race. Perhaps under better conditions I would have churned out a better time, but that just sounds like an excuse. Still, is cutting my personal best by five and a half minutes really so insufficient?

I’ve been struggling with trying to deal with this in a positive manner. How messed up is that? I’ve talked to a couple of people about it, and just about each one of them told me to basically get over myself. I guess I have to agree that it’s pretty senseless trying to find the negative a positive result. During the group dinner last night, one person in particular made it clear that I need to work on practising what I preach. See, the person in question has been on the receiving end of a lot of my motivational pep talks. She’s not particularly speedy, but she has definitely been improving, and has come a long way in the span of a year or two. I was talking about my race experience and how I was mildly disappointed for not obliterating my old time. She reminded me of something that I had once said to her: “it’s important to celebrate the small victories.” When I heard that, I immediately realized what a dope I’ve been. Every race cannot be one where I achieve huge gains. I really should be more thankful that I achieved the time that I got. I put in a lot of hard work for that result; it could have been a lot worse. I need to work harder to recognize these small victories as I come across them; I damn well earn each and every one.

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Passing along some inspiration

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Tue. February 2, 2010

Back when I was selecting the curriculum for this running clinic I decided to schedule the motivational talk at this point. See, the clinic’s been going for weeks at this point and even though race day is near it kind of feels like this thing has been dragging on a long time. So, I scheduled the talk now to prevent people from mentally checking out. Makes sense, right? So, I didn’t really book anyone to be a guest speaker for the talk. Instead I opted to just give the talk myself. It’s not the first time I gave this motivational talk. Actually, my first time giving the talk was in September last year. Of course, it’s been a while since then, so I’ve kind of forgotten a lot of what I said back then. As such, all day I was sort of fretting over what I was planning to say.

See, just like Amanda Marshall says: everybody’s got a story. The story of my running experience is rife with various triumphs, failures, and lessons. If you’ve been following all on this blog you’ll know how true that is. It’s amazing how I got to this very point of coaching a clinic myself from my early days running at the back of the pack. All this time, despite any shortcomings I’ve just been plugging along, putting in the mileage because there’s nothing else I really can do, you know? I realized early on that I wouldn’t improve by remaining still. As such, I’ve tried to remain as consistent as possible, and it’s easy to see that that’s true. I guess, my goal of the talk was to pass along some inspiration to ensure that everyone keeps going. Even if there are troubles along the way, it’s important to know that none of the completed training goes to waste. Every minute out there is valuable.

I think I did a great job passing that info along. It’s not just in the stories, but also in the delivery. I did feel relieved once it was completed. If even one of them takes home some extra drive to work harder, then it was all worth the stress.

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Intertwined with the rest

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Sun. October 4, 2009

My legs have long since recovered from last Sunday’s race. Even so, I decided to pass up this morning’s run for a bit of rest. I figured that reclaiming a Sunday morning once again after a long period of training would be good for the mind and body. Really, it kind of was. I mean, I was able to take the time to put together a ridiculous breakfast: pancakes, bacon, eggs, apple, grapes, coffee. Yeah, no kidding, eh? I went all out. When that was all done though, I was kind of stuck wondering “what now?” Another hour or two later, I was starting to regret my failure to head out: I actually kind of felt empty.

It makes me pause to think about just how intertwined the activity of running has become with my regular activities. I’m not a great runner; I’m not fast, or terribly strong, but my reputation for having a certain tenacity is well known in the club. I’m persistent and determined because this is an activity that I truly enjoy. If I’m ever frustrated or stressed, I know that there’s nothing like a good run to help get the happier chemicals flowing. My life is so much better for picked up this activity over two years ago. To put it plainly, I can’t go back. I don’t want to go back. Maybe it’s hard for a lot of people to understand. If you run though, you’ll get it. It’s hard to qualify, you know?

Anyway, this lapse is done, I guess. Soon enough I’ll be back on the road training, teaching, and possibly inspiring others (if it’s a good day). Time to move on.

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Providing motivation

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Wed. September 9, 2009

When this current half marathon training session started, the instructors got the idea that I would be a great guest speaker for the group on the week where the topic would be motivation.

Wha?

I was feeling a bit incredulous at the thought. I mean, when I think of motivators for such classes, I think of people that have done amazing things like set new records, or perhaps people that have been at this for years and are experts on running. Certainly, in my mind, I didn’t fit the bill. I’m still a young one! What can people learn from me?

Well, I set all of that aside and just agreed to give the talk, but really on the inside I was just thinking “If you say so…” Obviously then, they were able to see something in me that I haven’t even recognized in myself yet. So, that was way back in May, which really does seem like a long time ago, doesn’t it? I think back then I was just starting to teach my Learn to Run class. Over time, the thought of the speech drifted slowly to the back of my mind. If I’m being honest the date kind of just crept up on me. Last week I suddenly got an email reminding me that I have a talk to give. Crap! I started to get my thoughts in order, figuring out what to talk about, but then I realized that ultimately I’m only an expert on one thing: my own experiences. Again, I set that aside and didn’t really think about it again up until the actual day that I had to give the talk, which was yesterday, the 8th.

At about 3 p.m., I brought out a piece of paper and started jotting down notes. I thought I’d try to get it all in point form, but it all came out in a bit of a verbal hash of half-statements, unhatched thoughts, fill in the blanks, interjections, etc. It didn’t matter, I thought, because I could just fill in the blanks as I went along. Thing is, the piece of paper was far from clear. It was a dense mass of Jason-scribble that even I wouldn’t have been able to decipher at just a glance. Whatever. I think the very act of of just writing it all down just helped to get my thoughts organized. When it came time to speak, I figured that I could just speak from the heart and let my mind do the rest.

Now, I don’t fancy myself to be all that outgoing. Yeah, I know, we’ve had this debate before–I think I actually have a naturally outgoing demeanour with a strong introverted leaning. God, how neurotic. ANYWAY, I’m actually rather decent at public speaking. That is, I’m decent at public speaking when my mind isn’t dead tired, I’m not zombie like, and the words that come out aren’t like verbal gruel. I was thinking about my delivery and at what points I could rely on a little bit of physical comedy, I had all these plans, but then I eventually just relented. I just told myself to stop worrying and do it. I said, if I could inspire even one person with my personal experiences, then I’m blessed.

So, the group sat down and gathered around as I told my tales of inadequacy, stubbornness, and determination. From what I could tell, people were reacting rather well to my stories. Perhaps, in analysis, I’m average enough to be relatable. I don’t know. Twenty minutes passed, and then it all came to an end. Immediately, I knew that I’d already gotten the people’s approval. There really was no need to feel any apprehension after all.

Applause.

I’m not going to post the whole speech here, but I suppose I can pass along the basic ideas I was passing along.

  • Even if you’ve got physical problems getting in the way, you can usually work around them
  • There are going to be people telling you to stop; do what your mind tells you to do
  • Even if you’re slow, you’re only racing against yourself, so no worries
  • If weather is bringing you down, take comfort that everyone else out there is experiencing the same thing
  • If you get injured, don’t stay sad: dust yourself off and get back into training
  • Training for a half takes strength of character and discipline

Heheh. Me: a motivator. Who knew?

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Running log: 2009/09/06

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Sun. September 6, 2009

We’re now at the point in this session’s training where we’re doing about 18 kilometres of running on our long slow distance runs. That’s pretty close to the 21.1K needed to cover a half-marathon, so really, we’re just about there. Overall, I think I must be doing something right because this 18K run as well as last week’s were really quite good. I’ve been expecting to feel worn out, or like my body has been pummelled, but in all honesty both times I’ve finished smiling–fatigued, but smiling. Sure, I can attribute these strong finishes to the fact that I ate some complex carb cereals before these runs, but I’m sure the fact that I’ve improved also plays into it. Heck, there’s no reason why I shouldn’t give myself some credit on this one. I’ve well and truly been training year round so of course I’m going to come out my runs in better condition than I did perhaps a year ago.

Today I ran with two people, one of whom is going through the half training for the first time. Due to an injury last week, this was her first week conquering 18K. Ooh, the look on her face at the end was definitely one of accomplishment. I mean, it’s not close to a full-marathon distance, or any of the ultra races, but wow, eighteen kilometres is a freaking long way to go, you know? Why the heck do we put ourselves through any of this? It’s veritably insane. At the same time, each and every runner understands.

Never mind the fact that I’m out there for longer than 2 hours.
Never mind the fact that I end up sweating like a pig and dripping with snot.
Never mind the fact that I’m putting your body under a huge amount of stress.

In the end, it’s all OK because I end up doing something that was probably unimaginable before. I thank God for the fact that I can run; I really never thought it possible with my flat feet and all. No limitations!

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Graduation from the LTR

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Mon. July 20, 2009

I just got back home under an hour ago. I’m quite exhausted actually. I just got back from the graduation dinner with my Learn to Run class. It was over at Milestones, which really does have great food. It was a fitting end to one of the more amazing things that I’ve accomplished in the last few years. Really, a good time was had by all. Including myself, 21 of us attended. Every single one of my students was grateful for everything that we had done for them. All of the details, the encouragement, and positive attitude really did go a long way to keeping them going. The group leaders and I have turned them all into runners! Ten weeks ago, none of them would have imagined themselves to have accomplished so much. And now here they are, brimming with confidence.

Can you tell just how proud I am of them?

Really, seeing so much success with them kind of affirms the fact that I did a great job. Back when I was asked whether I’d teach the LTRs, I was totally apprehensive for various reasons. Really though, I just didn’t think I had the confidence to be able to take almost 50 people through the process. As was often the case with me, I knew I had the ability to lead, but the will was really only halfway there. Often, I find that I need a good shove to get going. Really that’s something I have to work on, because ultimately a lot of that needs to come from within, right? Anyway, enough clinic leaders came forward to point to me as someone who’d do well. Apparently my level of determination, despite my speed (or lack thereof) left a deep impression. I guess they saw qualities in me that I’d decided to ignore for far too long. Ten weeks later, I’ve come out of my shell a bit more, and now I recognize that I’m actually more than capable. Yes, my enthusiasm is actually contagious.

So, my time with them is now over. That’s all right though because I know I’ll be seeing a lot of them in store. They’ll be tackling new challenges while I’ll be helping out new people. We’ve all got a long way to go. I know though that I’ve given them a great platform from which to leap from. It’ll be up to them to decide if they want to leap, but I have a feeling that they will indeed feel inspired to move on.

I can rest easy knowing that I’ve done my job, and I did it well.

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