Goals

As always, thanks for registering if you have already done so.  If you haven’t yet, you will find the registration information at the end of the newsletter.  Anyone who registers for our team by May 1^st is eligible for the early registration gift.  Also the deadline for VIP race packet delivery (Packet Delivered to your desk) is May 15^th.  So please keep those two dates in mind. 

Goals

“Isn’t it enough to just walk or run a few times a week?  I don’t need a plan.” “Why is it important that I make a fitness goal?” “I am not competitive, so signing up for a “race” has no appeal to me.”  Have you ever asked or said anything like the previous statements?  Everyone on that receives this newsletter has signed up for the Bellin Run either this year or last year.  In reading these newsletters you know that I have stressed the idea committing early and making the Bellin 10K one of your fitness goals.  Whether you are running or walking this event, a 10K (6.2 miles) is a challenge.  It is far enough that you want to do some training so you can successfully complete it, but at the same time, it is a very doable and attainable distance to conquer. 

No matter what your goals are for this year, the next 10 years or this lifetime, I strongly encourage you to keep a list of fitness goals as well.  By maintaining a certain level of fitness, not only can you live a healthier life, but when you are ready to take on some of the items on your bucket list, you will be in shape to do so.  I am not just talking about athletic achievements either.  Are you planning a vacation with your kids to a national park?  Wouldn’t it be great to be able to keep up with all of their energy, or perhaps even lead by example and take them on a long hike in the woods?  That could be your goal.  Goals don’t always have to be I want to run or walk this distance in this amount of time.  They could be something like, when I retire I want to hike the Grand Canyon.  If you don’t make fitness one of your goals now, that will be a lot harder when you are ready to do that. 

Season 14 of the Biggest Loser for the first time had “Child Ambassadors” that were battling some health and weight issues.  While the Biggest Loser is obviously a weight loss competition, for these kids, the goals had nothing to do with weight.  They included making the baseball team, making the cheerleading squad, and even picking and feeling great in a prom dress.  The transformations were incredible and while these kids never once were weighed in during the journey except at the very end, they had dropped significant amounts of weight and all their health markers like blood pressure and cholesterol had improved. 

This life is what you make of it, and it is up to you to take advantage of the opportunities you are presented with.  DO make a list of goals, but DON’T be afraid if you don’t achieve all of them.  It is your list and you can revise it as much as you want.  Making the list is a great way to start any commitment. 

HERE is a link to the newsletter about our fundraising effort for myTEAM TRIUMPH.  Please contact me with any questions, and please consider a donation.  Your donation is used locally and will go a long way in helping someone achieve something they didn’t think possible.

Boston

As always, thanks for registering if you have already done so.  If you haven’t yet, you will find the registration information at the end of the newsletter.  Anyone who registers for our team by May 1^st is eligible for the early registration gift.  Also the deadline for VIP race packet delivery (Packet Delivered to your desk) is May 15^th.  So please keep those two dates in mind. 

Boston

We would be remiss if we didn’t talk about the Tragedy that unfolded in Boston this past Monday.  While many of us know or heard of the Boston Marathon, many people don’t know what it takes to get there.  The Boston Marathon is the Super Bowl of marathons.  Almost everyone who has ever toed the line at a marathon has the lifelong dream of a BQ (Boston Qualifying Time).  In order to get into Boston you must run a qualifying marathon the previous year.  The qualifying times are based on your age.  For example a 35 year old man has to run a marathon in 3:10 (That is a 7:15 min mile over 26.2 miles!) and a 35 year old woman has to run a BQ in 3:40 (8:24 min miles!).  As you can see, this is an incredible achievement and for many runners this lifetime dream was shattered by one cowardly act. 

For everyone involved though (runners, friends, family, spectators, volunteers, staff, and of course the first responders) finishing or not being able to finish that race is pretty close to the last thing on their minds.  At this point we have all seen the newscasts and the videos of the events that day so we don’t need to relive that.  Many lives were changed forever that day.  It is hard to fathom any good out of all of this, but if you have ever had the thought what is the point of all this, with so much evil and hatred, know that the people responsible for this attack are the minority.  Just a small, minuscule percentage of the people in this world.  The stories of courage and hope are beginning to emerge.  It may seem cliché to say, but runners are one big family.  You can see that represented in the stories of runners finishing their race and going directly to the hospital to donate blood.  Watching the footage, even seconds after the explosions, without knowing if there would be more, how many people did you see run TOWARDS the smoke and flames.  The stories like this are countless and stand to remind us what courage is and that humanity is not lost.  Unfortunately, senseless tragedies like this happen far too often so I do ask that to honor those who are involved, dedicate at least one of your training runs to the victims. 

“As the numbness starts to wear off, we owe it to ourselves, to each other and to the immediate victims of the bombings to get out there and run. Even if you weren't in Boston, have never run Boston or aren't a marathoner. Run easy. Run hard. Run short. Run long. Run alone. Run with a group. Just run. The familiar feelings of running -- even the fatigue and achiness -- will help each of us return to normalcy, even if it is a decidedly new normal. Focus on the good, not the bad. Spread the joy and indulge on endorphins.”  -- Taken from an article written by Brian Metzler of Competitor.com.  Read the full article HERE. 

Christian Jensen, the Wisconsin myTEAM TRIUMPH Chapter’s founder and President, was in Boston that day running as an Angel for one of the captains.  Your donation to this organization can help make sure that he and others can continue to do these events in a time when perhaps, running means more than ever.

HERE is a link to the newsletter about our fundraising effort for myTEAM TRIUMPH.  Please contact me with any questions, and please consider a donation.  Your donation is used locally and will go a long way in helping someone achieve something they didn’t think possible.

Why Run?

I kind of feel like I need to repost the Winter Running entry from January!  I have no idea what is going on with this Wisconsin weather, but try and think Spring and stay motivated.  As always, thanks for registering if you have already done so.  If you haven’t yet, you will find the registration information at the end of the newsletter.  Anyone who registers for our team by May 1^st is eligible for the early registration gift.  Also the deadline for VIP race packet delivery (Packet Delivered to your desk) is May 15^th.  So please keep those two dates in mind. 

Why Run?

There are lots of reasons to run (or walk).  It can help you lose or maintain your weight, it can help you relieve stress, get you some fresh air, or even allow you some quiet time.  Almost all team sports require a certain level of fitness and running can help you build endurance and achieve cardiovascular fitness.  I had once read a little running joke online where a bunch of football players were giving the cross country team a hard time.  The cross country team retorted by telling the football team that their sport, running, is what football players have to do for punishment.  So it builds toughness (or gives you lots of time to think of good comebacks).  Good Cardiovascular endurance is Survival Rule #1 in Zombieland.  So you have that going for you.

Most of all though, Running is FUN.  How long after you started walking when you were a toddler

did you start to run?  It’s only natural to find it fun to move faster.  How many of you parents have sent your kids into a laughing frenzy by chasing them around the house or yard.  I am sure that you have seen or heard of all the new mud or obstacle runs like Tough Mudder, you can’t look at those photos and tell me those people are not having fun.  Perhaps you think people who run further than 6.2 miles are crazy.  Often fun is self-defined, but the point is that running is one way to see what you are made of.  There are moments during training runs or races where you are telling yourself, this is not fun, but if you make it through to the end, seldom are you ever regretting the decision to keep trekking on.  Getting rewarded by finishing something you didn’t think you could before is FUN. 

Many runners are addicted to stats, that is, they are constantly worried about their training plan, their mile splits, weekly mileage, etc.  If that is you, I strongly encourage you to, at least once a week; leave all the gadgetry at home and just run.  It will help you remember why you started running in the first place and why the most natural form of exercise is fun. 

Did I mention running is fun????  Have a great week everyone!

HERE is a link to the newsletter from last week about our fundraising effort for myTEAM TRIUMPH.  Please contact me with any questions, and please consider a donation.  Your donation is used locally and will go a long way in helping someone achieve something they didn’t think possible.

Redefining Disappointment

It is already April, robins have returned, the temperatures are getting warmer, and you are about to sign up for the Bellin Run.  These are all sure signs of spring.  So far we have 32 employee team members, last year at this time we had 43 already signed up.  Those that have already committed, Thank you!  For everyone else, please sign up today, the earlier you commit, the better experience you will have come race day. 

Redefining Disappointment

A couple weekends ago I had a long run to do for marathon training.  I wasn’t looking forward to it, I was getting sick of the cold weather and a Sunday afternoon watching college hoops sounded much more appealing.  I have slugged through 30 minute, 45 minute, or even hour long runs, but running for 2.5 hours when you have no desire too, plain and simple, just isn’t any fun.  But I mapped out a route (a new one to keep it interesting), laced up my shoes, and out the door I went.  It took a long time for my attitude to change, much longer than normal.  The run was much tougher for me than normal, my pace was slower than normal, and I had to take a few walk breaks.  This could have been the type of run that left me discouraged, disappointed and wondering why I committed do this again.

But I chose a different attitude.  Notice I said chose.  Without going all Dr. Phil on you, I am a firm believer that attitude is 99% choice.  We all know life doesn’t always go our way, but we can limit the stress that this creates by making a choice about how our attitudes reflect what just happened to us.  Stress and poor attitude can have a direct impact on our wellness, both mentally and physically.  It can be easy to get so caught up in the negative experiences that it limits our ability to enjoy the good ones or learn from what just happened.  Many of you are parents, so you know the value of taking advantage of those “teaching moments” with your children.  Do you apply that to yourself as well?  Ok, Josh, let’s get this back to running…

After I was done with that “disappointing” run, I chose to not let it defeat me.  I finished the distance, when my mind was screaming at me to stop.  I learned that I can turn my mind off, knowing my body can carry me for the distance.  I learned that one hard run does not define my training or fitness.  I also was reminded that the hard things in life are often worth doing.  “It's supposed to be hard. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it. The hard... is what makes it great.”  Whatever distance you will some day run or walk, it is your mental stamina that will get you to the finish.

HERE is a link to the newsletter from last week about our fundraising effort for myTEAM TRIUMPH.  Please contact me with any questions, and please consider a donation.  Your donation is used locally and will go a long way in helping someone achieve something they didn’t think possible.