Tag: running

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motivation

A Lesson on Timing and a Morning Run

Three Florida Flowers

It was my second day running in a new environment. The humidity was as thick as molasses. I ran past several dog walkers, an occasional fellow jogger, and an intrepid walker wearing a mask. Some waved. Others made sure not to make eye contact. 

The sun was rising. It was a great start to the day. I got some great photos of local flowers. It was much different from the day before. 

Yesterday

  • I ventured out two hours later
  • The sun was blistering hot
  • The road was busy with speeding commuters
  • I ran out of water within two miles
  • The end of the run couldn’t come soon enough

Today

  • The clouds displayed pink and orange hues
  • I didn’t feel the effects of the sun
  • It was easier to find the flowers
  • I ran two miles further
  • I felt I could go another two miles

I had plenty of excuses the day before to wait.

  • My daughter was going to work and she needed the bathroom
  • My wife and I drove through the night to reach our destination
  • My running shoes were tucked somewhere it the luggage and I didn’t want to make a ruckus while my wife slept
  • I hadn’t figured out my route

My hesitation made for an unpleasant run. I was glad when it was over. The next day, I was glad I got out early and was ready for more. It was a great reminder for me that procrastination just makes a any task harder. It can even make an enjoyable activity more difficult.

Will I need another reminder of this in the future? Of course I will! Our feelings betray us many times. And there are times when it is okay to relax and not feel the pressure of getting out there. Still, if there is something I know I need to do, this day will be a great reminder for me.

What are you putting off that is only making a task more difficult? I urge you to take the reins and put yourself in control instead of letting your feelings make you miserable before and after a task.

Three Florida Flowers
Categories
motivation

The Opportunity of Change

Winter scene with snow on branches

This weekend, I made my way out into the snow. The roads were slick. So I wore ice cleats. The wind was stiff, so I wore a jacket. Cars and SUV’s were out, so I had a bright orange cap. The winter weather didn’t bother me. In fact, I enjoyed the change of pace.

It would have been easy to chuck it all. It looked frigid outside. The coffee was already brewing and I smelled breakfast. But I knew I would enjoy it more after I went out for a run. The scenery was beautiful, after all. It reminded me of a quote from a book I am reading.

Above all, effective executives treat change as an opportunity rather than a threat.

Peter Drucker in The Effective Executive, Page xviii

I could have decided what was outside was a threat or an opportunity. I am glad I took the opportunity and I got some great views out of the venture. the trees and bushes were covered in snow. By the afternoon, it was all off the branches.

  • Winter scene on a roadway
  • Snowy scene
  • snowy scene with a pedestrian bridge and a creek
  • Winter scene with snow on branches
Winter scenes on a January, morning run

Circumstances are changing all the time, like wet snow on a January morning. Do you see it as an opportunity or a threat? In order to be effective, choose to see the changing environment as an opportunity.

Categories
motivation

Why it is so important to shake things up

Tombstone with the last name: Stuck

It caught me off guard when I saw it that Saturday morning. I was running through a cemetary because, well because Greenville Union Cemetary is the best place to run in Greenville, Ohio. It’s peaceful, there’s a long paved road and not much activity on it. The residents don’t seem to mind, either.

I was peacefully running along when I saw it in the morning sun. The tombstone stood right in front of me and was shouting a message to me.

Tombstone with the last name: Stuck

Someone was stuck, and it was me! I had attempted to revive my business that had suffered two cross-country moves. I was looking for a job that matched my skills. Nothing seemed to be working. As I stared at the message from the beyond, one thing became clear.

It was time to shake things up or stay stuck!

I didn’t feel like spending the rest of my life in the cemetery. So the only logical step was to shake things up.

That day, I changed my strategy and eventually found a job that I have loved. It has allowed me to use my graphic design skills in a management position. With the benefit of hindsight, I say the discomfort was worth it.

Looking back, I am thankful for that time. It was not because I was struggling that makes it great, but because my wife and I decided a couple of years before that to take some risks. We could have chosen to coast by for the rest of our lives and be comfortable. Instead, we took some steps by faith and shook things up.

There are many who are comfortable in their discomfort. They have settled into a situation they don’t particularly like, but feel it’s better than trying something new. It doesn’t have to be that way! No matter your age, you can try something new. It’s much better to shake things up than to be stuck and feel like you are biding your time in a figurative cemetery.

Categories
motivation Running

Thoughts on a Winter Solstice Run

Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio

After a couple of very cold days, this morning was a perfect time for a winter morning run. The temperature was hovering around the freezing mark. Most of the snow had melted on the asphalt trail, though there were some snowy and icy spots where trees have kept the sun at bay.

  • Winter scene along the Wolf Creek Recreational trail, Brookville, Ohio
    Winter Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
  • Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
    Winter Solstice Sunrise in Southwest Ohio
  • Early winter morning along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
    Early Winter Morning Along the Wolf Creek Recreational Trail
  • Winter farm field near US 40, Brookville, Ohio
    Winter Farm Field Near US 40, Brookville, Ohio

I noticed a few things on my morning run:

  • The sun was shining through the clouds. Frequently this time of year, the sun shines in the morning and it becomes overcast later. If I want to see the sun, I need to get up for it.
  • No one else was on the trail. Yet there were scores of human footprints, bike tracks, and animal tracks. I don’t always realize that though I am alone, many have come before me.
  • I rarely notice when the wind is at my back, but I know when I am heading into it. I need to remember to take the time to thank those that have given me a tailwind instead of focusing on the headwinds.
  • Sore, tight muscles come when I’ve taken a few days off. But after a couple of miles, I forget they were aching. It reminds me to push through and know that things will get easier.

Winter officially arrives tonight. Seasons come and go. Each has their good times and challenges. May you have a great Christmas and new year. Let’s welcome the new decade, be positive and do the things that lead to success.

Categories
motivation Running

Observations on a Snowy, Morning Run

snowy, nighttime trail in Ohio
Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, Brookville Ohio 12/16/19

This morning, I grabbed my ice cleats and went for my run. The scenery was quite different than the same route on Saturday. There were a few tracks on the sidewalk. Some human, some four-legged. Otherwise, there wasn’t much activity on a Monday morning.

snowy, nighttime trail in Ohio
Wolf Creek Recreational Trail, Brookville Ohio, 12/16/19

There were a few things I observed as I jogged down the trail.

  • Environments change quickly. Be prepared when you make a journey.
    • If it’s cold, take a coat.
    • If it’s slippery, wear the right gear to keep you safe.
  • Even in the common, everyday places, there is something new to discover.
  • Some of the best moments are when you are the first to venture out.
    • Embrace the morning.
    • Be a trailblazer.
    • Give yourself time to think.
  • Talk yourself into something instead of out of it.
    • The journey is worth it.
    • It’s rarely as bad as our imagination makes it out to be.

May you have a great day. And whatever your journey this morning, embrace it and look for beauty in unexpected places.