I have been running about two years now. I started in early 2008 and my main focus was to consistently run and use running to get healthier. That is still a focus today as well.
I was running pretty consistently going into 2009. I was excited with a new calendar year, and was very ambitious in making a running plan for the year. I loaded it with races and had these visions of improving my running more drastically than was possible.
The year ended well, but not as good as planned. I finished my key race, The Philadelphia Marathon, but not the way I wanted to finish it. I did not run all of the races that I wanted to, but sometimes life and injury get in the way. The marathon was my final run of 2009 and an injured knee has humbled me and prevented me from running.
I was slow to make a running plan this year because I was not sure how my running would go with a hurt knee. I am still not completely sure how it will go, but I am more confident after visiting the specialists at the Rothman Institute and being prescribed some physical therapy.
My plan this year is very simple. First I will complete the therapy and strengthen my legs and knees. I will also focus on strengthening my entire body with core exercise and strength training. It is almost as if I am hitting the restart button. I will need to build up my running and endurance just as I did when I first started. No matter how long it takes, I will run again.
My main goal this year is to kill the Philadelphia Marathon. That monster attacked me and continued to beat me to the very last step. I was still standing when I finished, but I was close to defeat. My main focus from now until November 21, 2010 is to get stronger and healthier. Build my mileage and endurance, and show up on marathon weekend with all the weapons needed to slay that beast.
There are a couple of other races that I want to run this year as well, but I am not committing to them or even thinking about them until my knee is better and I am running healthy again.
It may seem weird, but when it comes to running in 2010, I have a very clear mind and I am focused on one main goal. This is quite different from last year when I was looking at a number of different races at all different distances and setting my expectations a little high compared to my running level.
This year is not starting off well, but I have a feeling that it will be my best year of running yet.
31 January 2010
17 January 2010
Talking To Kids
You learn something new everyday. Sometimes you already know what you are learning, you just have to be reminded of what you know. This happens to me all the time.
Having a conversation with my six year old is usually just childish chatter. Most of the times the conversations are lopsided. I am busy with the task at hand while my son talks about his video games, or action figures, or enacts a scene from a television show for the hundredth time.
The thing about children, however, is that their brains our much deeper than we give them credit for. They have things that they want to talk about in their heads, but do not always know how to talk about them.
The other day, on the drive home, my son told me that a girl in his class thinks that he is funny. This topic of discussion did not come up again for another couple of hours. I was doing the dishes while my son was again talking to me. He asked, "Dad, do you think I am funny?"
I was still focused on the dishes when I said, "Yeah, you're funny." Lucky for me I looked at him after I said it. He had a slight smile on his face and was nodding as if to show he approved of my answer. Something told me that I should probe a little more. "Do you like being funny?" I asked him.
He was still smiling and said, "Yeah, that's how I get the girls at school to like me."
It is a funny little story, but one that taught me a lesson I already knew. Kids want to talk about serious issues, but many times do not how to do it. Sometimes you have to respond the right way. Do not be interrogating or intimidating. Respond to their questions with another question that allows them to feel comfortable.
Kids want to talk to you, but you have to invite them to do it. It is important to establish a comfortable setting for communication while they are very young. Then, when the really important issues come up years later, they will not have a problem telling you about them.
Hopefully this works for me and my children.
Having a conversation with my six year old is usually just childish chatter. Most of the times the conversations are lopsided. I am busy with the task at hand while my son talks about his video games, or action figures, or enacts a scene from a television show for the hundredth time.
The thing about children, however, is that their brains our much deeper than we give them credit for. They have things that they want to talk about in their heads, but do not always know how to talk about them.
The other day, on the drive home, my son told me that a girl in his class thinks that he is funny. This topic of discussion did not come up again for another couple of hours. I was doing the dishes while my son was again talking to me. He asked, "Dad, do you think I am funny?"
I was still focused on the dishes when I said, "Yeah, you're funny." Lucky for me I looked at him after I said it. He had a slight smile on his face and was nodding as if to show he approved of my answer. Something told me that I should probe a little more. "Do you like being funny?" I asked him.
He was still smiling and said, "Yeah, that's how I get the girls at school to like me."
It is a funny little story, but one that taught me a lesson I already knew. Kids want to talk about serious issues, but many times do not how to do it. Sometimes you have to respond the right way. Do not be interrogating or intimidating. Respond to their questions with another question that allows them to feel comfortable.
Kids want to talk to you, but you have to invite them to do it. It is important to establish a comfortable setting for communication while they are very young. Then, when the really important issues come up years later, they will not have a problem telling you about them.
Hopefully this works for me and my children.
07 January 2010
Goals For 2010 Part 5 - Write More
I don't really make new year resolutions, but I do set goals and try to plan some things for the coming year. I am breaking each goal into a separate post for easier reading. So here it goes...
Write More
I have been writing ever since I was a kid. I have wanted to be published for a long time now, but my motivation and drive to push myself were weak at best. I am more motivated then ever to write, and I am currently working on two main projects. A novel that I hope to publish and one entry to the Writers Digest Annual Writing Competition.
I have always considered myself a writer, but this is the year it comes to fruition. I am going to put in the hard hours and write like never before. It is like running. You have to run through the hard parts as well as the easy parts in order to reach your goal. Now I know that I can do it.
Write More
I have been writing ever since I was a kid. I have wanted to be published for a long time now, but my motivation and drive to push myself were weak at best. I am more motivated then ever to write, and I am currently working on two main projects. A novel that I hope to publish and one entry to the Writers Digest Annual Writing Competition.
I have always considered myself a writer, but this is the year it comes to fruition. I am going to put in the hard hours and write like never before. It is like running. You have to run through the hard parts as well as the easy parts in order to reach your goal. Now I know that I can do it.
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