This is Fearless

I don't have to be perfect

Life has been rough lately, I'm not gonna lie. I know that for other people life is harder. Life in Africa is much harder and I need to be grateful for my life now. I am. I haven't written in a while and that's gonna change. I'm overcoming some health issues and disappointments.

I thought about saving the "I am grateful" post for tomorrow, but I'd rather do it now and do something different tomorrow.

I am grateful for God.
I am grateful for Jesus.
I am grateful for the Atonement of Jesus Christ.
I am grateful for my wonderful and beautiful wife who makes life worth living.
I am grateful for my handsome baby boy.
I am grateful for electricity.
I am grateful for the internet.
I am grateful for wisdom.
I am grateful for learning.
I am grateful for school.
I am grateful for BYU.
I am grateful for apples.
I am grateful for exercise.
I am grateful for people.
I am grateful for mountains.
I am grateful for Utah (even though I want to move out of Utah when the time is right.)
I am grateful for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.
I am grateful for the Bible, especially for Job right now.
I am grateful for the Book of Mormon. That book is true and I love every page.
I am grateful for hope.
I am grateful for change.
I am grateful for repentance.
I am grateful for copy and paste options on computers; it makes things much better.
I am grateful for Thanksgiving
I am grateful for revolutionaries and government.
I am grateful for holidays.
I am grateful for refrigerators.
I am grateful for a modern-day prophet on the earth today: Thomas S. Monson.
I am grateful for satellites.
I am grateful for bicycles.
I am grateful for my Flip camera.
I am grateful for iMovie.
I am grateful for my parents.
I am grateful for space.
I am grateful for the sun.
I am grateful for running water.
I am grateful for hot water.
I am grateful for gas, like gas that makes it possible to heat the house and water.
I am grateful for everyone, even people who are mean; I love you.
I am grateful for challenges.
I am grateful for maple teething biscuits that keep my son happy for extended periods of time.

The end.

Barefoot Half-Marathon tomorrow! Easy yesterday.

This will be short. I'm studying for the LSAT to take it next year on top of everything else--You may be wondering why am I doing a half-marathon tomorrow then, well 1. I love to run and 2. I feel an obligation to keep my body healthy.

Yesterday I went easy testing out a GPS watch I'm borrowing from Tristan, my new best friend, jk but we are friends...I don't know if we've hit "best" yet, that's a big step. So the watch works great and it's what I'm be using tomorrow. I did a loop I had mapped in my car. The car said it was about 1.1 miles and I had 1 mile exactly on the watch so it should be right on the money.

I ran for about 30 minutes yesterday and it felt good. I don't know how the half-marathon will go tomorrow. We'll see, but I think it'll be cool and I think you'll enjoy watching the video I take.

Run fearless forever and ever.

Barefoot Running: Is it safe?

I think so. Today I ran for 1 hour and 23 minutes. Next week I will run a half-marathon barefoot. I think it's like do anything hard and challenging--It's going to be painful when your first doing it and then it will get easier.

I'm not going to lie. Today I went up into a neighborhood without any sidewalks, forcing me to run on the asphalt which was old so it hurt. No blisters, just sensitive and sore feet.

I made two mistakes today and both a regret and one I'm embarrassed to share, but I'll share it anyways:

1. I ate a hefty hot-dog for lunch and it came back to bite me when I was running. I didn't feel good and the run wasn't as enjoyable as it could have been.
2. As I was running on the sidewalk 3 kids on bikes came from behind on the opposite side of the road. One yelled, "Put some shoes on!" Well, I regret to say I chose to be a little ticked by this and I turned around and yelled, "Why? Why?" The kid questioned back, "Why?" because he obviously didn't have an answer. I continued to attack him with my words, "Why should I? Tell me why? Don't you have an answer?" And they just rode off.

If I could go back I would have done things differently. I would have responded in a funny way instead of a mean way. I would have tried to respond more in a way that I could be friends with that kid instead of enemies. He probably hates me because I made him look dumb. If you're out there kid, I'm sorry.

Run fearless.

8 Miles (1 hour 10 minutes) Barefoot on Cement and Asphalt

Yesterday I ran 3.4 miles from my house to the end of Timpview Drive, then 3.4 miles back where I dropped the baby off at home and finished up with a 1.1 mile loop. So I kind of lied in the title when I said 8 miles because technically it was 7.9, but at least I confessed and it's out there in the open.

As far as my feet went it was wonderful. Not bad throughout the run and not bad afterward either. I was pleasantly surprised at how GOOD it felt.

I did however get sore from the run itself--in my legs; calves, groin etc. But it was cool.

It rained lightly and I started worrying that my son would get wet and sick etc. but it was just a light couple drops, quite pleasant actually. Tomorrow I'm going 1 hour 20 minutes. At least that's the plan and that's how I run fearless...at this point in my life.

My First Huarache Adventure

Okay, so my posts are a day later than the actual day. All this happened yesterday, Monday, and I'll tell you about today tomorrow! This one goes out to you Mr. Stock!

The sandals that I'm wearing are made out of two things: rubber and rope. After my barefoot half-marathon (Thursday of next week, at least that's the plan) I'll start running in those bad boys. I'll also experiment with other styles.

My buddy Brant, who lives in Portland, made them for me and then mailed them to me. Thank you!!!

This is how I will be running fearless in the near future. Run it and run fearless!

Running Barefoot on Cement and Asphalt: 60 minutes with Tristan

There was a pretty big article in the paper today about barefoot running. Pretty cool. I think it was in the Daily Herald. Saturday my goal was to run 60 minutes barefoot on cement and asphalt. I did it.

For those of you who haven’t been reading my previous posts this is why I’m doing this. About a year and four months ago ish, there was a book that came out, Born to Run, that challenged traditional shoe-wearing running. I was given this book by a friend and started running barefoot at parks and on grass. I got a lot of remarks that I was crazy or that it was all good unless I wanted to run on cement and asphalt; if I wanted to do that then it would be impossible.

I distinctly remember a comment on Facebook where a friend of a friend wrote that he “highly doubted anyone could do high-mileage barefoot on the hard stuff”. So this year, about a month ago, when running wasn’t going how I had planned I decided that since I didn’t have anything to lose I would test that out.

Just like new runners have to build up to long distances when they first start running, that’s how it is with barefoot running and this was kind of the approach I used. I started running 3 times a week. Day 1 was 5 minutes, Day 2 10, Day 3 15 and so on until this past Saturday I did 60 minutes barefoot around town here in Provo, UT with a buddy named Tristan. (If you know Provo from the Creamery on 9th, down to Center Street, over to 500 West, up to Bulldog, over to Canyon, over to University Parkway, up that to 9th, back down and a little extra at Kiwanis Park) Thank you Tristan for running with me. I’ve definitely had blood blisters, regular-type blisters, sore feet etc. but I love it! It feels liberating and enjoyable. I’m not running as fast as I would normallly run, but that’s okay with me. I'm taking it nice and easy, sometimes hard when I get ambitious.

I'm planning on running a half-marathon down the Provo River Trail. You can join me and you don't have to run barefoot. Does anyone have a GPS watch I can borrow? That's how I'm running fearless nowadays: Using body as an experiment for science. Run fearless!

Tribute to Thousand Paper Cranes

Some of you know that I was in a band called Thousand Paper Cranes and this video is a song called September Snow. Here's to you Brant, and Joe, and Zac, and Aaron and Michael. We got Jo P-Witty, Big Daddy Cheetah, G-Mac (A-Tron) and Dr. B and the Synapse.

Today I took a break from running barefoot. I did some 400 meter repeats on grass. I will probably do a long barefoot run Saturday before, between or after General Conference sessions.

The fact that I was in a band is something that helped me to run fearless.

Baby while Barefoot with a Blood Blister

Okay, so this will be fast because there are tons of other things to do, but this blog is worthwhile so here goes...

Amy had a ton of homework to do and I really wanted to go running so we made a compromise. Our wonderful and incredible landlords, who live right above us, have a good jogging stroller so I asked if I could borrow it. They said that would be just fine and I did. So I ran barefoot pushing my 8-month old baby boy.

Well I was only going to go 40 minutes, but then when I looped around I calculated the distance and estimated the time it would take and I was way off. I underestimated the time it would take and went further to compensate. I ended up running for 47 minutes flat. The run was great, do-able, enjoyable except for the blood blister.

My left foot started burning, but I was semi-far from home and there was nothing I could do about it so I tried my best to ignore it. By the time I got home it was a pretty good sized blood blister as you can see in that picture above.

Fun little side-note: I had brought water and I stopped a few times to drink. I knew my son would be thirsty and so I gave him water and he loved it, and smiled, and did his hard, elevated breathing that means he's enjoying something. During the run though he was very still, motion-less and very observant. It was a wonderful workout and it helped me run fearless.

35 minutes barefoot (accidentally) and The Barefoot Half-Marathon

I woke up early for a conference call. Changed a wet diaper, then a poopy one and got the little guy down for his morning nap all while my wife slept and recovered from the rough night she had with a sick baby. We don't really plan it out, but many times I'm the back-up in the morning while she recovers.

With both of them asleep I decided it was a good time to go running and I set off in my black Nike shorts and my short-sleeved gray t-shirt. I had taped my big toe on my left foot and the second toe on my right foot. I put on extra tape just so the chances of burning through the first layer were slimmer. (I don't know if you can use "slim" like that, but I did.)

I wanted/had planned on running just 30 minutes, but ended up running 35 minutes. It felt okay. I can feel my feet getting tired and sore. My mother-in-law asked if I wanted my feet to become callused and tough. I told her I did. I think being a long-distance runner, which I see myself being for a long time, and having tough, callused feet is a good thing.

Okay, so here's the latest news: I'm going to run a half-marathon barefoot. At least that's the plan I've created in my head and a little on paper. I was thinking about running the Halloween Half-Marathon, but it's $50 and the only reason I want to run it is to say I've run a half-marathon barefoot. SO I decided to make my own race. I'll get a buddy to bike behind me (and anyone else who wants to come) with a video camera and tape. I'll borrow someone's GPS watch (hopefully), start up in the canyon, come down the Provo River Trail ALL TOTALLY barefoot. I'm excited, stay tuned and run fearless.

Crazy stares and a 2:13 800 meter run barefoot

Yesterday I went on my first real adventure barefoot. I'm sure I could call some of my other barefoot ventures adventures, but in my opinion yesterday was my first. That's because I actually went somewhere.

I left my house and started running West. I ran kind of through BYU campus on the sidewalks and through the cross-walks. One guy on the back of a scooter gave me a funny stare so I stared right back at him. That startled him so much that he caused the driver to crash. Yeah, it was bad. Except it didn't actually happen, but that was a funny/sick thought I just had. But the guy staring and me staring back part did happen.

I was waiting at a stop-light and I heard this girl say, "Whatever floats your boat." I knew she was talking about me to her friend who was driving, so I turned and yelled, "Thank you!" But they didn't hear me.

Then I arrived at the track, did a one-lap warm-up, got some water and started my 800 meter time-trial. I've decided that I'm going to train barefoot and race barefoot (if possible). So my first 400 was a 1:08.74 and the second 400 was a 1:04.54 equaling 2:13.28. It felt hard and good. If I could only do two 800s like that back-to-back that would be sweet. Total barefoot running time: 27 minutes 25 seconds barefoot.

As I ran fast I could feel old-blisters opening and the friction of skin-to-track burning the skin on the toes that grip the track the most. That's why I have athletic tape on the two toes in the picture. Besides that I'm feeling really good about it all. Run fearless.

BMX kids and 21 minutes barefoot on the hard stuff

Tuesday I went running. I did a nice loop along the asphalt trail along University Ave. up 1140 along Canyon by the stadium and then back to the Smith Fieldhouse at BYU. My total time barefoot totalled 21 minutes 36 seconds because I ran into some of the guys on the BYU team as they were coming back from their run.

Nate Ogden, one of the captains of the team, along with another runner caught up to me when I was waiting at the light at Canyon Road and Univerity Parkway; right by the stadium. They approached, recognized me and said hi. Then Nate looked down and said, "Barefoot huh?"
"Yep."
"On cement, that's brave."
"Just experimenting with some things."
And that was the end of our brief conversation. I decided to try and hang with them for the last 5 minutes of the run. They were doing an easy run so it wasn't too bad. I did have to stop at some bushes where I had hid my shoes and I was still able to catch up.

Funny side-note: About 4 guys around 17-18 years old, were getting a ticket from a cop for using the stairs and hand-rail at the track stadium for BMX bike purposes. They had used one of my shoes to prop the gate open. While the cop was writing them up I told the others who were sitting down, "I'm going to take this," as I removed my shoe.
"Go ahead," one said. Then I found my other shoe and started to walk off. "Oh were those yours?" the same guy asked.
"Yep."
"Oh sorry about that."
"I'll forgive you this time, but next time..." and I ran off, caught up the BYU guys and finished my run.

Frankly, or as Brant would say "frank", I am really liking just running barefoot anywhere I want. It's kind of liberating and freeing. Who knows what will happen when the snow comes. We'll deal with that obstacle when it comes. Run fearless.

My first speeding ticket and a 5:01 mile barefoot on the track

This past weekend has been more exciting than most weekends. To start it off my little brother got his mission call (or in other words he received, via mail, his assignment for the next two years of his life) and told us that he would be opening it later in the evening. After I got off the phone with him I turned to Amy and said, "Do you think we could make it if we left right now?" We quickly weighed out the pros and cons and within 20-ish minutes we were out the door. We surprised everyone and it was a pleasant and fun weekend. My brother is going to Daejeon, South Korea.

To add to the excitement I got my first speeding ticket. I was between Malad and Pocatello going about 84 in a 75. Yep, he saw me and pulled me over. I thought about releasing the NOS and out-running the guy, but then I remembered that I didn't have any NOS so that wouldn't help me. My first ticket ever. I'm okay, I'm okay.

Saturday was great. My dad asked me if I wanted to go running with him. My goal for Saturday was to run barefoot on cement and asphalt for 15 minutes. That was the plan, to run at this park where my dad could run barefoot on the grass and I could run beside him on the asphalt trail and then I could switch over onto grass when I had run 15 minutes. That's what he had told me earlier in the day at least...

As we were driving he said that what he really wanted to do was a workout on the track: 1 x 1600 m on 8 minutes, 2 x 800 m on 4 minutes each and 4 x 400 m on 2 minutes each--And he wanted to do it barefoot. I didn't know exactly how it would go because of how I've been feeling, but I decided to take it out easy but strong and see how I felt.

My first 400 was a 1:19. I was thinking, "Great! Right on pace for a 5:20, that would be cool. I'd be okay with that." The next 400 was a 1:17 and that's when I started thinking a little more ambitiously. That's also when it started hurting, in a good way. The next 400 I kept solid and did it in 1:16 and as I started the last 400 I gave it all I had finishing in 5:01. My feet were raw, tender and in a bit of pain, but not only had I exceeded my expectations but I really enjoyed it. As I did the rest of the workout I realized that I really do enjoy running and I think a lot of it has to do with running barefoot.

This is the second time I have been significantly frustrated about running and the second time that barefoot running has swooped in and saved my life. This is just my belief, but I think that Lord has helped me both times. I do believe in coincidence, but I also believe very firmly in divine intervention and that happened on Saturday.

I've said it once and I'll say it again: Running barefoot helps me run fearless.

10 Minutes Barefoot on Cement and Asphalt

Today I went running wearing the attire you see in that HOT picture above. I got that shirt from a high school buddy named Chris. I miss Chris.

Today I witnessed a sweet 4-mile time-trial which was kind of the last opportunity for the walk-ons to make an impression on Coach Eyestone. I loved it. It was the same course I used for The Barefoot Race a month ago. I was watching this time which was different than normal. Most races I go to so I can race in them, not necessarily to be a spectator.

After practice I ran for 10 minutes. About 40% was cement and 60% was asphalt. The coolest part was that I ran up 900 East and there was a good amount of traffic. Cars passed me, but then I caught them as they had to slow down for the light. I just picked it up running fast on the sidewalk. I just imagined what it would be like to be looking out the car at this 25 year-old, skinny, 5' 11" guy in short-shorts and a magenta shirt just bookin' it barefoot up ninth--Cool, that's what I would think.

Don't trash it 'til you try it! That's my run fearless motto, unless your talking about drugs and stuff like that. Alright, run fearless.

How to Run Barefoot on Cement and Asphalt, by Caleb

Okay, so I'm back and embarrassed because my running life lately has been rough, but I'm going to pro-act to that and I'm on to the next series of my life.

BTW my internship with the BYU Cross Country team is going great. I felt a little left-out at first because no one really knew me, or understood my humor... but I feel like I'm becoming friends with Coach Eyestone and the athletes and it's great.

Okay, so here's my latest experiment. I think that running barefoot is the best. I also am not naive enough to think that the whole world agrees that we should run barefoot. Right now is the perfect time to experiment so here goes...

A year ago I started running barefoot at parks and it was quite successful to say the least. Seeing as how I really have absolutely nothing to lose I'm going to take my experiment to the roads and run barefoot on cement and asphalt. I know, I know! Some of you will say that I'm stupid or crazy or a bad word, but that doesn't really bother me frankly because it's my life, it's now or never, I aint gonna live forever. Alright, threw a little Bon Jovi in there, sorry.

So yesterday I ran for 5 minutes on both cement and asphalt. About 80% cement and 20% asphalt I would say. Tomorrow will be 10 minutes. Saturday will be 15. We'll see how it goes. This is how I'm running fearless.

I'm not Peter Pan, so I'm leaving Neverland

I think it's time to grow up. For the past 7 years I have thought I would make the BYU Cross Country and Track teams. Today I ran a race and did horrible. I think it's time to re-evaluate.

I have felt VERY strongly that running is something God not only has led me to do but something that He wants me to do. I say that with confidence and zero blasphemy. If my feelings are right then some day some thing will happen and I just have to be ready. God has never told me when would be the time so it means I need to be ready always. There are a TON of applications for that principle, but I'll spare you for now.

My mission president in Argentina told me the following about finding a wife: "She will come. Surely she will come. You don't know when, but she will come. Your job is to always be ready so that when she does come you will be ready. Be obedient, keep the commandments and stay worthy and some day she will come and you will be ready too." Well, about two years ago I was sitting in a car with my girlfriend and we started talking about marriage. 3-ish months later we were married in Manti, UT. I was ready, so was she and we were married.

If running is right it will happen. I may not be Peter Pan, but I could be a Vince Papale, Jimmy Morris or Dara Torres of sorts where later in life I just get faster and faster.

Who knows, I don't, but what I do know is that for now a tired warrior is going to take a break and help a little more around the house. I'm going to clean more, get up in the night to take care of the baby and ease the stress from my wife and just rest.

I asked my wife if she thought that if I didn't obsess about running if I would get faster. (Did that make sense?) She said she didn't know, neither do I. I'd like to think that it will. We'll definitely see because that's what I'm going to do. For a while that's how I'll run fearless. That's how I'll be fearless. Yep, and that's how I'll live fearless.

Practice Persistence

"Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one-yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game, one foot from a winning touchdown." -H. Ross Perot

Some of you may be like, "Perot?! Didn't he run for president or something?!" Yep and I think some people I'm related to voted for him, you know who you are. Perot was (maybe still is) a billionaire who mailed thousands and thousands of packages to American soldiers during the Vietnam war after exhausting all options and finally flying to Moscow where he was able to mail them.

I've been ready to give up on the BYU Cross Country team. Meaning that I've been ready several times to throw in the towel and not try out. I'm still doing the internship portion, but I'm tired, I feel slow, I don't feel like my hard work and long mileage has really helped and I can keep complaining, but I am stopping myself right now.

All I can say is that I'm tired and hurting, but if the above quote is true (for me) then giving up right now would be like being 100 meters or yards (or whatever measuring system you like) away from the summit of the mountain and then turning around and going back down or like running 25 miles of the marathon, pulling out and saying, "I can't do it. I hurt too much."

Now, don't get me wrong or misinterpret what I'm saying. If my leg was broken then you wouldn't see me out this Saturday at the Autumn Classic. If I had gotten a concussion yesterday then I wouldn't be there. If I had been in a freak ninja fight and had a part of my body sliced open AND deep then I wouldn't show up. But seeing as how none of those things are the case and I'm feeling okay, I'm going to do it and we'll see how it goes. I hope well.

Never, Never, Never give up. I think this is true unless you feel strongly that you should change the direction your life is heading. That's how I run fearless.

Come to the Autumn Classic this Saturday and watch some of the best high school and college runners. $5 to get in at the BYU Track stadium in the morning. Run fearless everyone!

World Record Broken! 800 meters David Rudisha

This is gonna be short and sweet!

David Rudisha is from Kenya and he's smokin' fast! He currently has the 800 meter World Record.

For about 13 years the World Record of 1:41.11 was held by Wilson Kipketer.

2 Sundays ago it was broken for the first time by David Rudisha in a time of 1:41.09.

This last Sunday it was broken again by Rudisha in a time of 1:41.01.

It's about time and that's running fearless!

Day 1: BYU Cross Country

I apologize that I haven't posted for a few days. Some of the things that are helping me to run fearless are also taking up my time and even though the blog has suffered life is so good!

Today was the first day at my new job as a receptionist at a law firm here in Provo. I loved it. Then I came home, took care of the baby while my wife went off to class for day 1 of BYU classes. I met her on campus 60 minutes later, did a sweet hand-off with the baby and went to Cross Country. From 2:15 to 3:15 there was a big team meeting with both guys from Cross Country and Track & Field.

Then it was off to the intramural field for repeat 1000s. It was so cool. I was side-by-side with Ed Eyestone and that was probably one of the coolest things. Former Olympian and NCAA Champion in his day he coaches one of the finest teams in the nation. Then there were the runners. All different shapes and sizes. Some were tall and skinny, others short and more built. Some look like they had been starved while others looked like they had eaten very well for the past few months. So if you blame not having the right body type for not being a runner stop now. Some of the best runners on the team and in the world are about 5' 5" and have a little more meat on their bones than the skinny runners.

The men's team had just gone to camp so they were sporting some new Nike shoes. They had some sweet flats and spikes they wore for the workout. Some had chosen a light green color while others had chosen a florescent orange like the color you see for hunting--In your face orange is what I call it. Oh yeah, they were sweet.

The team did 7-8 x 1000 meters at about 3 minutes and 10 seconds with one minute rest in between. As I watched and observed it didn't seem too hard and a lot of the guys were struggling. Later on this evening I went and did the same workout and it was killer! Man it hurt and my times per kilometer repeat just got slower and slower. I was running alone and I was embarrassed.

Overall it was an incredible experience and I'm glad to have it as part of my schooling here at BYU. I graduate this December and this internship is a perfect way to end my college career. BYU Cross Country is helping me run fearless.

Unexpected Gifts, Guidance and Direction

Tomorrow is my last day at my current job. About a week ago I found out about this new job as a receptionist at a law firm I hope to eventually get a job working full-time with benefits. I hope that made sense. So I found out a week ago. I said no at first and disregarded it, but as I got to thinking I realized that it would be perfect.

The hours would be great, the pay alright, the environment wonderful. I would gain experience as I worked my way up. I would get to see what lawyers do on a daily basis. I would get to interact with people and not be accused of selling anything.

So on Sunday my wife and I decided to go for it. I really didn't think I would get it. I printed off a resume on regular white paper, went in right after work in my jeans and polo, had an interview right there on the spot (which I wasn't planning on) and left. The office manager had told me that she had interviewed a couple people already so my expectations for getting the job were low.

The next day I got a phone call telling me I had gotten the job. I really feel that this is the direction I'm supposed to be going in my life. I feel very guided and very blessed and I thank God. He is great and wonderful. I will be working Monday - Friday from 8 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. Now that's what I call sleeping in every day!!! So cool and I think that this new job will help me to run fearless even more.

My current job helped me run fearless for a time, but this new job is the perfect job for helping me run fearless now. Run fearless now!

When I Dream About the Future of the Barefoot Race(s)

These are just some thoughts I've been having recently and they are a bit random and all over the place, but they have to do with The Barefoot Race series and where I see these races going in the near and distant future...

August 7th, 2010 marked an historic day in the history of Utah Valley, maybe even Utah State, barefoot running and racing. It was the first annual or semi-annual or something like that of The Barefoot Race 5K Run and Walk. It was a 5K (3.1 mile) race around Kiwanis Park in Provo, UT where every single participant was barefoot and over $200 was raised for children's cancer research.

I want to quadruple that next year. Not the amount of money but the amount of races. Yeah, tell me I'm crazy. Okay, tell me it's not reasonable and I'll tell you "What?! Oh yeah it is!" Here's the plan:
(I'm putting the plan in bullet points because I'm addicted...to bullet points:)

1. Hold 4 barefoot races: Race 1 April 9th, 2010; Race 2 May 21st, 2010; Race 3 July 16th, 2010; and Race 4 September 10th, 2010.
2. Have two of the races during semesters so as to maximize the amount of participants drawing from BYU specifically and of course UVU.
3. I think with enough advertising and good sponsor etc. we could get anywhere from 300-600 runners at each race.
4. Maybe, and I JUST thought of this, set a Guinness Book of World Records for the largest barefoot race ever of all time and forever!
5. Okay, then the race in September would be The Barefoot Race Series World Championships (who says we can't have a world championships, and maybe we could even get a USATF or IAAF sanction, still figuring out the logistics.)
6. Oh yeah, and the race series would be called The Barefoot Race Series or The Barefoot Race World Cup, except if we did that then we would probably need races all over the world. Maybe The Barefoot Race UV (Utah Valley) Cup... okay, moving on...
7. That's about all I have

This gets me excited, that's why I'm certain that this is the direction that I want to be heading and that's how I run fearless. Check it.

3 Random Guys: One Sweet Time Trial

Let me tell you about my time trial yesterday. I had wanted to time-trial on Saturday, but I wasn't feeling very good. I decided to do it yesterday. I took a break from running to work according to my plans I set which I explained in my post on How I Will Proceed With My Life. Then in the evening about an hour before dinner I ran to the BYU track.

When I got there I found myself with three other runners. One guy was doing a sprint workout and the other two were jogging. To each one I extended the same invitation, "Hey, I'm doing an all-out mile time-trial, would you like to join me." The two joggers said yes and the sprinter said he had already done his workout for the day.

Chris (from Alaska, starting an MFA Creative Writing Master's Program this fall) and Russ (from Boise Idaho, starting his Sophomore year doing pre-med) joined me in the mile time trial. We were pretty spread out. I won, with Russ in second and Chris in third. Chris had prophesied his loss before we started by saying, "Yeah, but you guys will probably whip me." Which we did, but I want to express my gratitude to those guys because it made the experience bearable. No one was exactly pushing me, but knowing that there were guys running all-out at the same time and place as me was comforting and I am very grateful.

I ran a 4:55. It was all-out. After a few minutes I felt like I could have done another or two more and I know that's because I've been putting in a lot of time/mileage running. The strength of my aerobic system helped decrease the time it took to recover after an all-out anaerobic/aerobic effort. It was way cool and I am fairly pleased with the effort.

I thank Chris and Russ for helping me to run fearless.

Family Home Evening

As I was thinking about this evening I thought about Family Home Evening, also known as FHE. Family Home Evening was instituted by a prophet of God in 1915 and that declaration is as follows: In 1915, the First Presidency of the Church wrote: "We advise and urge the inauguration of a 'Home Evening' throughout the Church, at which time fathers and mothers may gather their boys and girls about them in the home and teach them the word of the Lord…. This "Home Evening' should be devoted to prayer, singing hymns, songs, instrumental music, scripture-reading, family topics and specific instruction on the principles of the Gospel, and on the ethical problems of life, as well as the duties and obligation of children to parents, the home, the Church, society, and the Nation" (IE 18 [June 1915]:733)

I thought I would use this post as an opportunity to share about Family Home Evening, which I just did, and let you know what I will be doing for it.



Growing up in a family of 8, including my parents (the picture attached is a picture of 5 of the 6 siblings), we would divide Family Home Evening into different parts like song, prayer, lesson, activity, closing prayer, refreshments etc. Everyone would get a rotating assignment each week. So one week I would be in charge of the song, and the next week the prayer, and the next the lesson, and so on and so forth. Tonight I'm in charge of the lesson.

Amy and I have this book called "Eternal Marriage". This is the book from which I will draw for help in preparing a lesson. I browse the "contents" page and find "Commitment" as a topic so turn to page 21. Now I really like this book because it contains TONS of quotes from both the scriptures, modern-day prophets who have passed away and living prophets who are on the earth today.

The first quote that the chapter starts with is wonderful. "A beginning to influence our children for good is a secure marriage, where there is a commitment to make the personal adjustments to live together forever." -President Spencer W. Kimball (Who's actually one of the men that my son is named after:)

I realized as I was reading the next quotes and accompanying talk/discourse that I hadn't prayed. I will take a moment to do so. Okay, now I am in even a better state of mind where the Spirit of God can help me as I prepare.

James E. Faust said, "In my opinion, members of the Church have the most effective cure for our decaying family life. It is for men, women, and children to honor and respect the divine roles of both fathers and mothers in the home."

My plan includes the following:

1. I will read the rest of the chapter.
2. Make mental and/or physical note(s) of the quotes/talks/discourses I especially liked.
3. At Family Home Evening tonight we will read some of them together.
4. We will then talk about whatever comes to mind and ways that we can be (better, more) committed.
5. I will seal the lesson with my personal testimony of the importance of commitment.
6. And I will end the lesson by saying "In the name of Jesus Christ, Amen."

I think I could say that growing up in home that carried out Family Home Evening on a regular basis and in my home where I am the one in charge of carrying it out that Family Home Evening is an inspired mandate from God Himself that has helped and continues to help me (along with others) to run, live and be fearless.

How I Will Proceed With My Life

I've had a couple break-downs recently, just figuring out what to do with my life and trying to figure out what I really want to do and who I want to be. This morning was a break-down and I wrote all of my feelings down. It was pretty much the unabridged version of yesterday's post of Deciding What to do.

After writing my thoughts, feelings, emotions, frustrations etc. I went running and the way to proceed with my life became clear. Now don't misunderstand, I didn't figure out what I was going to do for the rest of my life, but I did receive some further light and understanding as to how I am to proceed.

I realized that I had been neglecting some of the most important things. I asked myself what THE MOST IMPORTANT things were, these were the results...

1. Heavenly Father
2. My wife
3. My son
4. The Church (of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints)
5. Running

I kind of had running at the top of that list for a while and I am making some adjustments. Most of you know I've been running every day (6 days a week) doing two workouts a day. Well, this next week and the following weeks, who knows for sure, I will only be doing 3 out of the 6 as two a days. I'll be able to spend more time paying attention to the things that matter most. How will I do this? You may ask. I'm glad you asked, here goes...

I decided to start creating Habits of Greatness (don't you dare steal that sweet title/idea, I'll probably write a book or something) where each week I will focus on something and give it 100% effort for that week which will be a great start and then continue to do it for 21 days until it becomes a habit and then continue doing it FOR-EVER!

So this week I will make a concerted, intense and sincere effort to

1. Attend the temple (which I want to do at least once a month)
2. Study and search (not just read) the scriptures for 30 minutes every day
3. Offer more sincere, heart-felt and meaningful prayers both morning and night

I'm not perfect in any way, but I believe I can be perfect in doing these things above and developing Perfect Habits of Greatness (which may or may not be the new title, I haven't decided.)
Ladies and gentlemen, this is how I will be running, living and being fearless this week. Happy Sunday.

Deciding What To Do

This is where my advice for you turns into the blog about me which is really what blogging is all about, but let's not get sidetracked and I'll tell you what I'm thinking because it's all I can think about...

I thought I had figured out what I wanted to do this past week. I had figured out what I was going to do with my life and then I'm listening to this talk by Elder (now President) Henry B. Eyring and I start to wonder if I have made the right decision and is it really the best decision. Let's be more specific...

Since high school I have had the same battle I just realized, being a school teacher and a professional runner. With so many injuries in the past the teacher idea took first place, but as I've been training more and having more success with running I've leaned more towards running. I don't know what to do and this post, for no matter how long I write it won't get resolved right now. No, I am not waiting for God to tell me what to do. I believe that He will support me in whatever I choose, if it's a healthy, good decision of course. I can't see Him supporting me in a decision to professionally sell drugs. That was a joke and a true joke at that.

I just want to figure out what I want to do. I'm trying to listen to my heart, but I think my right ventricle is battling with the left. My mind is no better as I go back and forth with 5 million billion guadzillion pros and cons, things I like and dislike about both. I joke about this with Amy, but for reals sometimes I want to take a few months and go live in a Buddhist monastery on top of a high mountain and meditate for a long time, or get in a car and drive down to the southern most tip of Argentina/Chile then give the car away to a family in need and hitch-hike my way back. Yeah, I could do that if I wanted to, but I probably won't and now I'm just rambling.

Anyways, I don't know how this relates to anything fearless except that I'm not really afraid, but I DO want to figure out what I really want to do with my life and then live fearless knowing I have no regrets.

Just Lean Into It

This principle in the Success Principles is a lot like yesterday's, I think you'll like it, principle 14!!!!!

"You can't cross a sea by merely staring into the water." -Rabindranath Tagore

"Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step." -Martin Luther King Jr.

"For every failure there's an alternative course of action. You just have to find it. When you come to a roadblock, take a detour." -Mary Kay Ash

Like I said at the beginning this is a lot like the previous principle/chapter/post. I think the title Just Lean Into It gives more of a visual of just starting. If you know what you really want to do then start doing something, it may turn out to be something different than you had planned and it will definitely be good.



I really like the story about Jana Stanfield that's in this chapter. She wanted to be a singer. She moved to Nashville to make it big, but found it was a lot harder than she thought. Jana thought the only way to pursue her dreams was to get a recording contract, but she would learn there were other ways. She decided what she wanted to do with music: Combine music, comedy, storytelling and motivation. Eventually she began preforming at church services around the area just to help people and inspire. Then she started getting attention, people wanting to buy her music etc. She put together a real album and began making a living doing what she wanted to do. She started a company and continues to inspire and motivate people today. (More at http://janastanfield.com/.) I just went to her website and watched a video of her speaking and singing, it was cool.

Are don't know where I'm going in life. I know what I love. I know what I want to do and I know where I want to end up and somehow, some way I have a strong, definite feeling that it'll all work out and that helps me to run fearless.

The Barefoot Race Continues!

Some of you were a part of this!

Check this OUT! The Barefoot Runners Society did a write-up of The Barefoot Race! So cool!

http://www.barefootrunners.org/build2/story/barefoot-race-reflections-race-director-caleb-scoville

Take Action

"Things may come to those who wait, but only the things left by those who hustle." -Abraham Lincoln

"What we think or what we know or what we believe is, in the end, of little consequence. The only consequence is what we do." -John Ruskin

"If your ship doesn't come in, swim out to meet it." -Jonathan Winters

"No man ever became great or good except through many and great mistakes." -William E. Gladstone

"You can never learn less; you can only learn more. The reason I know so much is because I have made so many mistakes." -Buckminster Fuller

Okay, I love quotes and these are so good. They really sum up the 13th chapter in the Success Principles. Take action, talk is cheap, nothing happens until you take action are some of the sections in this chapter. I'm just going to free flow the ideas coming to my mind, so bear with me, it's gonna be cool...

I think that goes along perfectly with the principle of faith. Faith is belief in action. If you really believe in something then you're going to do something about it. If you really believe in God then you are going to take action by learning of and following His commandments. If you want a testimony of something or knowledge of something you can't just sit back and wait to be enlightened, you gotta search! You have to work.

This year I woke up about my training. I was searching for ways to become faster, really I was searching for ways to be the best in the world. I had an exercise physiology class that blew my paradigm, then I read a book that taught me other important things. Then I decided that I couldn't wait any longer and I started building up my mileage little by little (or a lot by a lot, however you want to look at it :) until currently I am able to run 80+ miles each week and I feel great...tired, but great. I took action.

I think the first step to taking action is figuring out what it is that you really want and I did a post about that called, ironically, Decide What You Want Once you have decided that then it can fuel your fire inside. It doesn't have to be what you want to be in life, it can be a little more short-term, por ejemplo (that's Spanish for "for example" look, you didn't even KNOW that you were going to learn Spanish by reading this blog)...

My brother Jacob is going on a two-year mission. This is my advice for him looking back. Figure out what you want to do, who you want to be and become. Figure out now instead of waiting. Then take action in/at/to doing, being, becoming that person that will allow you to do what you want.

That's all I got for now. Taking action helps me to run fearless.

Act As If

"Believe and act as if it were impossible to fail." -Charles F. Kettering

"To fly as fast as thought, to be anywhere there is, you must first begin by knowing that you have already arrived." -Richard Bach

Success Principle #12 is Act As If and the principle behind it is acting as if you are already where you want to be. The example in the book points out a young man who was a bank teller. He would always wear a suit and tie whereas the others just wore a shirt and tie. The young man wearing a suit and tie looked like an executive which is where he eventually ended up. He was acting as if and that, along with other things like hard work etc., took him there.

Quoting from the book a principle I believe in: "The Law of Attraction simply states that like attracts like. The more you create the vibration--the mental and emotional states--of already having something, the faster you attract it to you. This is an immutable law of the universe and critical to accelerating your rate of success."

Now I haven't figured out exactly how to do this, but I know I need to print off some pictures that illustrate where I want to be and then imagine myself there having done those things like winning a race at the London Summer Olympics 2012 or a photo shop picture of me in a BYU uniform for Cross Country etc. Okay, yep, just thought of that and I will do that. Genius.

The last thing I'll share is "The Party That Could Change Your Life" which is a "Come As If" party. You get a group of friends together and you tell them to come as they will be in 2015 for example and then you come acting as if you have done everything you wanted to do during those next five years. For example I would come to the party probably wearing a suit. I would have my spikes that I ran my gold medal winning race in draped over my right shoulder. I'd be wearing my best tie, white shirt, shoes shined. I would have an autographed copy of the book I had written that had sold a million copies, and I would have a picture of the training facility that I was building for runners including beginner to elite runners. I would have 3 gold medals hanging from my neck and the contract I had signed with Nike for the five-year sponsorship of $150,000 a year. I know, pretty cool and really fun.

Anyways, I need to do better at acting as if, but it's a key to running, living and being fearless I'm sure of it.

How To Heal From Any Hurt Or Injury

Some of you will remember from my post on You Can Change The Way You Feel that I was injured and out for a couple days. I hurt my Achilles tendon really bad. I hurt SO bad. In addition to prayer, rest and getting a blessing I employed EFT and I think all of those four things combined helped me to have a fast recovery where the following week after my injury I was able to do 83.5 miles pain and injury free. EFT helps me to run fearless and this guest post expounds on that very subject. This is the very first guest post on Run Fearless. Enjoy! Thanks Dawn. -Caleb

Have you ever wondered what it would feel like to wake up and NOT be tired; to bound out of bed happy to greet a new day? Have you ever felt so sick and tired of being sick and tired that you didn’t care? Have you ever wondered why you just can’t get back on top of things? Do you feel like you have no control? Have you ever been so overwhelmed that you just didn’t know what to do next?

Have you ever wanted to follow your bliss; pursue your dream; go after what you are passionate about? What stops you? Do you hear yourself saying things like, “I don’t have enough money. I’m too old. I’m married. I’m single. I’m too fat. Too short. Too stupid?” Doubt, uncertainty, fear.

Have you ever in the quiet moments, when it’s just you, on a beach, watching a sunset, sitting under the stars, thought, “I know I was meant to do something special? Otherwise, why would I be here? Have tears come to your eyes as you wonder if you’re a failure? “Am I really supposed to live a life of mediocrity?” I think almost everyone shares at least some of these thoughts some of the time. We have stirrings of greatness and we don’t know why or how we can grasp hold of it and make it real.

You may have an inkling that it has something to do with the abuse you suffered as a child. Or the ridicule you experienced at the hands of others. Maybe there was one traumatic event like a rape, the suicide of a loved one, an unexpected death, a serious health condition, a job loss, or divorce. Maybe no one has ever loved you or told you how special you were. There is a way; a simple way to cut through the grief, fears, traumas, phobias, addictions, mental clutter that seems to throw enormous blocks in our path.

This simple way, allows a person to remove the mental clutter, the negative emotions, the attachment to the past and people who have hurt or wronged us. It is for lack of a better description like a combination of acupuncture (without needles) and psychotherapy. Psychotherapy on steroids! The simple method is called EFT. Emotional Freedom Techniques. By applying gentle tapping pressure to the body’s meridian points with your fingertips and repeating phrases related to the experience and affirming your worth, the body simply aligns itself with health, with positivity, with wellness, and with joy. Amazingly, it often happens in minutes. I have experienced first hand, recovery from a violent divorce, separation from a parent, abuse, suicide of a parent, unexpected loss. These “negative” experiences no longer have any hold on my life.

Once you have cut through all of the negative, you can then even begin to program yourself for success. Simple techniques allow you to release pain, grief, addictions, self loathing, and more. You learn simply how to deeply and completely accept yourself; to forgive yourself and others and to be able to embrace the amazing person you were created to be. You come to a place of Personal Peace.

One of my favorite quotes says: “Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.” Marianne Williamson

There’s no way to shrink that quote. I believe we all instinctively know that we were created to shine, to live purposefully in spite of fears. Live fearless. EFT helps each person to shed the old and to embrace the new. What’s holding YOU back? Don’t just run fearless, live fearless. Learn more. http://www.dailyabundance.net/

While EFT has produced remarkable clinical results, it must still be considered to be in the experimental stage and thus practitioners and the public must take complete responsibility for their use of it. Further, Dawn Norton is not a licensed health professional and offers EFT as a teacher, Certified EFT Practitioner, and as a personal performance consultant.

If You're Getting Overwhelmed Pick A Point

I'm at work right now. I just clocked out. My wife suggested I do the post before I come home from work. I think her idea is genius, my wife is a genius. That's why I married her. The idea for this point came from my run on Monday.

Recently I've been feeling tired. Compared to some people I'm probably not that tired, but for me, I'm tired. Running home on Monday was something I wasn't looking forward to doing. I planned on doing a fartlek, but I was just tired. So I gave myself permission.

I told myself that I didn't have to go all out, that I would start out slow and then speed up if I felt like it. My mind liked this idea and I started. There were a few times when I would be running fast and I would want to stop. I was getting overwhelmed by the task of running home when I wasn't even a quarter of the way there. That's when it occurred to me that I could pick a point.

I picked telephone poles, intersections, cars, anything and I would say, "For this speed-surge just make it to the _________." That made it manageable. I think when we think about everything we have to do for the rest of our lives it may get overwhelming. When I think about running tomorrow morning at 3:50 a.m. I am daunted by the task, but I pick a point and reach it. Then I pick another point and reach it and before long I have arrived.

I know that was pretty general, but it's something that helps me run fearless.

Changing The Way I Ask Has Made All The Difference

I believe this is post #100, that's pretty cool and notable. Let's have a blog party. Okay, that was kind of a lame party, no dancing, no food and no face-to-face interaction. No more blog parties. I don't know when it was that I discovered what I'm about to share, but it has changed the way I do a lot of things and has provided many answers. I will share my experience, then examples from my life then I will apply it to you. Sound good? Alright!!!!!!!!!!!!

Ever since I learned how to pray and ask in general I would ask for something. I would ask my parents for things like a child does. I would ask Heavenly Father*(see footnote at bottom) to help me do or be certain things. For example I would say, "Help me remember everything I have studied so I can do well on this test." At races or rather before races I would ask Him to help me run my best, to give me energy and if it was His will to allow me to win. I believe He answered my prayers to the best of His ability. There were other things I would ask Him for like a stronger testimony or comfort when I was feeling scared, nervous or sad. I still ask for these things and my requests are similar, but there was a change in the way I asked and I'm not only talking about being sincere I'm talking about the words I used.

There's a scripture in the New Testament that's famous in the Mormon world because of Joseph Smith. It's James 1:5 and it goes like this, "If any of you lack wisdom, let him ask of God, that giveth to all men liberally, and upbraideth not; and it shall be given him." Or in other words if you want wisdom then ask God, or in a more general sense if you want something then ask God.

One day it occurred to me that I could ask in another way. I started to ask God to show me how to do or be something in addition to asking for Him to help me do or be something. For example, in addition to saying, "Please help me to get a good grade on this test" I would ask "Heavenly Father, please show me how to get a good grade on this test." In addition to saying "Help me become the best runner in the world" I asked "Show me how to become the best runner in the world." He has since shown me and I have since done, and continue to do.

This can apply to a lot of different things. For example, "Help me get a good job" can transform into "Show me how to get a good job." "Help me to be happy" can transform into "Show me how to be happy." "Help me develop greater faith" can transform into "Show me how I can develop greater faith."

Now I am not suggesting you stop asking the first question/request. What I am suggesting is that I have had success in adding to the way that I ask and it has changed my life. It has seriously helped me to learn how to run fearless. I hope it can help you too.

*You may not believe in God, so prayer to Him may not mean a whole lot to you. You may not believe in a supreme being. I believe that if you ask, your questions will be answered. These principles apply not only to the believers but to all who seek answers.

The Barefoot Runners Society Contacted Me

The Barefoot Runners Society contacted me and this is what they said:

"

Hello Caleb,

I am TJ, President of the Barefoot Runners Society. I was checking out your site, reading about your recent barefoot race, and I'm wishing to know more. How long have you been running barefoot and blogging about it? Will you be writing a race report on you recent barefoot race? If so, perhaps you could share it with our members? If you are interested, please send the report to me along with a couple of photos, and I will post them on our News Show on our home page. I saw where you posted you may hold barefoot races in the future, for a good cause once again. If so, please keep us in mind. We would like to help you promote them on our site. It would have been good to know about your race ahead of time, since we could have helped you to promote it, but we're a new barefoot running club and just getting started, so you may not have heard of us yet. We began November 2009. We have around 600 members and 1,260 fans. Barefoot Ken Bob is our Senior Advisor to the Board, Barefoot Rick Roeber is our Director of PR, and recently Dr. Irene Davis, and Barefoot Ted McDonald joined us. We also have on staff one of the few barefoot-friendly podiatrists in the country where he has a forum on the BRS site called Ask the Doc. We are in beta testing, but hope to go public soon. I would like to extend an offer to you to join our site early, so you can check out the many resources we have to offer barefoot and minimalist runners.

Please let me know if you're interested.

Thanks,

TJ

Tamara Gerken

Barefoot TJ

President, CEO"

Here's my response I sent to them:

This is my experience with barefoot running, (and then I copied and pasted my post on My Barefoot Story)

Here is the race report:

Kiwanis Park is a large park and the perimeter of it is a tiny bit over one complete mile. I live very close to the park and run it often so I knew when the thought came to do a barefoot race that I would hold it there.

I love barefoot running, but the purpose of the race was to attract attention doing something a little unorthodox like a barefoot race. I wanted to do something cool and something I enjoyed in order to help others so that's what we did. I also knew that a race at the park would mean zero car traffic, less liability and less potential accidents.

There were about 20 of us and we were all barefoot. Since I knew the course and I had done a poor job marking it I decided to be a rabbit for the first mile and then re-assume my race director's duties which turned out great because I can whip out a good mile, which I did and then I was at the mile mark calling out splits and cheering on runners. For me info refer to my Reflections On The Barefoot Race post (which I attached for the Barefoot Runners Society.)

I will definitely keep you updated and thank you for the email. Run fearless.

Sincerely,

Caleb Scoville

Reflections On The Barefoot Race

Now that I've had time to let it all sink in, I think I'm ready to post on how I think it went, things that went well and things that could have gone better.

Overall I have positive and fond memories of the race. Every single runner ran barefoot and that was cool. Shannon Banks, one of several who really helped, arrived right after the race started and said that it was an inspiring sight to see a group of runners all running barefoot. Some people had emailed me about running with shoes because they didn't feel comfortable running shoeless, but in the end everyone ran barefoot.

Nobody got injured, at least to my knowledge. Maybe I should have asked, but no one was limping, crying, whining etc. so I think that was great.

We had a good mix of people/ My family came and thank goodness or we wouldn't have raised as much money. I family of friends from Idaho came and they ended up taking the first place mens and womens spots. Former MTC teaching companions came along with former missionaries that I had taught in the MTC. Then there were people from my home-town in Vancouver, Washington down here for school that came and last but not least there were several people I didn't even know and had never met (I guess those go hand in hand don't they:) who showed up and impressed me. So cool.

I definitely could have been more prepared. I was scrambling at the last minute to get safety pins for the race numbers. I also waited until the last minute to reserve the pavillion at the park. Luckily Shannon helped get the food and a sponsor or I know for a fact there would have been NO sponsor nor food there. I would have been sweet to have had a gun for the start--it was just me yelling "go!" and then being the rabbit. The white lines on the ground were as weak sauce as any sauce can be. I'm surprised more people didn't get mixed up on the course...

BUT! on the other hand we raised $200+ for children's cancer research, which will maybe pay for a few beakers or a microscope battery, but it's still $200 more than they would have had and I think even a little bit counts. I had a lady out of nowhere approach me and ask when we were going to do this again so we have at least one returning participant for next year.

Overall I think I learned some extremely valuable lesson and gained invaluable experience that I could not have gained any other way. I found out that I like putting on races and that barefoot races at big parks is something I especially like and something I think could become HUGE!

I'm thinking 2 or more barefoot races next year, but here's what I'm really thinking-- A barefoot racing series where April, May, June, July and August are races leading up to the championship race in September. Each race is a different venue/park in Provo/Orem like Kiwanis, the Park by Timpview High School, Rock Canyon Park, the Scera Park in Orem and I bet there's more in Orem I don't even know of. With more time and advertising and students and hype and build up and EVERYTHING I see this snowballing, like Jarom said on the Facebook page, and becoming something huge. This may even be something I could make a living, or part of a living. This next April I plan on the proceeds going to GiveOneMillion again, but after that, I haven't decided... Sky's the limit baby!

This is how I'm running fearless, watch

My mind is in turmoil, but I think I know what to do

I didn't post yesterday. My life is nuts, although I know others' lives are harder. I haven't really posted a ton of stuff about running lately as far as how to get faster etc. because my mind has been elsewhere.

Last week was a great training week and I came into this week wanting to hit it hard, but my body was feeling tired and fatigued so I changed plans and didn't do as much as I had planned and aimed for a high mileage week next week if that makes sense. I have made it a subject of deep personal introspection and reflection to figure out what I really want to do with my life. I am of the opinion that God wants me to do anything that will make my family happy, make me happy and help my family and I return and live with Him.

I used to want God to tell me what to do with my life. I have learned that at least for me He won't do that. He's going to let me exercise my agency and choose.

Books have changed my life and I find that they are very powerful. In my church I teach a lesson every month to a small group of men. I'm teaching this Sunday and the lesson is on "The Lord's Covenant People".

I read the following: "When we are baptized into the Church, we enter into the covenant the Lord made with Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (see Galatians 3:26–29). If we are obedient, we inherit the blessings of that covenant. We have the right to receive help and guidance from the Holy Ghost. Worthy males have the right to hold the priesthood. Families can receive the blessings of the priesthood. We can gain eternal life in the celestial kingdom. There are no greater blessings than these." (Italics added for emphasis.)

Then I read " As we keep our covenants, our Heavenly Father promises us that we will receive exaltation in the celestial kingdom (see D&C 132:20–24).

The greatness of that promise is hard for mortals to understand. The commandments He gives are for our benefit, and as we are faithful we may forever share the blessings and beauties of heaven and earth. We may live in His presence and partake of His love, compassion, power, greatness, knowledge, wisdom, glory, and dominions." (Italics added for emphasis.)

I've got a ton more to say, but I gotta go to work, BUT these are the quick thought about it all: What is the most important thing? The most important. The VERY most important thing. I think everyone has to ask themselves that. I know I have and I ask myself that like a billion or maybe a trillion times a day. I think Jesus Christ was the perfect example when He suffered for our sins and died on the cross--and the part about that is that He didn't do that for Himself, He did that for us.

So for me personally I believe that helping others is the most important thing and right now that's my family. What does all of this mean about my goals and dreams? You know, that's the part I haven't figured out yet. I'll get back to you on that. Run fearless.

It's Harder Than I Thought

The title refers to making a stencil for the t-shirts for the Barefoot Race this Saturday. I chose the stencil font on Word, then made a great design, printed it on a piece of paper. Then glued it to a cereal box and tried to use my knife to cut the letters out and it didn't work.

Then I thought if I had thinner card-stock that I could do it. So I went to Cougar Creations and did that. Still painstakingly hard, but when they lent me an Exacto knife it became a little easier.

I think a lot of times things are harder than I think they're going to be and life slaps me right in the face and I keep moving. I keep going to bed and waking up in the morning. I keep moving even though things are unsure and who knows how many people will actually come to the race? And who know anything for sure? Nope, except that I know God lives and He has a plan and everything will work out in the end and the end doesn't always mean the end of this life because there is a life after this one--I know that for sure.

That helps me run fearless.

My Secret To Success, so far in my life

Always looking. Always searching. Always finding. Always re-evaluating. Always changing. Always improving. Always fine-tuning. Always growing. Always humbling, but never humble (which is something I'm working on.)

Never giving up. Never being satisfied. Never stopping. Never saying "can't". Never accepting "no" as an answer. Never saying "that's dumb" (unless it's something dumb I did.) Never letting anyone tell me what I can or can't do.

That's pretty much it. Run fearless. Okay, maybe a little more information.

I feel like I have almost given up several times in my life, but somehow I get back on track. Call it what you will, but I give all the credit to God. As I have formed my dreams and taken action, things have fallen into place and it's too late (8:19 p.m. hah! Early mornings make 8 late. That's a rhyme.) But the first two paragraphs have really been attitudes that I have been forming in my life if that makes sense and I think that's one of the reasons, currently, that I run fearless.

My Wife Helps Me To Run Fearless

Last night I had a breakdown. I felt a TON of negativity starting about an hour or so before I went to bed. My parents called to say they were coming to the Barefoot Race this Saturday and I wanted to be excited and I kinda was, but I was feeling really down, but I didn't want to tell my parents...

Well, my wife found out and I didn't really want to tell her either, but I did. Then she contacted me at work this morning and said she had done something to help me and I won't go into detail, but this and other things have been a blessing in my life. The thing she did will help with a lot of things especially running. What my wife did was very selfless, meaning she did it without thinking of herself but of me.

My wife helps me to run fearless. If I wasn't pressed for time in preparation for Family Home Evening then I could and would go on about the wonderful things my wife has done and still does. I am grateful to her. Run fearless.

I just had to see where I was at, time-trial

On May 1st, Saturday of this year I did a time trial. Saturday night I went to the BYU track and ran 5 kilometers as fast as I could and I did it in 17:16. Mile 1 was 5:21, mile 2 was 5:36 and 3 was 5:41 plus the .1 (because 5K is 3.1 miles) equaling 17:16.

I've been doing a lot more mileage lately, especially this week where I ended today with 83.5 miles. I just had to see where I was at. So I woke up this morning, read a talk out of the Ensign while I drank water and ate some grapes. Then I went to the BYU track and ran a 5K as fast as I could. It wasn't as fast as I would have liked, but I feel pretty good about it.

My overall time was 17:38 so about 22 seconds slower than last time. Mile 1 was 5:45, 2 was 5:38 and 3 was 5:38 too. I think there are a couple reasons why it was slower and I feel okay about it--not great, but okay...

1. I think I probably needed more food (energy) with more time to digest.
2. When I ran the 17:16 my total mileage was 39 miles, for this week I had doubled that mileage so I was/am more tired than I was that day (May 1st) when I was pretty fresh.

Suffice it to say I feel okay and maybe I'm feeling better about it than at the beginning of this post. I just had to know if training was going well and for me to know I have to time-trial and that's what I did. Time-trials help me to run fearless. Have a good weekend, even though it's half-way over. Run fearless.

A New Secret To Motivation: The Self-Interview

I thought I would tell you something I've been doing in the past few days that has been really cool and maybe I'm on to something or maybe I'm not and maybe I'm onto something for myself and not for anyone else or maybe I'm just crazy.

Going running at 4:00 a.m. can be a little lonely. It's dark. No one's around. The cars are few. Sometimes I'll see teenagers driving fast, or an early morning worker driving to work. One time I saw this ten year-old kid riding his Razor scooter really fast--it was 4:10 in the morning, what the heck was he doing?!

Anyways, a few days ago I started interviewing myself. I pretended I was on a talk show like a sports show or a talk show. Always it's in response to the great running that I'm doing and how I'm suprising a lot of people because it's like I came out of nowhere and won these big-time races. Today Runner's World interviewed me.

I ask the question as if I'm them, then I answer as me. The questions I ask myself are questions like...

1. To what do you attribute your success?
2. When did you start running and why?
3. What are your plans for the future?
4. What was your strategy during this particular race?
5. What's it like becoming so fast...so fast?

And the list goes on. I really like this. It's very encouraging and motivating to me and what's better than that when you're running 15.5 miles a day. Interviewing myself helps me run fearless. Try it.

Fireflies Fearless with Owl City

I just thought it was time to talk about a song that helps me run fearless. Call me what you like, but I really like Owl City and I'm still in love with Fireflies and when I'm running and that song comes on I am inspired. I have posted the video right here for your viewing pleasure, so watch if if you want then I'll tell you why I like it so much...



Okay, so this is why I like it and why it's inspiring. The part of the song where he says "I like to make myself believe that planet earth turns slowly" in my opinion sums up the whole song where the message to me is that with imagination anything is possible. I mean this guy has a friendship with fireflies and he almost starts crying when they leave. The fireflies hug him, cry and teach him how to dance. It's just ridiculously incredible and that's why it inspires me. I think sometimes I am ridiculously reasonable and practical if that makes sense and this song strikes a chord with me.

The last thing I'll say is that when the chorus goes for a second, time and a third time, it comes in full, I'm not a music guy and that's how I describe it. It's powerful and every time it gives me this surge of energy. I want to throw my fists in the air, mainly my right fist. Or I want to raise both arms up parallel to the ground, palms up as if I was getting something from the heavens and look straight up into the sky and make myself believe that I'm receiving energy from God. Okay, so maybe I actually do that and maybe it's mostly when I'm alone.

Anyways, music is inspiring to me and this song specifically is. You heard it, Fireflies by Owl City helps me to run fearless. Who would have thought? Run fearless.

(BSRF) The Boy Scouts of Run Fearless

This will be short because it's late and I need to sleep, but I want to write and there will probably be more on the subject of Boy Scouts because it really is something that has helped me become that person I am today.

I am an Assistant Scout Master. That's what I have been assigned to within my church unit. Specifically I am with the eleven-year-old scouts as they transition from Cub Scouts into Boy Scouts. Every Wednesday night I meet with them from 7-8:30 p.m. and we do fun things and we pass off requirements as they head in the direction of the Eagle Scout.

I am an Eagle Scout. I did Boy Scouts all growing up. Some experiences were good and others not so good. For example, camping in the Pacific Northwest, which is where I grew up, is not as fun as somewhere where it's dry. Somehow we managed to pick a lot of rainy nights to camp and part of that could be because it rained a lot. I really like the rain, but not to camp in.

On the other hand I really liked scouts. I learned a ton of things. I feel like I could prepare for and go live in the wilderness and be just fine. Boy Scouts was like another school. Each merit badge had/has a specific purpose--Each is like a class or a series of classes you take. There are certain merit badges you're required to earn and others you can take because you want to.

The culminating activity is earning the Eagle Scout. To earn it you have to earn a certain amount of merit badges, have served in leadership positions within the troop and you must have done a worthwhile project that stretches you and shows the leadership qualities that you have developed along the way.

Boy Scouts is something that has helped me learn how to run fearless. I am grateful for those that helped me along the way and I'm grateful to the Scouting program for how great it truly is. Run fearless.

See What You Want, Get What You See

So this is principle 11 of The Success Principles and the chapter/principle starts off with the following quote:

"Imagination is everything. It is the preview of life's coming attractions." -Albert Einstein

Here are a couple things I found really interesting from the chapter:

"When you perform any task in real life, researchers have found, your brain uses the same identical processes it would use if you were only vividly visualizing that activity. In other words, your brain sees no difference whatsoever between visualizing something and actually doing it" (p. 81).

"When you visualize your goals as already complete each and every day, it creates a conflict in your subconscious mind between what you are visualizing and what you currently have. Your subconscious mind tries to resolve that conflict by turning your current reality into the new, more exciting vision" (p.82).

Add as much detail as you can to your visualization. Feelings, emotions, sounds, smells, light, dark, time of day etc. get as much detail as you can in there. You can use printed pictures to help, especially if you have difficulty visualizing, because some of us do. Vision boards and goal books help too, but I'm not going to go into detail with that, Google it!

On my runs to and from work, especially in the morning I have a lot of time where I am all alone, completely. Almost zero cars and I can count on one hand how many humans outside of cars I have seen at that hour. This morning I visualized an interview I was having on a sports channel. I asked myself questions, watched a clip of my most recent win on the T.V. and then talked some more. It was wonderful.

Ever since high school I have been visualizing what it would be like to win and run so fast. Figure out what you want and start getting it by visualizing it already there. Run fearless. Live fearless. Be fearless.