Day | Planned workout (every day start off with a 30 min easy run and then…) |
| Mon 31 | Long run 1:30 to 1:40 |
| Tue 1 | Easy run 40-50 min. |
| Wed 2 | Tempo run: 20 min easy, 30 min. very hard, race pace |
| Thur 3 | Hills (about 60 min. total either a constant run up the mountain or the Temple loop on grass) |
| Fri 4 | Easy 40-50 min. |
| Sat 5 | Repeat miles or a time trial |
| Sun 6 | REST |
My in-laws and wife are very naturally minded and they reccommended that I go to a homeopathic/naturpathic clinic and get a Meridian Stress Assessment test done. To make a long explanation short, I held on to a copper handle and the doctor touched me on the right foot and hand with a dull, copper-like probe all connnected to the computer which showed the parts of my body that was out of wack. The conclusion was that I had lyme and parasites with allergies to corn and mold. I was prescribed some supplements and a rigorous diet (no wheat, corn or dairy). I followed those instructions for 3 weeks and even before I went in for a check-up I knew things were getting better. I could feel it.
I began to feel more energy, and it wasn’t a high-drug-like energy, but I could feel a wholesome, healthy energy. I was able to pay attention better in my classes, I didn’t fall asleep (and haven’t) in my classes. I started experimenting and doing more things that I hadn't been doing very well like homework and reading. I was getting a little less sleep (6-7 hours/night) and I was still feeling great. Then my wife had a baby in early February and even though that was a shock to quite a few systems in my body, I was not only feeling good but I was really happy on top of that (and still am). I think the way I think about it is this: I went from feeling like I didn’t have control over what my body did to feeling in complete control and happy.
I think there comes a time in everyone’s life where they have to take a step back and really ask themselves if what they’re doing is really what they want to be doing. I not only think these times are normal but I think they are great. I think we need to question ourselves and ask ourselves why we’re doing something and what we’re doing.
I went to a reading on BYU campus recently of a science fiction/fantasy writer who had written 8 novels. His name is Brandon Sanderson and his resume is long so you can Google him if you want to know more. He was a little crazy and disturbing to me at the beginning but he said something that impacted me and I will forever be grateful. During his undergraduate and like a year after graduation he hadn’t been published. He said in his introduction that he had to decide what he wanted to do. He came to the conclusion that even if he didn’t make a cent on any of his books that writing is what he loved to do and he was going to continue doing it. He wrote a HUGE fantasy novel and later that year got a call from company who wanted to publish one of his previous novels.
I think that story can be turned into an introspective, evaluative and reflective question, “If I wasn’t getting any money for what I’m doing would I still be doing it?” What are my reasons for doing what I do?
In a class I took I received some excellent counsel in choosing a career. A man named Truman Madsen quoted another man named John A. Widstoe saying, “When choosing a career ask yourself, 1. What am I good at? 2. What do I love to do? And 3. What does the world need?” That has helped me in a lot of my decision making.
S(pecfic) | I want to make the BYU Men’s Cross-Country team. |
| M(easurable) | I will run 4 miles in 21:50 or faster to at least make it into BYU’s top 20 (Based on the results from the first race of the season that doubles as a try-out race) |
| A(ttainable) | To run 21:50 I need to be able to run 4 consecutive miles in 5:27.5 per mile (5 min 27 sec 5tenths) (My time last year was 22:32 It was a 30 sec improvement from the previous 4 miler I did, and I was also battling heat exhaustion (during the 22:32.) So with that said I think I can do it. I also ran a 3 mile time-trial on the track, by myself, all-out on Saturday May 1st averaging 5:35 per mile so I think it’ll be possible to get there.) |
| R(ange) | I like to make several goals, some that are pretty attainable and then some that make me stretch even more. In high school I learned from my coaches to make a 3-range goal 1 being achievable, 2 being lofty and 3 being superhuman (for me, not for anyone else). Achievable: 21:50; Lofty: 20:28; Superhuman: 20:16 and For my purposes I LOVE to just dream about breaking 5 minutes each time and going sub 20:00. |
| T(imed) | This will happen at the end of the 1st or 2nd week of September. |
Paul, Roger, Pre[fontaine], You and Me (Say it rhythmically and it rhymes real niceJ)
Runner's World reminded me that today is the anniversary of Roger Bannister's historic sub 4:00 mile and below is a video of that race. I had written this post and saved it a while back and found it appropriate to take it out and unleash the power of following what you know to be true despite fierce opposition and criticism.
Roger Bannister, born 1929, with time would run a mile close to four minutes which inspired him to believe that a sub four-minute mile was possible. People had believed, for a number of reasons, that the sub four-minute mile was impossible, but on May 6th, 1954 he did it. He proved all the disbelievers wrong.
Steve Prefontaine knew this too. He knew that he shouldn’t put limits on himself or anyone else, thus titled one of his movies “Without Limits”. There’s a lot to say about Pre, but we’ll leave it at that—He didn’t listen when people told him he couldn’t, and even though he had great success and some failure he always believed he could do whatever he wanted to.
There was an apostle of Jesus Christ named Paul. He persecuted the disciples and apostles of Jesus, but then he had a vision from God and began to preach what he knew to be true. He encountered a lot of opposition. In the 26th book of Acts in the New Testament you can read the full account. He stands up for what he knows he saw and almost persuades king Agrippa to be a Christian as he himself says. Eventually he would die a martyrs’ death for what he knew to be true.
My buddy told me I couldn’t break four minutes for the mile. Whenever I talk to people about going to the Olympics they’re usually pretty accepting, but then when I tell them my current times they become a little skeptical. But I know what I have felt. I know I can accomplish my goals and dreams.
You can make the same choice. In an introduction to a writer that I heard the following quote, “Before you settle for the real world, shoot for the perfect world.” This life will never come again. Shouldn’t it be the one you want? Shouldn’t you being doing what YOU want to do and accomplishing what YOU want to accomplish? I know that as we listen to our hearts and fight the opposition and criticism we all face, we will find ways to do the things we truly desire. Have a good day and run fearless!
How does a kid from Coos Bay, with one leg longer than the other win races? All my life people have been telling me, 'You're too small Pre' , 'You're not fast enough Pre', 'Give up your dream Steve'. But they forgot something, I have to win!."-Pre
