Try Something New

Another year has passed.  Every year seems to pass by quicker and quicker.  I am not sure why this is happening.  Each day it seems as if there is never enough time for me to get everything done despite my best laid plans.  I have read that the best answer for this phenomenon is that the early years of your life are filled with first-time events.  You can always remember your first date, learning to drive, the birth of your first child, your first job, etc.  First times are novel and we tend to make more detailed and lasting memories of  the event.  As time passes, repetitive events fail to make such a lasting impression.  Rather than accept this as a truism, I have chosen over the past several years to try new things and continually challenge my status quo.

The one thing that really helps me try new things is running.  Running started off as just another form of exercise I did to try and stay healthy, reduce my weight and stay in shape.  As the years passed, it became more than just exercise.  It has become a part of who I am.  I found that I loved running on cold, wet, dark wintry mornings while living in New England.  I have even learned to enjoy running when it is in the low 90s here in my desert home.  It has also allowed me to discover a new and healthy  competitive spirit.  Most importantly, running has helped me to hold back middle-age (at least in my mind).

There were also unexpected things that came from running.  I have found a widespread group of friends who like me enjoy running in the countryside around the U.S.  They also share the feeling of accomplishment when completing a training run in the rain and splashing through puddles as we go.  I love reading about my friends achievements in their Facebook posts.  And I also am so proud to have instilled the love of this sport in both of my children.  They may not be as obsessed as their father but they don't mind going out for a run with the old man once in a while.

Over the years I have become a distance runner.  I didn't start out that way.  I started off by just running 1 mile per day 3 times a week.  As that became easier, I decided to run 2 miles 3 times a week.  When I moved to Florida in 1988, I kept pushing myself and finally signed up for my first race.  It was a 5K Jingle Bell Jog.  What I didn't realize is the benefit I would receive by summoning up the courage to fill out that race form.  The greatest benefit I received was the continual search for ways on which to improve my running.  I know I couldn't have imagined after running that first 5K that I would be able to complete 8 marathons after my first in 2000 at the age of 39.

What running has taught me about myself is that I don't want to live my life without continually seeking out new things.  While I enjoy the familiarity that comes with consistency in my training, the competitive side of me knows that the enjoyment is short lived.  Without continual improvements or new challenges, my running will be stagnant and unfulfilling.  The constant self-challenges I take on keeps me humble.  It also helps to open my mind and soul to new ideas that almost consistently are better than the ones I tend to cling to from my past.

Whenever I sign up for a race I haven't run before, I find that the unknown is both exhilarating and terrifying.  As I have aged, I actually find these new adventures to be fun.  All new situations and experiences help me to grow as a person.  The new "firsts" I am experiencing as I get older are now memories that have the same vividness as those from my childhood.  They are truly long lasting memories that I cherish.  Because of this, I will continue to try new things and continue my running adventures. I am certain that my desire to try new things will ultimately result in significant self-improvement.

Join me this year by moving out of your comfort zone.

"You can only grow if you are willing to feel awkward and uncomfortable when you try something new." - Brian Tracy, Entrepreneur, Professional Speaker, Best Selling Author & Success Expert

If you are reading this, I hope that you will go out and try something new!  Don't let doubt or fear of the unknown stand in your way.  The real fun starts at then of your comfort zone.  Now get out there and see what adventures you can find on the other side of that starting line.

Nov. 16 – 5.10 miles (45:13, 8:52 pace)
Nov. 17 – 6.10 miles (56:11, 9:13 pace)
Nov. 18 – 6.10 miles (57:45, 9:28 pace)
Nov. 19 – 5.10 miles (53:41, 10:31 pace) - Hill Repeats
Nov. 20 – 9.20 miles (1:20:05, 8:42 pace)
Nov. 22 – 7.10 miles (1:07:43, 9:32 pace)
Nov. 23 – 5.10 miles (47:15, 9:16 pace)
Nov. 24 – 6.20 miles (57:12, 9:14 pace)
Nov. 26 – 6.20 miles (58:42, 9:28 pace)
Nov. 27 – 6.20 miles (1:03:02, 10:10 pace) - Hill Repeats
Nov. 28 – 8.10 miles (1:12:03, 8:54 pace)
Nov. 29 – 6.50 miles (01:01:51, 9:31 pace)
Nov. 30 – 3.20 miles (28:39, 8:57 pace) (80.2 miles in Nov)
Dec. 1 – 6.20 miles (57:05, 9:12 pace)
Dec. 3 – 6.20 miles (58:39, 9:28 pace)
Dec. 4 – 6.20 miles (1:04:51, 10:28 pace) - Hill Repeats
Dec. 5 – 10.20 miles (1:34:53, 9:18 pace)
Dec. 6 – 4.10 miles (37:12, 9:05 pace)
Dec. 10 – 6.20 miles (58:44, 9:28 pace)
Dec. 12 – 8.20 miles (1:13:55, 9:01 pace)
Dec. 13 – 8.10 miles (1:16:02, 9:23 pace)
Dec. 14 – 4.10 miles (36:58, 9:01 pace)
Dec. 17 – 5.50 miles (48:35, 8:50 pace)
Dec. 18 – 6.20 miles (58:46, 9:29 pace)
Dec. 19 – 9.20 miles (1:22:08, 8:56 pace)
Dec. 20 – 7.20 miles (1:08:23, 9:30 pace)
Dec. 21 – 6.20 miles (55:09, 8:54 pace)
Dec. 22 – 6.20 miles (57:06, 9:13 pace)
Dec. 24 – 6.20 miles (53:36, 8:39 pace)
Dec. 25 – 6.20 miles (1:03:26, 10:14 pace) - Hill Repeats
Dec. 26 – 8.20 miles (1:16:25, 9:19 pace)
Dec. 27 – 8.20 miles (1:16:43, 9:21 pace)  (128.80 miles in Dec)
Dec. 28 – 6.20 miles (55:37, 8:58 pace)
Dec. 29 – 6.20 miles (56:55, 9:11 pace)
Dec. 31 – 6.20 miles (58:45, 9:29 pace)

Total Miles:  227.60 miles
2015 Total Miles:  1,916.8 miles