Thoughts on the Run

After missing the cutoff time at mile 52 of the Leadville 100, I made a pact that I was going to start getting ready for next year. Over the past week I have been doing an hour here and there on the treadmill. This morning was the 4am alarm clock followed by the 5am core class at the gym. My core is not anywhere it needs to be as a runner. Just like a slap in the face, my thought was reinforced before the sun came up.

What’s fun about is core is that it is just simple movement. Standing on one foot while holding a heavy ball and turning just your upper body side-to-side. Sounds simple? Go ahead, stand-up and try it. Balance, don’t move your hips, and turn. Did you fall on your computer? I almost fell on my face. Like pulling on a string that’s not tied to anything and then down you go!

Then came the planks. Planks with your arms on a step, then stepping in and out, holding a leg in the air, and remembering to keep your abs tight. Ouch.

Wait! Let’s make this more fun! Put your feet on the step and arms on the floor into plank. Now you’re feet are above your head putting more concentration on the abs! Woohoo!

What’s that? This wasn’t the fun part? While still holding myself up by my arms step down and back up one foot at a time? Hahaha. Wow the floor doesn’t taste good.

No more then 12 minutes into this 30 minutes of slow welcomed torture, my body would shake trying to perform the simple instructions. Fortunately I know what it means or it could have freaked me out. The reason for the shaking is that the body is creating new muscle. It’s like firing up a Mustang that has been sitting idle for a year. Has a bit of a shake, puff, and kick before it remembers how to start running.

Some people try something new and experience the shaky feeling and either:
1. Say no thanks
or
2. Enjoy the challenge

I prefer a third option:
3. Laugh at the struggle and say lay it on!

There are times when I worry about our society these days. Something requires time and work people seem to give up easy. Look for the lazy way out. Blame someone else for one’s failures. All crap. As I tell my kids: you have lazy brain.

Our world lost Neil Armstrong recently. This is a man that gets to say he was one of the first in the history of Earth to do something. He comes from a generation of do’ers. People that dreamed and did not accept the standard way of thinking. Not many of us have had the conversation:

NASA: Hey Neil, we want you to walk on the moon.
Neil: Let’s go!

This was a generation of reaching for the stars and coming together to help the world. Inventing cars, Internet, communications, cures for disease, and safety guidelines. It wasn’t about what classification are your beliefs, politics, or status. Solving problems to help all.

Try this little solution-finding task …

What’s not working in your life or at work?
Write it down across the top of a piece of paper.
Set 2 minutes on the timer and start writing down every possible solution.
Do not hesitate, question, or judge yourself. Write it down and move on to the next.
GO!

I find that this exercise helps me solve challenges as it starts to tap into the subconscious. Once we remove the filters the world has put on us (too hard, can’t do that, nobody will do it) then we find new ideas to implement.

Remember, the shaky feeling means you are doing something right and moving forward.