First run as a group

Today's weather was abysmal. The day started out cold and overcast and flirted with raining all morning until the downpour started. The skies finally cleared and gave way to windy, cold temperatures. It was terrible running weather. There would likely be few to no people out. A. was sick and work sent her home. J. had new shoes that he'd never run in. We were in for a treat.

Despite the cold, inhospitable weather we set off severely under-dressed and hoped for the best. We got away from the streets filled with maddening, chaotic traffic and made our way to the river and the paved path next to it. We ran along the path seeing only a few cyclists and one other runner. We got a good tour of the city as seen from the Gapcheon river. We crossed the famous and apparently picturesque Gapcheon bridge as gale-force winds tried blowing us back. We eventually crossed the bridge and started making our way back. A. kept a good pace despite being sick, J. got blisters but endured the pain, no one wanted to be the first to quit. Both of them endured my multiple pee stops.

We finished and went to our lockers in the jimjilbang. I didn't realize just how cold I actually was until I walked into the sauna room and was enveloped by a blast of humid air. J. and I switched between hot and cold pools, getting the lactic acid out of our muscles. We all met up and ate eggs and rehydrated.

I learned that with the support of others you are more willing to push yourself further than when no one is watching. With the support of others you can accomplish more than you think, whether its tolerating pain or stepping far outside your comfort zone to try something new.

We are going to accomplish a lot. This is a good crew. We have youth, energy and experience all wrapped into one unit. Do you think you can do better? Show me.

Failure: lack of will

Yesterday I set out to run. I had just gotten back from a mild hike in the mountains and dinner with some coworkers. It rained the entire hike, I lent my jacket to a coworker, I was tired, it was dark, it was still raining...all excuses. The reason I didn't run is because I lacked the will to do it. It would have been hard and uncomfortable. I would have been cold at first, I would have gotten muddy, but I should have gone. If you are thinking to yourself "well geez guy, you could have just run on a treadmill..." I will not run on a treadmill anymore. Treadmills crush the soul. They are an approximation of running, a place holder. Treadmills trick you into believing that you are doing something worth noting. I run outside. But not last night. Last night I didn't even manage 5k worth of effort. Instead I stayed indoors and enjoyed a cushy evening of banality.

Today I will run. The rain has only just stopped and the wind is nearly blowing hard enough to destroy the windows. I will run hard to make up for my failure last night. I will go fast and I will have a good attitude. I will motivate my two training companions to do the same tonight. When we are done our reward will not be chocolate ice cream or even beer. No, we will soak in mineral baths then retire to heated salt floored saunas because one of us is sick and she is hard core enough to run tonight even though if most people were as sick as her they wouldn't bother going to work let alone continue training. She has a strong will.

Why are you reading this?

Don't you have something better to do? Shouldn't you be on a treadmill or an elliptical? Shouldn't you be counting calories or bitching to anyone who will listen to you complain about your failed weight loss attempts? I think Oprah is on and she will likely comfort you and let you know that you are OK just as you are...which is bullshit.

You have achieved less than you are capable of. You are slower, fatter and weaker than you could be. Why are you going through the motions? Do you really think that running for 30 minutes on the treadmill while paging through a Cosmo is helping you? Why don't you get out there. Run on the street. Take a new route today. Push yourself past that invisible barrier of 5, 10 or 15 miles. You are capable in far more than you think. All you need to do is break free of that nagging doubt that is holding you back. You can do it, I believe in you. The only questions is: do you believe in yourself?

Are you nervous before you run? Even a little? You should be. Every time. If you aren't, then you aren't doing enough. If you don't step outside your comfort zone then you cannot move forward. You will stagnate, languishing with all the other naysayers, pessimists and misanthropes. If that's where you want to reside, then fine. They will make room for you. Misery loves company. But if you want out and want to change then do it. No one is preventing you from becoming who you want to be except for you. Get on it. You aren't getting any younger.