In December 2001 when I began my 40 pounds of weight loss and learned to train differently than the traditional "3 sets 10 reps... push and pull body parts every other day" routine by studying what a tabata was, interval and circuit training techniques, and total body conditioning. Nutrition was another part of the equation...reading and experimenting with new foods, how often, which types, calories, and percentages. I often wondered what was next? How can I push the envelope, have fun, stay injury free and enjoy life? Always asking...What if?
After 3 years of basic timed interval workouts, playing soccer on the weekends and running 8-10 miles a week at age 35 I got the running bug and ran my first 5K in the fall of 2005. I had never given any thought to running a race but the cheering of the crowd and the energy of the runners got me hooked. The last place finisher received as much applause as the first place runner and actually even more applause! I began to understand that running is a competition against self...not against others. Then in December I ran the White Rock Half Marathon. Still wanting more, I ran a spring marathon and had no clue what I was doing. There is a wall... and I bounced right off of it! After limping around for a week I began to look at the body parts that were sore and it was not just the legs. Researching more I came to find out that running and especially long distance running is a total body experience both physically and mentally. Now my trainings focused on running strength as well as running endurance and in April 2007 I went to Boston.
Summer 2006 I began my affair with triathlons...MULTISPORT! Now I am an athlete, swim-bike-run. 3 swim days, 2 run days, 3 bike days, bricks, long rides, long runs and then transporting all my gear to a race...set up, transitions...the list goes on...so much fun! Moving my way up the tri chain of distance events I finished with the Redman Iron Distance 140.6 in September 2007. My daughter running across the finish line with me. Wow, what an accomplishment. Since then I have raced in a few tri's but never getting that "feeling" as when I am running.
In the fall of 2007 a friend gave me a call about becoming a coach for a local running store. For the next three years I trained countless numbers of runners from 5K to marathon distances. I have been able to show runners there is a better way to train and to have fun. I began the Run My Age Bithday Run in 2008 and this last year, being the 4th year and my 40th birthday...and 40 miles, we did a reverse triathlon and a CrossFit workout too. 15 hours later I was done...and all for a good cause because we raised $1795 for The Sentinel Foundation benefiting wounded warriors. I look to make more fun runs in the future that will not only challenge endurance but also strength and determination.
In 2009 I came up with the website Rethink Running with the slogan Distance is Relative. I wanted to make runners aware of workouts runners could perform to be stronger and more efficient during their races. The slogan Distance is Relative means that everyone is different in their training and the distance YOU can go is relative and unique to YOU.
February of 2010 the Frisco Running Club came into existance and we have grown tremendously from 20 members in the fall of 2010 to over 100 members at the end of 2011. We have also expanded our training programs from a social Monday run to 5K, speed/strength, half marathon, and marathon training. We also have nutrition, stretching/foam rolling and injury prevention seminars to help our athletes stay healthy and injury-free.
Joining up with Frisco CrossFit has been a wonderful partnership since we have the same philosophy in strength and endurance training. The FRC has become a community of runners and athletes all wanting the same thing...FITNESS, COMRADERIE, and HEALTHY LIVING. The best thing about the club is how everyone wants the best for everyone else. The success of the club relies on the success of everyone in the club and the goals they set for themself. We hope to reach out to more in the community in the upcoming year getting local businesses and community leaders involved in our group.
So there it is...It's the journey that makes you stronger...not the race. A race is the culmination of all your hard work on the track, in the gym, and out on the streets. Rain, snow, ice, heat, and wind will all play out in the Texas weather this year but you will not falter...you will never give up. The end of a training season is a celebration of where you have come from and where you are going. 2012 will be a great new year for you to test your fitness and to have fun with a group of runners that are willing to share in your journey.
This is your NOW YEAR.
And it all started with this simple two word question...What if?
It's all relative... -Ham
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