Knowing When To Stop

   This subject that I am writing about might be one of the hardest things to write about, but it is one of the most honest from the heart things to write about. Loving an activity is a good thing for many, being a stress reliever and relaxing thing that gets them away from the real world. But when other factors come into play such as family, health, etc. is there a reaching point to just stop.
   I understand people having passion for what they are doing in life, but when is enough truly enough. A good example is my friend I run with, his knees are about to be gone basically killing him everyday at the age of 21. What does he have forward to look in life if he keeps running his body is going to be destroyed from all the running. The doctor has even told him that if he keeps this routine up he won't be able to get down with his kids and play with them on the carpet when he gets older.
   Personally, I feel that you can't let moments like that go away in one's lifetime. Your children aren't always going to be young, you had your time with running and it was amazing, maybe its time to shut it down? That's easy to say on my point of view because I am not in that situation, but it is something that I feel should honestly be thought about. My friend is really bold headed when it comes to something he loves and doesn't think about the consequences all the time. I love him for who he is especially with his determination to do what he loves, but the question for him to ask himself; Is it really worth it when it is all said and done?

Competition in reality

    When you think of competition, what do you think of? The first idea that comes to mind for most problem involves some kind of sport. The more and more I open my eyes in the real world, the more competition I begin to see in just everyday society. When I was younger, I always thought that competition always involved sports, but I was wrong on that idea.
   In today's society, everything has become a competition especially at work. Ever since you were a young child, all the way to growing up you compete in some form. The job atmosphere though is the one of the best examples of where competition is found. Everyday you are competing against someone to do better than them at what you do. If you don't succeed or not successful at your job chances are the person will take your job.
   The best experience that I have had involving competition is within sports. Any kind of sport using has competition, having that opponent trying to be better than you. Running is one of those sports though that anything can happen from the start of the race to the finish. The truth of it all is who wants it more, everybody is putting themselves through pain, but who wants to win whenever you are coming up to the finish line neck to neck. This is a great way to find out what kind of competitor someone really is.

Finding the perfect running shoe for you

    For those who run, you know that every shoe isn't the same. Some shoes are for stability while others are lightweight and more focused on speed. The style of the shoe all depends on the kind of runner that a person is. Different brands of shoes are better at certain aspects of things, this is why it takes time and trials to find that perfect shoe.
     Nikes is what I have always gone with since I was younger in high school. Nike focuses on the aspect of having cushioning to give the comfortable run, but still be lightweight to go fast. I personally am a netural runner which means I run on the middle of my foot, that is why nike has always worked out for me in my career.
    This year, I decided to try another brand to see what they are about. A teammate of my always told me to give saucony or brooks a try. He loved them and said he feels they are the best for running. I gave sauconys a try and was fairly impressed how they were. The shoe was a lot heavier than the nikes, but I felt like i got more of a workout from them. Another plus factor of these shoes is that they take a longer time to wear down. After testing both of these shoes, I feel that I will always be a nike guy like it or not event though the sauconys were a very nice change.
  
   

Dedication to the sport

    It's that time of year again, when the weather starts to cool off and snow begins to fall. This is the time to see who people really are. During the winter, is when one can see the true dedication and motivation of a person towards being the best. This factor is one of the hardest things that any athletes face not only physically, but mentally as well.
    As a runner, you can't expect to get any better by not doing anything over the winter. Yes, the invention of treadmills are around, but in the long run of things the treadmill takes a beating on a person's body. Think about it, is a person running outside in the awful weather condition better than a person who runs indoor on a treadmill all winter. There are many factors to look at comparing these two people to one another.
   A person outside has to deal with multiple factors that could effect them. The breathing becomes more harder, your body becomes frozen, and all you want to do is quit. This is the most mental pain that anyone can go through especially if they are racing in it. When people talk about pushing the body to the extreme, I feel this fits pretty good to the idea.
   People who run on treadmills put their body's through wear and tear a lot more. There have been studies stating that treadmills destroy people's knees. Yes, its always an advantage to be able to run inside in warmth, but is it worth the beathing. Over time though, I guess the body is going to take a beating especially with running, but nothing you can do if you participate in basically any events involving working out.
  To put things in perspective, if someone wants to be the best they have to put the time and effort in. Without this a person will not be able to reach their max potential. Dedication and motivation is two key words that I feel sum up the whole winter training of sports, but this is where you see find the true athletes.

Difference Between High School Running and College Running

   Over the last year of running in college, I have begun to notice some key differences between high school and college running. The whole experience of college running has gave me a different perspective on running because of the different experiences that take place. College running is more competitive and is focused on winning compared to high school running where whoever wants to run can run and it is more based on fun then winning.
   Some programs in high school though are based on the winning way don't get me wrong, but my high school wasn't. We have had some real good kids come through our school running who were great. They would go out and win some races or place really high which was good thing, but the thing about it was they always had fun with it. If someone doesn't have fun with running do you really think they would stick with it for a long period of time?
   Looking around my conference and fellow runners, everybody takes racing serious not having any fun with it. My team tries to have fun through the meet, but once you step up to the line its time to race. The competitive juices flow when they need to during a race, but no need to take it serious up to the race. Running is suppose to be something you love to do in life, not something to take too serious. Winning is always great, but try to have some fun while doing it.

Marathons

   Why would anyone want to run a marathon? Is it the accomplish that one feels after completing the 26.2? Could it be that one loves to push their body to limits that it has never been pushed before? Or maybe is it they might just love the feeling of pain. Everybody who runs marathons has their own reasons for running them just like I have my own.
   Personally, it has always been my goal to go out and run a full marathon has fast as I can and push my body through all the pain. I haven't got the chance yet, for I am focused on my college training for cross country and track which is more 5K and 10K races. Right after college though, the first thing I am going to do is put my body to the test in a marathon. The way I see things, the miles that I have been running are all there, it will be time for me to put them to use to reach my max potential in running.
   My running has gotten a lot better since I have been running under Coach Gleason's program. When I came to college I was an average 18:45 to 19:00 minute 5K kid, nothing special I know. But, coach has been building my miles up and it is starting to pay off and my legs aren't feeling bad like they did from freshmen year with the change of intensity. Now I am a low 17:00 minute 5K runner in a 8K race, that is usually the split I come through at for the race. By senior year I will be putting in over 100 miles a week, so it will be the best to go for it all when I am at the best shape of my life with running. Wish me luck......

My goals of running

    Growing up, I personally never thought that I would be a runner in a million years. I was uncoordinated, couldn't even run without tripping over my two feet, but later became to love every moment of it. It took a while in my life to grasp the whole concept of running and racing, but by my junior year in high school, I felt I had a pretty firm grip on things.
     In high school the funny thing was I hated running anything above the 800 in track. Now in college I love every long distance race, because I feel that the longer the race gets the better I get. I know kind of weird to think about especially for running cause eventually you think you would get worn out.
    The way I stay motivated through it all is that I just think about how much pain the person beside me is and try to push through it harder. This is why in my lifetime there are two goals that I would love to achieve; complete a marathon under three hours and to complete an ultra marathon.
   Just imagining the feeling that will take place after these two goals are accomplished will be amazing for me. I know that neither will be easy, but honestly what is in life. A marathon is a race of mental strength and smart racing. You can't go out too hard because the consequences could lead to collapsing fast, but you must stay in contention. 26.2 miles of racing, why would anyone what to do such a thing to their body, its something that everyone I feel must try out in their lifetime.
   The ultra marathon on the other hand is really hard to transfer because you will be running for an extensive period of time over the day and night. Its all strategy planning out where to stop, and move in the race. This to me is just absolutely nuts thinking about it because a hundred miles of just pain, why would I do this to myself. I feel that if I can make it through this in life that nothing else will be able to compare anything to it in difficulty. These goals are part of who I am and definitely won't be satisfied until they are complete.