2023 Summer Miles #10

 

Hello SPARTAN XC RUNNERS!!

Important information. 

#1 Complete your register my athlete ASAP.

#2 First race August 12, Complete RMA ASAP!

#3 WE will issue out uniforms to those that have completed their RMA! if not no uniform will be issued until it is completed. 

Reads the following story.

 

There once was a man who loved to build houses. Akira told John that in Japan they have a deep love of architecture, and there once was a man named Kota who built some of the finest houses in all of Tokyo. His work became world famous due to his dedication to the process, his willingness to beat on his craft, and his relentless devotion to keep learning, even late into his career.

Eventually though, Kota grew tired of building homes for other people, and he was ready to retire. He had been building homes for over thirty years, and he was ready to move on. He wanted to travel and spend lots of time with his grandkids.

One day, Kota approached his boss, and turned in his two-week notice.

His boss said, “Kota, we are forever indebted to you for the magnificent work you have done for our company, and we are so grateful you have worked for us for so long. We do have one favor to ask of you though. Could you please build one more house? It is a very important house, for a very important client, and everyone in the company agreed it needs your magic touch!”

Kota was frustrated. He would have to cancel two trips and postpone his new life, all for one house. He told his boss that he needed a day to think about it. After talking it over with his wife, he gave in and decided he would build one more house. But he told his boss, “This is the very last one!”

But while Kota had agreed with his head to build this last house, his heart was no longer in it. He had always been very hands-on through the entire building process, always selecting the finest materials by hand and making sure every detail was diligently tended to.

But this house was different. He viewed it more as an obligation than an opportunity. He delegated much of the work, and consequently a lot of things started slipping through the cracks. The house would be up to code, but as it started to come together, it was obvious that it lacked the “wow” factor that Kota’s other homes were known for. 

Kota knew in his heart that this was far from his best work, but he was over it and ready to move on to the next phase of his life. The next phase was much more appealing and important to him than the present phase.

After four months had passed, Kota finally finished the house.

He went back to his boss, telling him, “I did what you asked. Now I am asking, one last time, for your blessing to retire.”

His boss said, “Thank you Kota! We just have one more thing!” Now Kota was beginning to get really upset because he thought they were going to ask him to build another house.

His boss reached into his desk and pulled out a very small black box with a red ribbon tied around it. He handed the box to Kota, and said, “We are so grateful for you, Kota. This gift is a token of our appreciation.”

Kota pulled the ribbon, opening the box to discover a set of shiny new keys. His boss smiled, “The house is yours! You deserve it!”

Immediately, his heart sank. Unbeknownst to Kota, the whole time he had been building his own house. If he had only known he was building his own house, he would have cared so much more. He would have only used the finest materials, and he would have overseen every detail and given it his all like he had always done. But now, it was too late.

Akira looked at John and said, “The only thing that is truly significant about today, or any other day, is who you become in the process. Each of us is building our own house. Sometimes you might think you are building for your school, your family, your company, or your team, but you are always building your own house… I hope you build wisely.”

The story hit home for John, and he really started to think deeply about his own life. He sat in silent contemplation while wondering if he had been building his house wisely. 

What house are you building in your life? Running? School? Family? Personal? ETC…

MAKE an IMPACT!!

LIVE with PURPOSE and VALUE!!

2023 Summer Miles #9

HARC

HARC information. 

For those going be up at the campground by 1-1:15PM on Monday the 24th 

Make sure that you have ALL your gear! Use list handed out at the meeting as an example. PLEASE make your payment as soon as you can link is on left side of the BLOG See HARC payment link.

Get ready to have some fun!!

For those not going to HARC keep up the RUNNING!! We will see you in a WEEK!!

This might seem like an odd title for the week but keep reading to find out the significance and the importance of WHY we are working so hard this summer, WHY we are putting in the miles, WHY we are pushing the limits of our bodies and minds.

Start off by asking yourselves "what makes you Happy?"   Now ask yourselves, "what about Running makes you Happy?"    Sometimes it is difficult to see or feel the things that SHOULD make us Happy or feel better.   Running, ideally, should help us relieve stress and feel healthier and better about ourselves.  But we can also see we sometimes feel more stress...is it because of running?   Does running cause stress or do we maybe "add" stress because of HOW we perceive it or how we THINK we should be feeling or doing?   We can achieve HAPPINESS in many ways, but TRUE HAPPINESS is having a balance of the important areas in your life!   Having that balance does require us though, to WORK AT IT AND CHALLENGE OUR CURRENT ABILITIES!  There is no other substitute to better ourselves...we must get out of the comfort zone (in all areas of our life).   

I recently heard a quote that got me thinking about this topic on HAPPINESS.    

"Happiness is NOT the goal.  It is a byproduct of hard work."   

If we truly work hard for something, we definitely can attain feelings of HAPPINESS...but I really started thinking about this... I truthfully believe that 

HAPPINESS IS THE GOAL!  

WHY are we here, WHY are we working hard, WHY are we putting in the time, WHY are we getting out of our comfort zones?  To be HAPPY in some way!   Remember how we have told you that there are NO secret ways to have success or shortcuts to GREATNESS?  It is true!  HAPPINESS requires that we work hard, put in the time, get out of our comfort zone, balance all aspects of our lives (not just running physical, but mental, emotional, and even spiritual), and when we work at this ONE DAY AT A TIME...it starts to add up and next thing you know...YOU ARE BETTER THAN WHEN YOU STARTED!  And that should make us HAPPY!   See the GOOD that you are doing!  Always want to improve, but we must see the GOOD also!

One day at a time, adds UP!

2023 Summer Miles #8

This past week of running I have been contemplating what really motivates us/me when it comes to life/running and anything? As coaches we are striving to be creative in our methods of training. I hope the following post helps all of us to find more Creativity and motivation. 

Creativity and Motivation

 

So how are creativity and happiness linked? Does happiness make us more creative or does creativity make us happy? A key factor that affects creativity is attention.

What are you giving your attention to?

In the short term, you can get people to pay attention using external rewards (such as money) or by creating pressure to meet urgent deadlines. But it is much harder to sustain creativity over longer periods using these approaches – so the role of happiness becomes increasingly important.

What makes you happy?

Typical reasons for a lack of sustained creativity are pressures and stresses at (school), work, the fear of judgement, the fear of failure, or not performing up to our expectations.  

What are your expectations?

When we find a purpose that provides for us “fulfilment, meaning and worthwhileness” We discover a path that has meaning and value for us. I believe we are at our happiest with a “balance between pleasure and purpose”.

What does balance look like in your life?

Therefore, if the work we are pursuing is meaningful, fulfilling, and worthwhile it helps in supporting your happiness. It also has the added advantage of making you want to engage and pay attention (rather than having to).

What do you like to engage in is fulfilling and worthwhile?

Bringing purpose and creativity together helps provide the intrinsic motivation for undertaking creativity, what has been called the “energy for action” and enables creativity to be sustained.

So, if you want to be creative in the long term, the key questions to ask yourself are whether you are doing work that is interesting and enjoyable for you, and is that work of value to you? Or, as the American academic Teresa Amabile puts it, do you “perceive your work as contributing value to something or someone who matters”.

Are you helping others gain that “energy for action”?

My hope is that you take some time to ponder and ask yourself. Do you remember why you started? Started running? Being a part of this team? Giving whatever, you involved in your best?

We are GLAD that you are running! We are GLAD that you are a part of this TEAM!

Do you remember why you started?

2023 Summer Miles #7

 

Important HARC information

HARC Meeting for those that have the miles Wheeler Farm Thursday July 13th 6:30 PM

WE WORK SO HARD FOR SOMETHING it would be nice if there was a guarantee that it would ALL WORK OUT!

That's the interesting thing about guarantee's...can you believe them or trust them?  I've heard this quote before "there are no guarantees in life."   Is that true?  Or is it just a simple line to use to help get a point across? We need to work on our MIND!!

You GET TO put in the work and then try to show what you have done.  People can't just show up for any running race!) and expect to do well if they haven't done the work!  I have run quite a few races and I can tell you that only a few of them actually turned out the way I thought they would.

That doesn't mean all the other times were a waste or that it wasn't worth it...The point is that if you want a guarantee, then DON'T DO WHAT IS REQUIRED!  Then you will be guaranteed that you WON'T GET WHAT YOU ARE GOING FOR!  There's your Guarantee!

But if you really want something...if you really want to go after something bigger than you, bigger than you have ever accomplished, THEN YOU HAVE TO TAKE A CHANCE, YOU HAVE TO SACRIFICE, YOU GET TO GET OUT OF YOUR COMFORT ZONE, YOU GET TO PUSH YOURSELF (and hopefully others) TO GO BEYOND THE BOUNDARIES OF YOUR MIND AND BODY, YOU GET TO FALL DOWN SOMETIMES, YOU GET TO LEARN TO GET BACK UP, YOU GET TO DISCOVER THE HIDDEN THINGS ABOUT YOU, YOU GET TO REALIZE THAT IT'S THE CHOPPING WOOD AND CARRYING WATER THAT MATTERS, and so much more

So, if you want The Guarantee, then simply don't pursue what matters to you...BUT IF YOU WANT THE CHANCE FOR SOMETHING SPECIAL TO HAPPEN, THEN DO WHAT IT TAKES, SACRIFICE, SHOW UP EVERYDAY, CONVINCE YOURSELF ITS WORTH IT THROUGH YOUR ACTIONS, TELL YOURSELF GOOD THINGS ABOUT YOU, TRUST THE PROCESS, DO THE LITTLE THINGS and IF YOU DO THIS, then you will have become exactly what you wanted and needed to become...WE GUARANTEE IT!  😉

 

2023 Summer Miles #6

 

IMPORTANT HARC INFORMATION!!

On Track Miles Returning Athletes should have 180 miles by July 1^st. (if not you MUST communicate with coach Quarez USE the BAND APP private message)

On Track Miles, New Athletes should have 125 miles by July 1^st. (if not you MUST communicate with coach Quarez USE the BAND APP private message)

Breakdown of miles see left side of the BLOG under the LINK section 3^rd link HARC mileage tracker 300 and 500 miles.

If you are on track for HARC and meet the requirements we would LOVE to have you attend. COST is 140. This covers EVERYTHING, Food, SWAG the cost of the campground etc. This can be paid using the link on the left side of the BLOG under the links section #2 called HARC payment link. You can pay what you can I just need it paid by July 24^th. If needing more time, PLEASE contact Coach Quarez USE the BAND APP private message.

I will also need shirt size and your Full name so we can embroider it.

ONCE we know who will be attending, I will send out a HARC

packing list along with more information. 

Now for this week’s message:

What MOVES you? 

On the surface, the reasons people run seem obvious; health, stress, competition to name a few. But what if there is a deeper, more intrinsic compulsion that connects people who choose to run for enjoyment regardless of genetic, ethnic, socioeconomic, religious or physical differences?

Runners share an uncommon bond in today’s society, whether it’s through participation in the events or a simple ‘hey’ on an isolated nature trail. We aim to find out what it is.

With breathtaking landscapes, high-profiles races and quirky tribal-like parades as the backdrop, we join hardcore and casual runners alike on their individual journeys to health and wellness, weight loss, triumph, freedom and companionship, with one goal in mind; to find out what moves them.”

As you continue your summer miles/your Running journey, Ask yourself the question? WHAT MOVES YOU?

NEVER STOP believing in YOURSELF!