RUNNING CONNECTS US

I went for a run today.  3 miles. I like to run.  I'm not very fast, but run I will, in all types of weather.  Usually, I listen to music, but today I decided to use this 30 minutes of time to think. 

I was going back over 2015 in my head.  I thought about some new friends of Chris and mine from Virginia, the Rickard's.  The wife of this dynamic duo is Pam.  I first met Pam in the pages of book given to me by my wife, Chris.  The book, "A Race Like No Other," by LIz Robbins, about the 2007 New York City Marathon.  Ok...I think I need to go back and set this up:

In November of 2014 I turned 49.  I decided that I was going to have my "best year yet" as I exited my 40's and launched into my 50's!  What better way to cap off this "best year yet" then to run the BIGGEST marathon in the world, the New York City Marathon!  I knew it ran the first Sunday of November each year, which in 2015 was November 1st....8 days before I turned 50.  Now, fast forward to Christmas 2014.  Chris and I have a little "tradition" that we do when exchanging gifts to each other. We normally set a small budget between $50 or so TOTAL, which requires one to get VERY creative.  A number of years ago, I set a theme to my gifts and we have been doing that ever since.  Well in 2014, Chris' theme for me centered around "Running Your Race" with the NYC Marathon being the dream/target.   Among other things, Chris gave me the book with a note that said, "It's time to Run Your Race...NYC here we come!"  

I began to read this book, and with each page it got me inspired more and more that I HAD to get into this marathon (I won't discuss here, but there are about 4 ways to gain entry into the NYC Marathon and each of them, the odds are not in your favor!).  In this book, the author, Liz Robbins, "follows" the journey of a number of runners: some elite/professionals and other "Jane's and Joe's."  The constant:  everyone has a story to their journey.  One of these people was Pam Rickard.  Pam's journey grabbed me.  I kept waiting to when she would show back up in the pages of this book (I would highly encourage this book, whether you are a runner or not).  Shortly after the beginning of 2015, I was out on the NYC Marathon Facebook page and there was a picture posted of Pam and a NYPD Officer.  I believe I commented on it and Pam replied to my comment.  I was floored.  So I did what most of us would do....I trolled her Facebook page and asked her to be my "friend."  She accepted!  Blown away again.  Over the next months leading to the marathon, we had good FB posts of encouragement and mostly me just tracking ALL the cool things she was doing. Here is where we get to the title of today's blog.  Pam invited Chris and I to meet up with her and her husband Tom, the day before the race at a running shop on the Upper West Side of Manhattan.  Here's a pic to our meeting:

Pam is all over the country running, meeting with people, mostly connecting with others.  If connecting is a "spiritual gift,"  I believe Pam is flowing in it.  She tags many posts with "#runningconnectsus" and it's so true.

I think about all those that partnered with me to help the families of St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital as I ran as a St. Jude Hero.  We don't know all that those funds will do, but we do know that it is making a difference:  Running Connects Us

All those that have been influenced by Miss Robbin's book and did something they never thought possible: Running Connects Us

I recently connected Pam with another friend who shares a similar journey and passion to see a community healed.  I don't know where this will go, but:  Running Connects Us

Maybe it's someone reading this that is being inspired to go after something bigger than themselves...whether it's a running/fitness goal or something else:  Running Connects Us

It all started with a dream to run a race and a "random" Christmas gift (side note: I asked Chris what prompted her to order this specific book?  She said that when looking, it STOOD out to her....coincidence, fate, chance, luck or a "gentle leading?").  Your path is YOUR PATH..."let us run with endurance the race God has set before us." Hebrews 12:1b

So as you travel down the path on your journey, my encouragement to you today is to "Run YOUR Race," and remember, RUNNING CONNECTS US!

WEEK 12 and SOME OTHERS

As I conclude Week 12 (of 18) of my marathon training for this years TCS New York City Marathon, I want to give you a recap of the past few weeks:

Week 9  - Tough week.  Only got in 2 out of 3 mid week runs but didn't miss 10 miler on the weekend.  Also, we brought home a 5 yr. old Boxer rescue named Bella (she's with me in the pic above supporting St. Jude!)

Week 10 - I did get all my runs in, but boy was it hot and humid this first week of September.  My long run, 15 miles, on the weekend, started out good, but the back 7.5 miles was extremely difficult due to heat and humidity.  

Week 11 - I have been experiencing some different knee pain than what I have ever had in my training runs.  I chose to bypass the 8 miler I had scheduled and decided to ride the recumbent exercise bike as well as hit up the elliptical.  On my 16 mile run on Saturday, Sept. 13th, I felt good and the weather was nice...55 at the start and 65 at the completion, about 3 hours later.

Week 12 - Fall is starting to show up a bit.  Had good temps this week and especially on the weekend 12 miles (step-back week) where the temps were 48 at the start and 54 at the conclusion 2 hours later.  Paced good on the miles all week.  

As we enter into week 13, I have and 18 miler to complete over the weekend of the 26th as well as my midweek runs.  It's getting close....41 days from today (9/21) is Nov. 1st.  I told my wife, Chris, last night that it is amazing how my quest for this year is almost here and over.  Which brings me to the picture above:  September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and most of you know that I'm running the NYC Marathon as a St. Jude Hero for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital....raising money and awareness (to help support, go to http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson).  Did you know that 1 in 11 families with a child diagnosed with cancer files for bankruptcy?  At St. Jude families do not pay for treatment, travel, lodging and food because they believe all a family should worry about is their child.  That is why I'm running this marathon to cap off my BEST YEAR YET.  That is why I get up early or run late....so that families do not have to be concerned about how they are going to pay for on going treatment for their child and they can concentrate on getting them better.

Will you #SHOWYOURGOLD ?   See you next week for a Week 13 recap!

WEEK 8 - RED & YELLOW, BLACK & WHITE....

This past weekend I took my son Caleb on a belated college graduation trip...2 years belated.  It never seemed as if our schedules lined up:   I had just started a new job in March of 2013 and he started shortly after graduation.  Don't really know where 2014 went...but now we are here, 2015 in New York City!  

Since we are 8 weeks into the 18 week training schedule, the long run miles are getting bigger and from my past 2 full marathons, I know how important it is to not miss the long mile trainings.  So I said to Caleb that I had 13.1 to run while in NYC and want to see if he would run with me?  He didn't hesitate (I'm sure during and after he was questioning his logic) and on Saturday, off we went.  We started down 42nd Street West toward the Hudson River.  We ran on a nice path up to 68th and then over on 70th to Central Park.  After making a loop and a bit more around CP, we headed down 5th Ave until we reached the 13.1 mark!  The picture above is from Central Park and the Bethesda Terrace and Fountain that was placed there in Central Park in 1864.

There were many people out early on Saturday morning (we started our run at 7:30) whether we were running the sidewalks of the city or in Central Park.  One thing that I took note of was ALL the different types of people we came across:  young, seasoned, tall, short, men, women, thin, not so thin, etc.  All shades of color and many different languages could be heard.  It made me think (I had this thought another time I was in NYC); this must be what Heaven is like.  Galatians 3:28 says it best, "There is neither Jew nor Greek; slave nor free......for you are all one in Christ Jesus!"  Whether we are from New York or Nebraska; the United States or Sweden.....wherever we are, whoever we are, we are all "...precious in His sight!"

Smile at everyone...give a kind word too!

Keep on running!

WEEK 6 Training: 42 days down....84 to GO!

12 weeks.  84 days.  As of today, I am 1/3 the way done with my marathon training with 12 weeks to go.  Funny how these past 6 weeks of training just flew by.  If that is any indication, I'll be prepping for my follow-up blog to the TCS NYC Marathon!

As I reflect back over this "1st Period" (a little hockey reference there..go Wings!), it's been a good/productive 6 weeks.  I have covered 100 miles (missed one 4 mile run while my wife was in the hospital during week 4) and feel good about the training.  I had a chance to train in the cool temps of Michigan in Week 1 and the heat and humidity of my beloved Nebraska since then!  

The miles in these next 6 weeks section will really start to build up and although it is still hot and humid, I'm ready for them.  Each day it get closer to Nov. 1st, the more and more I think about the race; what will it be like?  What is my strategy; run for a PR or run like a tourist and take it all in?  I see/read on some of the NYC Marathon pages I follow that there are many like me, who this is their first NYC and are looking for information and although I have so many questions, I want this to be an experience like nothing else I have experienced so that this truly will be a "Race Like No Other."

However I choose to run, one this is certain, in 84 days, I'll be lining up with 50,000 others to take on the streets of New York through the 5 Boroughs.

Keep your focus as you pursue your goals/dreams.  As Ben Franklin said, "Well done is better than well said."  Don't just talk about it...DO something about it!

Keep running!

UPDATE:  Running as a St. Jude Hero for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, for this my 2nd time, is a great joy for me.  To date, many have helped to contribute to this great cause through my efforts as a St. Jude Hero.  I have a goal to raise $3500 and currently we sit at $2410...that is 68% of the goal raised!  Thank you to all who have made this possible.  If 22 people can give $50, we'll surpass the goal.  If $50 is too much, ANY amount is great and goes to a fantastic cause.  To help support my efforts, go to http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson  Thank you!

WEEK 4 & 5 NYC Marathon Training - Summer Daze!

WOW!!  What a CRAZY past 2 weeks.  When one sets out to have their "Best Year Yet," you might not stop the think about, ahead of time, disruptors to your plan.  In Week's 4 & 5 of my training, I had one such "disruptor" and another just pre-planned activity that was in the mix.


My plan has me rest on Mondays and Fridays and then run Tues-Wed-Thurs-Sat with Sunday being a cross training day.  Week 4 started out as a usual week.  Tuesday, July 21st, I did my training run after work.  That same day, my wife wasn't feeling well, so she came home from work that day and headed straight to bed.  After my run I checked on her and still no sign of relief.  At 3:30 on Wednesday morning, she woke me up to take her to the hospital.  Acute appendicitis was the diagnosis.....appendectomy was the plan!  It was a rough week for her but she turned the corner and is now doing great.  I missed my Wednesday run, but finished out the week. 

Week 5 training went as planned and finished off the running with a good paced 10 miler on Saturday Aug. 1st.  This weekend was also my wife's parents 50th Wedding Anniversary.  So it was a busy, yet great way to cap off the past couple of weeks.

So, what does all this have to do with being my BEST YEAR YET and training for the NYC Marathon?  Plenty!  Whether you are training for a marathon, doing a "plank" challenge or whatever, we are all going to be faced with "disruptors."  It's our response during these times that will determine the desired outcome we have to our plans/goals.  Control what you can control....remember, "My response is MY responsibility!"

So as you set out on your own BEST YEAR YET journey, remember, you are an overcomer and you can overcome!

Keep running to your BEST YEAR YET!!


UPDATE:
With the upcoming TCS NYC Marathon, I am running for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital as a St. Jude Hero.  My fundraising goal is $3,500 and to date, I have 68% of that goal reached, $2,410 with 90 days until the race.  Please consider supporting my efforts and St. Jude's by going to http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson.  Any amount is greatly appreciated.

WEEK 3 Training - Challenge the COMFORT ZONE!

With this past weekend's Cross Training, week 3 of my 18 week marathon training concluded.

I like the Cross Training days.  It gets me out of the routine of just running and on to something else that challenges me.  This week I did a crazy at home workout from a company called Beachbody (they have P90X; Insanity; Focus T-25; etc).  This one is called "21 Day Fix" and yesterday's offering was UPPER FIX.  I told my wife that I would work out with her on Sunday's as part of my Cross Training, so this is program she is doing.  MAN....it kicked my butt.  I "feel it" today and boy did it get me out of my "comfort zone!"  With my running, I don't get much upper body work in, mostly focusing on my running and some core exercises...for obvious reasons.

I look back over the past 3 years since I started running and all the "firsts" that I encountered that stretched me:
     - first 5k
     - first 10k
     - first Half Marathon
     - first Full Marathon
Each one of these had different challenges.  Mostly they had to do with the unknowns of "can I really run this far?"  "why does my calf hurt?" "am I really this crazy?"

Every time I challenge my comfort zone, I grow.  A long time ago, I heard this saying, "live like a rubber band:  a rubber band is not at its greatest potential until it's been stretched!"

So as I enter into week 4 of the#tcsnycmarathon training, I want to challenge you to get out and be active.  Live the life of the rubberband this week!

Run on!

WEEK 2 Training - Roller Coaster!

What a week!  We spent some time in Michigan and I took advantage of the new/different surroundings to get my mid-week training miles in.  

Although it is July, the weather in Western Michigan was relatively cool.  My Week 2 Mid-Week miles consisted of Tues-Wed-Thurs of 3 miles each day.  Tuesday was rainy; Wed and Thurs were cool...high 50's...GREAT weather to run...then...

Back in Nebraska, I got out on Saturday to get 7 miles in...in the humidity.  I took off around 8 am and struggled after the 3 mile mark.  My body reflected it....my time reflected it.  

I experienced the "highs" of great weather, good times and the "lows" of hot weather, not so good times.  It reminded me of the story in 1 Kings 18 and a great victory that the prophet Elijah was a part of (1 Kings 18:20-46).  After this great "victory," Elijah got word that one person, Jezebel, was going to take Elijah out....and Elijah fled for his life.  In a short time span, Elijah experienced a "roller coaster" of highs and lows in his life.  

So, what's next?  Week 3!  This is a journey....it's a marathon, not a sprint.  Maybe it's better preparation (time to run; fuel; hydration; etc), whatever it is, it is something that is behind me now and can be viewed as a learning experience for the upcoming week.  

Hands to the plow and eyes forward!  Happy running this week!

WEEK 1...INTHE BOOKS

Today I ran 6 miles to end my first week of an 18 week training schedule for the NYC Marathon.  What amazes me is that 3 years ago, a friend challenged me to run a 5k for a local ministry.  At the time, I had never run 3 miles, at one time, and didn't know if I would be able to due to a knee injury I had in 2008 that resulted in surgery to remove 75% of the meniscus in my right knee.  I took his challenge, ran the 5k, and ran a 10k a month later.  I didn't know if I could run 6 miles, but that 10k started it all....

Since then I have ran hundreds of miles to train for multiple half marathons and 2 full marathons to date.  As I conclued this first week of training, I want to encourage everyone that if you really want something, you can do it!  Here a good plan:

• Have a desired goal
• Get a plan that YOU control the actions 
• START!

There are great FREE running plans you can search for on the internet:

• www.halhigdon.com
• www.runningforbeginners.com

Start off with a "couch to 5k" and get going!   A friend of mine once said, "you can have results or you can have excuses...the choice is yours!"  

Get out and get your "WEEK 1" in the books!

WELCOME TO NEW YORK!

"...it's been waiting for you!"

November 1st is 126 days days away.  18 weeks from today, June 28th, will be the 45th running of the New York City Marathon and I will be one of 50,000 plus people who will be running this iconic race set through the 5 boroughs of New York.

My "official" 18 week (thanks www.halgigdon.com) training program starts tomorrow, but this journey began almost 3 years ago when a friend invited me to run a 5k, for a great local ministry, through downtown Omaha at Midnight.  I had never ran 3.1 miles but thought I could.  So the next day, I laced up some pseudo running shoes and set out to go what I thought was a distance that was about 3 miles.  To my surprise it was a bit shy of 3.5 miles, so I could run a 5k.  That led to my first 10k and after that, I didn't know my running would turn into a habit with the challenge of stretching my self imposed boundaries.  

I challenged myself (and 2 of my sons) to train over the winter and run a half marathon in February of 2013.  After that was completed, I ran another half later that year which was the beginning of my full marathon journey.  A friend of mine mentioned to me about a race in Nashville in April of 2014 that was, in part, an opportunity to raise money for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  At the time my friend's son had been receiving care from St. Jude's for about 8 years and it was a great opportunity to stretch ourselves to run and raise money. After a few back and forths, WE (really I think it was me) decided that if we were going to do this, we needed to GO BIG and run the full!  What an experience from all the training, once again, over the winter, to the raising money and awareness to the actually realization of completing the full marathon that this gave me.  In the fall of 2014 I ran my 2nd full marathon, the Omaha Marathon.  After that was completed, I thought this distance of 26 point 2 miles was in the past for me, due to the time commitment it takes to get yourself ready to endure this distance.

Well, about a month later, it was a couple of weeks prior to my birthday.  I turned 49 on November 9, 2014 and I started thinking about what I could do to have a great year and not let the "number" define me in a negative way.  So I set out to have my BEST YEAR YET and decided that the a great way to cap off this BEST YEAR YET, would be to run the New York City Marathon (which runs the first Sunday in November), which runs 8 days before I turn 50.  Now, (I know this is getting a bit long, but stay with me here) I did some research to find out how one gets into this race.  

There are a few options: Qualify on Time...I'm out on this, as I don't run this fast and I would have needed to already ran a qualifying marathon. Next option: Get picked in the Race Lottery....over 100,000 people put in for this and they select somewhere around 18,000.  And the third option, for me, would be to run for a charity.  I had done some research and found out that St. Jude has some entry spots available through their St. Jude Hero program...the same program I ran for in the Country Music Marathon in Nashville.  I reached out and they said that it wasn't set yet, but they would know something in early March.  So I felt pretty go about having an opportunity to run. I went ahead and entered the lottery and my name got drawn!  Man, I was overwhelmed with joy and excitement to know that I had an official entry in this race.  

So, that brings us to now....18 weeks out.  This has been a fun journey up to this point, and it will continue to be fun.  I will be blogging about these next 18 weeks, so please stay tuned for updates.  

Also, I went ahead and decided to run again as a St. Jude Hero, even though I had guaranteed entry.  So if you would like to help and support this great cause, please go to http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson and donate.  There really is no donation too large, so GO BIG!

You can follow me on twitter as well @_timpeterson

#26point2 #ncymarathon #stjudeheroes #imarunner

"ARE YOU HAPPY DADDY?"

How did my sons grow up so fast?  Tomorrow (June 22nd), my youngest turns 20....20...20!  With 2 out of college, working their careers and the other in college, how did this happen?  I remember vividly, as little guys asking me, "are you happy Daddy?" The thought or desire to please me and make sure I wasn't upset was important to them then....I hope it's still the case now.

There are a number of fathers that this is not a happy day.  They are not able to enjoy their sons and/or daughters due to death or the diagnosis of a terminal disease of their child.  

I have compassion for those dads. 

It's because of this that I ran a marathon in Nashville April of 2014 as a St. Jude Hero.  It's the reason I'm running again as a St. Jude Hero in the New York City Marathon this upcoming November 1st.  The work that St. Jude's Children's Research Hospital has done and is doing since opening their doors in 1962 is amazing the 5 Year Survival Rate for Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia (blood cancer) went from 4% in 1962 to 94% today. Medulloblastoma (brain tumor) went from 10% in 1962 to 85% today.  These, along with other are in large part due to St. Jude's.  And although it takes $2 million dollars EACH DAY to operate St. Jude's and they will not stop finding cures and saving children.

So today, as you celebrate Father's Day, whether you are with your dad in person or by phone or if you are just celebrating the memory of your dad, do something that will make a difference in the lives of future dads or the dads with a future with their children.

To help support my efforts as a St. Jude Hero, go to http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson.

Thank you and HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

I'M A RUNNER!

In 143 days, I'll be working my way to the start and then through the streets of New York running the TCS New York City Marathon. With my "official" training set to start here in a couple of weeks, I thought I would re-post this blog from March.  This was right after I found out I was "in!"  Also, I'm running for a reason....well, besides the personal one of completing my #bestyearyet....I'm running as a St. Jude Hero (http://heroes.stjude.org/timpeterson). They are doing incredible things for children and families at St. Jude.  I will be posting updates on my 18 week journey, so stay tuned.

Earlier this week, on Tuesday, March 3rd, I received some great news....I GAINED ENTRY INTO THE 2015 NYC MARATHON!  Now, I didn't qualify due to my time (which is good, because right now, my times wouldn't get me in), I got picked from a lottery of over 80,000 other people looking to get in just like me.  They selected right at 14,000..so you can see my odds were great.  Words really can't express how blessed I feel that on my first attempt out, I got selected.  I know of others who have tried year after year and don't get in.  I even have a friend, from New York, that didn't get selected this time.  What is the reason?  Why me? Honestly, I didn't ask myself either of these.  The reason is, I got picked...and I'm going to make the most of it.  You see, I'm a runner....now I'm not the fastest or the slowest; I'm sure my running posture would not get me on a poster, but would probably be a good case study in what not to do.  It really doesn't matter...because I'm a runner.  I took this up about 2 1/2 years ago with a challenge to run a 5k for a local ministry.  I had never run 3.1 miles before, but I thought I could do it.  The next day, I ran..but didn't know how far.  The day after that, I took with me an ipod with a running app that would tell me my distance.  After I got done, 3.48 miles!  Ok, I can run a 5k.  After that, I did a 10k and then, somewhat cooled my running efforts...UNTIL a day in November of 2012 that I knew I needed to challenge myself to run a half marathon.  Remember, up to this time, I furtherest I had ever run was 6.2 miles...and that was once.  I accepted that challenge, trained over the winter and ran that half marathon in February of 2013.  Since then, I have run 2 other half marathons, a few 5 and 10k as well as 2 full marathons...and hundreds of miles of training inbetween.  Which leads to the NYC Marathon in November, where I will cap off my #bestyearyet running through the 5 boroughs of NY with 50,000 of my closest friends!  The book shown above has been an inspiration.  My wife gave it to me for Christmas knowing that it was what I wanted to do.  So, I'm looking forward to the Race Like No Other but until November, I have many other roads to run, races to accomplish, to get ready because....I'M A RUNNER.

3 QUICK TIPS TO A HEALTHIER YOU

How's your New Year's Resolutions coming along?  Here we are....46 days into the new year, are you executing on your plan?  Has your enthusiasm for your plan dropped off?  Do you have a plan?

For many, life has gotten in the way.  Our intentions are right on....BUT.  I heard it said, long ago, "you can have results or excuses, just not both."  Here are 3 quick tips to get you back on track:

1.  Look again at your goal for the year.  NOW, reduce your time frame from January to December, to the immediate next 12 weeks.  Just focus on what you would like to accomplish in the next 12 weeks.  For example; you have a goal to lose 20 lbs. this year.  Focus the next 12 weeks on just 10 lbs.  

2.  Once your have your 12 week Goal in mind, what are the 2-4 actions that you can do that will get you in position to hit your goal?  These are actions that YOU can control.  Here are a few examples:
- Consume 1500-2000 calories a day
- Work out 5-6 days a week
     - 3 days cardio
     - 2-3 days of weight/resistance training
- Get 8 hours of sleep each night
- Consume 120 oz. of clear water each day
Once again, it is what YOU can control.

3.  Now it's time to implement/execute the plan.  Don't wait until all the conditions are "right."  START NOW!

Before you start, take a "before" picture of yourself.  Also, weigh yourself but don't just stop there....take measurements of your waist, chest, arms, etc.  You'll be amazed at how you will change in the next 12 weeks IF you stick to your plan.  Don't just look at the scale, it doesn't tell the whole story.  At the end of your 12 weeks, reflect back on where you started to where you ended.  Celebrate then set a new 12 week goal and go after it!

Today is a good as a day as any to get started as it is "the first day of the rest of your life!" 2015 can still be YOUR YEAR!