Finding the Time

This week, I'd like to go into a topic which maybe, I should have done the first week of the summer.....prioritizing....making the time to run.

I know some of you are busier than others, but I can assure you, that no matter how busy you are, someone who is busier, is also running more than you.  Many adults who continue to train to be excellent find the time to run 70,80,....120 miles per week before work, after work, at lunch, whenever they can get the time.

Running is a wonderful sport.  It is incredibly simple to train for.  All you need to do is plan a time that you are going to run and stick to it.  Some days, you may only have 30 or 45 minutes to squeeze in a run.  That is fine, we all have those days.  Get your shoes on, head out, and after a short period to loosen up, hammer for the short period of time you have.

If you are telling me or telling yourself that you do not have the time, you are not being honest.  You are lying to yourself.  I know fair is coming up and many of you have FFA or 4H projects.  Those are no excuses.  Wyatt ran 50 miles last week and Jackson ran 46.  Both of them are getting ready for fair.  Traveling is really no excuse either.  Before his senior year, David McKay spent the summer in the Netherlands, but managed to come back in good enough shape to set the still standing team record for the pre-season time trial, then go on to become TVL champion.  Personally, I look at travel as an opportunity to run in new and exciting places.  At the very least, you can try this old stand by of mine, run up and down the stairs of your hotel for 20 minutes and do sprints in the parking lot.

There are a number of "varsity" runners who are putting up very weak and "un-varsity" type of numbers so far this summer. 

I've been watching the swimming olympic trials.  There are 3 teenagers qualified for the finals of the 800 freestyle, beating out olympic veterans.  I think some of you may learn a very hard truth this season, the same truth that some olympic swimming veterans just learned.  It doesn't matter who you are or what you have done in the past.  There is always going to be someone who is young and hungry ready to knock you off your pedestal.

Now, some of you are hopelessly far behind pace for our 500 mile club.  That is OK.  My high school coach didn't have us start running officially until July 1st.  Today is July 1st, and it is not too late to still build a very strong base for the upcoming season.  We have 6 weeks until we have to do anything truly hard (our first time trial) and another 4 weeks after that until our first race.  This means that if you've been slacking off, you still have 10 weeks to gradually build a strong base.

Some of you are ahead of schedule for 500 miles also.  That is great.  Keep up the good work.  Those of you who are consistantly running in the 40 mpw range are setting yourselves up for a great season.  Some of you are even touching into the 50 mpw range.  It is this type of consistancy which will allow you to make a quantum leap in your running abilities.