About Me
- Zach
- I am confident in the direction of my life, and this direction ignites the passion that cannot be put out.
Sunday, February 21, 2010
Waves are Breaking
We've been running well lately, frighteningly well given our training regimen and the structure of our season. When you focus on the long term, you don't usually expect to see results short term, but that is who we are right now, and no one is complaining.
So now it is time to jump aboard the ship because it is heading out to sea, and I don't want to be the one to miss it. Nationals is 2 weeks away. This week is the final prep before we head out to war, far from home and the comforts of our familiarities. War is hardest fought in unfamiliar, hostile territory, but the advantage can still be ours. We are warriors trained for the brutal conditions of our trade, and we will draw swords with the finest, plunge into the abysmal melee with the confidence of a steady hand and sure foot, and, God knows, arise victorious to fight another day.
This is the life I've chosen; I wouldn't want it any other way.
So now it is time to jump aboard the ship because it is heading out to sea, and I don't want to be the one to miss it. Nationals is 2 weeks away. This week is the final prep before we head out to war, far from home and the comforts of our familiarities. War is hardest fought in unfamiliar, hostile territory, but the advantage can still be ours. We are warriors trained for the brutal conditions of our trade, and we will draw swords with the finest, plunge into the abysmal melee with the confidence of a steady hand and sure foot, and, God knows, arise victorious to fight another day.
This is the life I've chosen; I wouldn't want it any other way.
Monday, February 15, 2010
Nothing but our best
I guess we only had one option this weekend: run sick fast. For those who are not aware, every single distance guy on our team who competed this weekend ran/walked a PR. The track team, as a whole, totaled 33 personal records, a couple freshman records, and 5 school records (2 of which were Andi's!).
For my first time in my running career, I helped set a school record as well in the Distance Medley Relay (10:11.72). By the end of the day, whenever a teammate spiked up, the only thought on my mind was how fast will this guy go?!
I am truly blessed to have been a part of a day like that and am completely elated to discover what bigger and better things are yet to be accomplished by this squad!
For my first time in my running career, I helped set a school record as well in the Distance Medley Relay (10:11.72). By the end of the day, whenever a teammate spiked up, the only thought on my mind was how fast will this guy go?!
I am truly blessed to have been a part of a day like that and am completely elated to discover what bigger and better things are yet to be accomplished by this squad!
Thursday, February 11, 2010
In Shallow Seas We Sail
The amount of cliches to describe a delicate situation sometimes blows my mind: treading on thin ice, walking a tight rope, pushing the line, playing with fire, on pins and needles, etc. I am in the process of creating one specifically for the reference to physical exertion well beyond the realm of safety but not quite at the point of destruction.
We quite literally constantly run the risk of overextending ourselves for the sake of improvement. The great fear is always that we will push too far and end up in a boot or a physical therapist's office Monday mornings at 10:15. Lately, though, I've begun to fear the opposite. Now, as my college career is coming to a close and my prospects for a post-collegiate career are uncertain at best, I have begun to fear that, instead of doing too much, what if I am doing too little? Worse yet, what if I have been doing too little for the last 3 years?
If we make time for it, more can always be done. But this generation ought to know by now that more is not always best. Instead, we might find ways to do the things that we know we have the capacity for better. Don't fix it if it ain't broken? - I say, don't wait until it's broken to see the need to fix it. Balance is not always piling weight onto both sides until it is even; sometimes it is taking weight off.
We quite literally constantly run the risk of overextending ourselves for the sake of improvement. The great fear is always that we will push too far and end up in a boot or a physical therapist's office Monday mornings at 10:15. Lately, though, I've begun to fear the opposite. Now, as my college career is coming to a close and my prospects for a post-collegiate career are uncertain at best, I have begun to fear that, instead of doing too much, what if I am doing too little? Worse yet, what if I have been doing too little for the last 3 years?
If we make time for it, more can always be done. But this generation ought to know by now that more is not always best. Instead, we might find ways to do the things that we know we have the capacity for better. Don't fix it if it ain't broken? - I say, don't wait until it's broken to see the need to fix it. Balance is not always piling weight onto both sides until it is even; sometimes it is taking weight off.
Tuesday, February 9, 2010
Good Days
A valuable lesson can be found in doing something in spite of convenience and pleasantries. In a sense, this is considered the existence of runners; however, looking more intently at myself, I have found that I function very explicitly on the foundation of my own desires. When my desires to not align with my situation, I am not happy.
Even still, I often am made to do things out of obligation, obedience, or some other form of requirement. If I do things in that sense, I am never really pleased in doing them, and the benefit is never as it could otherwise be.
On the flip side, when I choose to accept my situation and seek to get of it what can be got, then the greatest benefit can be found in all situations. I do not have access to the most advanced cross training equipment, I do not always have access to a track when I want one, I do not always have access to a personal trainer when I need one. The reality is, no situation is ever perfect, and very often, something goes wrong, but that won't stop me from having a good day.
*Note: some days you just feel terrible. That is unavoidable. On those days, I do not have good days, but in the sense I am communicating in this post, it is still possible to achieve benefit from those days.
Even still, I often am made to do things out of obligation, obedience, or some other form of requirement. If I do things in that sense, I am never really pleased in doing them, and the benefit is never as it could otherwise be.
On the flip side, when I choose to accept my situation and seek to get of it what can be got, then the greatest benefit can be found in all situations. I do not have access to the most advanced cross training equipment, I do not always have access to a track when I want one, I do not always have access to a personal trainer when I need one. The reality is, no situation is ever perfect, and very often, something goes wrong, but that won't stop me from having a good day.
*Note: some days you just feel terrible. That is unavoidable. On those days, I do not have good days, but in the sense I am communicating in this post, it is still possible to achieve benefit from those days.
Monday, February 8, 2010
Ups and Downs
Long run was pleasant yesterday.
This weekend has been a great blessing, and as with all blessings, it is accompanied by responsibility. I am responsible for giving the credit where it is due - God's grace. I am also responsible for my own humility and fighting against becoming once again consumed with my own successes, especially to the point where I neglect that others around me are hurting.
In light of this, our thoughts and prayers go out to Q and Jane as she has surgery this morning, and also to Logan as he is sick. Now is a good time to think of others and forgo our own comforts and conveniences to help them where we can.
This weekend has been a great blessing, and as with all blessings, it is accompanied by responsibility. I am responsible for giving the credit where it is due - God's grace. I am also responsible for my own humility and fighting against becoming once again consumed with my own successes, especially to the point where I neglect that others around me are hurting.
In light of this, our thoughts and prayers go out to Q and Jane as she has surgery this morning, and also to Logan as he is sick. Now is a good time to think of others and forgo our own comforts and conveniences to help them where we can.
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