Always Finish Fast

It was a dreary day at Cenntenial Park in Etobicoke, but my ticket to the next cross-country meet was shining about 50 metres away from me.

The top 22 runners moved on to the regional race in a weeks time. I was runner number 23. The guy I had to catch was 50 metres away and not slowing down as he entered the stadium, the last leg of the race.

At that moment I couldn’t help but feel defeated. Negative thoughts poured into my oxygen-starved brain. There was no way I could catch him. That runner was the fastest man alive. This was my last chance to make it on in elementary school and I was wrecking it.

Running is 90 per cent mental and I was failing in that department, big time.

Suddenly another thought came into my brain, one that wiped all the others off the table with a quick and confident swipe; always finish fast.

In pre-run pep talks my dad had always told me to finish a race fast and that if I felt strong at the end of a run, it meant I could have gone faster.

All of a sudden I was in ‘The Zone’, that mythical place athletes go when they are at their best, when nothing can stop them. I had always thought it was like Willy Wonka’s Chocolate factory; really cool, a little scary, but in the end just a made up place. That day I proved to myself it is real.

I passed the other runner, came 22nd and went on to the regionals.

The advice I used that day will never leave me. It is something I use every time I go for a goal, do any work or try to achieve something, big or small.

This is my last post in this blog, my final stretch before the finish line. I am going on to other races, other courses with different obstacles and moments of exhaustion and glory. So here goes my last kick, hopefully I can leave everything on the course.

If I have learned anything in my ventures in life, whether it is running, chasing a story for journalism, volunteering, making smores or writing this blog, it is that hard work, a belief in yourself, a sense of humor and love for others will carry you through some of the best and worst moments of your life.

If you work hard and give everything you have to something, like that moment all those days ago when I qualified, you will reach your goal, because having no regrets and being proud of yourself, no matter the outcome, should always be a top priority.

Believing in yourself will tear off all the negative words and actions that are trying to grab you and bring you down. When you start believing in yourself, others will believe in you, even when things don’t always go as planned.

Humor makes you an optimist. When you laugh, it’s easier to notice others laughing. When you smile, it’s easier to notice others smiling. And when you start to notice these things that make you happy it just builds and soon the thousands of little things blot out a lot of the bad things.

And finally, loving others helps the world love you back, and more importantly it helps you to love yourself. It’s not always easy to love people. I’ve seen enough bullying, racism, prejudice and hate to realize it is almost impossible sometimes. But hate only breeds hate. And if that’s true, than love must breed love.

So in this race that is life, follow your dreams. When a runner falls, give them a hand. When you reach the top of a mountain, admire the view. And when you reach the final stretch give it your all, finish fast, be proud and keep it going in your next race. One day soon, you will, not might, you will reach your goals, one stride at a time.

No Excuses

I can't see the sun. I can't see the sun because, although it's shining right now, I'm sitting in my small bedroom in Ottawa and my only window faces the brick wall of the house beside mine. Not the greatest view.

I'm not outside running. I'm not outside enjoying the relatively warm November weather and the sun and the joy and health that running gives me. There are no excuses for this.

I could say that I have too much work, too many essays to write, articles to research, dishes to clean. I could say that I'm not feeling the best or that I don't have proper running clothes for this weather. I could say those things, but really there are no excuses.

A ten minute run would do me good. It would rejuvenate me, help me relax, help me to appreciate the amazing circumstances I find myself in, which is having streets I'm able to run in and weather that is great. Most importantly running would help me to get back to something I love to do and something that would help me to be happier and healthier. And ten minutes a day is really all it takes.

Running is not the only thing I take for granted and make up excuses for because it is easier to turn it aside than work for it. I haven't written a blog in two weeks. I love writing, but with all the deadlines, errands and seasons of Weeds I need to catch up on I have become lazy with writing my blog.

We all have things that we want to do, should do and love to do in life that seem to always fall behind other supposedly more important and time consuming things. Whether it's that dream to travel to a different country, learn how to drive, help the homeless or even just talk to a friend, we often seem to make excuses to not do these things.

Yes it's hard to get up out of your comfort zone, routine or busy schedule and do something that won't earn you money, awards or a higher GPA, but in reality the things you put off doing are the things that will make you and those around you happiest. Plus, many of these things do not take that much time out of your day.

My dad always told me, especially around exam or midterm time, to get out for a ten to 15 minute run and that it would help me relax and come back to my study material fresher and more focused, helping me in the long term. When you do something you love, when you go after your goals, when you help people, this makes you a better person, mentally, physically, spiritually or emotionally, and benefits you in all you do.

So when crunch time comes around again, and it inevitably does, look stress, laziness and inactivity in the eye and tell them you're going to do what you love, that they have failed and you're not going to except any excuses anymore.

Breathing in the Rochester Rain

My first cross-country race in high school could not have been any more exciting.

I lined up in the largest race I had ever been in, by far, in Rochester New York just as the rain began to come down. I had never had a team of more then two or three lined up beside me, but that day I had around six or seven braced for the opening gun around me. It reminded me of that scene in the second Lord of the Rings movie when the army is about to battle the bad guys. In other words, it felt epic.

The tense few seconds before the race may have been exhilarating, but as soon as the starter's gun went off I began to struggle. I was breathing heavily 100 metres into the race and my legs were aching already. Only three kilometres left.

But then one of my dad's golden nuggets of wisdom popped into my head: Concentrate on your breathing.

I did just that, focusing not on the pain and nervousness I was feeling, but on breathing properly in through my nose and out through my mouth.

This method calmed me down and gave me a boost of energy like jump cables would to a tired car battery.

This strategy doesn't just fit into running though, but also in stressful situations in life.

Everyone feels the stresses of this world, whether it's strenuous homework assignments, dealing with a dwindling bank account or facing discrimination or bullying. Add in the fact that in this day and age we tend to multi-task every activity and making a business deal while shaving and cooking tonight's dinner goes from a funny Three Stooges skit to a physically and emotionally draining reality.

We often forget, in the hustle bustle of life, how to the do the simpler things. By focusing on these things, like breathing in running, the whole process becomes easier, more productive and dare I say it, more fun. Figuring out the more complex issues are still hard and arduous, but in more of a fun, how do I beat this level in Super Mario kind of way.

For example when you are trying to campaign or advocate for a human rights issue you may stress yourself out to the point of no return. Protesting an unjust law, getting the word out to different neighbourhoods and volunteering at different places all in one day is crushing. This is noble and no doubt possible for those with drive and determination. But it may also stress you out, leaving you disillusioned with your passion.

Simply focusing on helping people as opposed to how can I fit more stuff into one day, will lead you to being happier, healthier and achieving your goal.

This doesn't mean stop what you are doing, give up and stop caring, hoping everything turns out alright. It means keep striving hard for what you want, for what you believe in, but do it in a way that allows you to see the whole picture in a straightforward manner.

Remember, you can't see your passion or find your way to a goal if you kick up too much dust trying to get there too fast. So take a deep breath and take the plunge starting with the simpler things and soon you'll be making waves.

Sometimes Bees Sting Twice

My brother Matthew and I had left the group of three or four behind and were flying down the gravel road. We had pushed ahead of my dad, my other brother Paul and the one or two other kids who made up our little unofficial, off season running club. One of us would rachette up the intensity every few strides, prodding each other on, and we were making great time because of it.

We came over a slight hill in the road, the evening sun glowing at our backs, neck and neck. The only thing missing was an epic soundtrack, maybe something from Chariots of Fire.

Too bad real life isn't a whole lot like movies.

Matthew suddenly yelled out in pain and dropped to the ground. I reversed and started running towards him to see what was wrong. That's when I felt a sharp pain on my thigh and I too crumpled to the ground in pain.

It must have been a pretty bizzare scene for Paul as he reached us, both brothers rolling on the ground trying to muffle swears and groans.

It turned out a bee had stung both Matthew and I. Yes, I know bees aren't supposed to be able to sting twice, but this one must have been a super bee because it did.

So in the midst of all the pain, grass stains and inevitable post sting embarrasment I managed to learn a lesson about life from all this.

There will be days as you're going through life or towards your goals when you feel amazing, when everything is going well, when you can picture yourself as a character in a Hollywood blockbuster about your extrordinary life played by Owen Wilson or Brad Pitt or Blake Lively. And then you'll hit tough times.

It might be that your entire 15 page essay just got totally erased and it's due tomorrow or you injured yourself badly or got news of a personal tragedy or loss. These things hurt and can stop you in your tracks, just as the pain of that bee sting sent be to the ground in pain.

I was lucky that day to have my brothers right there with me. Matthew was litterally beside me rolling around in pain from the sting and although he couldn't offer me much physical or verbal comfort it was good to know that someone else was sharing in my pain and could understand the situation with me.

My brother Paul was there right after it happened and got the stinger out of me. He was there to help and comfort me when I needed it.

In tough times, whether it's being bullied or being dumped or some other emotional or physical obstacle it is important to realize that you are not alone and that there are people who care enough to help. The key thing is to surround yourself with these people, realize that the opinions of these people far outmatch any one else's and to help each other stay strong in adversity.

It isn't always easy to find people who will be there for you, but they are out there, trust me, so don't lose hope. I learned one spring day that bees sometimes sting twice, but that's what brothers, or sisters or parents or friends or whomever, are for.

Here is a video made by students at my school, Carleton University, letting everyone out there know that even though life is sometimes painful, there are people who love you and that it gets better.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EzRs3ApCLkg

A Difficult Choice

Standing on the bleachers at Centennial Stadium in Etobicoke I had a big choice. A choice that would determine the rest of day and maybe the rest of the month. A choice so important my stomach was rumbling with suspense.

Ham sandwich or apple?

You see I had a big race in about an hour and I was hungry. My dad had advised me to eat the apple about an hour before the race to keep up my strength and fuel my body. He also told me I shouldn't eat the sandwich because, well, undigested meat and bread don't feel very good when you're running.

But that ham sandwich was calling to me.

After looking at the two suitors to my stomach for about 10 minutes I settled on the apple, deciding to go with the tried and true wisdom of my dad before my own desires.

I ran my race, did well and most importantly didn't feel the slightest twinge of pain in my stomach. That day I learned that deciding what to eat before a race was crucial to my success.

And, as it often does, a lesson learned in food and running can be applied in life as well.

We have goals in life, but they require hard work, and just like a gruelling race in the middle of the day in the heat of summer, this work can be tiring.

So if the path to our dreams is so hard who wouldn't want to deviate from this path once in a while? Who wouldn't want to go to a party instead of studying or doing that essay? Who wouldn't rather be at a movie instead of building a house? Who wouldn't want to be lying in a hammock instead of eating disgusting volumes of pie in preparation for a pie eating contest?

There are definitely temptations that are hard to ignore. They are the ham sandwich to my apple. And there is nothing wrong with doing things that make you happy, especially if it means spending time with family and friends. I mean I have had some pretty awesome ham sandwiches in my life.

But before you go off and do these things consider the consequences they could have on your goals and dreams and try to balance achieving these things with enjoying life and different experiences.

Just because I couldn't have my ham sandwich before my race doesn't mean I could never have it, it just meant I had to wait till I completed my race. When you sacrifice things in life for a goal it may mean that you have to wait to enjoy them.

But waiting can make the thing you desire all the more sweet, especially when you are enjoying it stress free. I can tell you this from experience, because that ham sandwich tasted pretty good after running a good race.

Now don't get me wrong, that apple I ate was very good as well and I enjoyed it. I didn't starve myself. When your working hard for something don't starve yourself of all experiences in life or you will lift your head up one day and realize that some awesome things and people have passed you by.

So next time you're pursuing a goal, enjoy life, but stay focused. Striking that balance seems simple, but can be quite hard to put into practice. Just remember that an apple a day means life, and your dreams, aren't far away.

The Case of the Stray Shoelace

Grade five was my time to shine.

You see I had been working hard for months that year to get ready for the big cross-country races. This year was the year I was going to get past the divisional and regional meets and get all the way to the city race. I just knew it.

Boy was I wrong.

I started the divisional's hard. I came sprinting off the starting line and was with the top runners going into the first turn, about a hundred metres in.

That's when it all fell apart.

As I went to turn the corner my foot got tangled in my undone shoe lace and I took a tumble face first into the mud.

I got up dazed, in last place and covered in mud. I'd been dazed before; I'd built enough forts with shoddy workmanship to tell you how that felt. And the mud didn't bother me, I mean when you're an 11-year old boy, what's better than a mud bath. But being in last place, that had never happened.

I finished the race, coming in 25th overall, well short of my dream of reaching the all-Toronto finals.

But it all goes to show that even in grade five you can still learn some valuable life lessons.

You see I had trained for months and never missed one practice. But in the end I didn't do everything I could have done to be successful.

In life you can work hard and cover many of the angles, but many isn't all. I got lazy that day in grade five and figured an untied shoelace wouldn't matter much, but it did.

When you want to do something well, don't do it half way, or even 99 per cent of the way. Do it all out and more. Sometimes we do a homework assignment or a project for a business client and tend to do the bare minimum. Other times when we're teaching someone something we skip a lesson because we're tired and we don't think it's all that important anyways. And sometimes when we're cooking we drop something on the floor, but call it on the ten second rule and put it back in the pan.

I'm guilty, like everyone, of these sorts of things and believe me I've paid the price and learned from them. And when we do this we aren't being fair to ourselves or others.

We are capable of doing great things when we put our minds to it and doing the things we love and that we are good all the way to the finish, with no detail left out can only help improve ourselves and those around us.

In the immortal words of running great Steve Prefontaine, "To give anything less than your best is to sacrifice the gift."

You wouldn't throw away your brand new x-box, designer Coach bag, blackberry or Ottawa Senators jersey (well maybe the last one), so why would you throw away your most precious gifts, your talent and passion, just because the lazy part of you whispers for you to so. Your gifts don't just help you succeed, but can make a fundamental difference in the lives of those around you.

So next time don't settle for what is good enough, strive for the best and the only time you'll find yourself in the mud is when you mean to be.

Over the Hill We Go

Five hundred pairs of feet grabbed at the dirt, grass and caked mud on the slopes of Centennial Hill one warm October afternoon. A thousand shoes pounded the sides of the hill, trying to reach the top, trying to get past the agonizing burn in their legs and the screaming in their minds to slow down.

Some began to walk up the big, steep hill, others seemed to sprint to the top. I tried to run as fast as I could (not very fast) up the slope, repeating one thing to my self, "Always run fast up a hill, always run fast up a hill."

This mantra was one of many given to me by my father, the same marathon runner that made "the legs feed the wolf," a common encouragement as well.

But Centennial was no normal hill, it was the largest I had ever come face to face with in a race. Add in the fact that there were five hundred other runners acting as a sort of reverse avalanche up the hill and it was quite daunting.

The saying worked though, and I felt the same spark of energy mixed with the painful fire in my over worked legs as I always did after reaching the top of a hill.

The hills I have faced running and the metaphorical hills we all face in life are different, but also have more similarities than you may think.

We all face problems and obstacles in life, some that seem too big to overcome or too dangerous to confront, just like runners face monstrous hills in a race.

We may seem too tired by previous legs on our journey or be discouraged by the number of people that have or are still struggling with the same mountain of problems.

But remembering the piece of advice "Always run fast up a hill" can make a big difference.

Many times I have stopped a certain journey through life short by ending it at the foot of a big, hill-like problem. Other times I have walked up the hill, giving a lacklustre effort or struggling with the problem or wishing someone would climb the hill for me.

But when faced with hills in life, big or small, like a challenging home work assignments, a medical concern, a financial woe or a plugged toilet, we should try to remember to confront the problems head on, defeat procrastination and avoidance and be strong in the face of adversity, much like a runner can choose to run fast up a big, tiring hill.

By confronted our problems and not avoiding them or trudging through them we can solve them faster, learn more, help others and be empowered.

We can also be buoyed, not shaken, by those struggling up the same hill as us. Instead of seeing this as a discouragement or threat, we should see this as a chance to help each other, to understand that no problem affects only one person and to realize that confronting problems, and solving them, is possible.

So next time you come to a hill, on a training run or in life, muster up that little extra you have and show the mountain who's boss and when you reach the top admire the view, even if your legs don't let you forget the lesson.