After an hour and 20 minute bike ride with some big hills in the middle as well as a mile run on the beach, I was happy with my effort for the morning workout. The beach run felt good on the Achilles because it forced my whole foot to bear the work load since the ground is uneven, unstable and I was barefoot. I had a great session at Egoscue and really focused on engaging my lower back muscles to loosen my hip muscles. A brief break in the afternoon until practice where I biked down to our meeting spot, ran 4 miles, and then biked home. All around, great effort day. With a rest day tomorrow before race day, I should be in good shape for the 5k.

I was talking with Richard, an 800 meter runner who ran at LSU, and asked him how he ended up where he is right now since he could go anywhere in the country to run. Basically, he said that just because everyone does one thing doesn’t necessarily mean that it is the best route to take. Richard spoke with a confidence that could have stemmed only from a belief so powerful and genuine that gave me my answer. Here’s a kid that could literally run for any club in the country and has run with the best of the best and he is about two weeks younger than me and running with a club in Los Angeles that is a little off the recent elite runner route. His drive, his passion, his beliefs are so powerful that listening to him always quiets any reservations that I have about my training. Richard said that he was working harder than ever because he truly believes that he can be one of the fastest in the world. That type of mentality is rare. That type of attitude is never more than surface deep. Because you don’t know your future. But he spoke like his running form. Calm, smooth, and controlled.

I know most of people who read this blog are not training for the Olympics. But that doesn’t mean that you can’t apply these principles and beliefs towards your everyday life. Whether its in your own training to get in better shape, to get that promotion at work, or study the material that will get you the highest grade in the class, its so crucial that you believe in the steps you take every day to make you better at what your doing. It takes patience and time to accomplish your goals but having that checklist of the daily tasks that will help you get there makes you believe in yourself that much more when you can check them off.

Keep working hard. Don’t get frustrated. Enjoy the things your doing everyday because if you believe in what you’re doing and work hard at it everyday, it will pay dividends. We Are One 365.

AR. NF. NR.

Nick