MILESTONE #2

The other day I had a post about the “key” and how you have to surround yourself with successful like-minded people in order to be successful too. As I continue to shake up my training, I keep coming back to thoughts like “What did so-and-so do when they made a huge breakthrough?” Sure we can go on any running message board and read about people that had breakthrough seasons, but it means a lot more if we actually know that person.

One of the breakthroughs I’m thinking about was my college teammate, Casey’s. During our freshman year, Casey and I ran fairly similar times, probably within 30 seconds over 8K. As our sophomore season began to take shape, it immediately became clear that Casey had improved a lot, as he was beating me by 2 minutes. Of course I wanted to know what Casey knew that I didn’t. It turns out he put in 1,000 miles during the summer (compared to my 575). Holy cow! 1,000 miles in a 3-month stretch. I had a typical response, “I’d never be able to do that.”

Well, it turns out that’s not true. Nearly 13 years later I joined the 1,000-mile club. Over the last 92 days (I used that number since there are 92 days from June 1st through August 31st) I’ve run 1,000 miles. The most I could find during any other 3-month stretch was 925 miles.

So after 100 miles in a week, this is milestone #2. I should hit one more mileage milestone in the next week or so. These had better lead to better racing, otherwise I’ll have to become a triathlete (again) or maybe I’ll take up snowboard cross.

I can’t remember where I found today’s quote of the day. I think I got it from someone else’s blog awhile ago. It’s not really a running quote, but it does represent my recent bump in mileage.

"Life should not be a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, in a cloud of smoke, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and proudly proclaiming 'WOW' what a ride!" Hunter S. Thompson