WORDS TO LIVE BY

I’ll be glad when the Olympics are over – they’re really messing with my routine. I’ve been running more doubles lately because they allow me to watch the Olympics at night and sleep in a little each morning.

Last night I just ran an easy 5 miles. Tonight will probably be more of the same. I won’t go over 8 because I’m doing a half marathon tomorrow. I ran this race back in 2006 and my race report included the ultimate alibi. I can’t believe I didn’t include it in my article. Anyway, two years ago I ran like crap – barely breaking 1:30. However, that fall I snuck under 2:59 at Chicago. Just goes to show that you can’t pay too much attention to race results when you’re in the think of marathon training.

Outside ran a piece on the fittest real men in America. It had some pretty good words to live by;

I refuse to let work be the only reason I get up early or stay up late.

I’m not trying to impress anyone; I’m doing it for myself.

I’m not special; I think everyone has the energy to do it. Momentum is energy.

Don’t assume you have to stay with the template of “eat dinner, wind down, and go to bed.” If you have the passion, you’ll find away.

When it comes down to it, a 40-hour workweek leaves a whole lot of time to train.

Get rid of television and life becomes pretty simple.

It’s not a matter of making time; it’s a way to live your life.

Poem of the day;

If you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you,
If you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubting too,
If you can wait and not be tired by waiting,
Or being lied about, don't deal in lies,
Or being hated, don't give way to hating,
And yet don't look too good, nor talk too wise:
If you can dream--and not make dreams your master,
If you can think--and not make thoughts your aim;
If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster
And treat those two impostors just the same;
If you can bear to hear the truth you've spoken
Twisted by knaves to make a trap for fools,
Or watch the things you gave your life to, broken,
And stoop and build 'em up with worn-out tools:

If you can make one heap of all your winnings
And risk it all on one turn of pitch-and-toss,
And lose, and start again at your beginnings
And never breath a word about your loss;
If you can force your heart and nerve and sinew
To serve your turn long after they are gone,
And so hold on when there is nothing in you
Except the Will which says to them: "Hold on!"

If you can talk with crowds and keep your virtue,
Or walk with kings--nor lose the common touch,
If neither foes nor loving friends can hurt you;
If all men count with you, but none too much,
If you can fill the unforgiving minute
With sixty seconds' worth of distance run,
Yours is the Earth and everything that's in it,
And--which is more--you'll be a Man, my son!

– If by Rudyard Kipling