CouchRunners Challenge

I am challenging myself, and I’m asking you to accept a challenge as well.

On Sunday, September 18 I am going to complete a half-marathon. I will jog some and I will walk some (probably a lot) but I will complete it… And it will feel great!

It will feel great because I will have accomplished something that I’ve never done before. It will be something way out of my comfort zone and way more than most people would expect me to do. It’s going to feel great. I know it will, because I had that feeling last year when I completed my first 5K.

For whatever reason, last year I was inspired to train for and complete a 5K race, even though I had never done anything vaguely athletic in my entire life. My athletic history had consisted of being picked last for teams and living up to everyone’s low expectations of my performance. But I challenged myself and used the Couch to 5K program to help me get ready. On race day, it felt amazing from start to finish. I was so proud of myself and my accomplishment.

I am looking forward to that feeling this year as I prepare for and complete the half-marathon. It seems beyond what I can accomplish right now, but so did the 5K last year. We can do it.

I want to connect a community of people working toward their own accomishments. I am especially interested in connecting and motivating people who are new like me, but everyone is welcome. Here’s what we will do:

1. Set a personal goal for yourself that is based on a physical activity that seems just a bit beyond your reach. Commit to working toward that activity. (This is not a weight loss challenge, so a number of pounds should not be your goal.).

2. Be available to connect with other people on the challenge via Twitter. When you’re ready to accept the challenge, send me a message @BobbyClubbs and I will add you to the CouchRunners list. You can also use #CouchRunners to identify related posts.

3. Work toward your goal and keep your fellow #CouchRunners updated. We will motivate, encourage, and challenge each other. We will be your teammates.

4. Share your goal with friends and family so they can encourage you as well. You will be inspiring others!

5. Achieve your goal and feel great about it!

That’s it! There’s nothing to buy, no membership fees, no hidden agendas. Let’s just form a community of people dedicated to challenging ourselves and each other.

#CouchRunners, unite!

Three Beautiful Things

1. Playing in the park with Lily. Her boundless joy, especially revealed when swinging: “Higher! Push me higher, Daddy!”. Feeding her discarded peanut butter crackers to the baby geese.

2. Enjoying some quiet time on the back deck this afternoon during her nap. Nice, cool breeze. I continue to be so grateful for that beautiful spot.

3. Pruning the tomato plants in the garden by hand. Their fresh scent lingers.

My Online Rules of Engagement

Thanks for your interest in me, my Twitter stream, my podcast, or my blog. Here are a few things you should know.

I’m not trying to sell you anything. I don’t have a book, ebook, CD, seminar, or even affiliate programs. I’m just here.

I write and talk about my life and my experiences. I am not an expert or a guru. I’m just me.

If you listen to any of my podcasts, I’d love to hear from you. It’s nice to converse with an audience… Or just know there’s an audience.

On Twitter, I generally follow back anyone who follows me. If they turn out to be negative, say ugly things, or constantly advertise, I unfollow or block them. But if you follow, I’ll get around to following back. Just be patient.

I use lists to stay focused on interesting people on Twitter. To get on those lists, just interact with me. RT’s and @replies are great!

I try to engage in conversations and do participate in some Twitter chats, so sometimes my stream can flow heavily. Sorry about that.

I do check in on my regular feed on everyone I’m following from time to time, particularly from my phone when I’ve got a few moments to pass. So I try to keep an eye on everyone.

I RT things that I find positive, meaningful, insightful, helpful, and funny. I tend to RT a lot.

I’m happy to connect with you! Let me know you’re out there!

Slow Down

This morning, my daughter Lily reminded me to stop and enjoy the simple pleasures. It was a beautiful, cool morning. We went outside and she completely focused on some important activities like jumping on the trampoline and blowing bubbles. She was completely focused on enjoying the task at hand, and completely content to fully engage. Thanks for the lesson, sweetheart.

Podcast: Using Affirmations

Hello, friends!

A new episode of my podcast is up.  This time, I’m talking about using positive affirmations, which I share a lot of over on Twitter.

Have a listen and let me know what you think. I’d love to hear from you.

Read some affirmations shared by others recently on Twitter.

Today’s Agenda: Relax

As a teacher, I want you to know that I appreciate my summer break.  I do my best to make the most of every break on my academic calendar.  This year, I am particularly focused and mindful of making the most of this time off.

In celebration, here is a list of 5 Ways to Relax! (In no particular order.)

1. Step outside – I have been enjoying my deck at different times of the day.  In the morning, I appreciate the morning chorus of birds.  In the evening, the cool breeze highlights some stargazing.
2. Laugh –  Nothing lifts my mood and calms me down as much as a good laugh.  I’m a little ashamed to admit it, but I often turn to YouTube videos of people falling down.  Hey, it works for me.
3. Exercise – While we may not immediately think of exercise as a form of relaxation, I’ve found it really helps clear my mind and contributes to better sleep.
4. Color – Have you put crayons to paper lately?  No? You should.
5. Have a drink – Not necessarily alchoholic, but just allow yourself to just completely do nothing for the amount of time it takes to leisurely sip something you enjoy.

Share some of your favorite ways to relax in comments. Thanks!

Meaningful Minutes

At my high school, the graduating seniors select a faculty member to deliver the commencement address.  I was honored to be invited by the Class of 2011.  This is the speech I prepared for them.

(I have reduced names to initials for privacy reasons.)

Friends, I want you to imagine what it would be like if later tonight after you walked across this stage to receive your diploma folder, you went back to your seat and opened it to find a check inside.  A check for half a million dollars.  The check is made out to you, and on the memo line in the bottom corner is a little note:  “spend it wisely.”  I’m sure that none of us would be at a loss for how to spend it, but how many would truly spend it wisely?

Accomplishment

My wife Brooke and I with age-group winner ribbons after a race

MyTurn:  I have just completed my one-year anniversary of participating in 5K races.  Before running my first 5K, I had never done anything remotely athletic.  I’d never played on an organized sports team or done anything more vigorous than strike out while playing softball in PE class, or perhaps get picked last for a kickball game.

I don’t remember exactly how I got started on my journey, but I do know that it was the Couch to 5K running plan that made it possible.  When I looked at the plan, I seemed like an achievable goal.  So little by little I walked, jogged, and ran my way to my first 3.1 mile distance.  Not long after that, I was picking up my first race packet, putting on my first race shirt and safety-pinning my first bib number to my shirt.  I was so excited and proud of myself!

Since that first race, I have completed five more.  I currently have my heart set on a new goal:  completing a half-marathon in September.  I’ll soon begin the process of training for that, and I look forward to accomplishing another goal that seems out of my comfort zone.

YourTurn: What’s an accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?  How did you go about achieving it?

What is MyTurn/YourTurn?

Three Beautiful Things: A Walk

Observations after a nice evening walk down to the bank to deposit a check in the ATM:

1.  My wife – I’m thankful for her company.  It was so nice to just have a leisurely walk and recount the events of the day.

2.  Honeysuckle – The powerful, fresh, clean scent was so strong along part of the street.  We loved it so much we walked past it twice!  My wife said it smelled like spring fever.

3.  Money – Thankful for having a check to deposit!  Sure, I’d already written another check to pay a bill from this deposit, but I am thankful for employment and income.

Thee Beautiful Things: 8/12/08

1.  The enormous possibility in a first grader’s unopened, fresh pack of crayons.

2.  An entire school hallways teeming with nervous, excited, giddy first graders going into their brand-new classrooms for the first time.

3.  Crisp, smiling teachers ready to greet them warmly upon their arrival at orientation, even though they probably feel like they have a million things to before school starts.

Beautiful.