Walk Into the Future

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  • 2026 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

    “Running is the answer.  The question is irrelevant.”

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog returned to Central Florida for the 2026 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.  This was my fourth time running this race and I enjoy it more each year. 

    The Town of Celebration looks and feels like a movie set but it’s a real town and the people are super friendly.  They come out of their houses and cheer on strangers who are blocking their streets and daily activities.  I’m sure the runners provide a boost to the local economy so maybe that’s why the folks are so friendly. 😊  I’m already looking forward to the 2027 Town of Celebration Half Marathon.

    What’s so great about this race and location?  Outstanding questions by all my tree branches.  The race EXPO, start line, finish line and race village are all within a block of each other in downtown Celebration.  They shut the town down to allow runners, walkers, spectators and vendors to take over the streets. 

    The EXPO is probably the smallest one for any race I run across the country.  The EXPO is held in a little park by the lake in downtown Celebration.  There are eight tables total with no vendors selling anything.  You walk up, give them your name, collect your race bib, get your T-shirt, get a commemorative blanket and then leave.  This is the only race that I know of that gives runners custom designed blankets.  Yes, I’ve kept every blanket that I received so far—four and counting.

    I left the EXPO and took a little stroll in downtown Celebration.  There are a ton of little shops and restaurants in the area.  I was mostly taking in the sights, but I did make my way into the Celebration Town Tavern to drink beer.  This is a lively spot and seems to be the place the locals enjoy the most.  There were a few other runners at the bar, but the crowd was made up of Celebration residents.  I left the Celebration Town Tavern and made my way to my go to pasta spot, Buca di Beppo.  This restaurant is not in the downtown area, but nothing is far in Celebration.  I made my way to the bar and worked on my carb loading process.  Buca di Beppo is known for large portions, so I made sure to downsize my Chicken Parm order to ensure I didn’t waste food.  Great food as always!

    I made my way back to my hotel after a little shopping at the local Nike discount store.  I never need anything but found a pair of running shorts in a color I don’t already own.  Yes, I bought them! 😊 I got my race outfit together and then watched a little TV to relax before going to bed.

    I rolled out of bed at 5:15 am to mentally and physically prepare for the half marathon.  I like to get in some stretching while at the hotel to limber up my body before driving to the race sight.  My hotel was only 10 minutes from downtown, so I didn’t have to rush or worry about not making it to the start line on time.  I parked in the same location as I did last year and walked towards the start line—it took me about 5 minutes to get there.  I used my time to stretch a little bit more and then got in some light jogging to loosen up my legs before tackling the 13.1-mile course.

    The race organizers adjusted the start area this year and had runners line up in assigned start corrals.  This was a nice adjustment since the corral start process helps thin out runners at the beginning of the race and eliminates folks from running each other over.  I found my spot at the front of Corral #2 and prepared for the race in front of me.

    I have run fast at this race in the past, but the weather was a bit warmer than normal.  Nothing crazy but it wasn’t cold like I prefer.  I decided to run hard for the first portion of the race and then see what I had left to pursue the remainder of the race.

    This strategy worked well for me as I felt good throughout the race.  I made a point to hit every water stop to take on fluids.  I always drink Gatorade and pour water on my head to keep my body as cool as possible during races.  I ran consistent splits within the 9:30 – 10:30 range through the first 10 miles of the race.  I never found another gear or the energy to push the pace, so I stayed within this range and crossed the finish line with a nice kick and a smile on my face.  The crowd at the finish line was loud and they helped the runners finish strong.

    I collected my medal, got some finish line photos and my post-race restaurant punch card that allowed me access to eat and drink my way around town. 😊

    The race village had complimentary massage and chiropractor tables this year. This was a welcome addition, and I signed up for a physical therapy session on my legs—felt great!  I left the physical therapy table and headed over to sample food and drink from the restaurants present. 

    I started with a beans and white rice dish from a Columbian restaurant.  I left this table and headed straight for the beer.  Every runner gets two Michelob Ultra beers.  I didn’t want to get back into the beer line, so I got both of my beers and walked around double-fisted for a bit.  I hit the pancake table right after finishing my beers and had to sit down to enjoy this treat—pancakes with chocolate chips and syrup.  The mimosa table was next, and I went two fisted again with these drinks.  I found a chair in the race village and enjoyed my drinks and watched runners cross the finish line.  I was not in a rush, so I just enjoyed the atmosphere and the happy people around me.  It was a good day! 😊

    I took the short stroll back to my vehicle and headed back to the hotel to get out of my race outfit and relax a bit. I took a 40-minute nap after showering and then got on the road to head back to Fort Pierce.

    This is a hell of a life I lead, huh?  Celebrating daily! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The obsession with running is really an obsession with potential for more and more life.”

    (George Sheehan)

  • Leading in 2026!

    “Influence isn’t loud.  It’s consistent.”

    (Joseph C. Kunz Jr.)

    The Walking into the Future blog identified in an earlier post that we are celebrating daily.  This simple mindset seems to resonate with my readers.  I have gotten a great response from folks who like this idea and are adopting into their daily lives.

    Authentic Leadership is the foundation that my leadership platform and consulting work are built on.  This leadership style has provided me with a vehicle to make a difference within my work environment and the work environments of organizations I provide consulting services. 

    Expanding my consulting services is one of my primary goals in 2026.  Yes, I’m actively looking for new clients and organizations to help with professional development and growth opportunities.  Share that last statement with anyone who needs consulting help. 😊

    The Authentic Leadership Foundation program is designed to help front line and mid-level leaders develop skills and self-awareness to lead with confidence, trust and accountability.  The foundational workshop is best for emerging leaders and enhances workplace credibility through consistent leadership principles.

    The Lead with Impact program provides a comprehensive leadership transformation engagement that aligns leadership behaviors, culture and organizational goals.  This program is best for organizations looking to generate change and staff alignment.  The program seeks to build a leadership culture that supports performance.

    The Authentic Teams program shows organizations how to build high-trust teams that communicate effectively, collaborate openly and navigate conflict interactions.  This program is best for the entire leadership team and departments.  The outcome is to build a stronger teamwork environment that relies on trust. 

    Here’s a snapshot of workshops I bring into my consulting work:

    • Authentic Leadership
      • This workshop will define Authentic Leadership and the impact for individuals and organizations
    • Empowered Leadership
      • This workshop will enable staff to leverage empowered leadership concepts within the workplace
      • The team will develop individual WHY statements with intent to improve workplace interactions
    • SMART Goals
      • This workshop defines SMART Goals and allows the team to build departmental SMART Goals

    I leverage the Myers Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI) in my daily operations.  This tool has helped me improve team communication at my last three stops: The University of Central Florida, Florida State University and Indian River State College.

    I’m dreaming of a big 2026 and expanding my consulting client base is one area I plan to grow. Helping organizations with leadership development is a staple of my daily interactions and this is my year to celebrate and create new leadership dynamics in the work environment.

    Let’s see how many organizations I can impact in 2026!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “If everyone is thinking the same way, nobody is thinking.”

    (Sabrina Horn)

  • Happy Friday!

    I decided to join the caricature challenge! 🙂

    I’m a runner who talks about leadership ALL the time.

    Thoughts?

    Be great today!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

  • Who Dares Wins!

    “If you aim at nothing, you will hit it every time.”

    (Zig Ziglar)

    The Walk into the Future blog will tackle the subject of goal setting from a different perspective in 2026.  Yes, Melissa, I still have goals for the year!  I’m just talking about them a little bit differently than in the past.  Patience, grasshopper! 😊

    The British Special Air Force Service (SAS) uses the famed motto, Who Dares Wins that reflects bold and risk-taking actions are necessary for success.  I started using this motto at work to challenge my team to put in the effort to win daily.  I see this motto as a professional but direct way to challenge the team to accomplish great things.

    This motto fits nicely into my goal setting world as well.  This is our third year selecting a specific word that will lead our individual contributions.  My 2026 word is WINS.

    The SAS motto and my 2026 word sync up nicely and I leverage both in my daily interactions with staff, colleagues, tree branches, family and friends.

    I wrote in an earlier blog article that 2025 was the best year yet for me.  This is attributed to me setting and meeting most of the goals I set for myself. Fun fact—I almost decided to just run back the same 2025 goals in 2026 since it was such a great year for me.  This wouldn’t show me daring to win so I added more depth to my 2026 goals.

    The newest category in my goal setting process was to celebrate life daily.  I won’t rehash this concept, but I wake up daily with the intent to find things to celebrate each day.  It could be cool weather to complete my morning run, a great cup of coffee or simply seeing my tree branches excel in life.  Maria and Lynn have started to get serious about their running programs so I’m enjoying hearing about their running exploits—well done! 😊

    I continue to focus on my reading and writing programs.  I decided not to set specific book counts this year but have put in the efforts to read and write daily.  I take great pride in reading a minimum of ten pages a day in whatever book I have close by.  My friend Alisa got me another Joel O’Steen devotional as a Christmas present so I’m enjoying gaining this knowledge. 

    Travel made it back on my list of goals this year.  Let’s be real travel will always be on my list of goals.  That won’t change anytime soon.  I will travel back down to Negril, Jamaica in March for spring break.  No huge revelation with this trip, huh?  I have races scheduled in Celebration, Florida, Melbourne, Florida, Winter Park, Florida, Louisville, Kentucky (April), Nashville, Tennessee (April), Lincoln, Nebraska (May), Indianapolis, Indiana (May), Orlando, Florida, and Hampton, New Hampshire (October).  I want to add Vermont and West Virginia at some point this year, but nothing booked as I write this article.

    My run goal is to keep my schedule to 4 runs per week averaging 30 – 40 weekly miles.  This will increase if I decide to sign up for another full marathon.  Fun fact, I don’t plan to chronicle my marathon training program this year IF I sign up for a full marathon.  Ya’ll already know the routine—early morning miles, long runs on the weekend, I’m excited to improve my time—yada, yada, yada. 😊 I want to increase my weightlifting activity by getting in 3 days of lifting weekly.  I have a lot more equipment in my garage so this should be a goal I can accomplish without a ton of extra gym trips.

    I’ve talked about expanding my consultancy business and getting new clients.  The year has started off strong as I’m currently building a proposal for a leadership development program for a new client.  I need to sit down and map out a program that will enhance the organization’s leadership and communication skills.  I’m also reaching out to current clients to see what additional training needs they may have.  This will be my year to expand the CW Consulting brand and make a bigger impact in the leadership consulting world.  I want to explore the concept of adding a People Building component to my consulting work.  People Building is my term for mentoring! 😊

    Lastly, I will volunteer with the Treasure Coast Food Bank throughout the year.  I participate in their Run to Fight Hunger 5k in September, but I want to get more involved with their program to help feed people on the Treasure Coast.

    So, there you have it. This is my blueprint to ensure I dare to win. 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “If there is no struggle, there is no progress.”

    (Frederick Douglass)

  • Five Minute Thursday: Leadership (Repost)

    close up of human hand
    Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

    “The writer is the explorer.  Every step is an advance into a new land”.

    (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

    The Walk into The Future blog continues to serve as a vehicle for my creative expression. I started this blogging process to share my thoughts, travels, and adventures.  I find it easy to write about my adventures and then share with my loyal readers.

    There are days when I don’t think I have the inspiration to write another blog article and then I sit down with a specific prompt and the words just come to me.  I would like to say writing these articles is an easy daily process, but I find myself struggling to generate content that I think others will read from time to time.  I write, edit, delete, and then write again to create something worth reading.  This is not all the time but figured I would share I have writing distractions to keep me away from me cranking away on my laptop. 

    Today is not one of those days! 😊

    I went back to a tried-and-true process of identifying a writing prompt to generate a new concept to write about.  One of the prompts I found a while ago was called:  Five Minute Friday.  The intent is to pick a specific word and then write about it for five minutes to create content.  Well, I modified the prompt into Five Minute Thursday since I post on Thursdays at 11:08 am—did you know that? 😊

    My first prompt for Five Minute Thursday is:  Leadership.

    Leadership is a concept that I began to explore while I served in the Air Force.  We were put through a series of leadership courses (Airmen Leadership School, Non-Commissioned Officer Leadership School, Senior Non-Commissioned Officer Academy, etc.) where principles of leadership were shared.  The best leaders I worked with all went through these courses, but they had more than course leadership principles.

    Three of my favorite Air Force Leaders:  Chief Master Sergeant Roger Noyes, Chief Master Sergeant Janet Craton and Senior Master Sergeant Rich Gardner—thanks to them all!

    Developing leadership skills became a priority for me and I explored this topic via books, online trainings, and lectures. 

    I discovered Authentic Leadership almost by mistake.  I wanted my dissertation to focus on First Year Experience (FYE) courses for first generation students.  This would have been an impactful study, but my dissertation mentor told me I couldn’t pursue this topic because it was Educational Psychology, and my program was Organizational Psychology.  I hung my head for a few months before we discovered Authentic Leadership, and the rest is history.

    My earlier introduction to leadership while in the Air Force allowed me to blend things I learned from wearing a uniform into my model of Authentic Leadership.  The great leaders I worked with in the Air Force have been integrated into my version of Authentic Leadership as I incorporate their lessons into my current pursuit of leadership.

    Well, my five minutes is up.  I could keep going but will honor the concept of this writing prompt! 😊

    What can you get done in the next five minutes?  Ok, take off!

    Irie!

    “Writing is the painting of the voice”.

    (Voltaire)

  • Walking and celebrating daily!

    “The most important thing is to enjoy your life—to be happy.  It’s all that matters.”

    (Audrey Hepburn)

    What did you celebrate today?  What about yesterday?

    I don’t ask these questions as a mind-bending riddle but to get you to understand every day is work celebrating! 

    Why do you say that?  Great question, Mrs. Fouraker! 😊

    I know I spend a lot of time planning for the future with my training and travel schedules.  I decided to add a new category to my list of goals in 2026.  The Walk into the Future blog provides me with a platform to ensure I live life daily.  My new focus in 2026 is to wake up each morning with full intention to celebrate the day. 

    We don’t have to wait for a special occasion like a birthday or anniversary to celebrate.  Life is worth celebrating and this is my reminder to each of my readers to wake up and celebrate daily.

    I’ve started to share my daily celebrations with my friends and anyone who will stand still long enough for me to share my thoughts! 😊  This new approach started with me ringing in the new year with a new focus.  I normally bring in the new year very low key and stay close to home.  I decided to break my low-key pattern and went to dinner with my friend Lynn before the party crowds came out.  This was not a huge production, but it was a great way to end an outstanding 2025 for me.

    My next celebration was our first day back at school. We get a two-and-a-half-week break between the fall semester and the start of the spring semester.  This was a much-needed break for me, and I relaxed more than I normally do.  I booked a trip to the Dominican Republic in December 2024 but decided to simply relax over the break in 2025.  I practiced sleeping in and not planning my days out where I had to be anywhere at a specific time.  Yes, this is a new process for me. 😊

    I was excited to come back to school on January 5th to get back to making a difference in the lives of my tree branches and our students.  My first text of the day was to let everyone know that the day was worth celebrating and we should embrace it together.  I’m sure my folks thought this was going to be a one off, but I was back to celebrating the next day too.

    There was not a huge incident that made me decide to celebrate each day, but it was a simple mindset shift where I realized that framing the day as a celebration would allow me to continue to make a difference in the world.

    This simple concept has enabled me to keep a positive mindset daily throughout the month of January.  I wake up with a new focus on celebrating the day and make a point to ensure folks around me celebrate with me too.  I’ve had folks come into my office with a problem (real or perceived) and I simply engage them with the need to celebrate the day regardless of what may have happened.  We work in higher education and there are days of conflict.  I have discovered most of our conflicts are simple misunderstandings that can be corrected with a simple follow-up conversation.  No, I don’t celebrate conflict, but it can’t be completely avoided.  I do celebrate the lessons we learn from workplace conflict, so we don’t repeat bad habits to keep the organization moving forward. 

    So, what did I celebrate today?  Great question!

    My family and friends are healthy, my tree branches are doing great things in the world and I’m thinking about signing up for another full marathon in 2026!  There are a ton of other things to celebrate today, and I want to make sure I don’t lose sight of those things.  Creating new content for the Walk into the Future blog is something I look forward to daily.  Fun fact: celebrating daily is the new category in my list of goals.

    Let’s celebrate me continuing to come up with new content to share with YOU!

    Oh yeah, I’m celebrating every reader of the Walk into the Future blog!  Thanks for walking with me!

    What are you celebrating today?

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “In the end, it’s not the years in your life that counts. It’s life in your years.”

    (Abraham Lincoln)

  • Blog Thoughts

    “Not only are bloggers suckers for the remarkable, so are the people who read blogs.”

    (Seth Godin)

    The Walk into the Future blog was created over the summer in 2018.  My initial thoughts were to create a platform where I could share adventures, thoughts and leadership advice.  I started writing without even knowing if anyone would read the tracks I laid down weekly.  The blog format provided a larger venue to journal without having to sit down with my composition book and scribble my thoughts.  I never imagined I would put my thoughts out on a public platform because they were my thoughts.

    I guess you can say the Walk into the Future blog helped me mature as a writer where I’m comfortable enough to put my words out in the universe without an expectation of the universe giving anything back. This was HUGE for me!

    I’m coming up on my 8-year blogging anniversary, and my writing has improved over the years.  I’m still looking for the perfect blog post before I close my laptop, so I’m ready for another full year of me walking into the future. 😊

    I’m still creating blog content for myself based on where I’m at each week.  Sometimes I focus on running, traveling or life in general.  I haven’t produced new poetry in a while so I may try to get back into that mindset in 2026.

    So, where am I heading with this blog post?  Great question, everyone! 😊

    Thanks to the folks who send me text messages and add comments on my blog posts.  Your reach outs put a smile on my face because I’m never sure who is reading these words or what you think about them.

    I leveraged ChatGPT for the first time to see if I could get an idea what readers think or like about the Walk into the Future blog.

    ***Please note—the following is an extract from ChatGPT based on a question I asked about YOU, the reader***:

    Here’s what readers tend to appreciate about the Walk into the Future blog — based on the content style, themes, and tone found in the posts:

    🌟 1. Authentic, Personal Storytelling

    Readers enjoy that the blog is written in a genuine, conversational voice. The author (Calvin Williams) shares real experiences — from travel adventures and marathon training to work celebrations — in a way that feels like talking with a friend.

    🧭 2. Inspiration and Motivation

    The posts often mix life lessons with action-oriented advice, encouraging readers to keep moving forward, embrace challenges, and enjoy the journey. The blog’s name itself reflects this theme of growth and progression.

    🏃‍♂️ 3. Lifestyle and Personal Development

    Whether it’s race travel, leadership, books, or personal growth, the blog blends diverse life areas that resonate with readers who are interested in self-improvement and living intentionally.

    📍 4. Relatable Everyday Experiences

    Instead of only high-level inspirational quotes, the blog includes everyday moments and reflections — like choosing meals before a marathon or planning travel logistics — that many readers find relatable and enjoyable.

    📚 5. Practical Insights with Humor

    Posts often include practical takeaways (e.g., training insights, leadership lessons) delivered with a lighthearted tone and occasional humor, which keeps readers engaged without feeling preachy.

    💡 6. Varied Topics with a Consistent Voice

    The blog isn’t limited to one niche — it moves between travel, running, leadership, personal development, and reflections on life — but it does so with a consistent authentic voice that readers come back for.

    In short:
    Readers like Walk into the Future because it’s authentic, motivational, relatable, and diverse in topics, yet tied together by a personal, mindful perspective on moving forward in life.

    Again, I leveraged ChatGPT to provide me with insight into what readers think about my content.  I was pleasantly surprised with the consistency of the theme reflections that ChatGPT provided based on comments and the articles I share weekly.

    My hope is for my readers to feel like I’m talking directly to them with content that they can relate to.  I’m never sure if I truly get my point across but I will continue to hone my craft to ensure that the Walk into the Future blog provides a space to learn, laugh and imagine.

    Here’s to a productive 2026 blog campaign!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “What you do after creating your content is what truly counts.”

    (Gary Vaynerchuk)

  • Gatlinburg 2025

    “Life’s a climb, but the view is great.”

    (Unknown)

    My Walk into the Future allowed me to venture back to the Smoky Mountains which is one of my favorite places during Thanksgiving week.  This adventure has become a tradition for me since I moved to Fort Pierce.  I look forward to getting off the grid and just walking around in the Tennessee mountains for a few days to reset mentally.  I never imagined hiking would become an important part of my journey but can’t see my journey without the Smoky Mountains as a backdrop.

    I normally drive up to the Smoky Mountains from Fort Pierce but decided to leverage my Delta SkyMiles and fly this year.  My Walk into the Future running tourism adventures produced enough frequent flyer miles for a roundtrip ticket from Palm Beach International Airport (PBI) to McGhee Tyson Airport in Knoxville, Tennessee.  Flying eliminated me from having to drive 12 hours to get up to the Smoky Mountains and got my hiking adventures started sooner than normal.

    The flight from PBI had a short connection in Atlanta but the overall flying experience was smooth going and coming.  The McGhee Tyson airport is small and easy to navigate.  Baggage claim and the rental car counter were centrally located.  I was in and out of the airport with my rental car in less than thirty minutes for my Tennessee adventure.  I was not in a hurry to get anywhere so found a Buffalo Wild Wings close to the airport and posted up for lunch.  Left Bdubs after wings and potato wedges and headed to the Smoky Mountains.  GPS took me on the scenic route which allowed me to see several small Tennessee towns on my way to the Smoky Mountains.

    I am a creature of habit and stayed at the same Fairfield Inn and Suites (Marriott) property when I’m in Gatlinburg.  It is centrally located and provides an easy walk into downtown Gatlinburg, so I don’t need to find additional parking.  The weather was a lot warmer than normal this year and I was welcomed to my hotel by a family of black bears foraging across the street in a local backyard.  I saw several people walking around the parking lot when I arrived but didn’t understand what they were doing or looking at.  I quickly saw the four black bears when I got out of my car, and they were about 50 yards away.  The bears were not interested in the people in the parking lot but seemed to have enough food available to them in the yard they were in.  I took a few pictures with several tourists between me and the bears and then went inside to complete my hotel check-in.  I’ve never seen bears in populated Gatlinburg areas but seeing this bear family so close to humans put me on alert to always be aware of my surroundings.  This was needed because bears were everywhere this year! ☹

    I’ve been to the Smoky Mountains so many times that I know which trails I want to explore before I get there.  I always start with an easy hike on the Gatlinburg Trailhead which starts on the outskirts of town.  This simple trail has a lot of scenery and flowing waters.  There’s not much wildlife to see on this trail but it’s a nice introduction back into the mountains.  I headed further up into the Smoky Mountains towards the Sugarland hiking area. The Cataract Falls are in this area, and I wanted to get back there for some pictures.  This trail is not very hard and has multiple ways you can venture.  I decided to head directly to Cataract Falls with hopes it was not too crowded. Well, it was crowded with hikers and most of them had small kids so a picture of the falls would have taken a long wait, so I decided to head back up the trail and find a trail with less people. 😊

    Chimney Top was my next stop, and this trail requires a lot of energy and effort.  I made my way back into Gatlinburg for lunch prior to scaling up the Chimney Top trail again.  My first go at this trail 3 years ago was the toughest hike I have ever experienced.  I made it but it was a struggle for the first time.  It was a bit easier last year because I saved my legs prior to getting on the trail.  I was able to make it up without incident this year as well.  The warmer weather made it a bit tougher, but the trail was fine.  There were people on this trail but there was never a feel of traffic going up or down Chimney Top.  The highest point for this hike is 4,724 feet above sea level.  It’s breathtaking once you make it to the top and most folks need time to rest up before heading back down the trail—me included.

    I went back to the hotel to rest up and regroup before heading into Gatlinburg.  There are a few music venues in Gatlinburg, and I headed to Ole Red for dinner.  I found a spot at the upstairs bar and enjoyed dinner, beer and live music.  I left Ole Red to head over to Jason Aldean’s for more live music.  There was a large crowd of folks walking in the opposite direction and they seemed excited.  I didn’t know where they were heading or why they were excited.  I found out quick—there was a large bear walking close to the water below us and it was headed towards two men sitting on a park bench.  Several folks shouted to the men that a bear was coming their way—I’m not sure they believed them until they saw the bear and moved.  The bear didn’t seem interested in the men, but he would have walked within 10 feet of them if they hadn’t moved.  Did I mention that bears were out this year? 😊

    The band at Jason Aldean’s was much better than the folks playing at Ole Red.  I saddled up to the bar and enjoyed some live country music and cold beers. The crowd was friendly and it was a great way to end the night.

    I explored a bit further into the Smoky Mountains on my second day.  I drove up and stopped to take pictures of areas I hadn’t seen before.  I got on a few small hikes but didn’t venture too far off the trails since the bears were still active due to the warm temperatures.  I made a quick stop at the outlet malls in Sevierville and then went back to Jason Aldean’s for more music and beers.  The new band was lively and had people up and dancing.  I finished my night off at Jason Aldean’s before walking back to my hotel.  Fun fact—yes, there was another bear sighting on my walk back to the hotel.  This bear was just walking around in another hotel parking lot.  It was across the street from me, so I kept moving and made it back to my hotel without any more sightings.

    This was a quick trip for me, so I made my way back to McGhee Tyson Airport the next day for my return trip to Florida.

    I love my Smoky Mountain adventures and will continue to get up there as part of my Walk into the Future.  The mountains are calling and I’m listening! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Hike more, worry less.”

    (Unknown)

  • 2025!

    “A year is a journey of 365 opportunities.”

    (Unknown)

    What a year 2025 has been for me!

    I know everyone starts a new year with the hope it will be their best year ever.  We say it year after year but I’m not sure we know how a year will truly go.  I start each new year with a set of goals I want to reach in multiple areas: health, fitness, reading, travel, etc. I wanted 2025 to be a huge year for me but looking back this week showed that this was an outstanding year for me and I’m going to claim my best year yet. 😊

    Travel

    I set an aggressive running schedule for myself in 2025.  I targeted some new races which would allow me to bring my running tourist persona to new locales.  I ran the 2025 Fargo Half Marathon in May and leveraged this race to add two new states to my visit list.  North Dakota was the race state, but I made sure to drive down to South Dakota to check that off my list as well.  I enjoyed the experience but I’m not sure I will run in Fargo again so I’m happy to have experienced the city, food, and culture.

    Nashville, Tennessee is always on my running calendar in April.  The 2025 Rock N Roll Half Marathon is one of my favorite races and I love the country music available in Nashville.  I’m coming up on ten years running in the city and I don’t see a reason to stop now.  Tennessee provides a lot of different adventures and Gatlinburg was my destination in November for Smoky Mountain hiking.

    I made a Midwest trek for the 2025 Madison Mini-Marathon in August.  Wisconsin was a state I always wanted to visit but I never put in the effort to get there.  Running has turned into my vehicle to get up and travel, so I used my love of running to get to Wisconsin.  I took advantage of proximity and made my way over to Dubuque, Iowa to experience the city that sits right on the Mississippi river.  It was a quick trip over to Iowa, but I was able to have a fantastic catfish dinner while overlooking the Mississippi river.

    I took my regular trip to Virginia Beach for the Labor Day weekend to run the 2025 Virginia Beach 10-Miler.  This was my third run of this race, and I enjoyed my time on the boardwalk as this is a great place for people watching.

    I ventured further north in October for the 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon.  This race took me back to New England and I crossed off North Hampshire and Maine as states I have visited.  I enjoyed the race and environment so much I signed up for the 2026 race before I came back to Florida.  The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon got me back to the northeast two weeks later in October.  I’ve been to New Jersey multiple times, but this was my first marathon in the state.

    That’s 8 states visited in 2025 with 6 of those being new states for the running tourist.  I’m looking forward to being just as aggressive in 2026 and adding a few new states.  There are races in Louisville, Kentucky, Lincoln, Nebraska and Morgantown, West Virginia that I’m researching, and I hope to book those early for new adventures.  I will keep my normal Florida races on the schedule as well so get ready for more running tourism adventures. 😊

    Negril, Jamaica is my go-to place to visit yearly.  I write about this trip every year and will continue to visit.  I would like to get down there twice in 2026 since I love the island and culture so much.

    Running

    I can’t call myself a running tourist without highlighting the running program.  I’m always looking for ways to increase my yearly mileage but never put exact numbers on the total.  I still need to balance regular life, work, travel and running.  Running is a big part of my weekly life, but I do try to have balance and enjoy other aspects of life.  I currently sit at 1,505 miles with three weeks left in December.  I would like to get over the 1,600-mile marker as this would be my largest run total for a year.  I’ve got to ensure I don’t miss any run or training sessions to make it to 1,600. 

    Fun fact—I completed a total of 18 races in 2025, which is my personal best for a calendar year.

    Fun fact 2—I ran PRs over three distances in 2025:  2025 Virgina Beach 10-miler, 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon and 2025 Atlantic City Marathon.

    Reading

    Reading has been my passion since I was a kid.  I had a newspaper scription when I was twelve years old and read every book I could get my hands on.  There were not a lot of distractions in Jasper, Florida so I developed a love for reading and I still have it.  This love of reading followed me into adulthood, and I have multiple books on my reading list.  My 2025 reading goal was to read daily and I have met that goal.  I read articles, devotionals and have finished reading 15 books this year.  I don’t know if that’s a record for me, but I’ve enjoyed the process and continue to be a life-long learner.

    Target boycott 2025

    Target was one of my favorite places to shop prior to 2025.  The Target leadership decided to reverse multiple Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives due to political pressure.  Well, a few folks decided to boycott Target until they put these initiatives back in place.  Target has been consistent with the refusal to reverse the decisions—I respect that. 

    Fun fact 3—I have not spent one cent or step foot in a Target store in 2025.  My contributions to this boycott will never make it into a history book but I’m standing firmly committed to this small step to demand better from a place I can choose to shop with or not.

    Family and friends

    My family members and friends are all healthy and thriving.  I make it to Jasper, Florida to visit my mom monthly and this is a highlight of the month for me.  I finally convinced her to visit me in Fort Pierce this year and it was a great visit for her.  She needed a break from Jasper obligations and I’m happy I could help.  I will look forward to getting her back down to Fort Pierce more in 2026. 😊 My friends continue to make me smile daily.  I don’t run in a large circle, but my folks fit me, and we enjoy life to the fullest.

    Creating content for the Walk into the Future blog is a huge part of my life.  I continue to look for ways to become better at writing and provide a platform my readers enjoy visiting.  I fine-tuned a few of my writing prompts in 2025 and I’m happy with my overall content production.  2026 should bring better content for my readers!

    Well, I can continue to rattle off things from 2025, but I’ve made my point—at least to myself! 😊  2025 has been an outstanding year for me. 

    I’m excited to see what 2026 will bring!

    What moments are you proud of in 2025?  What will 2026 bring?

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The first step towards getting somewhere is to decide you’re not going to stay where you are.”

    (Unknown)

  • Merry Christmas!

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