Walk Into the Future

Author: WalkintotheFuture

  • My Tree Tattoo

    “That person is like a tree planted by streams of water, which yields fruit in season and whose leaf does not wither—whatever they do prospers”.

    (Psalms 1:3)

    My favorite part of the bible is Proverbs.  I have been reading Proverbs daily for 15+ years to continue to gain insight and wisdom to help me daily.  I share this process with anyone who will sit still and listen to me and have convinced a few others to join me on this journey.

    One of my 2022 goals was to read more and expand my readings beyond Proverbs.  Psalms was recommended and I decided to accept to gain new insight and understanding.  This concept fits directly into the Walk into the Future concept that started this blog.

    I have referred to my tree branches—people I mentor or share knowledge with daily.  We have been on this journey together and I view my role in their development as an important part of my daily mission. 

    The tree concept has been with me for a while now and I continue to add branches as my Walk into the Future grows and gains momentum into a platform to help others move forward in life.  I view everyone who reads and/or follows this blog as tree branches now and my role is to bring new insight, knowledge, and entertainment to you.  Thanks for joining me on this journey!

    What does all this have to do with a tattoo?  Great question tree branches!

    I have been talking and writing about being a tree and began looking for something that was unique to me and would represent a true meaning visually.  There are a ton of tree images available, but I wanted something that reflects me and my journey.

    I have taken and seen a ton of tree photos, but nothing really jumped out or had the image that would represent me and my tree branches.

    I ventured to Southern Shore, North Carolina back in October 2021 to spend some time exploring the North Carolina Outer Bank with a friend who lives up there.  Always heard great things about this part of the country and was happy to accept the invitation to come up for a long weekend and explore.  I was not a running tourist for this trip so had plenty of time to see the sights, sit on the beach and discover great food spots.

    My friend and I made a trip to Aqua Restaurant to sit on the deck, enjoy some great food and catch a fantastic sunset.  https://aquarestaurantobx.com/

    We ventured down to the waterfront after dinner to get some pictures of the sun setting over the sound.  We were able to capture this photo while chasing the sunset.

    I understood this was a magnificent photo and shared it with several friends and included it in the blog article I wrote about my trip to North Carolina.  Never viewed the photo as unique but the more I looked for images to signify my tree and branches I kept coming back to this image.

    Ventured into the Scared Dagger tattoo shop in Vero Beach to discuss the image and possibility of getting some artwork done by them.  A local friend and her daughter got work done at this shop and highly recommended the artist who worked on them.  I showed him the image and we discussed the size of the tattoo and location I wanted to have it done.

    We agreed on the details, and I made an appointment to have him complete the work.  Fast forward and he did an amazing job capturing the image and replicating it on my leg.  I was amazed how well he translated the details from the photo into my tree tattoo.

    The tree branches are very distinct and provide the tree with power to grow, provide shade, comfort, and a level of peace (my thoughts).

    Reflect on Psalms 1:3—the tree helps us prosper!  😊

    May have to make my way back up to Duck, North Carolina for more tree inspirations!

    How impactful is YOUR tree?  How many tree branches do you have?

    Irie!

  • Poetic Flow: Find Your Light

    Light 1

    Out of the darkness comes the light

           Each day is a struggle of life

              The trials of the world weigh you down

       Life comes fast…like intersections choke full of traffic

        No direction…no director; just darkness

          Out of the darkness comes the light

         Find your direction, become the director

            Act, make it happen

           Open your eyes, it doesn’t have to be dark all the time

    (Fort Pierce Inlet)  

  • 2023 Winter Park 10k

    WP 1

    “If it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you”.

    (Fred Devito)

    Ventured back to the Orlando area for the Track Shack 2023 Winter Park 10k.

    This was my 5th time toeing the start line for the race but the first time I did not enter with a set finish time in mind.  I spent the past 4 weeks recovering from Piriformis Syndrome and my training was limited prior to the race.  Yes, this sounds like an excuse, but I was excited to race pain free again.  Decided this race would be my test to determine how well I recovered and make a final decision on the 2023 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April.  Pain in this race would have eliminated me from traveling to Nashville to tackle the hills up there.

    Made my way to Track Shack on Friday before the 10k to pick up my race packet and do some shopping.  I’m always looking to get new Track Shack gear and wanted to make sure I had time to check out the new selections and colors.  It appears a lot of runners had the same idea—the line was out the door when I arrived.  This is the first time I’ve experienced a long line at Track Shack, but this was an indication race capacity was full this year.

    I didn’t do a major carb load process for the 10k but made my way to the UCF Buffalo Wild Wings to indulge in wings, potato wedges and beer.  This is the meal I leveraged to launch me into the 10k.  Made sure to get to bed early so I could make my way over to Winter Park with enough time to warm up, stretch and test out my legs prior to race time.  I wanted to get a two-mile warm up before the race to ensure I was ready to complete the 6.2 miles with minimum leg issues.  There’s a lot of activity around the Winter Park race village—vendors, runners and the Saturday Farmers Market are all in the same area.  Great place to watch people.

    Made my way to the 10-minute per mile section of the starting corral.  I didn’t want to be too close to the front because my competitive nature would have taken over and I would have pressed the pace.  Figured limiting my starting position would keep me from going out too fast and possibly aggravating my leg again. 

    The race was crowded, and the first mile was slow not necessarily by choice but because there were so many runners.  This worked in my favor since I couldn’t go fast even if I wanted too at this point of the race.

    The runners started to thin out a bit around mile 2 and again after mile 3.  I did not experience any pain through this point of the race and settled into a nice clip and started to enjoy the process of racing again.  I leveraged a couple of runners for pacing to help me keep a consistent pace through the middle portion of the race.  Mentally processed the concept of speeding up but decided to just enjoy the course, great weather and being around other runners.  There was no need to push the pace or myself at this point and didn’t want to create a situation where the piriformis became irritated.

    I increased my cadence at mile 6 when we made our way back onto Park Avenue.  There were a ton of spectators at this juncture, and I pressed the pace a bit to see what I had available for the end of the race.  I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and no pain in my legs.

    Finished in 1:02:39 and made my way over to the race village to get my beer and take a few pictures while there.  Got a chance to catch up with a few runners I know from the Track Shack circuit and did some light shopping at the Farmers Market.

    Happy with my performance and not aggravating my running injury.  Looks like I’m clear to travel to Nashville and tackle the Music City hills.

    Of course, I will get in some line dancing and country music while I’m there.  😊

    Irie!

  • 2023 adjustments

    10k

    My 2022 running season allowed me to meet every running goal I set for myself.  I have been lucky and fortunate to avoid injuries or other physical setbacks.

    2023 has not been so fortunate for me.  No major injury this year but an old friend decided to check back in during the 2023 Run for your Heart 10k back in February.  This was a new race for me, and it appeared I would be able to run a fast time since this course was completely flat and my training program was geared to keep me running fast in 2023.

    Penn Medical Center defines sciatica as pain, weakness, numbness, or tingling in the leg caused by injury to or pressure on the sciatic nerve.  Piriformis syndrome is one of the common causes of sciatica and develops when the piriformis muscle becomes tight or spasms (Cleveland Clinic).  The Cleveland Clinic identified about 40% of people in U.S. experience sciatica sometimes during their life.  My bout occurred during a race!  LOL.

    I’ve had bouts in the past but was able to shake off in a couple weeks. 

    This episode came as a first since my latest sciatica experience came at the 3.5-mile point of the 2023 Run for Your Heart 10k in Port St. Lucie.  Past episodes came about gradually but this one came as I was pushing my pace for a 10k PR.

    Decided at the race start line to go out with a pace I could improve on as the race got deeper.  My plan was to run negative splits each mile and get faster to close out the race.

    This plan worked brilliantly through the first 3 miles, and I felt great physically and mentally.  Started to smile more as I logged good mile splits and knew I was on pace to go below 55 minutes for the 10k.

    I felt a slight twinge in my left hamstring at the 3.5-mile turnaround point on the course.  I didn’t think much about it since leg soreness comes with running.  Kept pushing the pace with designs the hamstring would work itself out so I could continue my quest towards a PR.

    This fallacy soon left my mind and body as the hamstring pain intensified to the point; I thought I was cramping.  Slowed down a bit with hopes the cramp would go away but it didn’t, and pain continued to intensify.  Decided to pull over and stretch it out but that didn’t help either.  This was a first for me during a race but continued moving forward with the hopes the cramp would go away.  The PR was the last thing on my mind at this point.  I just wanted to finish the race upright and I did.

    Finished the race with no distinguishing kick—I eased to the finish line ahead of some of the 5k participants with the crowd cheering me to go faster.  I ignored them completely.  LOL.

    Crossed the finish line with a grimace on my face but upright.  Made my way to get water and refreshments with hopes this would take the cramp away.  Please note, I refer to this as a cramp because that’s what I thought was happening. 

    Finished with a time of 1:02 (one hour, two seconds).

    It took me a couple of days and lack of response to treatment to realize this was not a cramp. I have not had a sciatic episode in years and sometimes forget how it feels.  Also, it has NEVER occurred during physical activity.

    I began treating the sciatica with Epsom salt, ice, heat, and my massage gun.  This all helped but it didn’t go away.  Decided to take a few days off from running to see if that would help.  This was the first forced break from running for me in years.  Felt funny but was necessary since my leg was experiencing nerve pain.

    Hoping the pain subsides in time for the 2023 Calgary Stampede 10k in two weeks.

    Fingers crossed!  Piriformis syndrome sucks!  LOL.

    NOTE1:  I don’t publish articles in the order I write them—just when I’m done with the editing process.

    NOTE2:  I ran the 2023 Calgary Stampede and still had piriformis issues—made it to mile 5 before slowing.  Decided to skip the 2023 Orlando Best Damn Half Marathon and the 2023 Virginia Beach Shamrock Half Marathon.  First time I’ve signed up for races and not go to the race sight.

    NOTE3:  I wrote 90% of this article on my phone with SAMSUNG Notes while flying back from Jamaica over spring break.  This is the first time I used my phone to write a blog article.  This opens me up for additional writing opportunities to capture my thoughts and develop new content.  Exciting times for the Walk into the Future blog!  😊

  • 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

    Celebration c

    “Running is great for your body.  It will increase your energy levels and helps you to clear your mind”.

    (Heidi Klum)

    FYI—I selected the 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon because I did not want to do the double bridge crossing which is part of the Melbourne Publix Half Marathon again.  I used the term diabolical to describe that race and did not want to go through that pain again.

    The Town of Celebration race is the week prior, and I scouted this race for over 8 months to see how other runners felt about running in this small little town just south of Walt Disney World.

    Well, let me tell you, this is my new favorite half marathon, and I will be running this one again for many years to come.

    I had never visited Celebration, Florida and barely heard the town’s name in the past.  I think most people just assume anything close to Disney World is part of Orlando.  Celebration is in Osceola County, and it has a small town feel because it is a small town:  https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Celebration,_Florida

    Made my way over to Celebration the day prior to the race.  I wanted to explore a bit and get a better feel for the town, the race course and the parking situation.  There were several emails that identified parking would be limited and for runners to arrive early on race day.  Did not know what all that meant but I learned a valuable lesson at the 2022 OUC Half Marathon and wanted to make sure I had time to stretch and warm up.

    Packet pickup was conducted at Celebration Lakeside Park and was straightforward.  Arrive, get your race packet, gifts, take a few photos and then move on.  There was not an EXPO for this event as they wanted runners to get in and out to maximize the limited parking downtown.  I was able to explore a bit and get some nice pictures around town.  I wanted to continue my carb loading process and Googled Italian restaurants.  Did not need Google as Reggiano’s of Celebration was directly across the street from packet pickup.    There were other options close by but wanted to experience something unique to Celebration.  There were a lot of runners and family walking around town, but Reggiano’s did not have a large crowd yet.  Made my way to the bar and posted up to get some great food and atmosphere.

    Reggiano’s has a large menu, and they specialize in pizza—multiple varieties available on the menu.  Decided to stay with my tried-and-true selection, chicken parmesan with pasta.  The portions are huge so take that into account if you visit Reggiano’s.  Got my traditional bud light draft, water and extra bed and dug into my meal.  Several runners were in the restaurant enjoying the carbs and great food.

    Left Reggiano’s and did some window shopping to look for a refrigerator magnet to add to my collection.  Had to visit a few stores to get the one I wanted and made my way back to my car to head to the hotel to get off my feet.

    Picked a hotel that was less than two miles from the race start line so felt comfortable with getting back downtown prior to the race with plenty of time to warm up.  Laid out my race outfit, hydrated a bit more and watch some TV before going to bed early to tackle the 13.1 miles coming the next morning.

    My friend, Lauren texted me and asked what my projected time would be the next morning.  I felt good with my race preparation and mentally approach so I replied I planned to run 2:08 (two hours and eight minutes).  Remember, I had just run 2:15:03 in Vero Beach the weekend prior so I came into the race looking to knock off 7 minutes.  The weather in Celebration was a lot cooler than Vero Beach and there were no bridges—the course is completely flat with a few boardwalks to navigate so felt good with my projected time.

    Made my way back downtown the next morning and found parking a few blocks away from the starting line.  The citizens of Celebration embrace the event and didn’t seem to have problems with a bunch of visitors parking in front of their houses. 

    I had plenty of time to stretch and warmup and took advantage of it for this race.  The temperature was in the low 50s and made for a great way to start the race.  I made my way into the start corral and got set in the 9-minute per mile block and waited for the fun to start.

    I was able to speak with and catch up with a few runners I knew from the Orlando area and a couple that came over from Fort Pierce as well—it was great seeing some hometown runners over in Celebration. 

    I felt relaxed, comfortable, and ready to go.

    Fast forward and the winding course hit every major point of interest in Celebration.  There were not a bunch of spectators out but the ones who came out were great and provided a lot of support to runners.  I settled into my pace during the early portions of the race and did not worry about other runners or how fast they started the race.  I had the number 2:08 in my head and wanted to see if I could hit it.  Fun fact, the race time was not my driving force, but this was the most enjoyable half marathon I have ever run.  2:05 is my best half marathon time set at the OUC Half Marathon back in 2019 so I have been faster and will be again.

    My mile splits were:

    Mile 1:  9:20/ Mile 2:  9:29 / Mile 3:  9:31 / Mile 4:  9:28 / Mile 5: 9:44 / Mile 6:  9:38 / Mile 7:  9:52 / Mile 8:  10:19 / Mile 9:  10:03 / Mile 10:  9:47 / Mile 11:  10:20 / Mile 12:  10:06 / Mile 13:  10:10 / Mile .1 / 1:32

    I slowed a bit at the 8-mile markers as we had to navigate a narrow portion of the boardwalk.  It was not conducive to passing other runners and there were multiple twists and turns during this portion.  I didn’t fall off a cliff but believe I could have kept running at the 9-minute clips but I’m extremely happy with my pacing and times throughout the race.

    I finished the race in 2:09:18 so I was only 18 seconds off the time I shared with Lauren.  Not bad, huh?  😊

    I crossed the finish line with a smile on my face and felt great with my effort during this race.  I was able to call my time, put in the work and see the training pay off with a really good time.

    The BEST part of the race is the after party! 

    Most races provide beer and donuts to runners, but the Town of Celebration throws a party.  Every restaurant in town has a booth and each runner gets a food passport to eat their way around town (figuratively).  I hit most of the booths with some being a repeat for me—the beer and mimosa stations at 9 am in the morning were very popular.  I was not in a rush to leave so soaked in all the town of Celebration had to offer.  I decided during the afterparty this would be a race I run every year.  I’m ready to sign up for the 2024 race but registration is not open yet. LOL.

    I’ve got a few races lined up for the 2023 racing season but I’m sure this will be the highlight race for me.  This little town has set the bar extremely high for others.

    Irie!

    “Run often.  Run long.  But never outrun your joy of running”.

    (Julie Isphording)

    https://www.celebrationmarathon.com/packet-pickup.html

  • 2023 Vero Beach Half Marathon

    Vero a

    “One run can change your day; many runs can change your life”.

    (Unknown)

    The first half marathon of 2023 was a repeat from 2022.  The 2023 Vero Beach Half Marathon was a late December addition to my race calendar.

    I ran this race for the first time in 2022 and was able to conquer the double bridge crossing and complete one of my fastest half marathons of the racing season.  The weather was unseasonably cool in 2022 but it was about 25 degrees warmer this year. 

    I was still coming off my full marathon high and training program so entered this race with a bit of momentum.  My good time from last year and training program factored into my mental approach to the race.

    There was not a large EXPO for this event.  Packet pickup was conducted outside of a local brewery in Vero Beach.  Not much activity at this event so grabbed my bib, t-shirt, and a couple craft beers while I was there.  The beer selection was pretty good and happy I made a pit stop at the American Icon Brewery:  https://www.americaniconbrewery.com/home/

    Left the American Icon Brewery and headed to Olive Garden to carb load to fuel up for the next morning.  Got my traditional Chicken parmesan and extra bread sticks to ensure my carb tank was on high.  FYI, I started the carb loading process 6 days prior, so this meal was a way to top off the carbs already in my system.

    Headed home to get some rest before the big day.  Did another check of the weather forecast to determine what was in store for the next morning.  It was not projected to be hot at the race start but the temperature was projected to rise quite a bit before the race was complete.

    Made the short 30-minute drive back up to Vero Beach on race day.  Wanted to get there with plenty of time to park and then stretch/warmup before the race got started.  I did not show up with a particular finish time in mind but wanted to match or exceed last year’s 2:11:05 time. 

    This race did not have pace times listed at the start line so decided to line up in the middle of the starting pack so I could gradually build my pace during the race.  Also didn’t want to risk bumping into slower runners/walkers while waiting for the pack to thin out a bit.

    Went out with a controlled pace because we enter the first bridge crossing at the 1-mile marker and the steep incline forces runners to adjust the running pace to get up and over.  I stayed controlled as I made my way up the bridge and then allowed a faster pace on the down slope.  Didn’t want to overextend myself on the up or down slope considering I would have to return and complete this process again within the first 5 miles of the race.

    The race and my pace settled quite a bit once we got off the bridge and headed towards the famed Vero Beach waterfront area.  This is a smaller race and there are only a handful of people out this time of the day to cheer for runners.  Most of the spectators were in this area as they cheered for the runners and enjoyed the early morning walks on the beach.  I experienced a bit of discomfort in my right leg at this point but nothing that would keep me from completing the race—this discomfort went away after another mile, and I was able to press forward.

    Fast forward and the racecourse goes through multiple Vero Beach neighborhoods so it was great to experience this city as a running tourist. 

    I started to pick up my pace once we got 10 miles into the race.  Wanted to finish strong but realized my pace was off from last year’s race.  Decided to finish as strong as possible so I could get snacks and free craft beer at the finish line.  This was my best tactical race in 2022 but I could not match the same level in 2023.

    I crossed the finish line in 2:15:03 with a smile on my face.  The marathon training has made completing half marathons a lot more enjoyable because I don’t get as sore as in the past.  Got my medal, commendable beach towel and photos in the finish line area.  Made my way to the American Icon Brewery stand for my two free beers and stretch a bit.

    Met one of my best friends at Mulligan’s Beach House for breakfast and more beer.  We had a great view as we sat on the beach, had great food and conversation on a Sunday morning.

    What a great way to start my racing season! 😊

    Next stop, the 2023 Town of Celebration Half Marathon—irie!

    “Running is the basis of all training that I do…it’s like an escape”.

    (Ellie Goulding)

  • Poetic Flow / Hope

    Day 1 n

    Hope springs eternal as

    I search the distant landscape

    The path I choose will determine my fate

    The goal is to win the daily grind

    Which path will I take?

    Determination sets the course as the search continues

    Multiple options, multiple venues

    Working towards the important things in life

    Without trying the only thing left is strife

  • Negril 2023

    Day 1 Calvin

    The Walk into the Future blog went back home to Negril, Jamaica over Spring break last week.  Decided I wanted to get back down for some sun, fun, rum, and reggae.  Mission accomplished.

    Spent most of my time relaxing but got some good reading in while making time to break out my snorkel gear.  Not much into the tourist activities but enjoy hanging with the locals and seeing the island from their perspective.

    Documented this trip with pictures instead of my usual word play:

    Day 1

    Day 2

    Day 3

    This was a good trip for me.  Love to explore and get great pictures while in Jamaica.  Looking at traveling to the Dominican Republic or the Turks and Caicos on my next adventure.

    Which one would you pick?

    Irie!

  • 2023 Goals

    “If you can dream it, you can do it”.

    (Walt Disney)

    Goals continue to be a huge difference maker as my Walk into the Future extends into the fifth year of existence.

    I never make New Year’s Resolution but discovered creating a set of yearly goals allows me to track my progress and see personal and professional growth.  This process has been working well for me so no need to adjust it for 2023.

    My goals are broken up into several categories to ensure I display a level of depth and growth throughout the year.  I don’t make this process overly complicated; it’s worked in the past and don’t see a need to adjust now.

    Interestingly, I hit every 2022 goal marker I wrote down except for one.  Several friends asked me about my goals in January and I simply stated 2022 went so well that I was going to run back most of the same goals in 2023.  Small tweaks but want to continue to move forward with my growth.

    Reading goals

    I started reading Proverbs daily when I lived in Warner Robins, Georgia.  I got the concept when I read a book written by Steven K. Scott:  The Richest Man Who Ever Lived.  I thought it was a get rich quick book but quickly learned that reading Proverbs provides wisdom in life.  I read Proverbs daily before work and look for ways to level that wisdom in my day.  My other reading goal is to read one book (minimum) each month.  I love learning leadership principles so most of my reading is done to help me grow as a leader.  Currently reading Atomic Habits by James Clear.

    Travel goals

    Always looking for new places to explore so I want to visit some new spots this year.  My running tourist role has me booked to return to Clearwater, Nashville, and Orlando.  My new race destination for 2023 will be the San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon.  I’ve been to San Diego before but have never raced that far west—should be a great week for me in San Diego.  I will return to Negril, Jamaica this year and want to make it down to the Turks and Caicos as a new adventure.  Weekend travel will revolve around Orlando, Melbourne, Jacksonville, and Palm Beach Gardens. 

    Consulting

    My Authentic Leadership consulting program extends into 2023 with new contracts and clients.  My work in this space was a happy addition to my 2022 goals and it looks like it will continue to grow in 2023.  I have already signed contracts with two different groups to bring the Authentic Leadership platform to staff members.  This side gig allows me to branch out into areas of professional interest for me and hone my organizational development skills.  My goal is to consult with additional organizations in this space.

    Writing

    My writing was steady in 2022 but one area I didn’t complete was publishing my Authentic Leadership eBook.  This is a carryover from 2022 so I will need to get this done in 2023.  Poems, blog posts and LinkedIn articles were writing goals I was able to meet last year.  I will continue to progress in 2023 with an eye towards more content on LinkedIn to share the Walk into the Future content with a larger audience.

    Exercise program

    Well, everyone that reads this blog knows running a full marathon was a highlight for me.  It was written down as a 2022 goal and I put the work in to meet that goal.  I will continue to lift weights twice a week and get 4 weekly runs in.  My long runs will be done on the weekends with 25 – 30 weekly miles.  I have a full racing schedule for 2023 and this keeps me motivated to log training miles. 

    Volunteer

    This is a new category I want to explore in 2023.  I do a ton at work but need to branch out into the local community and help there as well.  The Salvation Army and Treasure Coast Food Bank are two organizations I plan to help this year.  I did volunteer work with the Salvation Army in Tallahassee and enjoyed my time with them.  Will reach out to both organizations this month to see what I can help them with.

    Goals have been huge for my success.  What goals do you have for 2023?

    Irie!

    “Everything you can imagine is real”.

    (Pablo Picasso)

  • Poetic Flow / Life can be so nice!

    FP Inlet

    Eliminate the hunger and take away all wars,

    Break down all color barriers and bring equal rights to all.

    People living in unison, all getting along.

    This would make the world a better place for you and for me.

    Maybe one day kids can play together and have some fun.

    No war, no hunger, no racial wall.

    Life could be so nice.