Walk Into the Future

Category: Travel

Articles on travel.

  • 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)

  • 26.2 is life!

    “The starting line is never the hardest part.”

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog is designed to highlight my thoughts and adventures.  There are days when I have more to say than others but I’m always searching for new content to keep me engaged with this writing process.

    My friend Lauren and I discussed creating a blog post to highlight how running is a metaphor for life. 26.2 is life—catchy, huh? 😊 Well, here’s my run at comparing running to Walking into the Future (living life).

    Marathon training is a detailed and long process.  I normally put myself through an 18-week training program, so the marathon is the last step in this process.  I must mentally and physically prepare myself for the grind and I’ve found that I enjoy the training.  The grind is real: 4:30 am alarms, 8:30 pm bedtimes, short runs, long runs and physical therapy.  I’m always searching for small wins during the training cycle and celebrating them as much as possible. 

    You don’t have to be an avid runner like me or Lauren to understand marathon training.  We all run some type of marathon daily, but you may call it by another name: Life.  Marathon training is a perfect metaphor for life as the lessons overlap and there’s growth throughout the process. Let’s explore!

    Most folks think of the starting line when discussing a marathon.  The starting line is never the hardest part, it’s getting there.  I find the starting line to be the most enjoyable part of the marathon.  The work put in just to make it to the starting line is something that most runners are proud of.  The excitement for the event is high, and you’re surrounded by fresh possibilities for the race outcome.  Daily life works in a similar way.  New jobs, new goals, and new relationships always feel motivating at first.  The ultimate tests come later when the excitement fades, and the work starts to become routine.  This is when you must dig deep to ensure you are moving forward with daily activities.  Discipline is extremely important in marathon training and life. Discipline carries you further than motivation will.

    Marathon training plans come in many different formats.  I picked the 18-week version because it provides enough flexibility to fit into my schedule.  There are weeks when I feel strong and unstoppable and then there are weeks when my legs are concrete.  This is a normal part of the ebb and flow of marathon training.  Daily life can resemble this same cycle.  We all have good and bad weeks, but progress is never measured in a straight line.  You just need to keep showing up daily to make the most out of life.

    Dr. Henry Cloud’s book 9 Things You Simply Must Do to Succeed in Love and Life has a chapter titled Work Like an Ant.  This chapter highlights how small things can lead to large things.  The ants move one grain of sand at a time to build their home.  Marathon runners find race day success because of consistent choices throughout the training cycle.  Drinking water, getting consistent sleep, easy runs, tempo runs, long runs and recovery are all things needed for running success.  Mile after mile is leveraged to build an effective base that leads to marathon success.  Daily life can resemble this process.  Small things lead to big things—planning, managing your time and setting goals can help you win in life.

    I make it a point to never compare my training program to others.  My goal is to run my own race, so I never get caught up in how other runners prepare.  I toe the marathon starting line looking to run my best race and not trying to beat someone else’s time.  This helps me enjoy the training and marathon process.  Life can mirror this process.  Comparing yourself to others is a fast way to lose joy in things.  Everyone has something they are trying to overcome so don’t get caught up in worrying about others—we all have a race (life) to run.

    The marathon is a test of will, mental toughness and physical ability.  Each component is critical to preparing and completing a marathon.  Mile 23 is always the toughest for me as I battle mentally to keep pressing forward.  Training for a marathon is one thing but the work during a marathon makes you question life choices. 😊  This is where I need to dig deep and keep putting one foot in front of the other.  There are Mile 23 moments in life too.  We all face challenges that stretch us and force us to choose what we want to get out of life.  These moments help us grow, teach resilience and prove what we are truly capable of. 

    I don’t remember every mile in my training program, but I can tell you how I felt each time I crossed a marathon finish line.  This moment of accomplishment stays with me forever and I love telling people that I am a marathoner.  Finishing a difficult chapter in life, overcoming a challenge or reaching a long-term goal can bring the same level of accomplishment.  The finish line is something to celebrate not because of the big victory but because the journey was hard.

    Regardless of whether you run or not, we all have days filled with obstacles, discipline, growth opportunities and grit.  We tackle these challenges, fight through mental and physical fatigues, celebrate small wins and continue to move forward through hard times.  That’s the same energy that gets me through the marathon.  Call it marathon energy!  Keep moving forward and training for the life you want to live.  We’re all stronger than we think and can-do hard things.  Marathon or life—they both require you to put in the work to be successful.

    Who’s ready!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Running is the greatest metaphor for life because you get out of it what you put into it.”

    (Oprah Winfrey)

  • 2025 Atlantic City Marathon

    “What a privilege it is to choose your own suffering.”

    (@kellycarrdio on Instagram)

    Wow! How prophetic is the quote above to my Walk into the Future running journey?

    I didn’t get a chance to meet Kelly over the 2025 Atlantic City Marathon weekend, but I found her quote on Instagram after completing the race and hobbling back to my hotel.  Her quote resonated with a lot of runners and brings a level of clarity to the life we live.

    I had several great conversations with my friend Lauren Apgar as we continued to carb load before the race.  We agreed that running is a great analogy for life while having an outstanding chicken parmesan meal at The Twenties Italian Bistro restaurant in The Claridge Hotel on the Atlantic City boardwalk.  There will be a blog article on this concept coming your way soon. 😊

    I made my way up to Atlantic City on Friday to get acclimated to the area and the cooler weather.  I normally fly out of the Orlando International Airport while I’m on a running tourist adventure.  Spirit Airlines surprisingly had direct flights out of Palm Beach International (PBI) Airport and the price was very reasonable.  I jumped on the opportunity to fly from PBI since it is only a 58-minute drive from my front door to the terminal.  The flight times out of PBI were a lot better than Orlando and I didn’t have to get up at 6 am to make it to the airport on time.

    The flight to Atlantic City was a little over two hours and I was able to get a little nap in before we landed in New Jersey.  The Enterprise rental car process was seamless, and I was out of the airport in less than 20 minutes.  I raced in Atlantic City back in 2022, so I was familiar with the area and knew I was only 20 minutes away from the Atlantic City boardwalk and my hotel.  I decided to find some food before making my way over to the boardwalk.  I pulled my GPS out and located a Buffalo Wild Wings (Bdubs) 5 miles from the hotel and still on the way towards the boardwalk.  Bdubs is a go to spot for me when I’m carb loading so this was a welcome detour for me.  Posted up at the bar and got my normal wings, potato wedges and a tall Bud Light.  There were not many folks in Bdubs, so I was able to get my food quickly and relax a bit.

    I left Bdubs and headed east to check into my hotel and take in a few sights.  I booked the Sheraton Downtown close to the Atlantic City Convention Center.  This location put me in the center of a lot of downtown activities.  I was within walking distance of restaurants, the outlet mall, casinos and the boardwalk. 

    I walked over to the famed boardwalk after checking into the hotel to take in the sights.  I got a few pictures close to the water and then went into Bally’s casino to walk around.  I’m not a huge casino person and I’m not a fan of cigarette smoke.  I spent about an hour playing roulette and left the table with my winnings of $38.00.  I used their money to buy a couple frozen drinks on the boardwalk before heading to the outlet mall.  I never need much when I’m shopping but made a trip to Nike but didn’t purchase anything. 

    Googled restaurants and discovered The Twenties Italian Bistro restaurant was only three blocks away and had tremendous ratings.  I made my way back down the boardwalk and headed to The Claridge Hotel and headed to the sixth floor for The Twenties Italian Bistro.  I was surprised there were only four people in the restaurant based on the ratings.  Oh well, I found a seat by a window so I could look out at the water and review the menu.  They have a simple menu with traditional Italian dishes, and the prices were fantastic. 😊 I decided to go with spaghetti and meatballs.  It was outstanding!  I recommend the bread sticks—they are delicious!  I got to bed early on Friday to get off my feet.

    The marathon EXPO was held in a ballroom in Bally’s.  I got up on Saturday morning with a plan for a quick shakeout run but decided to hit the Sheraton’s exercise room.  I rode the stationary bike, ran on the treadmill and got a quick workout in before making my way to the EXPO.  I thought the EXPO would be a larger setup since we were in Atlantic City, but it was a smaller event with a laid-back vibe.  Bib pickup was seamless and made my way through the event to check out venders. Lauren and I walked around the EXPO to explore, and we both booked a session with on-site physical therapists.  This quick 10-minute stretch routine provided some relief for sore legs and gave me a little bit of a bounce to my step.  We carb loaded at Wingcraft Kitchen & Beer Bar after the EXPO.  Fun fact, we ate at this same spot back in 2022 when we ran the Rock N Roll Atlantic City Half Marathon.  The food is still good.  We parted ways after this meal so we could get off our feet. 

    We agreed to meet later for more carbs and agreed to head to The Twenties Italian Bistro.  I’m a creature of habit and this was a great place for pasta and bread.  I got chicken parm this time and it was just as good as spaghetti and meatballs.  Doubled up on the bread this time. 😊 We discussed race strategy a bit but relaxed with a good meal and caught up on life.  Race day was near.

    I headed back to the hotel to get my race outfit ready and get to bed early.  I normally travel with multiple race outfits and didn’t figure out what I was going to wear in the marathon until 10 minutes before going to bed. 😊  I took a picture for Instagram of the original race outfit idea but changed the top before heading to the marathon start line.  The start/finish line was only a half mile from my hotel, so I used this as part of my race warmup.

    I got to the boardwalk at 7:15 am and got in some light stretching and jogging.  The mood on the boardwalk was relaxed and almost felt like a party.  Lauren and I connected around 7:30 and made our way to the start corral to lock in for the marathon.  We agreed to run together at the start and then run our own individual race.  Fast forward, Lauren’s race was outstanding!  She set a PR and broke the five hours barrier—well done, Lauren! 😊

    Fun fact—I also ran a PR and took 6 minutes off my best full marathon time.  This was my third PR in three different distances in 2025 (10-miler, half marathon and marathon). 

    My marathon race strategy was to go out at a measured pace and then see how much I had in the tank.  The weather was warmer than normal, but it was still cool with low humidity at the start.  Mile 1 was completed at 10:10 (ten minutes and ten seconds), Mile 2 was completed at 10:08 and Mile 3 was completed at 10:23. My plan for a measured approach was executed well and I had a smile on my face for a large portion of the race.  My 18-week training program was paying off, and I enjoyed a large portion of the race.  A not so fun fact—the Atlantic City boardwalk is made of wood.  This may not be a huge revelation but some of this wood is worn and is not conducive to running a marathon.  There are multiple spots that are not sturdy and I saw a few runners take a fall because of the footing.  I tweaked my left foot on the boardwalk at Mile 15 but kept battling my way towards the finish line.

    Fast forward a bit, I crossed the finish line in 5:17:37 which was not the 4:45 target I wanted.  This is still a marathon PR for me, so I celebrated like I won an Olympic gold medal! 😊 This was the culmination of a great 18-week training block, and I finished with a smile on my face and enjoyed the process.

    Caught up with Lauren and we got pictures ringing the PR bell in the race village.  I’m super proud of her efforts to complete the marathon in under 5 hours!  This is a tremendous accomplishment, and she put in work to get her PR—bravo, my friend! 😊

    What’s next for me?  Rest, recover, massage and take a week off from running.  I earned this break.

    So, let’s reflect on the quote from above.  I agree, it is a privilege to choose my own suffering.  How lucky am I to be able to travel around the country and run in these races?  My suffering (pain) is done on purpose, and I enjoy every minute of it. 

    Let’s never take for granted our ability to live life daily!

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “The real purpose of running isn’t to win the race, it’s to test the limits of the human heart.”

    (Bill Bowerman)

  • New Hampshire and Maine in photos

     

    “Not all those who wander are lost.”

    (J.R.R. Tolkien)

    The Walk into the Future blog traveled to New Hampshire and Maine in October for the 2025 Smuttynose Rockfest Half marathon.

    This was my first adventure to both of these states and I enjoyed my time in the northeast. I’m scheduled to head back up for the same race in October 2026.

    Here’s a look at my 2025 adventure in pictures:

    Hampton Beach, NH:

    Portsmouth, NH:

    Maine shoreline:

    Race day:

    We will do this all again in October 2026! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

  • 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon

    “Pain is temporary, pride is forever.”

    (Unknown)

    The Walk into the Future blog is always looking for new adventures and places to explore as I live this life.

    I have been lucky to leverage my running tourist mindset to this process.  My latest adventure was a trip to New Hampshire for the 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon in Hampton, New Hampshire.  My last northeastern race was in Providence, Rhode Island.  This race came highly recommended on the racing calendar and promised the flattest course in New Hampshire.  Fun fact, I had no idea what that meant but anything with ‘flattest’ in the description is good for me when it comes to races. 😊

    New Hampshire, Maine and Vermont are the only New England states I have never traveled to, and my goal was to cross each of them off on this trip.  Well, two out of three got crossed off.  I didn’t have enough time to make it over to Vermont without sacrificing race preparation and recovery time.  No worries, I will look for a Vermont race in 2026 to get me back in the area.

    I flew up from the Orlando airport into Manchester, New Hampshire which is about 35 minutes from Hampton.  There is a closer airport in Portsmouth, New Hampshire but there were limited airlines and flights into that airport.  I was surprised by the amount of people flying from Orlando to Manchester.  The flight was completely full and I’m sure this had nothing to do with the Smuttynose Half Marathon. It appears Manchester is the gateway to this portion of New England.

    The Manchester airport was easy to navigate, and I made my way to the Enterprise rental counter to begin my adventure.  Plugged in my hotel address into the GPS and headed through the countryside towards Hampton.  The leaves had some nice colors, but they weren’t the full fall colors we always hear about in New England.  I’m sure the warmer than normal temperatures had something to do with color of the leaves at this point of the year. 

    Hotel check-in was a breeze, and I dropped off my luggage in my room before exploring Hampton.  I made my way over to the EXPO which was several tents in a parking lot close to the beach.  I didn’t expect anything huge with the EXPO and this one did not disappoint or offer anything more than bib and package pickup.  I was expecting to spend some time at the EXPO, but I was done in about 10 minutes.  I made sure to get a few pictures at the EXPO but left this location to explore Hampton and get over to the beach.

    The beach was only one block away, so I headed over to become a tourist and see the sights.  The area was nice and there were folks out walking on the beach and just enjoying the nice weather.  I soaked up the sun and atmosphere a bit before finding food.  I found Wing-itz Hampton with a quick Google search, so I headed there to get some wings and carbs.  There was a small crowd at this location with most folks crowded around the bar inside.  The weather was great, so I made my way to the patio and found a spot in the sun to keep warm.  They had nice food and beer selection, but I stayed with the tried-and-true wings, fries and beer.  Simple is better when traveling for a race. 😊

    Saturday was dedicated to exploring and making my way to Maine.  Hampton is situated in the northeastern corner of New Hampshire, so I was pleasantly surprised my Maine adventure was only 15 miles away.  Plugged Kittery, Maine into my GPS and then made my way up to see the sights.  I’m a huge outlet mall shopper so the first place I stopped in Maine was an outlet mall. I never need anything but wanted to see if this Nike outlet had anything different from the outlet malls in Florida.  You guessed it, no they have the same stuff. 😊

    I wanted to see a lighthouse and saw the Nubble Lighthouse was close by. I plugged in the address into GPS and made my way along the coast to see the Nubble Lighthouse and take in more seaside sights.  The drive was short but took me through the countryside and a couple of quaint little Maine towns.  Parking at the Nubble Lighthouse was tough—it is a huge tourist attraction, and this was the last weekend before most restaurants closed for the season.  Finally found a parking spot and made my way down a path to get some pictures of the lighthouse, coastline and surrounding areas.  This was a very peaceful part of the trip even with many tourists in the same area.  Everyone was friendly and enjoyed being in the same area enjoying the lighthouse vibes.  The temperature felt great, but it was warmer than normal.  I found this out because my bartender told me this was the last day her bar would be open for the season.  Turns out a lot of northern places close because they don’t have water pipes that are designed to handle extreme cold. 

    I made my way back down the coast to get a few additional pictures and then headed back to Hampton.  My first stop when I got back was Wings-itz to repeat my meal from the day before.  Yes, I’m a creature of habit. 😊 The Florida Gators game against the Texas Longhorns was on the big TV, so I posted up to watch with my wings and beer.  The patio was crowded during this visit and there was a birthday party on the patio.  I grabbed an empty table and got comfortable.  Turns out I sat in the birthday party area and got invited to have food and birthday cupcakes.  The birthday boy turned 70 and is a graduate of the University of Florida.  I can’t make this stuff up. 

    I got up on race day feeling good and wanted to see how my marathon training would translate to the half marathon distance.  I wanted cooler weather but there was no humidity, and the temperature was a lot cooler than what I left in Florida.

    The Hampton beach area only has paid parking, so I got as close to the start line as possible and found a parking lot for $20.  This was the going rate in all parking lots so there is no need to look for a better price.  The race village was one block over, so I followed the crowd to the boardwalk and joined the other runners to stretch and warm up.  The sunrise was gorgeous, and I thought this was a good indicator for the day.  Again, I didn’t have time in mind for this race but wanted to go as fast and safe as possible.

    There was not a time corral for this race so folks just posted up where they were comfortable.  There was a 5k component to race day, but those runners started 15 minutes after the half marathoners which allowed for a cleaner start.  I grabbed my spot in the middle of the start pack and waited for the start gun to go off.

    I wanted to go out at a measured pace and then see what I had towards the middle of the race.  The cooler temperatures to start the race were welcomed and the crowds at the start were fantastic.  It’s always great to hear random strangers cheering your name like they know you.

    Mile #1 was completed in 8:51, Mile #2 in 9:03 and Mile #3 in 9:08.  I won’t bore you with each mile split, but these first three miles allowed me to determine how much I could push the pace.  These splits felt good and I knew I had the endurance to run 9’s if the weather held. 

    Fast forward a bit and the 2025 Smuttynose Half Marathon became my personal record (PR) race.  2:04:31 is the fastest half marathon for me since the 2019 OUC Half Marathon in Orlando.  Never thought it would take six years to run another half marathon PR, but I will take it. I think I had a faster time in my legs, but the temperature went up towards the middle of the race, and it felt like summer again.  I’m proud of my efforts and happy to bring home a half marathon PR back to Florida.  I made my way over to ring the PR bell and get a picture to highlight this huge accomplishment for me.

    The after-race party was outstanding with beer, food and good old rock and roll.  The band was fantastic and had runners dancing to the tunes.  I had such a good experience with this race and location that I signed up for the 2026 Smuttynose Half Marathon before I left New Hampshire. This race will be a part of my regular race rotation moving forward.

    Next stop, the 2025 Atlantic City Marathon. 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “It’s not the distance you must conquer in running…it’s yourself.”

    (Unknown)

  • 2025 Atlantic City Marathon training (in pictures)

    “You are going to want to give up…don’t.”

    (Realbuzz.com)

    The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon allowed me to get back into my 18-week training program again this year.

    I have leveraged this program for the past 4 years, and it appears I’m getting better each year.  My training progressions, physical endurance and race times continue to improve.  I’m not sure how many marathons I have left in my system, but this was my favorite training cycle so far.

    I have dreams of competing in the 2026 Chicago Marathon or the 2026 Berlin Marathon.  I plan to sign up for both next year with hopes of getting selected for one of them.  My hope is to get picked for Berlin so I can add an international marathon to my race docket.  I’m sure you will hear about it, especially if I get selected–fingers crossed! 😊

    This blog will highlight my 2025 Atlantic City Marathon training in pictures to include several races I leveraged to help with my training program.  Thanks to my readers for following the training cycle and I will blog about the marathon with results soon.

    Here’s my 2025 training cycle in pictures:

    Week 1 Long Run

    Week 2 Long Run

    Week 4 Long Run

    Week 7 Long Run

    Week 15 Long Run

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

  • 2025 Atlantic City Marathon training

    “Training for a race is going to be uncomfortable…you can fight it, which uses precious energy, or you can learn to embrace it.”

    (Lisa McClellan)

    The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon is fast approaching!

    I decided to lay low with my training updates this year and concentrate on the grind of the process.  This will be my fourth go at the marathon distance, and I continue to learn more about myself and how to train.  I am proud of this training cycle with my consistency and ability to hit weekly mile markers. 

    Maintaining a consistent bedtime (8:30 pm) ensures that I get enough rest and can get up for my early morning runs.  I find myself waking up on my own before my alarm clock goes off at 4:30 am.  I’m excited to train and it has been showing in my weekly efforts.

    I have continued to leverage the Hal Higdon 18-week marathon training program for this cycle.  This program has helped me grow into a marathoner and is easy to understand and follow.  I have missed a few training sessions due to life (travel, work, rain) but I have found ways to keep my mileage up and mentally prepare for the 26.2-mile battle coming up in Atlantic City. 

    I lowered my marathon personal record (PR) by over 23 minutes in Chicago last year and I want to lower it again in Atlantic City.  I revealed in my first Atlantic City marathon update that my goal time is 4:45 (four hours and forty-five minutes).  That would be a 35-minute reduction but I’m not backing down from my goal.  Will I hit it?  You will see soon! 😊

    I leverage races to help me work on my speed and I’m happy with the results in my lead up to the 2025 Atlantic City marathon.  I ran a PR at the 2025 Virginia Beach 10-miler in September.  I ran 1:34:44 and that lowered my best time for this distance by two minutes.  My 2025 Outrun Hunger 5k time of 28:41 was not a PR but was a good indicator of my fitness considering the Fort Pierce humidity levels in September.  This all showed my training, fitness and mental approach were producing positive results. 

    The final tune-up was conducted at the 2025 Smuttynose Rockfest Half Marathon in Hampton, New Hampshire.  I set my half marathon PR during this race two weeks before Atlantic City.  The 2:04:31 time was due to my training program, and the cool weather helped a lot.  (A blog article on this race is coming soon). 😊

    Here’s my weekly mileage update:

    Week 1126.65
    Week 1233.28
    Week 1329.73
    Week 1434.64
    Week 1538.02
    Week 1634.3
    Week 1725
    Week 189.62

    Total Week 11 – Week 17:  228.98 

    Total miles this training cycle: 583.74

    Total Friday nights out: 0😊

    I continue to learn how to train and recover for a marathon.  My body has felt good throughout this training cycle and I’m mentally tougher than in previous years.  I am excited to see how this new level of fitness and mental preparation shows up on race day.  Race fast and having fun are the main goals with a potential PR at the end—we will see!

    Thanks for following the marathon training journey and see you on the other side of 26.2 miles in New Jersey.

    What are you training for?

    Fun fact: I started marathon training weighing 198 pounds and got down to 189 pounds at one point during this cycle.  I will toe the start line at 195 pounds this year. 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “Aiming for the marathon is a task of sorts which can include terrific highs and lows.”

    (Bill Rodgers)

  • 2025 Celebration of Running 5k

    “Forward is a pace.”

    (Unknown)

    I love running with Track Shack!  This is not a startling revelation, but I like to share it with my readers. 😊

    I started running with Track Shack when I moved to Oviedo, Florida in October 2010.  There’s another running organization, Front Running Sports, in the area but the Track Shack races always appealed to me and were closer to my home.  I ran as a Track Shack Fanatic for several years since this saved me money for races I was going to run in anyway.  I’m no longer a Fanatic but still make my way ‘home’ for 3 races each year.

    The Celebration of Running 5k is one of my regular Track Shack races and I made my way back over for the 2025 Celebration of Running 5k in Winter Park, Florida in August.  This race normally starts my running season, but I got an early start with races in North Dakota, Wisconsin, and the Watermelon 5k in Winter Park. 

    My times in this race have been decent, but the humidity and early part of the running season never allowed me to maximize my finish times.  I know this is all just another excuse, but this race provides me with the data I need to determine how much I need to push myself to train for longer distance races in the fall. 

    I’m happy to report I took 31 seconds off my 2024 time and finished in 28:34 (twenty-eight minutes and 34 seconds) with a 9:10 per mile pace.  I have run faster times but I’m happy to hit this time marker considering the time of year, heat and humidity we had on race day.  My mile splints were:

    Mile 1: 8:53 / Mile 2: 9:26 / Mile 3: 9:14 / Mile .12: 1:00

    I felt good throughout the race, but Mile 2 was a tough transition because of the new course design.  We normally run on a wider street for this portion, but the new design was narrow and created bottleneck areas for runners.  This was not a huge problem, but I felt boxed in a lot more this year which slowed my pace a bit.  I didn’t fall off a cliff in Mile 2 but would have liked to run a faster split here since I was feeling good. I got back on track during Mile 3 and started smiling with half a mile to go.  I was tracking a few other runners and began to reel them one by one.  I crossed the finish line with a smile and still felt fresh after competing in Orlando humidity. 😊

    I was able to catch up with a few Track Shack friends, get my beers and take a few pictures in the race village.  I decided not to head over to the Seminole Cross Trail this year to complete my long run.  The humidity was thick, so I pivoted back to my hotel and got some extra miles in on the treadmill.  I snuck in a quick full body workout since the day was still young. 

    I’m happy with my training progress so far and look forward to my longer races during this season.  I’ve still got work to do but I can see progress with my time, weight and mental approach.

    Happy running! 😊

    Irie!

    Calvin Williams

    “What seems hard now will one day be your warmup.”

    (Unknown)