Bob Marley – Walk Into the Future

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)

December 18, 2025

2025 Atlantic City Marathon training

“The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step.”

(Lao Tzu)

The 2025 Atlantic City Marathon will be my fourth full marathon. I got this distance in my system with the 2022 Palm Beaches Marathon and continue to look to improve my training and finish time.

The 2025 Chicago Marathon was my first run at a World Major Marathon, and I loved the race atmosphere so much that I instantly wanted to give it another run. Unfortunately, I didn’t get accepted this year but will try to get in again in 2026. I quickly pivoted to find another October full marathon and decided to give the 2025 Atlantic City Marathon a run.

The race is described as the third oldest continuing marathon in the United States. The race is much smaller than the 54,000+ runners in Chicago with about 1,000 finishers in 2024. The distance is still the same and I expect a lot of crowd support on the Atlantic City boardwalk.

An added feature for this year is my friend Lauren will come over from Philly and run the marathon. We ran the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half marathon together and this will be the first race we are back on the same course. It should be fun! 😊

I leveraged the Hal Higdon marathon training plan for my previous full marathons and see no reason to find a new training plan. I set my marathon personal record (PR) in Chicago and took 25 minutes off my previous best. I attribute this to better mental and physical preparation and not missing training sessions. I also changed my mental approach to running by focusing on positive outcomes when running (example: less than 3 miles left instead of 3 more miles). This seems like a very small thing, but it helped me change my focus and improved my mental approach when running.

I’m happy to report that I hit every training session goal so far during this cycle. I’ve included three sessions in the gym to complement my running program. Yoga, chiropractic adjustments and massage help me keep up my running routine too. My bedtime during this cycle has been consistent at 8:30 pm or earlier. This was one area I needed to improve, and I have been very consistent to include Friday nights so I can get up early for my Saturday morning long runs.

Here’s my weekly mileage so far:

Week 1	30.58
Week 2	35.83
Week 3	30.86
Week 4	40.42
Week 5	40.5
Week 6	32.57
Week 7	58.2
Week 8	35.21
Week 9	*12.28
Week 10	36.16

Total 352.61

*Indian River State College New Student Orientation week*

I include my gym cardio miles in these numbers but have hit every running mileage point outlined in the training program so far. I also added some extra running miles just in case I experience bad weather and can’t get out as much as I need to. I’ve been lucky so far and have not missed a session due to the rain. Not sure how long this luck will last but I’m putting in the necessary road work to run fast in October.

I want to get in the 4:45 (four hours, 45 minutes) range and know my training program and mental approach will be key to running faster.

I will provide a few more training updates as we get closer to showtime in Atlantic City. This program has been fun so far and I’m going to put in the work to ensure I see results.

Lauren, how’s your training program going? 😊

Irie!

Calvin Williams

“Running is not about being better than someone else…it’s about being better than you used to be.”

(Unknown)

August 28, 2025

Poetic Flow: Life

Living the life I lead

Has more depth than it seems

Daily flexibility to pursue my dreams

Regardless of where they lead or seem

To take me

I succeed

This life I lead

Allows for unlimited adventures on my timeline

No need to delay gratification while I move forward in the world

Basic tranquility and happiness

Allow me to live this life I lead

June 19, 2025

The Poetry of Life (Repost)

Poetry of Life

(Image by Free-Photos from Pixabay)

The poetry of life moves me forward

Towards the things that bring

The happiness I need

To fulfill these huge dreams that I dream

Reaching out to help the next man

Create and work towards a plan

That makes the world a better place

And one that stands to improve your stake in the race

Let the poetry of life flow

And discover the glow

Of the poetic peace of living the life designed for you

July 25, 2024

Negril Jamaica 2024 (In Pictures)

“Wah gwaan!”

Wah gwaan (what’s up?) is a friendly way to greet people while in Negril. The common saying is an easy way to integrate within the Jamaican way of life and make instant friends.

Mi deh yah (I’m doing well) is the most common way to respond to Wah gwaan.

Made my annual trek back down to Negril over spring break for some sun, fun, rum, and reggae. This year I went down for complete relaxation and to enjoy the Irie vibes.

I hit my normal food and music spots to maximize my time in Jamaica but made sure I finished reading the two books I had in my book bag.

Love Negril, irie vibes, reggae, and great food when I’m there.

Here are some pictures from my latest visit:

Day 1

Day 2

Day 3

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Where are you planning to visit this year?

Irie!

March 21, 2024

Walk into the Future Prequel

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“Either write something worth reading or do something worth writing”.

(Benjamin Franklin)

Merriam-Webster defines a prequel as a work (such as a novel or a play) whose story precedes that of an earlier work.

Simple enough, huh?

I had an interesting conversation with a mentee who discovered my first public written work recently. We were discussing his future work-related options, and I reminded him to slow down and not rush into anything if he was not sure. This caught him off guard because everyone is always in a hurry to get to the next big things. I’ve been there too but learned a valuable lesson after I got out of the U.S. Air Force.

What’s the lesson I learned? To slow down and enjoy the process.

There may be a few Walk into the Future readers who may not know the prequel to this blog was my first and only (at this point) book I wrote in 2010.

I found myself at a crossroads in 2010 and wanted to take control of things in my life. The book, What Now? Take Control Live Life; Don’t Let It Live You came together as I started to examine things in my life and look for new angles to gain and stay in control.

A few lessons from the prequel:

Enjoy some time off. Most people think they must rush from one position to the next. This lesson was written to let readers know they can enjoy some time off without feeling guilty. Not everyone can afford to be without a steady paycheck but for those who can there’s no need to jump back into the world of work. My advice is to sleep in a bit, visit with family and friends and find new ways to relax.

Take a vacation. I took this lesson literally and started my yearly trek to Negril, Jamaica. It was a place I always wanted to visit but never made the time. Not working gave me the perfect opportunity to head down to Negril and discover Irie vibes. I’ve been going back every year since 2010 and will continue for the foreseeable future.

Reconnect. This lesson centerson reconnecting with family and friends. I recommend using time away from work to reach out to family members and close friends to catch up on life. We spend so much time at work and sometimes miss out on opportunities to spend time with people close to you.

Live life. This lesson provides space to reassess life priorities and use free time to rediscover important things in life. This can also be a time to find yourself—what’s important to you and what do you want to accomplish?

There are additional lessons in my prequel and I welcome you to discover them all here: https://amzn.to/3IktGn6

Let me know your thoughts if you decide to accept the reading opportunity! 😊

Irie!

“I always kept two books in my pocket, one to read, one to write in”.

(Robert Lewis Stevenson)

March 7, 2024

2024 The Look Ahead

the word goals from wooden letters — Photo by Ann H on Pexels.com

“Goals are dreams with deadlines”.

(Diana Scharf)

The Walkinto the Future blog allows me to chronicle thoughts and adventures with my readers.

Goal setting remains a high priority for me, and I make a point to reset my goals each year. I was able to hit all my 2023 goals and look forward to a productive 2024. There are always goals that carryover from one year to the next but decided to add a few wrinkles to my goal plan.

Travel is a central theme to my Walk into the Future and 2024 is no different. I’m heading back down to Negril, Jamaica for spring break in a few weeks. This location makes it on my goals list each year since Negril is one of my favorite places to visit. Can’t wait to get back down there for the great food, reggae, rum, and outstanding sunsets. The staff at Samsara do a great job of taking care of guests and treat everyone like family. The Turks and Caicos is a new destination on my travel agenda for 2024. I’ve heard great things about the Turks and Caicos and want to experience it for myself. It would be a new adventure and allow me to explore another part of the Caribbean. Will target summer travel for this island visit.

I have an overarching travel goal to visit all 50 states. I’ve got 38 so far and want to get busy seeing the other states. I recently signed up for the Rhode Island Half Marathon in May and this trip will allow me to venture north to visit three new states, New Hampshire, Vermont, and Maine. I crossed off Connecticut, Massachusetts, and Rhode Island last October. Ran out of time to hit the other 3 states so a return trip to New England is scheduled. Will look for an opportunity to visit Arkansas and West Virginia at some point this year. Got a few western states to visit but will focus on the west in 2025.

My exercise program remains front and center when I sit down to write out my goals. I will workout 3 days and run 4 days each week. My targeted weekly mileage is 30 – 40 total miles which would put me slightly ahead of my 2023 mileage numbers. My current race schedule is listed below:

2024 Bridge Buster 5k

2024 Vero Beach Half Marathon

2024 Town of Celebration Half Marathon

2024 Fleet Feet Run for your Heart 10k2024 Sailfish 10k

2024 Winter Park 10k

2024 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon2024 Rhode Island Half Marathon

2024 San Diego Rock N Roll Half Marathon

2024 Virginia Beach 10-Miler

2024 Chicago Marathon

2024 OUC Half Marathon2024 Palm Beaches Half Marathon

I’m sure I will find a few additional races to sign up for, but this is what I have so far.

Reading is another major component of my goal setting process. I set a goal of reading two books (minimum) monthly in 2023 but did not hit my targeted goal. I read quite a bit but never got close to two books per month. I enter 2024 with the same goal and I’m happy to report I am ahead so far this year. I’ve made a concerted effort to pick topics I want to explore (leadership, team dynamics) to ensure I stay engaged in the process. My book selections in 2023 were ambitious but did not excite me so I began to lag in effort—not in 2024.

I recently purchased a new grill and will look to get good use out of it in 2024. The grill provides me with healthy options that I will leverage to cook more this year. I’m not a huge fan of leftovers but can eat grilled food daily—love the flavor. I will grill or bake twice weekly to ensure I’m getting healthier dinner options—especially on the weekends.

Professionally, my goal is to network and identify additional consulting and speaking roles. I’ve found success with local business contracts and want to get a few more. My Authentic Leadership platform continues to grow, and I want to share it with other organizations.

Volunteering in the local community is another goal I want to meet in 2024. There are multiple options available, and I will get active in 2024.

Lastly, the Leadership eBook is coming! 😊

What are your goals for 2024!

Irie!

“If you want to be happy, set a goal that commands your thoughts, liberates your energy, and inspires your hope”.

(Andrew Carnegie)

February 29, 2024

2023 OUC Half Marathon

OUC Track Shack

“Don’t dream of winning, train for it”.

(Mo Farah)

My Walk into the Future continues to seek out new opportunities and challenges to move me forward.

Distance running and racing have become a huge part of this process. 2023 generated an aggressive running schedule that allowed me to run new half marathons to add to my medal rack. The 2023 OUC Half Marathon was the 10^th time I tackled this race. I missed the 2018 race to run a smaller half marathon on Amelia Island. The OUC Half Marathon was also my first half marathon so I guess you can say this race launched my distance running program.

I love the races put on by Orlando Track Shack so expect to run this race annually until I can’t anymore.

The 2023 OUC Half Marathon was scheduled 8 days before the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon so viewed this edition as an extension of my marathon training. My long training runs ended the week prior but never want to feel like I’m missing out on the great vibes at the OUC race. My training plan called for me to taper my running since I was at the end of my training cycle but decided to toe the line at the OUC half anyway. The course is flat and friendly so decided to have fun and enjoy the process of racing in downtown Orlando.

I arrived early this year since I had trouble finding parking last year. Didn’t want to feel rushed when I arrived so found parking in a downtown parking garage and made my way over to the race village. I had time to stretch and socialize a bit prior to lining up for the start of the race.

The temperature was in the low 70s at race time with equal humidity. The forecast called for a gradual rise in morning temperatures so wanted to get moving to beat the heat.

I decided to line up further back in the start corral and use that as part of my race strategy. I tend to go out a lot faster when I’m close to the front so wanted to create a steady pace and stay measured throughout the race. I didn’t have a set finish time in mind but wanted to test my fitness to gauge how ready I was for the 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon.

Targeted the first 8 miles of the race as my strategic marker to see how long I can run without discomfort and determine my marathon pace for next week. Eight miles seemed like an appropriate test—my plan was to pull back on the pace once I hit eight miles and then just take in the race day environment and the cheering crowds.

I wanted to stay in the 9:50 per mile pace for this race to clock miles and work on strategy. I had to keep reminding myself not to push too hard or fast since I had a full marathon coming up in 8 days. My normal strategy is to push the pace for this race since the course is flat and I can normally get a fast time. I set my personal record (PR) on this same course in 2019 and always think I can beat that time. This was not the day to try for another PR.

I hit the eight-mile marker without any pain or discomfort. I was still running high 9-minute miles but decided to race smartly and began the process of pulling back to save my legs for the full marathon. The rising temperatures and humidity made the decision to pull back a lot easier this year too. 😊

Completed the race in 2:22 (two hours and 22 minutes) for a 10:50 per mile pace. Very happy with this pace and effort considering the temperature, humidity and a pending full marathon coming up next week.

Got a chance to catch up with some of my Orlando running friends at the race after party. Nothing like a 13.1-mile race, donuts, and beer all before 10 am in Central Florida.

Next stop? The 2023 Palm Beaches Marathon!

Irie!

“I’ll be happy if running and I grow old together”.

(Haruki Murakami)

February 15, 2024

Negril, Jamaica (Repost)

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“Mi come soon!”

Decided to activate my Walk into the Future and make my way back down to Negril, Jamaica in July.

I made a point to visit Negril on an annual basis prior to COVID-19 and this was my first trip back down since May 2019. I felt comfortable when I traveled out to Portland, Oregon for the NACE2022 conference back in June and got the urge to get down to Jamaica since COVID restrictions were scaled back.

I went back and forth on when to travel to Jamaica but decided to just look at hotel and air prices to determine the best time for me to travel. Found dates that were compatible with my work and life schedules and booked a trip to my favorite spot, Samsara, which sits on the cliffs on the West End of Negril. I found Samsara years ago and always stay at this resort when I’m in Jamaica. The location is great for snorkeling, catching sunsets and experiencing Jamaica in a more authentic manner than staying at a large resort and never leaving the property.

The staff at Samsara is great and most remember me when I return which makes me feel like a family member.

My overarching goal for this trip was to get down to Negril and relax. Yes, I could have found a spot closer to home to relax but the Irie vibes in Jamaica kept calling me. I made sure to pack my snorkel gear since I wanted to spend as much time in the water as possible on this trip—mission accomplished.

Arrived at Sanger International Airport after my 2-hour JetBlue flight from Orlando. Made my way through customs, got my luggage, and headed to the Jamaica Tours counter to catch my shuttle to Samsara. The airport is about an hour and a half away from Samsara, so I got a Red Stripe beer at the airport and got on the shuttle for my ride over to Negril.

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Samsara has gone through a remodel since my last time down there. They added a couple new buildings, a new infinity pool and deck overlooking the water. These additions were a complete hit with me as they brought a new level of adventure to the resort.

My room was in the newest guest building and was steps away from the infinity pool. This view created some unique pictures for me with the sunsets bouncing off the pool and the ocean. I did not get in the pool but appreciated the addition and several other guests were regulars. Guess not everyone goes to Jamaica to get in the ocean. 😊

I did not book the all-inclusive packages since I wanted to explore and not have to be at the resort at a determined time for a meal. Also, there are other options close by and I like to experience different venues for my meals.

One of my regular spots on this trip was the 3 Dives Jerk Centre on the West End. This spot has some of the best jerk chicken on the island and the price is fantastic. I’m not a huge fan of spicy foods but the seasoning they use is great and they provide the jerk sauce on the side so I can add more or not. Mostly, I don’t add sauce and just eat the jerk chicken with rice and peas.

I made another stop at the Rock House to get lunch and had the grilled snapper, peas and rice and plantain. The chef at the Rock House has an international reputation for great Jamaican dishes and I’m never disappointed when I dine there. The rum punch is pretty good too!

There was not as much live reggae available as past trips but believe this is because the island is still adjusting to having tourist back. Legends on 7 Mile Beach is a sister resort to Samsara and they host a live reggae band on Sunday nights. This is a new music spot from the last time I was in Negril and the band was good. The larger venues had DJ music which was fine but I’m a huge fan of live music so gravitated more to the bands/groups that were playing. Hoping the live music continues to come back since I’m already planning my next Negril trip.

This song was a surprise request for the band:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ksg-6gYP_us

I was able to snorkel daily in the morning before leaving the resort for my food and music excursions. The water off the cliffs is calm in the mornings and provide a perfect place to float and see a wide variety of fish. There were no jelly fish this time, so this allowed me to stay in the water for extended periods of time. There were only a few other folks in the water, so it felt like I had the ocean to myself. 😊 Plan to get out to the reefs my next time down to explore a bit more.

I was able to get 4 full days during this trip and enjoyed every minute I was back in Negril. Hope the become a regular visitor again so I can enjoy the irie vibes, food, and great views.

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