(Image by rose-de-velours from Pixabay)
What did I see?
When I looked over the horizon
And tried to see my future
The future said everything will go well
You just need to find you way
Understand the pursuit of happiness
And begin your journey today
Don’t waste your time
Running around without a sense of direction
Chose your path
Live your life
And walk into the future
(Books I’m reading now)
“A book is a gift you can open again and again”.
(Garrison Keillor)
I start each year with a measured set of goals. Reading and writing are two areas I focus on for my goals.
These are the areas where I find a ton of joy daily along with my running program. My 2022 reading and writing goals are below:
So, this is where I update you on my progress.
I discovered the book The Richest Man Who Ever Lived by Steven K. Scott 15 years ago and adopted an aspect from the book into my daily life. The book highlights the benefits of Proverbs and how King Solomon identified secrets to success, wealth, and happiness. I originally read the book thinking it would TELL me how to become rich financially which did not happen.
I read the book and did not understand the lessons the author was trying to relay to the readers. I dismissed it as an attempt to get people to read the book because of the catchy title. Luckily for me I decided to go back and read the book multiple times and followed the directions provided to see where they would lead.
I adopted the practice of reading Proverbs daily because of the wisdom (secrets to success, wealth, and happiness) this book provides to readers. I have been a daily Proverbs reader for over 15 years now and continue to discover new wisdom insights. Decided to add other books in the bible to my daily reading program in 2022. This is the reading goal I continue to meet and/or exceed so far this year.
Now, let’s talk about my goal to read 2 books each month. I started the year off with a bang and was able to handle my book goal in January and February. I started to go downhill with my reading program in March. I added more racing and training to my routine to get prepared for multiple half marathons but that’s not the real reason my reading has been slacking.
I have not done a great job of identifying book topics/titles that keep my attention. I big part of reading for me is an interest in the topic/title and the author. I started grabbing books off Amazon based on recommendations but some of the books did not have a true flow and caused me to become a slower reader than normal. No excuses but it is taking me longer to digest and get through the books I have selected. I’m averaging a book a month but need to increase my pace or make the time to read these books. There is still a lot of 2022 left to get more books read but I may not average 2 books each month.
My writing program remains strong, and I am happy with my progress in 2022. The blog articles keep me searching for new adventures and ideas, but I am happy with my ability to create content. It helps that a lot of my life revolves around traveling, running and the beach. I am sure I will continue to have content to turn into another Walk into the Future blog article. 😊
I have published multiple articles and posts on LinkedIn so that is another goal win. I continue to look for ways to network and connect with a larger audience. LinkedIn has allowed me to attract readers to my blog and share my adventures and leadership thoughts. I will use LinkedIn to build my leadership audience so I can get back to conducting Authentic Leadership workshops for organizations looking to improve/grow.
I have rolled my publishing a leadership eBook into 2022. I have the content for the eBook but need to get busy with cover art and putting the content into publication. I will use the summer months to finalize the content and work to get cover art so I can get the eBook to market. It’s coming—I promise! 😊
Still got work to do but I am making progress towards my 2022 reading and writing goals.
How are you doing with your 2022 goals! I welcome your thoughts—thanks!
Irie!
“Reading is to the mind what exercise is to the body”.
(Joseph Addison)
“The smell of the ocean never gets old”.
(Pinterest)
I am always searching for new adventures and ways to leverage my Walk into the Future journey.
Most of my Florida exploits are centered around me heading north to familiar locations: Jasper, Jacksonville, Orlando, Melbourne, and Tallahassee. I have never been a huge south Florida fan, so it never crosses my mind to explore locations down there except when outlet malls are involved. I love outlet malls! 😊
Decided to get out of my travel comfort zone and venture south to explore Jupiter, Florida last weekend. I always heard great things about Jupiter but never made a true effort to visit the area to see what it truly had to offer. The reports about this area are all true; the city of Jupiter and the beaches are well worth a trip down there.
Google maps identified Jupiter was only a 58-minute drive down I-95 from Fort Pierce, so it is extremely close to me so no real excuses for never going there. Got up early on Saturday morning with the intent of driving down and enjoying a day of dining, sightseeing, and walking on the beach. Mission accomplished on all phases of my plan.
1000 North
A good friend in south Florida recommended the 1000 North restaurant as a place to get some great food, people watch and catch nice water views. I never heard about this place, but it turns out to be a very popular spot in Jupiter. It has a diverse ownership group that includes Michael Jordan and several other well-known professional athletes. Did not know this fact until I got there and saw the setup. Nothing over the top but they only have complimentary valet parking—a nice feature but not something I am used to.
There are multiple dining areas to include a members only private dining room. I stayed downstairs with the regular folks and got a seat outside with a great view of the marina. The atmosphere was fantastic and got an opportunity to people watch. There were several large groups outside and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves and the great location.
The menu provided an eclectic selection, but I decided to get the grilled chicken club with sweet potato fries. Never had a fried egg on a club sandwich but it was a very good addition to the sandwich. I would get this again on a return trip to 1000 North.
Left 1000 North with the intent to explore the famed Jupiter beaches. Made a quick 5-minute drive east from the restaurant and I was at the beach. It was cool by Florida weather standards, but the beach was crowded with folks. Got a chance to walk the beach for a bit and get some great pictures to document my exploration for the day. I did not bring my beach chair or towel, so my walk was the activity for the day. I will make my way back to Jupiter beach so I can enjoy a full day at the beach and relax.
Outlets
My trip to Jupiter put me about 20 minutes away from the Palm Beach Outlet mall. I could not miss an opportunity for outlet shopping so made my way south. I did not need anything but that’s not the point—there are always good deals at the outlets, so it is never a wasted trip.
Hit the Nike store first looking for new running gear. The Nike store is extremely small, so the selection was limited I did not pick up anything during this visit. Visited the Columbia store and added to my t-shirt collection here. Walked around a bit more and visited a few more shops before calling it a day and heading back to Fort Pierce.
Nice little day trip for me to add to my Walk into the Future journal. I look forward to heading back down soon for a longer beach adventure.
What areas will you explore this summer?
Irie!
“In Florida we salt margaritas, not sidewalks”.
(Thewanderlustwithin.com)
“Good order is the foundation of all things”.
(Edmund Burke)
My Walk into the Future allows me to pick and choose my adventures and some take me to amazing places. Others find me rooted at home but still bring a level of joy and satisfaction.
I am an avid reader and love to find new books to help me as a lifelong learner. My latest find was the book by retired Admiral William H. McRaven titled Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe The World.
The title is simple enough and gives the reader an understanding of what the Admiral will cover in this book.
I love the fact the book is broken up into short chapters that are easy to follow and integrate into daily life for readers. Admiral McRaven uses things from his life to help highlight the importance of how little things add up to make life move forward.
The book starts with the simple premise of why making your bed daily sets the tone for the day. I understood this fact when I read the book but did not fully gain knowledge until I shared the book with a coworker who reads more books than I do. My coworker assumes since I am retired Air Force the concept of making your bed was instilled in me during my time in the Air Force. He was surprised when I told him I rarely make my bed because I did not see the importance of the act. I am not a slob but making my bed happens when it happens—I did not go out of my way to make the bed before heading to work.
My coworker was shocked with my admission. I can be set in my ways but went back and read the chapter on making your bed to figure out what I missed.
I started making my bed DAILY after reading again to see if this simple act made a difference in my day. The verdict is in—yes, it does!
This simple act appears to be a springboard for a productive day for me.
The flow I have been able to display at work came once I made the decision to start my day with a simple act of organization. Taking the time to make my bed and organize before leaving the house for work or my runs puts me in a better mindset for the day. I arrive at work with a mindset to organize and I can transition quicker once I make it to my desk. This may all be a coincidence but the flow, production, and ability to get more accomplished came once I decided to make my bed.
This is a recent phenomenon for me but exciting at the same time. The ability to make a difference daily is something I take pride in. Making my bed appears to heighten my ability to get this done.
Let’s be clear on this! I fully understand making the bed has not given me a new superpower, but it provides me an opportunity to cross off a daily task early in the day. I view making my bed as the first win of the day and gets me ready to win throughout the day. I love crossing things off my to-do lists and I can get this started before I leave the house.
Therefore, making your bed is an important step for the day! It sets the tone and establishes a foundation for success—give it a try and let’s see what making your bed can do for you!
What are your thoughts on the importance of making your bed? How does it set the tone for the day?
“For every minute spent organizing, an hour is earned”.
(Benjamin Franklin)
“Please ignore the faces I make while running”.
(Anonymous)
Diabolical: Outrageously wicked (Dictionary.com).
Never thought I would describe a race as diabolical but that’s what I am going to do. I know there are other meanings for diabolical, but I will stick with outrageously wicked.
The Florida Marathon/Half Marathon is a fine race that is put on by a fantastic run organization. My use of the word diabolical is more to describe the course and how the runners must finish both races.
Yes, this was a half marathon, so I was ready to put in my 13.1 miles of work in for the day. I was happy with my 2022 Vero Beach Half Marathon results in January and wanted to translate that effort into the 2022 Florida Half Marathon in Melbourne.
Let’s jump ahead a bit—there was no translation from the Vero Beach race to the Melbourne race. Happy with my effort but did not get close to matching or exceeding my January race time during this race. More on that later. 😊
Signed up for this race to ensure I run monthly half marathons January through May. Wanted to test myself by adding more races to my schedule in 2022 and building a run base that will allow me to get faster with each race—in theory.
Melbourne is one of my favorite places to visit because of the great beaches and laid-back vibe of the people. This race provides the best of my worlds—beaches and running. This was my first race in Melbourne, so I was excited to run the city as a running tourist.
Drove up on Saturday morning since this race had a Sunday morning start. I wanted to get in town early enough to pick up my race packet and continue to carb load throughout the day. My ultimate motive was to get into town early enough so I could go sit on the beach at the Crowne Plaza Hotel for a bit. I always maximize beach time when I can. 😊
The EXPO was held in the Front Street Park Civic Center. This sounds like a huge place, but it is the size of a regular house, and it is right on the river side in downtown Melbourne. Parking was quick and easy, so made my way into the Civic Center to get my race packet and see what the vendors had to offer.
There were only a handful of runners in the Civic Center when I arrived so went right to the front of the line to get my race bib (#715) and packet. Grabbed a fellow runner to take my picture in front of the step and repeat race display which is a tradition for me. Walked around a bit to see the vendors but did not buy anything while at the EXPO.
Went outside and took a few pictures along the river and got a great shot of one of the bridges we would have to cross during the race. The bridge incline should have been a precursor of what was to come.
Left the Civic Center and checked into my hotel. Wanted to drop off my bags and get a good feel for how close the hotel was to the race start line. Made my way to the Crowne Plaza to get lunch and continue my carb loading process. The weather was great on Saturday and provided a perfect backdrop to relax on the beach and listen to the band playing on the deck. Enjoyed a turkey club sandwich, fries, and Bud Light at the Crowne Plaza. They have an extensive menu, but I stay conservative the day before a race to eliminate potential stomach issues during the race—lesson learned from a past race. Sat on the beach for a bit and enjoyed the views before heading out.
Left the Crowne Plaza and made my way to Patrick Space Force Base (PSFB) for a quick shopping trip. Wanted to see if they had the Brooks Adrenaline GTS 22s to replace my GTS 21s. They had the 22s but not in my size so walked around and looked at stuff I didn’t need—never a wasted trip since I get to spend time around military people again—love being back on-base.
Made my way to the Olive Garden to finish my carb loading for the day and get to bed early. The restaurant was crowded so made my way to the bar and found a seat there. I am basic when carb loading so went with the Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo, lots of bread sticks and Bud Light. Relaxed back at the hotel before an early bedtime so I could get my rest and get up early to tackle the half marathon.
Remember the term diabolical from earlier? Well, let jump into that a bit more now. 😊
Woke up at 4:45 am to prepare my mind and body for the 13.1 miles I needed to cover at 6:30 am. I do some stretching and mental preparation during this timeframe before putting on my equipment (KT tape, Salonpas patches and BioFreeze) and getting dressed. My run outfit was conservative for me so got dressed after putting on my layers of equipment.
Luckily, I grabbed one of my running jackets before leaving the hotel because it was already raining. The weather forecast ‘mentioned’ rain the day before, but this was just a steady flow, and it was not cold. I thought the rain would be around for a little bit but was wrong on my forecasting skills.
Made my way downtown towards the race starting point and arrive about 10 minutes after leaving the hotel. Researched places to park the night before and found a spot about 100 yards from the race start line. There was still a light rain coming down at this point, but it got heavier the closer we got to race time. The race announcer came on the loudspeaker and let us know the race was delayed due to weather—the on-course police support was still getting setup because of the rain. I sat in my vehicle to avoid standing around in the rain without knowing the exact time we would start the race. The delay lasted for only 15 minutes, but most runners did not get a chance for a normal warmup.
The marathon runners were allowed to start 10 minutes before the half marathoners. I did not leave my vehicle until the announcer gave us a 5-minute warning for our race to start. Made my way to the bathroom and then got a quick stretch in before heading to the start line.
Yes, it was still raining, and the streets were wet! We finally got started at 6:50 am
I decided to go out very controlled since the streets were wet and did not want to injure myself or anyone else. I did not have a specific finish time in mind with the wet conditions—wanted to enjoy the course (LOL) and the experience.
Miles 1 – 3 were crowded as runners were very cautious trying to avoid slipping and bringing others down with them. My first mile was a comfortable 9:19 which was probably too fast for the conditions and what was to come. Miles 2 and 3 were like my Mile 1 pace but still felt comfortable. A cool experience during this portion of the race was we got a chance to see dolphins swimming in the river. Yes, runners enjoy the scenery during races. 😊
Slowed my pace a bit during Miles 4 and 5 because I knew the course got a bit tougher at the 6-mile point. The FIRST bridge crossing starts at Mile 6 and goes up until you hit the Mile 7 marker. Bridge running is tough in normal conditions but gets a lot tougher in the rain. I did not want to lose too much time so gritted out the incline and then made-up time on the bridge decline. Felt great through Mile 8 but hit a wall right at the Mile 9 marker. This may have happened because my warmup routine was impacted due to rain or I went too fast on the bridge. Either way, my legs were on fire and yes, it was still raining on us.
Decided at this point to just finish the race. No need to try to set a Personal Record (PR) since my legs were not moving that fast anyway.
Miles 9 through 11 were consistently slow for me but I keep moving forward. Started feeling good about myself again at this point but then the second bridge crossing was looming. So, my question is: who puts another bridge crossing at the 11-mile point of a half marathon? A diabolical person, that’s who.
Yep, had to dig down to get up and over another bridge to finish this @#$% race! I made it slowly up to the 12-mile marker and then found some level of courage to go faster on the decline. I did not want to limp across the finish line but that is how I felt. I put on my best I’m not in pain face and found a kick to get me across the finish line. My official time was: 2:17:52 which was 6 minutes slower than Vero Beach. I’ll take it with the conditions and bridge placement.
Got my medal, a couple beers and donuts and found a place to sit down to enjoy my prizes. It was still raining so got my rain jacket out of my vehicle so I could sit and get some ice on my quads. Talked with my fellow runners and we all experienced the course in a similar way. Happy to finish but beat up by the conditions and the course. Would love to meet the person who thought it was a good idea to cross a bridge after Mile 11. 😊
As much as I’m complaining, I will probably run this race again next year. Hopefully, we will have better weather and I know the course now and can pace myself for a better finish. We will see!
Irie!
“I run because punching people is frown upon”.
(Anonymous)
“Life moves so fast. You gotta document the good times, man”.
(Big Boi)
Luke Combs is one of my favorite artists and he continues to generate hits on the country music charts. His lyrics have a poetic flow and speaks to daily things we all experience in one form or another.
I discovered his music during the 2020 Country Music Awards (CMA) show and quickly identified him as a rising star and promptly added his song, Beer Never Broke my Heart to my running playlist. Yes, I run with country music! 😊
I continue to dive into his discography and discover songs that I identify with. I did not realize how long he has been in the music business, but I love everything he has put out. Fans routinely identify ‘Luke has never made a bad song’ comments on his YouTube channel. I am sure he has a dud or two somewhere, but I can’t find one. I have been on a monthlong binge of his music where I play his music at work, driving home and then again when I get home. Guess you can say I am a fan.
My latest find is a song he put out in 2019 called Refrigerator Door. Very basic concept where he identifies the family memories that are on the refrigerator door in his house. This is something we can all relate to, most of us have placed something memorable on the refrigerator door: report cards, kids sports schedule, family vacation pictures, etc.
Decided this was a great time to let the Walk into the Future blog readers in on my refrigerator door secret. I have never placed report cards, sports schedules, or vacation pictures on my refrigerator door.
My door is covered with magnets. Yes, you read that correctly. My refrigerator door is covered with 70+ magnets. I started collecting magnets as part of my travel while in the Air Force and never really stopped. My goal is to collect a magnet each time I travel to a new state, city, or country. I always thought I would get bored with putting magnets on the door, but it is exciting to me to look at the door for the memories that are hanging there.
I have had family members and friends who send me magnets from places they have visited, but I do not put those on my door. My entire magnet concept is to put magnets up for places I have experienced. This keeps me motivated to continue my running tourist momentum to find races in places I have never been so I can explore new places AND get my magnet.
I added Clearwater Beach (Florida), Norfolk and Virginia Beach (Virginia), Southern Shores and Duck (North Carolina) and Savannah (Georgia) to the refrigerator door in 2021. I will add Atlantic City, New Jersey to the door in May when I head up there for the 2022 Atlantic City Rock N Roll Half Marathon. I am sure I will find some other places to visit and collect more hardware for my door.
The memories I can capture with pictures are great, but my magnet collection allows me to relive great memories daily since I see the door every time I am in the kitchen. I know magnets may not be for everyone, but this is a simple, easy, and inexpensive way to capture memories.
What do you have on your refrigerator door? 😊
“Nothing but good times ahead”.
(Jennifer Cruisie)
Strength is not in the numbers
But in how you control the flow
The life patterns you choose
And the pace that you grow
Allow the strength to manifest daily
And mitigate the weakness
To eliminate potential turmoil
To get you where you belong
Stop chasing outward things
And take advantage of the strength within
“The great danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low and achieving our mark”.
(Michelangelo)
Decided to check my 2021 goals in December to see how well I did to accomplish the things I projected to get done back in January 2021.
Yearly goals are a big part of my planning process and I love checking things off my list. The written goal is a way to ensure success and provides clarity on things to get done in the new year.
2021 presented some unique opportunities for me and I am happy to grow on a professional and personal level.
There was only one area where I did not meet or exceed my written goal. I started 2021 with a written goal to cook weekly and I started the year off well. I made a point to meal prep and utilized my crock pot for convenience. My cooking goal lasted about two months before the wheels fell off on my progress. Working late and my scheduled after work runs are the excuses but the convenience of the drive-thru is the real reason. Turns out it is a lot easier and quicker to pull up and order something without having to come home and cook. I realize the drive-thru is not the healthiest option for me, but I rationalize this process with an extra run or two to combat. I will do a much better job with this goal in 2022!
Travel
Travel was an area I wanted to hit specific marks in 2021. COVID-19 eliminated most travel plans in 2020 and I wanted to get back on the road once it was safe again. I was leery of the vaccine process early on but fully embraced the concept once the vaccine was available. I wanted to be able to see family and friends again without the concern of bringing the virus with me. I understand vaccinated people can still carry but felt a sense of relief once I received the Moderna doses.
I routinely took monthly excursions prior to COVID-19 and looked forward to doing this again. Clearwater, Jacksonville, Orlando, and Melbourne were targeted cities for my monthly getaways and happy to report I hit them all. Orlando and Melbourne were regular visits for me in 2021. I also made it back to Jasper at least once per month to see my mom and family.
My visit to Clearwater Beach back in January was my first time there. I always saw pictures and heard about the area but never took time to visit. I am happy I made the trip over and will return October 2022 to run in the inaugural Clearwater Rock N Roll Half Marathon. Plan to get more sightseeing in when I get there.
Got in a few running tourist opportunities too: Virginia Beach, Savannah, and Orlando.
My last 2021 travel adventure got me back to Nashville, Tennessee to listen to live music and enjoy a great city. The Wild Horse Saloon was closed on this trip, but I will be back for the 2022 Nashville Rock N Roll Half Marathon in April. I will get my line dancing in when I return. 😊
Exercise program
Exercise is a huge part of my daily routine. This is an area I take a lot of pride in and hit all my goals in 2021.
The first thing I wanted to hit was 1,000 training miles. Happy to report I was able to finish the year with 1,055 training miles. Building training runs into my daily schedule allowed me to hit this mark without feeling rushed to get training completed. I will leverage my 2021 training routine to build an aggressive 2022 training goal to help me challenge myself. Will share this number in a later post.
I set a goal to break my Personal Record (PR) in a 10k race and beat my friend Lauren Kume’s time in 2021. I ran a PR of 55:57 (Fifty-five minutes and 57 seconds) at the 2021 Winter Park 10k in March 2021. I did not run faster than Lauren, so I get to try again in 2022. I am registered for the same race in March 2022 and will work to get closer to 54 flat—still more work to do but headed in a good direction. Seems I am always chasing Lauren, but she inspires my running program—thank you! 😊
My workouts in 2021 were much improved. I still make it to the gym for weight training at least two times per week and upgraded my home equipment to enhance my strength training. I got in 5 body weight sessions weekly to complement my work in the gym. I was able to add more muscle definition and maintain my weight even though I do not eat the healthiest. I will correct my eating habits in 2022.
Writing
I maintained a consistent writing program throughout 2021. I published several articles on LinkedIn and added my poetry to the Walk into The Future blog. My blog library allowed me to publish weekly content to share my thoughts, views, and travel with readers. I gained a few more blog followers and incorporated content several friends requested. I plan to continue to build new blog content in 2022—don’t know how much longer I will use this platform, but I have other areas I want to explore for the blog so keep sending me your ideas. I will work to build content to keep your interest.
I did not publish my Leadership ebook in 2021 but did work on content throughout the year. I talked with a designer to build the cover art but will need to reengage with him to finalize the cost for the project. This will be a rollover goal for 2022.
Happy with my 2021 goal progress and excited to launch my 2022 goals towards another successful year.
How did YOU do on meeting your 2021 goals? What big things do you have planned for 2022?
Make it great!
“You are never too old to set another goal or to dream a new dream”.
(C.S. Lewis)
“Remember, the second most important thing to choosing the right shoe is choosing the left one”.
(Unknown)
Decided to exercise one of my 2020 race credits for the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon over the Labor Day weekend. I targeted this race in 2020 before COVID-19 shut down running but never got a chance to explore Virginia Beach.
I have traveled to the state of Virginia before, but it was in the Washington D. C. area—never the coast. Starting and finishing a race on the Virginia Beach boardwalk was an appealing draw for me and wanted to explore the area as a running tourist.
Happy to report the race, festivities and weather were fantastic and I enjoyed my adventure.
I have been training but knew my current regimen was not where it needs to be to run a Personal Record (PR). Most folks know I am always chasing my next PR, but it appears I am getting wiser with my mental focus. My goal for Virginia Beach was to take a measured approach to the race and then determine how fast my pace would be for the rest of the race.
Booked an early Southwest airlines flight out of Orlando to get to my race destination. This was my first plane ride since my Rock N Roll half marathon and cheesesteak adventures in Philadelphia back in 2019. I did not know how I would react to being back on a plane but felt safe since everyone in the airport and on the plane wore their masks. I have seen horror stories on the news about people not wearing masks but did not experience this at all.
Settled into my exit row seat with extra leg room and enjoyed the two-hour flight to Virginia. This was a perfect opportunity for me to catch up on my reading. I currently have two books going—Eat that Frog and Start With Why. Both books speak to my current work situation, so I bounce back and forth between the books. May need to just finish one so I can tackle the other one with more energy—we will see!
The flight to Virginia Beach was uneventful—nothing special happened but was excited to finally arrive to get the adventure started.
Hotels close to the race venture were booked or too expensive for my taste. Ended up staying in Chesapeake, Virginia which is close to a lot of shopping and entertainment. Made the most of this fact and did some light window shopping and got a pedicure. Nothing like having your feet rubbed prior to pounding the pavement for 13.1 miles. 😊 Completed my carb loading process with extra pasta at The Olive Garden and made sure to drink extra water.
The weather was projected to be hotter than normal so drinking water was necessary to stay hydrated.
EXPO
The Rock N Roll EXPOs are always a highlight of the weekend. The excitement of being so close to race day puts a smile on the face of most runners. I was happy to be back around runners again and experiencing a new city. The Virginia Beach Rock N Roll EXPO was light on merchandise and vendors—believe this is because 2021 was the 20th Anniversary of this race and also the last year for the event.
The Virginia Beach city leaders decided they did not want to host the race anymore and wanted to leverage the Labor Day holiday weekend for other activities. There were vendors available but not as many as I am used to for the Rock N Roll series. I made sure to shop and buy a new set of leg compression sleeves since they were marked down 50%–got a pair of white CHEP compression sleeves. I am sure you will see picture of me rocking them soon. 😊
Boardwalk
Made my way over to the boardwalk after the EXPO to get a taste of Virginia Beach. Got a chance to take some pictures at the King Neptune statue that sits right on the boardwalk. King Neptune is popular with running tourists so had to ensure I got the photo. The beach was crowded—this could be because it was Labor Day weekend, and the local schools start the following week. There were a ton of families on the beach enjoying the sun, surf, and weather. Decided to find a spot to get a drink and food.
Found Catch 31 right on the boardwalk and pulled up at the outdoor bar to enjoy the beach and the view. Ordered crab cake and beer so I could people watch and enjoy college football on the TVs. This was a popular place, and everyone was friendly—I would recommend visiting Catch 31 if you are in the Virginia Beach area.
Race
Left Catch 31 with the intent to get to bed early so I could get up the next day to run the half marathon. I hit the bed to get my rest and get off my feet. I always set my race outfit out the night before since this makes life easier on race day. Decided to rep the Orlando Track Shack running club again during this race. My Track Shack race shirts always get attention from other runners and give us something to talk about before the race.
The race start was staggered to ensure we maintained a safe distance prior to crossing the start line. I was assigned Corral #4 again based on my projected finish time. Happy to report my start position has improved over the years which means I am running faster than most of the runners in each race. 😊
My goal was to run a steady pace, enjoy the process and not hurt myself by trying to do too much. Mission accomplished! The race started one block over from the beach and we made our way to the boardwalk within the first mile. It was great running next to the beach with a nice sunrise coming up over the water.
The course brought us back onto the main drag and then we headed south through neighborhoods for most of the race. My plan is always to run to each water stop and then walk through them when I get water or Gatorade. I take off running again and head towards the next water stop. This approach has allowed me to complete multiple races and set PRs in the process.
I ran with a smile on my face for the first 8 miles then my quads and hamstring started to scream at me. Again, I have been running but not putting in the correct number of miles to build the lactic acid threshold needed for a half marathon. I knew this coming into the race, but it never seems to help when your legs are burning—you just keep moving forward. I continued my game plan even with the pain, but I was not moving very fast.
Mile 10 is where I decided trying to run a PR was not happening so slowed my pace to enjoy the rest of the race. Luckily for me I decided a PR was not worth the pain—Mile 11 is where runners faced the problem of running up a steep bridge to get closer to the finish line. Most of us let out an audible ‘Holy Crap’ when we saw the bridge and the knowledge we had to get up and over to finish the race. My pace slowed down even more while making my way over the bridge. The downhill portion was great and led us back to the boardwalk to finish the race. There were race spectators along the boardwalk and they cheered us to the finish line.
Very happy and proud to finish this race considering my training program was subpar—I can improve and will put more effort into my preparation.
Realm Brewery
The reward for completing the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon was a trip to New Realm Brewery. This spot was highly recommended and did not disappoint. Realm Brewery is an open air and inside sitting establishment. The outside sitting is covered and there is plenty room to social distance while enjoying food and drink. I got the Acai and Blueberry Seltzer and New Realm Burger which was outstanding. There was live music in the afternoon and the environment was fantastic. They did not have TVs outside to watch football but that is a small thing considering how great this place is. Yes, I will visit again when I am back in the Virginia Beach area.
Unfortunately, the Virginia Beach Rock N Roll Half Marathon will not be run again. Great location, course, and entertainment in the area—guess I will have to explore other Rock N Roll locations to continue this running tourist program. 😊
Savannah is next on the list!
“If found on the ground, drag to the finish line”.
(From a runner’s t-shirt)
(Image by fancycrave1 from Pixabay)
“There is no magic formula for great company culture. The key is just to treat your staff how you would like to be treated”.
(Richard Branson)
Psychology Today identifies intellectual curiosity as a deep and persistent desire to know.
Betterup.com dives deeper by defining intellectual curiosity as curiosity that leads to an acquisition of general knowledge.
At this point I am sure you are wondering where I am headed with intellectual curiosity. Glad you asked! 😊
This has become a major characteristic I look for when working with others. I was never able to find the exact term until recently but intellectual curiosity in the workplace provides a foundation for success.
Interestingly, this is not something everyone is able to display easily. I see people who practice this trait when something is near and dear to them on a personal or professional level. The key for me is for everyone to translate intellectual curiosity daily in the workplace.
Why you ask? Great question!
People who display intellectual curiosity can find new ways to get things done. There are multiple work environments where the mindset is we have always done it that way. This may be true but organizations and people who cannot evolve are doomed to fail. It may take time for the demise, but it will happen.
Intellectually curious people understand how things are done and continue to look for ways to improve the process daily. I love being surrounded by these type people because they understand the concept of moving forward. Processes and techniques change daily, and organizations need to be able to pivot. Pivots and adjustments are needed quicker as we introduce more technology into the workplace.
COVID-19 allowed intellectually curious people and organizations to make the necessary adjustments to ensure services were provided. Most of my work colleagues had never heard of Zoom prior to the pandemic. Turns out the Zoom platform in the hands of intellectually curious organizations increased the ability to provide services and made meetings more efficient. Staff did not lose time driving or walking to meetings anymore—they simply logged into their computers and joined the meetings via their laptops.
I never imagined university career fairs could be done completely online. Intellectual curiosity has allowed people in my career field to find more efficient ways to connect students and employers. There are some organizations that have been slow to adapt to the changing world and they are rapidly being left behind.
I challenge staff to become intellectually curious daily. This is the only way to ensure an organization has a growth mindset. The way we did business two years ago is not coming back so organizations need the ability to adapt, grow and move forward.
I propose organizations staffed with people with intellectual curiosity will thrive—those without will slowly fade away.
How do you display intellectual curiosity? I welcome your thoughts!
“Don’t dwell on what went wrong. Instead, focus on what to do next. Spend your energies on moving forward toward finding an answer”.
(Denis Waitley)
Walk Into the Future 