Sealing up the Barn for the Season... and looking around the countryside.

FLC XC 2006 @ RMAC Conference Champs.

With Boston Marathon v.115 now only 12 days away last night was the final run of positive consequence for this training cycle. With the spotty spring weather being so schizo to those of us in the wintry climes I was happy to have this final day full of sunshine and cool breeze. The sort of afternoon run that is chilly in the woods and radiates sunshiny warmth out in the open.

For this final run I decided to pay a last visit to the Tanawha Trail  on the Blue Ridge Parkway. This is a staple of my training as I typically get out there at least once per week for easy/longish runs. This constant re visitation provides a spine of progress to my training much the way speed work and racing do for performance.

The places your feet don't carry you, while your feet are carrying you...
My mind began running ahead of time and I found myself on the familiar sections of the Boston course. I recalled the 13 years of training and failing and succeeding and injuries and retraining and learning and failing and finally now... 12 days away from now, I will be running the Boston Marathon.

A few changes... over the years

Aster Asteracia

Lilith aka Silly Lily

Goliath Johansen

A journey begins '96

Obviously many changes have taken place since the idea to run Boston first cropped up in my head in the spring of 1998. At that time I had just been out of high school for a little over a year, had my first apartment and was working 2 jobs and walking, literally, 3 miles in the snow to one of them. Life was exciting and simple and complicated and I had no idea what I was doing with the living and especially with the running... training was more in confidence than volume and I thought- 26.2 miles... sure okay. I had a lot to learn. After 5 failed BQ attempts I finally got in in 2003 at Chicago... only to get injured and sidetracked...

Not much has changed except for everything... yet, here I am just like I was.

Now having lived all over the US, Japan, spent time in Korea and Kuwait- it is safe to say I am a different person than the one who moved into that small apartment back in Wolfeboro, NH. Now, all my dreams have come true. I have a beautiful wife who I am so in love with, we have our awesome and happy 3 pups and most recently Sylas joined our family and has filled my life with a happiness and love I never imagined.

While running would seem to be diminished in face of all of these amazing additions, it has actually become a richer experience. An hour a day that is solely mine which brings me peace and perspective each day. I use it as a medium to celebrate and cherish the life I am so fortunate to have. As the training has wound down for this culmination of a long term goal I have been somewhat retrospective of my journey as I prepare to soak in the event and savor the steps as I pilgrimage from Hopkinton to Boston.

The Sean, The Snail and The Psyche @ Chattooga 50k '10

Here are the main ideas/lessons that are cropping up in my mind.

• As you all know, keep the goal in mind and you will reach it!
• Listen. To your body, to a wide range of running perspectives and to that little person inside.
• You can slow down and speed up, and you can rest... but don't stop.
• Enjoy the process for what it is. You reach wider and deeper understanding of yourself.
• Appreciate failure, celebrate success!
• Volunteer.

Within the myriad of styles we each have I think these are successful traits/ experiences we all share as runners and endurance athletes. We love the rises, the falls, the drama and the simplicity of roads & trails.

Lynnea and I @ Andrews Lake, CO

Whether you are the ultra veteran, the class clown, the edgy rock star, the type-A planner, the philosophical dreamer or just off the couch and seeing this world for the first time around... these are concepts which continue to be beneficial through all phases of my running life. 

I'd like to hear what keeps you going through the seasons of your running life and how you have enriched your journey a step at a time! So leave a comment or drop an email. Let's keep learning and loving and moving~

It is a blessing to be in a place where we can live such a great life and with style.  Happy Running!

Sylas Lee loving the journey