Week 3

That's three weeks in a row at 20+ for those of you keeping score. Starting to feel like a runner again...

"First say to yourself what you would be; and then do what you have to do."
-Epictetus

Week 2 - Gotcha!

Thanks to a Sunday morning 10 miler, the cockamamie plan I cobbled together somehow came to fruition. I've now managed to achieve my goal of running at least 20 miles per week for two weeks in a row...

I. Feel. Happy.

"An athlete who tells you the training is always easy and always fun simply hasn't been there. Goals can be elusive which makes the difficult journey all the more rewarding."
-Alberto Salazar

Winter Marathon?

I'm beginning to consider running another marathon this winter; most likely the Cowtown Marathon in Fort Worth. But before signing up, I'm trying to regain some consistency and build my base back up to a minimum of 20 miles per week.

If I can maintain this foundation for September and October, I'll be positioned well to transition into a formal marathon training plan in November.

Things got off to a good start the first week of September but have already fallen apart here in week two - a big old goose egg so far.

Weekly running totals

I suppose I have a couple of days to run remaining in this week, but getting in 20? Dubious given my schedule.

If the stars align just so, I might be able to skip lunch and squeeze in a run today. Working out on Friday would require a very, very early start (but doable). Saturday is rather iffy but I'm pretty sure I'll be able to run Sunday. So maybe 5 miles per day for the next four days... or 5 today and tomorrow then 10 on Sunday.

We shall see...

"Failure is simply the opportunity to begin again, this time more intelligently."
-Henry Ford

Help Wanted

I came across this sign recently. Sharing it today, on Labor Day, seems highly appropriate.

Good luck out there...

"There is no expedient to which a man will not go to avoid the labor of thinking."
-Thomas A. Edison

Upward Spiral

Generally speaking, I tend to steer this blog away from political commentary. Personally, I sit somewhere in the middle of the political spectrum favoring pragmatism over propaganda and solutions to actual problems over news media sensationalism.

Today I received the below email from Howard Schultz, CEO of Starbucks Coffee, and am compelled to share it.

Our political leaders have become entrenched in partisanship and are focused, almost exclusively, on party loyalty and reelection. I suppose it should come as no surprise that it is the private sector, not the government, who is standing up and affecting change on behalf of the United States. After all, industry's motives are clear... when Americans are employed we buy goods and services, and private industry reaps the profit. These profits can then be further re-investment in innovation and new jobs.

To the Founders, Chairmen, CEOs, and Directors of the organizations supporting Mr. Schultz and Upward Spiral, I commend you and genuinely hope that you are true to your pledges: Withhold your political contributions, decline those $10,000 a plate political fundraisers, and do not contribute to PACs. Instead, re-invest in your organizations, in your people, and in America's future.

August 15, 2011

Dear Fellow Concerned Americans:

Our country is better than this.

Over the last few weeks and months, our national elected officials from both parties have failed to lead. They have chosen to put partisan and ideological purity over the well-being of the people. They have undermined the full faith and credit of the United States. They have stirred up fears about our economic prospects without doing anything to truly address those fears. They have spent a resource even more precious than the dollar: our collective confidence in each other, in the future, and in our ability to solve problems together.

As leaders in business, we have watched all this unfold, first with frustration and then with dismay. Like so many of our employees and customers, we are gravely concerned about the current situation. Today, with both humility and urgency, we propose to do something about it.

First, we aim to push our elected leaders to face the nation's long-term fiscal challenges with civility, honesty, and a willingness to sacrifice their own re-election. This means not kicking the can anymore. It means reaching a deal on debt, revenue, and spending long before the deadline arrives this fall. It means considering all options, from entitlement programs to taxes.

This is what so many common-sense Americans want. That is why we today pledge to withhold any further campaign contributions to the President and all members of Congress until a fair, bipartisan deal is reached that sets our nation on stronger long-term fiscal footing. And we invite leaders of businesses – indeed, all concerned Americans – to join us in this pledge.

We also believe in leading by positive example. And we believe that while the long-term fiscal challenge is serious, even more painful to millions of Americans today is the immediate crisis of jobs. Tens of millions are unemployed and underemployed. Right now our economy is frozen in a cycle of fear and uncertainty. Companies are afraid to hire. Consumers are afraid to spend. Banks are afraid to lend. Record levels of cash are piling up in corporate treasuries, idling. That cash is not being used to expand operations, train new workers, underwrite new ventures, or spark innovation.

The only way to break this cycle of fear is to break it. The only way to get the country’s economic circulatory system flowing again is to start pumping lifeblood through it. That is why we today issue a second pledge. Our companies are going to hire. We are going to accelerate growth, employment, and investment in jobs.

We do this because we want to set in motion an upward spiral of confidence. We are not waiting for government to create an incentive program or a stimulus. We are not waiting for economic indicators to tell us it’s safe to act. We are hiring more people now. We invite leaders of businesses across the country to join us in this pledge as well – and to bring their stakeholders into the effort. Confidence is contagious. The best thing we can do now is to spread it.

This is a time for citizenship, not partisanship. It is a time for action. We don't pretend that our two pledges are quick fixes. We just believe that in this moment of great uncertainty, the government needs discipline, the people need jobs – and leaders need to lead.

Our country is better than this. Let’s get things moving now.

Respectfully,
Howard Schultz

“Industry pays debts, while despair increaseth them”
-Benjamin Franklin

In Decline

My training for the month of August has been deplorable and is trending in the wrong direction. Lack of sleep. Lack of motivation. Domestic and international travel. Blah blah blah...

Must buck up, lace up, and hit the road tomorrow morning. No excuses!

August 2011 Weekly Milage

"He that is good for making excuses is seldom good for anything else." 
-Benjamin Franklin