RunningShield: Running Poems, Quotes & Run Stories. Motivation

Running Strong

Despite the difficulties and struggles that came my way, I can still honestly say that life has been quite good to me. Every obstacle that was brought upon me, I took as a challenge. And with each challenge I faced, I tried my best to persevere, to make things right yet still keeping a smile on my face even if it was a struggle to do so. Of course, things don't always turn out the way we want them to, so we just change what we can, accept what we can't and simply move on.

Unfortunately, life sometimes deals you a heavy blow just when you least expect it. A blow that catches you flat footed with all your defenses down. A jab so strong you find the wind knocked out of you and your face flat on the floor. At least thats how it felt to me. What's even more difficult and ironic is that this blow was not even dealt on me but on someone else...a person I truly love and respect. It is not my struggle, nor is it my cross to bear. This isn't about me. It is about someone who until recently made me realize the True Measure of a Man.

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I always thought you were weak but you are Strong !

I always thought you would crumble in a crisis but I was wrong.

In your quiet stillness, you choose to not let this affliction consume you, but have remained steadfast because you are Strong!

When faced with the unimaginable, you took it like a man, with your dignity intact. You steel your nerves determined to fight because you are Strong !

In the silence of an early morning run, I have shed my tears ( as you know I always do ) and I have prayed like I have never prayed before. I realize the road ahead will not be an easy one. So I put all my faith and trust in the Lord above to send us a shot of grace and help us summon whatever strength we can muster to pull us through this challenge. Because even though this heavy burden was put on your shoulder, you shall NEVER have to bear this burden alone. This is a fight we will take on TOGETHER. Your struggle is our struggle. Your battle will be our battle and we shall stand BESIDE you ( whether you like it or not ) every step of the way ... one day at a time...UNWAVERING AND RESOLUTE.

I believe you will overcome this….because you are Strong!

“ I believe in miracles. I have to." - TERRY FOX

On Sunday October 6, 2013

I WILL RUN THIS MARATHON FOR YOU.

RunningShield......RunningStrong....with you.

Run United PHILIPPINE MARATHON – 42.195 KM

EARNING MY WING

For more than 3 decades of my running life, I was wearing a familiar pendant of a Running Man around my neck. It was quite unique and had a character of its own. It weathered through sweat, grime, salt water, soapy water and even the dreaded body acidity. I was very fond of my Running Man pendant and never took it off. It was my constant companion.

But one day it was not with me anymore. All I remember was that both chain and pendant were no longer around my neck. I searched for it but to no avail. Such was my attachment to that pendant that it almost felt like a part of my limb had been severed off. Wherever my Running Pendant may be i hope it is in a good place and memories of our journey will always last forever.

Since then, I began the quest for a new "Running" pendant. I didn't know exactly what kind of pendant it was going to be .... I just wanted something unique and precious, but most of all ... it had to be INSPIRING.

And then I found it.... my WING.

I must admit, I feel quite proud wearing my new Wing pendant around my neck. It's somehow symbolic of what I want to be or aspire for ..... to be fast.....to take flight.....to be FREE.

I wear my WING like a badge of accomplishment .... like "earning my wings" through trials and training. But most of all, its a reminder that if we give "wing to our imagination", dreams can become a reality..... Just believe !!!!

The Finish Line

Downtown Boston in the background

BOSTON 5 am [5 pm Manila time]

It was a chilly September morning but still good enough to wear a simple dri fit shirt and shorts. I was feeling a bit restless mixed with some anxiety because of the running route I had planned for today.

Actual site of the 1st Bomb Explosion

As I glided my way through the quiet streets of Boston, I cruise by the area where the bombing took place just 4 months ago. All of a sudden, the hairs on my back started to rise and I was overwhelmed with a heavy feeling that I can't quite explain. It felt like I was in a Time Capsule that took me back to that tragic day on April 15. I can almost feel the power of the bomb exploding and the chaos that ensued. I can imagine the shock & horror on peoples' faces. I can hear their screams of pain and cries for help. I see severed limbs scattered all over the place amid twisted and tangled bodies .... blood was everywhere.

Marathon Sports how it looks today . It still looks the same.

The experience was emotionally draining which made it almost difficult to breath and then, with a blink of an eye, it was all over. I am back in the present....back to this seemingly quiet street that show no trace of the tragedy that ripped through this city not too long ago. It took me a while to get my bearings back and when I did, I made the sign of the cross and continued my run.

Site near where the 2nd Bomb exploded. Little messages are written on cloth and tied on the steel railing

Only one question kept running through my head that morning......WHY? I realize we may never truly know WHY or even comprehend the logic of it all but sometimes you just can't help but ask.

So as I run through the "valley of tears", I pray for the people of Boston.....that they shall fully recover from this tragedy .... that lives will continue to heal .... that despite the stigma, they shall once again see that proverbial light at the end of the tunnel....or better yet, the FINISH LINE.

FINISH LINE 117th Boston Marathon

My heart is with Boston and forever shall be.

NOTE : The 2013 Boston Marathon was shut down at 2:50 p.m. — more than four hours into the race — when a pair of explosions at the Boylston Street finish line killed three people and injured over 200 others. For 2014, the Boston Marathon will accept an extra 9,000 runners for next year’s race, making room for the more than 5,000 people stopped on the course this year when the bombs went off and for many of those wanting to run as a tribute to the victims.

Running has always been the one thing that I can truly get lost in...the only time where I can just be alone and in touch with my thoughts and emotions. Often I find myself running in a concrete jungle where public transportation and the "rat race tribe" were my frequent companions. During most of those runs, distractions were numerous and it was always a constant struggle to silence the mind and find some solace amid the chaos.

But for this month, it felt really good to run on home ground.....a welcome change of scenery even if only temporary. My runs were more solitary with only the gardener, chauffeurs, dog walkers or roving guards to keep me company while I romp around my play ground. As I run, all I would hear was the constant rhythm of my heartbeat. With every stride, my thoughts raced.... keeping pace with me. It was easy to clear my head and think freely minus the distractions. In no time I was in another world.

Unfortunately, in running as in life, all good things must come to an end… but only for the the time being. Because for every end there is a new beginning.....for every death there is new life...and once in awhile, if your lucky, life is kind and grants you a second chance............a new start.

I know in time I will be back and run in a place where I can call home. A place of perfect peace and happiness....my Nirvana. But for now, there is always running and tomorrow is another day ...another chance to begin anew.

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WHATS YOUR EXCUSE ?????

Baguio Weekend 2013

In the early 80’s I went to Baguio for a little R & R. Though it was an agonizing 8-hour car drive back then, to me it was all worth it.

Being in Baguio always makes me reminisce of my early childhood years....of family vacations spent in our old house along Legarda Street, of visits to Burnham Park & Mines View Park, the Baguio Cathedral, the Public Market and strolling along Session Road.

Back then, I loved Baguio so much I seriously considered actually moving and relocating to this mountain province. I love the weather which is just perfect for running....and sleeping, and eating, and practically everything else. I love it especially when it rains leaving a fresh cool chill in the air. I love the terrain...the rolling hills , red mud, grassy plains, tall lush trees, the scent of pines ....and let's not forget, horse manure. Baguio just had this quaint rustic charm that appealed to me.

Unfortunately, no matter how interested I was to relocate , I knew it was just not feasible. At that time, I didn't think there would be much of a market for air-cons in the city dubbed as "the Summer Capital of the Philippines." So, I just decided to stay put in Manila but visit Baguio whenever I could.

Fast forward to the present and here I am back in Baguio almost 10 years after. Baguio has obviously changed from last I remember.....but, its definitely good to be back .

RAN 19.34 KM TODAY

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Saw this sign on the road which i found hilarious; reminded me of Losers i know.
They are not happy with themselves that is why they pick on others. translation Crab mentality they just want to hurt people because they are not happy with them themselves.
THEY HURT GOOD PEOPLE .
see if you know them .

1. Freeloaders makes sipsip, kisses ass for a free meal , Patron liquor and beer his favorite is Goats beer ... MeMeeee

2. Single. Walang Trabaho and likes destroying other people life by giving falls information. heard she loves 80's music by Cindy L. She never had a boyfriend or girlfriend cause she is a human hater.

3. She drinks " The Bar " she is so un happy of her life. Her husband raol beats her up
had an affair but instead of fixing her relationship she picks on the people who are happy in short crab mentality . she is a disgrace to the LaUniversity alumni .

4. this " IT Person " is the worst of his kind ( he or she) He hides his devious plots to ruin families but we all not what he does. He ...She is a Pawn an utouto of his Boss. he has no spine he has no soul. I heard he is like that because his father beats him up due to his questionable sexuality BEWARE of him BEWARE. he may send you an express letter from Kamuning branch

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Have you ever met people who ...love to meddle into other people's lives and can't seem to mind their own business....
or people who take advantage of the generosity of others , supposed
" friends" who make an art of freeloading and mooching.
or people who think they "know-it-all" and are quick to judge others not realizing their own faults and imperfections...I've met quite a few and I know what they're called.....

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When I started running, I started dreaming. It couldn't be helped. The mind works as hard as the body does during exercise.

Bart Yasso

When I hit “ 50” I put this in my blog. " Insanity Begins at 50 "

I did not realize that it would literally come true.

Since my birthday, a lot of major changes have happened in my life which is the reason why I have been having bouts of depression, loneliness , sleepless nights and nightmares which I haven't experienced in a long long time. No !! I am not going to do a Kurt Cobain , Pepsi Paloma and Adolf Hitler. I just struggle a bit to keep the screws on tightly in my head.

Maybe this is the reason why I run almost every day…. Maybe this is the reason I rack in the kilometers.

Running always gave me that double dose of Endorphin's to maintain my Sanity.... but I cannot wear my mask 24 / 7. I still pray and I do pray hard for God’s divine intervention.

But praying and listening are 2 different things. Maybe stepping back is what I need to do to figure out what the hell is going on with this roller coaster life ….

I wake up in the morning and typhoon “ Gorio “ with maximum winds of 90 kph will hit the Metropolis at around 7 am. I do hope it rains and I do hope it Rains Hard !!! Because when you run in the rain it feels like a “ Cleansing of the Soul “ and maybe that is what I need right now to start a “Life of New Beginning” ....

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Running gives freedom. When you run you can determine your own tempo. You can choose your own course and think whatever you want. Nobody tells you what to do.

Nina Kuscik, marathoner

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Running is the ultimate faith healer, restoring belief not only in oneself but life's possibilities.

Bart Yasso

Sometimes its not only the benefits of running that makes life good.... but also the beauty of life we experience during our runs that makes it better. - Tiny B

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The smiles, the cheers, the cowbells, the laughter, the jumping out to give me high fives, the grandkids running along with me for a few moments, these are the biggest rewards for training. There's this intangible thing that sinks into my heart every single time.

Sharon Cuoto, RW Challenger of the Week

Inspirational quotes to get you running further and faster

	"If you just give yourself a chance and get out the door, your mind and body will surprise you most of the time." - Jenny Barringer Simpson
	"Somewhere along the path, running became the canvas upon which I documented my life." - Dagny Scott
	"Don't bother just to be better than your contemporaries or predecessors. Try to be better than yourself." - William Faulkner
	"Running is a thing worth doing not because of the future rewards it bestows, but because of how it feeds our bodies and minds and souls in the present." - Kevin Nelson
	"On every run, I discover the strength that I did not know I had. Some days it is my salvation!" - Carrie Parker

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The best way to become a mentally tough runner is to believe that you're a mentally tough runner.

Ryan Hall

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Running Anniversary - 33 years

At the end of each day and before I go to bed, I would look at my Tab Daily Planner to check what my plans are for the following day. As I scanned through my planner a few days ago, I noticed that

MAY. 31, 2013 was just around the corner and somehow felt that this date had some special significance to me... but I just can’t figure out what or why. Then it hit me :

MAY 31 is MY RUNNING ANNIVERSARY!

This May 31, 2013, I have been running for 33 years with an accumulated total distance of

93,333.85 km.

After 33 years, it would be a complete understatement to say that I really LOVE Running.

Running is not only my passion but it has been a way of life. I approach each run like a child with a new toy. Each Run is always Exciting.... Each Run is so much Fun.... Each Run gives me a natural High!!!!

I don't care if the weather is hot or cold.

I don’t care if the terrain is mud or concrete.

I don’t care if the sun is blazing or if its Typhoon signal # 4.

I don’t care if my body is on the "squeaky side" :-]

All I care about is lacing up my running shoes, getting out the door and just run.

I do not run to be healthy.

I do not run to be fit.

I do not run so I can perform well during races.

I run because it gives me CLARITY.

I run because it challenges and inspires me

I run because it is who I am and who I want to be.

I am a RUNNER and I will run till the day I die.

Every run day is a Good day ...a Beautiful day.

I thank God for the past 33 years of running and the sense of fulfillment it has given me and I pray for many more good running years ahead.

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For every sunrise we saw

for every road we tread

for each tear we mend

is a story and it is done - sw

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Think positive. You are a special person. Reward yourself with self-praise as you achieve each interim goal en route to the marathon.

Hal Higdon, Marathon: The Ultimate Training Guide

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That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.

Kara Goucher
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BOURBON Street

How could I be this way when I pray to God above?

I must love what I destroy and destroy the thing I love
Oh you'll never see my shade or hear the sound of my feet
While there's a moon over BOURBON STREET - Sting
RAN 18.75 KM TODAY

Running along our journey doesn't only teach us how to keep moving forward through what life throws at us, it also makes us into the best version of ourselves.

Ashley Erickson, freelance fitness writer/editor
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Hello Again

Woke up this morning in a funky mood.

As I was preparing a strong cup of black coffee before my run, I turned on the radio and this old beautiful song was playing. It brought back a lot of memories and I couldn't help but be a tad sentimental as I sang along.

When the song was about to end, I laced up my running shoes and went for a nice run under a cloudy humid morning.... and as I ran the song still kept playing over and over in my head...

Here’s the song…..

Hello again, hello
Just called to say 'hello'
I couldn't sleep at all tonight
And I know it's late
But I couldn't wait

Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you every night
When I'm here alone
And you're there at home
Hello

Maybe it's been crazy
And maybe I'm to blame
But I put my heart above my head
We've been through it all

And you loved me just the same
And when you're not there
I just need to hear

Hello, my friend, hello
It's good to need you so
It's good to love you like I do
And to feel this way
When I hear you say
Hello

Hello, my friend, hello
Just called to let you know
I think about you every night
And I know it's late
But I couldn't wait
Hello

Neil Diamond - Hello

Sang by Neil Diamond

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Remember the feeling you get from a good run is far better than the feeling you get from sitting around wishing you were running.

Sarah Condor

At the crack of Dawn

I have found that at 45 …. OK 50 years old, sleeping early is the norm and the afternoon Siesta becomes a must. This is pretty common among those in the advanced ages. However, early to bed also means early to rise and in my case, 4 am is just way too early and can sometimes be pretty FRUSTRATING !

Just imagine being up even before the rooster crows at the crack of dawn,

.....or before the neighbors gardener starts watering the plants,

.....or before the daily newspaper arrives at the new stands, or even

.....before the Local TV stations signs in for their early morning broadcast

But then again, waking up early also does have its perks.

...... You will know what time your daughter actually comes in from a late night party,

...... You can check if your Security Guard is sleeping on the job or

.......You get to use the toilet in peace without a soul to bother you as you make no. 2

But for me, the best part of waking up at the wee hours of the morning is getting to lace up them running shoes and heading out for that Solo Run. The morning silence can be quite deafening, but the only sound that would really matter is the beating of my heart and the pounding of my shoes on the pavement.

It is in the morning where I connect with myself and my maker.

It is where I am at peace

It is where I discover myself, who I am, who I want to be and who I am not.

So yes, I am an early riser, but as I end my morning run and reality slowly creeps in with the morning sun, in my 2 hour / 20 km run, I can say I was “ME”.

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Running should be a lifelong activity. Approach it patiently and intelligently, and it will reward you for a long, long time.

Michael Sargent
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Believe that you can run farther or faster. Believe that you're young enough, old enough, strong enough, and so on to accomplish everything you want to do. Don't let worn-out beliefs stop you from moving beyond yourself.

John Bingham, running speaker and writer

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Winning is not about headlines and hardware [medals]. It's only about attitude. A winner is a person who goes out today and every day and attempts to be the best runner and best person he can be. Winning is about struggle and effort and optimism, and never, ever, ever giving up.
Amby Burfoot, Editor-at-Large, Runner's World

Pain is a natural part of life. You can’t escape it. Broken relationships, missed opportunities, and rough seasons of life will always be with us. When they do come, you can either become bitter or hopeful. The choice is yours.

To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain - not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it.

Dr. George Sheehan

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I think when you run by someone and there's a thumbs up or encouragement, that's something that I really love. It's a brotherhood, a support and an appreciation for the effort we're all making. I think it's also about living well, living healthy, taking care of ourselves, getting in touch with ourselves, our bodies, our minds. It's a mind-body connection that running helps enhance.

Gene Baur, Cofounder and President of Farm Sanctuary

There are a million reasons why you can't. Focus on the few reasons why you can.

Kara Goucher

I actually think being a more balanced person makes a healthier, happier, and thus faster person. The question I try and ask myself when I consider whether or not to train more is what is my body craving and what is my body ready to absorb? Sometimes pushing harder is not the answer. It takes self control, confidence, and intuition to know when to train and when to rest, but when in question error on the side of being over rested.

Ryan Hall, The Extra 1%, competitor.com

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Running is like celebrating your soul. There's so much it can teach us in life.
Molly Barker, founder of Girls on the Run International

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Training for a marathon started out as a life-list thing, and it turned into a lifestyle.
Mike Post, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

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Running gave me a whole new life. I can't even remember my past—it's like it wasn't me. I have a good life now, and it's all because I run.
Bill O'Shields, runner and former prison inmate

Stupid pictures for the week :-)

If i eat this

and this

Especially this

i will certainly need this :-(

Or do i :-)

Thank you for looking at my Stupid pictures for the week :-)

Happy Birthday!

Insanity Begins at 50 !!!!

I read in a Health Magazine somewhere that age 60 is the new 40.

And last week, someone told me that 50 is the new 30.

I’m not sure who’s been spreading these lies but …….

- All I know is I am 50 years old today ( March 17 ), which equals ½ of a century.

- 60% of the hair on my head is white, even some hair in my armpits and in the ...... other area's are partially white.

- I sleep at 9.30 pm & wake up at 4:00 am.

- I need my afternoon siestas.

- I have to take Fiber EVERYDAY, or else my hemorrhoids will act up.

- I cannot read a damn thing unless I use my reading glasses.

- I take Aspirin daily.

- I walk like I have a stick up my ass every morning.

- When I visit my dentist, we talk of Bridge and Implants.

- I listen to AM Radio station.

- And everyone around calls me “Sir “.

What makes it worst is my daughter called me, “Oldie Moldy”

Now, if that’s not OLD I don’t know what is.

But frankly writing, in my opinion - “50” is only a number.

I actually feel more healthier now than when I was in my mid 20’s.

My outlook in life is more positive and I pray more.

I learned to appreciate the simple things in life and always put on a smile.

I do not worry so much about the little things - in fact, I don’t even worry about the big things! ha ha ha!

At 50, I've realized that everyday is a GOOD DAY.

Everyday is a BLESSING.

And so, I am grateful to GOD everyday – THANK YOU GOD!

Maybe it’s true what they say – 50 is the new 30.

Maybe yes, maybe not….

But one thing’s for sure…when you hit the age of 50....
“ INSANITY BEGINS “ !!!!!

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Running has taught me that we are capable of doing more than we ever imagined, that we can overcome huge obstacles, and that consistency pays off! Running is my sanity and my sanctuary.
Amy Peavy-Smith, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

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What i see ......When i run

- Stop

- put camera between 2 rocks

- balance

- set timer

- Presto !!!!

Jagged Rocks

Buko !

Bangka

Sunrise

I run... He sells

This is Not a Pig in a Blanket

alat ! but masarap

You have heard of hole in the wall..... welll this is a hole in a Building

GB 3 4 5

Antipolo View

La Mer

Subic

fly with me

Mango

Tokyo 2012

Still the best Trail Running place

Mushrooms

Ummmmm :-)

Red Rug

Cemetery

Steel Bridge

Boston my North East playground

A mananahi dream come true

i left my mark...... in boston

my love

ha ha ! hint ... hint...

like my ink

Food

I miss my 2 babies

Dad when will you buy me a car !

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Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.
William Barclay, Scottish Theologian
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A lot of people say they love running because of how they feel afterward. Not me. Well, I love that, too, but it's also so much fun while I'm out there.

Dick Beardsley

Having an ice cream with Dad .... Priceless :-)

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Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue. Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.

Tim Noakes, author of The Lore of Running

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Running long offers a dress rehearsal. Running long teaches the stress of lifting feet 5,000 times per hour. Running long builds confidence.

Hal Higdon

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My long-term goal is to be around to run long-term.

Jeremy D.
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Last Blog Entry for ......

I am presently at the beach here in La Mer – Nasugbu Batangas.

As I prepare my last Blog entry for the year 2012

I can’t help but reflect on the year 2012 that was.

The year 2012 was a very Challenging year for me.

I was really stressed out emotionally and spiritually.

Sometimes, when I felt the pressure was enormous I would cry in my little corner in my head.

But I never gave up; I would pray and not question God. I instead ask for his guidance in my journey in life.

But what I did notice is as the stress would build up I would also increase my daily running mileage.

I was running roughly about 16 – 23 km a day. Day in and Day out.

I was running so much not to lose weight or to be a better runner but I was running hard because it was my “Escape”.

It was my “Escape” from the reality of life.

Life is not a bed of roses….. it never was.

But instead of drowning in a sea of sorrow I have change my attitude and instead look at the Beauty of life.

I have learned to accept the things I can change and the things I cannot change.

I have learned to appreciate the simplicity of life and the blessing of God.

I have learned to Love Life.

I have learned to be Happy.

Thank you God !

Happy New Year!

2013 will be a wonderful year.

Always make running a way of life.

Running is like Flying

Long May you run !

RunningShield at La Mer - Natipuan , Batangas

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Running is a form of relaxation. That's one of the curiosities of life - that such a high-energy activity could be so relaxing.

Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University

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If you just give yourself a chance and get out the door, your mind and body will surprise you most of the time.

Jenny Barringer Simpson, middle distance runner and steeplechaser

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Every time I go out there, I win. Every time I finish the task that I've set before myself, I win again.

David James Elliott, actor

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The best part of a run? The birds chirping, the awesome air, and the fact that a lot of people are still sleeping.

Summer Sanders, Olympic gold medalist in swimming and TV commentator

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If we wait for the moment when everything, absolutely everything, is ready, we shall never begin.

Ivan Turgenev, Russian novelist and playwright

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Run often and run long, but never outrun your joy of running.

Julie Isphording, retired American long distance runner

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No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences.

George Sheehan

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If you're a beginning runner and just finished your first road race, you will continue to improve if you do nothing else but train consistently. - Hal Higdon

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Everyone has stress. A good run may not erase it, but it can reduce the effect and allow runners to gain control.

Jeff Galloway, U.S. Olympian, Runner's World columnist, and author
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You've got to get up every morning with determination if you're going to go to bed with satisfaction.

George Lorimer, journalist
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Endurance is not just the ability to bear a hard thing, but to turn it into glory.

William Barclay, Scottish author, radio and television presenter
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Running made me feel like a bird let out of a cage, I loved it that much.

Priscilla Welch, retired British marathoner

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Running! If there's any activity happier, more exhilarating, more nourishing to the imagination, I can't think of what it might be. In running the mind flees with the body, the mysterious efflorescence of language seems to pulse in the brain, in rhythm with our feet and the swinging of our arms.

Joyce Carol Oates, author

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Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

Mahatma Gandhi
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I really enjoy running its so much fun and I really find inner peace in running.
Usually after a Marathon I will take 1 day off then the following day I will go for a run again anywhere from 16 km to 30 km depending on how I feel. If I’m tired I will still run but at a slower pace or less distance.
Even before I finish a marathon I have already signed up for another one.
I don’t really train I just simply love to run … it’s what I do best … it’s what I like to do. But one thing I want to share is I listen to my . If I’m tired or I feel an injury is coming I will go for a deep tissue massage or just give myself a self-massage.
It’s important to get good sleep (I’m fine with 6 hours night sleep and 20 mins siesta) and eat a balance meal.
Life is good….. Running made it better!!!! - RunningShield

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People wonder why I run. There had been some who even told me to stop. But why quit on something you have so much passion for? I don't run to lose weight or just because. I actually run because I love to and doing so makes me very happy. I wouldn't go out of my way to commute to UP everyday to run if I don't find joy and satisfaction in what I do. – kat salangsang

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Running releases more than just sweat.

Asics ad
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Life is Good.... Running just made it Better - RunningShield
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Different people have different reasons for racing, but one is simply the incentive to get out and run, increase mileage and feel good.

Hal Higdon, author and runner
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"I like flaws, i think they make things interesting."

- Sarah Dessen

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I know that when I start running and I am looking at my watch, my very expensive Garmin watch, I am going to become competitive. It just naturally happens to me. I am trying not to get tied up. You can stretch yourself out. Worrying takes energy, and endurance training is all about energy.

Paul Sparks,
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As I get older I see that running has changed for me. What used to be about burning calories is now more about burning up what is false. Lies I used to tell myself about who I was and what I could do, friendships that cannot withstand hills or miles, the approval I no longer need to seek, and solidarity that cannot bear silence. I run to burn up what I don't need and ignite what I do.

Kristin Armstrong
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Inaction breeds doubt and fear. Action breeds confidence and courage. If you want to conquer fear, do not sit home and think about it. Go out and get busy. Dale Carnegie
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To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain--not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it." – Dr. George Sheehan
--------------------

I think the reason I run so much is because it’s the only thing that I like to do and I enjoy running very much. It makes me feel like a person - rs

----------------------
For me, running is a lifestyle and an art. I'm far more interested in the magic of it than the mechanics. It's that interest and exploration that make running fun for me. It's easy to become outcome-focused; for me the unfoldment of self is what is meaningful in running and outlasts any medals.

Lorraine Moller, Four-Time Olympic Marathoner
------------------------
I have learned to move on Running is my life and whatever you do to me will not affect what i am as a runner - runningshield
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For me, running is both exercise and a metaphor. Running day after day, piling up the races, bit by bit I raise the bar, and by clearing each level I elevate myself.

Haruki Murakami, "What I Talk About When I Talk About Running"
---------------
Our bodies crave exercise, and reward us in so many ways when we do so.

Jeff Galloway, U.S. Olympian and author
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It's not so much that I began to run, but that I continued.

Hal Higdon, American runner and writer
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A lifestyle change begins with a vision and a single step.

Jeff Galloway, U.S. Olympian and author

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Running has the power to change your life. It will make you fitter, healthier, even happier.

Selene Yeager, "Let's Get Started," May 2010 issue of Runner's World

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Toughness is in the soul and spirit, not in muscles.

Alex Karras, American football player and actor

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After all these years, about every week to 12 days my body just craves a long run.

Gary Allen

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With ordinary talent and extraordinary perseverance, all things are attainable. - Sir Thomas Foxwell Buxton, British philanthropist and politician

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Running"Shield"

Before my ADHD and Dyslexic kicks in I have to run because i forgot my medicine

--------------------------------------------
Running is about finding your inner peace, and so is a life well lived.

Dean Karnazes, ultrarunner
-------------------------------------
Success is peace of mind, which is a direct result of self-satisfaction in knowing you did your best to become the best that you are capable of becoming.

John Wooden,
------------------------------------
A run begins the moment you forget you are running.

Adidas ad

----------------

Terry Fox

The Webster's Dictionary definition of Courage...
• strength in the face of pain or grief: he fought his illness with great courage.

------------------------------
How dare you play with my emotions with regards to my passion in running!!!

The more you play me the more my passion grows which you will never ever understand because you are not a runner you are a Mortal - RS

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Your toughness is made up of equal parts persistence and experience. You don't so much outrun your opponents as outlast and outsmart them, and the toughest opponent of all is the one inside your

head. Joe Henderson, running coach and author
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-----------------------------------------

Running is Strange……

Woke up this morning feeling like a lard ball.

Had too much process meat and sweet popcorn for a late night snack yesterday.

Lazy to run.

I said my morning prayer

Lazy to run.

It’s raining crazy outside

Lazy to run.

My bed is calling me back

Lazy to run.

Even “Oreo” my daughters pet Labrador is still sleeping

Lazy to run.

Can’t decide what shoes, outfit to wear

IM JUST TO LAZY TO RUN!!!!

But its 4:30 am and I’m wide awake and I don’t like sitting around the house doing nothing.

Blah ! Blah ! Blah!

I might as well go for a Run.

Strange but I had one of the BEST 15.06 km run today !!!

No leg pain. Wasn’t feeling fatigue. I easily picked up the pace from a steady 5.50/km to a 4.00/km

I was charging up the hills with ease.

I was jumping over puddles.

I wanted more mileage … I was craving for more speed.

I was feeling Eduardo Buenavista !!!!!

But sad to say I had to make a quick detour for the toilet.

Had too much process meat and sweet popcorn last night.

The days you don’t want to run winds up the Best run of your life

Running is strange J

-----------------------------

Running is my Passion.... It is my life. Its whats i do best. this YOU will never Comprehend

Runningshield

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It's when the discomfort strikes that they realize a strong mind is the most powerful weapon of all.

Chrissie Wellington, four-time World Ironman Champion

--------------------------------

I will go through a lot of pain to beat someone. If there's pride and ego on the line, if I'm desperate, then I'm willing to go to a place where it hurts a lot more.

U.S. Marathoner Shalane Flanagan

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Relish the bad training runs. Without them it's difficult to recognize, much less appreciate, the good ones.

Pat Teske

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I love setting goals and doing my best to achieve them. Training for and qualifying for Boston was one of the things I'm most proud of. It was very emotional for me coming into the finish line and looking at the clock and realizing I'd made it.

Mike Kaiser, RW Challenger of the Week

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Experience has taught me how important it is to keep going, focusing on running fast and relaxed. Eventually pain passes and the flow returns.

Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic Marathon gold medalist

I am building a fire, and everyday I train, I add more fuel. At just the right moment, I light the match.

Mia Hamm

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Running is very precious to me. If i do not enjoy Running then i am just wasting my time and you know time is precious to me.
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Early morning. Sun rising. Birds singing. Dew like diamonds. Or frost/snow like diamonds. Calm. No iPod. I am part of the universe, not something running through it.

RW Challenger Sharon Cuoto's idea of a rave run

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Strength does not come from physical capacity. It comes from an indomitable will.

Mahatma Gandhi

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4 Tips To Get Your Mojo Back

From the June 2012 issue of Runner’s World

Cold nights, injury, fatigue, boredom… your running mojo has many enemies

By Adrian Monti

Use this combination of motivational science and real-life experience to break through the barriers, sail over the hurdles and get your mojo back.

1 THE SECRET OF ‘HAPPINESS’

The problem

After hurting my knee in a parent’s school sports day race, I couldn’t get my head back into the idea of running again.

The fix

Reignite your enthusiasm for running by gaining detailed feedback. Download a running app that automatically tweets your friends to tell them you were out running. Apps can provide a record of success that you relive when you look at the results, and this makes you feel good about what you’ve done, says Andy Lane, a professor of sport and exercise psychology.

2 SENSE OF REDIRECTION

The problem

I’ve come close to completely losing my motivation after a couple of disappointing seasons.

The fix

When long-term goals are out of reach, you can set short-term goals. “These are more flexible than outcome goals and allow you to adapt the level of challenge, thus maintaining your motivation,” says Dr Mark Chen, senior lecturer in sport and exercise psychology at Teesside University, UK.

3 CLOCKING OFF

The problem

I logged all my personal best times years ago and have been struggling to get back to that level.

The fix

Pressure can come in many forms, ranging from external pressures, such as racing for a trophy, to internal pressures, such as running for a PB. Removing the stopwatch can allow you to focus on the intrinsic, enjoyable aspects of running, rather than simply chasing times.

4 BACK IN THE HABIT

The problem

I used to run eight kilometres regularly until I had an operation. Now I’ve lost all my fitness.

The fix

Finding a six-week training schedule and sticking to it is an excellent way of easing yourself back into the routine again, says Carole Seheult, a clinical sports psychologist. Recording your progress in a training diary is another motivational aid, as is making your goals public.

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Sharon Cuoto, RW Challenger of the Week

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I was running within myself. I was very present with myself. It's when I worry about others that things begin to fall apart.

Alysia Montano, winner of the Women's 800m race at the 2012 U.S. Olympic Track and Field Trials

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People say I'm a big talent. But a lot of runners have good leg speed. The reason I keep coming back is because I have a fire in my belly.

Dathan Ritzenhein

It was raining strong in my side of the world today.

The streets was semi flooded and littered with dead leaves and fallen tree trunks.

I had to skip, hop and run to avoid all that debris.

But the beauty of a Rainy day run is

No street sweepers.

No Car cleaners.

No stray cats and Dogs.

No walkers, joggers and other runners to say “ Good morning “ too.

I love Running in the Rain.

I love it when the rain drops splash on my face.

I love it when you can hear the rain drops land on the plants, trees and asphalt road.

I love the deafening silence.

The weather is a perfect setting for “ A Life of a lonely Distance Runner “.

I ran 14.28 km today

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The best way to become a mentally tough runner is to believe that you're a mentally tough runner.

Ryan Hall

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If you set a goal for yourself and are able to achieve it, you have won your race. Your goal can be to come in first, to improve your performance, or just finish the race. It's up to you.

Dave Scott, U.S. Triathlete

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As I get older, I know I can't keep the same intensity I had when I was 18. But I trust my strength and endurance and know it's there. So I swim less, but when I get into the water, my time is more focused. I choose what I do more carefully to make every exercise and training session count.

Natalie Coughlin, U.S. Olympic swimmer

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Running is very precious to me. If i do not enjoy Running then im just wasting my time and you know time is precious to me. - R. Strauss

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I'm always nervous. If I wasn't nervous, it would be weird. I get the same feeling at all the big races. It's part of the routine, and I accept it. It means I'm there and I'm ready.

Allyson Felix, U.S. Olympic sprinter

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I've had to learn through experiences not to be afraid to fail. You don't know what the future holds for you. You can hope your dreams come true, but you have to be fearless. I don't want to look back and think, What if?

Nastia Lukin, U.S. Olympic gymnast

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Our greatest glory is not in never failing, but in rising up every time we fail.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

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Like the marathon, life can sometimes be difficult, challenging and present obstacles, however if you believe in your dreams and never ever give up, things will turn out for the best.

Meb Keflezighi, U.S. Oympic marathoner

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I run because long after my footprints fade away, maybe I will have inspired a few to reject the easy path, hit the trails, put one foot in front of the other, and come to the same conclusion I did: I run because it always takes me where I want to go.

Dean Karnazes, Ultramarathon Man: Confessions of an All-Night Runner

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It was being a runner that mattered, not how fast or how far I could run. The joy was in the act of running and in the journey, not in the destination. We have a better chance of seeing where we are when we stop trying to get somewhere else.

John Bingham, No Need for Speed: A Beginner's Guide to the Joy of Running

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Running is a sanctuary for me. It keeps me centered. I can't take my cell phone or my computer. I can be unavailable and completely selfish.

Tanna Frederick, Stage and film actress

-------------------------------------------------

That's the thing about running: your greatest runs are rarely measured by racing success. They are moments in time when running allows you to see how wonderful your life is.

Kara Goucher

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Running along our journey doesn't only teach us how to keep moving forward through what life throws at us, it also makes us into the best version of ourselves.

Ashley Erickson,

------------------------------------------------

The biggest reward of marathon training is confidence. A 20- or 22-mile training run cannot be purchased, and it can't be rescinded. You are the owner of that strength, and it is a powerful force when life tries to knock you down. You have evidence of your tenacity, your ability, and your passion.

Laura Saladino, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

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What distinguishes those of us at the starting line from those of us on the couch is that we learn through running to take what the day gives us, what our body will allow us, and what our will can tolerate.

John Bingham, running writer and speaker

--------------------------------------

Running is the classical road to self-consciousness, self-awareness and self-reliance. Independence is the outstanding characteristic of a runner. He learns the harsh reality of his physical and spiritual limitations when he runs. He learns that personal commitment, sacrifice and determination are his only means to betterment. Runners get promoted only through self-conquest.

Noel Coward, English playwright, composer, and actor

Stepping outside the comfort zone is the price I pay to find out how good I can be. If I planned on backing off every time running got difficult I would hang up my shoes and take up knitting.

Desiree Davila

---------------------------------

I try not to think about anything special while I'm running. As a matter of fact, I usually run with my mind empty. However, when I run empty-minded, something naturally and abruptly crawls in sometimes. That might become an idea that can help me with my writing.

Haruki Murakami, author of 1Q84 (Men's Health, May 2012)

------------------------------------

It's an odd thing, when your body says no and your mind and your spirit say yes. It's frightening and empowering and clarifying and beautiful all at once. It was the past year of my life, shortened into a span of 26.2 arduous miles. It was the culmination of experiences, the knowledge that my body can be pushed past its breaking point, just like my heart.

Kristin Armstrong

--------------------------------

Running focuses my mind and allows me to think around a subject. I still need a workshop to make discoveries, but on a run I might think of a new avenue to explore. Another thing I learned from running is that the time to push hard is when you're hurting like crazy. The moment you should accelerate is the moment you're the most tired. I found that to be so in life as well.

Sir James Dyson, founder and chief engineer of Dyson (Men's Health, May 2012)

--------------------------

When you run in the morning, you gain time. It's like stretching 24 hours into 25. You may need to sleep less and get up earlier, but if you can get by that, running early seems to expand the day.

Fred Lebow, Founder of the New York City Marathon

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I run six times a week first thing in the morning, usually for an hour. Afterward I'm energized: I'm more spontaneous, and in a positive sense I'm more aggressive at getting work done. Running gives me a fresh mind and makes me more focused and efficient.

Wolfgang Ketterle, Ph.D., Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Nobel Laureate in physics (Men's Health, May 2012)

-----------------------------------------------

I run for health, fitness, stress relief, and pure enjoyment. When I have a bad day or am really stressed out about something, putting on my shoes allows me to clear my head and decompress. I do some of my best thinking when I am running.

Kathey Moskal, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

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God Uses People with Simplified Lives
by Rick Warren

"So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us." (Hebrews 12:1b TEV)

If we’re going to be used for God’s purposes, we have to focus our lives. The Bible compares life to a marathon, and that means we have to simplify our lives.
The Bible says, “So then, let us rid ourselves of everything that gets in the way, and of the sin which holds on to us so tightly, and let us run with determination the race that lies before us” (Hebrews 12:1b TEV).
This means we should remove anything from our lives that would get in the way and hold us back. If the devil can’t make you bad, he’ll make you busy. He’ll even keep you so busy doing good things that you won’t have time for the best things.
That’s why the Bible tells you to simplify your life. You have to get rid of the unnecessary baggage in life. Don’t try to do it all. Do what matters most. A serious runner focuses on the race.
I’ve heard people say, “I would love to live my life for God’s purpose, but I just don’t have time.” The reason they don’t have time is they haven’t taken the time to simplify their life.
Talk About It
There are all sorts of things that can keep us from simplifying our lives. How do any of the following distract you and keep you from simplifying your life?

Trying to be like others instead of being who God created you to be
Trying to make everybody happy
Trying to meet the arbitrary expectations of others
Too many hobbies or too much time with a hobby
Social media, movies, or television
The wrong kinds of relationships
The mistakes of your past

Rick Warren is the founding pastor of Saddleback Church in Lake Forest, Calif., one of America's largest and most influential churches. Rick is author of the New York Times bestseller "The Purpose Driven Life." His book, "The Purpose Driven Church," was named one of the 100 Christian books that changed the 20th century. He is also the founder of Pastors.com, a global Internet community for pastors.
This devotional © 2012 by Rick Warren. All rights reserved. Used by permission.

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I run because it's so symbolic of life. You have to drive yourself to overcome the obstacles. You might feel that you can't. But then you find your inner strength, and realize you're capable of so much more than you thought.
Arthur Blank, Co-founder of The Home Depot

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Boston Marathon 2012

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Every day is a good day when you run.
Kevin Nelson, author and runner
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Do the work. Do the analysis. But feel your run. Feel your race. Feel the joy that is running.
Kara Goucher
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“you can quit and no one will really care….but you will always know”
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Faith is like a muscle: It can be strengthened. It can be weak or it can be strong, depending on how much you use it.

------------------------------------

I woke up at 4 am to go for a run.

As I got dress and stretched out my tummy started to growl.

I was hungry and needed to eat.

Instead of grabbing a bite I just had a cup of coffee and went out the door to run.

As I reach the 5^th kilometer mark my tummy growled louder and I felt a bit woozy because my body needed nutrition.

I decided to turn back for home to grab something to eat.

But Instead, I saw an Indian Mango by the road side.

I picked it up, wiped it on my sweaty shirt and peeled its skin off.

As I devoured the Indian Mango like a hungry wolf.

I could feel my body suck out the nutrition of the mango and convert it to “ Running Energy”.

I continued Running and finished with a distance of 15+ km.

It was a good Run day !

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Have a dream, make a plan, go for it. You'll get there, I promise.
Zoe Koplowitz, marathon runner who is afflicted with multiple sclerosis and diabetes
----------------------------------------------------
“you can quit and no one will really care….but you will always know”
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The true measure of a runner isn't in time, but rather in the effort it took along the way.
Coach Jenny Hadfield, Ask Coach Jenny blog, Runner's World.com

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To keep from decaying, to be a winner, the athlete must accept pain - not only accept it, but look for it, live with it, learn not to fear it.
Dr. George Sheehan

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My favorite part of running is the thinking time. I'm a game designer, and whenever I have a hard design challenge or I'm trying to solve a problem, I run.
Jane McGonigal, game designer and best-selling author
---------------------------------------------
Years ago, I learned certain things are beyond control. When this happened, I didn't ask, 'Why me?' But for a fleeting moment, I asked, 'Why my leg?' And I realized that, as a runner, my legs are where I pay the most attention. That is essentially what saved my life. Everything happens for a reason. You just have to live fearlessly and love every day.
Serena Burla, competitive runner and cancer survivor
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When I made the final turn home about 200 meters from the finish line I felt a wave of emotion. I knew that it was going to happen. I was going to be on the team to London. This experience reminded me that you need to keep faith in yourself. Never count yourself out, you never know what you can do.
Kara Goucher
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RunningShield - Condura Skyway Marathon 2012

In less than 48 hours the Condura Skyway Marathon 2012 will start.

I will be joining the Marathon event, which will start at 12 midnight on Feb.05,2012.

It is the MARATHON DISTANCE that CHALLENGES me the MOST, and I won’t deny that it is also the Distance that SCARES me the MOST.

Running a Marathon takes a lot of Physical and Mental Preparation. If you’re NOT properly prepared you will hit that dreaded “WALL”.

You will either finish the event in PAIN, or You will NOT FINISH the race, and would never want to do it again.

So why do people run marathons? I’m sure they have their own reasons.

Mine is simply because “It is in the Marathon that my PASSION for Running is FULFILLED“

I have always said - “Running is like LIFE, there will always be ups, downs and challenges.

But it’s how you handle them that make you cross the finish line.”

Sometimes, you want to slow down, and sometimes you just want to quit.

But you know in your heart that once you give in to those negative feelings, then you have lost the battle.

Life was never a bed of roses...same with Marathon running. If it was, then, what separates us from the norm?

The Goal you set and accomplish will define WHO YOU ARE and WHAT YOU CAN BE.

Only you can discover yourself - because once you cross that finish line, you know you have won the game they call Life.

- RunningShield

'Cause I've been up and down this highway

Far as my eyes can see

No matter how fast I run

I can never seem to get away from me

No matter where I am

I can't help feeling I'm just a day away

From where I want to be….

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My desire to be well - both emotionally and physically - for my husband, children, family, and friends drives me to run. It has been my most important form of rehabilitation.

Lynda Nijensohn, runner who trained for a marathon while undergoing breast cancer treatment
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If we write our dreams and goals down, we dramatically increase our odds of realization. If we share them with others, they become potent and alive.

Kristin Armstrong, Full Cup, Mile Markers blog, Runner's World.com
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Over the next three months, running became my own form of Prozac. I hit the pavement three or four days a week, rarely exceeding three miles. Those jogs didn't give my husband a job, but they helped me keep it together and stay positive until a company did offer him a position five months later. Running is no longer my last resort; now it's my drug of choice.

Colleen Oakley, A Runner's High, fitnessmagazine.com
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Running is tough. It's tough physically. It's tough mentally. But once you've broken through the "perceived pain" barrier, you'll find yourself in a new state of mind, body and soul. Your overall well-being will improve tremendously. You just have to experience it.

Keith Combs, Runner's World Challenger of the Week

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The perfect run is when you kind of get into the zone. Your body feels light; you feel good. Those days when the monkey's off your back are just so great. You feel like you're invincible.

Kit Hoover, Cohost, Access Hollywood Live

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Like writing, running is so much about mind over matter. There are times when you have to override the discomfort and keep pushing. That capacity to endure and then prevail is just amazing.

Susan Orlean, Author and New Yorker staff writer

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Running gave me a whole new life. I can't even remember my past - it's like it wasn't me. I have a good life now, and it's all because of running.
Bill O'Shields, runner and former prison inmate

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Running is the only thing I have that's mine. To go sweat, breathe, cry in the rain, and scream or sing in the woods is why I love running.
Christine Orr, runner and mother of a child with a severe form of hemophilia

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I don't know if running changed my life or if I changed my life for running, but who cares really? My feet keep moving, my arms keep pumping, and my mantra keeps rolling, 'Be patient. You got this.'

Valerie DiMambro, RW Challenger

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The long runs on the weekend are a genuine adventure for me—a physical challenge in an otherwise mostly cerebral, abstract sort of daily life. And you don't have to go to a mountain or anything. It starts right out the front door of your home.
John Walter, runner and journalist

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My long-term goal is to be around to run long-term.
Jeremy Dobrick

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To run outside surrounded by a beautiful natural setting where the air is crisp and cool, the sun is shining, and all I can do is admire my surroundings and listen to my body in motion.

RW Challenger Jonathan Steckel on his idea of a rave run

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They say that the most important thing about a marathon is showing up at the starting line healthy. I'll agree, but the second most important thing is showing up confident, and I'm feeling that's well within my reach.
Peter Sagal, Runner's World Challenge blog at Runner's World.com

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I've learned that I associate running with my best self. When I go through a dry spell, not training, it indicates that the rest of my life is a little messy or worn down. Running strips away something like what Virginia Woolf called "the cotton wool of everyday life" so that there is nothing between my intimate insides and the air and light and landscape unfurling under my sneaker treads. It's release through motion.

Amanda Gladin-Kramer, Runner's World reader

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There is something magical about running; after a certain distance, it transcends the body. Then a bit further, it transcends the mind. A bit further yet, and what you have before you, laid bare, is the soul.

Kristin Armstrong, Mile Markers blog at Runner's World.com

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The marathon is now a cultural event, an activity that has truly become communally based. I love the endorphins, the sense of well-being, the boost to brain function, and the sense of immersion. And I love belonging to a world and community that is larger than myself.

Leslie Heywood, runner, writer, and professor

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Running is a form of relaxation. That's one of the curiosities of life - that such a high-energy activity could be so relaxing.
Lee C. Bollinger, President of Columbia University

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The best part of a run? The birds chirping, the awesome air, and the fact that a lot of people are still sleeping. The worst? The first couple of steps. Just getting the creaks out.
Summer Sanders, Olympic gold medalist in swimming and TV commentator

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A hero is someone who has

given his or her life to something bigger than oneself. ~Joseph Campbell

-----------------------------------

When i am in a Running Store i am like a child in a candy store.

- RunningShield

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If I don't run for a few days, I feel like my insides are dirty. The run kind of scrubs my veins and arteries, and then all starts to feel right with the world. I'm not one of those fanatical people that if I miss a run, I go nuts. But when it's something you love, you make sure you have the time to do it.

Daryn Kagan, former CNN Anchor and creator of the award-winning DarynKagan.com

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Running has helped me process it all. The old photos, letters, and papers, the potholes and speed bumps along memory lane, the realization that my children are indeed growing up way too fast, it's sometimes too much and I need to get out of my head and house and into the fresh air. My run re-calibrates me, resets me, and refreshes me to return to base and keep working.

Kristin Armstrong, Author and runner

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My goal has always been to introduce other people to running. They might accomplish something they never thought they could.

Grete Waitz, Norwegian marathon runner and former world record holder

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I don't need to reward myself after a run. For me, putting in a long run is reward enough for a hard week. That said, I do have a cupcake waiting for me after today's run.
Emily Procter, actress

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People often ask me if i run to keep fit or stay sli, but for me, it's about the mental benefits - I need thinking space - C Jenkins

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If I can't run, I'd go crazy. Running cleanses me. It cures me.

Roger Craig, former NFL running back

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After all the TV Appearances , Radio Interviews , Pictorials, Autograph signing… I go back to what I like to do and that is Running. - RunningShield

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You have to be a little bit insane to train for a Marathon - RunningShield

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I enjoy the sensory aspects of running as much as the run itself. The sun, the weather, the scenery - all the sensations of being outside.
-Amy Dickinson, advice columnist

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If I didn't run, my writing would be very different from what it is. To be a fiction writer, the most important qualities are imaginative ability, intelligence, and focus. To keep these going at a high level, you can't neglect your physical strength. Otherwise, you can't accomplish anything very intricate or demanding.
Haruki Murakami, novelist

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Top Ten Marathon Tips

by Mike Stapenhurst

These tips focus on the days just before the marathon as well as race day itself. I’m assuming that you are in good health with no recent injuries. If this is not the case you might seriously consider withdrawing from the marathon, or at least running at a much slower pace than you intended initially.

1. Keep hydrated:

Not just during the race; try drinking the proverbial 8 cups of water per day for the entire week before the marathon. This way your body gets used to the extra fluid.

2. Check your shoes:

They should be in good condition, and it’s almost too late now for a new pair. Don’t try and use new shoes for running the marathon. You should have broken them in with at least one long run.

3. Eat your big pasta meal two days before the race:

Don’t try and carbo’ (over)load the night before the race. You could end up with an upset stomach the next morning. Instead have a fairly modest meal – sure enjoy a pasta dish, just don’t overdo it. In fact I recommend not doing anything too much out of the normal for the whole week before the race.

4. Relax the day before:

Try taking things real easy. Don’t spend hours on your feet at the pre-race expo – you’ll feel it the next day. A hot bath with Epsom salts can be really relaxing and beneficial.

5. Pace yourself correctly:

This is probably the most important factor that determines your performance.

Take into account the weather, the course terrain and how you feel. I firmly believe it’s better to start out a little slower than your goal pace. Adjust your pace depending on how you feel, if you’re struggling at the halfway point you’d better pull back.

6. If the weather is bad – adjust your finish time:

Bad weather is one of the main things that can really impact your run. It’s better to accept this fact and aim for a slightly slower time rather than run out of energy and hit the wall at mile 20. Who knows, you might have a great run in spite of the weather, in which case you can pick up the pace in the latter stages of the race.

7. Be careful with power gels and energy replacement products:

Don’t take energy gels or even Gatorade if you haven’t done so during training. Your stomach can become upset very easily as you get into the later miles. Hopefully you will have experimented with different energy drinks and so forth during your training runs. I have found a simple slice or two of orange around mile 21 has helped me a lot.

8. Mentally divide the race into sections: - Most important !!

26.2 miles is a very long way! I always divide the race up into different segments. 10K, 10 miles, halfway, and 20 miles. Then as your reach one goal you aim for the next. This gives you something to focus on besides the finish line.

9. Try walking:

Brief walking breaks periodically will give your legs a change from the constant running stride. This will help the muscles avoid tightening up too much in the later stages. You won’t add a whole lot to your finish time either!

10. Walk around after the marathon:

You probably won’t feel like doing this but it will help you gradually cool down. As a result you’ll recover faster in the days following the race.

Have a great race!

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Beware of the chair ! - Author unknown

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Running made me feel like a bird let out of a cage, I loved it that much. - Priscilla Welch

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'Cause I've been up and down this highway
Far as my eyes can see
No matter how fast I run
I can never seem to get away from me
No matter where I am
I can't help feeling I'm just a day away
From where I want to be….
-------------------------------------------

Never settle for the Dream you think you can reach.
Settle on the dream you want "
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Bombay Gin with RTC the best :-)

---------------------------------------------

I went for a run this morning.

I was lost in my thoughts.

My legs just kept on going and going

While my head was in a different world.

I was not reminiscing of the past

I was not even thinking of the present

I was thinking of the Future.

It is strange how we think we can control everything but in reality we can’t.

The future is like a giant cloud in the sky.

As the wind blows it

It takes shape

But you don’t know what shape it will make.

And just when you think it does …

The wind blows it to make another shape.

So what will the future bring ?

I don’t know.

All I know is your destiny is what you make it.

But always remember

You are only a sailor of your ship and God is your captain.

Run and feel the magic of life.

_______________________________

The most important of life's battles is the one we fight daily in the silent chambers of the soul - David O. Mckay

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If one does not think of death once in a while then we would think we are immortal and never prepare for it. - Joey Concepcion

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" Hold fast to dreams for if dreams die, Life is a broken winged bird that cannot fly "

- Langston Hughes

________________________________________

The Road to Life

When I read about your condition today.

I started to cry.
I was not mad or angry.
I was not even looking for someone to blame.
I did not question God and ask, “why” ?
But rather I accepted the news.
I accepted that you are in your twilight years.
But I question myself why I did not show more of my love to you my friend my mentor.

I woke up the next day with a heavy heart.
I laced up my running shoes and Ran ! Ran ! Ran !
I Ran like I never ran before.
Kilometers felt like meters.
Hours felt like minutes.
I was drenched in sweat.
My legs were burning in pain.
My lungs ready to explode.

As I took every turn on the road.
I picked up the pace faster and faster I ran.
Hoping to find that Miracle Cure around the bend.
Hoping that I can offer it to you.
But I knew there was none.
It is inevitable and only by prayers, acceptance and love will make things better.
Wait, maybe that is the cure !

Maybe we can grab an ice cream one day.
Or have a shot of Bombay Gin.
Or a short chat while I accompany you from the 2nd floor to your car.
While we still have time…..
While you still remember.

As I ended my run and as I write this I cried again.
I close my eyes while tears roll down my cheeks.
And ended each tear with a Prayer.
Hoping as time goes on rather than you forgetting me...
I will always remember you.

Why do we close our eyes when we sleep? When we cry?
When we imagine? When we kiss?
This is because the most beautiful things in
the world are unseen.

Anonymous

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Friday Night Runner

Employees rushing to go home.
Bachelors excited to go out.
Lovers eager to date.
Parents eager to be with the kids.
Cars rushing here and there.
But on this Friday night.

I will run
A wonderful way to end my work week.
I am not eager to do anything

I just want to run and get lost in my thoughts.
Thoughts about life and dreams.

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I am CHRISTIAN and I am a RUNNER.
When I run I say the Rosary.
I usually say it during the last 30 mins of my run.
No, I don’t carry Rosary Beads in my hand or pray out loud, I say the Rosary in my head.
The reason I say the Rosary is because I have surrender my life to the Lord Jesus Christ.
I am not a religious fanatic and like everyone else I struggle to be a good person
BUT by saying the Rosary it brings me to a higher level to becoming a better person.
Running is a Personal time for myself and I want to devout it to the Lord Jesus Christ.
When you trust in the Lord and surrender yourself to him everything falls in its proper place.

Is it hard to say the rosary when I run or do I lose focus? " NO!!" Is my answer to that question. It is something i like to do

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RUNNING POEM

There is a rhythm in my chest

Like the beat of old jazz drums;

It keeps me on my feet

Keeps me light on my toes, dancing

‘Til the first rays of sunrise

Roll over empty night streets.

Melodies in the dawn

Like waves to ride on:

Sail gently on my mind,

Use my limbs for the oars.

The breath of beat and melody

Is no different from

The sound of the sea,

When it settles into the song of

Racing hearts

And the mind’s waters reflect

The light of both moon and sun.

by : PATRICIA FRANCINE F. CONCEPCION

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The miracle isn't that I finished. The miracle is that I had the courage to start.
John Bingham quotes

If you want to become the best runner you can be, start now. Don't spend the rest of your life wondering if you can do it.
Priscilla Welch quotes

When you win, say nothing. When you lose, say less.
Paul Brown quotes

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"The night before my amputation, my former basketball coach brought me a magazine with an article on an amputee who ran in the New York Marathon. It was then I decided to meet this new challenge head on and not only overcome my disability, but conquer it in such a way that I could never look back and say it disabled me." Terry Fox

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I usually sleep around 9pm but for some reason I wasn't sleepy and decided to watch a little Television. I was channel surfing and a particular show at ABS-CBN caught my attention. The program is called “STORY LINE” and the documentary of the showfeatured the life of a “Simple Filipino Runner” named Mr. Alfredo Fototana.

I have seen hundreds of Running Movie, Running Documentary show etc. in fact I was even featured in 1 “ National Geographic – Condura Skyway Marathon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GcGhIDfSzIw&feature=player_embedded

But this documentary has to be 1 of the best.

When you hear Mr. Alfredo Fototana narrate about his life as a person, husband and a runner his story is very touching.

Sometimes we get caught up with all the Big races, Prizes, new running gear, etc. that we forget the Simplicity of Running and how it transforms us to be a better person .

Mr. Fototana kung nababasa ito pwede mag pa picture kasama kama at autograph na rin. Ikaw ay isang inspiration sa amin mga runners. Salamat

PLS CHECK LINK BELOW TO WATCH THE FULL STORY.

NOTE : press the 2^nd arrow to see it in full.

thank you

http://www.watchpinoytube.com/abs-cbn/storyline/24816/storyline.html

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Terry Fox

Terry Fox was born in Winnipeg, Manitoba, and raised in Port Coquitlam, British Columbia, a community near Vancouver on Canada's west coast. An active teenager involved in many sports, Terry was only 18 years old when he was diagnosed with osteogenic sarcoma (bone cancer) and forced to have his right leg amputated 15 centimetres (six inches) above the knee in 1977.
While in hospital, Terry was so overcome by the suffering of other cancer patients, many of them young children, that he decided to run across Canada to raise money for cancer research.
He would call his journey the Marathon of Hope.

It was a journey that Canadians never forgot.

After 18 months and running over 5,000 kilometres (3,107 miles) to prepare, Terry started his run in St. John’s, Newfoundland on April 12, 1980 with little fanfare. Although it was difficult to garner attention in the beginning, enthusiasm soon grew, and the money collected along his route began to mount. He ran close to 42 kilometres (26 miles) a day through Canada's Atlantic provinces, Quebec and Ontario. However, on September 1st, after 143 days and 5,373 kilometres (3,339 miles), Terry was forced to stop running outside of Thunder Bay, Ontario because cancer had appeared in his lungs. An entire nation was stunned and saddened. Terry passed away on June 28, 1981 at the age 22.
The heroic Canadian was gone, but his legacy was just beginning.
To date, over $550 million has been raised worldwide for cancer research in Terry's name through the annual Terry Fox Run, held across Canada and around the world.

---------------------------------------------------------------------Family is the Answer - 1991
As I took my early morning swim I noticed this runner watching me from the boardwalk. Later as I toweled off on the porch he approached me and introduced himself as a reader of my column.
Then he asked, "What is the most important thing in your life?"
If I were asked that question at 7 in the evening, it would draw a philosophical reply. "What is 'important'?" "What does 'life' mean?" The sort of evasions that come with a day's living with yourself and others leave me full of doubt.
But at 7 in the morning, my answer was simple and direct as the newly risen day.
Without hesitation, my head and heart responded, "My family."
It was the absolutely certain reply of a seventysomething male who has entered the seventh stage in Erik Erikson's eight-stage life cycle. I have attained what Erikson terms "generavity."
I have finally become concerned with the welfare of the next generation to come, particularly my family.
essay from George Sheehan----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Life is the great experiment. Each of us is an experiment of one-observer and subject-making choices, living with them, recording the effects."
"Success rests in having the courage and endurance and, above all, the will to become the person you are, however peculiar that may be. Then you will be able to say, 'I have found my hero and he is me.'"
"Fitness has to be fun. If it is not play, there will be no fitness. Play, you see, is the process. Fitness is merely the product."
"Listen to your body."
"Sweat cleanses from the inside. It comes from places a shower will never reach."
"There is no substitute for learning to live in our bodies. All the tests and all the machines in the world will fail if we do not first become good animals."
"No matter how old I get, the race remains one of life's most rewarding experiences. My times become slower and slower, but the experience of the race is unchanged: each race a drama, each race a challenge, each race stretching me in one way or another, and each race telling me more about myself and others."
"Play is where life lives."
"Once you have decided that winning isn't everything, you become a winner."
"Everyone is an athlete. The only difference is that some of us are in training, and some are not."
- George Sheehan

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Why Do I Run?

Why do I run? I have written over the years of the benefits I receive from running. Enumerated the physical and mental changes. Listed the emotional and spiritual gains. Charted the improvement that has taken place in my person and my life. What I have not emphasized is how transient these values and virtues are.
With just a little thought, however, it should be evident that physical laws parallel those of the mind and the spirit. We know that the effects of training are temporary. I cannot put fitness in the bank. If inactive, I will detrain in even less time than it took me to get in shape. And since my entire persona is influenced by my running program, I must be constantly in training. Otherwise the sedentary life will inexorably reduce my mental and emotional well-being.
So, I run each day to preserve the self I attained the day before. And coupled with this is the desire to secure the self yet to be. There can be no let up. If I do not run I will eventually lose all I have gained-and my future with it.
Maintenance was a favorite topic of Eric Hoffer. It made the difference, said the former longshoreman, between a country that was successful and one that failed. However magnificent the achievement, without constant care the result was decay.
I know the experience intimately. There is nothing more brief than a laurel. Victory is of the moment. It must be followed by another victory and then another. I have to run just to stay in place.
Excellence is not something attained and put in a trophy case. It is not sought after, achieved and, thereafter, a steady state. It is a momentary phenomenon, a rare conjunction of body, mind, and spirit at one's peak. Should I come to that peak I cannot stay there. I must start each day at the bottom and climb to the top. And then beyond that peak to another and yet another.
Through running I have learned what I can be and do. My body is now sensitive to the slightest change. It is particularly aware of any decline or decay. I can feel this lessening of the "me" that I have come to think of myself.
Running has made this new me. Taken the raw material and honed it and delivered it back ready to do the work of a human being. I run so I do not lose the me I was yesterday and the me I might become tomorrow. - George Sheehan

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There are as many reasons for running as there are days in the year, years in my life. But mostly I run because I am an animal and a child, an artist and a saint. So, too, are you. Find your own play, your own self-renewing compulsion, and you will become the person you are meant to be. ~George Sheehan

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The Song of the Ungirt Runners
We swing ungirded hips
And lighten’d are our eyes,
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
We know not whom we trust
Nor whitherward we fare,
But we run because we must
Through the great wide air.
The waters of the seas
Are troubled as by storm.
The tempest strips the trees
And does not leave them warm.
Does the tearing tempest pause?
Do the tree-tops ask it why?
So we run without a cause
’Neath the big bare sky.
The rain is on our lips,
We do not run for prize.
But the storm the water whips
And the wave howls to the skies.
The winds arise and strike it
And scatter it like sand,
And we run because we like it
Through the broad bright land.
by Charles Hamilton

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Once you cross that finish line it will change your life - Dick Bearsley

Running is a way of life - RunningShield

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RUNNING IN THE RAIN

I had a difficult time Sleeping.

I can hear the Rain pouring outside our bedroom.

It was not that I was worried if the streets would be flooded or the roof would leak.

It is because I couldn't’ wait to go for a run!

I love Running in the Rain!

I love it when the rain droplets splash on my face and I see my reflection on the wet concrete.

I love it when the streets are empty, No dogs, No cars, Nobody to water the plants and No street sweepers.

I love the deafening silence that all I can hear is the rain drops crashing on the concrete road, trees and bushes.

I love it when I hear my heartbeat get faster as I increase my pace.

I get to appreciate nature in a different perspective.

It is in this silence when my spirit is alive.

I love Running in the rain !

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LESSON LEARNED FROM GARY

As I was running in Ayala Alabang early this morning, guess who I saw crossing the road ( At break neck speed ) It was “GARY”.
I looked at him and smiled to myself, and without missing a stride, I just continued with my run.
After about 5 Min's, I told myself, “Wait a minute, at the speed Gary is doing, it will take at least 10 Min's for him to cross the other side of the road. And for sure, if a fast car comes along, he will definitely be squashed.
I immediately turned back and raced to the spot where I saw Gary. I had only one motive in my mind, and that was to "HELP Gary cross the road before it is too late".
As I was heading back to the spot where I saw Gary, I counted 2 cars and 1 jeep that passed me. And I thought, “Oh no that’s it Gary is dead ”
But to my surprise, when I reached the spot, HE WAS STILL ALIVE!...slugging his way across the other side of the road.
I immediately picked him up, as he retreated inside his shell, and gently carried him to the grassy vacant lot.
I waited for a few minutes for him to come out of his shell, and as he did, I smiled and continued with my run.
So you may ask, “What is the moral lesson learned from this experience with Gary?”.
Maybe the moral lesson is “ Don’t postpone what you can do TODAY” or “ It’s never too late to do what is RIGHT“
Frankly, I really don’t know ... but one thing I know for sure.. is it FELT GOOD to help Gary cross the road.

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EYES

It has been said that, “Your eyes are the Window to your SOUL“.

I have said, “When you run, your eyes are the Window to your PASSION”.
Running is like LIFE, there will always be ups and downs, but it’s how you handle it that makes you cross the finish line.
Sometimes, you want to slow down, and sometimes you just want to quit and call it a day.
But you know deep down inside, once you give in to those negative feelings, then you have lost the battle.
Life is never a bed of roses...same with running. If it was, then, what separates us from the norm?
You run almost everyday, averaging 50 ....60.....70 ......sometimes even 100km a week just to reach your Goal.
The Goal you set is for your own self fulfilment, and not for anybody else’s.
It doesn’t matter what others think...what’s important is what YOU THINK and ACHIEVE.
Every time I cross the finish line in a marathon...I cry tears of joy.
It’s because it is in that moment that I feel I have WON the battle...not only of the RACE... but also of this game they call LIFE.

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HOW TO RUN A MARATHON

1. STUDY THE ROUTE - know where the hills, water station are but most especially the toilets.
2. RUNNING SHOES - Decide on what running shoes to wear on race day. (Don't follow the norm if you want to use your training shoes go use it).
3. IDEAL RUNNING WEIGHT - Men (height in inches x 2) = Men ideal running weight.
Women (height in inches x 2 - 20) = Women ideal running weight
4. DON'T EXPERIMENT - Don't eat something new. Don't drink a new sports drink. Don't even try sleeping in a very cold room before race day this can give you problems.
5. TOILET - Go to the toilet and do the no."2". If needed use a "BIDET" to help you.
6. NO BAREFOOT - the last thing you want is to step on a broken glass or bump your toe on the door. Always wear shoes or slippers even after your runs.
7. PEDICURE - don't go for a pedicure before race day. Pedicure if not done well can give you in grown toe nails.
8. DIVIDED YOUR ENERGY GEL - jelly beans work well with me. What I do is i divide the packet into 5. Placing at least 3 to 5 jelly bean per small plastic (ice candy packet).
9. REST & RELAX - your legs should be fresh on race day.
10. PUMP WEIGHTS - pump some weight in your arms, remember a journey of 42.195km can make your arms feel like your legs.
11. MASSAGE - a good massage 2 days before race day really gets the kinks / knots out of your leg.
12. SEX BEFORE A RACE - some say sex the night before race day relives stress. Some say it zaps your energy. See what works for you all I can say is "Be faithful to your partner".
13. THE WONDER OF PAIN KILLERS - Pain killer works wonders. I take 1000 mg before bedtime before race day and another 1000mg a hour before race time. See if it works for you.
14. IMMEDIATE REACTION TIME FOR PAIN KILLERS - for immediate effect of pain killer drink them with hot water. The hot water will dissolve the pain killer faster which will make your body absorb it faster.
15. WHAT WORKS FOR YOU! - example for me.
a. I take a rest day the day before the marathon so my legs are fresh but if I skip 2 days I feel stiff.
b. i eat lots of high carbo food 2 days before race day.
c. drink lots of water the entire day.
d. Get out of bed at least 3 hrs. Before race time. Stretch, Take a shower, have coffee, breakfast consisting of banana and muffin and another cup or coffee and Stretch again.
16. GET MARKED - Using a pentel pen mark your target time on the inside portion of your arm for the ff 10k, 20k, 30k, 35k, 40k, and 41k.
17. IDENTIFY TROUBLE SPOTS - During training you already have identified trouble spots in your body that need attention ex.
a.) Applying petrol jelly between your thighs or armpit to avoid chaffing.
b.) putting lots of powder in your running shoe to avoid blisters.
c.) taping your small toe to avoid rubbing.
d.) nipple guard.
18. CHECK YOUR RUNNING GEAR - garter on your shorts, abrasions on your singlet, Nike shoes air insoles not deflated etc.
19. MAKE SURE YOUR RACING GEAR IS PREPARED THE DAY BEFORE RACE DAY.
20. GARMIN ALERT - make sure your Garmin is fully charged and the RUN ALERT DISTANCE is set at 42.195km
21. SALIVA - if you're racing and you're starting to chaff and you have no access to petrol jelly or body glide. USE YOUR SALIVA.
22. DON'T STOP YOUR VICES - if you smoke or drink don’t totally cut it off a few days before race day. " Cold Turkey" can screw up the chemical system in your body. Just cut down on your vices.
23. ELEVATE YOUR LEGS - Sleep with a pillow under your feet. Gravity will pull the lactic acid and tiredness away from your legs. Its also great for the circulation.
24. NO TALK - No talk of running 24 hrs before race day - when you talk about marathon etc to people you release "positive energy". Remain silent and keep that positive energy inside you. you'll need it during race day.
25. MENTAL - you may have logged in the needed kms in your training but if you are not mentally prepared you have already lost the race.
26.LUCK? - Luck has nothing to do with running. A good race comes from the heart and passion you put into it.
27.SPIRIT OF THE MARATHON - watch the movie to get motivated and dont be ashamed to cry when you watch it "I did"
28. PRAY - The most effective game plan for a marathon is to pray. Don't ask for a PR just be humble and pray for guidance

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AN EMAIL THAT TOUCHED MY HEART

Neil Barrios and son Migoy

I received several emails with regards to the CONDURA RUN 2009. Most of them were emails of appreciation, gratitude & compliments on the success of the run. There were also suggestions on how to improve the race for 2010. Thank you and we will keep it in mind when planning the next race!

But there was two email that really touched my heart. It came from Mr. & Mrs. Neil and Rachel Barrios and I quote:

Hello Mr. Running Shield,
I just want to thank you for sharing your experiences; it has inspired my husband, Neil, to diligently run when he can. He even got me hooked!! He is your big fan, remember the guy who stopped you in the dark before the Condura Run, to have a picture taken? That was him. He told me that he wanted to have a picture taken with you, (well me, I wanted a picture with Rovilson Fernandez).He would always tell me, that you had lost so much weight and would run 21k at your age!! (Oops, no disrespect meant there). He is currently in the 5k run and is targeting your 21k soon; the next race he'll be running is 10k.
Thank you Mr. Patrick Concepcion.
A grateful wife,Rachel”

Hi Mr. Patrick aka Runningshield,
How are you? Actually late last year, I was searching for Phil running forums when I came upon your blog site and found out you have been running for over 20yrs (almost 30 yrs I suppose). Your blog has inspired me to run because even if you have a very busy schedule you can still manage to do your runs. Our only form of exercise then was to play badminton every Friday. So it made me think twice. If these people can do their runs, why can't I? Maybe it was due to the fear of getting injured as I have muscle tears on my left knee which pops my kneecap during lateral movements. So it started from there and ever since I tagged my wife to the Happy Run (she didn't join me in my 1st race) she has been more into it now. We look forward to seeing you also in the upcoming events and are very excited for the next Condura run.
Thank you so much.Best regards,
Neil
To Mr. Mrs. Barrios,I am truly honoured to have been part of a positive change in your lives. And I pray you both keep up the running spirit!! Running is a Tool from God to make life better not only for us but others. As i have touch your lives you too have touch my life much much more.
Thank you for your kind words.

Jan 1, 2007

Running Poems, Quotes & Run Stories. Motivation

"I like flaws, i think they make things interesting." - Sarah Dessen

"I like flaws, i think they make things interesting."

- Sarah Dessen