Every school year begins the same for me. I spend the week before school starts in meetings. Anyone who has attended regular work meeting knows that they can sap energy from even the most energetic. School meetings are no different. After the meetings are over, I still need to set-up my classroom, make copies for the first few days of school, get books ready for students, and about 947 other things. Fitting in a twenty-miler is just one more thing on the list.

On the first day of school,  I never feel ready. I typically wake up around 5 a.m. to go in to school. I do this because I feel like this way I’ll have a couple hours to finish up any last minute things I need for opening day.

Then, before I know it, kids are rolling in to the class and I’m on. On the first day, I’m on from 7:45-2:43. When I say, “ON,” I mean I’m buzzing 100 m.p.h. trying to get kids up to speed on how we’ll run our class while getting to know them, learn 150 new names, and introduce myself a little. I leave aroud 4:00 feeling hoarse and zombie-ish. The second day is similar.

No matter how much I try to get ahead, I never feel ready for the first week. As someone who strives to be over-prepared, this is a nerve-wracking experience.

A few of you may have similar feelings on race day. Some of you maybe choose not to race because you’re “not ready.” Sometimes there are things in life that you’ll never feel “ready” for. Starting school, having kids, changing your life. If you wait until you’re ready, you’ll never start.

My advice: you’re ready. Even if you’re not, sometimes you just need to get the ball rolling if it’s something you want.

Now, I’m not encouraging you to have a child if you’re 19, unemployed, and trying to go to college. I’m just saying, if you’re at a reasonable stage in your life and want kids, waiting until you feel ready could be an endless wait.

Similarly, if you’ve been running for a few months and consistently run two miles a few times a week, you’re probably ready for a race. Not a marathon, but a race. Especially for your first race, don’t wait until until you feel ready. I’ve done a dozen marathons, and I frequently don’t feel ready on race day. I am ready, but I don’t feel like it.

The first day of school is like that, too. I’ve survived twelve of them as a teacher now. I still don’t feel ready for it, but I am.

When it comes to something life-changing, get yourself as ready as you can and go for it. Don’t wait until you feel ready, you might not.

Did you feel the change this weekend Grand Rapidians? Fall seems to have arrived!

It happened overnight and I couldn’t have been happier. From humid summer days to the crisp coolness, Fall is by far my favorite season; a season I treasure and wish was longer. It’s the turning of the leaves, being able to sport scarves, apple picking, and pumpkin carving…this is Fall. Above all these amazing rites of this season, this is the time of blissful running. I thrive in this weather and the beauty of our ever changing world around me when I run. For those deterred by extremely hot days or the Michigan winters, Fall supplies us with rays of sun, light breezes, and perfect temperatures.

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It’s around this time where I can’t help but think back to cross-country days. Blazing through trails in a single file line, ponytails and braids a flying, the sound of cracking leaves as many feet pounced about, and the promise of hot cider after wards; these are the vivid memories Fall stirs. Looking back, some of my favorite meets and practices happened during the cross country season. In high school it was a season of proving the underdogs could prevail, in college it became more about the time spent with friends as we sat in piles of leaves.

Does Fall evoke these feelings for you? Does it make you want to lace up those shoes and relive those days of cross-country? This Fall take the time to enjoy this glorious season. Whether that means taking a jog through Robinette’s to go apple picking or just strolling through the neighborhood to see the changing of the leaves; embrace Fall…it’s only here once a year.

Its been two days in the mountains of Colorado, and as Joe and I sit here having a beverage of choice we have been talking about our experience so far, so here it goe…
Joe has a grin on his face that emulates the rays of th

Joe has a smile on his face as big as the suns rays. He had an amazing day running up the mountain to Hope pass, then flew down the other side with Dean. Yep, that Dean. What a grear day. On the other hand I got a little sick from ellevation and rolled in slightly an hour before Joe. Jpe had to wait for me.
Really yesterday was the beginning f a great adventure, and today was a little trying, but team mates we will keep racing together, tomorrow will take us from Leadville to camp Hale. It will be a 24 mile jaunt and it will be fun!
For now know that the running community, your running community and that community of runners throughout the nation is amazing!
So stay “UP” and know that you are keeping those around you moving and enjoying life, nice work
So from Colorado for today, I will now rest,n eat dinner and have some laughs with new friends, I hope you all do the same!

Each day we have the option of looking at daily responsibilities in front of us as an opportunity or as a pain in the rear.  Today I am honored to have the opportunity to go with Joe Trupp up to Buena Vista in Colorado and begin an adventure of a lifetime, and I thank Gazelle Sports and Gore Tex for sending us on this amazing TransRockies Run.  Check it out to see what we are doing!

http://transrockies.com/transrockiesrun/news/

I am very excited to let you all know that today I am choosing opportunity to be my guide as I move into the mountains and begin running crazy numbers of miles with many really excited runners and soon to be new friends.  I know that today I get to experience new things, and each day I encourage all of you to experience something new as well. 

This week Joe and I will bring you along for our trip, so I hope that you will come join us as we experience new and let opportunity be our guide!  Have an awesome week, and we will see you all on the other side of your daily mountains while we work on conquering our daily mountains.

Enjoy the experience!  Revel in the opportunity!