It's July - Now Let's Go for the Gold!

I could hardly believe my eyes yesterday when I looked at the calendar and it read “July 1.”

A reminder that half the year has passed.

And that my favourite sporting event is just around the corner: The 2012 Summer Olympics officially kick off July 27!

There’s just something magical about the Olympic games, beginning with the Opening Ceremonies. It’s a roll call of the nations, so to speak; a time to showcase the best athletes our nation has to offer.  The world opens up– not just for the Olympians, but for each of us here at home.

I remember being captivated by the 1984 Olympics. My best friend and I re-enacted the gold medal ceremonies, choreographed gymnastics routines from scratch, and even turned my parents' kitchen into a makeshift "Olympic Village" where we cooked meals we thought only Olympic athletes would eat. In fact, I'd go so far as to say the games that year (held in Los Angeles and chaired by California's own Peter Ueberroth) inspired me to move to California some years later. No doubt today there is a little girl somewhere who may be dreaming of London (this year's site for the games).

What I like best about the Olympics is the inspiration to push past our own boundaries. To dig deep. To go the extra mile. To find that inner something, to find “it” within ourselves to cross the finish line. It’s a world in which seconds count, and milli-seconds count even more. In today’s world, too many people put off until tomorrow what they could do today. Olympic finishing times remind me what only people who have been through a tragedy or an Olympic trial know: that every second in life truly does count. It is for this reason I wish the Olympics were held every day.

In fact, the Olympics are like one big, glossy window display of determination. It is an opportunity for athletes to showcase the willpower that has gotten them to the big dance, the big race. Whether the athletes came from poverty, learned to compete shoeless on the continent of Africa, or came back from a career-threatening injury, it is a reminder to me not to complain about the simple things (i.e., that it might be “too hot to run” when in reality, it is only 80 degrees for my jog after work.)

At the end of its two-week run – even after the athletes have returned home and the fanfare has disappeared – the Olympics serve as a reminder to amateur athletes like me that magic can, in fact, happen when you simply put one foot in front of the other, day after day after day...

In the coming weeks, I’ll highlight some of my favourite athletes who will be competing in the 2012 Summer Olympics and will share their stories of determination in hopes that it will inspire.  We've got 25 days 'til the Opening Ceremonies. I hope you’ll join me in training the next 25 days to get in tip-top shape so that we can ring in the start of the Games in golden health!

Elect to Run!

As I stood in the TSA Security Line this morning for my Monday morning flight to our Capitol, I saw a sea of San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon t-shirts draped on runners who participated in the race over the weekend.  Weekend warriors proudly displaying their schwag to mark a great achievement.

It got me thinking this very day before the 2012 Primary Election here in California, it is not unlike the schwag I’ve seen from various campaigns in the 2012 Election Year – t-shirts, buttons, bumper stickers and the like. In both Elections and Marathons, you have an array of memorabilia to help promote and commemorate the occasion.

In fact, an Election season in and of itself is not unlike a Marathon. How so? In more ways than you might think.

For starters, how you leave the starting blocks (i.e., declare your candidacy) is absolutely critical. In any race, you don’t want to falter coming off of the starting line because you never have a second chance to make a first impression. Same is true in a campaign. The goal is to send a strong signal to your competitors that you are a strong contender.

Second, in both an election and a marathon, it’s all about “pace.” Sometimes, you’ll have a candidate who wants to give it all away at the beginning of the race, but you have to remind them that it’s about pacing oneself. Just as a marathon is a daunting 26.2 mile experience, a campaign season is often nine months to 18 months, depending upon the race. Save the sprint for when it's needed.

Third, it’s all about the PR. In running, PR stands for your “Personal Record.” In the campaign world, it’s all about the Public Relations. But no matter which race you’re in, it’s all about doing your best – putting your best foot forward, so to speak.  In a marathon or during an election, you can’t fake good PR. It is all about performance, and the final clock doesn’t lie. You’ll either win, or lose. You’ll either beat your personal record, or you won’t. You’ve either got it, or you don’t.

Fourth, seconds matter. Whether you're trying to qualify for the Boston Marathon, or working in The War Room or running the social media on a major campaign, every second counts.

Lastly, on both occasions you must “finish strong.”  In Elections, you can use those precious last weeks to solidify your lead and help drive up the score, just as a good Marathon runner can use those last few miles to help shave minutes off of their final time.

So, to all of those Runners out there in 2012 (the literal kind and the proverbial kind running for Office), keep on running. We will see you at the finish line!

Run or Be Run

There are sayings on the street: “Play or Be Played." "Sell or Be Sold.” They’re all about taking control of your own life. Ensuring that you are the master of your own destiny. The bottomline: either sell your game, or you will be sold someone else’s.

When it comes to running --- whether sticking to a running routine, or just plain running my life --- I have coined my own phrase: “Run or Be Run."

In my field, during a busy Election Year it’s easy to put off my running routine and allow the daily schedule to take over my life. We all know how it is. We swear we won't succumb to it. But before we know it, there we are with endless workdays, endless hours on the campaign trail, and a different city on any given week.

But I refuse to believe that fitting in a run during the week is impossible. In fact, it's imperative. I was taught that if you do the small things well, you will succeed in the larger ones. If I can control when I run, then I can control the rest of my day. So, in the face of a busy schedule I vow to make it work. There really is no other choice when it's important to you that you Run your own life.

So this campaign season, I’m making the extra effort by employing a few simple tips.  First, no matter what time I leave the office behind, I’ll try to hit the gym or go for a run -- no matter how tired I am. (I always leave with more energy than when I arrived.) Second, if I have an early flight the next morning, I’ll squeeze in a workout the night before (even if I’ve already gone that day), or I’ll get up super-early (hello, 4a.m.) to ensure I get it in.  Lastly, and this is the most important one, when I’m on the road I’ll check the website for any hotel in which I'm staying to ensure that they have a gym– one that is open 24 hours a day, by the way. (I’m sorry, but a gym that closes at 10pm does not work for a busy campaign operative. I mean, haven’t they seen the West Wing?!?) Oh, and if the hotel doesn't have a gym... well, then they don't have me as a customer. Simple as that.

Whether it’s my morning run or an afternoon power meeting, it is all connected for me. Small steps lead to big success. If I can’t carve out a half hour to run my routine, chances are I won’t feel that confident about running my Life. But if I get in a good run, I can conquer anything.  It’s as simple as that.

Run or Be Run.

A Cause Greater than Oneself

Many of you know whether it’s for the Semper Fi Fund to help wounded warriors, or for local charities, I run races not just for the betterment of my physical self but to benefit a charitable cause.

Such was the case last weekend when I travelled to Phoenix, Arizona to run the 8th Annual Pat’s Run to benefit The Pat Tillman Foundation.

You may remember Pat Tillman. In fact, how could you forget him? He was a star football player from Arizona who gave up a lucrative NFL contract after 9/11 to enlist in the ARMY to serve his country. He was a beacon of hope, the best America had to offer in the face of terrorism and the cowardice that it represents.

I remember what impressed me most about Tillman was that he enlisted in the ARMY as a regular bloke, asking for no special treatment, but quickly worked his way up to become an elite ARMY Ranger. Sadly, Tillman was killed in Afghanistan in an unfortunate tragedy. A tragedy which his family did their level best to turn into something positive. And lasting. So when I saw that a memorial race in his honor was still going strong more than a decade after 9/11, I knew I had to check it out.

So did 35,000 other inspired Americans.

I couldn’t believe my eyes when I got to the starting line. I had expected a few thousand runners, tops. After all, this was a local race, set in the tiny town of Tempe, a college town. But when I approached the race grounds, to my amazement appeared a sea of red t-shirts as far as the eye could see.  And I mean as far as the eye could see. I have witnessed the crowds at the nationally-renowned Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. , a national, critically-acclaimed race that has been around for 30 years. I never expected the Pat Tillman run to rival that legendary race. But it did. And it showed me the power of one person, that one person truly can have an effect on thousands upon thousands of others who will then answer the call to service. Perhaps not in the strong way that Tillman did. But in our own 35,000 small ways.

The Pat Tillman Foundation did a remarkable job honoring the memory of this fallen hero. Every detail was meticulous. From the 100-foot-tall replica of Pat’s football jersey which adorned the side of a building near the starting line, to the exact 4.2 mile course (representing his football number #42), to the music that piped through speakers, which somehow seemed as if it could have come from Pat Tillman’s mp3 player itself. It was as if he was there. The organizers left no stone unturned when it came to matters of the heart.  You felt his presence.

You also felt a palpable sense that Americans still wish to do more, be more, give more, just as Pat gave.  As I ran, I witnessed military men rucksacking the entire race, in full military camo gear and heavy boots, in the 90-degree Arizona heat to honor of their fallen brother. And I noticed several first responders from NYFD’s Brooklyn Engine Company #238 that came out from New York to honor him. It left a lump in my throat as thousands upon thousands of men, women, and children of all ages streamed out of the starting gates and then later streamed into the famous Sun Devil Stadium toward the finish line Tillman.

At the end of the day, the organizers raised funds toward their ultimate goal of $3.9 Million – the amount that Pat Tillman turned down in an NFL contract to join the ARMY. Those funds will now help returning troops and their spouses return to school to better their lives. I encourage you to visit The Pat Tillman Foundation today and give $42 in honor of his NFL number, to benefit the troops.

God Bless America, and may God be blessing Pat Tillman somehwere right now.

Hop to It!

To all of the parents out there who slaved over a hot stove this weekend, boiling eggs, coloring easter eggs, and taking all manner of measures (including flashlights) to hide prizes in the backyard, it is you who embody the true spirit of the Easter Bunny.

Except, in one regard.

He can run like the wind.  Literally.

If you think you run fast with your 6.0 setting on the treadmill, you ain’t seen nothing yet.

The average bunny can run 25mph to 45mph, far outdoing the rest of us weekend warriors.  The standard backyard domesticated bunny runs approximately 25 to 27 miles per hour, whereas the wilder hares out in the wilderness zip around at a stunning 47 miles per hour.

But they’re not just about the speed. Oh no. It turns out that rabbits have evolved over time to avoid becoming easy prey. Their bodies have evolved to perform feats such as the "zigzag" and the agile leap as few other creatures in nature can.

But don’t feel badly. All of this might actually explain why no one (and I mean, no one) has ever seen the Easter Bunny in person.  >”<

Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned as a Runner

Part two in a series: These days, I realize that (almost) everything I learned in life, I learned from being a runner. So, I decided that over the course of the next week, I'd share a few lessons learned along the way....


Brace for the elements

Whether planning your outfit for race day, or planning for life, you have to know what to expect. You wouldn’t set out for a long run without a jacket when it’s pelting rain outside, so why would you meander through life this way?

Get a plan. Get the forecast. Get the 4-1-1 on things. When setting out for a race, I usually study the course a few days or a few weeks before. Sometimes right after I sign up. It’s helpful to know what to expect on race day. It helps with your training. After all, if you don’t know there are four massive hills during your Marathon, how will you know you need to do hill work during your training? It helps you determine how you will pace yourself, to know when to expect massive hills, exposure to the elements, and so forth. The same is true of life. It’s the old adage, how do you know you will get to your end goal if you don't know the path you'll take to get there? Plan it out.


Find a Buddy

As in running, in life it is equally important to find a buddy. Someone who enjoys the sport. Or, someone who will at least go along with you, even if it's just to humour you. I have often boasted that running is the one thing in my life that isn’t a “team sport” – it’s the one thing I can do by myself, to get in a little “me” time, away from the noise of the world. But the truth is, I have spent many a race by myself, and I have to tell you, staying in hotels by myself is something that I am completely over. O-v-e-r.  It is lonely. And isn’t running, at the end of the day, about belonging to a community, even if only a community of runners you may not know? I am thankful for the good girlfriends I've made in the running community and the mates who willingly travel along with me, just because they know it makes me happy.


Finish Strong

In life, as in running, it’s important to finish strong. We all fall down from time to time. But the important thing is that we dust ourselves off and continue toward the finish line.

In my last Marathon, a knee injury nearly kept me from finishing the race. But I couldn’t stop thinking about all of the people who had contributed to the charity I was running for, and I couldn’t let them down. I knew I had to finish. And you know what, it's a funny thing: success breeds more success. As I got closer to the Finish Line, I got stronger. Instead of limping across the finish line like the wounded animal I actually felt like, I finished as respectably as I could.

And thank God for that. Little did I know that the Marine Corps Marathon had hired a webcam company to provide Live streaming coverage of runners crossing the Finish Line, and my friends saw me online. Proof that you never know who's watching you. Just one more reason to finish strong.

Everything I Learned in Life, I Learned as a Runner

The older I get, the more I realize that (almost) everything I learned in life, I learned from being a runner. So, I decided that over the course of the next week, I'd share a few lessons I've learned along the way. 

Pace Yourself

It’s important to dream big and charge hard in life. Believe me, the famous General Patton quote, “Lead, Follow, or Get out of the Way” is part of my digital signature. So, you would figure I’d be the last person to say, “Pace yourself.” But in a Marathon, as in life, one has to realize that 26.2 long miles of road lie before you, and it turns out there is such a thing as "all things in due time."

I came to realize this during my last Marathon when I had pain at Mile 14, and I’ve realized it along the way in life when I’ve had other pain (some of it self-inflicted). I've even come to realize it in writing this blog, at times having to pull back on my love of writing in my leisure time, due to starting a new high-profile job (which I recently did.) But that is life. Sometimes in order to sustain long-term success, you have to pace yourself.

Besides, the journey itself can be filled with a lot of interesting scenery along the way... 


Run for a Cause Greater than Yourself

Whether a Politician or an avid runner, a person ought to run for a cause greater than oneself. I made a decision last Fall that I wouldn’t run a race unless the race itself benefited a cause, or unless I could raise money for a charity while running. This includes my participation in the Marine Corps Marathon in Washington, D.C. a few months ago (where gracious friends and colleagues contributed more than $900 to aid injured troops) and this includes our participation in the upcoming 8th Annual “Pat’s Run” in Phoenix, Arizona to honor fallen hero and football great, U.S. Army Ranger Pat Tillman. In this day and age, with so many charities coming online, no matter what city you live in there is always a way to raise money or awareness for a cause. Now that’s what I call going the extra mile. 


The Moment You Turn to Look at your Competition, is the Moment You Lose

I ran track in junior high. Now, don’t go calling me Florence Griffith Joyner or anything (unless you’re referring to my nails), but I could hold my own in a competitive race. I’m just obnoxious that way. I also competed as an adult in the Corporate Challenge, an intramural competition that pits adults against other adults from their workplace. To be sure, it was a scene straight out of Mr. Mom, minus the tricycles. (If only we could settle all of our workplace disputes this way!) But I digress.

No two ways about it, I won practically every contest I ever entered --- with a couple of exceptions. I ran the 440, the 880, and was often the final leg of the 1600 4x4 relay. Normally, that is a position reserved for the person who looks like a gazelle with long, lanky legs (a fascinating creature I have never resembled in my entire life), but for some reason the little scrappy runner (that would be "moi") was entrusted to bring home the baton and make up for whatever lost time had occurred earlier among the team.

Oh, but a few times, I allowed myself to be taken off my game. In one particular case, it was the girl in the lane next to me. I swear to God, I could hear her breathing, I could feel her hot breath on the back of my neck, gaining on me. I became so concerned about my competition that I actually turned my head to the right for a moment to look at my competitor, and you know what? The moment I turned to focus on my competitor, the race was over. Not only had I physically flinched (oh sure, I had messed up my physical pace), but more so because I knew I had mentally flinched. Somewhere, within the deep recesses of my brain, I knew I had given up. I had admitted that someone could possibly be faster than I was.


Don’t Get Tripped Up Running with the Pack

I can remember pleading with my parents in junior high about various topics, but specifically the topic of how unfair life was. One particular complaint surrounded the girls at my school who had a seemingly endless supply of Guess jeans in their closets, when I only had two pairs. (Little did I know at the time that those two pairs had cost more than my parents’ first car.)  But my parents were gracious. My Dad would simply reply with, “Well, some girls don’t have any Guess jeans, did you ever think about that?" Then he would add, "You’ve got to realize there will always be someone who has more than you, and someone who has less than you. Don’t compare yourself to other people.” This has turned out to be some of the best advice.  It is true in life, true in running.

You can’t compare yourself to someone who starts out quickly from the starting block. You never know what their game plan is. Perhaps they start out fast, then fade at the end. You never know. I have often been worried I wasn’t able to keep up with Marathon runners I started a race with, only to pass them up later at Mile 16 when they were huffing and puffing and in obvious pain, as I sailed quietly by.

I can’t say it enough, Stay in your own lane. Focus on your own race. In life, and in running, stop thinking about where someone else is and start focusing on setting your own best personal record (PR).


Over the next week, I'll be sharing more about what I've learned in life from my marathon experiences. I welcome you to share yours! E-mail, post it here, or Tweet it!