Thoughts on Running, Tampa, Inspiration and the New Year

5.25 Mile Run touching all parts that surround Tampa's Urban Center.

I am proud to say that I have completed my goal of running 200 miles in 2012. I ran 6.26 miles today bringing my total to 201.26 miles run outdoors.

I did not set out this year to run 200 miles. My initial goal was to a run a 5K which I did with the Gasparilla Distant Classic after completing the Couch to 5K running program.

After the first 5K I decided that one per quarter would suffice as a good goal. My other three timed 5K runs were Miles for Moffitt on the USF campus, Susan G. Komen for the Cure in Downtown St. Petersburg and Richard’s Run for Life in Ybor City. Each run was awesome and unique with it’s own feel.

When I realized in June that I had crossed the 100 mile mark I set the goal to reach 200, since I had the equal amount of time left in the year. The summer months slowed me down and move that quarter’s race to October. However the heat pushed me to try swimming which I will focus on the entire 3rd quarter of 2012.

The path I took today was also exciting. With my recent move to downtown Tampa I have been exploring it and the surrounding neighborhoods. This path really allows you to see every area around the urban core and will only get more interesting. When complete, the ENCORE project between Tampa’s Downtown and Ybor City will create dramatic change. It will also be good to see a master plan come together for the city.

I discovered a TEDx presentation by Simon Sinek on How Great Leaders Inspire Action. Sinek is an optimist. He believes in a bright future and our ability to build it together. He is the author of the book, Start With Why which is now on my reading list.

Weekly Run Progress

The video was extremely inspiring and of immense value to me; discovered at the perfect time. I believe that my running this year is what helped it click for me on a personal level.

I did not start out deciding what to do. I started running because I believed that it would make me feel better. The details of how and what came next unfolded naturally.

The chart of my weekly progress shows me the running was only consistent in the fact that I kept running.

As we approach 2012 I believe like Simon in a “bright future and our ability to build it together”. I agree with Eric Schmidt when in 2009 he paraphrased Tocqueville’s America from 1831:

“America will do well because of its sunny optimism, abundance of land and absence of a king.”

I believe that Steve Jobs thoughts on perseverance for businesses is applicable to our personal growth and lives as well.

“I’m convinced that about half of what separates the successful entrepreneurs from the non-successful ones is pure perseverance.”

I believe more people will find an optimistic view of the future and I look forward to an amazing new year.

Happy New Year!

 

 

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