I Love Being Inspired

I enjoy searching the Internet and talking to others with the intent of discovering something inspirational to fuel me. My biggest inspiration is close to home, as it is undoubtedly my father. With a firm father figure, I am blessed to have numerous additional inspirations. I believe it is important for all people to encounter something that will cause them to raise the bar every time a personal goal is achieved and something that will ignite a fire within that propels them forward. Inspiration is a lovely part of life.


I could easily be caught devouring running news and immersing myself in running-related articles. To my satisfaction, I keep up-to-date with the latest running talk through websites such as letsrun.com, flotrack.org, and  runnerspace.com. I find these sites extremely helpful when I'm looking for big breakthrough news in the running community. A collegiate runner myself, one of the main reasons I gravitate toward these sites is because I'm looking for inspiration. Honestly, that's a huge reason why I've spent countless hours digging through these sites. 


I ran (no pun intended) across something incredible on one of the aforementioned sites a little while back that truly inspired me. A young Japanese man by the name of Yuki Kawauchi ran to an incredible third-place finish at the 2011 Tokyo Marathon with a time of 2:08:37, good for a 4:54 mile pace. He was just 23 years old at the time and, get this, works a full-time job. He trains on his own during non-work hours, but mentions that he trains much less that many other Japanese professional runners that are signed by corporations and have the privilege of running as their job. Kawauchi collapsed immediately after crossing the line, proving that he gave every little ounce of energy he could find.


In a blog written by Anna Novick for Japan Realtime, it is said that Kawauchi works Monday - Friday, from 12:45 p.m. - 9:15 p.m. during the school year and from 10:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. when school is out. He loves his job and has never hinted that he desires to quit and take on running full-time. He is motivation, and he is inspiring. But what makes me bring up this 24-year-old dubbed the "Citizen Runner" in December when his gutsy Tokyo Marathon occurred in February is the unbelievable feat he just recently accomplished.


On December 4 at the Fukuoka Marathon, the 5'7" Kawauchi again ran stellar. He finished third with a time of 2:09:57. On a side note, a sub-2:10 marathon is fantastic for elite runners, and to qualify for the U.S. Olympic Trials Marathon you need to boast a 2:19:00. As for Kawauchi, he both shocked and amused the running world by entering himself in the Hofu Yomiuri Marathon set for December 18, a mere two weeks after his 2:09:57 in Fukuoka. Folks, marathoners are depleted upon completing the 26.2-mile distance, most needing a week rest of no running at all. Elite marathoners tactically schedule marathons months apart so they can be as fresh as possible each time they toe the line. Not Kawauchi.


A man with a gargantuan heart tucked inside his 130-pound body, he pounded out a 2:12:33, second-place effort at Hofu Yomiuri. To cover 26.2 miles at an average mile pace of 5:03 just two weeks after a 2:09:57 is inspiring to me. I coudn't believe it when my eyes ran across the headline. This guy is a machine, a man with nothing to lose and everything to gain. A quote of his is now one of my favorites: "Every time I run it's with the mindset that if I die at this race, it's OK." Wow.


Watching the pain and agony on Kawauchi's face in a clip of his mind-blowing 2:08:37 in Tokyo has found a place in my mind. I thought of it on my run today. I ran a satisfying seven miles and at numerous times thought of the clip I watched earlier in the day. It fueled me, reminding me that there is no reason why I shouldn't complete the run in fine fashion. I use his pain as motivation; a pain proven by the fact that he has collapsed at the conclusion of every marathon he's participated in. 


In a video entitled "Yuki Kawauchi's message to runners around the world," Kawauchi himself delivers these highly inspiring words: "Whenever you feel like you're about to give up, keep believing that you can still do it. Keep running and racing and trying to improve, but at the same time keep your enjoyment of it and keep doing it all your life. I intend to keep doing this for the rest of my life too."


Kawauchi inspires me. I encourage you to explore for something inspirational. You may already possess many inspirations, but no one to my knowledge has put a limit on the number of inspirations you may own. I recently have made Kawauchi one of my mine, and I hope you uncover one that will encourage you to keep improving to become the best that you are capable of becoming. 


Associated Press

Home for the Holidays

Sitting on a chair located in my room in Saginaw, Michigan, with my laptop resting gently on this desk I know so well, I must say I am thankful. Thankful for a home that I can count on being there when the breaks from college arrive, when my father shows no agitation in having to drive two and a half hours to and from campus to pick me up and bring me back safely. To have a warm home to sit and rest in is a gift from God. I'm typing on a laptop, a piece of equipment myriads of people do not own. I am extremely blessed. 

I'm currently reading Skipping Christmas by the renowned author John Grisham. I have not completed 60 pages, but I already have learned lessons from this book that is a film adaptation entitled Christmas with the Kranks. To avoid Christmas and its materialistic, consumer-filled madness is what Luther, the husband of the main couple, desires to do. He plans a cruise with his wife, Nora, to the Caribbean. Their plan is to leave on Christmas Day, without putting up one decoration or caving into spending the thousands of dollars that they squandered on this holiday in past years. They still intend to reflect on the main reason for Christmas while also intending to wholly avoid the lavish spending on gifts that will possibly be thrown out of sight in a week or never even touched.

While flipping the pages of Skipping Christmas, I cannot help but become more thankful for what I have in my life right at this instant, ten days before I know I am going to be pampered with even more gifts. You and I both need to be content with what we own. Though it would be difficult to do because I love presenting others with gifts, I think it would be such a beneficial experience to avoid shopping and the materialistic mania of Christmas one year. I could use the time to dig deeper into my Bible, learn more about the true, genuine Christmas story, and make handcrafted gifts with materials and items that I currently own. Several people admire the fact that you actually personally construct their gift rather than rush to a store and hastily purchase a present. Developing friendships and growing together in Christ is worth substantially more than any gift you will receive this Christmas.

On Christmas Day, I will do my utter best to be happy with each and every gift I receive. If it's a piece of clothing that I don't think I will insert myself into, I will still give my thanks to whoever bought me the item. There is an inexplicable amount of other things in life to be looking forward to other than a few gifts to rip open on the morning of the celebration of Jesus' birth. I think about the needy, starving, thirsting, penniless, hurting, hopeless, and distraught people in this world that we share, and it's unbelievable how wealthy I am, regardless of how much money my parents and I make in any given year. I pray that God will touch each and everyone's life in one way or another this holiday season and beyond. God's goodness is unfathomable. Search for it, find it, and spread His light.

There is absolutely no reason why I shouldn't be sporting a smile on Christmas Day and every day that God so graciously grants me.

Peace and love.      

My Hiatus

I've been away. A long way away. I apologize for my absence from this beautiful blog. About three people will see that apology, but it needed to be done. I developed a keen interest in writing as my first year of college progressed. I don't know what it was, but something was blossoming within my gut and springing up my stomach, floating through my chest, and finally darting out of my mouth as I told numerous friends that I'd love to be a sports journalist. Travel the world and write sports stories, like Rick Reilly does today. I dream of it, and I dream of lovely things.


I work this summer. It's my first consistent summer job. I work with 9-11 year old kids at the YMCA. I like it, but it truly is a cumbersome job. Simultaneously frustrating and tiring at times, I still find joy when I witness the kids running around having a grand time and enjoying the freedom that they have been granted. Making kids feel happy and productive is one my favorite tasks to conquer in life. Although it can be tough, God has brought me to the Y for a reason. He has a reason for everything. I believe that.   


Let us enjoy this young, fresh summer of 2011, and stay content with ourselves and with one another. Love rules. Hate drools. Let peace and harmony fly high and wide.