Best Running Advice Comes From A Turkey

As a runner for more than thirty years, I've been on both the giving and receiving end of advice. Runners, in general, are both eager to help and easily overwhelmed by the volume of information available. Sometimes it takes a filter to help advice make sense. I've started using a 'turkey' filter for running advice.

Turkeys have been given a bad name in running. For example, 'turkey' is the term used to refer to unregistered runners, the bane of timers using the venerable chutes and spindles timing system. When these scofflaws cross the finish line they mess up the syncing of finish times and finish tags. The solution? Place a 'turkey tag' on the spindle. Chip timing has made that issue less common, but the term remains in use. In case you're not a hunter (or a turkey), you may not know that 'turkey tags' also refers to a hunting requirement that your harvest be properly labeled. This is not a popular term in the flock.

Most people don't realize that turkeys are quite good runners. We're used to the overfed, under-exercised fatties that end up on our dinner tables for Thanksgiving. Their wild cousins weigh half as much and can run 20 miles per hour. That's three minutes per mile, and they can fly twice that speed.

I've been reading Born to Run, a fascinating story about our true human capacity for distance running. I decided to check in with my friend Tom Turkey to see if we humans could learn something from our feathered friends. Tom was gracious enough to provide a list of helpful hints for your running pleasure.

Tom writes:

"Thanks for the opportunity. Running has been a big part of my life. I really think it has made me a better bird. I look forward each day to my run. Whether I'm going long or just running away, running puts a smile on my beak.

"I've compiled my seven favorite tips. I hope you enjoy. Have a safe Thanksgiving, and remember to go vegetarian!

1. "Shoes are for sissies. I don't know one turkey that wears shoes on a regular basis. Try barefoot running for an authentic experience. The Born to Run guy got that right.


2. "Forage on long runs. I prefer acorns and seeds, but you might go with gel or goo.


3. "Water means life. I wouldn't think of running without a stream nearby. If you don't live near water, or don't like to bend over and lap it up, bring a water bottle.


4. "Know when to peak. I'm always at my leanest this time of year, and frankly it has saved my life. If you're getting ready for a race, prepare like your life was on the line. Really.


5. "Strut your tail feathers. Okay, this one is more about getting a date, but it's good for your running too. If you've got it, flaunt it!


6. "Find a flock. I wouldn't spend winter without one. Find someone to share your runs, or at least listen to your stories.


7. "Don't stuff yourself. I also wouldn't let anyone else do it to you."

Think of Tom's advice as you celebrate Thanksgiving this year. One flock you may want to join, is the crowd gathering for the annual Turkey Run the Sunday before Thanksgiving. Tom will be there, though he keeps a low profile after the incident with the starting pistol a few years ago. You will find him on the race shirt, as usual. He's a big fan of tip #5.

From the Creative Minds of Runners

In my last blog I asked a question: what's missing from the local running scene? I threw out a few thoughts of my own: a relay, uphill mile or a fitness sampler event. Then I opened it up to you...and you opened up to me.

Your responses came back via E-mail, Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter. Some of you already had ideas and were looking for an opportunity to share. Others of you waited for a few posts to come in, then added your own tweaks to those ideas. After dozens of responses were received, I'm ready to make a report.

The responses can be grouped into a few categories:

"I never would have thought of that!"
The leader in this category is Katherine's idea about synchronized running. "Sync up the iPods, let spectators know what you're listening to, then run with the moves: hand gestures, arm movements, dance steps. I think it would be fun for everyone. It would draw attention to the sport, that's for sure." Yes, it would!

Others in this category were a pursuit race where someone was dressed up like a rabbit (Julia) and a Speed Disc Golf event (Elizabeth).

"I should have thought of that!"
Amy came up with this one: "I noticed that many of the larger races around the Twin Cities have a theme that they are centered around, and that seems to attract participants. I thought that it might be interesting to do a wine and cheese run (since there are already a bunch of beer runs that people seem to like)." You had me at cheese.

"Psst..."
The most secretive idea comes from Kristen. She has an idea regarding first-time runners. "Well, I have had this idea for quite some time, and since I'm not a race director, but know YOU , I was thinking of sharing my idea if you'd cut me in on some of the action;)" I can't be more specific because she swore me to secrecy, but I think it has potential.

Variations on a theme
Quite a few people like the idea of a trail or adventure type run. Sean, Dave, Kurt and Nick all mentioned the infamous Living History Farms event in Des Moines, Iowa where runners go through water, over fences and generally get muddy. MDRA has its Mudball event in April, but these people were suggesting something on a larger scale. Julia compared it to cyclocross. Nick and Bill suggested adding hay bales. Adam suggested adding beer to the concept.

Up
Several people liked the idea of climbing. From hills (Heather and Erik) to stairs (Jeff), the concept has its fans. Several Duluthians weighed in with their suggestions of hills.

"I like sharing"
The team concept was a recurring theme. Whether it was relays (Tim and Joe), adventure racing or synchronized running, people are looking for team events.

"Bring it back"
Those who remember running in the 1970s might recall events like a one-hour run (Evan) or last-man-out (Lori Anne). Not all good ideas have to be entirely new!

Now the challenge is to take these great ideas and make something happen. My next blog will invite you to help me with that. Until then, if you see me running in a rabbit suit with my iPod and a beer, you'll know I'm just brainstorming.

A Break from Tradition: The New Race

I like tradition. I direct four events that have been around for at least 25 years, and in a world that changes as much as ours, I'm proud of them. Sometimes, though, tradition works against innovation. The courses, dates and race lengths are part of the 'tradition' package. To break out of that mold, we're creating The New Race.

We now have incredible tools that promote nimbleness. Communication is quick, and with social media everyone has a chance to have their voices heard. Events have been a little slow to adapt. It's time for run/walk events to become user-generated. Rather than event directors, sponsors and municipalities calling the shots, why not open the process? Why not look for ideas that are new, fun and maybe even a little crazy? Why not create The New Race?

My idea is simple: find out what runners and walkers think is missing from the Minnesota running scene and create a new event. We're not going to worry about making it big or doing it more than once. We'll just take a good idea and run with it.

What event would you like to see? What venue would be perfect? What time of year is event-deficient? What premium would you love to receive? Give us as much or as little information as you want: race length, date, course, theme, whatever. Tell us why you think we should do it. We'll collect a handful of finalists, perhaps even mashing together a few different ideas, then put them to a vote.

Just to get you thinking, here are a few of my ideas:

• a one-hour relay on a track or closed loop


• an indoor event that allows you to sample different workouts: yoga, kettle bells, etc.


• an uphill mile


• a long relay that starts and finishes in the Twin Cities metro

Feel free to take and twist those or start from scratch. No idea is too silly or too challenging!

It's easy to submit your ideas:

• Go to our Facebook discussion page and post a comment;


• Send your comment to me on Twitter by using @cfullerrun and hashtag #thenewrace;


• Send E-mail to Chris.Fuller@TSLevents.com.

We'll collect ideas until 9/30/09, and then get back to you with the best. Ideas that don't make the cut for this event might find their way into other TSL events. The New Race is as much an idea incubator as it is an event.

Be a part of something new, something special. Help us create a new tradition of innovation. Help us create the The New Race.

How Facebook Made Me A Better Runner

Chris Fuller/Full Story Blog

I often run alone, but I appreciate the social side of running. Sharing your experiences as a runner, either during the run or afterwards, makes it more satisfying. Now, with new fun tools like Facebook, that sharing can be taken to a whole new level. It can make you a better runner.

Unless you have been in a cave for a few years, you probably have heard of Facebook. Answers to a survey question at our last race indicate that 67% of our participants are already on Facebook. That's probably already above 70%, and growing fast. Facebook has evolved from a tool primarily for college students to a robust space for all adults. I wasn't in that first wave (PCs and Macs weren't around yet when I was in college), so I had to do a little cramming to get up to speed on Facebook. Here's what I found:

1) Personal Pages
Everyone on Facebook starts with a personal page. That's a great way to talk about what you are doing and share that info with your friends. Many of my friends are runners (surprise, surprise!), so I'll see updates with today's workouts, pre-race jitters, post race results, and more. Since photos are easy to upload, I'll also see race pics, trip photos and even nasty road rash (runners and bikes don't always mix well). Every once and awhile, I'll see an organization posting on Facebook as an individual. That's where you'll find the Minnesota Distance Running Association (MDRA).

2) Groups
Groups are collections of people with similar interests. Search for running groups and you'll find hundreds. Facebook search tools are primitive compared to what Google can do on the Internet, but they are a start. The default search results are in descending order by size of group (i.e., biggest on top). There is no way to search by location, so you'll have to just page through if you are looking for running groups in Minnesota. It will take you some time, but you'll easily find one (or more) groups that you want to join. You'll find Run N Fun and TC Running Company as Facebook groups.

Groups are usually built to allow two-way communication: comments, discussion, talking between group members. If you have a running team or even a few training partners, you may want to start your own Facebook group as a way to coordinate runs and share stories and photos.

3) Pages
Pages are what companies do on Facebook. The Sporting Life page on Facebook is here. Facebook is full of pages for runners, from event management companies to equipment manufacturers to running stores and magazines. The best ones don't just duplicate what is on their web sites, but offer different content and more interaction, like discussions, polls and comments. As an owner of a company with a page, I can tell you that we want to hear from you! Comment on it, share it, let us know what you think. The whole point of social media is that you get a voice.

4) Events
You can find hundreds of running events listed on Facebook. Again, the search is lame, so you can't search by city, state or date. Search for "Hennepin" and you'll see Hennepin-Lake Classic right on top, followed by the Uptown Art Fair. Search for "run" and you'll find mostly running races, but also the Lighting Run motorcycle event and golf events on the Fox Run course.

Events usually have guest lists, and you can automatically let your friends know when you decide to do an event.

5) Applications
Facebook has spawned a whole sideshow of gadgets called applications. These are tools built especially for Facebook (they share the computer code with developers). Some of these developers are runners, so you'll see applications like mapping tools, training logs, and various ways to create social connections. Search Facebook applications with keyword "running" and see what comes up.

Next time you are on Facebook, check out groups, pages, events and applications. Tap into the power of social media to help your running. I wonder what I should eat the night before the Hennepin-Lake Classic? Hint: the answer is on Facebook!

Social Media Puts You In Charge

Are your ears burning? We were just talking about you. On Facebook, Twitter, and LinkedIn. In blogs too. We were talking about how things have changed and now you are in charge. Did you get the memo, I mean tweet?

Social media has gone beyond the level of craze. It isn't merely a phenomenon or star-burst. It is a fundamental change in communication patterns. And it puts you in charge. As media and marketers struggle to keep up, social media give you options that break the old rules about who controls the conversation.

I'm not talking about using Facebook to post pictures of your cat or Twitter to let your friends know what you had for lunch. I'm talking about a way for you to get and pass on information that gives you the power to make people listen to you. Marketers have reacted with everything from sheer terror ('ads don't work the way they used to, the world is ending,' to delight, 'so that's what my customers really think'). I tend to be more on the side of delight.

Over my years in retail sales and event management, I've found that talking directly to my customers gives me insights that I cannot gain any other way. Social media makes that communication easier than ever. Rather than being afraid of what you might say, I'd like to encourage you to use social media to communicate with friends and businesses in a way that helps keep things relevant.

One of the things about social media is that by its social nature, you tend to discover the tools by hearing about them from a friend. Someone said you had to be on Facebook to see what your other friends were up to. Someone else told you that Twitter would give you intriguing little slices of information that would become addicting. It's unlikely that anyone ever talked to you about the power you were wielding, or how to make best use of it. Until now. I've come up with a multi-part Runner's Guide to Social Media . Part 1 will lay out the basics: The Game, The Players and The Strategy. Part 2 will go into specific running related examples.

Runner's Guide to Social Media
Part 1

The Game
Social media is all about establishing connections. They're called 'friends' or 'fans' on Facebook, 'followers' on Twitter or simply 'connections' on LinkedIn, but the idea is the same. These are people with whom you share some common interest.

The Players
There are dozens of social media outlets, but the main resources for runners are Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn and a vast array of blogs.

Blogs (short for web logs) have been around the longest. They are outlets for people to post information and stories, and the best ones have some topical focus. If you search for 'running' on a blog site, you will find thousands of posts. Some common blogging tools include Blogger and Word Press.

Facebook allows you to create a personal page, connect with friends, form groups, and become fans of businesses or organizations that you like. It's easy to posts updates, photos and video.

Twitter is a type of micro-blog. You can post up to 140 characters at a time, so your updates are short and sweet. If you want to know what Lance Armstrong felt about his Tour de France ride today, follow him on Twitter.

LinkedIn is more professional in nature. It allows for a personal page where you can update your education and work histories as well as give and receive recommendations. It also has groups where you can network with people sharing special interests. There are many running-related LinkedIn groups.

The Strategy
As a runner, you can use social media to reach your goals:

• Need someone to run with? Put word out to your friends or join a group. Groups are a great way to keep everyone on the same page for workouts and social gatherings.
• Want to find an event? Search on your own (WARNING: Facebook has ultra-lame search abilities when it comes to events), check-out what events your friends are doing, or better yet, become a fan of organizations that put on events.
• Want to give feedback before or after an event? Post on the event page.
• Have a great photo of you finishing your first 5K? Post that on your personal page as well as the event page.
• Want to keep friends in the loop about your marathon? Tweet from your cell phone as you cross the finish line, or wait a couple minutes and post photos to your Facebook page.
• Have a great recipe you'd like to share with your running friends? Post it!

There are also special tools or applications that can help you along the way. On Facebook, there are apps for running logs, route mapping and more.

My next blog will include Part 2, where I will get into more details about specific pages and groups that runners might be interested in, as well as examples of how to use the strategies listed above.

In true social media form, I'd like to hear from you. We've started a discussion on our Facebook page about how runners use social media. Please join the discussion and make a post. I'm looking for your examples of successful social media approaches.

You can also check out The Sporting Life social media pages:

The Sporting Life on Facebook

TSLZebra on Twitter

Chris Fuller's profile on LinkedIn

FULL STORY blog on Blogger

Please stay connected. Remember: you're in charge!

You Provide Renewable Energy

It's pretty clear that runners, walkers and inline skaters haven't been stopped by tough economic times. That shouldn't be surprising. There is a reason it's called endurance exercise. This is a good time to keep positive, and reach out to others who are struggling, and we are just the people to do it.

Despite the news that Grandma's Marathon did not fill for the first time in fifteen years, there are plenty of signs that our sports are very healthy right now. Two new metro-area marathons debuted successfully in the past few weeks, with numbers more than making up for Grandma's deficit. Our own event, Grand Old Day On the Go on June 7 is running substantially above last year's numbers. Twin Cities Marathon is even adding a 10K this year, a sign that they are bullish on running.

Runners, walkers and skaters are not immune to economic struggle. Some have lost jobs, most have had to cut back in some way. From a survey we did last year, fitness-related cutbacks were mainly in travel, as well as a sharper eye toward value provided by local events.

At the same time, runners, walkers and skaters are still running, walking and skating, still doing charity events or fundraising at events. Most of us are aware that non-profits have been hit hard recently, and we have tired to do our part.

This Sunday at Grand Old Day On the Go, we have partnered with the Hallie Q Brown Foodshelf to conduct a food drive. We have done this type of thing before, but this year there is a special urgency. Food shelves have become a lifeline for families trying to get through tough times. As runners, we are used to have food provided for us at the end of events. This is a great opportunity to give back. By simply bringing a can or box of food to the race, you can help a family have a meal. That good feeling you get from helping others will bring you smiles long after the race is over.

Thank you, runners, walkers and skaters, for continuing to be a positive force in the community. Your energy is truly a renewable resource that powers positive change.

Eight Ways Life is Grand

My friend Garrett B Shoemaker has been running in St Paul for a long time. (He remembers when the streetcars first came to Grand Avenue, but that's another story). Talking to him reminded me of the benefits of staying in place. I've lived in St Paul long enough to appreciate its charms and Grand Avenue is one of the brightest.

I've gone to school, lived and worked on or within a few blocks of Grand Avenue for over three decades. As Grand Old Day approaches, I've come up with eight reasons why Grand Avenue is the place for people On the Go:

1. You're never more than a few blocks from a cup of coffee. I don't even drink coffee, but I can't help but be in awe at the supply on Grand. Local or chain, foofy or black, your buzz is safe here.


2. It's a perfect fartlek course. When running down Grand, you'll naturally change speeds as you encounter the bar crowd near Victoria (speed up for your safety) or the college crowd near Snelling (seriously, how do they make it to class?).


3. Bad back? No Problem! Between chiropractors and acupuncturists, Grand Ave is awash in health practitioners.


4. You're just a hop, skip and jump from a running track. Both Macalester College and the University of St Thomas have outdoor tracks that are open for public use, at least at certain times. Be sure to follow proper track etiquette!


5. Cool down with ice cream. Is there a better way to end a run in the summer?


6. Stock up on carbs. Grand Ave holds its own with grocery stores and specialty foods shops.


7. 'Heart healthy' street crossing. Want to give your ticker a jolt? Cross Grand Ave as a pedestrian. Sprint to the other side as drivers look at you like you're invisible.


8. One day a year, the streets are closed to cars, and pedestrians take over. Grand Old Day On the Go gives runners, walkers and inline skaters get a head start!

I know there are other Grand Ave lovers out there. Garrett is running a Facebook contest called Where's Garrett? Check it out and test your Grand Avenue knowledge. And if you drive into my neighborhood, please stop for pedestrians!

Stress Test Provides Feedback

Stress tests have leaped from the doctor's office to the bank examiner's office. Soon you may (or may not) know more about how healthy your mega-bank is. What about your favorite run/walk event? How does it do on a stress test?

As an event director, our stress test comes in the form of our post-event surveys. Your feedback provides valuable information about how we are doing. In the spirit of transparency, we want you to know the results.

Our survey after the recent St Patrick's Day Human Race is now complete. We had more than 400 responses, which is 25% of the people receiving the survey link via E-mail. That is considered a high rate (at little as 10% could be statistically valid).

The Results
The six most important things to respondents are listed below. In parentheses next to each item is their importance to respondents and an approval rating, each achieved based on a five-point scale with 1.0 the lowest, 3.0 neutral, and 5.0 the highest.

1. Official results posted online (importance=3.01/approval=4.16)
2. Course (3.0/4.25)
3. Restrooms (2.87/3.63)
4. Event date (2.79/3.97)
5. Headquarters (2.69/4.02)
6. Refreshments (2.44/3.59)

The good news is that, in those six key categories, we performed pretty well. We consider any approval rating below 4.0 something we need to work on. That leaves three areas to address.

Event date and headquarters are linked: our date is fixed by the availability of facilities at the University of St Thomas. Our event is held on the first Sunday of their Spring Break so we have access to indoor facilities. Next year, things are a little uncertain, since the University of St Thomas will be building a new field house. We won't know until later in the year what that means for our event date and HQ.

We know restrooms are important to runners and walkers. At 3.63, the score wasn't terrible, but needs some work. The biggest piece of advice we got was that people wanted porta-potties near the 8K start at Prior. We are looking into options for doing that.

Refreshments did okay at 3.59, and even earned rave reviews for the trail mix from Great Harvest. We'll work to enhance our offerings for 2010.

Our Web Site
We also asked you about our web site. It got higher marks than last year (we overhauled the site last April), and you really like the results features. However, many people had problems with the maps and some didn't like the site navigation. We are moving to a new mapping tool (MapMyFitness) that should greatly improve the maps we use, and are looking at the best ways to address the navigation issues. We have also made some updates to our online registration process. Most people flew through it with no problems, but the ones who had problems got really frustrated. We've eliminated a couple potential issues that should smooth things out for most people.

Action Questions
The most powerful questions on the survey where the three 'action' questions. Here is how we did on them:

1. How likely are you to return next year? 90.8% likely or very likely
2. Would you recommend this event to a friend? 90.7% likely or very likely
3. Would you participate in another TSL event? 83.0% likely or very likely

Finally, when we asked you to describe the event, the most common words and phrases used were:

• "fun"
• "well-organized"
• "great course"
• "friendly"

Of course we did receive a few responses like "waste of money," "too expensive, especially on race day" and "not sure what the event has to do with St Patrick's Day or humans." We know we can't please everyone, and want to make sure people know what the event is about when they choose to participate.

Conclusion
Our stress test provides us some directives to make our events better. The funny thing is that I feel less stress just knowing what you are thinking. Thank you for sharing!

Flats Happen; Got Spares?

I set a personal best last week. Unfortunately it wasn't a running achievement. I now have a new record for 'most flat tires in a single driving incident.' That record is two.

A fifty-percent deficiency is all relative. In airplane engines, it is a really bad thing. In kidneys, not too bad. In tires? The problem is you only have one spare, and it's miniature. What happens when two tires go out at once? If you don't have AAA or an equivalent, you end up driving on whatever tire is the least flat.

While TJ stood guard (you're pretty vulnerable when changing a spare, even if it is in a mall parking lot), I replaced the right rear tire, tossed the bad one in the trunk, and hoped the front right tire could take us home. It could.

The next day my neighborhood auto mechanic had one tire plugged and the other replaced by 10:30 AM. All-in-all, it could have been much worse. It reminded me that situations like this can happen at any time. You need a Plan B, or maybe even C.

Like most runners, I've had the occasional race where the wheels just fell off. As you creep toward the finish, you wonder what went wrong. The most common problem is that you expected everything to go right. Running, like most things in life, requires constant adjustments.

The adjustments range from monitoring how you feel on race day or before a key workout, to changes you make as you age. You might make back off a little at the start of a race to let yourself work into your pace, or maybe you drop a day per week of running from your schedule so you can recover fully. You might add speedwork to jump-start your energy system, but subtract some mileage to keep your overall work level in check. The adjustments are constant, with unforgiving consequences if you try to simply stay the course. Hmm... somehow this veered into commentary about the economy.

In ChiRunning we teach that you need to feel what is going on in your body in order to make changes to your form and posture. A constant process of sensing make the adjustments easier to make. We things are off, it is off because we are paying attention.

My mechanic told me there were nails in both tires. Since I don't live or work in a construction zone, I'm not sure sure where I picked-up those unwelcome travelers. You can't avoid every problem: sometimes you drive over nails. But you can adjust, and soon you'll be back on the road again. And with proper adjustments, you can keep driving, or running, for a long time.

---

Five ways to make adjustments:

1. Check in regularly so you know what your baseline is.
2. Make the check-in be comparative, not judgemental. "I feel bad," is not as helpful as "I feel tighter than yesterday."
3. Don't make too many changes at once. No more than two per week.
4. Learn to trust your gut. Don't let ego arguments carry the day.
5. Set some boundaries. Healthy running does not involve limping!

Oops, I forgot to Set A Goal

I finished a long-run the other day, and felt pretty good. The distance was in the medium range for my long runs, but it was enough to get me tired. As I refueled afterwards, my satisfaction started to fade. The run itself was fine, but how did it fit into my overall plan?

I've been a runner for over thirty years and a coach for nearly twenty-five. I'm always ready to learn new things, but I have a pretty good idea what I need to do to establish goals and set up a training program. What was going on here?

The easy answer is that I lost focus. That sports cliche is actually based in truth. It is rare that the winner of a marathon will confess at the awards ceremony, "I had no idea what I was doing out there. I was daydreaming the whole way." Successful athletes have a plan and ways to adapt the plan, and don't stray too far from it. Focus matters.

Beyond focus is a larger issue. You can't have focus without a goal. What was your goal for today and how does it match up with your bigger goals? If you know the answer, congratulations. You are well on the way to success. If you are like the rest of us, it's time to do some work.

I realized that for me, the lack of goal setting was not because I didn't know what to do. I've had plenty of experience setting and reaching goals. The reason was avoidance. If you don't set a goal, you can't fail, right? The problem is that you can't succeed either.

When I look at my situation, I also realized I was making the mountain too high by creating an endless list of things that needed to be in place before I could set goals. It's an icy winter, so it's too soon for speed work... My long runs aren't where I want them yet... I'm busy with work...Blah, blah, blah. I wouldn't allow those excuses in someone I was coaching, so why was I making them?

I don't believe that every action we take has to revolve around a larger goal. It's fine to be spontaneous. But the benefit of goals is that they help round things into shape, and help you make decisions on how to spend your time and effort. While reaching your goals can be challenging, having goals tends to make day to day decisions easier.

Part of the process for me is to remove clutter. That includes both physical and mental clutter. What are the things clogging your path? Start pruning, purging and organizing, and that path becomes much easier to follow.

There is also power in sharing your goals. You may want to keep a few to yourself, but sharing can also help draw in the outside resources you might need. Want to run a marathon in 2009? Find a training program and/or training group. Looking for a new job? Let people know you are looking. Want a new relationship? Put yourself out there.

I still have some clutter to remove, but I'm not waiting to set my goals. I'm turning them loose by sharing a few with you:

• I turn 50 in June, so I'm training for a marathon this year. I probably won't have a time goal, but want to use ChiRunning and enjoy the experience.


• I want to act on all your suggestions on how to make TSL events better than ever. That means I'm actively looking for more sponsorships.


• I'm looking to use my knowledge and skills to help others meet their goals. That means I'm looking for work, either projects or jobs, where I can add value (project management, writing, coaching, cone moving).

What are your goals? Share them on our Facebook page in the discussions section. By turning them loose you'll me amazed by the power that flows back to you.

Resource guide:

There is no need to reinvent the wheel when it comes to goal setting and motivation. Here are some great resources:

Books:

Galloway Training Programs by Jeff Galloway

ChiRunning: A Revolutionary Approach to Effortless, Injury-free Running by Danny Dreyer

Think and Grow Rich by Napoleon Hill

Little Gold Book of YES! Attitude by Jeffrey Gitomer

The Passion Test by Janet Bray Attwood and Chris Attwood

Local Workshops and gatherings:

Live Dynamite with Cathy Paper and Maryanne O'Brien (they are both runners)

Time for Stories

Every day the stories seem more bleak. More layoffs, more Ponzi schemes, more bad financial news. I admire ostriches for having enough sense to put their heads in the ground and ignore it all!

We did a survey last summer and found most runners were not cutting back significantly in their running expenses because they consider them to be essential. That may have changed slightly since then, but we're seeing race registration purring along, people buying running shoes and getting excited about a chance to run outside with a little warm-up.

Most of us can't ignore the bad news entirely. But we can use some of our best human skills, the ones that have kept our species alive for so long. We can connect with other people, share our stories, and work together to make things better.

A new president has asked us to do just that. There are glimmers of hope. For many of us, running is a great metaphor for times like these. Yes, sometimes it is hard, but moving forward will lead to something better, sharing will lead to something richer, and persevering will lead to something lasting.

For those who have lost jobs recently, I encourage you to maintain your connections. Running can be a great way to keep social, keep active, and keep sane. Reach out to your running partners or group, and let them reach out to you. Don't disappear, come to races too. We're offering a special $10 entry fee for the St Patrick's Day Human Race for people recently laid off. Join us and join your friends.

Continue to tell your stories. Stories keep us connected, keep us inspired. Online social networking is so popular for a reason. It allows people to tell the stories of their lives, and see the stories of their friends. Tell us your stories. Find us on Facebook and drop us a note. How is your running going? What about your job search? Reach out to others who want to hear, and want to help.

We all have our own stories, but sometimes we want to be lost in someone else's story. Movies have the power to tell stories in ways that pull us in. There are many inspirational running movies (and some dreadful ones too). I've incorporated a list of fabulous running movies into six-week training programs posted on our Facebook page. These movies combine entertainment with inspiration.

Of course, there is no substitute for face-to-face interactions. Training partners , training groups and running clubs all fill that role. Jeff Galloway, Olympian and marathon training guru, recommends that each person in a training group bring a story to tell on a long run. By the time you get to your marathon, you are not only ready to run, you've become a better storyteller and listener.

The snow will melt, the economy will heat up and jobs will return. Your running will be part of what makes things better. Your stories will be part of what makes things richer.

Got Cones?

New events are popping up everywhere. There are two new marathons to choose from this May (Minneapolis and Stillwater), Get In Gear is adding a half-marathon, and every non-profit in the Twin Cities has their own race. While some event directors salivate at the idea of working multiple events every weekend, I’m taking a different approach. I’m doing less.

Don’t get worried. All your favorite TSL events are still on the calendar: Frigid 5 (1/11), St Patrick’s Day Human Race (3/22), Grand Old Day On the Go (6/1), Hennepin-Lake Classic (8/2), Paul Mausling XC Run (10/11), Rocky’s Run (11/8) and Turkey Run (11/22). I’ll still be working with my friends at the St Paul Saints on Running of the Pigs (4/19). But instead of adding more events, I’m going a different direction. Any maybe you can help me.

As an event director, I’m responsible for creating a positive experience for hundreds or thousands of people at an event. Something as simple as an orange cone becomes a key part of that experience. Have you ever gotten lost on a course? Cones to the rescue! They help you know where to go.

I’ve spent more than twenty-five years pointing people in the right direction. Now I’d like to apply that knowledge in a new way. Are you part of a team looking for a results-oriented project manager, customer service specialist, marketing innovator or experienced writer? I’d like to help you reach your goals. If you don’t have cones, I’ll bring my own!

In this tough economic climate, we’re all looking for some direction. I’m looking to see what direction the cones point me. Got cones? Need cones? Please contact me at Chris.Fuller@TSLevents.com or on LinkedIn to discuss your opportunity/problem. Whether you have a short-term project or a long-term job, I’d like to see if I can be part of your solution.

Cones to the rescue!