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The Give Team

9/5/2016

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We're all dying, and we knew today wouldn't be that day. But the effort we were making created questions in each mind about whether to keep pushing or to slow down. It was supposed to be a relaxing workout, but it turned into a competition. My chest was heaving and sweat burned my eyes as I finished the last lap and it hit me. The Give Team. Shanta Barton-Stubbs taught these boys much of what gives them the foundation they have today. One of those concepts revolves around gratitude and giving back. Her point, "No matter how little you have, you always have something to give." That line popped into my head as my heart rate pushed to the limit, and I pumped my legs a bit faster to make sure I was the first to finish the run.

It was another five minutes before the boys completed the last lap. I told them, "We renamed the team. We're now The Give Team. You always have something more to give, even when you feel like you don't have anything left. Keep giving. Give more. Push harder. Strive for greatness." The boys agreed with the change, and embraced it. For the rest of our workout as we did calisthenics and pushed ourselves to another level, I'd yell, "No matter how little you have!" and the boys would respond, "YOU ALWAYS HAVE SOMETHING TO GIVE!" On the third set of thirty second "Hollow Man," with abs burning, and the voice in their heads telling them to lower their feet or their arms, they'd suck it up and finish the exercise. It was a good day.

We learned this week that BattleFrog is getting out of the Obstacle Course Race business. We made the decision to run The Spartan Race in Jacksonville in December. Since my Achilles is aching, I won't be running the half marathon in Baldwin Park and will focus exclusively on strength and competing in The Spartan Race, then will focus on the Gasparilla Half Marathon in February. The Give Team will get my attention between now and December, with my own fitness playing a big role.

The point of The Give Team is the same as The Sprint Team, with the underlying principle being "Life is a team sport, so draft your team accordingly." The idea is to know your "team," and work with them to find happiness through hard work and making good decisions. Find those who you want on your team, and get them on your team. Kick those off your team that bring you down or don't help get you where you need to go. The concept of "sprinting" is tied to accomplishing goals where you engage intensely in activities that get you where you need to be, and then take time to reflect and recharge before engaging intensely again.

The drive to IHOP helped dry the sweat before breakfast. We ordered breakfast and set our goals for the next four months. We'll be honing them over the next week, and then focus on plans needed to achieve those goals. The idea is very simple to get whatever you want. You merely need to do three things: (1) set a goal; (2) make a plan; and (3) execute the plan. And that's where we'll be focused for the next four months.

We have three team members today, two coaches and we're looking to add other coaches and team members. If it ends up being just those on the team now, then that'll be a great success and we'll have a blast.
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    Run On, Sentences follows the path of the author as he evolves from a lackluster inaugural marathon time to pursue a qualifying time for the Boston Marathon. Along the way, he'll deal with the challenges of a short attention span, growing older and the chaotic calendar of a husband, father, corporate executive, and active member of the community.

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