Otter Falls / Snoqualmie Lake trail run (19 miles?)

Volcanic 50K Race Report: Finding Balance and Redemption on the Trail

I am typically not a fast runner. I do not train enough and I like beer and unhealthy eats way too much. :-) But that is why I do ultras. They help me balance my diet and more importantly, they help me reach out and find the edge of myself, and in the process they help me balance my soul.

At the Volcanic 50K last Saturday, I surprised myself. Even with stopping to support (literally!) a badly cramped runner on a very exposed cliff on Windy Pass (that was sketchy!) and 5 wasp stings on my left leg and ankle (right where the shoe rubs!!!), I ran 2 hours faster than I thought I could. More importantly, I redeemed myself for the only DNF I have ever had in 25 years of racing. (Last year, I took a wrong turn, ran a couple miles extra and then took over 200 pictures and missed the 24 mile cut off by under 2 minutes! I felt dumb for underestimating the smoking dragon called Mount Saint Helens. This was a race I knew I could finish and so this year I was looking for redemption.)

Saturday's race was different in every way. I found another gear. I ran faster than I have in a long time, on one of the toughest courses you can find. The faster than normal run was the product of a number of things. First and foremost, this is an excellent group at Go Beyond Racing putting these races on. The course was marked very well and the aid stations were well stocked and staffed with amazing folks who were responsive and supportive. To top it off, the weather was perfect, overcast and so much better than the smelting sunny heat of last year.

And of course, the Mountain was splendid and perfect!  I most appreciated her duality, hidden at times in dense fog, a worthy adversary, a sly and elusive dragon, full of tricks and challenges; then suddenly rearing up, clear, glorious and genuine; a supportive friend encouraging me on.

This is one of those unique races that tears you down and then builds you back up, over and over again. And somewhere along the way you suddenly become a better person.  The journey defines you and makes you whole.

People often tell me, that I am crazy for doing races like this. I do not usually know what to say to that. But after this race, after running through the pain, finding new reserves and making it all the way round that beautiful volcano, I have to say, I would be crazy not to.

 

I do love my job.

https://sna.etapestry.com/prod/viewEmailAsPage.do?databaseId=NeighborhoodHouse&shareMedium=label.facebook&etapCacheBuster=1356633456419&jobRef=203.0.533744691

How to overcome a bad background and start making a good career...

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/rundown/2012/12/headhunter-how-to-get-and-stay-hired-despite-a-sordid-past.html

How long do running shoes last? Should I rotate?

http://thegaitguys.tumblr.com/post/37264543399/the-great-myth-of-rotating-your-shoes-here-are

Shoe Review: Altra Instinct 1.5 (week 1)

I am not sure when I first came to this realization, but this thought has been with me for a while:

“I want a shoe I can forget about. I want to run, not worry about my shoes.”

Over the past 25 years, I have run in shoes from many of the major running shoe companies. The past 3 years, I have also been training in shoes that are considered more minimalist and even done some barefoot running. Yet, after thousands of dollars spent and thousands of miles run—through all the many trials and many miles—I never found a shoe that 100% allowed me to forget that they were there…until today.

After running in the Altra Instinct 1.5, I am happy to report:  I finally found my ideal road shoe!

Keep it simple and natural:  I am a runner. I want a shoe I can forget about. I want to run and not worry about my shoes. Yet, over the years, I have waded through gimmicks and fads and tried everything from overly supportive and cushioned to extremely minimalist.

In the Altra Instincts (and all the Altra running shoes from what I see), I am finding a simple blend of all the things I have enjoyed about past ‘traditional’ shoes and all the elements I have been looking for in newer more ‘minimalist’ shoes. The result is a natural and yet protected running experience that lets me focus on why I leave the house in the first place….the joy of running! J

The Specs: You can get all the specific shoe details at their website.

My Conclusion:  Here are the 3 things that mattered most to me and how it looks so far:

1. Altra is THE ONLY zero drop, foot shaped shoe with cushioning and support. That means my form is more natural (proper midfoot strike and foot splay). Yet, I am still protected from the pavement (Though I do think we are born to run and also that some barefoot running is important, we did not evolve to train 5-10 miles/day on concrete.)
2. Altra's provide a stable flat ride. I have had many ankle and foot injuries in the past, but when I run in these I feel confident with every footfall.
3. There is enough protection for the long haul and yet they are very light (8.9 ounces) and flexible. There is just enough shoe here to help ride out mile after mile on man-made surfaces. But the overall build of the shoe lets my feet do what they want to do. (Caution: since these are minimalist and foot shaped, it is important to ease into them. Your feet, ankles, knees, hips and all the muscles and tendons in between will be stengthened more with this shoes. So give them a chance to get used to actually having to do their jobs...:-)

Give me another 2 weeks and I will post how they hold up on some longer runs and over time. But so far so good. Please feel free to message me with any questions. Happy Running! :-)

We are all runners...

He really brings it together in this presentation...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=b-iGZPtWXzE

Riding my bike 100 miles around the Puget Sound...

A co-worker at WS SSCC is putting together a team for a 100-mile benefit ride around Puget Sound.

It takes place in one month on September 15^th.

So, if you love riding your bike come join the team or maybe even please...

contribute to my fundraising goals

or just send some positive thoughts and energy our way. J

Thanks!

Tanner

Courageous Leaders Don't Make Excuses...They Apologize

http://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/06/05/courageous-leaders-dont-make-excuses-they-apologize/?utm+campaign=forbespicks%3Dforbespicks&google_editors_picks=true

The Essence of Successful Networking

What is networking?

We are already always networking.

Networks are communities of like-minded individuals building together toward common goals.

Networking for a job is simply the act of realizing where it is you belong and joining forces with people who share your same common interests. As your goals change, the role that people play in your life changes. And as you refine your goals your target companies take shape. So, networking is just this:

Define your Brand: 

What do you love to do? What are you good at? And what jobs are out there that match up?

Narrow down your target companies:

Only focus on those companies you are excited about and that share your values. Company culture matters more than job descriptions.

Recognize the specific role people play in your network:

Strategize about how the people you already know relate to your Brand and Target companies.  

Live your life so that your Brand is visible:

Give people a chance to connect you to your target companies. This works best by finding ways to help those who are already in your network.

As you develop your brand, narrow down your target companies and define the role that people play in your network, you will start to find opportunities to meet people with common interests. As you build upon those interests, you will network into a meaningful job and long term career.

(Along the way, if you need to get a survival job, it will be much easier because the passion that drives your long term job search will shine through in the survival job interview.:-)

The primary purpose of a job interview is not getting a job…

The primary purpose of a job interview is not getting a job…

My mentor Duncan Burgess always says, “People hire peoplethey know.”

We know that is true because 80% of all jobs are filled by networking.

What we tend to ignore is that the whole point of a job search is not to get a job. It is to secure an interview with an employer.

And the whole purpose of that job interview is to have a productive conversation that allows for you both to get to know one another.

At the end of that conversation it may turn out that you are not the best fit for that particular team. However, if you have had the right kind of conversation, that employer will remember you and the next time a job comes open and they ask themselves, “Who do I know?”

They will think of you.  

A job interview is not about getting a job. It is about telling your story and presenting your brand.

…The primary purpose of a job interview is networking.

I can’t get an interview – what am I doing wrong? - Professional development

I can’t get an interview – what am I doing wrong? - Professional development

8 Qualities of Remarkable Employees (repost)

http://www.inc.com/jeff-haden/the-8-qualities-of-remarkable-employees.html

8 Qualities of Remarkable Employees

By Jeff Haden (www.inc.com Feb 21, 2012)

 Forget good to great. Here's what makes a greatemployee remarkable.

  Great employees are reliable, dependable, proactive, diligent, great leaders and great followers... they possess a wide range of easily-defined—but hard to find—qualities.

A few hit the next level. Some employees are remarkable, possessing qualities that may not appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless make a major impact on performance.

Here are eight qualities of remarkable employees:

1. They ignore job descriptions. The smaller the company, the more important it is that employees can think on their feet, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes, regardless of role or position, to get things done.

When a key customer's project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told there's a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it's not their job.

2. They’re eccentric... The best employees are often a little different: quirky, sometimes irreverent, even delighted to be unusual. They seem slightly odd, but in a really good way. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a plain-vanilla group into a team with flair and flavor.

People who aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.

3. But they know when to dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun... until it isn't. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit seamlessly into the team.

Remarkable employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough balance to strike, but a rare few can walk that fine line with ease.

4. They publicly praise... Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a peer feels awesome, especially when you look up to that person.

Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words is even greater.

5. And they privately complain. We all want employees to bring issues forward, but some problems are better handled in private. Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.

Remarkable employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue, knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.

6. They speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately.

An employee once asked me a question about potential layoffs. After the meeting I said to him, “Why did you ask about that? You already know what's going on.” He said, “I do, but a lot of other people don't, and they're afraid to ask. I thought it would help if they heard the answer from you.”

Remarkable employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.

7. They like to prove others wrong. Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree or the woman who was told she didn't have leadership potential often possess a burning desire to prove other people wrong.

Education, intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.

8. They’re always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (I mean that in a good way) and are constantly tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, adjusting a process, tweaking a workflow.

Great employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can't help it.

More evidence for forefoot strikes...why minimalist footwear might be better...

http://well.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/02/08/why-runners-get-injured/

Science is catching up with the minimalist movement and revealing data that supports:

1. Many modern running shoes are like casts that force our feet to roll as we run.

2. However, our feet have evolved to splay out as they hit the ground. Our running form is optimal when we take shorter strides, land under our body and land on our forefoot.

3. If you choose shoes that have zero or low heel drop you increase your ability to land on your forefoot and stop 'rolling' (where you hit your heel first out in front of your body and then roll your entire foot). This allows for the shock of running to be distributed evenly up your whole body...rather than having it all hit right at your heel and vibrate your knees and hips.

Deedle Deedle Dees create smart, talented and deep music for kids...

A childhood friend of mine was recently featured on NPR.

He is a part of a band in NY that is creating smart, talented and deep music for kids...

What a great idea!

As a parent and music lover I can tell you the mindless, chirpy, sing-along stuff they usually call kids music gets REALLY old REALLY fast. It is about time that someone started realizing that kids appreciate talent just like the rest of us.

Way to go Deedle Deedle Dees, you have raised the bar for what kid's music should be!

Slow is Smooth and Smooth is Fast: Remembering the Tortoise in 2012

So often, the 'Truths' we hold so dear are actually 'truths,' with a lower case 't.'

We often fixate upon our 'reality' at the expense of the bigger picture. We try so hard to push forward that we forget that sometimes paths are not meant to be straight and we would do better to weave around obstacles rather than try to plow through them.

Just like the pretentious jackrabbit in the fable, we hurry and hurry, and in our haste we lose ourselves and our purpose.

This seems to be what is happening with how people use technology as of late. Social networking especially is being used like it is supposed to help us become multi-tasking gurus with lightening fast communication skills. While in reality, ‘quickness’ is not necessarily the most important thing when it comes to communication, or many things in life for that matter.

I learned a long time ago (and often forget) that sometimes the quickest way to get somewhere is actually to slow down and enjoy the journey. Like that tortoise who beat the arrogant hare, winning is not about speed at all. It is about taking the right steps at the right time and continuing on the right path. In the words of Confucius:

“It doesn’t matter how slowly you go-so long as you do not stop.”

In this New Year, I suggest we slow down and enjoy our existence a bit more. I suggest we take things like Tumblr, Tweeter, texting and Facebook and use them for what they are supposed to be—tools to help us live life more fully, NOT necessarily more quickly or efficiently.

If we slow down a bit, we may find that these tools can be used in new and interesting ways which promote community, freedom and systems thinking in ways we have not considered. We may smooth out what is right now a disjointed, jagged and over-whelming ‘Information Age’.

In the process, we may find that slow is smooth and smooth is fast and the best use of our time may in fact be simply making the most of the time we have.  

essential rudiments for job seekers...

http://anthropologyofwork.blogspot.com/2011/04/applyng-to-jobs-bare-essentials.html

What job seekers who want to have success in this job market should resolve to do in 2012…

I resolve in 2012 year to:

1.       Remind myself every day that my attitude affects my job search.

Despite these tough economic times (and the long period of time I may have been without a job), I vow to start fresh and approach my job search with a positive attitude. Successful job searches are driven by positive emotions. Fear, desperation, depression and anxiety will only prolong my job search. I have to find ways to balance these emotions and approach my job search from a positive place...Therefore, I will…

2.       …Strive every day to pursue my passion.

Ask myself, “Am I really following my heart when it comes to my job search?” Passion always wins in this economy and people who let their values determine  their direction tend to be more positive and have more success in their job search.

Remember:    Passion  + Ability + Availability = Meaningful Work

3.        Work every day as if my job search is a ‘real’ job.

Remember: I am getting paid to look for work. Why? Because, the quicker I get a job the sooner I am making a pay check. So, the more I work AND the better I work means more money sooner.

Therefore, I will schedule my day as if it is a real job...

I will dress for work and I will set and accomplish real goals.

4. Finally, I will focus every day on NETWORKING. 

People hire people they know!

(Figure out how to best use your network to communicate your Brand and you will find productive work that makes you happy...:-)

People ask me sometimes what it is like to run a 50 mile race...

Pain spread through my legs like a creeping virus army…

 infecting my muscles with lethargy bordering on leprosy.

I began to feel like I was falling apart, piece by moving piece.

“Just keep moving forward.”

That was all I could think, as the unfamiliar sounds of moans and whimpers pried their way through my clinched teeth. I was here to prove that I was a man, but I just felt like a scared boy…a scared boy who was determined to run 50 miles!

My feet kept moving, the pain kept coming, and somewhere along the way, somewhere out there on that trail, the Man met the Boy and decided to form an alliance. They both whispered to me from deep inside my mind.

“Just keep moving forward.”

“Just keep moving forward.”

And so I did.

Running Lennon’s Race

They say John Lennon died 30 years ago.

But I saw him today at an intersection in Ballard.

He is older and rounder.

And he walks with a cane.

But it was him.

I could tell by the glasses.

I whisked by, 10 miles into a 13 mile run,

and he mumble-yelled something in my direction.

At first, I thought he was crazy, or drunk,  

or maybe humming the words to 'Imagine' backwards.

Then I realized that he said,

"If only I could run like that!"

I raised my fist in the air, a sign of solidarity,

as if to say, “Brother, if only I could sing like that!”

And then my feet carried me into a place far away from there

Where all the people share the world

and live in peace.