Posted by: Steve Lackey
on Jul 01, 2008
Welcome to year SIX of Endurance Magazine!
After five full years, 60 issues, of cultivating a growing community of purposefully living fitness enthusiasts, we are thrilled to look ahead at all we have to do over the next five. It's what inspires us to do what we do. Over the years, we've strived to motivate, educate, and inspire readers to embrace the Endurance Lifestyle. Along the way, we have been introduced to some truly amazing people - world changers. From Scott Johnson, the Ironman triathlete who succeeded in being the first double-lung transplant to reach the finish line, to Spencer Lueders, the passionate philanthropist who sparked a cycling revolution across the region with his now nationally renowned 24 Hours of Booty ride, to Molly Barker, founder and inspirational leader of Girls on The Run, to Charlie Engle, the man who ran across the Sahara Desert bringing awareness for the need of clean drinking water across this most critical part of the world, to Winny Tonui, the native Kenyan who recently came to the US to become a professional runner, transcending cultural barriers and inspiring an adult population across her home village to live more healthfully. There are many many more (see them all on our soon to be released archives section online at endurancemag.com) and we showcase these people because they are exactly what we all love to find in ourselves: A sense of purpose, an awareness of self, and an attitude of possibility.
Posted by: Steve Lackey
on Jun 15, 2008
A few months ago, after being drained by repetitive pleas from my 6 1/2 year old daughter to get a new pet, I finally told her that she could get one after she ran, and finished, her first 5K race. Knowing that she had never run more than 200 yds without begging to stop, I figured we had at least a few years before I would have to deliver the goods.
The day after our agreement, she woke up and immediately asked to go to the track to start training. We got there; she sized it up, and then asked,
"So, how many times do I have to run around this thing to finish a 5K?"
"13 times," I replied.
"Ugh".
After one walk lap and a 10-minute rest, she embarked on her second lap, which took about 4 minutes...and then another 15-minute rest. After four total laps (and about an hour later), she completed a full mile and was wiped out.
Fast forward to about three months later, April 19th 2008. Endurance Magazine was supporting a local race right down the street from our family's home, the aptly named "Wondergirl 5K". On the way to the race -- while being pushed in the double jogger because she was too tired to walk -- Sophie asked if she could run the race with her mom.
By nature, I am a pretty pragmatic person. And I had to all but bite my tongue to stop from pointing out the myriad of practical reasons why she probably wouldn't finish the race (for which she'd never trained). But she said she wanted to try - so I picked up my race bib, crossed out my name, and replaced it with hers. As she and her mom took off with the pack of over 1500 runners, her brother and I watched them keep a nice pace. They turned at the first corner, and we would not see them again until mile 2.5.
About 35 minutes later, in the distance, I spotted the only runner who dared to race in a summer dress and sandals. She looked uncomfortable, but not undetermined. And, just a few moments after that, Sophie and her mom finished their final turn and came running toward the finish line. I honestly couldn't believe it. With many more people far behind her, Sophie dug deep and ran the last quarter mile with pride beaming in all directions. Her previously exhausted brother jumped in and ran faster than I've ever seen -- with purpose - as he cleared the way down the finish chute to the cheers of all spectators.
And then, as she crossed the finish line, exhausted and yet with an amazing amount of energy left, she immediately looked up and asked, "Now (gasp) - can we go get my pet?"
First 5K - 6 years 6 months - In a time of 51 minutes 37 seconds. Wow!
Gear of choice: Sundress (two shoulder straps), mis-matched cotton socks, Keen Sport Sandals.
Hydrator: Water. Mostly dumped on her head. Like in the commercials.
Motto: "No pain. No pet."
Posted by: Steve Lackey
on Jan 24, 2008
Last month, my wife and I ran the Disney World Half Marathon together. Since this was her first half marathon race, I agreed to follow her well-thought-out race strategy: “Follow everyone until it’s over. And then go back to sleep.”
When she told me this was her plan at the start line, I laughed out loud. And although we were far from last, we took our own sweet time meandering through the course - stopping to take photographs with pirates, with penguins, in front of castles, and even of other runners as the sun rise changed the colors of our background. We had a blast and I highly recommend enjoying a big race like this every once in a while.
One key lesson, however, came at the expense of a guy only slightly more determined to get to the finish than I was. As we came up on the 9 mile water stop there was something different at the front. A group of young women with tongue depressors, each with chartreuse goo globing off one end, were standing ready to hand one to anyone who would grab it.
Posted by: Steve Lackey
on Aug 01, 2007
Self-esteem is not for sale.
You can’t buy it.
But you can cultivate it – from within yourself, through personal experience.
There are a lot of opportunities to buy products and services that make you feel better today – and, believe me, I am an avid consumer of many of them (my morning coffee, the occasional dessert, frequent massages at the spa…). But it’s only the personal experiences you have that can create a perpetual degree of self-esteem that is available for you to reference as needed throughout the more challenging episodes of your life.
It’s one of the reasons we launched the Ramblin’ Rose Women-only Triathlons program.
Posted by: Steve Lackey
on Jun 01, 2007
Too often I hear someone talking about whether or not they are a ‘real’ runner, triathlete, or cyclist. Many seem to think only the elite qualify as being ‘real’. In fact, we sometimes even have people question whether Endurance Magazine is ‘for them’ – that is until they turn the first couple of pages and realize that we offer something for the athlete in all of us.
What makes it official anyway? The number of miles you’ve run? The number of finish lines you’ve crossed? The number of years you’ve trained? Or the amount of cash you’ve spent on gear and race fees? (All well spent, of course!)
For me, it comes down to attitude.
Do you run?
Do you like to run?
Does it make you feel better when you do?
Can you tell the difference in your perspective and how you treat others when you haven’t run for a couple days?
Do you smile more on days that you have run?
Then it’s official. You, my friend, are a runner.
Posted by: Steve Lackey
on May 01, 2007
Recently, one of our most loyal readers asked me how she could get on the cover of Endurance Magazine. Not that there’s much of a science to it, but I told her that the only real criteria was that she needed to embrace the “Endurance Lifestyle”. She was a little confused and asked me what that meant, so I explained that the Endurance Lifestyle is essentially an attitude of possibility, a perpetual appetite for taking on a new challenge and realizing your potential, adopting the perspective that you will succeed when you try. Effectively, I explained, it boils down to believing in the possibilities of YOU and respecting others and their accomplishments.
She stood thoughtfully for a moment and then said, “Daddy, I think it’s time I took off my training wheels.”
A few weeks went by and we practiced a couple times here and there between the recent flashes of good and bad weather. And then, one afternoon, it all just clicked and she rode in a perfect circle for 30 minutes in a row. Watching my 5 year-old ride with such confidence got me all choked up. One of my proudest moments – and, I am sure, one of hers.
