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Week 38: Wildest Dreams, Worst Nightmares and the Space Between

Couch to Uitramarathon…and Beyond

We are now in week five of 100k training, and things are progressing. I’m getting stronger, fitter, and faster. Last night I ran 5 miles under 8 minutes per mile with the Tuesday running group.

It’s been 15 years since I ran that fast.

And a year ago I could only have dreamed of running like that again.

When I started this quest, I wanted to get in the best shape of my life, thinking that my timeline to accomplish such a thing is shortening all the time. While I’m not quite there from 20-year old me, I’m on my way.

And the weird thing is, I appreciate it so much more.

I no longer take it for granted.

I’m far more gracious, and realize things can change quickly. More on that in a minute…

But as for running, we are firmly in the “chop wood/carry water” phase of training. It’s building the base of the pyramid. It’s the unsexy part.

The mundanity that leads to breathtaking adventures.

Onward.

Leadership

Our company had our most recent townhall talking about AI and how it was going to change everything this past Monday.

It’s a pretty common occurrence these days.

But this time around, the CEO of our North American business unit stood up in front of the crowd and said whoever figures out this next thing in relation to AI will be a career-making move.

While innovation is always a path to advancement, it’s a tacit understanding. Not only that but business usually evolves marginally, not in huge leaps that change the way we do everything.

Is this one of them?

Did we say the same thing about blockchain a few years ago? Wasn’t that going to change everything about banking? About finance and investing?

But here we are a few years later and we still haven’t figured out things like smart contracts. And most of it is a scam. So there’s that.

Is this AI thing a scam?

I am thinking no. If for no other reason than the massive investments being made in it by the smartest and most resource-rich companies on the planet.

So going back to the town hall, a senior leader of our company stands up and states that those who hesitate will be lost and to the victors will go the spoils.

Roman philosophers would be so proud.

I made light of this to my boss in my team leadership call that followed. He then asked me where I sat in the auditorium for the presentation. Telling him I watched it in my basement office, even though I live 20 minutes away from the office brought a curious answer in reply.

He said, “I would have thought you would want to take advantage of opportunities to get facetime with senior leaders. Maybe think about showing up next time you get the chance.”

BOOM.

I felt like I’d been slapped across the face.

He was right. He was absolutely, positively right.

And I felt lazy. And silly. Like a pretender.

When I lived in Washington, DC people did a lot of talking.

People had grand plans. Their educations were grand. They knew grand people. They did grand things in their spare time.

Or so it seemed.

But one thing seemed to separate those who talked about it and those who were REALLY about it.

Showing up.

They showed up for things. Big things. Small things. For old friends and for new friends. For things they believed in, for things they wanted to learn more about. For people they cared for and causes they rallied against.

I used to have written on my wall a 3x5 card with 3 simple lines on it.

              Get up.

                             Show up.

                                           Finish.

It seems I’ve forgotten some wisdom my younger self better understood.

Time to start showing up again.

Philosophical Dad Stuff

It’s easy to sit here and spout off easy cliches like “Make every day count” and “Live life to the fullest” and other trite platitudes.

But what about when those things rear their ugly heads?

After a trip to the doctor this morning and a surprise blood test for my youngest son, I sat here all day waiting on pins and needles.

I’d dismissed his feeling bad as the cruds, and never once thought much more of it until the doctor said “we need to make sure it isn’t leukemia.”

My blood went cold instantly at the sound of the word.

And while you tell yourself it’s better safe than sorry and it’s likely nothing, there’s still the chance that it’s not. And whether we like it or not, we are flooded with images of our lives changing negatively.

Fortunately for us today, the doctor called a few hours later to say it’s not what we feared, but the kid could use a laxative or two. And increase his fiber.

At the end of the day, it’s a stark reminder that life can change quickly.

Cherish your good days while you have them. And hug your people close. Our days are not guaranteed.

“A man travels the world over in search of what he needs and returns home to find it.” -George Moore

Live triumphantly. See you next week.