You’re only as good as your last race.

Have you ever heard that phrase before? This quote I lived by, It’s more of a put up or shut up mentality. Some people reference

it to Ricky Bobby #shakeandbake (great movie by the way), which is similar but not how I think. Back in my prime, I was fast. One of my highlights was a 4:01.12 Mile time. Today I’m lucky if I could even break 7 minutes.

Running is a mental game, it takes a particular type of mental capacity to be able to log those long miles, to sprint up that last hill, to line up on that start line for one last speed session. Going from the peak of my physical condition, to by far the worst shape I’ve even been has given me a reality check. I have no one to blame but myself.

One of my favorite trails, Peter’s Canyon in Tustin is now my sworn enemy. I sweat buckets compared to just breaking a sweat. I can barely run up one hill without stopping compared to 8-9 miles like I was running on air. The older you get, the harder it is, there is no sugar coating it.

There are no shortcuts. The question comes “How do I get back into running?” The answer is simple. You erase the past, which is easier said than done. Everything you do is “First” again. It’s the only way to appreciate the milestones you reach. I need to be happy I ran 10 miles this week vs. sad that I’m nowhere near being able to run 70 miles, this is the constant struggle in my mind.

You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can’t know what’s coming. – Frank shorter

Do not worry about what is coming, or what has past. It is beyond our control. Focus on today, enjoy that run. Remember the reason you started, take it one day at a time.

-James