I would like to start this post with a brief recap of an AMAZING RACE that I experienced last weekend. As you may have read here on www.feelgoodrunning.com, many members of the running group program that my wife and I manage completed the San Diego AFC race. Last weekend, our remaining members from that training cycle, a small but truly mighty crew, tackled the Disneyland Half Marathon. Actually "tackled" may not be the right word; how about "partied" for 13.1 miles through the Happiest Race on Earth; through a supportive, kind spirited, and extremely giving SoCal neighborhood (thank you Anaheim!!).
If you only run one race in your life, I HIGHLY recommend that you make the Disneyland Half Marathon the one. Do not expect to hit any Personal Records (although through repeated years you can progress up in corrals and make competitive times). If you are able to run a race ignoring your clock for a bit, and just slow down and take in the experience, you will find a truly magical run with fifteen thousand of your closest friends. This was my third year running it, and slowest, and probably the "un-raciest" race I've ever raced, but I literally felt like a hero the whole time. :-)
That's me as "Tron John" with my sister Erika dressed as Snow White. Our mother made her costume specifically for running (you rock Mom!). I bought a Disney "Tron Legacy" costume and modified it, removing the pants and sleeves. I also added about 30 feet of electrical wire, several other self-illuminating pieces, and literally heard cheers and screams of "Tron" throughout the entire pre-race morning and the entire race. It was unforgettable for someone that once had the dream of being an actor, and always thought his body was too fat and misshapen to play starring hero roles. For this run, I WAS the hero. Those old hang ups left on miles of road behind me, one drip of sweat at a time. I'm finally seeing that I'm not the old 240 pound version of John. It's FINALLY starting to sink in after three plus years of running.
I wore that costume all morning with pride, stopped to take photos wherever it struck my fancy, and not ONCE would I let myself beat myself up about finishing times, speed, or any of that other usual runner nonsense. This was a different experience, and I was lucky enough to give myself the freedom to have it. I mean, how else could you ever get photos like these?
It was more about enjoying my time with the people around me, and paying respect to the benefits and gifts of running. I've never met so many happy people all in one place. Our team members each finished their race and achieved new personal accomplishments (you can read more about it here.) I had one of the best races of my life, and look forward to figuring out other ways I can share positive energy and give others a little extra "Disney Magic" at future races. :-)
I also wanted to give a quick thank you to runDisney for accepting our running group as an official Disney Running Team this year (GO TEAM!!), and of course my wife Vera and I got a few very special moments with our mentor and runDisney Training Advisor, Jeff Galloway. Thank you for your guidance and inspiration Jeff. Our program members, Vera and myself thank you!!
THE BIGGEST LOSER
I have gone through quite an emotional arc with the television show "The Biggest Loser", who happened to be shooting part of an episode near my workplace last week. When I first started watching it back in 2005 I probably weighed about 240 pounds. At six feet and change that's not a ton of extra weight, but fifty extra pounds is FIFTY extra pounds.
The "before" pic is from 2006, and the "after" pic is from the San Diego AFC race a few weekends ago.
My wife and I would watch Biggest Loser, and I would usually feel bad about myself when I saw how hard these contestants work, and I compared that to how little I was doing to help myself. I had previously been a gym rat, I had sports that I loved and could easily re-engage, but for some reason I hadn't. It had gotten to the point where I had slowed my life down, and now lived nearly EVERYTHING vicariously through TV or media. Even my workouts.
I would frequently complain at the TV. "These producers are a-holes! Do they really need refigerators with fake food behind the contestants? Do they really have to submit their votes using hotel room plate covers?" And those temptation challenges, don't get me started! I thought they were literally torturing those people at times.
What I appreciated about the show was the contestants, and the attitude of the trainers. In Bob and Jillian, I saw two very healthy and active individuals with a positive energy and battery that would not quit. I didn't think I would ever be like them, but I thought I could at least be a bit MORE like them than I currently was. So I kept watching.
A few years later, my wife rebooted her joy of running. I saw her adapt and change over the course of a year, and I knew the time had come. I took up running and my life has not been the same. Once I started to become an athlete, the lessons I had heard from Bob and Jillian over the years really helped me out.
There was one case in particular where Bob really got through to me. When I have a tough time running, I actually hear quotes in my head specifically from this episode. Luckily, it was a popular enough moment that someone has posted it on YouTube. :-) It is affectionately called "Bob's Freakout", and before watching this I ask you to put yourself in Joelle, the contestants, shoes and imagine what this must have been like to personally face, and move through.
Like Joelle, I wasn't getting the message. I would watch The Biggest Loser, and find reasons to judge and demean it in order to continue my lie to myself about my health. Bob is being more forceful than I've ever seen him in this episode, but within these brief few minutes.. he has changed this woman forever. The old Joelle that wanted to control the situation at all costs.. failing at 20 seconds "every.. single.. time.." needed to be put away and left behind. The few seconds right at the end of the clip say it all. Look in Joelle's eyes and you don't see a woman that was just stripped of her dignity due to being berated. You see a new, strong, brave woman that just learned that her old boundaries are imaginary and self-imposed; a lie she's kept from herself. In her eyes are simple strength, hope, and truth. Joelle is ready to look at everything with new eyes after this episode, and she actually does considerably well that season considering her initially weak spirit. I'd love to personally thank both Bob and Joelle for being brave enough individuals to have this very intimate and sensitive experience happen in the face of the nation. THAT is courage and also inspiring.
Vera and I were fortunate enough to go to a taping of one of the makeover episode for season 10. Vera wrote a great article about it here. We somehow managed front row seats, right at the end of the catwalk. We got to see our favorite stars up VERY close, and we both even got to briefly speak with Alison Sweeney. She was an awesome hostess, taking a ton of time to chat with the audience and keep us entertained. This whole production crew works together like a very well-oiled machine, and I'm so happy that Vera and I were given a chance to witness it first-hand.
I may not be Bob from The Biggest Loser, but "Tron John" is pretty damn rad and inspired a LOT of people that morning. Tron-John is the dude that ran Disney last weekend, my old runner being left somewhere in the past like that weakened Joelle. Thank you to Bob, Jillian, and The Biggest Loser for bringing hope and awareness to people everywhere and literally saving lives time and time again. Thank you to Disney for finding a way to get kids moving before they become eligible to be contestants on the Biggest Loser (the race events are great family memories waiting to be experienced). Thank you again Disney for letting my inner child have the day of his life. We all know that children love to run around at the park. :-)
Unfortunately I didn't get to meet or see anyone at the Biggest Loser shooting that was going on close to work, but if Bob ever sees this post someday.. thank you Bob, and PLEASE send my wife an email at vera@loveliverun.com to tell her how amazing she is for starting our passion for running, AND our running group (she would literally die to hear from you, and probably offer to buy you a Starbucks). Jillian, if you ever read this.. thank you for your heart, passion and undying support of those who have given up on themselves. The amount that both of you give to this world as individuals is amazing. I know Jillian has left the show, but my wife constantly tells me how much she loves her Jillian iFit cards. :-)
To the producers of Biggest Loser, do those plates really have to stay? :-) Thank you for imagining a new type of television show and being brave enough to make it happen on a major network! Your crew ROCKS!
Here's a few pics I grabbed from the shoot close to work..
On or off camera, make it a happy run!
John
