RUN 73

Some of my strongest and best runs have been at least expected and likely times; with an early morning hangover, after a completing a race or late at night when your instinct is to sleep. Perhaps because of the heightened level of difficult or adversity, either way it proves the power of an open mind and the value of challenging who you think you are and what you're capable of. [5.15m 43:33 08:27/mi]

[Chicago Night Skyline]

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RUN 72

Life has so many opportunities and challenges available to us. I've never been afraid of a challenge, reveled in it in fact, making a marriage out of a trans Atlantic relationship, moving to another country, and now I have a wife to travel life's challenges. Today I signed up to take part in four stages of the Endurancelife Coastal Trail Series and will run four cross country marathons between December and May. I've met and exceeded all my running goals this year and move into this next series if challenges with confidence and excitement! [2.13m 14:51 06:58/mi]

[Regents Park , Chicago, USA]

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RUN 71

Summer is officially over today, which for most people is not something to revel in... for a runner it absolutely is. Fall (autumn) is the perfect running season. Each new season is an exciting time, new challenges from the same runs and routes. Especially winter in Chicago which can be a brutal test of a runners motivation; running on 3 inches of ice or through 2-3 foot snow drifts or just a regular old snow storm in -30F winds. But were not there yet, we have a whole season of beautifully mild perfect running days to make the most of. [4.01m 31:55 07:58/mi]

[View North from 63rd St Beach Pier , Chicago, USA]

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RUN 70

Running is very personal, its a personal challenge and so are the rewards but I'm learning there is much that can be learned from also sharing the experience and allowing others to challenge you with their own insight. That collaboration is a philosophy which i pride myself on in work and my relationship, and is becoming part of this aspect of my life too. Balancing it with my individual growth has potential to improve both sides.

[Harold Washington Park, Chicago, USA]

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RUN 69

Running and training builds confidence and an awareness of ones ability, which is invaluable to recall when a run gets tough, it pushes you through. I wonder how that perception of ability and potential relates to the reality? Does your training and running pattern determine the realms of our potential? i don't think so. I think its easy to arrive at a place where you feel you've reached your potential and stop taking risks, taking comfort in familiarity. Whenever I've challenged myself to go further, run a double workout for example, I've had the most rewarding experiences. So how much farther can that feeling go for me, how much more might I be capable of?

[51st street bridge, Hyde Park, Chicago]

RUN 68

Being aware of your limits is just as important as a passion for pushing those limits. As a runner I thrive on the days I feel strong and capable of pushing myself further, you need to constantly assess your bodies response to what you ask of it and listen when it tells you to slow down. Having the strength to pull back and remain injury free to run strong another day is critical.

[57th Street Beach, Hyde Park, IL]

RUN 67

Success brings confidence, but you can't succeed if you don't present challenges to yourself. Fear of failure can make success and confidence unattainable, avoiding life's challenges will protect you from the chance of failure, but it also puts the chance of success and confidence out of reach. Failure can only be effective if you allow it to keep you from trying again, which is why you must always get back up and keep trying. When confidence in oneself does receive a boost, you should capitalize on it, and see what that can help you advance towards. That drive must be balanced with a satisfaction in your efforts, while being mindful to give your all. This is true for running, love, friends and family.

[John Hancock Building, Chicago]

RUN 66

I really enjoy racing, it gives you an opportunity to push your boundaries, challenging your perception of yourself, who you were, who you've become and what you're capable of. If you choose to step up to the opportunity and accept the challenge you can learn a little more about yourself and what your potential is. [Lung Run; 5K; 19:50; 06:23; 19/843 runners]

RUN 65

It's all too easy to become complacent, to fall into a rhythm, a pattern, taking comfort in your routine, there's security in doing what you know rather than challenging yourself to try harder, take a risk and see if you can advance your boundaries. The same is true of running, finding a rhythm, form or pace which is comfortable eventually looses it's challenge, when you take that risk and make the effort to advance, it makes you feel alive, and you realize how much more there is to life.

RUN 64

There are so many factors under your control when running, ever run can be modified and varied in an infinite number of ways to make it unique... location, distance, pace, variation, time, alone, with a partner, temperature and speed for example... when time is plentiful; i run longer or drive to a new location, when time is short I'll cut mileage and run faster. Speed work I've found this year does a great deal for endurance, as does confidence in my ability to adapt each run to suit each occasion.