Thoughts Beyond Running

So obviously its important that I should be thinking about what I'm going to do once this little experiment with semi-professional running is over.  And, I have been thinking about it, pretty extensively, and it's something that weighs on me pretty heavily, because I know I can't do this forever. I definitely can't work 2 part time jobs for the rest of my life, and one day I need to step into full-time work.

The question is, what do I do?

Right now, that question seems pretty baffling to me, and maybe its baffling to other runners, or even non-runners in the situation.  The "Post college, 2 part time jobs, what the hell am I doing with my life" situation.  I'm sure there are people out there who can sympathize with this sentiment.

I'm 23, which is young, but not super young.  And by the time this experiment is over I could be 27, which is well beyond the realm of super young and getting closer and closer to "no longer that young at all, you need to get your shit together man".

Still, the question of what should I do persists.  I'm always open to suggestions, feel free to comment!

A big part of me wants to continue working in the running community.  I've enjoyed working in running specialty, and i think I would like to continue with the sport.  Ideally I think my dream job in the running industry would be to work for a company, and specifically working with athletes that the company sponsors, and help people get sponsorships, and aid to continue their careers.

This is something very near and dear to my heart, because I see athletes every day who deserve to get help, who are talented enough and accomplished enough to get help, but they can't.  I think a restructuring of the system can be done to maximize the amount of athletes that could be helped without bleeding the companies dry of resources.

I have ideas, I have a lot of ideas.  And I want to help athletes, and help promote the sport and to help it grow in popularity, not just as an activity, but as a sport that people outside of the running community care about and want to see.  I'll expand on some of these ideas in another post.

So what else do I want to do?  I've always wanted to work in government, whether it be local, state, or beyond.  I think that it would be awesome to be involved in a process that affects so many people
s lives everyday.  I'd like to think that I would be helping people, and helping the process.  I believe in government, I always have.  And I think it would be incredibly fulfilling to be a cog in the wheel of propelling our country forward on a daily basis.

Just some thoughts, gonna go do my long run now.  Hope everyone has a fantastic Sunday!!

Nick Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner (who cares about his future, and wants to make an impact in the world)

Long Delay

Welp, Sorry about the long delay, sometimes I get distracted and the blog goes a bit to the wayside, so I'll update you on the news!

First, The Emerald Nuts Midnight Run.  Not what it could have been, for several reasons I believe. 
 1.) Like an idiot, I ran a race the day before, harder than I should have.  In my defense it was in support of the Berks County Cross Country Coaches Association, but I definitely shouldn't have ran it as hard as I did.  (Thanks for that one Timmy Getz!)
2.) I allowed myself to get out of my routine when I was at home and wasn't as disciplined about several things as I had been when I was in Flag, so I believe that had a negative impact as well.

But, Oh well, Its in the past and now its time to move on to track season!!

Links to Emerald Nut Results here ---> http://web2.nyrrc.org/cgi-bin/start.cgi/aes-programs/results/startup.html?result.id=b21231&result.year=2012


Track Season! My excitement for this season is practically unbridled.  Its been almost 2 years now since I've had a proper track season, so its time to get down and dirty and do some real racing!  On the winter schedule are two 3ks.  

The first will be on 2/2 at the NAU Mountain T's Open at the famous NAU skydome.  Should be an interesting one considering that it will be at 7000 feet!  Hoping to run 8:30 or under, which is gonna hurt like hell, but who would have it any other way?

The second will be the following week (2/9) at the Boston University Valentines Invitational.  That will be the big daddy as I hope to break 8:10, and ideally run close to the USA Indoor Championship standard of 8:03.  That's a track I'm very comfortable on, that always has good competition, so it should bode well for a good performance. 

Training wise, I'm just getting over a pretty brutal cold, so things should be consistent and solid the next few weeks as I begin to really prepare in earnest for the Oval. 

I have high hope for March, April, and May as those 3 months will decide how this season will play out.  I need to be super fit and ready for the races in late April and early May so I can get the standard for this years USATF Championships. Sub 8:40 is the baseline goal for the season, but I like to dream pretty big, and would love to be under the World Championships 'B' Standard of 8:32.   So training goes on to achieve that goal.

Thanks for all the support!

Nick Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner

P.S. Below I'll post a few recent pics of some fun outings with MansionMates!
The Mansion Crew at the Grand Canyon

Looking for a good path up Bell Rock in Sedona
Checking out on hell of a view

Scaling the side of Bell Rock, in Sedona


Passed out on floor after some core

Back In Flag

So here I am, after a week of the east coast, back in Flagstaff, and as always with leaving home, it comes with mixed emotions.  The new year didn't start great, there's no glory, no girl, and too much gluten (don't worry, just a temporary lack of will power, consider the gluten gone once again).

I've been spending a lot of time in my head lately, (not always a good thing, I know) just thinking about what I'm doing, why I'm doing it, and where I want to go with it.

If you read my last post, you read that I am ambitious and hungry, and all of the above.  And I am, I truly am.  I want those things more than I want anything else.  I've already given up a lot to attempt (with no guarantee) to achieve them.

But sometimes I wish I could turn off my brain.  It can be my greatest asset, or my worst enemy. Right now it feels like an enemy.

Don't worry, I'm not going to think myself into abandoning what I'm doing here.  I know that I'm guilty of doing that before.  Running away, but  I'm beyond that stage of my life at this point.  I'm all in, and there is no turning back.  I refuse.

There is no running away anymore.  I've ran from people that care about me, who invest in me, who believe in me.  I've been so terrified of letting them close, that I flee wildly, and hurt them in the process.  And with that I alienate myself.  I recognize this, I've recognized it before.  Multiple people tell me this.  And I'm lonely because of it.

I guess this is a side that people don't see of me frequently, cause I can be good at quelling it and putting it aside.  But hey, we all get a little melancholy sometimes, right?

I don't know, I guess its just word vomit at this point.  I needed an outlet, and this blog seemed like a good place to do it.

Doing this is a lonely pursuit, running in general is.  No one can make it happen, except you.  Which is why I like the sport to begin with.

I recently moved on from my coach out here, for a variety of reasons.  I appreciate everything that he did for me, I really do.  But there are some things we didn't see eye to eye on, and I wholeheartedly believe that it was best for my career to move on and try something different.

So now its time to enter a new phase of training, a new phase of this adventure.  Brain or no brain, I shall continue on.  Its not gonna be easy, this aint no lark.  Some people may believe that this is all fun and games and what not.  But its not, not one bit.  I'm doing what I love, but it comes at a cost.  I'm willing to accept that cost, and the whole process will be heartrending and incredibly difficult at times.  But anyone who has walked down this road will agree, that in the end, it shall be worth it.

For now, I'll coach myself, and use whatever resources I have to craft a training regimen that will work for me in the long run.  I've got a lot to work on, so I guess I should get some shut eye.

Thanks for listening to this bitch session.  Sometimes I just gotta talk myself through these things.

Nick Hilton: The Moderately Talented Distance Runner