Who Am I?

I am an avid runner and have been running since I was 15 years old. I began running low to medium distances while on my high school track team, running the 800 meter and 1600 meter races (I was a sub 5 miler and a 2 minute 800 runner). In addition to the track team, I also joined the cross country team. After high school I still wanted to run and decided to start doing road races. I have probably ran a couple hundred 5k races (16.29 PR)along with many 10k's as well. In 2009 I decided to step up my game and try to tackle my first marathon. I will be honest; the only reason I did this was because my father ran a few and I wanted to show him that I could do what he did. I trained poorly for my first one and regret it. If you are going to run a race, train like you want to win. I still continue to run marathons and other distances as well, and every race is a chance for me to better myself.
I started this blog to hopefully communicate with other runners and to shed any knowledge I may have about the sport that can help other runners. I believe running is the best sport and can be a great stress reliever. I encourage all runners to spread the word of our sport and show people why running is so good and why the community of runners has such great people. You can follow me on twitter @byrne1324 or find me on facebook- Shaun Byrne

Thursday, July 10, 2014

Positive Mind = Positve Workout

     Having the right attitude for your workout can affect your workout more than you know. If you are depressed and in a bad mood, chances are your workout is going to suffer. When you are not in the right mindset you are more quickly to give in and give up. A study showed that overweight people who wanted to lose weight had a harder time starting the workout out because of their attitude. They were either depressed about how they looked or they went into the workout thinking they couldn’t do it. One the flip side people who stayed positive the whole time had better workouts. They would even last longer in the workout. 

     In previous trainings I would have a bad run and I would let it affect me for days. The next run instead of staying positive I would think about the previous run and it was like a domino effect. One bad run turned into two. I began to doubt my abilities, and it showed in races. My times were not dropping the way they should of. I even made the comment to my wife, “I don’t know if I want to run marathons anymore.” That attitude lasted all of a few weeks and I was registered again for another marathon. Columbus will be in October and this time training will be a lot different than previous marathons.

      I have taken on the positive mindset that I have a goal and nothing will stop me from achieving that goal. If I have a bad run its okay, I will focus on what good came from the run. Maybe I wanted to quit but I pushed myself to finish. Whatever the outcome I am only going to focus on the positive’s that came from the workout. Today for example I ran at the hottest point of the day and was struggling. I wanted to slow down and walk, but instead I made myself push through until the end. It may have not been my best run time wise but, I stayed positive and finished.  I can already see a difference in just a little over 2 weeks of Columbus training. I have ran faster and I feel great. Before I start my run I take a few minutes to clear my head and then I am off. As I run I think of things that will motivate me along the way. I tell myself the body is stronger than the mind when I want to give in. I am slowly starting to transform into a person that was content with just finishing into the person that needs more. If there is 20,000 people in a race that is 20,000 people that are in my way and they can either step aside or follow me.  

     Another thing that has helped tremendously is the twitter community. There as so many people with a story to tell of inspiration. People that started from nothing and built themselves into hard working machines. After my last marathon I was down on myself for not doing good, the support I got from people I never even met was overwhelming. Tweets telling me to "hang in there" and "shake it off" made be realize I couldn't give up. I want to do better to show them their kind words really made a difference. Blogs also help me stay positive, Kim from This Runners Fuel  always keeps a positive attitude and she is going for the same goal as me in Columbus. Every Monday I check her blog for a motivational quote. Her attitude is never quit, and I commend her for that. Also my wife has inspired me to do better. My wife has flirted with the gym here and there but has never made it a priority. Recently she has started the 24 day challenge is she is just going ape shit. She is at the gym before work every day and we are both eating way better than we ever have. I look at her positive attitude and how she has changed and I am inspired to also do better.  I am very proud of her.

     Remember don't worry about anyone else. Stay focused on yourself. If someone tries to pull you down brush them off. If you fall get back up. If you think big, dream big, believe big, the results will be big.  Do not be afraid to be great!!!!

    
     I have to wish my friend Greg Rudolph good luck who will be fighting Saturday night in his debut MMA match.  Greg's daughter fought and beat cancer and he has donated all of his ticket sales and t-shirt sales to the make a wish foundation.  I will not be able to attend the fight since I will be filming my 48 hr. film competition that day, but I will be wearing my shirt in support.  I picked up my shirt today from his house and he looks in great shape and I am sure he is going to put on a show. 

                                                                                  

 

5 comments:

  1. Great movie and quote!!! I just started to realize how much attitude can be a game changer for all types of events.

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  2. I love yours and Kim's blogs for motivation like this. And, like you, I always check both your blogs for the Monday quotes. I think that positive attitude is so huge, and something I'm also trying to work on. Have fun with the filming this weekend!

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    1. Thanks, I should have a traitor of the film Sunday night for everyone to view but we can't post the whole video until they show them the following week.
      As you look to my post for inspiration i always look to your as well. It's always good to connect with people that have a won't quit attitude like you

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  3. 20,000 people can step aside or follow you -love it! I agree that the twitter running community has been a huge inspiration & motivation. Love the positive vibes.

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    1. Thank you!!! I never thought people I never met would be so inspiring. It's crazy how I turn to twitter and blogs

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