Leadership Thoughts Heading to West Virginia

Nothing wrong with finishing behind the leader, as long as you get out their and run.

Attributed to a Self-Proclaimed Yoga Master

All stereotypes aside of our beloved neighbors to the northwest, or at least as long as I can refrain from adding stereotypes, I feel more firedup for the West Virginia Mudda than I have been for any of the others. I gointo this event relatively pain free – imagine the regrouping and regrouping sucks stuff worked out after all (and some cortisone, of course, can't deny the benefits of that wonderful drug – May I have another please?) – shoulder is strong, running without a knee brace for the past 4 or so weeks, back in the gym and back into P90, and have even moved our short run up to 6 miles. Still no runner’s high per se, but I did fee lreally good on my last run and thought I would reflect a little.

I hate running by myself. I can think of few other things thatI like to do less even as a group so getting out there by myself is a real testament to what training for these events has done for me in my general fitness regime. And really that is why I got into this whole thing in the first place – plus spending some quality time with the fellas. I wanted to share my split times during my last run. They are not bad for me and I know they would be even better if my running partner Mr. Nichols was out there too, but he is utterly consumed with the count down posts and the associated deadlines that I decided to give him some space. I honestly just think he is giving me some time to catch up to his overall physique which in the end I am always thankful for. I mean look at this beauty.

So my most recent split times from Noland Trail:

Mile 1: 8:59.4

Mile 2: 9:26.5

Mile 3: 9:29.9

Mile 4: 10:13.2

Mile 5: 10:25.6

Mile 6: 10.25.7

(remember Noland is a 5 mile loop so onmile six you are back on the more flat, less hilly terrain. Not to detract too much from my times - still a pretty mean 6th Mile lap time for me)

Now for some of you better runners out there this may notseem like much, but from all the posts I have already shared about my, let’s call itnon-love, of running, this is pretty darn good. Did I already say our short runis up to 6 miles – never ever would I have thought that would come out of mymouth – or technically from my fingers as I am typing and not dictating thispost. The time that is most impressive for me is Mile 5. This is arguably thehilliest section of the course with lots of ups and downs and switchbacksgalore. So to run this time on Mile 5 was impressive, but I will have to admitthat I did not get there alone.

I wanted to share one of my most favorite leadership videos.(Hope I haven’t already posted it.) Click on the link below to go to theclip of Leadership Lessons from the Shirtless Dancing Guy.

Leadership Lesson from the Shirtless Dancing Guy

This video is just great on so many levels. I mean how inthe hell did he get this on tape and then the commentary. (Can't wait for the Jon Hoccccckkkkkkman commentary during Sunday of West Virginia.) I mean I haven’t seenanything this good since three educators I know tried to pull together a blogon leadership lessons learned from crawling through a bunch of mud. Still a stretch if you ask me. But I thinkit really captures the essence of Leadership – namely that it is overrated. Thereal talent lies in being that first follower. This one little lesson is sorelevant to our work as educators.

I’ll admit that at Mile 4 I was frankly done, but I hadjust passed a section on the course that traverses Lion’s Bridge. Lion’s Bridge is theonly section on the back of the course that has parking for people wanting toaccess the trail. This is thus a location where many runners jump in and starttheir trek. As I reached Mile 4, two other runners came uphard on my heels. I heard them for a little while and knew I had no chance ofstaying out in front. So I shared mytrail as a good trail runner should and waited for the inevitable pass.

Anyone who really knows me (especially my blood brothers ofwhich there are 2) always shake their heads because I will talk to anyone about anything. Theychoose not to because - well frankly there are some crazies out there. This has led to some obvious weird glances here and there butalso many smiles or smack talk – especially from the Steelers fans (Go Bengals!!!).So of course a comment comes to mind as the pass is happening, “Thankgoodness. I could really use a rabbit at this point.” And without a secondglance, one of the runners looked at me and said, “Great. Jump in.” So I did.As best I could of course at Mile 4.something, and I noticed that my paceimproved. I had picked it up. I was keeping up which felt great because my feelings of "doneness" had vanished. (And I might have even gotten to my planned run of 55:00 minutes if they had not diverged and taken the road less traveled.)

This is when I got to thinking of being a follower ratherthan a leader. I think there are times when we can all venture out on theleadership circuit – leading the way for a time, charting a new direction,possibly using these new situations or new people met as a spring board to restructure our own leadership approaches. But not at any one time are wealways out in front leading. Sometimes it is good to be a follower. Oftentimes it is good to be a follower. For me, I caught asecond wind. Even after my new group veered left and I went right, it was enoughto push me to my finish line.

Now granted I wasn’t able to arouse the raucous followingthat the first follower did in the shirtless dancing guy video but I liked to think that I madea couple of lone nuts look like leaders for a time. It might not have done anything forthem but it certainly got me going and enabled me to finish my run at 59:00.5.Not too shabby.

So whatever Mudder you're working on - take the time to follow here and there - it might just be what you need to finish strong.