Up until now the majority of my running races have been 8k and 10k races with 5k races sprinkled in between. These distances required minimal training, just consistent running. In October I will be running the Capitol 10 Miler followed by my first half marathon in November. These races will be my first of this length and will require dedicated training to work up to those distances at sustainable paces.

In the past the thrill of running for me was primarily completing a race and finishing with a better time than last year. I also enjoyed exploring my neighborhood and surrounding areas. With the start of my training plan, I found myself thinking of my runs as something I had to get over with to make it to the races. I found myself constantly checking my pace and my time to see how much longer was left. At the time I didn't realize how self defeating and demotivating this really was. I was beginning to lose the enjoyment I found in running while training for these races

While reading Christine Louise Hohlbaum's book The Power of Slow , I was reminded how important it is to enjoy the moment. I needed to re-acquaint myself with enjoying every exact moment during my runs - the breeze on my face, the sensation of my feet pounding out a rhythm on the pavement, the layers of instruments in my music, my breath bring oxygen and energy to my body. Now that I have found the moment in my runs, the miles are beginning to fly by and running is now enjoyable again.

With the hustle and bustle of every day life and the sometimes depressing news stories, it's easy to find yourself in a funk.

I recently stumbled upon the blog, Tiny Buddha, which offers daily posts that provide inspiration and "simple wisdom" in this complex world. I try to read it every morning to start my day off on a positive note and to keep me grounded with a fresh perspective on life.

Today's post started with the quote:

"Happiness does not come from having much, but from being attached to little."

-Cheng Yen

Today is World MS Day.

For some of us, MS is the disease that President Bartlett had on the TV show The West Wing. For others of us, it is a mysterious disease that we’re not sure what the initials stand for and we doubt it’ll ever effect us.

I will admit that I was one of those people. I knew vaguely of MS from The West Wing, but I figured that was as close as I would ever get to the disease. Was I ever wrong.

Almost a year ago, one of my aunts was admitted to the hospital. After running numerous tests that included scans to detect brain cancer, the doctors finally determined that she had MS – Multiple Sclerosis.

According to the website worldmsday.org, MS is a disease that affects over 2 million people worldwide. It is a chronic neurological disease in which the myelin – or protective covering on the nerves – is damaged. Symptoms can include blurred vision, weak limbs, pain, bladder disturbance, unsteadiness and fatigue. The disease can either be progress or follow a pattern of relapse and remission.

There is limited knowledge on what causes the disease and how to treat it. But through awareness of the disease, answers can be found. There are several therapies that have proven successful in slowing the attack of the disease.

For more information on World MS Day, visit their website at www.worldmsday.org.

For more information on MS and resources for the Central Virginia region, visit the Central Virginia Chapter of the National MS Society.

Is the company with the most employees or the greatest variety of products always the most successful company?

Not necessarily according to Seth Godin, author of Linchpin and several other books. In a recent blog post , he discusses the importance of understanding the right carrying capacity of your organization particularly when it comes to employees.

“Ideas, markets, niches and causes have a natural scale. If you get it right, you can thrive for a long time. Overdo it and you stress the inputs….Your industry might have room for six or seven well-paid consultants, but when you try to scale up to 30 or 40 people on your team, you discover that it stresses the market's ability to pay.”

For some businesses that find themselves struggling, this may mean reducing staffing or products sold instead of expanding to try to recoup losses.

I think this idea can also be translated to fit on a personal level. Instead of expanding interests, activities, jobs, etc, it may be valuable to focus on those activities that provide the most benefit. Defining benefit would, of course, become very important. But by focusing on those few things, you could receive a greater reward for your efforts.

In today’s new economy, there is a third team of worker in addition to management and labor. Seth Godin describes this team in his book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable? According to Godin, a linchpin is “the essential building locks of great organization.” A linchpin thinks and acts differently to turn to their work into art. Becoming a linchpin is a choice that anyone can make.

The biggest hurdle to becoming a linchpin is overcoming the resistance from the lizard brain. What exactly is the lizard brain? It is the amygdala – the part of your brain responsible for basic survival needs. It is stimulated when ever you feel threatened – even if you’re not consciously aware of a threat.

Personally I have experienced my lizard brain trying to sabotage presenting a new idea at work or expressing my creativity in a new or different way. I know that in order to realize my full potential, I must quiet my lizard brain.

Godin offers several suggestions and techniques to quiet the lizard brain:

• Embrace productivity sites such as Lifehacker.com and implement their tools
• Learn from failure and change tactics and approaches as necessary to realize success
• Seek uncomfortable situations in order to become engaged
• Acknowledge that bad ideas are part of the process to finding good ideas
• You are a genius – the resistance and the lizard brain are trying to convince you otherwise

Acknowledging the lizard brain calls its “bluff.” By overcoming worries, fears and anxiety of the unknown exaggerated by my lizard brain, I know that I will be able to open my mind to the possibilities and focus on my art to becoming a linchpin.

The rest of Godin’s book explains the changing workplace dynamics, how make the choice to become a linchpin, the value of gifts and art, and key aspects and traits of being a linchpin. I highly recommend this book if you feel lost in your current job situation or feel you have more to offer but aren’t quite sure how to start.

Click here for more information about Seth Godin's book Linchpin: Are You Indispensable?

With all of the air brushed perfect (yet unattainable) model and celebrity photos in the media, it is no wonder that poor self image, poor self esteem and eating disorders are prevalent among teens and young adults. Recently I stumbled upon the website Operation Beautiful with the mission to end negative self talk and “transform the way you see yourself one post-it note at a time.”

Operation Beautiful’s founder “began Operation Beautiful by leaving positive messages on the mirrors of public restrooms” in order to make people smile and hopefully make a difference in someone’s life.

Stories and photos submitted by readers are posted each day. I recommend checking it out for a little daily dose of positive messages.

I have been a fan of Greek and Mediteranean food for awhile now. I look forward to both the Lebanese and Greek Food Festivals. While studying abroad in France, my lunch staple was falafel or gyros due to the fact that they were inexpensive, filling and delicious.

When Boulevardizen.com announced the opening of Basili’s Greek Restaurant , I knew I would have to check it out.

I decided to order the chicken gyro again as well as baklava – a Greek pastry made with phyllo dough, nuts and honey.While my food was being prepared, I talked with the cook and the owner. Both were very friendly and knowledgeable about Greek food and the Carytown area.

My sandwich exceeded all of my expectations – it was flavorful and satisfying. The generous serving of baklava was a sweet tasty treat that I was able to enjoy over the course of several days.
If you haven’t already, I highly recommend that you check out Basili’s Greek Restaurant at 3107 W. Cary Street in the old Carytown Seafood store.

In these uncertain economic times, budget cuts are inevitable. Some of these cuts will be tough decisions impacting many people on very personal levels. I understand that. However, I want to ensure that these decisions are not made with a quick fix in mind that disregards significant future implications.

Recent proposed cuts to the Virginia budget greatly concern me. While reading an article in the Richmond Times-Dispatch about Governor McDonnell's proposed cuts, an essay from Malcolm Gladwell’s book What the Dog Saw came to mind.

In his essay “Million Dollar Murray,” Gladwell discusses the costs of the chronically homeless on society. Many of the people who fall into the category of "chronically homeless" have mental illnesses and substance abuse issues. The essay goes on to explain how it ultimately costs less to society to house these people and provide supportive services to help them remain in housing than to cut services entirely. Many of the chronically homeless and those at risk cost society millions of dollars for services such as emergency health care and incarceration.

Some of these supportive services (mental health treatment, substance abuse treatment, homeless services, etc) are those mentioned in the proposed budget cuts. Many of the other proposed cuts are to preventative services for those who are risk.

Some of the cuts that will directly impact adults and children at risk are:

• Fan Free Clinic in Richmond funding cut by 35%
• School Breakfast program cut by $5.3 million
• Juvenile Prevention programs for localities cut by $5 million over two years
• HIV/AIDS, Elderly and Disabled, Intellectual Disability and Developmental Disability Medicaid waivers cut by 62.9 million
• Enrollment freezes in the Family Access to Medical Insurance Security (FAMIS) "saves" $33.8 and costs access to health insurance for 28,566 individuals
• Eliminate 232 beds and associated staffing costs at various mental health facilities statewide “saves” $26 million
• Child advocacy centers which provide services to children and families who experience abuse and neglect cut by $2 million
• Teen Pregnancy Prevention Initiative in the Richmond, Roanoke, Portsmouth, Norfolk, Eastern Shore, Crater, and Alexandria health districts funding eliminated $0.9 million
  
• Arthur Ashe Health Center in Richmond that provides AIDS early intervention and counseling programs funding cut by 35%
• Homeless programs cut by $6.0 million

The above list is just a small sample of the cuts. Other cuts will impact Virginian’s at all income levels and include cuts education and public safety and even the closure of state parks. A complete list of all proposed cuts can be found here.

As I stated earlier, I realize cuts are necessary (when taxes are not being raised) to cover budget shortfall. However, I question the Virginia Governor’s judgment when assigning priorities and positioning for the future. Virginia’s most vulnerable children and adults, who are an important part of the state’s future, may not even have the chance to succeed under the Governor’s proposed budget cuts.

These cuts will most definitely save money in the short term; however, what are the monetary and social consequences in the long term?

Michael J. Fox has always been one of my favorite actors ever since Back to the Future. When I heard he was going to be releasing a new book, I immediately place it on my “To Read” list. Always Looking Up: Adventures of an Incurable Optimist is the story of a man faced with incredible obstacles who manages to always find the positive side.

The book is divided into four parts: Work,Politics, Faith, and Family. In each part, he discusses how being diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease has shaped that particular aspect of his life. Through the years, he has had some rough patches. As he processes through the situation and grows, he becomes a stronger more positive person.

Written in a conversational tone, the book is a quick read that is upbeat and uplifting. I have recommended Always Looking Up to people who are
looking for something positive to read in this age of “bad” news from our media outlets.

For more information on the book or to purchase, check it out on Amazon.

Seven Spectacular Ways to Make Your Mondays Rock was sent to me awhile ago. It offers ways not only to make Mondays rock, but good advice for  every day of the week.

1. Take time to set your mind.
2. Stretch.
3. Do a bit of exercise
4. Picture your week.
5. Make today's to do list.
6. Smile and say hello to everyone that you work with.
7. Be positive!