Sustained Excellence

Sustained excellence. 

I just read this phrase in a Vern Gambetta blog post.  It's a challenging concept and one that I think is worthwhile to structure a life around.  Be it sustained excellence in our relationships, work, or hobbies, it is both a meaningful and commendable pursuit.  What does it take to maintain excellence?  Are the tools used to cultivate excellence the same tools to sustain excellence?  What comes first, the sustaining or excellence part?  I don't think there is a definitive answer or singular path for people to follow.  Perhaps, this is why it is so challenging...it is often misunderstood from the outside.  I think there are a few commonalities in these varying paths.

1.)  Excellence is as much a state of mind as it is a state of habit or action.
2.)  Excellence-even sustained excellence-will look different at different points of your life.
3.)  Excellence is often misunderstood by those on the outside.
4.)  Sustaining excellence is perhaps more commendable and impressive than achieving a moment of excellence.
5.)  Excellence, like all things in life, ebbs and flows. 
6.)  Achieving excellence requires diligence and self-confidence.
7.)  Sustaining excellence requires diligence and self-confidence.
8.)  When excellence overrides perspective it is no longer sustainable excellence.

Green Light, GO!

A few weeks ago I received the go-ahead to start running again, in a gradual, progressive manner.  The doctor I'm seeing is a chiropractor with a physical therapy and massage background.  She's great and I really lucked out, as she moved from IL about 2 weeks before I hurt my knee and wasn't even officially open yet when I first started seeing her.  (Thanks for the great recommendation Jeanie!!)  She kindly took me in, gave me sound advice, and great treatment.  She also "got it," meaning she understood that I had certain competitive goals and trained at a certain level.  It's the worse going to a doctor's office and getting dismissed with the following.  "You run how much?  No wonder you're hurt.  Take time off."

Ugh.

But, she got it and I highly recommend her.  She looks at injuries from a multifaceted perspective and promotes a holistic understanding of health, fitness, and function.  She's a pretty cool woman with a wicked sweet tree house to boot...no joke.  But, even more importantly, she's one of those rare people who have the ability to heal on many levels, as I always leave feeling mentally, emotionally, and physically better than when I walked in. (She also has a neat background with terminally ill patients and has a great vision about where she wants to take her practice.)  Anyway, if you're in the Hancock, NH area, check out Dr. Clark at Back to Life, LLC. (link on left)

I've felt pretty good since starting to run again.  I'm taking it gradually, but my knee seems good.  I still have to do certain rehab exercises and hit the bike once in a while, but it's all good..especially since the last few days have been gorgeous.

There's a great spring/summer series in this area called the Summer Sizzlers.  They are as good as local, grassroots running gets.  Relatively small fields, that seem to be on the rise, a relaxed atmosphere with some good competition, and a fun post-race celebration.  It's a great way for me to meet more of the local running community and share the enjoyment of running with others.  Although I've only run on two of the four rotating race courses so far, it is clear there is a distinct theme...Hills!  They make for an enjoyable Monday night workout, so again, if you're in the relative vacinity, I recommend the Summer Sizzlers...President Lincoln made it out to last night's...so what's your excuse?