Enjoy life
Posted by Kurt Philion on Saturday, November 20, 2010
Two days ago I turned 28. Everyone keeps telling me once you hit 30 things start to go downhill. Those are some of the same people who have told me during the winter "it's way too cold outside!" and during the summer "it's way too hot outside for me to go out there!" I only know a small percentage of people who truly appreciate what they have, when they've got it, every single day of their life. I am finding more appreciating for my youth, or at least I belive I am still young, after another experience last week.
The Tuesday before my birthday (November 16th) I attended a wake for a friend of mine. He passed away on Veteran's Day, a day that turned out to be great until I was driving to Hillsboro, ND and got a call from my dad informing me of the sad news. I was in Hillsboro to broadcast a volleyball Region championship...big game to say the least. Winner moved on to state. When I got to the gym, I forgot how important this match really was. I guess the loss of a friend is a little more important to me than a game I broadcast. It's more important that any race I run, or any day of training to get set for each run. Simon was the guy's name, he was 26. From my hometown of Red Lake Falls, MN - graduated a year ahead of my buddy Corey that I run to honor each race. There's got to be a reason why guys like Simon are gone so young, I just don't understand right now and maybe never will no matter how much older and "wiser" I get. It just seems like it's always the guys who enjoyed life to its fullest - always smiling, laughing and made others feel so comfortable and welcome when they were around them.
I remember reading a saying back when I was younger that stated: "Life is short, play hard" I always thought that was weird. In the last six years, it sure has made sense. Seems like every year theres another person I know that's taken from the world in some way, shape or form. It made me think at the event center I was at that Thursday night of Veteran's Day what John kept saying in his speeches that morning/afternoon - "Bad things are going to happen to you, it's how you over come it that matters most." Hearing that news on the way to the gym just made me think of that even more as I sat there preparing (if you want to call it that) for the broadcast. It will make you stronger as long as you let it. I know I will become stronger as the result once again.
The last thing I wanted to mention was that a new blog is set up too for the upcoming Fargo Marathon 2011. Mark Knutson, director of the marathon contacted me last Tuesday to see if I'd be interested in being one of their bloggers for this upcoming year. I gladly accepted and feel honored to be one of the few who is going to be part of this. The three from this area that will be taking part are Jessica from Hillsboro, Jim from Casselton & myself, the Minnesota boy. We're all pretty excited to get this opportunity. My other blog page, which will be pretty much the same blogs as this throughout the training, is located at: http://philcos413.blogspot.com
I'll have a profile picture on there, it's got a little bio, then will have updates from training progress as time rolls on throughout the sessions I have leading up to the Fargo Marathon. Check it out if you'd like and follow on there if you have a google account!
Last thing, I do have the four locations set for where I'll be running in 2011 as far as the 4:13.
They include:
1. Fargo Half Marathon, Fargo, ND - May 2011
2. Grandma's Half Marathon, Duluth, MN - June 2011
3. Marquette Half Marathon, Marquette, MI - Labor Day weekend, September 2011
4. Wicked Half Marathon, Salem, Mass. - September 2011
The other race I have scheduled, which will be without the flag - due to the circumstances we'll be in, is called the Warrior Dash - a 3.1 mile race with obstacles throughout the race. Sounds really fun! My friend Lisa told me about it, so we're going to participate, along with a few other people that have told me they wanted to. That will be in Hastings, MN in July 2011.
I'm sure there will be others to come...keep me posted if you know of any good runs of any length that are coming up in your area!
Until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with family and friends!
The Tuesday before my birthday (November 16th) I attended a wake for a friend of mine. He passed away on Veteran's Day, a day that turned out to be great until I was driving to Hillsboro, ND and got a call from my dad informing me of the sad news. I was in Hillsboro to broadcast a volleyball Region championship...big game to say the least. Winner moved on to state. When I got to the gym, I forgot how important this match really was. I guess the loss of a friend is a little more important to me than a game I broadcast. It's more important that any race I run, or any day of training to get set for each run. Simon was the guy's name, he was 26. From my hometown of Red Lake Falls, MN - graduated a year ahead of my buddy Corey that I run to honor each race. There's got to be a reason why guys like Simon are gone so young, I just don't understand right now and maybe never will no matter how much older and "wiser" I get. It just seems like it's always the guys who enjoyed life to its fullest - always smiling, laughing and made others feel so comfortable and welcome when they were around them.
I remember reading a saying back when I was younger that stated: "Life is short, play hard" I always thought that was weird. In the last six years, it sure has made sense. Seems like every year theres another person I know that's taken from the world in some way, shape or form. It made me think at the event center I was at that Thursday night of Veteran's Day what John kept saying in his speeches that morning/afternoon - "Bad things are going to happen to you, it's how you over come it that matters most." Hearing that news on the way to the gym just made me think of that even more as I sat there preparing (if you want to call it that) for the broadcast. It will make you stronger as long as you let it. I know I will become stronger as the result once again.
The last thing I wanted to mention was that a new blog is set up too for the upcoming Fargo Marathon 2011. Mark Knutson, director of the marathon contacted me last Tuesday to see if I'd be interested in being one of their bloggers for this upcoming year. I gladly accepted and feel honored to be one of the few who is going to be part of this. The three from this area that will be taking part are Jessica from Hillsboro, Jim from Casselton & myself, the Minnesota boy. We're all pretty excited to get this opportunity. My other blog page, which will be pretty much the same blogs as this throughout the training, is located at: http://philcos413.blogspot.com
I'll have a profile picture on there, it's got a little bio, then will have updates from training progress as time rolls on throughout the sessions I have leading up to the Fargo Marathon. Check it out if you'd like and follow on there if you have a google account!
Last thing, I do have the four locations set for where I'll be running in 2011 as far as the 4:13.
They include:
1. Fargo Half Marathon, Fargo, ND - May 2011
2. Grandma's Half Marathon, Duluth, MN - June 2011
3. Marquette Half Marathon, Marquette, MI - Labor Day weekend, September 2011
4. Wicked Half Marathon, Salem, Mass. - September 2011
The other race I have scheduled, which will be without the flag - due to the circumstances we'll be in, is called the Warrior Dash - a 3.1 mile race with obstacles throughout the race. Sounds really fun! My friend Lisa told me about it, so we're going to participate, along with a few other people that have told me they wanted to. That will be in Hastings, MN in July 2011.
I'm sure there will be others to come...keep me posted if you know of any good runs of any length that are coming up in your area!
Until then, have a Happy Thanksgiving and enjoy the time with family and friends!
