All in the family

One of the most wonderful aspects of my post-collegiate running career is the opportunity to again be coached by my dad. Running for his Blue Devils team at Davis High School was one of the highlights of my high school experience, and upon entering the post-collegiate running world, no one has been more supportive of my running dreams than my dad. We talk on the phone daily about my workouts, training, how I'm feeling, etc so that I'm as prepared as possible to chase my Olympic Trials goals. Under Coach Dad, I'm running better than ever and certainly more joyfully :-)

Unfortunately, Dad is based in my hometown of Davis, working and coaching high school runners and being a dad and husband. After living in Davis for 23 years, I needed a fresh start in a new city, so San Francisco became my new home and I decided to have Dad coach me from afar.

Ideally, you live in the same city as your coach, so that they can oversee your workouts, hold a stopwatch, give feedback, and provide invaluable in-person coaching support. With Dad in Davis and me in SF, it's been a challenge adapting to this new coaching environment. I go home to Davis as frequently as I can to train with him, but more often than not I'm working out alone in SF (or Cleveland!), without a coach or training partners. Not gonna lie, this set-up hasn't always worked out great for me, but I firmly believe it's made me a tougher, mentally stronger runner.

While I've learned to run workouts being accountable only to myself, sometimes you just really need a coach there. Today was one of those days. In the middle of some tough 80-mile training weeks and coming off a disappointing 3k last weekend, I really needed a coach to help me through today's track session.

Enter my brother, Brendan. Since Dad was in Davis, he suggested I drive down to Stanford and have Brendan coach me through the workout. It was a brilliant idea! Brendan met me at the track with a stopwatch. Just having him there, calling splits and words of encouragement, made all the difference in the world - I ran the 1k repeats faster and more comfortably than Dad or I could have hoped. I'm coming off today's workout enthused and excited to race again!

So thanks, Dad and Brendan, for the excellent coaching! :-) We make a great team!

All in the family, back in the day - Davis High School XC 2003

Go Greggs!

Age 25: Quarter Life Crisis or Quarter Life Calm?

I've got just a few more minutes left in my 24th year of life - as the clock strikes midnight shortly, it'll be my birthday and I'll enter a new quarter-century of life. I've been a little apprehensive about turning 25, because when I think of a 25-year-old, I think of an adult. I'll no longer be in my early 20s and won't be able to call myself a recent college grad... turning 25 means I'm a real grown up! Eek! While this new age is daunting, there's nothing I can do about it - January 31 is fast approaching!

Throwback to 2008 - my 21st birthday

So instead of looking at turning 25 as a quarter life crisis (as I've jokingly been referring to this birthday), I'm viewing January 31, 2012 as Day 1 of my quarter life calm. While I'm a little anxious about real world responsibilities like how much money is in my savings account and how I'm going to afford health insurance next year, I'm mostly feeling pretty good about 25.

My quarter life calm is centered around the fact that I'm pursuing my passions, exploring my potential, and am surrounded by a supportive, loving community. These three words hold special meaning to me, as they are the foundation of the purpose statement for the nonprofit where I work, the Sunset Neighborhood Beacon Center. Living in San Francisco (and flying frequently to Cleveland!), working at SNBC, running for New Balance Silicon Valley, and coaching at USF, I'm arguably happier than I've ever been.

So, I'm entering age 25 with a sense of calm. With a job that challenges me, the opportunity to explore my athletic potential, and a close-knit community of family and friends, I begin this new quarter-century not in crisis about growing up, but instead at peace with the passage of time.

I read an article recently called 11 Things to Know at 25ish. It's a great read for all of you approaching the big 2-5. In the final minutes before my birthday, I'm taking these words from the article to heart:

"Now is your time. Walk closely with people you love... Don’t get stuck in the past, and don’t try to fast-forward yourself into a future you haven’t yet earned. Give today all the love and intensity and courage you can, and keep traveling honestly along life’s path."

Age 25, here I come!