A Boundary Breaker from the Great White North

Albert Martens is a gentleman unlike anyone I have come to know & a boundary breaker unlike no other.

Albert lives in Manitoba, Canada, has been married to Edna since 1970 & has (3) children. So far, nothing out of the ordinary, right?

Well, Albert has completed (46) full marathons, (11) ultra marathons including (4) time entry into the Marathon des Sables in Morocco (one official finish), a 1024 km run across Germany for a fundraiser, a 333 km run across Switzerland, Badwater Ultra, Biel 100 km in Switzerland, Run 101 (for his mother's 101st birthday).

Albert's TOTAL DISTANCE run is equivalent to once around the world = 40,074 km!

In addition, Albert was inducted into the Manitoba Running Hall of Fame in February 2011 & has raised $225K for various charities through his running.

Albert has also completed (2) books -

• One Million Steps in 1997
• Sand in My Shoes in 2008

What are his plans you might ask? Albert is planning on producing a running documentary (Grand Canyon), adding a few baseball campls in Canada, planning a Polar Bear Marathon in Churchill, Manitoba in November 2012 & continuing his brain-storming idea oc a cross-Paraguay with Athletes in Action.

Ablert Martens is truely a BOUNDARY BREAKER.

God Bless;

K2

Is this boundary really necessary?

Okay, so my goal here is not to reiterate the fact that many of the "boundaries"  or "limitations" that seem to keep us from becoming all that we have been created for are within our own minds (sub consciously at times), but to just bring up some of those ridiculous things that we consciously set & which does create a boundary.

It is a boundary drawn between individuals or individuals & society.

Look around, do you see it? In today's world, it is EVERYWHERE.

That's right. practically everyone you see is wearing headphones. Be it listening to their favorite tunes, that inspirational podcast or that audio book that they have wanted to read.

They are everywhere; walking in some self created Zombie-like state. They are within themselves often oblivious to anyone or any thing around them.

What they have done, is created a boundary between themselves & everything around them.

And we wonder WHY communications on many levels have begun to break down (no, I am not talking about texting, tweeting or IMing). I mean REAL, PHYSICAL, FACE TO FACE communications.

When did this break down begin? Was it with our current generation or did it start with the previous generation? Is it the fault of the individual or their parents?

Well, after a bit of research, I may have found the answer.

We were weaned on them. back in the earliest days of our lives, we wore these head devices & we have never looked back!


Really now. One can't believe EVERYTHING that they read, right?

None-the-less, I actually do believe that there is an artificially created boundary that many in our society have created & I additionally believe that this boundary DOES AFFECT our communications with our society & with our envoronment.

God Bless You'
K2

Are You a Hunter or a Fisherman?

Okay, let's start with a bit of explanation. As a hunter, you scout out your territory, look into the patterns of your prey, get into a good position & when your prey is in your sites, you FIRE! Now, if your prey happens to sense that you are there; if they smell you or feel your presence, they will BOLT as fast as they can in the opposite direction robbing you of that prize.

On the opposite side now, we have the fisherman. Now fisherman are quite different in that they go about things in an entirely opposite way. Although they might still scout out their fishing spot & look into weather patterns & favorite feeding spots but here they cast their bait & WAIT. If the bait is right, the fish will come to them & take their hook.

What is my point you might ask.

Well in hunting, what you are trying to catch runs the opposite way when you are sensed while in fishing, what you are trying to catch comes to you.

We are a lot like that as well. We have some product or service that we want, some "big deal" we want to share or some great proposition we want to offer. It is often quite obvious when we are mingling or networking that we are "on the hunt" so to speak to find our latest "prey" to whom we can sell our product or service to. Now at times this may work, but after the first sell, they too will BOLT.

Being more like the fisherman is a much more effective way not only to gain friends & clientele, but to draw them to you in general. Once they are drawn to you, they will that there "is just something special" about you, & whatever it is, they want some of it. They want to be there & this is exactly where you want to be.

This is critical not only in products or services, but also in surrounding ourselves with positive individuals who are willing to help you.

We cannot always break boundaries alone & need help. It is these people, those drawn to you that will help you break that next boundary that you are trying to break.

Become a fisherman & break that boundary.

God Bless;
Ken

Resolutions

Well now. We have just about arrived at the point every year where everyone begins to look back on the year's events & reflect on what direction that they want to go in the coming year. Have we achieved any of the goals that we set for ourselves or have we once again allowed circumstances to dictate what we do or do not achieve?

If you are like me, it is probably a bit of both. I have achieved some of my goals while others where pushed aside by "life"; things circumstances that seemly are out of our control.

Maybe the problem is not life's circumstances. All of this STUFF that seems to side track us happens to all of us yet there are still those who seem to achieve all that the set out to accomplish.

Is this because they are better then us? I say NO. Is this because they have set goals that are easy to achieve? Here I also say NO. Is it because they are not as busy as we are? Once again, I say NO.

I believe that the reasons are multifaceted. One reason may be the fact that we do not give much thought to WHAT it is that we actually want to achieve  & have not quantified it in terms of something that can be measured. Wanting to loose weight is very, easy as we can all looks a pound without much effort however if this had been our goal, we likely had more than this in mind. Wanting to loose 15 pounds by a fixed date gives you a target to shoot for & to hit. It is quantifiable & measurable.

We also MUST be passionate about what we want. As humans, we buy, do, consume & like everything based upon emotion. This applies to everything from chocolate to selecting a surgeon. We must "like" that person or thing (emotion again). We analyze how they/it makes us "feel".

With enough passion, we can do practically anything. Just look around or read, passion has been the driving force behind most of what amazes us daily; the blind climber who summits Mount Everest, the bi-amputee who completes a marathon, they laid off worker who in their late 60's starts their own company, . . . . .

I say that with the start of 2012, YOU find some quiet time, reflect what it is that you are passionate about, write it down in quantifiable & measurable terms and at the stroke of midnight - - GO FOR IT and DO NOT LOOK BACK.

Do not think of failure as failure is not trying & trying again, but in not trying at all.

1-1-E

Do ONE random act of kindness for at least ONE person EVERY day. (1-1-E)

Can you imagine what our world would be like if we all practiced this? We were all taught the power of compound interest as it applies to our financial wealth but how about applying this to the "interest" that we have in other people!

If we do ONE random act of kindness to ONE person EVERY day & that person in turn does it & so on, we gain the same compounding affect however the wealth built is not a financial windfall, but an emotional & societal windfall unlike you have ever seen.

Once the "interest" that we have in others is compounded day after day, out cities, our states & our countries WILL be changed forever.

You do the math.

Now GO DO IT  (1-1-E)

How far does one push? 2011 Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd Recap

When things get tough (& they ALWAYS DO), how far does one really push? When we are faced by what seems to be a "boundary" against which we are determined to break through; at what point is it fruitless & does not really have to do with our innate capacity to break through? When does it make sense to make a wise choice when there is nothing to prove (to others AND to ourselves)?

Well such was the case in this year's Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd. Our intention - to successfully complete our 2nd 100 mile run. Often times, even the best laid plans need to be flexibile. Everything was in place, fully stocked supplies & a ready crew (thanks Skip) & pacers for the second loop (Mitch Drummond) as well as the final loop (Tom Wozencraft). It was a well designed course. For us 100 milers, it consisted of a 8 mile out & back (thanks to our race director, he threw in an extra mile - Thanks Ken) followed by (3) 31 mile (50K) loops.

After the typical per-race jitters, we were off on our journey.

At the top of the first out & back found Mitch serving up waffles for hungry runners.  (BTW - did I say "top"? Listed as "rolling hills" & a fast course this was the first of many, many hills.

As the day unfolded, the nature of the course began to sink in.

Rolling Hills - NOT! Gravel - NOT!

The course was beautiful. Scenic country vistas along the Illinois River, lakes & ponds (& an occasional dog).

It was the surrounding beauty that helped take my mind off of the grueling course.

After the first loop, I was joined by Mitch as my pacer only to find out that Tom had car problems & would not be able to make it to pace me for my 3rd & final loop (bummer!).

As the sun went down, Mitch & I ran through the night. It is amazing what one talks about when you are out in the country running for hours on end. Things from chicken farming to the fact that I w graduated High School with his wife.

Bathtub Rock was beautiful the first loop but seemed a bit more treacherous at night when I was tired & sore. I DID NOT want a bath at that moment.

The end of the second loop was rough. Hips hurt, knees hurt feet h . . . well, my feet were actually fine.

We came into the Start/Finish around 7 AM in fairly good shape. Mitch had completed his first 50K & with my little 8 mile out & back at the start, I had made 70 miles. Doing the math, we determined that my 3rd & final loop to complete my 100 miler WAS NOT going to happen. I would have had to pull an 8 hour loop - - NOT!

Here is where the "pushing" part comes in. I had no doubt that I cold make a 3rd loop but NOT in 8 hours. It was the wisdom that I had not left anything on the table, made my best effort & pulled a 70 miler.

I was happy (although a bit disappointed & wiped out) as this time, the course won.

Watch out though as Know No Boundaries WILL beat this next time. (May even have revenge this year!)

Blessings to all.

K2

Breaking Out - A Transformation

I want to relate a story about a very good friend of mine who has been a tremendous inspiration to me and a shining example of breaking through self set, self limiting boundaries & even boundaries that may have been imposed by society to achieve a phenomenal goal.

We will call him "John" so as not to embarrass him or cause him any uncomfort.

"John" came into my life through a faulty tail light on my wife's car that was taken to Wal Mart for repair. "John" did not normally work there, but due to a temporary leave o

f absence from his regular job, was the one who took care of my wife. "John" had been looking for a church & just happened to see a window sticker on our car that peaked his interest. Fast forward a year or so, now "John" & his family have joined our church & we have become good friends.

Now "John" was not always this way. In his past life", "John" was very active in a number of biker groups; you know, the ones you REALLY FEAR! "John" was definitely a different person than he is now. Turning his life around, focusing on his family & strengthening his spiritual side in & of itself is a tremendous inspiration but is not the point of this writing.

In my ramblings about marathons & ultra marathons, "John" decided that he wanted to run a marathon some time next year. He went to one of our local running stores & after looking over the plethora of running shoes, picked a pair & started on his journey.

"John" made out a running schedule to plot out his daily runs & weekend long run. He was spending more & more time out on the trails & alone with time to ponder the worlds problems, think about what he is thankful for & have some quiet time to pray. There was the odd encounter with shadows (oh yea, it was not a shadow but a skunk - maybe I ought to leave this for another post), dear & time with his daughter as she rode along side on her bicycle.

Convincing me to run the Warrior Dash with him September 24th, we had a BLAST running & climbing at Turkey Mountain.

"John" had planned on running the 10K at the Route 66 Marathon this November but with his distance up to about 8 miles now (& further by November), he will likely sign up for the 1/2 Marathon.

His marathon debut will be some time in 2012 (possibly the Oklahoma City Memorial Marathon in April).

Coming from where "John" came from to running his first marathon (& hopefully not his last if I can help it), he has truly broken thorough his old self into a new person (& one that I feel blessed to be able to call a friend).

"John" will also be crewing for me when Know No Boundaries runs our 2nd 100 mile run on October 15th & 16th at the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd.

Thank you "John" for being my friend & a true inspiration.

Blessings to all.