TRAINING

Training - - - so what is it and what does it mean? How does it relate to "boundaries" or in our case, Knowing No Boundaries?

We all seem to be "training" for something all of the time. Training to improve our skills at school or at work, training to learn a new language, training for our first 5K, marathon or ultra marathon. With this training, comes obstacles; times during our training when we just do not feel that we are making any progress or even backsliding! As with most other boundaries or obstacles, they are mainly in your own mind! YOU have placed them there and YOU have given them the power to hold you back.

The big question is WHY? Why have you let some trivial challenge, some minor setback or difficulty get in your way of achieving what you set out to accomplish?

Has your desire to accomplish it diminished? I think not.

Have you decided that it is no longer something that you want? Also, I think not!

Has it become something that is beyond your true physical, mental or emotional limits? Again, I think not!

What is it then?

I believe that you have decided that it is easier to let the challenge overcome you and your desire and have relegated yourself to a few good excuses to use when asked "Why" you did not achieve what you had set out to accomplish.

Well, I am hear to tell you that IT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE THAT WAY!

YOU HAVE CAPACITY TO OVERCOME YOUR OBSTACLE! YOU HAVE THE STRENGTH TO BREAK THROUGH THE PROVERBIAL WALL THAT IS SEPARATING YOU FROM ACHIEVING YOUR GOALS!

What you need is a partner, an accomplice, or someone to whom you wil be accountable to. Someone who can understand your challenges and know exactly what it is that you need to push you over that wall or obstacle. Sometimes you actually need something physical like new shoes, that special class, a wheelchair or extra funds.

We all need things at times and for countless reasons. They are there for you; you just need to seek and ask. Not seek anywhere or ask anyone, but seek specifically in the place or places that can provide what you need. Ask those who CAN halp and have the knowledge and skills to help.

Often times however, we are too proud to ask. It just seems easier to pay the price of not achieving our goals, not becoming all that God has in store for each of us.

Here at Know No Boundaries, we say "Swallow your pride." There ARE people who are just waiting on the sidelines of life eager to help in any way necessary if you would only be open to it.

Although an obstacle can appear daunting, appearances can be deceiving!

When looked at through and with the eyes of a friend or a helper, things look very, very different.

KNOW THAT YOU CAN!

YOU CAN BE, DO, BECOME AND HAVE everything that God has planned if you would only look through HIS EYES and take the hands offered.

God Bless;

Ken

Chipping Away

When setting goals, we re often told that we need to "stretch ourselves". To set goals that are just beyond our reach but still achievable. Even with this, we cannot always SEE the end results. It can appear that it is just one obstacle after another, one turn after another with no end in sight.

But have FAITH! As long as you are chipping away at your goal, one piece at a time, overcoming one obstacle at a time & going around one turn at a time, you WILL reach your goal.

Every little but takes you one step closer to realizing your goals.

We cannot always expect to see the "WHOLE PICTURE" when often times what we want to achieve is beyond what we cam see. We have a vision, a desired outcome that we want, a goal to reach that is just over that current obstacle or around that immediate turn. Keep at it with FAITH & you WILL achieve it.

It WILL include struggles, sweat and maybe even some tears. There will be some days that are easy and others when you want to give up. But have no despair! Many a person has made similar struggles only to come out victorious. Keep the faith my friend as worthy goals will be achieved.

Commercial airplanes have a goal too; to arrive at some destination that they cannot see. They KNOW it is there, but cannot see it. They set their controls, dial in the coordinates to where they want to go (their goal). Did you know that airplanes are OFF COURSE almost 90% of the time? How would then ever reach their goal or destination you might think? They are constantly evaluating the situation & making course corrections along the way.

By making constant corrections on the path of OUR GOALS, we can also be assured that we will arrive there too.

Often time we weave this way & that way, often times we look off into the far distance & the road just seems to go on and on and on and . . . but with perseverance, the long and winding road can be one of wonderment and amazing experiences.

It can be our haven for reflecting inwards and connecting with God.

Soldier on my friend and have faith.

Blessings;

Ken

The BIG Picture - Stay Focused On It!

Well friends, Thanksgiving 2012 is now behind us and hopefully we all spent time with family friends focused on what we are thankful for! Things have been nothing short of chaotic so I am JUST NOW giving a Race Report / Fund Raising Report for Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd held the end of October.

Race morning started off a bit chilly (36 degrees) but warmed up quickly.

(yes, I am in there somewhere.)





As the day unfolded, and night set in, it was becoming evident that it was going to be Deja Vu from last year. Time knows no allies and is equal to all. Time was NOT ON MY SIDE this day however I was 30 minutes ahead of last year's race.

I needed to focus on the BIG PICTURE.

 

The BIG PICTURE was raising money for Jason Bowlin and NOT MY own selfish endeavor to finish a race. The decision was made after 70 miles, to "call it good"  &be satisfied with the cause.

 

All in all, Know No Boundaries raised just over $1050 to help Jason & his family with his medical expenses. No too shabby for about 2 1/2 weeks of fundraising.

 

Did we reach our goal?

 

I would say a resounding YES! Out goal was to help an individual, a family overcome a financial boundary & we achieved exactly what we wanted.

 

Onwards and upwards they say, right? Looking out into our future and what do do next, we will be participating in the Half and Half Marathon in order to end the year on a BANG!

Come out to support Know No Boundaries, all the other "boundary breakers" and The Turkey Mountain Urban Wilderness Organization on December 16, 2012 at the Turkey Mountain parking lot.

And as always, KNOW NO BOUNDARIES!


God Bless;
Ken (aka K2)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

2012 Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd - PREVIEW

The 2012 running of Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd is THIS WEEKEND! WOO WHO!

We are very stoked here at Know No Boundaries. This is the year that we will "Smash the Pumpkin".

Sunday, this will be in OUR HANDS.

WE WILL NOT QUIT!

WE WILL NOT SUCCUMB!

WE WILL PREVAIL!

Now remember this quote.

See you after PHH!

God Bless;
K2

2012 Fundraiser: Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd +

Well friends, it is officially Fall! Cooler weather, nice evenings on the back porch with the chiminea on, beautiful fall foliage on the way, thoughts of the delicious fall holiday meals (Hint: Thanksgiving) and of course, Smashing Pumpkins!

WHAT you say?

You read it correctly. October 20-21, 2012 is the 2nd running of the Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd 100 Mile Trail Run (well not actually "trails", but definitely gravel country roads.).

Know No Boundaries ran the inaugural Pumpkin Holler Hunnerd last year & due to time constraints, bailed at mile 70. This year however, we are going to "Smash the Pumpkin" and finish the entire 100 miles! The recipient of our fundraising is a young man from Sapulpa, Oklahoma named Jason Bowlin.

Jason has Squamous Cell Carcinoma (skin cancer) in the lower face and neck area and has been undergoing radiation & chemotherapy and wil also be undergoing reconstructive surgery. As an ex-construction contractor, Jason does not have medical insurance so the financial burden has been on "mom & dad". This "financial boundary" is where our Fall 2012 funds are going. We are looking to get donations of $1.00 per mile. On the larger scale, a $100 maximum x the number of donations WOULD help the Bolin's overcome this boundary.

Please go to www.knownoboundaries.org & click on the Donate link at the top. Know No Boundaries is a 501 (c) (3) foundation so all donations are tax deductible. Online donations are done through PayPal so it is secure.


Looking further in the calendar, we are also looking at participating in the 2012 Turkey n' Taturs on November 4th right here in Tulsa, Oklahoma on Turkey Mountain (well, it is not really a mountain & there are no turkeys).

It will be a 50K trail run (for us at least) on beautiful Turkey Mountain trails.

There are a few other events we are considering for the remainder of 2012 so stay tuned.

And remember - - - There is no mountain top view without a climb.


Blessings;
Ken

Schedule Changes - Chisholm Trail Ultra

Hello friends. I am SURE all is well with you (as they should be since you DO have a choice, right?).

I have recently taken a new position with a new company. With changes such as this, we need to step back & review our priorities.

Life Events such as this often affect other things in our lives. In this case, it is the vacation that I have (or should I say NOT HAVE) this September.

With this said, the Chisholm Trail Ultra that was initially planned for September 13th through the 20th will need to be postponed (notice I DID NOT SAY cancelled!). IT WILL HAPPEN, but just at a later date. I am considering some time in the Spring 2013 when the weather in Oklahoma is tolerable.

Although this was a real bummer for us here at Know No Boundaries, it could actually be a blessing in disguise. NOTHING happens without a reason. This delay will allow additional things to be considered. One option we are kicking around is the possibility of adding a Relay option. Hmmm, the jury is still out on this for now. Also, if you have some suggestions, get with us & we can consider it. It will also allow for more training (definitely need this as the run is 233 miles!).

For now though, we are looking at our calendars & will be looking for a good time to re-schedule it.

Our apologies.


And remember, Know No Boundaries.

God Bless;
Ken

Mental Toughness

We all have moments wherein we feel we have "had it", where we want to "throw in the towel" and just give up. We feel that we have done all that we can and cannot give any more. This could be during a long and greuling race, looking for a new job, being a better spouse or parent, building a relationship or any number of things we attempt to do.


But you CAN oversome these mental barriers. Mental Barriers you say? Yes. Let me explain. If you just "had it" and could do no more and suddenly saw that your child was in dire need of help. Not only would this perceived barrier disappear, but you would go at it with renewed vigor UNTIL you achieved what was needed. Did the barrier go away? Was it even real or just conceived within your psyche? The thing that was perceived as a boundary DID NOT go away, it WAS REAL (at least in your mind) and your overcoming it was an exercise in mental toughness.

You decided to allow the circumstances to become mental chains to keep you from achieving your goal, finishing your race or whatever it was that you were determiend to do.

Mental Toughness; like anything else; can be built up over time. We CAN build a mental toughness that can overcome many obstacles and perceived "barriers" or "boundaries" which we are sure to come across in life.

We need only to exercise our minds though regular mental exercises such as reading, mental relaxation and regular physical stresses wherein we are forced to "push ourselves". The more we exercise our mental muscle, the better our mental capacities will get and the more we will be able to mentally endure.

We need to realize that WE detemine what is an obstacle and what is not. WE decide what we CAN and CANNOT do, CAN and CANNOT be and CAN or CANNOT achieve. WE then, are the obstacle.

Exercise your mental muscle and BREAK these mental shackles that keep you from achieving what God has prepared for your life. Become the best you that you can be. Break through the walls and barriers erected by your own mind and climb your own ladder to success.

Continue to join our community to see how WE break boundaries and help you and others do the same.


Blessings to you always and know that "There is no mountain top view without a climb."


God Bless you;
K