Always Something There To Remind Me
Yes, that’s a song title. In fact, it’s not just any song. It’s a song by the band Naked Eyes that is imprinted on my brain from a very, very young age. It’s one of the first music videos I can remember watching. It was theatrical and hazy and melodramatic and I loved it. And it has supplied the title of this latest issue of Coach Bennett’s Newsletter. Feel free to listen to the song on repeat as you read.
I love this sport. I love being around runners. I love hitting the trails when I know the trails are going to be busy. I love running parts of cities and towns that i know are hotspots for runners. I love going to big races and small races and races on tracks indoor and out and races on trails and races on boardwalks and races on treadmills and races in parking lots and races in parking lots and races on streets.
My first race was probably a race around my house. We used to have those races all the times. When I got older I realized my older brothers were consistently beating me by more than they probably should have because they were hurdling the bushes in the front yard instead of going around them. They never told me that they were doing that. I found out though. It wasn’t illegal. We never discussed an official route. But they never shared their unofficial route with me either. Typical older brother move. Whatever. Eventually, I was big enough to hurdle those bushes too. And the lifetime losing streak was broken. Weirdly enough both of my older brothers ceased to want to race me anymore.
Anyway, I love this sport. I just love it. There’s just so much of the good stuff there. Normally, I’m not a big fan of using the word stuff but sometimes it’s the only word that fits. One of the best parts about that word stuff is all the stuff that makes up that word stuff. Just check out the definition for stuff. I’ve lost the thread here. Not to worry. I have extra thread in my pocket. And just like that we’re back.
I just recently got back from London and that was after being in Boston and that was after being in Berlin. So, let’s start with Berlin. I was there to celebrate the grand re-opening of the flagship Nike Berlin store and cheer on all the runners taking part in the Berlin Half Marathon. I got to hang our with the Athletes that work the store. Nike calls those amazing people that help you find the right shoe for you to start running in or race that best 10K in Athletes. The managers of the stores are called Head Coaches. There’s an energy that Nike Athletes have that I’m drawn to. And any chance I get to be around them is a gift. I also got to spend time with the Berlin Braves. The Braves are an athletics club in Berlin. They love to run. They love to celebrate each other. And they love to party. If you’re ever in Berlin I highly recommend you go for a run with the Berlin Braves.
And I also got to stand on the side of the road and cheer on all the runners running the Berlin Half Marathon. It’s hard to write just how important to my emotional well being getting to do this is. This world is a tough one. It wears you down. That’s why you need to find those people and place and things that build you back up. The sideline of a road race or the backstretch of a track race are the places I go to build myself back up. I watch as countless fellow travelers on this space rock try their best to give their best. And I watch as strangers, perfect strangers as far as I’m concerned, cheer those people on. For a few hours the people competing and the people not competing are their best version of themselves.
Then the race ends. Runners complete the distance. The race course goes back to being just another road. Spectators leave. The sideline goes back to just being the just another sidewalk. The finish line has been crossed. But every finish line is really just a starting line in disguised. And as we all start what’s next on our lives we’re better for having come together. That’s why I keep coming back to cheer. Because we’re always good enough to get better.
MY BOOK IS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER
I wrote a book. I think you should read it. I really do. You can pre-order This Is About Running. This Is Not About Running. in the United States, UK, Canada, Australia, India, Italy, Germany, France, Spain, Netherlands, New Zealand and many more locations being added every week. Check out the links below to pre-order. And let me know if you do so we can celebrate together.
PRE-ORDER FROM UNITED STATES HERE
WORDS MATTER
Give this a try for a week. Instead of referring to your easy runs as running slow refer to those minutes, meters and miles as running smart. Words matter because their meanings matter. How certain words make you feel and what they make you believe about yourself and what you’re doing matters. And the words you choose to use matter to those around you like your family, friends, teammates, neighbors, and any and all children that overhear the words you chose.
This is about running.
This is not about running.
NEW GUIDED RUNS
They just keep on coming! And they are going to keep on coming! New Run Wednesday is every Wednesday. We’ve had Ten Minute Goals, Today’s 15 Minute Run, 444 Seconds Run, Seven Minute Intervals, and 777 Seconds Run already dropped in the Nike Run Club App. Next up is 5K Starting Lines! So, make sure you are opening up the NRC app and making your way to a starting line. Could be the threshold of your front door or a crack in a sidewalk. Doesn’t matter where you find a starting line. What matters is that you find one and cross it. And just know… if you need me… just press start on a guided run and I’ll meet you there on that starting line.
NEW PODCAST EPISODES
You know that there are new podcasts. Because there are always new podcasts! So get those ears of yours ready to take in the dulcet tones of yours truly.
Thank you for reading this newsletter. I know that you have a finite amount of time each and every day so the fact that you choose to spend some of that time reading what I write sure does mean a lot. And thank you for being a part of this most extraordinary sport. It’s a better sport for having you a part of it. Just remember that there is room on the starting line for everyone. So, maybe think about inviting someone to one of those starting lines. I’m going to thank you ahead of time for doing that. And yeah, this is about running. And this is not about running.
Thank you.
Cheers,
Coach Bennett
Love this! Can't wait to check out your book!!
Great song. May have to add this to the play list while I get ready for Bolder Boulder (2nd year to do with my son).