Wednesday, December 11, 2013

No Running Group until January 9th, 2014 at 5:30pm...Enjoy the Holiday and see you next year!

Dr. Nate's Champion Running Group will NOT meet this Thursday. If runners want to meet to share marathon stories and do an easy run, I encourage that. We will take a break for the Christmas and New Year's Season and resume running group January 9th, 2014 at 5:30pm at the same place (behind tennis courts, Ala Moana Beach Park). I hope to see all of you and new faces this January to start training for the Great Aloha Run, Hapalua Half Marathon, and your next marathon. I looked at all the marathon results and scanned for everyone's names, great running! I'm a proud coach! I would love to hear your story about your Honolulu Marathon experience this past weekend. Please post on the Facebook group page or email me at championrunninggroup@gmail.com. What was your time? Was it close to a PR? How did you do in your age group? Any other interesting things that happended. I hope to write about my first marathon experience this month, it was quite interesting. I respect the marathon distance even more now. Merry Christmas and enjoy a few weeks off and let your body recover. God bless, Coach Nate

Saturday, December 7, 2013

Inspirational Running Scriptures to Encourage You Before and During the Marathon

Inspirational Running Scriptures 

“Do you not know that those who run in a race all run, but one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may obtain it.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

“Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid hold of me. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended; but one thing I do, forgetting those things which are behind and reaching forward to those things which are ahead, I press toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 3:12-14

“Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, The Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints nor is weary. His understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the weak, and to those who have no might He increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and the young men shall utterly fall, but those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.” Isaiah 40:28-31

“But He [Go] said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for My power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.” 2 Corinthians 12:9-10

“Therefore we also, since we are surround by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy what was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. For consider Him who endured such hostility from sinners against Himself, lest you become weary and discouraged in your souls.” Hebrews 12:1-2

“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:6-7, NKJV).”

The mindset of Jesus when He went through suffering 
“…I foresaw the Lord always before my face, for He is at my right hand, that I may not be shaken. Therefore my heart rejoiced, and my tongue was glad; moreover my flesh also will rest in hope. For You will not leave my soul in Hades, nor will You allow Your Holy One to see corruption. You have made known to me the ways of life; You will make me full of joy in Your presence.” Acts 2:25-28

Racing Wisdom
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.” Proverbs 3:5-6

- Coach Nate

Wednesday, December 4, 2013

Read this for Honolulu Marathon Racing Tips and also Come out this Thursday at 5:30pm for an easy run and Marathon discussion

We will be meeting this Thursday night 5:30pm at Ala Moana Beach Park (behind tennis courts, mountainside) for an easy 40 minute run and discussion on marathon racing tips and strategies. Everyone is welcome and encouraged to come out. Below is some great Honolulu Marathon tips form Honolulu Marathon Hall a Famer and Legendary local distance running: Jonathan Lyau... "This year’s Honolulu Marathon is finally upon us. There is a certain strategy to doing well in this event. Here are some race day tips. Soon after waking up, eat a light breakfast that is high in carbohydrates and low in fat [at least 2.5 hours before start]. This should be food that you have found to have worked well before your long training runs. Don't try anything new. Stay normally hydrated. Drink two to three cups of fluid two hours before the race, then a cup 10-15 minutes prior. Dr. Alan Titchenal of the University of Hawaii says, “You can't water load like you can carbo load. Excess water just goes right through the body, increasing urine production. However, fluids consumed during the 15 minutes prior to the race start are likely to be conserved for sweat production rather than urine production because the kidneys slow down urine production during exercise. For those who usually consume caffeine on a daily basis, it may be best to drink most of the morning's caffeine-containing beverage in this 15 minutes prior, to avoid caffeine's ability to increase urine production. The kidneys don't seem to be affected by caffeine during exercise.” Smear Vaseline or BodyGlide on areas of your body that rub (underarms, thighs, toes, nipples, etc.). You won’t believe where you can chafe during the marathon. It can be a very uncomfortable feeling during and after. Before the start, line yourself up in the proper area with other participants who have the same time goal as you. If you line up with faster people, you probably will start off faster than you want to. Lining up with the right group will help prevent you from getting “sucked” out at a faster pace When the gun goes off, there will be a lot of excitement and adrenaline. The pace will feel much easier than you think it is. Go out conservatively. You need to feel like you are holding back. The start on Ala Moana Blvd. will be crowded and you may have a hard time moving until it spreads out. If your first couple miles are slower than your goal pace, don’t panic. Gradually make it up the time over the next several miles. Don’t try to make it all up in one mile. Also, don’t zig zag too much all over the road to try and pass people. You will only be burning extra energy and running extra distance. Begin taking liquids from the first aid station. This will be between 2 and 3 miles. Drink at every aid station along the course. Walk through these aid stations to make sure you are able to drink instead of spilling it.. If you want to run while drinking, the best way to hold the cup is to squeeze and cinch the top of the cup so that it leaves a small opening in the corner. Once you settle down into your pace, get into a rhythm. The first 7 miles are flat so check your pacing. At this point, if you are feeling “too good”, then you are pacing yourself properly. If you are starting to struggle with holding the pace, slow down. Remember that running too fast in the beginning will burn off your glycogen quickly. The sooner you burn off glycogen, the sooner you will slow down and the better chance you will have at “hitting the wall”. The key to a good marathon is running a conservative first half. Having a faster second half (negative splits) means that you paced yourself well and will feel good in the end. You will run faster with this strategy. A perfect example of this are the world records in the marathon. Both the men’s and women’s records were set by running negative splits. Miles 7-9 will be run up Diamond Head and probably into some headwinds. Your pace will slow because of this. Don’t try and force yourself to stay on goal pace. Keep your rhythm and maintain the same effort. You should be able to make up some of the time from miles 9-11 as you’ll have a downhill and flat terrain. If you plan on taking sports gels, it is somewhere between 7-10 miles that you want to take your first one. Wash it down with water instead of sportsdrink. You can continue taking sportsgels every half hour thereafter. Miles 11-18 will be run along Kalanianaole Highway and into Hawaii Kai. Headwinds are usually encountered here. This could slow your pace. The best way to stay on pace and conserve energy is to run with a pack. If you find a pack of people running at your pace, the work together by pacing off each other and helping maintain pace. The effort is much easier with a pack than trying to push through the headwind alone. As you come out of Hawaii Kai at mile 18, the winds will be at your back. If you are still feeling strong at this point, you will probably end up with a good marathon. Try and pick up your pace gradually. If it feels good, maintain the faster pace. As you come off the highway at mile 22 and into Kahala, you’ll find yourself passing a lot of people if you are maintaining your pace. Just before mile 24 is what is called “heartbreak hill”. You will be going up toward Diamond Head to Triangle Park and out of Kahala. Run strong up this hill as the downhill will take you to the finish in Kapiolani Park." - Jon Lyau

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Tomorrow's workout is 10 min warm-up, then 50 min of 1 min hard/1 min easy fartlek, then 10 min cool-down

Tomorrow night (Thursday) at 5:30pm we will meet at Ala Moana Beach Park behind the tennis courts (mountainside/diamond side) for a 10 min warm-up with drills, then into 50 min of 1 minute hard followed by 1 minute easy, then cool-down with 10 minutes easy and stretching. Hope to see you there! Anyone and everyone is welcome. Great time to get some turnover speed on your legs before the Marathon. - Coach Nate

Friday, November 15, 2013

Come meet us for last Long Run before the marathon tomorrow at 6am Kap Park

All are welcome to get motivated and meet a bunch of runners to start a 23.6 mile run tomorrow morning at 6am. We will meet near the oceanside tennis courts in Kapiolani Park. Bring your nutrition and water as needed. Even if you cannot keep our 7 min/mile pace the whole time, just having the accountability and camaraderie of meeting us before sunrise on Saturday is worth it! - Coach Nate

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

This Thursday Night 5:30pm come out for a long marathon pace tempo run at Ala Moana Beach Park

This Thursday at Ala Moana Beach Park behind the tennis courts (Diamond/Mountainside) everyone is welcome to come train with us at 5:30pm. We will be doing a warm-up and then a 40 min marathon pace tempo run to work on pace and endurance. Hope everyone is having fun training and staying positive as you work towards your goals. Excited to encourage everyone and do a challenging workout this Thursday night! "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart as unto the Lord (God) and not unto men." - Coach Nate

Friday, November 8, 2013

Come meet Kap Park tennis courts Saturday 6:30am for a long

Everyone is welcome to meet some of us at 6:30am this Saturday at the Kapiolani Park Oceanside tennis courts for a long run! One of the last few very long runs before the marathon. This weekend is an important week for your training! Make sure you hydrate well, take nutrition on your runs, AND have fun!! - Coach Nate

Wednesday, November 6, 2013

This Thursday night 5:30pm Run Group open for everyone and anyone: 50 min run w/ 30 sec quick surges every 2 min

Come on out for a great marathon workout at Ala Moana Beach Park (meet behind tennis courts, mountainside) at 5:30pm. We will have an inspirational talk, dynamic warm-up, and a 50 minute run with 30 sec fast surges every 2 minutes to work on some turnover. Invite your friends. Look forward to seeing you there! Before you have a breakthrough in your personal goals, remember, the battle is first won in your mind! To awaken to all God has for your life; you need to win the battle in your mind. You are a champion: live like it, think like it. - Dr. Nate

Wednesday, October 30, 2013

Thursday Night Marathon Training Group 5:30pm: 40 min. Tempo at Half Marathon Race Pace

Champion Running Group Thursday night 5:30pm at Ala Moana Beach Park Behind Tennis Courts (mountainside). Everyone is welcome for a great marathon/half-marathon workout. We will be doing a 40 minute sustained hard tempo run at half-marathon goal pace. Show up early for an encouraging word and dynamic warm-up. Stay late for a great stretching session and great time with the rest of the runners. Take care of your body, take your rest days, stay focused, stay positive! You are a champion, live like a champion, and run the race of life like you are a winner! - Coach Nate

Wednesday, October 23, 2013

Thursday Night Marathon Workout 5:30pm @ Ala Moana Beach Park

Thursday Night run group 5:30 pm @ Ala Moana Beach Park (behind tennis courts) Workout: 10 min easy to moderate warm-up run, then 2 miles hard, then 10 min easy to moderate pace run, then 2 miles hard, then 5 min easy run, then 1 mile hard. How do you react when the unexpected occurs? In life or in a race…your business deal falls through, you don’t get the job, you get laid off, you get a cramp, you shoes fail, you get dehydrated, you get blisters, you get sick, your significant other breaks up with you, or your car breaks down. These are just a few of the race of life’s unexpected events. These things will happen, but it’s what you do with the unexpected that really matters. Do you fold when something does not go according to your expectations, or do you keep your head up and trust that God can work good out of something you feel is bad for you. God’s Word reminds us: “Therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you (1 Peter 5:6-7, NKJV).” Give your worries and cares to God and trust that something un-expectantly good can come out of something that seems detrimental to your well laid out plans. “And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose (Romans 8:28, NKJV).” - Dr. Nate

Thursday, October 17, 2013

Thursday Night Workout will be 20 min tempo x 2 with 5 min jog rest between

Champion Running Group Thursday Night at 5:30pm behind the Ala Moana Beach Park tennis courts (mountainside/diamond head side). Come on out for an encouraging talk, dynamic warm-up, then 2 x 20 minute tempo (1/2 Marathon pace) with 5 min jog rest between each tempo. We will end with stretching and just hanging out as a running community. All abilities and all ages welcome! Word for the Day: Sometimes letting go of your pride and listening to those close to your situation is all you need to see a breakthrough in your life. In my younger running days I was a fool and never listened to anybody give me racing advice. But thank goodness that I began to listen in 2005 and I started to reach my potential. There is a Proverb that instructs us that: “A wise man will hear and increase learning, and a man of understanding will attain wise counsel…The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:5, 7, NKJ).” Set yourself up to reach your fullest potential by listening, learning, and honoring the words of those that are put in your life to help you gain and apply wisdom. - Dr. Nate

Thursday, October 10, 2013

Sometimes you have to lose something to gain something

Sometimes you have to give up something to gain something you've never had before. Step out in faith and do something that you've never done to have something that you've never had before. This can pretain to the race of life, training, or racing. Sometimes God has something bigger and better for you just around the corner. Step out in faith! Come on out tonight at 5:30pm to the running group for more inspiration and a challenging workout! - Dr. Nate

Thursday, October 3, 2013

Marathon Training Tempo Run workout tonight 5:30pm, All are welcome

Run group tonight at 5:30pm. Workout: Dynamic warm-up followed by 3 x 12 minute tempo at marathon goal pace with 3 minute jog rest between each. I will see everyone and anyone there behind the Ala Moana Beach Park tennis courts (mountainside/Diamond Head Side). - Coach Nate

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

4 x 2k repeats tomorrow night at Ala Moana Beach Park

Workout tomorrow night 5:30pm at Ala Moana Beach Park (meet behind tennis courts mountainside/diamondhead side). We will be doing a dynamic warm up, then 4 x 2k speed repeats with 2 minute rest between each. Gonna be great! Congrats to all who ran amazing at the Maui Marathon, Half, and 5k races this past weekend! Continue to look forward as you train and finish this year strong! "Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. (Philippians 3:13,14 NIV)" - Coach Nate

Thursday, September 19, 2013

Workout Tonight at 5:30 Ala Moana

Group workout tonight 5:30pm: 2minutes hard, then 1 minute easy x 42 minutes continuous. See you behind the tennis courts ala Moana beach park (mountainside/diamond)! - coach Nate

Wednesday, September 11, 2013

Running workout this Thursday at 5:30, Ala Moana Beach Park behind tennis courts

Champion Running Group! Tomorrow night's workout is a 45 minute run at a moderate pace with 10x45 second hard surges within the run to work on leg speed turnover and change of pace. We will do an active warm-up and a cool-down stretch. Everybody and anybody is welcome to join! I will see you tomorrow behind the tennis courts (mountainside/diamond head side) for a great workout and encouraging evening. - Coach Nate

Thursday, August 29, 2013

Champion Running Group Workout Tonight!

Workout Tonight 5:30pm at Ala Moana Beach Park, Behind Tennis Courts (Diamond/Mountainside).

I will be talking about running form and then we will do 7 x 1K Repeats with 2 minute rest between each, Or, 7 x 4 minute repeats with 2 minute rest between each.

All are welcome.

Hope to see you there for a fun time and a great workout that will prepare you for the road racing season!

Aloha,

Coach Nate

Thursday, August 22, 2013

Workout Tonight at 5:30pm at Ala Moana Park: Long Fartlek Intervals Endurance Run

Workout Tonight 5:30pm Ala Moana tennis courts (diamond/mountainside): Fartlek interval continuous run with... 2:30 hard - 2 min jog - 3:30 hard - 2 min jog- 4:30 hard - 2 min jog - 6:30 hard - 2 min jog - 4:30 hard - 2 min jog - 3:30 hard - 2 min jog - 2:30 hard - 2 min jog. Hope to see everyone there for a great workout and fun time! - Coach Nate

Thursday, August 15, 2013

Workout Tonight and Friday Morning

Workout for this tonight @ 5:30pm. Meet behind tennis courts (Diamond/mountainside) in Ala Moana Park. Then, 10 min warm up to Kakaako Park. Perform 8 or more (400-600m hilly repeats) with 60 sec rest. Cool down back to Ala Moana Park. This Friday morning (only) at 7am I will be meeting some runners at the Kapiolani Tennis Courts (the ones nearest the ocean) for a 2 mile warm-up, into a 6.5 mile tempo (faster than marathon goal pace), then a 2 mile cool-down. - Coach Nate

Wednesday, August 7, 2013

The Workout for Tomorrow Night

The workout for tomorrow will be 10-12 x 600-meter speed intervals on the walking path in Ala Moana.  Pace is just under Half Marathon goal pace.  Rest is 1:15 between each 600m interval.

We will be meeting at the same place: Behind Ala Moana Beach Park Tennis Courts (diamond head side).

When: Every Thursday

Time: 5:30pm

I am doing the 15k with most of you this weekend!  I'll be representing Runner's Route.  Excited!

Hope to see all of your and many new faces tomorrow for a great workout and encouraging evening.

Let's continue to be strong finishers this year and work towards our goals during the second half of 2013!  "So here's what I think: The best thing you can do right now is to finish what you started last year and not let those good intentions grow stale.  Your heart's been in the right place all along.  You've got what it takes to finish it up, so go to it.  Once the commitment is clear, you do what you can, not what you can't.  The heart regulates the hands."  2 Corinthians 8:10-12 The Message Bible

Tuesday, July 30, 2013

I'm back from Aloha Cross Country Camp on North Shore

Champion Running Group,
Hope everyone's training is going well and the gear up for the 1/2 and full marathon season is happening.  I'll be at the Ala Moana park tennis courts (Diamond/mountain side) coaching the group this Thursday night, 5:30pm.  Hope to see all you there for lots of fun and encouragement!  We will be doing a dynamic warm-up, 5x5min fast tempo runs w/ 3 min jog easy between each, and a cool-down run.

I've included pics from the cross country camp I helped out at this past week.




You are are Champion!  Train like a Champion.  Think like a Champion.  Believe you are a Champion in life!

- Coach Nate

Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Thoughts from a Kenyan Runner on Racing

Catherine "The Great" Ndereba has some great thoughts about racing.  Catherine is considered one of the top distance runners of all time.  She is the 4-Time Boston Marathon Champion, 2-Time Chicago Marathon Champion, 2-Time World Marathon Champion, and 1st woman to break 2:19 in the Marathon.

Her thoughts on racing:
"You know me, I don't have a tactic, and I normally start the race and see how I feel.  I do not run anybody else's race.  When the gun goes I must evaluate with my own body and see. Then as the race develops, I run accordingly.  So you can say that I do not have a set tactic for any race.  Along the way, I am monitoring my form and running entirely to how I feel, not what the other runners are doing.  If I feel good in the final miles then I will start to push from about three miles out.
When I am in the last few miles I am just concentrating on getting to the finish line and how nice it will be to be there.  The legs feel tired for sure, but that is for everybody." - quote from More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way

Catherine's thoughts on running road races during marathon training:
"I do races to just see where I am, not really to try and win the races.  That is not important.  But following the race I can look [at the result] and see what needs to be done.  Well, if I run a half-marathon and go under 1:10, then I know all is great, but if it is a minute or two slower, then i add more speed work to the plan."  - quote from More Fire: How to Run the Kenyan Way

Looking forward to our group workout Thursday night 5:30 behind the Ala Moana Tennis Courts.  Hope to see many there!  We will celebrate all the great achievements this past weekend at the Kona Marathon and Half-Marathon!

- Dr. Nate "Coach" Carlson

Friday, June 21, 2013

Champions are Birthed in the Mind


“If your thoughts are filled with a fear and worry, your life will be unstable, anxious, and insecure.  If you think only of the bad things that can happen, the good things will pass you by.  If you think you don’t deserve to win, you’ll never come in better than second.  And you won’t enjoy even that…Go for the gold, and don’t be surprised when you get it.” 
- Dr. Tim Storey

Champions imagine success before it happens!

“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8, NIV).”


Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Kona Marathon This Weekend

The Kona Marathon and a 1/2 Marathon, 10k, and 5k is happening this Sunday in Kona, HI!  I will be there to support all the runners from Oahu and others I know from the surrounding islands.  Hopefully everyone will see me around the course cheering hard and bringing encouragement to all.

For those on Oahu, come on out tomorrow night (Thursday) at 5:30pm to Ala Moana Beach park behind the tennis courts for a pre-marathon run and/or a harder workout if you are not competing this weekend.  I will be giving some racing tips and tips on how to find that extra inspiration during a race when you need it the most!

Hope to see a lot of people this Thursday and this weekend in Kona!  Happy running.  You are a Champion!

- Coach Nate

https://www.konamarathon.com/

Tuesday, June 11, 2013

Doubters and Dream Killers


How do you react to doubters and dream killers?  All my life I have been told: "you're not fast enough.  You don't have enough experience.  You're to short or to small.  You should not do that."

God created you for a BIG life without limits.  When those negatives voices try to bring you down;  chose to shut them out and continue to press forward and believe that God is a BIG God that can work within you to do things that people naturally cannot comprehend.

Before David fought the giant Goliath, King Saul only saw limitations and discouraged David, saying, "...You are not able to go against this Philistine to fight with him; for you are a youth, and he a man of war from his youth." 1 Samuel 17:33

Saul was saying to David: you are to young, to weak, and to inexperienced.  Well, we know what happened.  Young David disregarded his doubters and fought and killed the giant!

Never let negative people discourage you from pursuing greatness in your life and athletic career!  God can help you accomplish the impossible!

- Dr. Nate

The below picture is of Gary Fanelli Jr., 2013 HHSAA 1500m State Champion and 800m runner-up.  He had doubters around him all his life.  Put he continued to press forward and not give up.  He chose to honor God and work hard.  He graduated with honors and is now headed to college on the mainland to run cross country and track.

Saturday, June 8, 2013

MIRACLES CAN HAPPEN FOR YOU

Are you in need of a miracle?  You are struggling with an injury, your fitness, a mental roadblock, or a daunting task?  God is in the details of your life and is not a respecter of persons.  Your fitness miracle, your running miracle, your career miracle, your family miracle, your athletic miracle, your relationship miracle can happen because miracles are real!


While attending a mandatory military class on resiliency the teacher, a psychologist, stated that miracles do not exist.  Immediately, the warning alarms went off in my conscience.  This is a false statement, miracles do exist, and a class on resiliency needs to give people hope that miracles do and can happen.  You can overcome any situation you are facing because God still performs miracles!

Dr. Tim Storey, an author and internationally renowned speaker, has studied miracles extensively and has a School of Miracles where he teaches people about miracles and how to see them occur in your everyday life.  Dr. Storey defines miracles as “a super-intervention of God (School of Ministry 1 Audio: His Nature is Miracles).”  Through His personal experience and study, he has found that an expectation of miracles breeds’ miracles in your life and they become part of your lifestyle. 

A Psalmist, in the Bible, was facing trouble and was depressed.  However, he knew that he served a God of miracles and chose to declare this fact, thus increasing his resiliency.  He declared, “I will remember the deeds of the Lord; yes, I will remember your miracles of long ago.  I will consider all your works and meditate on all your mighty deeds.  Your ways, God, are holy.  What god is as great as our God?  You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples (Psalm 77:11-14, NIV).”

God is a great God who can put his ‘super’ on your natural situation and create a supernatural miracle!  Whatever you may be facing, know that no mental, physical, relational, or financial obstacle is to big for God to perform a miracle on your behalf.  Expectation is the breeding ground for miracles, talk about miracles, think about miracles and experience a lifestyle of miracles that you were intended to live!

- Dr. Nate Carlson

Saturday, May 18, 2013

Nothing is Impossible, Anything is Possible

"Stop waiting for approval, start creating - your eternity is in your hands."  - Dr. Tim Storey

What do you really, really want to do in life?  Throw out limitations (time, money, family, location, physical) and think about what you want to do and accomplish!  Take some time today to write down your wants, your talents, your abilities, and your passions.  What do you most enjoy?  What do you least enjoy?

If you are reading this blog, you may enjoy running, exercise, cycling, hiking, swimming, adventures, fitness, etc...stop limiting yourself and believe that God can do anything through you.  "Jesus said...'If you can believe, all things are possible to him who believes.'" (Mark 9:23, NKJV)

You don't always have to be the fastest, smartest, strongest, best looking, or the most popular.  God is no respecter of persons, but wants you to enjoy life and share the joy of life with others!  "...The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong, nor bread to the wise, nor riches to men of understanding, nor favor to men of skill; but time and chance happen to them all." (Ecclesiastes 9:11, NKJV)

You are a champion!  Think like a champion, live like a champion!  Hope to see you Thursday nights, 5:30 at the Champion Running Group!

- Dr. Nate


Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Setbacks Can Be A Setup For A Comeback


“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.”   - Romans 8:28

I used to read the aforementioned scripture skeptically.  Why?  Because when going through something that is painful, frustrating, or unfortunate, it is difficult to see the possibility that any good can come out of it...My first injury of my athletic career happened in the beginning of the high school track and field season during my junior year.  I severely strained my hamstring during a race.  I remember crying on the ride home, saying, “why?”  I had just won the state championships in the 800-meter and 1600-meter races the previous season and was starting to get recruited by major universities.  Little did I know that this injury would be a set-up, leading me down the path of discovering part of my God-given purpose.  Through rehabilitation of the injury, I became interested in the field of physical therapy.  This interest blossomed into my career path and now I am a successful Doctor of Physical Therapy. Through physical therapy, I have had the privilege of helping thousands of people overcome their setbacks...God has a plan for you and can turn anything around for your good.  Trust that He loves you today and His purpose is good!

This is a except for the book I'm writing as an encouragement for athletes.  If this encouraged you, come on out every Thursday night at 5:30pm at Ala Moana Beach Park behind the tennis courts for my running group.  I start every training session with an encouraging story about running and life.

- Coach
Dr. Nate