(Note – this week I take a break from my usual leadership content in my post to share with you my experience running the 2016 Boston Marathon. There are many leadership and personal development lessons in this story but I will save those for another post. Enjoy!) The race didn’t go as planned – here’s the story I had mixed emotions about returning to Boston for the first time since I was 50 feet from the bomb shortly after finishing the 2013 marathon. (Related – 2013 Boston Marathon Race Report) I was mostly excited because I was in great shape, injury free, and would get to experience the event with my family this time, with my wife running as well and my kids along to watch. In 2013, I had crossed the finish line and just sat down in one of my favorite restaurants, Max Brenner’s, when the blasts occurred 50 feet away. This year, the plan was for my family to join some friends immediately after the race at the same restaurant to finish the meal I didn’t get the chance to have last time. Ready to Go! Coming into the race, I feel I was in the best shape I had been for any of the 4 previous marathons I competed in. For the first time this year, I worked with a specific running coach who was guiding me through a specific 14 week Boston Marathon training program. The training had gone well for me, experiencing only a few minor injuries along the way, nailing all my workouts in the last 6 weeks and achieving a new...
Shawn Stratton 2013 Boston Marathon Race Report – Note: This is a detailed personal account of my thoughts and experiences; it is not meant to be a philosophical account of my views on the race and the bombings. I realize that I am extremely fortunate to be minimally affected by the tragic events of April 15, 2013 My account is not meant to downplay the tragic loss and suffering that ensued that day. This is simply a brain dump of what happened to me to share with friends and family who are interested and as something I can look back on in years to come. Feel free to share. Pre-race: Having been participating in road-running races since I was 16, the Boston Marathon, the granddaddy of all amateur races, has always been on my radar – to participate in some day. I was thrilled when on September 22, 2012, I reached the qualifying time to run 2013 Boston; I registered for the 2013 race the next day. Despite winter conditions in Newfoundland, my training had been going well until about three weeks before race day. Over several training runs, and culminating with my last long run, I developed a spasm in my lower quad muscles and it was affecting the tracking of my kneecap. During this time I started to experience painful tendonitis-type pain around my kneecap. Not wanting to have to re-qualify for the race, and knowing that running in 2014 was not an option due to other commitments, I was determined to run this year despite my knee pain. I figured I had reached my peak fitness...
My First Marathon Goals I had never run the marathon distance (42.2 km) before so I didn’t really know what to expect. Like most athletic endeavors I had no shortage of goals and expectations. I did a ton of training, research, and talked with dozens of veteran marathoners. My #1 goal was to get to the start line with no major injuries. I have trained for a marathon twice before and both times I became injured with a debilitating knee injury so this year when I decided to train for another marathon my first concern was being healthy enough to start the race. The enormity of reaching this goal struck me at the start line of the race when the announcer said ‘by being here at the start line you are 99% of way to finishing a marathon.’ My #2 goal was to finish the race without any major injuries. As big as running a marathon is, my ultimate goal for this year is finishing the Ironman Canada Triathlon on August 30 in BC and I was using this race as a warm up. In the Ironman I will have to run a full marathon after swimming 4 km and biking 180 km. I knew there was a chance I could develop a season ending injury during the marathon that would jeopardize my dream of completing in the Ironman. My #3 goal was to finish in a time under 3:15. Based on a recent half marathon time, my training over the winter, and talking to fellow runners this felt like a very attainable goal. 3:15 is also the time...
Next week I will be running my second Boston Marathon, in lite of which I thought I would address the question I often get: why do you run? (Related – 2013 Boston Marathon Race Report) One of the most emotional moments I have ever had in achieving a goal was completing my second marathon. No it wasn’t finishing my first Ironman or the Boston Marathon with thousands of people cheering me on at the finish line. In fact, it was completing the St. John’s Marathon with a dozen or so spectators at the finish. The reason for my emotion was that I had achieved a long time goal of mine, i.e. running a marathon under 3 hours. I didn’t hoot and holler at the finish. No one around would have known the enormity of the moment for me as I choked up and that was just fine. I achieved a massive personal goal that I had worked my ass off for years, that only I cared about, and that is the joy of it. For me, running is a personal goal I have direct control over. A run is completed by only me and for the most part the success and failure I achieve is directly from my actions, not anyone else’s. Many of the other goals in my life revolve around other people, namely business and family goals. Sure, I can have a significant impact in these areas but the results also hinge on the desires and actions of other people. I have sales goals and audience growth goals for my business but at the end of the day, I can’t directly control if someone buys from me or signs...
Home Meet Shawn Meet Shawn Brochure Testimonials In the News Blog Masterminds Speaking Keynotes Breakouts Videos Team Building About Team Building Team Maintenance Team Construction Team Intervention Shop Contact Shawn Helping teams reach their potential through leadership. [rev_slider about] GET UPDATES FULL OF LEADERSHIP TIPS, TRICKS AND TALES 100% Privacy & No Spam CONNECT WITH SHAWN Shawn Stratton is an international leadership and team-building consultant, professional speaker, bestselling author, Ironman competitor, expedition guide and podcast host. Stratton has a Bachelors degree in Experiential Education and a Master of Arts in Leadership. Stratton is driven by a love for education, adventure, leadership, and team building. He has devoted 15 years to leading over 2,000 days of wilderness expeditions into some of the world’s harshest environments as a senior instructor with the National Outdoor Leadership School and other international organizations. Stratton has spent eight years consulting and professionally speaking internationally with corporations and associations on leadership development and team building. As a result, he has travelled extensively across six continents. Along the way, his skill for fostering powerful teams has made him a successful, sought-after leader and speaker. As a keynote speaker, Stratton brings energy, thought-provoking ideas, and a passion for team building to the stage. He shares breathtaking photos, captivating stories, and valuable leadership lessons that are just as relevant inside the boardroom as they are in the wilds of Alaska or the Himalayas. His first book, Teams on the Edge: Stories & Lessons from Wilderness Expeditions, released in 2013, was an instant bestseller. Stratton has sat on the boards of various volunteer organizations, which benefit from his dynamic leadership...
