Monthly Archives: December 2012

December 30, 2012 · 4:04 PM

End of 2012 Recycled Post: One Final Act of Stupidity For 2010

For those who know me, my fits of stupidity will not be anything new to you. But, I need to relate one final (I hope) Coach Hays stupid moment for 2010. Yesterday, I was running a mile on the treadmill as the weather was kind of nasty outdoors. I was around the half mile mark when this Achilles’ tendon inflammation problem I have been fighting started flaring up.

It ticks me off, because I hate my “old man” afflictions. Out of blind, stupid pride, I stop the treadmill and kick my socks and shoes off then hit “Start”. I AM GOING TO FINISH THIS RUN. Besides, it’s only a bit less than a half a mile to go.

Well it’s not so bad to run barefoot, a little loud on the treadmill, but nobody else is home, so it won’t bother anyone. And you know those Kenyans run barefoot all the time, so it can’t be THAT bad.

With about a quarter mile left, there is a strange feeling beginning in the balls of my feet, but I keep going. There’s only a few more minutes to go, I can finish this. I need to finish this. So I tread on one step at a time. Finally, I am done and hit stop with a great sense of accomplishment.

Then it starts, the burning pain in the balls of my feet increases exponentially. I can feel the blisters forming on my feet. Oh, boy! I’ve done it this time.

Long story short, I am now a little smarter. I learn some hard lessons with every painful step as my blisters subside. I have learned the following.

Fat, old guys should not run barefoot. Anywhere. Anytime.
I need to be smarter about working out. Two days off of my feet was not worth the 1/4 mile I ran barefoot.
Finally, I am not a Kenyan marathoner

Have a safe and happy New Year’s Eve! Tomorrow we will start a new year and have a post on resolutions and the the start of the fitness new year on April 1, 2011. Last year’s post on the subject is AQUI

Step Up

Coach Pat Kelsey’s courage shown in his press conference trumps everything I had in line for the The Coach Hays blog.

Decent human values are important.

They must be taught

They must be lived.

Be an agent of change.

It is time.

Step up!

The Isaiah Awesomeness

“For to us is born, to us a son is given; and the government will be upon his shoulder, and his name will be called ‘Wonder Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.’ Of the increase of his government and of peace there will be no end, upon the throne of David, and over his kingdom, to establish it, and to uphold it with justice and with righteousness from this time forth and for evermore.” (Isaiah 9:6-7).

Regardless of religion, faith, or beliefs, these words from Isaiah are magnificent. An amazing couple of sentences; perhaps even a couple of the most beautiful sentences recorded in mankind’s history.

It’s definitely one of the best introductions in written history. Can you imagine the guest speaker at an event taking the podium with an introduction using the words from Isaiah? “Holy moly, Ralph! I didn’t know the upholder of justice and righteousness from this time forth and for everyone is our Noon Optimist Club speaker this week.”

I want to be better when I read these words, especially when the narrator in my head uses his James Earl Jones voice reciting them. These words inspire me to be a better husband, father, writer, scientist, athlete, and coach. In other words, they just make me want to be a better human being.

Wonder Counselor! Are you kidding me? That is next-level awesomeness.

Leap Of Faith, Trust Your Cape

Being a part of a marriage, a family, or any sort of a team requires the players to take a leap of faith to achieve success. To build this type of faith, there needs to be built a trust between all involved. Faith and trust that the other members of the team unit will take care of their role and do the thing, or things, they are supposed to do. It is a simple concept of a team unit. Everyone has a job and needs to focus on accomplishing that job.
It’s not easy, though. It is not easy to trust that someone else will hold their own, especially when you know their faults and their weaknesses. It’s easy to lack faith in each other and try to perform all the parts yourself. This doesn’t work very well, believe me.
Trust doesn’t come prepackaged and FedEx’d overnight at our convenience. This type of trust and faith needs to be pounded into shape with consistency and time and repetition. Perform adequately. Every time. Over time. The harder the challenge, the more faith and trust is built; a baptism by fire, as I like to say.
When you trust those around you, it’s like wearing the superhero’s cape. Your cape gives you powers beyond just yourself, it makes you stronger, and it makes you a better individual. With a team, a family, or a marriage, the more intertwined the individuals are, the stronger the unit becomes. We need to help those around us build with their own capes by being faithful and trustworthy teammates.

So, be a true and faithful teammate, wear your capes proudly, and live life as Guy Clark wrote in his song, The Cape: