Inspiration.

What's in Store

1. Quote of the Week

2. Community Spotlight

3. Something We Learned this Week

4. Monarx Update

5. Recommendation of the Week

Quote of the Week

Community Spotlight

Ethan Lewe

Race: Chicago Marathon (Sunday October 13, 2024)

A Note from Ethan

I’m running for Good Sports, which is a national nonprofit that gives kids in low-income communities greater access to sports and physical activity by donating brand-new sports equipment. It’s a wonderful opportunity to partner with an organization that means so much to me. The lessons learned and skills built on and off the field is something I hope every child has the ability to experience.

The reason I got invested into running is because I was moving to Italy for 5 months post graduation. I started building base miles in the states with the hope of exploring each city I visit through running. I got to run my first race in Florence, Italy… and I was hooked. I ran my first marathon a year later in Los Angeles; and a few months later, I paced my brother for the San Diego Marathon. Running has brought me and my friends and family closer as it has given me a niche opportunity to hangout and put quality work in at the same time. I am by no means a runner. But I hope to keep exploring new cities, make new friends, and be present with old ones… all while putting my foot to the pavement.

Let’s get after it this year. Last Set, Best Set.

Link to Donate: https://fundraisers.hakuapp.com/ethan-lewe

Something We Learned this Week

A typical training session to improve lactate threshold consists of a 15-to 20-minute warm-up, followed by a 20- to 40-minute tempo run and a 15-minute cool-down.

- Pete Pfitzinger and Scott Douglas (Advanced Marathoning)

Monarx Update

On the social media front we have more than 2x our Instagram followers over the past month by posting daily content.

Plans to release running hats this Spring have been put in motion.

Recommendation of the Week

Interesting read.

How often do we truly feel inspired? It's a fleeting sensation, yet potent when we feel it.

An entry the founder and CEO of OpenAI, Sam Altman’s blog titled What I Wish Someone Had Told Me, "Inspiration is perishable and life goes by fast. Inaction is a particularly insidious type of risk."

While discipline often paves the path to our goals, the rare moments of inspiration are so powerful as they can show where we need to go. To disregard these moments is to do ourselves a disservice. Yet, all too often, we allow inaction to bind us, citing every reason under the sun to justify our reluctance to make a change:

• "I’m too busy."

• "I don’t have the talent."

• "My friends or family will think differently of me."

As time passes, the initial surge of inspiration wanes, but the dream remains, untouched in the back of our mind. We tend to consider external timing a bit too much. We wait for the moment when the stars align in our environment to start something new but why is it that we don’t seize the opportunity when the stars align internally. The truth is, the perfect moment for action is rarely external but internal. When inspiration strikes, it provides a clarity and direction. However, hesitate too long, and the clarity disappears as if it were never there.

So if you’re inspired to say something, say it. If you’re inspired to do something, do it. Embrace the clarity and momentum that comes with inspiration.

It's not just about taking action after feeling inspired; it's equally important to seek out and nurture what inspires you. Inspiration is food for the Soul

So, how do we make the most of inspiration when it strikes? Firstly, recognize the value of these moments. They are gifts, opportunities to venture into new opportunities. Secondly, take concrete steps towards your inspired vision, no matter how small. Lastly, cultivate an environment that fosters inspiration. Surround yourself with people, ideas, and experiences that ignite your passion and drive.

Remember that inspiration, while fleeting, is a powerful catalyst for change. It’s a beacon in the fog, offering a clear path forward—if only for a moment. The challenge, and opportunity, lies in our willingness to act upon it. By embracing inspiration and the actions it urges us to take, we open ourselves to a life lived with purpose. Let us not waste the gift of inspiration; instead, let it be the fuel that propels us toward our dreams.

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