Markemmanuel

I have a mixed history with my personal finances.  Early in life, my mom and dad taught me to be a great saver.  My mom taught me to invest my money wisely. I spent time with friends with bad financial habits.  Good habits were replaced with bad habits.  Through all this, I learned that I need to find a harmonious balance between the present and the future without being burdened by the past.

1. Increase income – A lack of income has been the Achilles heel of my current financial situation. Without the income, it’s extremely difficult to achieve other goals in my life.
2. Pay Down Consumer Debt- Eliminating debt reduces a financial burden and risk and frees me  from the past. It lowers my Cost of living. It gives an ‘instant’ net return, frees up earnings to invest, and opens up opportunities.
3. Minimizing Costs and Fees – Why give away money to a company for something you don’t need or can find for less.  The money saved by minimizing cost and fees can towards your passions, goals, and priorities.
4. Prioritize Spending – Some things in our lives are certainly more important than others. When we prioritize our spending it makes us fully aware of how our money is spent and allowing us to move in the direction we want to go.
5. Live Frugally – Frugal living isn’t acting and being cheap.  It’s about allocating financial resources to maximize its potential. It’s about being patient to find a great deal on something.
6. Enjoy Life – Enjoying life is essential to having a great financial life.  Allocating money enjoy life feeds the spirit if it nurtures the person and his passions. It prevents burn out and presents short term goals.

What are you doing to create a fit and fabulous financial life?

Far too many people tell me I am full of potential. I have not lived up to the standards I want to live at nor to the potential people see in me.  This is the year of living up to my full potential and taking control of my life. The requires that I change my mindset, perspective and action.

I will be focusing my energy improving five things in my life.  After careful reflection, I believe that these five areas in my life create the momentum in my life to get to the next phase of my life.

1. Personal Finance. I slid from one extreme to another through the years.  I saved TOO much money early on in my life and then spent TOO much money that I didn’t have accessible to me when I dated a girl that had bad financial habits.  Her bad habits rubbed off on me and now I’m struggle to get out of debt.  I complicate things, my income isn’t as reliable as I want it to be.  My financial goal this year is to achieve a harmonious balance between the present and future without the burden of the past.
2. Marathon Training. Running created a great positive shift in my life. It’s an area of strength where I can easily build momentum.  After feeling happy and content with this part of my life in 2010, I felt that it stagnated last year. I faced few frustrating roadblocks to improvement and injured myself. I did too much too late into training. This year, I’m starting early to develop a solid foundation to marathon training off of.  It’s easier to adjust to a schedule and adapt a situation when there is more time to resolve a problem.
3. Academic Consistency. The goal of school is to learn something enriching and not a grade.  It’s a shift in mindset that I have to full embrace. I’m so focused on trying to get an ‘A’ in one class that I neglect another class or mentally sabotage myself.  I drop out of classes or take a failing grade because of fear and lack of faith in myself.  My goal is to simple to finish what I started and independently study subjects I am genuinely interested in.
4. Discovery and Exploration. One of my many regrets is that I haven’t explored or enjoyed the world around me.  I’ve been so cloistered despite pining to go out, explore, and enjoy life. I want to see what’s beyond my current routine. I want to see things and meet people.  I want to grow as an individual.
5. Expanding the Social Circle. This year I want to nurture and expand my social circle. There are a lot of interesting individuals I’d like to meet and spend time with. I am who I spend time my time with.  To be who I want to be, I need to push out my comfort zone to connect with people to create lasting associations and friendships.

Although important, other things I want in my life are secondary or will ride on the back of my primary goals.  I can’t spread my energy thin or else the momentum won’t build. The momentum multiplies energy I put in and can be allocated to other places in my life.

I’m curious to know, what are you focusing on this year to rock out a better life?

When asked me how the Chicago Marathon went, I replied with the first thought and feeling that came to mind, “Disappointed.”

I ran a good race for the cards I was dealt that day.  In fact, I probably shouldn’t have ran that race but I felt obligated to finish what I started. I ran on an injured foot.  I finished under five hours, far from my personal best on that course.   I understood that I needed to take it easy so I can run another day.

Pace, form, strategy, and other running related thoughts no longer filled my mind.  I simply had to finish what I started.  During the marathon, they were replaced by a look back on my past four years.

I found myself disappointed with myself.  I’m no where close to where I want to be in my life.  I’m still in debt.  I’m still in school part time.  I continue to defer many of my dreams.  The biggest thing that bothered me were my regrets.  My regrets are not the things I did and wish I can take back.  They were things that I didn’t do.  So many opportunities and experiences were lost. Time passed me by.

A good runner doesn’t dwell on the past.  The runner must look forward. To get to where I want to go, I need to where I am and how I got here.  Are there any lessons to be learned from past mistakes and failures?  What resources do I have now? Where could I go? How can I go move from a state of dissatisfaction to one of jubilation? Until I can answer some of these questions, my life find itself directionless and facing the past.

Over the past two months, I reflected on the past two years of my life to tease out information that will carry me to a place I want to be.  I meditated over those questions.  I worked through the negative thoughts to discover positive ideas. With some of my questions answered and many positive ideas, it’s time to orient myself and head towards the direction I want my life to go.

Happiness is found along the way, not at the end of the road.

After three years of living in plastic bins, I finally bought real furniture. My clothing and possessions need a decent place to live.  I need more room to keep things organized.  Everything I owned were in disorganized piles on the floor, crammed and lost in plastic bins. It was a mess!

I had a few things in mind when I bought my stuff.  It had to fill two of my three criteria.  First, it had to be eco-sensitive.  The manufacturing, shipping, and end of life of the product needs to tread on the environment and society lightly.  Second, I prefer a product made in the United States of America made mostly with USA manufactured components. Finally, it has to fit within my budget.

I chose to furnish my place with storage units and a comfy couch to create some structure. In an ideal world, I would have found great pieces at garage sales and on garbage day.  I didn’t have time this summer to ramble around the Chicagoland area.  I need the storage and organization now.  Based on my shopping and research, I can’t afford quality furniture made in the USA. I finally settled on furniture on Ikea.  All the furniture I have should last me at least ten years.  I envision a long life cycle in which each piece will be re-purposed multiple times.

You probably think it’s crazy that I don’t own furniture.  It’s insane that I chose to live in plastic bins for three years. I did it to save money.  I thought I will more transient.  I did it to be a pretty nice fellow. After a past ex-girlfriend and I broke up, I allowed her to take my furniture we bought together since she started fresh when she moved home. I was jumping from apartment to apartment.  I finally decided to save money and move in with my parents.  She promised she’d pay me back but I guess she forgot.  She’s getting married soon and I won’t want to mess with her wedding savings plans. However, $2500.00 would be very nice in my pocket.  Time to wash my hands of the $2500 and move on.  I don’t want to be the horrible ex. I promised myself no more negative vibes and stop looking back. That’s how runners lose races.  That’s how I’ll lose forward progression in my current journey.  I also hope she has a wonderful wedding.

Now that I have fly furniture, you’re probably wondering what happened to those bins.  I reused them and I’m storing my detailing supplies. Reduce, reuse, and re-purpose is a great mantra to follow.

There are a lot of runs scheduled during the Chicagoland winters.  I registered for a few so I can focus my energy on some running goal.  I chose races tasty races this year.  They’re part fun, part speed workout, and part delicious!

Run 3.14 Pie – November 24th at 8:30a

http://run314pie.com/

It’s their inaugural race but it looks promising.  First, the race is named after pie.  That’s a good sign.  Second, they used 3.14 as part of the race’s name.  The #RunNerd in me got kinda excited about numbers.  Finally, they’ll be giving a Sara Lee Pumpkin Pie to the first 500 registrants.  Mmmmm!!! Pie in LaGrange, IL

5k Chilly Chili Race – December 3rd at 12:30p

http://www.parkfun.com/events/event-details/2011/07/18/5k-chilly-chili-race

They serve chili and beer on a chilly December Day.  I’ll be working retail during the holiday season in Schaumburg, IL.  This is an ideal race for me to pre-game before work on delicious chili and beer.  I’ll needed with the occasional non-regulars that will attempt to wrestle discounts out of me.  (Side note: I’m pretty super flexible and nice IF you regularly visit the place I work at OR you’re super nice and patient with me. Hell, it works with anyone that works retail.)

Midwinter Cruise 5k – Mid-January

http://www.pfrpc.com/index.php/club-news

The Midwinter Cruise has been featured in a number of websites and magazines.  You run a 5k and they serve you pancakes.  Sounds tasty! I totally dig that the running group that hosts this is called the Park Forest Running and Pancake Club.  It’s a bit of a drive down to Forest Park, IL but pancakes are definitely worth it!

I love reading recaps of the personal journey of others.  We trained all summer for this moment.  Each of us walked onto the course with different expectations, experiences, and purpose.  Here’s a list of recaps and results I’ve read so far.

Turtle Against Cancer - “Happy Birthday, Sarah” Dave ran with Sarah “Birthday Girl” Coulam this year, raised money for the American Cancer Society, and became a Marathon Maniac that day.  Here’s a snippet from his blog that shows why he’s so awesome… “Running a marathon is largely a solitary activity, but we had taken it on together. When we drifted apart, it became difficult to hold it together. I compensated by finding other people to help.”

Deekin – “My Second Marathon- 2011 Chicago Marathon” Joe ran his second marathon this year.  I thoroughly enjoy reading his mile by mile recap.  I’m so happy that he enjoyed this race so much more than last year.

Cubicle Dad – “My 2011 Chicago Marathon Recap, part 1” It’s also his second marathon. Dan kept on moving despite what happened to him that day. The “wounded Gazelle” kept running. Awesome job Dan!

We Wonder We Ponder – “Chicago Marathon 2011: Race Recap” Do you want to know why I loved reading Jenny’s race report?  She qualified for Boston, she met a DailyMiler she follows for the first time WHILE running, AND she peed while running so she can BQ.  I gotta give her some #RunNerd props for that.

Ali Engin – “Chicago Marathon Gallery” While this isn’t a blog, these are great photos of the Chicago Marathon.  I encourage everyone to check out Ali Engin’s Gallery of Chicago Marathon photos.

Good for You - “Volunteering at the Chicago Marathon” Go check out the volunteer’s perspective at Cate’s blog.  I’ve volunteered at the expo of every Chicago Marathon I’ve ran in. Volunteers make or break an event.  Volunteers that does race day setup and strike rock.  ‘Nuff said.  Thank you to all the volunteers that makes the day special.

The Robbins Nest – “The Chicago Marathon… Our Experience” Running a marathon was on Eddie Robbins’ “before I die” list. After losing over one hundred pounds, he decided on Chicago for its a flat autumn race (sorry for the Chicago weather!). Finishing the Chicago Marathon added to the list of states that he has traveled to run.  Congratulations on the weight loss Eddie!

A Girl Runs Through It - “Chicago Marathon – Race Day” She was so close to qualifying for the Boston Marathon but she earned a personal record 15 minutes faster than her previous one! I also learned that beets turned urine red.  Who knew?!”

…And some more:

• Finishing Firsts – “Chicago Marathon 2011 Recap“
• DetermiNators.org – “Chelsea’s Experience with DetermiNation“
• DetermiNators.org – “Running for DetermiNation – A Chicago Marathon to Remember and Honor“

If you have a race recap, result, or story on your blog about your 2011 Chicago Marathon experience, let me know! I’ll add it to this post.

PS- Here’s a link to the list of 2010 Chicago Marathon recaps.

I found myself disappointed with this year’s run.  It’s a dis-satisfaction that ate inside me.  It wasn’t the race that beat me.  The annoying new configuration with charity village out in no man’s land didn’t beat me.  It was myself.  I gave up on myself. However, there is a lot to be proud of.

I burned some energy off to get from charity village. It’s a REALLY far jog from the seeded corral area.  The race started off well but I didn’t follow my plan well.  I ran a full minute faster for ten miles than I should.  I just felt good and was able to sing/have a conversation. Every mile I tried to slow it down. I started questioning motivations to run and my life, everything.  I got it to where I wanted it to be and then BAM! I cramped up by Malcolm X College.  I slowed down to recover and continued on.  The legs just gave up in Greektown right before Little Italy.  Usually, I work on myself to jump start my body but I mentally gave up on myself. That’s never happened to me before while I ran.  I jogged Pilsen when I was able to run it.  I walked Chinatown because I was afraid.

The names on my shirt kept me going.  DetermiNation cheered their team on.  The DetermiNation coaches encouraged me and reminded me of why I’m running.  I’m running for my uncle.  I’m running for Nikki’s sister.  I’m running for Tina’s mom.  I’m running for Pam’s friend Tamara who’s currently fighting the fight. I’m out there for a higher purpose.

I finished the Chicago Marathon in 4 hours 51 minutes and 38 seconds. Ugh.

Charity Village was much farther than I remembered it. It felt like a death march going to the tents.  The disappointment kept repeating itself in my head. It felt good meeting up with my mom, Patrick, and Mari at the DetermiNation tent.  I tore into my bag to find my phone. I wanted to see how other people did.  Matthew finished his first marathon but didn’t get the time he wanted. He did it in sub four hours due to cramps. (I’ll gladly take that finishing time!) Chris and Diane were still on the course with a predicted time of under six hours. They’re closer to being officially being marathoners.  When I received the text messages that they finished, their finish soothed my personal disappointment.  I was so happy they safely finished.

There’s a lot to be proud of.  I raised $1,198.61 for the American Cancer Society through their DetermiNation charity team. I missed a month’s worth of training prior to the marathon due to a foot injury.  Despite giving up on myself around mile 15, I completed the entire distance. I didn’t have to run it.  I could have disqualified myself early in the race.  I didn’t.  I finished it.

What’s next for me?  I really don’t know. I love the run.  This race took a lot from me especially when I compare it to last year’s run.  I’ll have a few weeks to figure everything out while I recover.  Maybe I’ll just focus on getting faster in the shorter distances.