If you had to do it all over again, what would YOU change?

I wouldn't have taken so much Lithium during those debates. I would have run on Clinton's record. I would have called for a statewide recount of Florida right away.

I would've iced my achilles tendons before rupturing 1 of them. My body warned me plenty prior.

I would have hit golf balls for an hour twice a day instead of running.

Better ROI

I would have run more in high school. However, I went to a podunk school with a coach who knew nothing about running.

I would have started the high school XC team earlier than my senior year of high school. I went to State, but I would have done better with more experience.

I wouldn't have all but quit racing between 1996 and now while my kids were growing up. I could have found the time to race if I had been more determined. Now, it's like starting all over.

Work-related: Although I love my job, I would have stayed with my government job. It was perfect for training with no O/T, lots of holidays and vacation/sick days, low stress, and a retirement plan. There was also travel where I could race all over the country on the taxpayers' dime.

In general, I would try to let the little things go. They're not worth fretting over.

If I knew then what I know now...

I'd start jogging 4-5milers on grass 5 days a week when I was in the 3rd grade and go from there....

I wouldn't run for the college team. I'm glad I went to the school I did.....had a great academic experience, met my wife there, etc. But the head coach was an ex-shot putter who eventually pushed the asst. coach (who recruited and wrote the workouts) out of the picture. I was so burned out on running by the time he was done with me that I left the sport for about four years.

I would pay a lot better attention to eating the right way in high school and college. How I ran well on raceday breakfast of Fruity Pebble and little chocolate donuts is beyond me.

I would "smell the roses" a little more, rather than immediately focusing on the next race. Every awards ceremony photo I have from high school has me looking like I'm at a funeral. I should have enjoyed those experiences a bit more.

I would spend more time helping my teammates, rather than focusing as much on individual goals. I'd trade all of my individual titles for a bunch of team titles.

I'd try to switch shoes out before they hit 1000 miles. Cash flow sometimes made that impossible.

Wish I woulda trained slower & further.

Also wish I woulda ran in minimum shoes.

Ohh well better late then never.

Simply - I would have run more.

Al Gore wrote:

I wouldn't have taken so much Lithium during those debates. I would have run on Clinton's record. I would have called for a statewide recount of Florida right away.

And a statewide recount would have confirmed a Bush victory.

From the New York Times:

November 12, 2001

Study of Disputed Florida Ballots Finds Justices Did Not Cast the Deciding Vote

By FORD FESSENDEN and JOHN M. BRODER

A comprehensive review of the uncounted Florida ballots from last year's presidential election reveals that George W. Bush would have won even if the United States Supreme Court had allowed the statewide manual recount of the votes that the Florida Supreme Court had ordered to go forward.

Contrary to what many partisans of former Vice President Al Gore have charged, the United States Supreme Court did not award an election to Mr. Bush that otherwise would have been won by Mr. Gore. A close examination of the ballots found that Mr. Bush would have retained a slender margin over Mr. Gore if the Florida court's order to recount more than 43,000 ballots had not been reversed by the United States Supreme Court.

I wouldn't have dropped off my high school team to party.

I wouldn't have dropped out of college and off the team to party.

I wouldn't have quit training in my 20's to party.

I might've run more than 6 months during my 30's (and partied a little bit less).

Oh, and I would've run my EZ days far easier, made a point of never "racing" my hard days, and raced (for real) more often--instead of waiting to be in "perfect" shape before giving a race a whirl.

I would've understood that running is a lifestyle, not a distraction.

(Did I mention that the smoking didn't really help things?)

I would have run more mileage in HS - maybe even run on a Sunday once in awhile.

I would have done longer long days in college, never did over 10 miles long runs, never did more than 80 in a week. Too many two-a-days and not enough long runs.

Most of my changes would have been with women though. I would have gone home with a specific girl my Sophomore year of college. I remember that like it was yesterday...I still bang my head against the mirror every time I think about that time....she was my dream girl, and I let her get away.......but that is a long story...........

Things I would have changed.......

1. Taken more time off instead of trying to always be in shape.

2. Put together a four year plan instead of year to year to see the bigger picture, and.....

3. Moved to Sacramento so I could hang out with the really cool people in California.

If I could go back and change one thing in my life, I think it would be that time I found that one-dollar bill on the sidewalk. I would change it to a million-dollar bill.

What happened there?

scotth wrote:

... and swung wide of that muddy depression in the middle of the woods north of Grayling in Sept '82.

I would have paid better attention to hydration, since it's probably a major factor in developing diverticulitis at age 40. I only flares up every 18 months or so, but when it does, it hurts like HELL.

I can relate with SoCal Pete, I would have gone to practice when the Community College coach called me ..I was running to get over a chick who dumped me because I partied too much...and the coach saw me running..I still wonder ..what if...I think the nation of Columbia should give me a house or two because of the money I sent down there from all the weed...and like a typical old man...ahhh those young ladies from back in the day

Chuck Darwin wrote:

Where's the love and peace you always speak of?

Flagpole Willy wrote:

I HATE anyone who went to high school that had a rowing team. Or a water polo team or a boys volleyball team.

I also hate anyone who had a pony.

Chuck Darwin,

No need to worry. I'm still about peace and love. The HATE was just all a joke. I figured everyone would realize that with the Seinfeld reference "I hat anyone who had a pony" line in there.

CO-Runner wrote:

What happened there?

scotth wrote:

... and swung wide of that muddy depression in the middle of the woods north of Grayling in Sept '82.

The memory still plagues me...and to think, I rode my bike right past the general area yesterday (I was vacationing in Grayling which is 140 miles north of me).

While on my honeymoon in '82, I went for a run in the woods, down two-tracks and such...essentially following my nose. Coming up on a muddy depression, I didn't think twice and stepped into it. One second later, I was laying in a puddle. I'd fallen swiftly and awkwardly, doing serious damage to my left leg. Laid there a moment assessing the pain.

Got up, walked about 200 meters, then managed a slow trot back to the motel. It was pretty achy and tight the next day on a short run. The following day, raced 10 km in just over 32 minutes and was capable of about 30-40 seconds faster. My mistake was, first, stepping into the muddy depression and, two, trying to run on it the next days and, three, racing on it was too dumb for words.

I tried running some off and on for next 2 months, then was off until early July '83. Somehow, someway, I was never the same runner again. Oh, I ran some decent races over the next 10 years, kept putting in adequate miles (including a 2008 day 'streak') but never really ran as well as pre-Sept '82.

Somehow I find myself far out of line

from the ones I had drawn

Wasn't the best of paths, you could attest to that,

but I'm keeping on.

Would our paths cross if every great loss

had turned out our gain?

Would our paths cross if the pain it had cost us

was paid in vain?

There was no pot of gold, hardly a rainbow

lighting my way

But I will be true to the red, black and blues

that colored those days.

I owe my soul to each fork in the road,

each misleading sign.

'Cause even in solitude, no bitter attitude

can dissolve my sweetest find

Thanksgiving for every wrong move that made it right