[Music] [Applause]
[Applause]
[Applause] okay first thank you for letting me
okay first thank you for letting me
okay first thank you for letting me speak in English I think if I would have
speak in English I think if I would have
speak in English I think if I would have spoken in Ukranian it would have been
spoken in Ukranian it would have been
spoken in Ukranian it would have been just label secondly I thought I was
just label secondly I thought I was
just label secondly I thought I was talking about running what happened
talking about running what happened
talking about running what happened there he was talking too much about
there he was talking too much about
there he was talking too much about running but that’s okay so you should
running but that’s okay so you should
running but that’s okay so you should all be running I know some of you
all be running I know some of you
all be running I know some of you already have talked to me and said you
already have talked to me and said you
already have talked to me and said you don’t think of yourselves as athletic or
don’t think of yourselves as athletic or
don’t think of yourselves as athletic or runners some of you already run maybe
runners some of you already run maybe
runners some of you already run maybe you’re already a champion runner it
you’re already a champion runner it
you’re already a champion runner it doesn’t matter to me the fact is that
doesn’t matter to me the fact is that
doesn’t matter to me the fact is that you should be running so why should you
you should be running so why should you
you should be running so why should you be running well it’s very cheap all you
be running well it’s very cheap all you
be running well it’s very cheap all you need is shoes probably some other
need is shoes probably some other
need is shoes probably some other clothing also you can do it anywhere I
clothing also you can do it anywhere I
clothing also you can do it anywhere I mean I could run up and down here I
mean I could run up and down here I
mean I could run up and down here I could go outside you can run anywhere
could go outside you can run anywhere
could go outside you can run anywhere it’s the easiest sport to compete in at
it’s the easiest sport to compete in at
it’s the easiest sport to compete in at any time and also maybe you’ve heard
any time and also maybe you’ve heard
any time and also maybe you’ve heard about the runner’s high some people
about the runner’s high some people
about the runner’s high some people compare it to narcotic euphoria and who
compare it to narcotic euphoria and who
compare it to narcotic euphoria and who wouldn’t want to do something that’s
wouldn’t want to do something that’s
wouldn’t want to do something that’s good for your body that gets you high
good for your body that gets you high
good for your body that gets you high right I mean I I am NOT a doctor or a
right I mean I I am NOT a doctor or a
right I mean I I am NOT a doctor or a scientist so I’m not going to tell you
scientist so I’m not going to tell you
scientist so I’m not going to tell you all the reasons that running is good for
all the reasons that running is good for
all the reasons that running is good for your body I don’t have that research
your body I don’t have that research
your body I don’t have that research with me I’m also actually not a champion
with me I’m also actually not a champion
with me I’m also actually not a champion runner I’ve never won a race I think in
runner I’ve never won a race I think in
runner I’ve never won a race I think in my entire life but what I am is somebody
my entire life but what I am is somebody
my entire life but what I am is somebody whose philosophy of life is better
whose philosophy of life is better
whose philosophy of life is better because of running and what I want you
because of running and what I want you
because of running and what I want you to see is that running shows us life as
to see is that running shows us life as
to see is that running shows us life as it really is and not only that but your
it really is and not only that but your
it really is and not only that but your philosophy of living will be better if
philosophy of living will be better if
philosophy of living will be better if you start and continue running so I
you start and continue running so I
you start and continue running so I started running when I was about 14
started running when I was about 14
started running when I was about 14 years old at that time I was a baseball
years old at that time I was a baseball
years old at that time I was a baseball player and like most people I had
player and like most people I had
player and like most people I had certain assumptions about life one of
certain assumptions about life one of
certain assumptions about life one of those assumptions was that people who
those assumptions was that people who
those assumptions was that people who run for fun are bosavi Tony they’re
run for fun are bosavi Tony they’re
run for fun are bosavi Tony they’re crazy because I figure playing baseball
crazy because I figure playing baseball
crazy because I figure playing baseball if I make a mistake my coach makes me
if I make a mistake my coach makes me
if I make a mistake my coach makes me run so if you like to run you like
run so if you like to run you like
run so if you like to run you like punishment that’s the simple equation
punishment that’s the simple equation
punishment that’s the simple equation well 15 years later I’m not playing
well 15 years later I’m not playing
well 15 years later I’m not playing baseball anymore
baseball anymore
baseball anymore but I’m still running most days of the
but I’m still running most days of the
but I’m still running most days of the week so what happened well I was wrong
week so what happened well I was wrong
week so what happened well I was wrong the first lesson that running taught me
the first lesson that running taught me
the first lesson that running taught me was that I needed to challenge my
was that I needed to challenge my
was that I needed to challenge my assumptions if I was going to experience
assumptions if I was going to experience
assumptions if I was going to experience something that was going to make my life
something that was going to make my life
something that was going to make my life better but there’s also something else
better but there’s also something else
better but there’s also something else interesting running is now one of my
interesting running is now one of my
interesting running is now one of my assumptions I assume that running is
assumptions I assume that running is
assumptions I assume that running is good for me and that I will enjoy it and
good for me and that I will enjoy it and
good for me and that I will enjoy it and that it’s making my life better so
that it’s making my life better so
that it’s making my life better so running has both taught me that we must
running has both taught me that we must
running has both taught me that we must challenge our assumptions but that
challenge our assumptions but that
challenge our assumptions but that skepticism is not a good way of life
skepticism is not a good way of life
skepticism is not a good way of life indefinitely
indefinitely
indefinitely there are certain assumptions worth
there are certain assumptions worth
there are certain assumptions worth having and worth living with throughout
having and worth living with throughout
having and worth living with throughout our entire lives a few years after I
our entire lives a few years after I
our entire lives a few years after I challenged my assumption about running I
challenged my assumption about running I
challenged my assumption about running I went off to the big and scary world of
went off to the big and scary world of
went off to the big and scary world of University and I didn’t do really well
University and I didn’t do really well
University and I didn’t do really well now I did well as a student I actually
now I did well as a student I actually
now I did well as a student I actually got almost all A’s perfect grades and I
got almost all A’s perfect grades and I
got almost all A’s perfect grades and I did very well in all of my classes but
did very well in all of my classes but
did very well in all of my classes but socially and personally I didn’t do very
socially and personally I didn’t do very
socially and personally I didn’t do very well at all during my first year at
well at all during my first year at
well at all during my first year at university I fell into a pretty dark and
university I fell into a pretty dark and
university I fell into a pretty dark and deep depression and that depression
deep depression and that depression
deep depression and that depression lasted for most of my entire first-year
lasted for most of my entire first-year
lasted for most of my entire first-year University I didn’t want to eat I looked
University I didn’t want to eat I looked
University I didn’t want to eat I looked forward to going to sleep at night most
forward to going to sleep at night most
forward to going to sleep at night most during the day I knew that when I woke
during the day I knew that when I woke
during the day I knew that when I woke up in the morning I wasn’t going to want
up in the morning I wasn’t going to want
up in the morning I wasn’t going to want to face whatever the next day was going
to face whatever the next day was going
to face whatever the next day was going to hold it was difficult overwhelming
to hold it was difficult overwhelming
to hold it was difficult overwhelming and lonely during the same time I was
and lonely during the same time I was
and lonely during the same time I was actually taking a running class and
actually taking a running class and
actually taking a running class and every time I went to class I had to
every time I went to class I had to
every time I went to class I had to reach a certain goal for the day and
reach a certain goal for the day and
reach a certain goal for the day and every class I had to increase that goal
every class I had to increase that goal
every class I had to increase that goal to continue getting better and while I
to continue getting better and while I
to continue getting better and while I was usually the last one finished it was
was usually the last one finished it was
was usually the last one finished it was because I was setting such high goals
because I was setting such high goals
because I was setting such high goals for myself most of the other students in
for myself most of the other students in
for myself most of the other students in the class just thought of this as a joke
the class just thought of this as a joke
the class just thought of this as a joke class but for me every time I went to
class but for me every time I went to
class but for me every time I went to class I was facing the difficulty of
class I was facing the difficulty of
class I was facing the difficulty of living during that time the difficulty
living during that time the difficulty
living during that time the difficulty of even enjoying life if that was
of even enjoying life if that was
of even enjoying life if that was possible
possible
possible marathon runners are very familiar with
marathon runners are very familiar with
marathon runners are very familiar with something that’s called hitting the wall
something that’s called hitting the wall
something that’s called hitting the wall hitting the wall happens somewhere far
hitting the wall happens somewhere far
hitting the wall happens somewhere far in
in
in your run and what happens is either your
your run and what happens is either your
your run and what happens is either your mind or your body just feels like it
mind or your body just feels like it
mind or your body just feels like it shuts off completely
shuts off completely
shuts off completely you can try to train you can try to eat
you can try to train you can try to eat
you can try to train you can try to eat certain things to make it stop happening
certain things to make it stop happening
certain things to make it stop happening but when it happens your mind may feel
but when it happens your mind may feel
but when it happens your mind may feel like you can’t focus you can’t just look
like you can’t focus you can’t just look
like you can’t focus you can’t just look at the road and put one foot in front of
at the road and put one foot in front of
at the road and put one foot in front of the other your body may feel like it’s
the other your body may feel like it’s
the other your body may feel like it’s just completely weak and you can’t keep
just completely weak and you can’t keep
just completely weak and you can’t keep running when it happens you can try to
running when it happens you can try to
running when it happens you can try to drink coca-cola or eat candies or
drink coca-cola or eat candies or
drink coca-cola or eat candies or certain things to try to not make it
certain things to try to not make it
certain things to try to not make it happen or to try to get through it but
happen or to try to get through it but
happen or to try to get through it but there’s one thing that you have to do if
there’s one thing that you have to do if
there’s one thing that you have to do if you’re going to finish the race when you
you’re going to finish the race when you
you’re going to finish the race when you hit the wall keep running you can’t stop
hit the wall keep running you can’t stop
hit the wall keep running you can’t stop at that point if you stop when you hit
at that point if you stop when you hit
at that point if you stop when you hit the wall it’s done you’re finished for
the wall it’s done you’re finished for
the wall it’s done you’re finished for the rest of the race I think anybody who
the rest of the race I think anybody who
the rest of the race I think anybody who talks to you about running who has been
talks to you about running who has been
talks to you about running who has been running long enough will tell you it’s
running long enough will tell you it’s
running long enough will tell you it’s taught than one thing the only way to
taught than one thing the only way to
taught than one thing the only way to real success is perseverance you have to
real success is perseverance you have to
real success is perseverance you have to continue running day after day and when
continue running day after day and when
continue running day after day and when you’re in a race even when it’s
you’re in a race even when it’s
you’re in a race even when it’s difficult you keep running and so that’s
difficult you keep running and so that’s
difficult you keep running and so that’s what I did during that time in my life –
what I did during that time in my life –
what I did during that time in my life – when I hit my life wall the depression I
when I hit my life wall the depression I
when I hit my life wall the depression I continued running I continued living
continued running I continued living
continued running I continued living even though I felt like I didn’t want to
even though I felt like I didn’t want to
even though I felt like I didn’t want to you and you know what I found joy on the
you and you know what I found joy on the
you and you know what I found joy on the other side of that and realized that
other side of that and realized that
other side of that and realized that perseverance was something I needed in
perseverance was something I needed in
perseverance was something I needed in my life to make the most out of them
my life to make the most out of them
my life to make the most out of them during that time of my life I was mostly
during that time of my life I was mostly
during that time of my life I was mostly running alone well soon after that I
running alone well soon after that I
running alone well soon after that I started running with people figuratively
started running with people figuratively
started running with people figuratively and literally I made more friends and
and literally I made more friends and
and literally I made more friends and started enjoying life alongside of other
started enjoying life alongside of other
started enjoying life alongside of other people more often and those people
people more often and those people
people more often and those people actually encouraged me to start running
actually encouraged me to start running
actually encouraged me to start running half marathons which I did and recently
half marathons which I did and recently
half marathons which I did and recently I ran a half marathon in the local city
I ran a half marathon in the local city
I ran a half marathon in the local city of Ivana for donkeys
of Ivana for donkeys
of Ivana for donkeys it was great and I had the goal for
it was great and I had the goal for
it was great and I had the goal for myself to run the fastest half marathon
myself to run the fastest half marathon
myself to run the fastest half marathon I had ever run in my life so I trained I
I had ever run in my life so I trained I
I had ever run in my life so I trained I trained I trained I trained and I was
trained I trained I trained and I was
trained I trained I trained and I was set on running the fastest time I had
set on running the fastest time I had
set on running the fastest time I had ever run so race day came got up to the
ever run so race day came got up to the
ever run so race day came got up to the starting line the gun fires and we all
starting line the gun fires and we all
starting line the gun fires and we all start running and I’m you know I’m
start running and I’m you know I’m
start running and I’m you know I’m feeling pretty good I’m doing alright
feeling pretty good I’m doing alright
feeling pretty good I’m doing alright going running along and then after a
going running along and then after a
going running along and then after a little bit
little bit
little bit you know I kind of get that like that
you know I kind of get that like that
you know I kind of get that like that feeling like this is it I’m gonna do
feeling like this is it I’m gonna do
feeling like this is it I’m gonna do this and so I just start running real
this and so I just start running real
this and so I just start running real fast right and I’m like I’m passing
fast right and I’m like I’m passing
fast right and I’m like I’m passing people left-right left-right like I’m
people left-right left-right like I’m
people left-right left-right like I’m I’m just going for it I’m doing awesome
I’m just going for it I’m doing awesome
I’m just going for it I’m doing awesome and I see one guy up ahead and I’m like
and I see one guy up ahead and I’m like
and I see one guy up ahead and I’m like all right I need to catch him because
all right I need to catch him because
all right I need to catch him because he’s running fast so I pick it up I run
he’s running fast so I pick it up I run
he’s running fast so I pick it up I run real fast right and I get right up next
real fast right and I get right up next
real fast right and I get right up next to him and as soon as I’m starting to
to him and as soon as I’m starting to
to him and as soon as I’m starting to pass him he looks over and he starts
pass him he looks over and he starts
pass him he looks over and he starts running faster too and so he was not
running faster too and so he was not
running faster too and so he was not gonna let me pass him so I thought this
gonna let me pass him so I thought this
gonna let me pass him so I thought this is okay you know I will run faster than
is okay you know I will run faster than
is okay you know I will run faster than him for longer I can do that so we run
him for longer I can do that so we run
him for longer I can do that so we run together we’re running together for
together we’re running together for
together we’re running together for about a kilometer about two kilometers
about a kilometer about two kilometers
about a kilometer about two kilometers five kilometers I realize that about
five kilometers I realize that about
five kilometers I realize that about eight or nine kilometers I don’t think
eight or nine kilometers I don’t think
eight or nine kilometers I don’t think I’m going to beat him I think we’re
I’m going to beat him I think we’re
I’m going to beat him I think we’re probably going to finish together so
probably going to finish together so
probably going to finish together so while I’m running I start talking to him
while I’m running I start talking to him
while I’m running I start talking to him you know hey what’s your name what’s
you know hey what’s your name what’s
you know hey what’s your name what’s your girlfriend’s name you know whatever
your girlfriend’s name you know whatever
your girlfriend’s name you know whatever so we run together and you know what we
so we run together and you know what we
so we run together and you know what we did finish the race together and you
did finish the race together and you
did finish the race together and you know what else I did run the fastest
know what else I did run the fastest
know what else I did run the fastest time I had ever run that day and as I
time I had ever run that day and as I
time I had ever run that day and as I was trying to beat him we actually both
was trying to beat him we actually both
was trying to beat him we actually both pushed each other to run faster than we
pushed each other to run faster than we
pushed each other to run faster than we would have alone it is possible to run
would have alone it is possible to run
would have alone it is possible to run alone plenty of people do it right you
alone plenty of people do it right you
alone plenty of people do it right you can succeed alone but I would say that
can succeed alone but I would say that
can succeed alone but I would say that living and running are best done in real
living and running are best done in real
living and running are best done in real honest community when you’re running
honest community when you’re running
honest community when you’re running with someone often they’re strong when
with someone often they’re strong when
with someone often they’re strong when you’re having a weak day they help you
you’re having a weak day they help you
you’re having a weak day they help you remember the goal when you’ve forgotten
remember the goal when you’ve forgotten
remember the goal when you’ve forgotten they give you joy along the way to the
they give you joy along the way to the
they give you joy along the way to the finish line right so running has finally
finish line right so running has finally
finish line right so running has finally taught me and revealed something to me
taught me and revealed something to me
taught me and revealed something to me that I think will put everything else
that I think will put everything else
that I think will put everything else I’ve said into some kind of order and
I’ve said into some kind of order and
I’ve said into some kind of order and it’s actually come from one simple
it’s actually come from one simple
it’s actually come from one simple question that my wife asks me every time
question that my wife asks me every time
question that my wife asks me every time I run when I come through the door in
I run when I come through the door in
I run when I come through the door in the morning soon after I come through
the morning soon after I come through
the morning soon after I come through the door I hear my sweet little wife’s
the door I hear my sweet little wife’s
the door I hear my sweet little wife’s voice and she says how was your run
voice and she says how was your run
voice and she says how was your run simple question right how was your run
simple question right how was your run
simple question right how was your run but I think at the point where I start
but I think at the point where I start
but I think at the point where I start answering that question is when I begin
answering that question is when I begin
answering that question is when I begin to do something
to do something
to do something is uniquely human I might answer
is uniquely human I might answer
is uniquely human I might answer something like this you know it it was a
something like this you know it it was a
something like this you know it it was a good run in fact I think I’m about ready
good run in fact I think I’m about ready
good run in fact I think I’m about ready for that race next month or sometimes
for that race next month or sometimes
for that race next month or sometimes I’ve said you know it really wasn’t so
I’ve said you know it really wasn’t so
I’ve said you know it really wasn’t so good why did you let me eat so much cake
good why did you let me eat so much cake
good why did you let me eat so much cake last night or unfortunately something
last night or unfortunately something
last night or unfortunately something I’ve said more than one time a pack of
I’ve said more than one time a pack of
I’ve said more than one time a pack of dogs chased me and I thought I was going
dogs chased me and I thought I was going
dogs chased me and I thought I was going to get attacked what I’m doing when I
to get attacked what I’m doing when I
to get attacked what I’m doing when I answer that question is I’m taking the
answer that question is I’m taking the
answer that question is I’m taking the thing that happened in my life and I’m
thing that happened in my life and I’m
thing that happened in my life and I’m trying to put it together into a story
trying to put it together into a story
trying to put it together into a story to make make sense of it and I think
to make make sense of it and I think
to make make sense of it and I think it’s something we almost can’t help but
it’s something we almost can’t help but
it’s something we almost can’t help but do as humans we take the little events
do as humans we take the little events
do as humans we take the little events in our lives we put them into a story a
in our lives we put them into a story a
in our lives we put them into a story a narrative form to try to make sense of
narrative form to try to make sense of
narrative form to try to make sense of it even the smallest things we try to
it even the smallest things we try to
it even the smallest things we try to figure out why it happened what part it
figure out why it happened what part it
figure out why it happened what part it plays in the bigger story even as I’m
plays in the bigger story even as I’m
plays in the bigger story even as I’m talking to you about running and why
talking to you about running and why
talking to you about running and why it’s meant so much to me in my life
it’s meant so much to me in my life
it’s meant so much to me in my life that’s exactly what I’m doing right I’ve
that’s exactly what I’m doing right I’ve
that’s exactly what I’m doing right I’ve told you stories in my life and and how
told you stories in my life and and how
told you stories in my life and and how running has played into it and why it’s
running has played into it and why it’s
running has played into it and why it’s important and I think that’s exactly as
important and I think that’s exactly as
important and I think that’s exactly as it should be because I think that our
it should be because I think that our
it should be because I think that our desire to be part of something bigger to
desire to be part of something bigger to
desire to be part of something bigger to make sense out of our lives is telling
make sense out of our lives is telling
make sense out of our lives is telling us something about reality I mean we get
us something about reality I mean we get
us something about reality I mean we get hungry and there’s food right we get
hungry and there’s food right we get
hungry and there’s food right we get tired and there’s sleep so probably we
tired and there’s sleep so probably we
tired and there’s sleep so probably we have this deep desire for there to be
have this deep desire for there to be
have this deep desire for there to be meaning in our lives for our lives to be
meaning in our lives for our lives to be
meaning in our lives for our lives to be part of a bigger story that makes sense
part of a bigger story that makes sense
part of a bigger story that makes sense out of it because there actually is
out of it because there actually is
out of it because there actually is because there is a single big story with
because there is a single big story with
because there is a single big story with a real beginning a real end that gives
a real beginning a real end that gives
a real beginning a real end that gives our lives meaning and that every person
our lives meaning and that every person
our lives meaning and that every person at every time in every place is actually
at every time in every place is actually
at every time in every place is actually part of so as you can see I hope running
part of so as you can see I hope running
part of so as you can see I hope running has helped me to see the world and to
has helped me to see the world and to
has helped me to see the world and to see my life more clearly running has
see my life more clearly running has
see my life more clearly running has made my philosophy of living better and
made my philosophy of living better and
made my philosophy of living better and I think that I actually run better
I think that I actually run better
I think that I actually run better because I’ve taken my life and put it
because I’ve taken my life and put it
because I’ve taken my life and put it into my running and so my encouragement
into my running and so my encouragement
into my running and so my encouragement to you is
to you is
to you is go run I think your life will be better
go run I think your life will be better
go run I think your life will be better because of it
because of it
because of it [Applause]
”
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