Christopher Blasko: Commitment is Everything

WOW! This is a remarkable story and a testament to the human spirit – it really raises the bar on belief! This is such an inspirational story from Chris Blasko – I just had to share it with you. It’s an unbelievable accomplishment in general that puts him in a category by himself. Chris not only competed in the Twin Cities Marathon this past weekend, but he set a blistering pace of 6 minutes and 58 seconds a mile – a truly remarkable pace.

Chris’s pace is a sprint, and faster than most people can even run 1 mile, let alone 26 miles and 385 yards (never forget that last 385 yards). I’ve know many people who’ve run marathons, and I have to say it is a supreme sacrifice, and an exercise in discipline. Just finishing it is like climbing a personal Mount Everest.

In many ways it’s similar to reaching Field Vice President in the business. Chris’s amazing Marathon time just proves that you can accomplish anything you put your mind to – including being a FVP.  The only difference is that the reward for the 3:02:08 time in the businesses is mid six-figures for life and the fallout is scores of others earning six figures to get there.

The challenges, disappointments, silent resolve, triumphs, perseverance, and race in many ways are parallel. However in both it is one thing to say it another to do it. One can say I will be a FVP — but to do it is a totally different thing.  One can say: I am going to run a marathon — but to do it and actually to have done it with a time like Chris’s speaks for itself. He has my highest admiration and respect!

Please take a moment to read Chris’s special message – I hope you find it as amazing and inspirational as I did:

I had a big day today and wanted to share it with some of my ma mentors and friends!

Today was humbling. Three years ago I set a goal of qualifying to run in the Boston Marathon. I have no idea why. I guess at the time it sounded like a fun challenge. I had never raced a marathon and I had NO idea what I would have to put into it. Had I known at the time I NEVER would have committed. But a commitment is a commitment. To make it real I shared with my family and many friends.  Since then I have run 3,356 miles and spent over 367 hours doing it. I have progressively improved but its pretty crazy how painful many of the runs have been. I’ve had many injuries but kept going.  In each of the last two years the requirements have gotten more difficult from 3hrs 15mins to 3hrs 10mins to this year’s 3hrs 5mins.  I had to give up many things.  I haven’t golfed in over a year (this is my favorite hobby by a long shot, but putting it on the side made me more motivated). I haven’t watched a whole football NFL football game (and I love football) because I’ve spent all my Sundays doing long runs between 12 miles and 30 miles.  Today it happened at the Twin Cities marathon. My time was 3:02:08. (pace was 6mins 58secs/per mile for 26.2 miles). My first marathon I ran 4 hrs 48mins then 3hrs 38 mins for my next, and this spring was 3hrs 24mins. To qualify my time had to beat 3:05:00 for my age group 35 and under. 35 and under is a huge group and means I’ve been competing against every college distance runner in the country. I’ve learned many lessons but mainly if you put your mind to it, you can accomplish anything.  Like JR always says: “Dream big because you’ll never be bigger than your dreams”.  My Faith in God gave me the courage to keep going! I have THE most amazing wife in the world even though we have four kids(all six years old and under) she has been completely supportive and never once complained about the time sacrifice.  Our ma products are the best!  Since I was sixteen years old I’ve been taking OPC-3 every day.  For the last five years my daily custom cocktail contains two OPC, one isochrome, one Vitamin D, and one Vitamin C. I never miss a day.  I also take Calcium, Prime Joint and L-tryptophan every night before bed. My parents have been very encouraging; they’ve been attending my races and manning the kids while my wife cheers me on at several locations at every race.  I have great coaches that have taught me a wealth of running information.

It’s amazing how running a marathon is like the Market America 2-3year marathon.  I can relate it in so many ways.  You have to surround yourself with positive supportive people, give up things that will get in your way, use your kids as reason not an excuse, your friends will think your nuts, its gonna be painful many times, work at it daily, and most importantly quitting isn’t an option. At the end it’s all worth it!!

~Christopher Blasko