Overcoming Doubts & Insecurities

Sept. 8th, 2015

I decided to do my speed workout at the local high school track this morning. As I walked up there were 4 other students practicing. I asked if it was ok to use the track and they all said sure! These boys were all smiling. I thought to myself as I began my workout, I wonder why they were smiling at me, were they laughing maybe.....? As I was ending my first set, 2 of the boys zipped on by me, grinning. I kept my head down and kept going. I was feeling rather insecure about myself, how do I look, gosh their legs sure move fast, and what a kick they have....geez my feet barely move up off the ground....well they are WAY younger but still......I kept going......during my 4th set, my breathing was starting to get bad and my inhaler was on the bench a half of a lap away....I kept going.......

Then suddenly one of the the boys appeared beside me with my inhaler!!!! He stopped me and said "here, you need this, don't you?" I nearly cried my eyes out but held it together. He had such a caring look in his eyes. Then his other 3 friends ran up to us and asked if I was ok. One of them said he has asthma and knows how I feel and could tell I was not in a good place. We all walked a lap around the track together and these boys, young men, were some of the nicest people I have met in a long time. They told me they wished their parents were out doing stuff like I was! And added that they hoped that when they get to be my age (!), they were healthy enough to be running and living life. I had 6 sets to go and guess what....they continued on with their workouts but each time they zipped past me, they smiled, cheered and gave me high fives!!! 

I am really happy that I stepped out onto that track this morning and faced some of the things that slip into my thoughts leading me to doubt myself. Just another step to finding my strong. So to James, Steven, Joel and Jimmy, thank you for being such caring people!!

That Famous Black Surfboard from the 70's

I designed this board back in the late 70's when I owned San Diego Surf Shop. Bill Minard shaped it, Tony Channin glassed it and Sam Codey did the color on it. Sam used pigment not airbrush on it. It was double glossed and there is not one ripple on the deck indicating that it was hand pigmented. It was a perfect color job by Sam Codey.

This board was an advertising gimmick of mine. At the time when surfboards were costing around $150-$200, this board I put a price tag on of $1,000.00 At the time it was the most expensive surfboard in the world. It was perfect, it was black and the dimensions were extreme for then; 10" tail, 18" wide, 12" nose, it has a hollow wood fin with a glass bead. The board hung over my counter for everyone to see but (NOT TOUCH!!). The main idea behind making this board and the crazy price tag was to see how fast and how far the word of mouth would travel. There was no information, no ad about the board. Before I knew it people from all over came to see the most expensive surfboard in the world.

To this day, 26 years later, I still have people paddle up to me or see me somewhere and ask if I still have the Black Surfboard. And YES I do!

How I Got My Name

Back in the late 30's and 40's my parents were good friends with Chuck Yeager and Glen Edwards, the two most famous test pilots for the Air Force.  My dad use to go hunting with Chuck and Glen for pheasant, duck and dove.  My parents use to go out dancing with Chuck and Glen and their wives and have a grand time.  When my parents would tell me these stories their faces would light up at these wonderful memories.  My dad's favorite one is when Chuck held parties at his place.  They; Chuck, Glen and my dad would jump into Chuck's plane and fly somewhere to fish for trout and return with fresh caught trout for the party.  My mom would gather together with the wives and sit around and sew and chit chat.

Years later while Glen Edwards had been test flying the Air Force new plane (The Flying Wing) he was killed when the plane crashed.  

Sometime later the Air Force held a dedication ceremony in honor of Glen and to change the Air Force Base from Muroc Air Force Base to Edwards Air Force Base.  At the time of the dedication ceremony my mother and father were on the platform with Glen's family members, Chuck Yeager and dignitaries.  My mother was pregnant with me at the time and that's when they decided that if I was a boy they would name me after Glen Edwards.  

So that's how I got my name, Glen Edward Horn.

WHY?

So a good friend just stopped by, non runner but surfer. She asked me why do I put myself through all the training for a marathon if I am only going to hurt and never win!?! I patiently answered with this reply: Last year during the San Francisco Marathon I hurt like I never hurt ever in my life. The weather was hot and humid, 22 miles of it were HILLS, my asthma was kicking my butt and I had thought of quitting, why bother. My friend is now smiling, shaking her head, saying yes, wow, really, OMG! I continued on with this: Then at mile 13 a woman who had been running next to me said she was stopping, opting out at the first half marathon finish line and I should come with her. I shook my head no, sweat dripping to where I could almost not see, I told her I was going to keep going. She said are you sure? I replied, yes, very sure. She wished me good luck and we parted ways. Onward I went, alone and determined to finish no matter what. It didn't matter that at mile 19 I was crying because I hurt so bad from all those hills and heat and my breathing was so bad, it didn't matter that at mile 23 both my calves cramped up at the same time to where I almost went face down, it just didn't matter. All that mattered to me, was finishing and keeping the promise I made to myself that no matter what, I was going to finish. I was so scared at the start, I knew no one as I stood in my corral with hundreds of people but as I crossed the finish line that day last July, I was more proud of myself at that moment than in any time in my life. I didn't give up, I did win. My friend replied, "wow, I think I may have to start running!" Find your strong and make your life happy!  smile emoticon (Coach Mike Cornelison - you inspire me!)

We finally finished our treehouse palapa in April 2014!  We put together this short video to give you a tour!  All you have to do is type in the link below and relax.....  Enjoy!  :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=swhrzIr8olY

People ask us what do we do in Baja?  How do we stay in shape?  Sometimes words just can't explain so I put together this video.  Just type in the link below.  Enjoy!  :-)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A0VaOaARBs4

A Christmas Angel

There is an elderly man that I see on one of my running routes. He is always bundled up carrying his back pack, head down. He never looks at me...until today. As I was running toward him, he looked right at me and smiled! I always smile at him and today my smile was bigger! As I passed I felt sad so I immediately stopped, turned around and called for him. Amazingly he stopped, turned around and walked towards me. He looked shy and nervous. I noticed a set of dog tags around his neck and asked him if he was a veteran. His reply was a proud yes, he showed me his dogs tags and his ID and a picture of his wife who he said had passed away 3 years ago. I felt sad for I knew he was alone and homeless. I told him thank you for smiling at me this morning. He smiled back. He had such a child like innocence about him. I asked if he lived near by and he yes, "just over there"...."I don't have a home"....I told him I was sorry and then reached into my pocket and pulled out the money I carry with me on my long runs. It was not much, $40, but I handed it to him and said Merry Christmas my friend, I hope a miracle happens for you. He said "thank you my angel, you are a miracle and you have given me hope that not everyone is heartless..." 

So on this day I wish for him and every ignored veteran and every homeless person, that someone will bring a smile to them, and warm their hearts like this man did for me. 

For you see, I am not the angel, he is........

Merry Christmas....De. 2014