A Change of Venue

Earlier this week I attended the Industrial Asset Management Council (IAMC) spring forum in Charleston, SC.  You have the opportunity to network with key clients and stakeholders.  For me, it offers a way to collect intelligence, connect with contacts and friends, and think about my profession. 

Sometimes a change of venue lets you recharge and just think.  You can silence you Blackberry and/other devices.  One of my favorite ways is to take run in a new venue.

This year I tried something new.  American Electric Power sponsors a fun run. It starts at 6 AM in the morning. You can walk, run or jog. You start off as a group. As a slower runner, I was quickly left behind.  And for those who read my blog, my son is essentially correct. I do not run, I do the “old man jog.”  At this event, I realized exactly how right he was. Fortunately, my simple goal: just go farther and faster than the previous run. 

Charleston Place was the conference hotel.  I started heading south on Meeting Street, ran until I got to the White Point Garden and headed west on Murray Blvd. It was so beautiful early in the morning. The sound of the ocean gently lapping against the shore or flood wall was calming.  The city was waking up, I saw very little traffic. The smell of the ocean was a refreshing change.  The entire run both mornings put me in an excellent frame of mind for the rest of day and evening events.  The run took 45 minutes.  This is an activity I will look forward to at future IAMC forums.

A couple of pictures of my running path not taken at 6 AM.