I've done it 8 times

I've done it 8 times.  And the 'it'?  Reggae Marathon.  This December 2 will be my 9th consecutive time actually.  I was a whole lot thinner and had a lot less grey hair when I did my first Reggae Marathon in 2009.  That year I ran the full Marathon which was my first ever full marathon finish and up until now my only full marathon finish.  I never thought then that I'd be back...there were so many emotions surrounding that year.  But after getting back home and recovering fully from the effort, I decided I wanted to get a complete set of Finisher Medals, one for each Reggae Marathon event, Full Marathon, Half Marathon and 10K.

Each year at Reggae Marathon has been unique and special but some highlights really stand out:

• Sally sat melting in the blazing hot sun waiting for me to finish at Reggae Marathon 2009. She's not a fan of the heat...it sure adds dimension to 'for better or worse'.  True Love!
• I met Navin in person at Reggae Marathon 2009 and we've been friends ever since.  
  
• My son Courtney paced me at Reggae Marathon 2010 in the Half Marathon.  That was a tough race and through the struggle he stuck with me.  Note:  He's a really great athlete so it must have been agonizing for him to stick with his Old Man.  Lesson: It's not the finish, it's the journey!
  
• I walked the 10K at Reggae Marathon in 2012.  I'd broken some bones in my right foot a few months before Reggae Marathon and came close to cancelling that year.  Instead I decided to walk and took some of my favourite photos that year.
• Dan Cumming posted a photo of him and his wife standing in the surf on the beach in Negril waaaay back.  I stared at it for a long while before finally deciding that was the exact spot where we'd picnicked as kids.  OK, maybe not the exact spot but close enough...Dan's been a friend since.
  
• Along the way I ran into Larry Savitch and his wife Karen.  We've been coming to Negril every year for the past...oh heck, I forgot!  Larry's sure to have fun with that! This December will be our umpteenth Reggae Marathon together...who would ever have guessed!  Larry is also the ringmaster of the Sunday afternoon Beer Bus event. It's actually a tour of a number of hole-in-the wall drinking establishments along the cliffs of Negril's West End.  There's a bus...there's beer...Beer Bus!
  

There are many other moments.  Like the time at my second Reggae Marathon when I had a wee too much to drink on the beach and needed 'assistance' walking out of the water. Thanks Court and Sally!

Navin, Larry, ThatRunninGuy, Dan

When asked to describe what makes Reggae Marathon so special, Jimi Hendrix said it best, "Are you Experienced?"

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Social Media Marketing: Word Of Mouth On Steroids

Word of mouth is still responsible for small business growth.  A satisfied customer who shares her experience is gold!  And when she shares her experience via a Google or Facebook Review, Social Media Marketing proves its ROI.

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Running Is Masochistic

"I'm a masochist" is the answer I give when I get asked why I like to run. It's not the expected answer but it's the  most simple, direct and honest answer.  

I run for my health.  I like to eat and have a weakness for salty snacks.  Running allows me my indulgence.

I run for my sanity.  OK, some would argue that it hasn't helped but running is my therapy.  

I run to think.  My best ideas come while running.  Nothing but me and my mind while out for a run.

I run because I like the pain.  Ahhh...that masochistic thing.  Running never gets easier for me. The more I run the stronger I get and that's the big win.

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Next Level Marketing At Digital Dealer

I downloaded the Digital Dealer Conference App last week and poured over the Digital Marketing Sessions that are packed into two and a half days.  After scheduling the daily keynotes and obligatory Cocktail Party, I've got back-to-back-to-back sessions from early Monday morning right up until the Conference ends on Wednesday afternoon.  I'm pretty excited about attending and not just because it is at Paris, Las Vegas!  The Digital Dealer Conference & Expo is the place to be to sift through the noise in digital marketing to find the signals and tools to help get digital marketing working more effectively for my Dealerships...and across my Brand.  I'm particularly looking forward to the sessions on Data Analytics and Online Lead Management.

• Digital Dealer Conference & Expo 
• Facebook:   https://www.facebook.com/digitaldealerconference
• Twitter:  https://twitter.com/DigitalDealer
• Hashtags:  #DD23

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

Coming Back Up To Speed

Well...

After too much time spent slogging along, I've experienced a running re-birth of sorts coming back up to speed.  Halleluha!  

Over the past year I've had moments and runs where I thought, 'That's it...I'm done running!'.  They occurred frequently enough that I really felt that after 34 years of running I was done.  When I was passed early one morning by an older runner who was shuffling along it was hard to keep going on that 'run'.  Getting motivated to go out again the following morning was even more difficult.  Call me a positive thinker, obstinate, stupid...whatever...inside I didn't feel I was done running yet.  I kept at it.

Since embracing the CPAP breathing machine 5 weeks ago, I've seen and felt an improvement.  No longer does it feel like a weight is crushing my windpipe.  It takes a little longer to get up to speed but once I'm running comfortably and my breathing settles down, I pick up the pace.  It's a negative split for sure but not an honest one.  Yet!

Yes there's still some life in these legs and lungs and I'm looking forward to more gradual improvement before testing race-pace at Reggae Marathon December 2.  If things go well, I'm even looking forward to improvement in the Reggae Marathon Half Marathon Challenge (Seriously, Dan, Navin and Larry...we've got to come up with a better name!)

Until next time...

ThatRunninGuy

Digital Dealer

The Digital Dealer:  Website, Online advertising on Google and Facebook (Instagram too), Call Centre (Lead Management System).  

Make sure it's all Mobile...70%+ of New and Used Vehicle searches begin on Mobile Devices...if the vehicle a consumer is searching for can't be easily found on a Smartphone, they will pass you by.  

These form the heart of the business for a Digital Dealer.  Here are some additional insights...

If you're going to the Digital Dealer Conference Sept 18 - 20, see you in Las Vegas next week!

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization

The Joy Of Running

Here's to the pure joy of running!

If there's one thing this past year has taught me it's that I love running.  Throughout all the tests doctor visits I've kept running.  Sluggish some mornings and run/walk on others but I still looked forward to getting outside to go running.  

I haven't had a long run in a while...been keeping the intensity up with stairs and hill repeats...but I can't wait!

Until next time...
ThatRunninGuy

7 Digital Marketing Trends That Rule in 2017

The number one trend for me is my continued move away from the laptop/desktop to mobile for the majority of my communication needs.  This is borne out in every survey from virtually every source. But you need look no further that Google who now reports that over 75% of Searches begin from a handheld mobile device.  We move to larger screens as necessary but the 'One Number/One Device' world rules!

As we move to the final quarter of 2017 and the future forecasting season begins, here's a look at the dominant trends throughout 2017...with an eye to 2018:

Chris M Morales

chris.morales@bell.net

@ChrisMoralesTO

647 393 3855

The opinions expressed on this blog are my own and are not associated with any other group or organization