Seawall Run

Coldplay and Siwash rock.  Perfect. 

Mary's Run

My daughter  was baptized yesterday.  We are Christian, and this is a significant step in faith, to do as Jesus commanded and identify with the death and resurrection of our Savior through the water of baptism.  I went on my 12 k yesterday on a sunny morning and as I got into my run, thinking of what I would share with my little girl and our congregation of fellow believers, I thought of that morning that Jesus was risen.  Mary, a beloved woman of Jesus who had gone to her Savior's tomb in grief and a heavy heart was surprised with an empty tomb!  What was meant to be a heavy visit ended up a divine surprise, because the living Jesus, the man she was mourning was not dead anymore!  He was alive!

Mary ran back to town, most likely mind racing, heart pounding, breath heavy and uneven, sobbing, laughing, wild wild wild hearted.  I imagined myself as Mary, thrilled and confounded by this news.  He was the one who cast demons out of her, which she had at one point felt completely helpless to be free from.  He had already saved her!  And this was a delightful encounter!
The run back to town most likely was a blur, but the JOY~~~~~ wow.  As I ran yesterday, I imagined running with such joy, and I became enthralled with Mary's delight, her surprise and the fact that my run on Easter Sunday was my worship, my thanks to God who rescues me, and that all the sorrow and strife of my life is no longer my own.  Jesus died once, for all my sin and sorrow, and I ran in joy!!!  Happy Easter!

“I am ascending to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.” ’ Mary Magdalene went and announced to the disciples, ‘I have seen the Lord’; and she told them that he had said these things to her. (John 20: 1-18)

asthma and running

So I write every spring about my damned asthma.  I believe it is when denial meets the desire to go faster try harder with all the sunshine and great weather.  Since a terrific and lovely party at Christmas where a bitch sat near me and triggered my asthma, I have contemplated getting checked out but denial set in.  That bitch was a dog.

When one has lived with asthma like I have for all their lives, you might say that you learn to live with certain realities.  People maynotice that you are breathing with a wheeze.  You miht be caught somewhere with no inhaler because you werent prepared.  People might not understand what asthma is and think you are dying.  YOU might think "Im dying",but not think anything about it. 

Then came running which even further complicates things.  MY asthma is virutally healed.  VIRTUALLY is the key word.  I still have my allergens.  However, my oxygen intake is so strong, one might never know, so it is now with my lungs, I can live in denial for longer, but woner if its me getting old or is it the now-hidden even better" disease I live with?  Im betting on the disease now.  I took a blow-test (Peak flow meter) and scored better than those who have no asthma (over 600).  Click here for more on peak flow meters.

Signs for me:

I need my inhaler more.  (That might be a DUH!).

Cold air for me causes slight coughing.

Energy levels while running are lower than I want, even when conditinos are ideal.

If you are having a hard time controlling your asthma, a treatment of your inhaler at the ER at your local hospital can dialate your capillaries and get you back on track.  It gives the medication more punch by better dispersing it through a mist.

Cheers!  And happy breathing.

work work run

This lastfew months has seen me change work again and again.  I now have more work hours than I have worked in ... well ever!  This creates a different fatigue.  I want to sleep more, but stay up later.  I am studying as well and now in my life it is more important than it ever has been to keep running.  I admit my mileage has been waning.  I am still getting out there, but 30 km per week is getting tough, and I usually like going beyond that.  

With the latest job on the go, I am hoping I can now start looking long term and stop transitioning so often.  This being said, I want to carve off my running in the morning againas the sunshine becomes part of the wee morning hours.

Still not sure if I will do a spring race.  I will not be setting any PR's, that is certain.  I feel slower than I have ever been, to be honest.  Am I declining with age? 

rest or run

My scheduleas of late has been bonkers, reading and writing for my masters degree.  Perhaps you relate, but being up until late and trying to fit in a run in the morning becomes problematic.  To rest as you need it to function well or to run to take care of stress and get the blood flowing, that is the dilemma.  I am trying to squeeze in at least 30 km per week to keep fitness levels, and sanity.  The number looms over me, making me dread my running lately.  The joy for me is sucked out from obligation, I respond poorly to obligation, you see.  Ill do it, but you cannot make me like it as much!  That being said, I never regret a run.  What I do realize is that I may get stuck in my agenda, my to do list as I run, trying to figure out my day, my problems.  What I love about running is that it forces me to think about these things and gain back some perspective.  Rest can be good for recovery, for avoiding burnout, but it must not be confused with neglect of taking care of yourself and making up excuses is not doing that!