Of Gollum and Slushees

Well Back to Winter my runs have been slushy.  I am trying to run harder, keep my speed up, but in the snow, my traction is iffy at best.  So I slow down in the thicker snow. 

Another thing to slow me is my sliught Christmas weight gain.  about 5 or 6 pounds more to slog around... yes you heard it people, Mr.  Self-righteous couldn't help but eat Grandpa's butter tarts or those caramels chocolates or those scrumptious mars bars rice crispy squares which bewitch his soul.  So back to the grind, I really need to oust my house of all those delicious treats.  Another thing that calls my sweet tooth is the half price sales on chocolates post Christmas.  Man those Turtlles want to come home with me.... no, I must diminish.

Anyhow, my runs need pep.  I had semi trucks "muddy slush" me on my long run last weekend., literally spraying slush allover my legs and shoes  22 km with wet legs and feet.  Why do people not pull over a bit more to give me room to run on the highway anyhow???  I think they secretly delight in slushing me.

It would have been what I would have done to those I felt were doing something I thought was "noble".  And there you have it.  Runner's piety.  You know that self-righteous tone vegans and runners and yoga class - goers all have, that they are somehow superior and enlightened.  I guess I am da man to a few.    I don't want to be!  In fact, this could have been the reason I refrained from talking about it among certain people. I can hear it in the tone of my siblings, who  call me "gollum" because of my weight loss.  Its that "look at this pompous jerk making us all look bad" thoughts we all have about those on some new  self improvement kick.  Even the fit and active people have those we know are much more committed.  "Oh, you run?  Well, do you "ultra-run"??  No?  Oh too bad, its really hard..."  We hate them.  until we do it.  Then we are them.  And there is always someone better faster or more diehard.   Such is life.  Striving on this front is a losing situation if you must always be on top!  Everyone most likely unless they are paid, call themselves a middle packer.'  There is always room for improvement!

I do think this can be a good thing though, to keep the ego in check and keep us humble.  Its a sliding scale, and one that can't be focused on, or we would go mad.  But when we have the chance to 'slush' that  annoyingly smug person, what glee comes from our hearts!!! Just don't slush me.

Run Like Pheobe?

New Year's Eve I dont really celebrate big.  In fact, I find every time I have made an effort to do something fun for it, it is a big disappointment.  The build up, the execution, its all just such a big let down.  I usually like a quiet evening at home the majority of times.  I do let loose occasionally, but even that is laughable to some of you crazy cats!  I find the same with my hobbies and passions.  The big hurrah's are no match to my desire to churn it out day by day and celebrate the little things.  Running accommodates this.  A  goal to race is great, but I cant live only for races.  I feel the celebration is in the personal victories, in my day to day strides.  When its a party of one because of a new PR, or a run with a buddy, life for me reflects the run, its all in the intimacy.  Same is with pursuing health or overcoming obstacles like an injury.  We are dealt a hand.  We are also given much each day.  What do we do with these things?  Do we shrivel?  Do we punish ourselves?  Do we believe there is more available if we just push forward, let loose or let God take control?  Freedom is given to the runner as he/she pushes hard but also listens intently.  I find it interesting how we think freedom is all about doing anything and everything our heart desires.   Like on the show "Friends" when Pheobe shows Rachel how to run, its just all over the place, hilarious to watch.  Ive tried that with a buddy.  Its much harder work, so inefficient!

However, to be truly free in who we are, there are things we need to adhere to to be the best we ought to be.  Running takes an acceptance of a pattern, a discipline, a healing, a resting a striving and a feeding.  It also takes community for perspective and inspiration.  Sound spiritual?  That is intentional.  Run hard!

43:10

First timeI had brought my stop watch in a long while.  43:10 for my 10 k, and that was me pushing pretty hard.  Another thing to look back on and be glad for in the last two years is to think that certain goals were impossible.  Fo rme right now, I would love to crack the 40 minute 10 k.  A difficult endevour, but I know I can do it.  I use to think runnign past a 1/2 hour was a huge feat.  There is always someone who trumps your efforts, and always someone just starting and needing encouragement.  I find it a funny mix of humbling to know you will never be right on top in front, but that you can do  fa better than you ever thought if you apply yourself! 

He Runs Beside Me

This verse from the new testament often comes to mind while I am either running or thinking about running.  1 Corinthians 9:26-27.  Now, you many not be a bible reader, but everyone has a connection to scriptures from places all over our culture, as many of our sayings and deep thoughts quote scripture in part.  This particular verse, when I think about it, is an encouragement to keep my faith.  Some might assume it would be faith in myself, in that things will eventually go well with me, or faith in life, that it all will add up in the end.  For me faith is much more specific than that.  It is faith in a personal Being, who is involved in my daily life.  He uses personal experiences to talk to me, including running.

When I think of this time of year, when cold weather prevails and my bed feels like its Velcro to my body, when I am discouraged by my winter times or the hiccups in my plan to get out there and run when I would like, then this scripture speaks to literally running.

But of course, as in many things written, it isn't always about the literal subject.  If you are like me, running is representative to a lot in my life.  Have you ever ruun and felt that you were runing out your pain, your anger, your stress, your grief?  Within hardships, my failures, my triumphs, my tests,  the race represents more so my time here on earth.  This is what I would call hardcore meditation, because it is using much more than my heart, or just my mind to process.  Instead, my daily routine of actually carrying out this activity, specifically running, gives me a connection to this passage that me as a non-runner could only imagine with limited knowledge.

I run for far more than I used to.  I run because for me it is a form of meditation and worship to my Creator.  I have had some argue this point with me, as it is not a traditional sense of spirituality,.  Then anything could be considered sacred! But in this activity there is wisdom.  Only a runner could understand what "beating my body and making it my slave" really means.  It is the discipline, the payment made to reach a goal, or to be qualified for the "prize".  What rich meaning, and what a great thought to ponder.  Each step then becomes a type of cry, or prayer when I have no real words to use.  And I feel a sense of companionship beyond earthly, He runs beside me.

May your time on the road or trail bring you a meditative and peaceful place, a place to connect with your Creator, and qualify you to reach the prize you have set before you.

Running as a Social Lubricant

Are you like me?as I promised to look back on the last 2 years of running, one thing has been a bonus that I never really counted on initially.  THis is the matter of having a point of interest and passion to launch off of socailly that I never have used before.  What I mean is, I have been able to talk to people about a common passion in running both at work, at social get-togethers, at church, and obviously, online!  This came over time as I realized I now held something in common with many teachers at work, with students I work with, with friends and soon-to-be-friends.  Having a learning curb about the discipline, science and lingo of long distance running has certainly given me more to interact about with those I normally would not have much to say to!

You see, I am actually a bit shy, but I cover up with humor and sticking to topics I know something a little about.  Running has branched me out.  Sports I have observed, tend to do this. For example, I have a colleague whom on a working level I have always gotten along with, however, I knew that they were into triathlons, which was to me just a foreign and alien topic to talk about.  My face was like many others I am sure who say, "oh you run?....uh... Good for you!  Wow, I could never do that" and then a change of topic was in order.  Now, however I may ask about their experience, for advice on pre-race prep, use the terms like PRs, ITBS, and about gear with much more informed and experienced know-how.  Also sharing recent war stories (like this morning's encounter with a dog  who tripped me and its owner whom I told off) in my mind helps me be a great ambassador for running.  Sort of like, "if this Forrest Gump can do it, and laugh at themselves, then anyone can, maybe even me!"