Updates, Dogs and general babbling

Summerhas finally hit. I am very glad about this.  I have discovered the joy on not searching for my shirt, rather, going without!  SHucking the shirt early in the morning means less laundry, and it feels great, although, I wouldnt do this if I was running in a really public place.  Too much too soon. :)  My hip woes have changed, and I am astill on top of my glutes.  The stiff/tight feeling has now moved to the other side for some reason.  It's the phantom menace!  I good massage the other day really helped.  I was at the beach and really sore. I grabbed the roundest thing I could find that resembled my foam roller and started rolling on it.  Pam, my wife says I looked like a dog in heat, humping the ground.  I did, actually think this hen I saw the guy on Youtube demonstrate it.  Oddly erotic.  So a subtle shift in angle and I no longer looked like I was in heat at the beach.  It seemed to work, as my hip has felt much better. 

I am getting excited about the SKaha Lake route I have been preparing for, and training has been gradually gettnig me there, I figure I can do it next week.

I had a dog charge at me as it escaped from its master;s front door.  The dog wasn't quite what scared me, it was the owner!  She was screaming like I was just about to be attacked by Cujo!  The dog approached me, and in my head I actually though, "which part of me do Offer the dog first as it bites?"  I chose my ankle for some instinctive reason.  It didn't bite.  But it really startled me.  The lady's ook alone was enough to make you think about your life ending.  Wish i had a camera.  I'd offer the dog the camera. Well I wish I had my friend, Jeremy's camera.  I like my camera.

On my personal job font, I have my resume out there and have had one interview for a part time job.  My faith in God's provision and guidance is keeping me safe.  It can keep me from insomnia, which has happened in the past when I have worried.  So far so good.  I have a lovely family, beautiful new home which we just purchased in May and a terrific community to hang out in.  I have realized that worry is a form of meditation too, its a spiritual practice just as reading the Bible, or praying.  If I take my mind and focus it on my God, push my stress into good things like exercise and wait on the Lord to speak and lift me up, I have much less worry out of control.  It has taken me a long time to figure this out ,but better late than never.

I am trying to get the energy to go on a couple of my routes to take some pictures to post, just to show how beautiful it is here in the Okanagan.  Really, if you are ever looking for a decent place to get R and R, this is it.  No Canada is not all Tundra and igloos.  Where i live, it is considered a desert, able to sustain a thriving wine industry, wining accolades from all over the green earth.

Well thats my bit.

Running Through Transition

Worked on Hillsover a week ago and now am having the times of my life!  I have started the summer and as I work at schools, I am on EI.  Unfortunately, there seems to be a closed door now as my contracted money has been cut and it looks like I will be looking for work.  What does this have to do with my running?  Well a lot as I think it has been affecting my times.  it is depressing knowing your job is ending.  Yet I need running now more than ever!   I will continue my goals  and keep praying for direction and passion.  Honestly, I have had a full year of tragedy and transition.  I beleive the Lord is pulling me forward.  Yet I feel tired and frustrated.  I have some dreams I would like fulfilled, and I hope I can run consistently for the next few months as I do  professionally as well.

building up to the 26er and then....the 29er

First I am buildingback up to the 26er.  Then I will work towards a summer run around  Skaha Lake.  Thats all I got to say today....!!

End of Yourself

Ever been runningAnd you think to yourself:  if I keep going at this rate, how far can I push this pace?  How hard can I go and for how long?  And then after, ask "was that all I had?"  "Did I leave nothing behind?"  "Did I just stretch my potential?"

These moments of challenge come from within!  They head butt your ego.  They make mush of your resolve to continue an uncomfortable pace.  Yet, if it werent for these moments of self-coaching we could not find out what we are made of.

Today I wanted to push myself harder, get closer to that elusive 40 minute 10k .  I failed at that ultimate dream of course, but i pushed myself for a long time, into anarobic work, sucking wind.  My legs felt like giving up for much of it, my body protested, the sweat began to just leak down my baldy head into my eyes, but my hope was that I would break into that zone where I might feel invincible.  It didnt happen today, but I got much closer than in recent  runs to that elusive time.

Will power can be a force to reckon with.  But what I find a challenge is my ability to hold out in discomfort, and to not let my body dictate my pace.  My body is a whiner.  My brain is the boss.  My spirit is the coach.  I will set myself on to that goal, to beat that time, to push for that prize.

I guess this is how I also feel in other areas.  If I am slumped, which I have ben feeling lately, do I cave to that web of depression?  Do I throw my hands up in the air and say, okay life, you got me, just toss me against the rocks, spin me around as you please.  No.  With  my running I kick into practice the same Spirit that urges me to be better, to beleive for more, so trust that I have been given talents and strength for a reason. 

This sounds lofty, but unless my eyes are focussed on a distant goal, I trip on the details of the road.  I stumble on the challenge of the moment.  I give up in essence.  I cant afford to do that.  My life is a gift I want to spend well.

So with my run I challenge myself to be more than what is handed to me.  Pain becomes temporary, healing becomes part of the journey which results in greater strength.  How Inspiring!!   Isnt running theraputic???

Chiropractor Visitation

Well, I am going beforemy medical benefits run out next week to my chiropractor.  He  is a good guy. But he will most likely cause me pain today.    And I will hate him for a short time And then he will hint strongly that my running will produce scar tissue from multiple injury.  But the thing is, I am not injured, I am trying to prevent this.  My hip pain and tenderness continues, but it has held out as just that, not getting any worse.  I am finally letting my body try to just recoup so that I can tackle my Skaha lake loop dream for the summer.

UPDATE: June 22
Went yesterday after work and got a green light from my friend the chiro.  He was pleased with my exterior rotators (I have previously posted some of the stretches I have been trying to loosen up).  Also the stiffness was tight in a slightly different area, VERY PAINFUL spots where he drive his elbow in and made me shine in sweat.  However, I am still able to run!  This means I am taking care in a preventative rather than reactive way, which was my goal.