Thursday, May 24, 2012

Dig Deep Buddy Boy, You Ain't Giving Up Now!

Christmas, not sure what year 2009?
As most of you may know, I'm training for my third marathon--the Marine Corps Marathon on October 28th. I've decided to train differently for this one in my third attempt at breaking a 4:00:00 marathon. I need to shave something like 16 or 17 minutes off my last one. So I'm increasing the distance of my short runs to double digits while simultaneously increasing the distance of my long runs by 10%ish each week.

Anyway, today I was not feeling like a run AT ALL. I could not sleep last night, today is the 7-month mark of my dad's death and I, frankly, have not reconciled it yet. But then the park where I run is also the last time I saw my dad alive. We both had/have scooters and that was a point of bonding for us. The last time, we took the scooters out on a Wednesday from his house, to the park, through the park up to each lookout. I got to hear stories of he and my mom dating (they've been together essentially forever), pranks they played, how the park has changed, etc. We almost didn't take this scooter ride because he was in pain. He was in chronic pain. And, at the last minute, he called and said, "let's go..." so we did. God I'm so glad we did. I tried to talk him out of it and I'm glad I was unsuccessful (I guess that's where I get some of my stubbornness from?). So then I thought, how appropriate that I get my lazy ass off the couch and go run. I decided I would run the same route that we drove, getting to each lookout point. I didn't stop though, I let the memories propel me.
Don't know how to rotate, sorry. LOL



Somewhere between miles 4 and 5, I was on empty. I was running on fumes. Every runner knows this. Nee, every person knows this. And facing me was yet another incline/hill/elevation. They are fucking relentless in Iroquois Park. And I LOVE it. But this time, I had nothing to give. And so I said to myself, "dig deep buddy boy, you ain't stoppin now!" And so I did. And then somewhere in the midst, I realized that only when we're really empty can we find out what we're really made of. If I keep doing what I've always done, facing no new fears or challenges then how do I know if I'm living MY BEST LIFE TO THE FULLEST!? And how do I know what I'm made of!?
family vacation, 2009

And so it went the next 2.5ish miles. I kept digging deeper and deeper. My goal was to maintain 9 minute miles for 8 miles. I didn't quite meet that goal. I beat it. I maintained 8:52 minute miles. I dug deep. I found some reserves. Wait, maybe that's why they call them reserves--you reserve them for when you really need it. Gosh, I hope I have some left for the MCM. :)

And so it is with life. When you believe you're empty, at your lowest point, no energy, no gusto, no desire tell yourself, "dig deep buddy boy, you ain't stoppin now!" and I bet you'll find a hidden reserve tank. At least I did, and at least that's my twenty two point six cents worth...

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

The View You Have to Work For

Years ago, I was listening to some random NPR program. This was in the days when I didn't have a tv, but had Satellite Radio (in my defense, my ex paid for the subscription. And subsequently paid for a full year after we broke up too ha). Anyway...there was a program on indigenous ways of healing and medicine. As in those that are not chemically manufactured in a lab with high paid chemists in lab coats and goggles. Not that I'm against that in entirety (I reference this in a previous post, I won't belabor it here). Anyway, there was a healer from Appalachia being interviewed and he said something along the lines (I'm generously paraphrasing) that God put all the good healing herbs and roots far into the forest. The kind you had to work for to heal major ailments. i.e. peppermint, which cures a common upset tummy or bad breath, can be easily found everywhere. It takes a true healer and someone following Spirit to wade deep into the forest to find the herbs to heal the difficult and more serious ailments. And so the patient of the healer enjoyed the work of the healer.
view of beautiful valley, wanted you to experience as I did. 

So it is with running. I love running Iroquois Park (a common theme, no?). There is a route that takes you up. And keeps taking you up.  Nearly 2 miles of non-stop up. And when you've made it, you've truly made it. The view is GORGEOUS! This is the view you have to work for. Yea, yea you could get there by car. But I suspect the view is neither as awesome nor rewarding.

Click here to view the route and elevation


I ran the double loop a few days ago. Around the bottom, up to the middle-top, then I decided to take the plunge and keep going up. And up. And up. And up. And BAM! The view you have to work for. But by the time I got there, the last thing I wanted to see was a large vista that indicated the distance I had left to run in order to get to my car. Half way around the top loop, at the second look out, I thought, "stop. Enjoy the view. You've worked for it."



And so my invitation to you is this: When you reach the "summit" of any challenging task stop and enjoy the view. Afterall, this is the view YOU worked for. Give yourself permission to enjoy it. Otherwise, you might as well just (metaphorically speaking) stay on a treadmill. Or at least that's my twenty six point two cents worth.

Wednesday, May 2, 2012

So Simple; So Profound

I'm gonna give you today's theme without even having to work for it: HAVE FUN! 

BAM! 

WHOOP THERE IT IS! 

Cyndi Lauper, who is the the Grand Marshal for the Kentucky Derby Pegasus Parade tomorrow (in which my ducklings and I will be walking!) had it half right. She sang her heart out that, "Girls Just Wanna Have Fun." Why does fun have to be relegated to girls? I want to have fun too! And I bet you do too if you think about it. 

Yes, running is great for heart-health, gives you uber sexy legs and ass (am I the only one who admires my own legs after a nice long run while in the shower? Please tell me I'm not), helps lower stress/tension, etc. But it's also fun. If it isn't maybe you should look into a new past time. That doesn't mean that it's going to be fun all the time. Seriously, miles 17-22 could hardly be described as fun. But you can make it *more* fun! 


Trino & I Laughing.
First Half Marathon, circa 2007 

Trino and I used to laugh so hard during races that we would get stitches in our sides. That's not fun, but it sure did create some memories. Whenever we'd see a camera we would do face-checks--ugly faces were never permitted even at mile 24. While running along BOYshore, anytime a car would honk we would wave, thank them and wax on about how awesome our asses must be that a car several blocks away could notice (we ignored the fact that they were honking at other cars, red lights, children, etc.) You see, we made it fun. Wait, that sounds odd...to have to make something fun sounds like work. Well, that is one way to look at it I s'pose. Another way to look at it is this: the work is still going to be present. The pain of running is still going to be present. The hours spent pounding the pavement are still going to be present. Why not find ways to make it fun. Try to outrun the chipmunk in the park, decode the clouds above (only for short periods, please watch where you're running), try to catch up to the next faster runner. Have fun with it. 

Running in honor of a friends child.
Decked out in Purple--head to toe! 




That's all. So simple, yet so profound. Have fun with it, y'all! 



Or at least that's my own 26 point 2 cents worth anyway...