Being Present in the Run

     There could be several titles for today's blog.  I contemplated "The Energy," "The Spirit of the Run," "Running Spirits," etc, so before it just got weird, I satisfyingly typed the title at the top and felt it fit like the last piece in a thousand word puzzle.  "Being Present in the Run."  Yes, I purposefully used "in" instead of "on" because that is the meat of this brain snack today, the "in." Even if you do not consider yourself a runner, the concept of being present in any situation has the same benefits.
     Running, whether a short one or long one, is most often a positive, almost spiritual experience for me.  I say most often, because I'll be the first to admit, and runners will agree, there are once in a while, runs that feel like the running spirit has been sent on a route leading straight to hell.  Runs like that mentally feel longer than they should, and the body just isn't in the mood. Yet, I want to concentrate on the positive energy, so I'll save the "Even Satan Hates Me" for another day.
     It is the "in" that I intentionally make myself aware and present while swimming, biking, running...or driving..or sitting in the evening..or (you get my drift) that I want to discuss.  It is within this "in" I am present and aware of everything, and I become grateful to be doing what I am doing.
     On my last run, I had enough miles I had to complete that I was able to truly be present and aware of the colors of winter in Illinois.  I love the Midwest because I am treated by Nature to all four seasons. Over the passing of a year of running, one of my same routes changes in colors as well as landscape.  Take for instance, in January, the same dull and chalky asphalt country road that stretches for miles separating dark brown plowed fields on each side, changes drastically. In the heat of July, the very same asphalt road becomes shiny and jet black because of the hot summer sun melting the asphalt into tiny bubbles.  The road still stretches for miles, but in July becomes encased no longer by plowed fields, but six foot thick walls of deep green corn.  I have a friend that refuses to run on country roads in the summer due to feeling boxed in, but I just picture an Ironman finish lined with people waving their arms and cheering.
     It's not easy to stay "in" the run or workout because thoughts often drift to time outside of the run. Our busy lives and the lists for tomorrow or what happened yesterday are too often the focus.  It's time to take charge of the things that come to mind while training and guide them to the present. You can start out by choosing one of the five senses, and as you progress, you'll be able to take in more.
      First, be aware of your surroundings.  (you can even do this now where you are sitting) What colors do you see?  How many different colors do you see?  What shades of the same color do you notice?  Did your breathing slow?
     It takes practice but it works.  When you have the colors down, move on to the smells.  Recognizing this can be done in the country or the city when you are training.  Relax your shoulders. Again, be aware of how you're breathing.  If running...mile two just drifted into four ......

Enjoy the present, Buckers.

The Dreadmill

     With all of the rain, it's been difficult to run outside, so again, I've been stuck on the treadmill for several runs.  I've made peace with the treadmill but have definitely created a mental list of pros and cons while putting in the many miles, as well as discovered the history of the treadmill.

     Before I mention the pros and cons, you may find it interesting that according to Treadmill Reviews,
                 "treadmills were invented in order to try to reform prisoners, a practice
                  that was established all the way back in 1817 by Sir William Cubitt. The
                  invention of the treadmill for the purpose of use in prisons can be traced
                  to an economic need. In England in the 19th century, many laborers found
                  themselves out of a job after the Napoleonic Wars, and the country could
                  not afford to allow convicts to take jobs away from English laborers. As a
                  solution, Cubitt came up with institutional treadmills whose purpose it was
                  to offer power to mills. The prisoners were forced to hang on to the bar and
                  climb up the paddle blades, which made them constantly lift up their legs."

     I'm not sure if a treadmill will ever help reform me in any way, but I'm quite sure it feels like a prison sentence when I have a fourteen miler even with the TV on the front.  That leads me to my list of pros of running on the treadmill.

Pros:
     I can watch HGTV.  (Home and Garden Television)  I make a list in my head of things I can purchase at Menards to redo my entire house...myself, because after all, I've watched how it's done.

     Even though it's icy and or raining outside, I can still get a run completed.

     I save money shopping because by the time the run is over, I've realized I won't be going to Menards to get the materials because that would take time away from my running.

    All water, Gatorade, GU gels, tissues, cheater glasses..yes, I need those, BASE salt, and phone are in their places on the front of the treadmill...and the bathroom is private.

Cons:
     I don't get to revel in  the beauty of nature and the energy in everything as I run outside. (watch I AM documentary.  Beautiful.)

     Running is not the same with the belt moving under me vs me creating the movement on the road or trail.
   
     I have to actually get off the treadmill, walk to the bathroom, wash my hands after, etc. if I have to pee.  On the road (I'm out in the country lol  I can watch for a car and if no one is coming, pop a squat if needed.  Yes, yes, I do .  Right on the side of the road.  No one is watching...live a little people...

     I can't spit or fart on the treadmill at the gym.  Nature outside is OK with my habits.  You don't fart or spit when you run?....not even a really long run?  Are you running fast enough?  Getting the right foods? :-)  If you aren't OK with farting, well, our running friendship will be short. :-)

     Running outside allows me to not get pissed due to some moron running out of the woods, then all of a sudden RIGHT next to me.  This happens on a treadmill, and I get SO pissed when  a person gets on the one RIGHT next to me when there is a line of empty treadmills.  (I always get on the end one next to the wall. It's mine.  All mine.  No exceptions.)

I could go on  and on about the cons of running on a treadmill but I will say, I am grateful for the option.  

Stay safe running or walking on the road or treadmill this week, Buckers.

 

"The Treadmill: A History." The Treadmill: A History 2017 | TreadmillReviews.net. Treadmill Reviews,      
     2017. Web. 19 Jan. 2017.

The Gym Yorkie

     Training this week for Boston is going as well as can be expected, despite the fact that last weekend Mother Nature was a hormonal wreck..many can relate...and was so irritated with the Midwest last weekend, she transformed into a complete psycho and only turned up the temp to 8 degrees on Sunday. My option to running outside? (No, skipping a long training run is not an option.)

     I was forced to run fourteen miles on a treadmill.

     True story.  I was forced (forced by me) to go to the gym to run because my treadmill needs maintenance...again...many can relate...and I needed a treadmill that could handle the mileage.  Off to the gym I went and successfully completed the fourteen.  That's not what I want to discuss today.  It's what occurred after the workout in the locker room that is definitely blog worthy and needs to be addressed.

     I can't speak for what it is like in a gentleman's locker room, but in a female's locker room, there are two types of gymies.  There is the type that is modest with her parts, and there is the type that lets it all hang out like it's a Mardi Gras parade, and beads are expected to be given as tokens of appreciation, regardless of size or sag.   In case you are wondering, believe it or not, I'm modest...though quite bead worthy, I'm modest.  However, after showering, and yes, I was covered up, there  was a group of elderly ladies that had just come from swimming in the pool.  They had finished swimming, taken off their suits, and were just chatting it up without a care in the world and not a stitch of clothing on their bodies.

     That wasn't the issue.

     It was when I was addressed with a "Hello, how are you?" and brought into the conversation with three naked women standing in the middle of the locker room with nothing on..not a stitch of clothing or any indication that a towel would be reached for at any moment in the near future, that I began to feel out of the club.  Yet, that wasn't the issue either.  I'm perfectly comfortable conversing in a locker room with bare bottomed women, but well, how do I put this lightly, one of the women either hadn't looked down in twenty years to groom, or my mini Yorkie dog had snuck into the locker room and attached herself to this woman's lower half!

     No, I wasn't checking anyone out but this couldn't go unnoticed.  Apparently her friends were used to it.  All I could think was, No,Gracie! Get down! Bad dog!  Next, in my head, I'm telling myself, Only the eyes, just look at her eyes. Then, she turned around to grab a towel, and I swear I let out a breath.  I must have been holding it and not realized it.  Things were fine once the towel covered parts, but the disturbing vision remains.

    Why did I mention this?  Because grooming is important.  If you are going to spend time working on your cardio and building your muscles, it's important to remember the little things like shaving and using lotion, especially lotion on your elbows...dry elbows on myself as well as others, a pet peeve of mine...I know. odd.  (You just felt your elbows, didn't you? :-) Well, lotion those elbows
up and groom downstairs.

     Have a great weekend, Buckers. :-)

   



   

Knocking on 50's door...

    During an early morning run this past week, my thoughts were drifting from how badly I had to pee...and was about to in my running tights, due to lack of ability to hold it since mid forties...to how awesome I was feeling...to am I really going to turn 50 tomorrow?!  Then it hit me...yes, yes, I was.    
     Damn.  50.  That year when black balloons and laughter from coworkers fills break-rooms, and all kinds of weird shit like fake pills and farting whoopee cushions are given as gifts....but the joke is on them. As I was running this morning, I glanced down at my watch, and I was holding an 8:30 pace.  Now, that's not track star, Olympic pace, but still...after four miles, I was maintaining an 8:30 pace with  two more miles to go.  It then occurred to me.  F(*& 50.  I feel better now than I have ever felt.  Two kids, two divorces, a survivor of Melanoma cancer, and six Ironman triathlons later, yes, I will be 50 on Saturday, and I'm training to qualify for the Boston Marathon on April 22, 2017.

   I'd like to invite you along for the journey.  Join me on my journey to Boston and my journey to Buck50. Regardless of your age now, I have a few things to share that I've learned and witnessed over these past fifty years. I look forward to many early morning runs as well as the trials and jubilations I'll face over the next fifty years.  I've learned some valuable lessons and tricks on how to stay fit, maintain a great outlook on life, as well as truly umderstanding the meaning of honesty being the best policy.  So, follow me and join me every Thursday, because I assure you, it will be bucking interesting and often entertaining. :-)

                                         1995-1st Triathlon                      2016