A New Decade – One foot in front of the other, my Dad always said.
Keep showing up. Do something different. OK, so I did last year, do something different – well, not exactly different, I just went back into my old gym workouts and pulled out the routines and tried going back into the gym. Well, that was interesting. I did this for about four months, but then I dorked my knee on this weird elliptical trainer that had a sideways action (not really my thing), and it took me out for a couple of months. I’m all better now, but I haven’t had the urge to go back.
Lots of bugs circulating out there – still COVID, flu, RSV, and some unnamed respiratory virus that people are getting where they nearly hack up their toenails. Plus, it’s the “get fit” frenzy that happens in the first quarter of the year – we need to do an aerial imagery study of gym parking lots throughout the year and watch the numbers of cars go up and down. I’m sure there is a pattern. January through spring break – lots of cars. Then it falls off from there. During the holidays, deadsville. Then it starts after the holidays in January with the gym membership special deals. Yup, it’s a pattern.
So, I am aqua jogging and “wogging” with hubby (my pacesetter), when the weather isn’t extreme – cold freeze your ass off or hosing down with flooding rains, complete with lightning and thunder. Not my favorite. I got this rockin’ wetsuit – it’s a 4/5 and it absolutely rocks. I am toasty in it (relatively speaking), when the water is down to about 52. I could tolerate lower if I had thicker gloves, but then I couldn’t move my hands!
The walks are good – we bundle up – and as long as the wind isn’t howling, it’s fine. After all, that winter in Canada was a great test for how low can you go! It was more the issue of the ice and snow – having to worry about falling down and not being able to get up…
I continue to keep going. I still get totally stir-crazy if I don’t get out and do something. Rain with thunder and lightning drives me insane. I’m not as put off by the cold but, I love 65-75F. My favorite – and low humidity. Doing resistance training, yoga, Pilates, and that stuff is all good to add in “mix-ins”, and the concept of “fitness snacks” – short duration do anything but “sit on your ass” activities. “Git UP”.
Let’s see if we can keep going another decade. One foot in front of the other, right Dad?
–RG – 2024
Into Year 3 Now of the Winter Aqua Jogging and Jogging Combos.
The winter activity of aqua-jogging has been studied now with myself as a research subject since September of 2021 when I began this adventure. Anything 52F or under is deemed too cold for the 4/3 suit with layers underneath, but above that, I’ll go in for 30-40 minutes no biggie – my hands get cold, so I upgraded my gloves to 5 mil, typically when it is cold using 3 mil works, but under 60 5 mil is better. Had to “do surgery” on the gloves so that I could still see my watch for timing and such. That works!
Each time, I check H2O temp and the weather (if its cloudy), pick out my suit and under-layers, gloves, etc., dress-out, then go outside, put the music on, and enter the water. Go at it for at least 30 minutes and 500 calories, which gets me to about 40-45 minutes of activity. Then I am out, wrestling the wetsuit off, and done. Sometimes I stretch in the water, sometimes I wait. It depends on how cold it is.
Yes, I’m nuts, but in a good way – maybe a bit obsessed. I can see from within myself, coming out, the tendencies of my parents who were designers and builders who altered things to make them operable, at times to the irritation of others (!)…but functionality no matter how creative one had to be was number one. Function over form.
For me, this being active equates to enhancing my survivability, as I’m heading into that decade where every day we see people falling over, from now on out, but then survival at any age can become a challenge. It’s delusional to think otherwise. Marketers use stereotypes for all sorts of things and the mental influences of that are potent. I suggest that we do our own research, even if we use ourselves for the experiments. Looking back, I think that it’s what I have done. Instead of looking at physicians as “directors”, I more look upon them as “advisors” and consider whether what they are saying is reasonable or not. If it seems outlandish, I go do my homework.
I think that the recent reports related to how obesity and overweight is handled by doctors points out a good bit of bias which trends them to react and treat or recommend based on some things that may or may not be accurate or as influential as we’ve been led to believe. BMI, for instance, you hear different things about that measure. What we do know is that it was created not by doctors in clinical treatment, but by actuarial professionals for insurance pricing. We all know by now how that can get.
Every day, if I can get up and do something active, whether I am fighting physical challenges or not, it makes me feel stronger and better – and ready to serve others vs. being served or being dependent, which I have a hard time doing.
As we were recently at a family wedding, I heard the speech given by the father of the bride about how he and the prospective groom recently ran a half-marathon together, and what insights that gave him – and I thought to myself, “yes, that is a life changing experience… you do 10 of those, and you see how variable these experiences can be, like life challenges, you must adapt as you go…” I ran that same event as my first event, and several times over the next ten years.
On one occasion, it was warmer and wetter than normal, and we were threatened by thunder and lightning whereby the advice to the runners was if you see lightning and hear thunder, seek shelter! They didn’t cancel the race, but with those warnings it was a bit tenuous. Oh boy. My thoughts were to run steady and be wary. It was a bit unnerving, but I finished without incident, going over the finish line – in the middle of downtown, I was thinking “feets don’t fail me now!”
Still Running.
I still love to get out on the trails (mostly). I think that being outside is good – observing nature and plodding along. I get a lot of good thinking time when I’m not sitting in front of a computer – it’s just different and more free association-type thinking which I think is good.
Sometimes, though, I get aggravated at the other humans on the trail – how they abuse or misuse the nice amenities that we taxpayers have afforded this community. Kids, immature in their thinking, often do reckless things, even harmful. It is especially bad that if something happens, it’s hard to get help beyond calling 911. I think of the day I fell and how no one who walked by me offered to help me out. I was bleeding. That’s the level of “caring community” that actually exists here most of the time. Many selfish people who only “care” if it serves them in some way, like gaining recognition on a resume. Ugh. That’s the part I do not like about being out on the trail.
Running in water in winter.
What we realize is that putting on a wet-suit and taking it off is a strength or core building activity in and of itself! Beginning late September, 2021, I began using a combination of wet-suit separates and full ones to maintain my body warmth throughout the winter in water while aqua-jogging and swimming.
I can handle 78F+ water without any wet-suit, except I use the vest or rolled up vest for buoyancy. So far I have gone into as low as 52F water. I am discovering the value of base layers, thicker gloves, hoods and caps, and how to refine the gear.
Two 16 ounce bottles of warm water help with keeping the internal temperature of the wet-suit cozier. All of this is semi-experimental! The cold water feels good when joints are achy, actually!
So as not to “forget” the great joy of running and jogging by putting one foot in front of the other on pavement or off-road, I went for a four-miler a few days ago. It started off as a three-miler, but then as I got closer to the park, there were a lot of people there, so I kept going on to the 2 mile turn around.
How long can I continue the terrestrial running and jogging?
As I do, with my aging body, I was continuously checking how my back and hips were feeling, and adjusting my stride, my pace, and those things you do. This time, I noticed that it was my “ye olde right foot” problem returning – being that I was wearing new-ish shoes, I thought that this could be the problem.
Note to self: “get some of the old stand-by’s” because this ain’t workin’…”
I didn’t get blisters, but I ended up with a helluva set of “foot angries” including the aggravation of my ITB on my right side. Ugh. Won’t be wearing those again. May need to give those away…
But the day was very nice – starting off chilly, then ending up warmer and sunny. By the end of the day, it was a situation where my back was spasm-city, and I was just a wreck! I looked at my step-count and I was at 17,000+ OMG. Over seven, nearly eight miles… I hadn’t done that in a while and it was like starting over.
A cold water dip… That helped. Yoga applied throughout the day, this also saved me – plus the new drops I use, and some temporary pain relief in forms of beer and OTC tablets. Made me love the aqua jogging even more!
But, I should do this terrestrial running once a week, perhaps, because as we age we lose our ability to balance on two feet and these contact with the ground sports help us. Therefore, I ordered some new shoes. To incorporate more activity like this, I can’t use the ones I used on the four-miler plus that I intend to build back. Wow, did I prove the “use it or lose it” theory!
Proprioception, also referred to as kinaesthesia, is the sense of self-movement and body position. It is sometimes described as the “sixth sense”. Proprioception is mediated by proprioceptors, mechanosensory neurons located within muscles, tendons, and joints. Wikipedia
The bottom line is…
Continuing to do physical activities that require us to assess ourselves spatially (this is autonomic) is critical to our keeping out of chairs! The nagging self-monitoring sensors we wear can make us more aware of this! “Stand up” reminders… those may be nagging, but they help. The combined data can help us live our best lives… as long as we can keep it up.
“Keep showing up” is the first rule. “One foot in front of the other… as my Dad used to say…”
RG – January 24, 2022
Running in water. 2020.
So, it’s been really hot this summer – but not as hot as our friends out in California experience, thank goodness. We have heard horror stories. We are blessed with the occasional tropical weather (not really blessed, but hard to say what is more destructive). In 2011, we had fires near here. It was scary. Smoke was a constant reminder. But, bottom line, we have merely had heat and humidity. Running or “wogging” in that to me is very distracting and takes an extra amount of preparation to get through even a short run. Hate having to take extra fluids unless it’s a necessity – which during heat, it is.
The water running is good if you have music – and if you can change-up the music. Running in water is stationary like running in place… sort of. Using a float to break up the intensity of what feels like treading water standing up, helps. Initially, when you get started doing this without a flotation assist, there is sort of this panicky feeling – it’s natural because your reflexes think you are drowning! Once you learn to relax and sort of move around like you are really on a surface, it gets better. Water submersion like swimming and doing this water running really works you out – just standing in water, your body is working against the pressure of the water against your core – and your lungs get a good workout when you are moving around due to the extra force that the pressure of water adds. It’s kinda cool, actually.
But, after not running for several months, I did go out and take a stroll for almost 3 miles – whoopee. The next day I was sore as. Again, it proves that if you don’t use it, you lose it. You have to work back up to your former muscle memory. But, there’s proof that you worked out when you get a little sore, too!
My gym is gone. A victim of COVID-19… That makes me sad, because I did use the gym to work out my muscle groups and get some alternative cardio on their elliptical trainer. The people working there were so nice, too. I am sad for them. They have video classes, but it is not the same as going to the gym. We have to adapt, I guess.
When the weather cools down, I will ride my bicycle again. That was always good for a nice change. Being out on the paths, there are an array of attitudes related to walking and running – with or without masks. Hard for me to know that some of these people will again vote for the orange idiot because these people have brains that are wired differently from mine.
I worry a lot. Being out on the path does wear me out, but unfortunately, it doesn’t stop my thinking and that probably isn’t the greatest thing. In 11 days time, is a milestone and that one is sad. In 4 days after that, is another which is a happy birthday of my son. Bittersweet all together in September. What a deal, huh?
-RG (9-Sept-2020)
Running Girl has shifted to more long walks…
It’s good for sustainability to take long walks. It’s good to get out in the fresh air (…) and sunshine and listen to tunes or have a chat with my walking buddy (<3) which is a lot different to those old long runs – which in my mind I wish to be able to do – but the physicality of this is no longer what it was. This is not to say that I will NOT ever do those again – but I will say that I likely will not do those really long ones – because truly, there are other aspects that I enjoy more than the aspects that characterize those really long runs.
I was in the running store the other day, and listening to the chatter, I really did feel that I’m not in that mindset any more. I kind of thought, “did I sound like that back in the day?” as my face got a bit pink in embarrassment. But, most importantly today, I think that the path I am on is more sustainable in the long-run – not to use a pun – it just is.
-RG (28-Feb-2020)
Running Girl on the Weekend After the “Go Eat Until You Barf” Holiday – Considering the Meaning of Life and All That Comes With…
Saturday. After Thanksgiving. Always feels like Sunday – because, Thursday felt like Friday, and Wednesday felt like Thursday because Thursday felt like Friday – and so… here we are. We’re feeling all wonky. Friday, people were up (or shall we say Thursday late – ready to go to the store openings at Oh-My-God O’ Clock – wee hours. Can’t imagine it. All the scenes of people diving into the sales – glowering at one another – like animals with gnashed teeth. Friday after Thanksgiving is not called “Black Friday” for nothing. It’s desperate. We get it that people want to save money, but still – it’s a feeding frenzy that Running Girl does not want to face.
Running Girl, “RG” for short, goes on a walk – because the day before the holiday was a run, and the holiday was a “gym session” – so, walkies were the activity du jour. It’s fine. Not so much of a thought session because RG brought hubby and there was conversation instead of “RG” doing the higher-plane thinking. Although, that does come into the later stages of the walk – it’s not the same category as the long-run “RG” thinking session.
But, Running Girl promises to keep going – and to keep her promises – and to try to not get pulled down into the mire pits that are out there (and we all know what we mean, don’t we?). “RG” will keep on keepin’ on, until she doesn’t. As, doesn’t that make sense?
November 30, 2019 – the day before December. That’s when “Season” whatever starts… “merry merry merry”.
Running Girl Seeks Answers
So, Running Girl decides that running is a good thing, most of the time – but, running to Running Girl, as we have stated previously, is not what some consider “running” – it’s slow, but for all intents and purposes in Running Girl’s head, the experience is running or maybe jogging, not full out sprinting, but nonetheless accomplishes the same thing (in Running Girl’s head). Okay, so we get some sense of accomplishment afterward, and during the experience some feeling like we’re OK – not going down the drain.
Continually, although not continuously, Running Girl asks, “What is the meaning of life?” or “Why don’t some of my friends respond when I send them messages?” Junk like that. It’s part of what happens when Running Girl runs. Brain chemistry.
It’s important to be running from time to time – but, we are careful now, as we still remember two years ago, what happened when we side-stepped the pile of poo in the path and ended up in horrible pain and unable to run for nearly two months! Now we try to remember to just step in it!
And there are other things that we have to remember to do. It is also important to get on a bicycle more than once a year to say “just like riding a bicycle, you never forget…” – or whatever.
Running Girl does not run in her dreams. In her dreams, sometimes, she feels like she steers the wheel of the car and it just goes wherever it wants… also, in her dreams, she is always working on the computer and trying to figure shit out.
Then, that now more common thought… (thought bubble) she thinks “it’s been XX years that I have been doing this… or geez, I’m not sure how much longer that I can be doing this…” to which she replies, “ONE FOOT IN FRONT OF THE OTHER, SISTER…”
So, there you go. November 24, 2019 Stardate 73346.9 – Running Girl Rides Again.
It’s been a long time since I’ve had a long run, but… let’s just say the last time had me think “I’m going to wait for cooler weather…”
Back around mid-May, Running Girl did her usual track, down the street, turn right, cross the park intersection, over the bridge, to the roughly 2.5 mile mark, then turned around and came back. It had been raining A LOT. It was the time of year for the weather to shift into the “humey warmish months”.
OK, so, as I came along to the first part of going over the water on the bridge, to my left, wound up “good’n tight” on the bridge rail, vertical, was a BIG-ass water moccasin (snake to those who aren’t locals…). OMG. And likely, I’d run right past it on the front swing. Aggggghhhhh! So, I ran extra-fast past it, holy moly! You know that burst of adrenaline you get when you see something that might “kill ‘ya” – it’s “run like hell time”!
Anyway, that day, I resigned myself to NOT going that way for a while. Being extra vigilant on the path, whenever I want to go on a mosquito adventure – and hey! Let’s water jog in the pool or do the treadmill for a while… Besides, the old injury (see posts that precede this one) continues to flare up. The age-factor, healing, and such has me trekking to the chiro and getting sports-medicine to tame back that thing. The idea is to just “keep moving”.
Water is good.
Snakes.
They are not my favorite. Still trying to understand their “value” – I know in the ecosystem they do have some value, for sure, just not directly to ME. But, for the greater good, I leave them alone and hopefully, they leave me alone!
July – 2019
It takes a long run to have a long think
Running Girl took the opportunity to take a long run the last sunny day that we had, recently. This was spurred by a combination of having the “SADs” and the need to go over to the old area near the old trails from yesteryear (2003 thru 2011). These are the trails where she spent a lot of time “working things out” AKA “doing deep inner work while running and thinking”.
This is always cheaper than going to therapy, and there are many benefits to being outdoors, at least when the weather is good and it was very good. It was a treasure compared to the trash weather that has been seemingly anchored around here recently. It was definitely something that I needed to do and…
Sure enough, it was a good thing to do this.
It did several things: (1) it proved that she could still do this running (well…we call it that), (2) it proved that those wooded trails have much more than a bunch of trees, brush, and dirt in their substance and character, (3) it proved that a sunny day is much more therapeutic than taking stupid pills (like they advertise on TV, although not so much for the “depression” anymore – hmmm… wonder why that is? (4) it proved that things along those trails change, but don’t – there are still some things that are there that were there in 2003… and (5) and we found that the next day, if you haven’t done that route for a good while, you’re sore.
Running Girl is also very glad that: there are no mirrors in the woods, and that nobody was there, pointing and laughing at her, and that most people, by and large, along these trails, are friendly. Running Girl is aware of the “running snobs” that exist, as they fly by her like they have wings on their feet – sometimes treating Running Girl badly by clipping her arm ever so gently… This really makes Running Girl want to take names, but she never can catch them to do this! It is even harder when all she sees is the back of them vanishing off into the distance.
But people were friendly. Even the tall kid, standing out in the middle of no place along the trail smoking a cigarette (likely somewhere away from Mommy and Daddy’s eyes), even said hello as Running Girl passed him going the other way. Some things never change.
The music is important as it adds some dimension to the whole movie of runs – and gives more of the experience of “the ride” – but it takes more effort than driving, and the music must be right. Running Girl finds that on those “free runs” that a variety is helpful – some oldies, some new music, and some mixes where you are surprised with the next song.
Here again, it’s the autumn and many are out there training on the trails. Running Girl probably can’t do this every day – but, maybe one day a week isn’t a bad goal for now… Easy does it.
One thing is for certain, Running Girl was no longer sad and felt a lot better after that time out on the trails, back to the old trails in the old territory…
Running Girl in 2018
Running Girl suffered that injury in 2017, which put her in the altered universe of “planet chronic injury”. Jerking your psoas major wreaks havoc on running, as RG has discovered.
Managing the little aches and twinges that come from having a stretched long connecting muscle that runs from your lower back down your leg can be a challenge.
However, despite that age + that situation makes recovery a bit more difficult, the Good Dr. Eric helped Running Girl through the initial recovery, and after about a month, Running Girl was out on the trail once again. It’s not the same as it ever was, but then that is how life is. Change after change after change.
This year, there were allergies (or some kind of virus) that got Running Girl down while on the much anticipated trip down under (looking forward to running and hiking in the “fall” (March) in the snakeless bush, and all over the lovely Kiwi landscape. On arrival, however, the climate-changes in Kiwiland got her down, double-pollen in the air – moister than normal – landslides, green when it should have been going brown – wild life confusion – heat when it should have been cooler and dryer – muggy muggy – lots of not expected misery – which seems like having spears thrown at every turn.
The weather where we are, mostly, has been muggy and rainy through the summer with some very hot dry spells – and, that mainly means “dreadmill” training, which Running Girl has learned to manage via binge watching on the iPad. All of the sudden 45-60 minutes have evaporated.
The outdoor period of the year (roughly, October thru June-ish) is close to being here. Did a test run yesterday, and it was still very hooooooooomid! Not quite so steamy hot, but still very muggy it is. Looking at the weather coming up:
The forecast is calling for cooler temperatures in about 10 days. Maybe. We can only hope. In the meantime, it’s slog thru the moisture, or enjoy another episode on the “dreadmill” to keep in the running! At least, that’s what Running Girl says she will do. One foot in front of the other!
Run safe, and long – may we run!
Memories of Racing – By Running Girl
Just remembering these races brings back memories of the training – the “Little Engine that Could” self-talk – despite the downer comments from just about everyone (except my tried and true supporters – you know who you are!). Ten half-marathons. A few other races thrown in there. And my “everyday all purpose” racing where I move down the trail, tunes in my ears (not too loud), thinking and listening as I move along watching the scenery and the people that I pass or that pass me.
The long runs (over 5-7 miles) – those are the transformational runs that really work on your mental condition – once you finish those, there is no description of how you feel afterward (besides sore, the good benefits are enormous). But for me, now not pushing it – 5-7 is about the length of run I settle on for a “longish” run. I think that for now the long is how many years can I keep doing this?
I’m not fast (never was). I just like being out there. People that snob me because I’m slow or say that I’m not really running, well… I say to them, “you have some other problem that YOU are dealing with – and if you have to treat me that way, well, knock yourself out – hope it helps YOU feel better about yourself… I am not in any contest with anyone… ” And I just don’t mingle with them after that.
I like to get out there – what is wrong with that? So, for all of you out there that enjoy this – get out when you can and enjoy the ride!
Running Girl In 2017
Running Girl is suffering an injury from just shy of two weeks ago – which to Running Girl feels like forever.
Again, keeping in mind that Running Girl depends on running for clearing her head of all types of demons, distractions, and generally, gets straightened by running, this has been a problem. Running Girl is trying to take the higher ground and not get “freaked out” by this.
To calm herself down, she recalls the big injuries of the past: the 2006 springtime injury when the butterfly came up out of nowhere and she jump-levitated then slammed down on the path full force, pulling her ITB… the day after the 2010-half, and the months thereafter of recovery from achilles tendinitis, and the next year, that summer – when the fall happened and the chassis got really out of alignment – and she recalls that she did recover from these incidents, but it took time. Getting older, being a Running Girl is a challenge at times. Yes folks, it is true.
Running Girl is actually getting older. From her perspective, this beats the alternatives. Running Girl is reminded of this every single day, sometimes multiple times a day. In that, Running Girl says, “getting older, waking up each day, it’s a gift!”
Running Girl was asked recently what she wants for Christmas. As Running Girl has replied many times in the past, she said, “Peace on Earth and goodwill.” So, that is about it for the recent report on Running Girl. Long may you run.
Running Girl is still running…
It might not mean that much to some people, but for me, it sets me straight, when I am not feeling that settled. Running does this. I’m slow. I am likely permanently recovering from injuries: ankle, foot, hips and back, the fall I took nearly five years ago that “realigned my chassis” as I like to describe it. Sprawling on all fours, nearly hitting my head, a serious abrasion on one knee, bruising and a knocked out opposite knee – sore for weeks – but eventually, we get back on the trail and away we go.
Five years later, four half-marathons later – number 10 achieved, now just doing this for the therapy (as I have said earlier), and the fact that I can still do this, and intend to do this, one foot in front of the other, as long as possible.
My friend, Jim, wrote us the other day. He said, “although I qualified for the Boston [Marathon], I am delighted to say that I have pulled out, and am not going to run it again.” Jim is 80 years old. Jim still runs a marathon in about 4: and a half or so… I have never run a marathon, and likely, would not be able to do it in anything less than 6:something — if I am lucky, that is…
So, we are out there – all shapes and sizes, and all ages, too. Running does it for us, whatever “it” is. It’s our compelling, addicting, activity. For me, it’s personal. It’s my continuing saga. It’s dealing with grief and those things that invade my mind that demand my dealing with them on a higher plane.
I am lucky and I’d guess you can say blessed, that I can still run. When I grow up, I want to be just like Jim. Running for the pleasure at 80-plus.
Running Girl – The Follow-On Chapters…
As time goes on, running gives the time away from all of the crazy stuff that goes on every day. It is in some ways transformational. I can move down the path, see changes from the last time – watch the seasons change – see people and watch people with their kids, their significant others, kids on bikes, teens on the phone or texting (while walking!) – and even have short conversations.
Interviews on the path have been with a writer who was living here temporarily while he is working on a television show, on his daily walk back from the library where he sits and writes all day, a lady facing a double-mastectomy and the challenges of breast cancer, an old friend who I had not seen in years – and this happens more than you can imagine – just catching up with them is treasure. You lose phone numbers and addresses over years and years, and suddenly, its as if you have found them again without having to think of how to search in these days of cell phones with no directories…
Running long isn’t what I do as often, but running every day is something that if I don’t do it, I feel deprived, somehow – and I use the term “running” loosely, as I more often walk-run, or “wog”. Getting outside is my favorite thing vs. sitting indoors. I often don’t like it that there is so much traffic – it means that we are becoming over-populated, even here. But nonetheless, running is my sanctuary from day-to-day aggravation.
I run everywhere I go – I’ve been running in every state I visit, in every country (almost), in front of Buckingham Palace, as the Guard was changing, even. I have run in Malaysia, in New Zealand, in Canada, in Costa Rica – in the tropical humidity and in the heat, as well as the freezing cold in London and Calgary…and finished my second half-marathon at 28-degrees F! If you had asked me in 1977, when I first started running, if I thought I would do that, I would have said, “probably not!” But then, I did!
One foot in front of the other, it’s progress – it’s meeting my goals – it’s very therapeutic in so many ways… I hope that I can do this for a long time.
This year, I had an illness that required surgery, and this in turn impacted my ability to keep running outdoors. I am awaiting a cooler period of time when I can run outside again. Running on the “dread-mill” is not the most fulfilling — yet, I get what I can in terms of keeping up with fitness… this just does not do the trick for being one with everything. I hope that by the end of September, we see cooler spells and I can begin to hit the path… running for my life!
Running is my therapy. I do some of my best running and resolving… and praying… at long distances… I have run ten organized half-marathons in my life and more, training… I have run for charity, shorter distance runs – but now, it is mostly, me out there… one foot in front of the other – for the long run.
Who ever thought that I would take up this active way of meditation and observation? I certainly did not. I know that my parents would not have thought I would ever… I am an artist, truth be known.
So why running? It’s a long story, but when I began to really start running – to become “a runner”, was after serious things happened in our lives. Rob moved on to be with God, and before he went through some stuff, he said to me, “Mom, when I get my new lungs, I am going to run with you.” And he is. Every time I run, he is running with me. He runs me into every race finish line. He pulls me through the hard parts.
He sends dragonflies down to visit me when I am on the course. Just to let me know that he is there… Running with me.
He even sends Great Pyrenees to the last mile… Largely, in part, I think that this is a pact that he has with Sadie, but he would never admit that.