"You're running so much, what are you running away from?" This question was asked of me during one of my running jags. My knee jerk reaction was that I was not running away from anything, I was just running. Nothing more, nothing less. Upon further evaluation I find that sometimes my running has a purpose other than "just running."
I don't think that I'm ever consciously trying to run away from anything, rather I'm trying to run to a better place: physically, emotionally, mentally, spiritually. When I run, my mind seems to become unhazed, clearer, cleaner, and fresher. My body loosens, my shoulders drop, my breathing calms. My head stops spinning (sometimes it literally spins-ask my kids).
Sometimes now I get to experience that runners high, the other worldliness that comes on when the endorphins kick in....I remember vividly the first time that this happened. The time that I forgot I was running and ended up miles from home, not quite knowing how I got there or how long it took me or how I was going to get my butt back home! I was running along, minding my own business when I looked up and realized I had just run through three towns and was headed for a fourth. I put the brakes on, turned on heel and headed home on a runners high.
Was I running away from something that day? Who knows...what I do know is that running brings me toward a clearer vision, a better sense of my self, a calmer demeanor and a belief that I am capable of handling anything that comes my way. I don't know that running can cure my ills, answer my questions, or right my wrongs, but I believe that for me it is a vehicle to do these things for myself.
Get Your Run On!
\
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Thursday, January 6, 2011
running VS root canal
Headed to the "Y" for a run today, I get a call on my cell. "Hi, this is...from Brewer Dental Solutions. If you can be here in about 10-15 minutes we can do your root canal right now." My response, "Well, I was just about to go for a run. Can I call you back in ten minutes?"
When I'm set for a run, I don't like to be interrupted. Especially for a root canal. So, after ten minutes or so of contemplation I opted to make the "adult" decision and tend to my aching tooth and agree to the immediate root canal over my run.
Long story, short. Went to endo-dentist, he evaluated my tooth/teeth with x-rays and "sensitivy" tests. Nothing sensitive about the sensitivity test. I've had five children and the pain associated with whatever they put on your tooth to test it does not compare...I'll glady birth 5 more children! I almost clocked the endo-dentist. It was so bad, I asked him if had ever been hit by one of his clients and he responded that it was worse. Conclusion, neither he nor I could isolate tooth 30 from tooth 31 regarding the pain...diagnosis, wait two weeks, track tooth pain, make a decision then.So I ran, cracked tooth and root canal be dammed!
The run, although half of what was origanlly planned to be, was great.The alterantive was that I wasn't going to be able to get any kind of a run in due to the "emergency" root canal. The way I look at it, Running-1, Root Canal-0.
Get Your Run On
Running song of the day:
When I'm set for a run, I don't like to be interrupted. Especially for a root canal. So, after ten minutes or so of contemplation I opted to make the "adult" decision and tend to my aching tooth and agree to the immediate root canal over my run.
Long story, short. Went to endo-dentist, he evaluated my tooth/teeth with x-rays and "sensitivy" tests. Nothing sensitive about the sensitivity test. I've had five children and the pain associated with whatever they put on your tooth to test it does not compare...I'll glady birth 5 more children! I almost clocked the endo-dentist. It was so bad, I asked him if had ever been hit by one of his clients and he responded that it was worse. Conclusion, neither he nor I could isolate tooth 30 from tooth 31 regarding the pain...diagnosis, wait two weeks, track tooth pain, make a decision then.So I ran, cracked tooth and root canal be dammed!
The run, although half of what was origanlly planned to be, was great.The alterantive was that I wasn't going to be able to get any kind of a run in due to the "emergency" root canal. The way I look at it, Running-1, Root Canal-0.
Get Your Run On
Running song of the day:
Monday, January 3, 2011
Dreadmill or Bust!
So today it was the dreadmill or nothing. When I first began running, alot of my time was spent running on a treadmill, at home, in the basement, where no one could see me. I have a hard time doing things that are new. Being a classic Type A, I want to know how to do something before I do it and I want to be good at doing it...even something as simple as running.
Once I became more comfortable (between pushing the jogging stroller and practicing my running on the basement treadmill) I tried running on the Y treadmill...of course picking the very last one in the very back of the workout room as it's easier to be inconspicuous there. Treadmills can be tricky when you're new to them and when you're not paying attention. I have witnessed many a poor biped go flying off the back of one and into the cement wall-why do they place them back against the wall? I have once or twice found myself flung ungraciously off the back of one.
When spring weather hit two years ago, I began to venture outside on a regular basis. There is nothing like starting off on a run on a cool spring day and then having the sun warm your body and face as you run. Or getting caught in an unexpected rain shower, hail storm, thunder and lightening, or seeing the sun set or rise as you run. I was hooked, and naturally gave up the dreadmill, it's got nothing on mother nature.
My mom duties today didn't allow for down time...I was on from daybreak 'til now actually. I contemplated leaving the two younger ones (11 and 5) at home with strict instructions (no eating, no cooking anything, no answering the door, and call me every 5 minutes on my cell to check in) and then I would run multiple laps the length of our road 0.9 miles while checking in at the house each time I hit the driveway. I debated and debated and decided that the 11 year old (Gasoline) and the 5 year(Match) are probably not quite there yet...
So, I opted for the dreadmill. The dreadmill that was covered with carpet remnants, hand weights, and boxes of who knows what located in the storage room in the basement. I enlisted the help of the 11 year old to clean it off and help me move it from the storage room to the family room-moving a treadmill through a standard doorway is an interesting proposition.
Move it we did, and so I ran.
Today's Running Song features The Bee Gees-Run to Me (sorry, a guilty pleasure):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn4V-Yfvlvs
Get Your Run On
Once I became more comfortable (between pushing the jogging stroller and practicing my running on the basement treadmill) I tried running on the Y treadmill...of course picking the very last one in the very back of the workout room as it's easier to be inconspicuous there. Treadmills can be tricky when you're new to them and when you're not paying attention. I have witnessed many a poor biped go flying off the back of one and into the cement wall-why do they place them back against the wall? I have once or twice found myself flung ungraciously off the back of one.
When spring weather hit two years ago, I began to venture outside on a regular basis. There is nothing like starting off on a run on a cool spring day and then having the sun warm your body and face as you run. Or getting caught in an unexpected rain shower, hail storm, thunder and lightening, or seeing the sun set or rise as you run. I was hooked, and naturally gave up the dreadmill, it's got nothing on mother nature.
My mom duties today didn't allow for down time...I was on from daybreak 'til now actually. I contemplated leaving the two younger ones (11 and 5) at home with strict instructions (no eating, no cooking anything, no answering the door, and call me every 5 minutes on my cell to check in) and then I would run multiple laps the length of our road 0.9 miles while checking in at the house each time I hit the driveway. I debated and debated and decided that the 11 year old (Gasoline) and the 5 year(Match) are probably not quite there yet...
So, I opted for the dreadmill. The dreadmill that was covered with carpet remnants, hand weights, and boxes of who knows what located in the storage room in the basement. I enlisted the help of the 11 year old to clean it off and help me move it from the storage room to the family room-moving a treadmill through a standard doorway is an interesting proposition.
Move it we did, and so I ran.
Today's Running Song features The Bee Gees-Run to Me (sorry, a guilty pleasure):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tn4V-Yfvlvs
Get Your Run On
Sunday, January 2, 2011
21 Day Habit
Here's to day 2 of 21 to create a new habit! So says Dr. Maxwell Maltz, author of Psycho-Cybernetics.
From the Aristotle blog:
"Dr Maxwell Maltz wrote the bestseller Psycho-Cybernetics.
Originally a Plastic Surgeon, Maltz noticed that it took
21 days for amputees to cease feeling phantom sensations
in the amputated limb. From further observations he found
it took 21 days to create a new habit. Since then the '21
Day Habit Theory' has become an accepted part of self-help
programs.
Brain circuits take engrams (memory traces), and produce
neuroconnections and neuropathways only if they are
bombarded for 21 days in a row. This means that our brain
does not accept ?new? data for a change of habit unless
it is repeated each day for 21 days (without missing a day)."
Although I have been running for a few years now, I still have periods of time when I seem to have lost that incentive and drive to "get my run on". I've decided to try and approach my current complacent attitude for running as one approaches creating a new habit. It's often hard to create a new healthy habit...there's alot that we can put up as roadblocks. As a runner I've found that there is always some way around these roadblocks and most of them are creations I've put in my own head...rather than reality. My roadblocks to running today were: up too late with Mr. Mondavi, up too early with kids, too much laundry/housework/chores to do, couldn't locate my ipod, lake was fogged in, roads were icy, right hip ached with bursitis and on and on and on.
So I ran.
Yes it was foggy and icy and my hip burned wicked. But when I reached the top of Fitts Mountain, no joke, the fog lifted and the sun came out-my reward for the long climb up. The lake side of Fitts Mountain could have been better described as Ice Mountain while the back side could aptly be described as Mud Mountain. Multiple slips and slides as well as mud splatter all the way from my shoes to my butt but I stayed upright, which is more that I can say for my faithful companion Baxter!
I returned home, in one piece, in a better state of mind. I was greeted at the door by two gremlins with smiling faces who exclaimed "Mom, what happened to you! Baxter's a mud dog, that's awesome!"
Fitts Mountain Run-5.04 Miles
http://beta.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/26348208
Running song of the day: Run by Collective Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=okUrGG66KpQ
Lyrics to Run
http://www.metrolyrics.com/run-lyrics-collective-soul.html
Get Your Run On!
From the Aristotle blog:
"Dr Maxwell Maltz wrote the bestseller Psycho-Cybernetics.
Originally a Plastic Surgeon, Maltz noticed that it took
21 days for amputees to cease feeling phantom sensations
in the amputated limb. From further observations he found
it took 21 days to create a new habit. Since then the '21
Day Habit Theory' has become an accepted part of self-help
programs.
Brain circuits take engrams (memory traces), and produce
neuroconnections and neuropathways only if they are
bombarded for 21 days in a row. This means that our brain
does not accept ?new? data for a change of habit unless
it is repeated each day for 21 days (without missing a day)."
Although I have been running for a few years now, I still have periods of time when I seem to have lost that incentive and drive to "get my run on". I've decided to try and approach my current complacent attitude for running as one approaches creating a new habit. It's often hard to create a new healthy habit...there's alot that we can put up as roadblocks. As a runner I've found that there is always some way around these roadblocks and most of them are creations I've put in my own head...rather than reality. My roadblocks to running today were: up too late with Mr. Mondavi, up too early with kids, too much laundry/housework/chores to do, couldn't locate my ipod, lake was fogged in, roads were icy, right hip ached with bursitis and on and on and on.
So I ran.
Yes it was foggy and icy and my hip burned wicked. But when I reached the top of Fitts Mountain, no joke, the fog lifted and the sun came out-my reward for the long climb up. The lake side of Fitts Mountain could have been better described as Ice Mountain while the back side could aptly be described as Mud Mountain. Multiple slips and slides as well as mud splatter all the way from my shoes to my butt but I stayed upright, which is more that I can say for my faithful companion Baxter!
I returned home, in one piece, in a better state of mind. I was greeted at the door by two gremlins with smiling faces who exclaimed "Mom, what happened to you! Baxter's a mud dog, that's awesome!"
Fitts Mountain Run-5.04 Miles
http://beta.mapmyrun.com/routes/view/26348208
Running song of the day: Run by Collective Soul
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_detailpage&v=okUrGG66KpQ
Lyrics to Run
http://www.metrolyrics.com/run-lyrics-collective-soul.html
Get Your Run On!
Saturday, January 1, 2011
MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 01/01/2011
First day of the year, first run of the year, first blog of the year...first blog ever! I've decided to develop a new diversion for myself (like I need another one) and try blogging. I know it's not a new concept but one that is brand new to me, and now is the time to try something new.
My vision is to create a blog that incorporates my love of running and how I seem to be able to relate running to all aspects of my life. I've not always been a runner, took it up about 3 years ago following the birth of my 5th son. While pushing him in the baby jogger, a quiet thought occurred. "Maybe I can run. I am after all pushing a baby jogger that was built for running...maybe there's some transfer that might occur from the jogger to me."
So I ran (sort of) and the transformation began.
Three plus years later on the first day of this year 2011, I logged 6.99 miles on a warm sunny January morning. I am usually the only one out there in my neck of the woods, but today I came upon two runners at two separate times. We exchanged hellos and Happy New Year's and found that we know one another from here or there. Nice to see other people taking advantage of the new year.
In each blog, I'll try to include my running for the day and a song with "run" in the title-just for fun. I'd love to hear from anyone out there! Got a great run, great route, great running song???
Today's running song (song with the word run in it!) is: Bryan Adams-Run to You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF5LaVkDhyk
MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 01/01/2011
My vision is to create a blog that incorporates my love of running and how I seem to be able to relate running to all aspects of my life. I've not always been a runner, took it up about 3 years ago following the birth of my 5th son. While pushing him in the baby jogger, a quiet thought occurred. "Maybe I can run. I am after all pushing a baby jogger that was built for running...maybe there's some transfer that might occur from the jogger to me."
So I ran (sort of) and the transformation began.
Three plus years later on the first day of this year 2011, I logged 6.99 miles on a warm sunny January morning. I am usually the only one out there in my neck of the woods, but today I came upon two runners at two separate times. We exchanged hellos and Happy New Year's and found that we know one another from here or there. Nice to see other people taking advantage of the new year.
In each blog, I'll try to include my running for the day and a song with "run" in the title-just for fun. I'd love to hear from anyone out there! Got a great run, great route, great running song???
Today's running song (song with the word run in it!) is: Bryan Adams-Run to You http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gF5LaVkDhyk
MapMyRun.com - Regular Run: Regular Run on 01/01/2011
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