Present

Well, this is my second attempt at this post... I wrote quite the eloquent description of my run this morning... and then it disappeared into computer nothingness. I am now at work, and not sure I am up to recreating such a stroke of literary genius (ok, maybe not, but I sure thought it captured my run). I guess the main point of what I wrote was that I was fortunate enough to be present to my run this morning, and really enjoy it. To pay attention to all the details of how I was feeling, and how that fit into the larger context of my life. I passed an older man walking his dog and he said, "great day for a run." I blurted out, "its beautiful!" I am sure he must of had some runs under his belt to recognize the beauty of this cool cloudy day as prime running weather... that lead me to thinking about all my wonderful running connections, and all the amazing people that I have run with over the years. Mostly I was thankful today to have a life that allows me to take such pleasure in something as simple as a run.

Today: 4 miles
Week: 7 miles

Whats This?

Two days of running in a row... and three runs in a weeks time? Wow. You bet I am going to take advantage of the warm (well, warmer) weather, and get my butt out there. Today I drove to the park and got 3 miles of grass running in... doesn't get much better (maybe my NW trees and dirt) than running on a nice wide grass trail through the woods. I am happy to report that I have swung out of my blahs, running is still some of the most potent medicine for me. I am hoping that I can keep getting a few runs in over the next week or so... until I get back to the more friendly (yes, I am wuss now ;-) winter running weather of CA. I was starting to feel the lack of fitness, and the build up of stress (no matter how well things are going, starting a business is a little stressful) kicking my butt. I would like to exceed the build up of miles that I had at this time last year and go into the spring actually in shape (sorta, kinda shape at least). Still have a marathon on my mind for sometime next year.

Today: 3 miles
Week: 3 miles

Heat Wave!!!

54 degrees at the moment... awww yes, I have been in Iowa too long when I am excited about a high that is probably equal to the low in CA. Oh well, I will take it. I had a very enjoyable run in T-shirt and gloves this morning. Even though these runs are anything but routine... it still feels very good to get out and get them in. There is also something extraordinary about getting these beautiful days after a cold snap. I must admit that Vallejo weather is nice more often than not (by a long ways), and I begin to sort of count on it. But to get out and enjoy an exception to the December Midwest norm... is a special thing.

Today: 4 miles
Week: 7 miles

Blah

I finally got my first cold (27 degrees) weather run in. As usual my first run in a while so my knee was bugging me half way in and it had to be a run/walk sort of thing. The main thing is that I got out and did it. I needed to. I am hoping to counter act a little slide into the blahs. It is supposed to go colder again so I am not sure if I will be able to get back out for a bit... I am getting old and wimpy. All those days I didn't run during my California winters... I guess it is good to see the other side.

Today: 3ish miles
Week: 3ish miles

12

All I got to say is... 12 degrees... and it is getting colder!!!

Turkey Day Take Two

Pre-Turkey Run,
originally uploaded by TreeBed.

It is hard to believe that a year has gone by since I started this blog, and that I was beginning my journey to get the running shoes going again. A lot has gone on in that year. We missed Beetle on our run this morning. And a beautiful morning it was. After the run it was a soak in the hot tub. This is the life!!! Even with the break in my runs the past few weeks I felt pretty good today. I am thinking back to sucking wind last year on our Turkey Day jount. So even though my running hasn't exactly been the priority as of late... it is good to know that my fitness level is better off than a year ago.

Hope you all have much to be Thankful for... I know I do.

Today: 3 miles
Week: 5 miles

Ran.

Well, kind of... it wasn't much of a run. My knee was talking within a mile... so, it only ended up being a couple. However, enough to get me stretched out a bit, and hopefully ready to get a couple of runs in this week up in Oregon. It has been awhile since my last run, and even longer since doing so back in V-town. The run also took on some significance because it was a year ago that I started this Blog. What a year. I am not so sure that I made much of a Come Back (in my running anyway), but when I look at where my life was a year ago... then I can see a "come back" indeed. I have too much to do today to elaborate on that... However, I am hoping that this week brings some time to reflect on the journey of the past year.

Today: 2 miles (sore knee)
Week: 2 miles

Run?

Run... what is that? It seems like it has been forever since I was on a run. I am feeling better, and I am hoping that that the next few days will allow time for a run. Although we seem to be in the time period of using EVERY second of the day ;-)

I have heard rumor of 60 degree weather on the way... ooooh, heat wave. We'll see... that could be the extra push I need.

Halloween!

Happy Halloween... just wanted to send a spooky greeting to all... I am dressing as a tired entrepreneur. I have been fighting off a cold, or perhaps just stress/exhaustion... so no running for the past week. And it is in the teens tonight for our temp (low teens mind you), so that kind of weather is not helping. However, when I feel better... I am kind of looking forward to a freezing cold run (yes, I am sick well beyond the common cold). I have to admit a certain craving for it. I had some good midwest memories of freezing cold running. Not to often ice forms in the armpits of your shirt in California. One of those runs will probably do me just fine ;-)

Have a good one...

P.S. Beetle has his website up (mostly)... go check out what Southern Sole is up to.

Nap

Well, I was oh so close to getting a run in today... instead I took a nap. Yeah, not the same. I am craving a run, but feel pretty crappy so it has been hard to get out the door. I have run myself in to the ground a bit the past week or so, and now my body is fighting back. So, it is time to step back and make sure that I am taking care of myself (not always a strong suit of mine). The bright side is that the coffee house is starting to shape up... you can check out progress with the new link on the right side of the this page... TreeBed Projects. There you will find the start of another blog about my newest project (with links to pictures and such). Eventually we'll have a real website for the coffee house, but for now we'll just use the blog. The next few weeks will be pretty intense, hopefully it will generate some good stuff to talk about. However, it will be good ole Go Elvis! that reminds me to take time to get my running in (or some form of taking care of myself)... which I will do right now, and go to bed.

Post number 200!!!

Wow, 200 posts and about a month away from a year on this blog. It is hard to believe. In the next month I look forward to back tracking a little bit... reading over some of the early posts, and soaking it in. It was around this time last year that the damn started to show signs of stress. There were already small leaks, and the pressure of the pain and grief was beginning to punch holes in my wall. I can look back and see that now, but at the time I really had no idea how damaged I was. Well, perhaps I did, but chose to deal with it in poor ways... such as sticking fingers in holes... rather than punching more holes for the pressure to ease. That is what running did for me over the past 200 posts, but it was also the action of writing about it. That allowed much of that pressure to be released in a healthy way. Knowing that there was a handful of people on the other side that cared enough about that process to check in and read it every once in awhile... means more than you will ever know.

I now can see that I am in the process of taking down the damn all together. Time to let my life flow in a natural way... no longer damned up by grief and fear. Sometimes I wish to just blow it up and let the flood wash everything new, but I think there is also something to be said for taking it apart piece by piece. Allowing my life to adjust with the process, and perhaps understanding why the damn was built in the first place. I know that I am not the last person that is going to go through troubled times of grief... I want to be able to recognize when someone is at that bursting point. And then have the strength and understanding to support them as they let the waters break through the walls they have built. We all have those walls. Grief comes in many forms and from many areas of our life. Just watch the evening news... you can't help but absorb some grief of the world. That gets carried around. Being rejected by a loved one or loss in any form can cause grief, and that grief in itself is not evil. However, our society at the moment does a very poor job of giving people the tools to work through that grief. Thus, we have a world walking in grief. For those of you reading this... please know that I am committing myself to walk with that world, and give support in what ever way is called upon of my talents and skills.

Thank you for walking with me.

Today: 0 miles (so far)
Week: 10 miles (got 4 in yesterday)

Cozy 42 degrees

The sun came out and warmed it up to a blistering 42 degrees, and I jumped at the chance to get out and enjoy it. It was a short run, because we are doing more painting today. However, it felt great to get the legs moving... and pretty much no noise from my knee.

We are finally at a point where we are ready to be a little more public with the latest project. I will put some more info up on my next post... post number 200 for old Go Elvis!

Today: 3 miles
Week: 6 miles

Almost

It was almost a good start to my running week... but not quite. I launched out into the warm autumn air, and my feet were flyin! It was one of those days were you look out and expect it to be cold, and then the first air hits you... not cold at all. Which then makes it seem warm (even if it really isn't). Those "flyin" feet didn't last long. In fact, they had no business flyin at all. So about 13 min in... my knee was yelling at me to knock it off. I think my body is still very tight from the 30 hours of car. At one point I thought I might actually get a decent run in (more than my standard 3 miles), but it was not going to be today. Hopefully I at least loosened things up to get some good runs in this week... we'll see.

Today: 3 miles
Week: 3 miles

On the Road Again... and then Some!!!

Well, I am happy to report that yesterday started off with a run (in Vallejo)... and ended a day and a half later in Iowa. 33 hours on the road (there were 3 of us, not just me)... and it is time for some sleep. I knew that the weather was going to be cold in Iowa, but I wasn't really prepared for what that was going to feel like... Geeeez!!! I will write more tomorrow... and may even bundle up for a run.

Today: 0
Week: 3 miles

Hummm...

Well, obviously not much running is being done... my days have been pretty darn jam packed (with great stuff). I have had some thoughts rambling around in my head that I want to get down, but it is once again too late. So, perhaps tomorrow, but I did want to put a post up saying I am still alive... and thinking about my next run (maybe tomorrow morning)... and also thinking about everyone else's running... and more importantly good ole life in general. I hope yours is well.

Best of Both

Today was the best of both worlds... we actually had rain the past two days (first rain of the season...) and it was chilly and grey until about 5pm today. So, that meant perfect weather to get a good afternoon nap in, and then wake up and have the clouds break for a beautiful run. Very nice!!!

The weather was putting on a show... my body on the other hand was not. My left knee wasn't happy, it has been a while...

Today: 3 miles
Week: 7 miles

Beautiful

Went out for an afternoon run today... it was perfect out. The sun had finally broke through and started warming things up, and off I went. You can feel the beginnings of fall creeping in here. The air is different. I love it.

Today: 4 miles
Week: 4 miles

How is everyones training going? Obviously mine isn't very consistant ;-) Anyone got any races coming up?

If At First...

You don't start running... try again a little later. Tonight as the sun was starting set I got myself all ready for my run. It had been a productive day and it seemed like a logical step to add a run to that productivity (plus I hadn't left the house yet ;-) It was quite a bit cooler than it was two nights ago, which was much to my liking... all was in place for a pleasant run. I locked the door behind me, walked to the edge of my stairs... and stopped. As I looked at my neighborhood I had no desire to venture off into it's concrete confines. I often don't look forward to this, but this was the first time it stopped me in my tracks. For the first time, maybe ever, I simply turned around and walked back inside. This was very strange. I sat down and thought about it... a friend had called so I sat and talked for a few minutes. I asked for a pep talk... Lets just say there is no future in motivational speaking for her. However, by the end of the conversation (perhaps just for the sake of not being on the phone anymore... if you know me at all you know how much I love the phone), I was ready to try again. Once again, I locked the door... turned to face my environment... and this time set off towards the rusting sky (which reminds me... I have a song to finish with that image in it... wrote it on the road home from Iowa). At first I thought this might have been a bad idea. I felt pretty lousy, maybe my body was telling me it was a bad day for a run. I didn't listen. I let the run progress as it needed, and before I knew it... I was back at my door... 4 miles later. It is good to give yourself a second chance.

Today: 4 miles
Week: 7 miles

Back at It

Finally got a run in... it has been a while. I had an amazing last week, but no running. I won't even try to fit my whole week into a post. However, I will say that it was a beautiful example of how people can live in balance with each other and the land. Really cool to be a part of!!!

Today was my day to get back into the swing of things... getting stuff done around the house, food shopping, catching up on work stuff, and thankfully a RUN. It wasn't a great run, but a run none the less. It was a beautiful evening for a run. Warm, and the sunset forced me to just walk for a bit and soak it in.

I hope that everyone is doing well...

Today: 3 miles
Week: 3 miles

Out

Hey all... I will out of touch for a week. I will tell you all about it upon my return... take care.