Today I ran in Moab. I got my speed back from yesterday. It was epic. And can I just say it was wonderful not coming home dripping wet? It was actually a little chilly this mornin.
Moab is a very small town in a valley surrounded by intimidating red cliffs. It was dark when I started but light was just beginning to peak over the mountains. I was running fast and feeling good. At about the second mile I stopped to take in the sight. The sun was now illuminating the cliffs to the west of me, turning them a brilliantly deep red color...then I had a THOUGHT.
Haha I know it's cheesy but I thought to myself "If God can make a huge pile of rocks and sand look this beautiful, imagine what He could do with me." I guess it's the Brother of Jared kinda thing in the Book of Mormon. We offer what we've got, and the Lord makes it better. But first we have to do the offering. We have to take a step towards the Lord, disengaging whatever may be holding us back.
Buddhist's believe that attachments are what hold us back from becoming the best we can be. There is wisdom in that. Of course some attachments are essential, like that of man and wife (although even then they aren't really attached, but joined). Many attachments hold us back though and it's our responsibility to put our lives in order, let go of anything impeding our progress, and offer to the Lord what we have. Then He will make us perfect: The people we are meant to be. It won't be instant. We have to continue to work on it.
On my way home I booked it. I passed one of those radar speed limit signs that gives you your speed. The speed limit was 30. I was going 8. Not quite there yet, but I'm working on it.
Saturday, August 21, 2010
Friday, August 20, 2010
The Hub City of Eastern Colorado
So i'm in Limon, Colorado. I guess at one point this was the gateway to western colorado. Now there's not much of anything. I've realized I really like running in unfamiliar territory and exploring a city or town that i've never been to.
I've also decided that this blog is just gonna contain a bunch of cliche's and over-the-top metaphors because that is the kind of stuff I think about on my run.
Well lemme tell ya, 5000 feet is a huge change from 500 feet, so I was dying from the first stride. To add a little more fun to the mix, the wind was blowing right into my face and it was all up this gradually steep slope. I wanted to quit and give up. But if I've learned anything in life it is this: walls are put up to keep the quitters out. They're put up to show how much you really want it.
So I pushed on. One painful gasp at a time. I wanted to go for a short, out-and-back run. 15 minutes out, 15 back. I was getting close to the end of my 15 out, and when I run I usually just focus forward on my goal and take little or no time to sight-see or look around, even. Well my gaze strayed to the south and I had to stop because what I saw really hit me. There was a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, a brilliantly blue sky and one of the most wonderful sun rises I had ever seen. An in the middle of these rolling hills was a single windmill, slowly spinning, collecting the wind that was slowing me down and turning it into something useful. I was taught a lot as I stood there and looked out.
Lesson learned:
1) We need to capture the winds that hold us back in life and turn them into something productive.
Sometimes (like my run today in the middle of nowhere at high elevation, uphill into the wind) we're thrown into situations we're not prepared for. Some can be difficult. We want to quit or turn around, or at least not move forward. I think we can get so caught up in our own situations (our own strong winds?) that we need to take a step back and look around. Use those winds. Control them. And then use them to do some good. We're all blessed with abilities to lead, comfort, support and guide. We need to use those abilities at all times, no matter what our personal predicaments may be. No matter what happens in life, we need to focus on being the best person possible. And that comes as we focus on helping others be the best people possible.
Today it's on to Moab, Utah and I'm sure I'll make some other analogous connection and post it on here as some deep meaningful life lesson ;)
Cool runings, everybody!
I've also decided that this blog is just gonna contain a bunch of cliche's and over-the-top metaphors because that is the kind of stuff I think about on my run.
Well lemme tell ya, 5000 feet is a huge change from 500 feet, so I was dying from the first stride. To add a little more fun to the mix, the wind was blowing right into my face and it was all up this gradually steep slope. I wanted to quit and give up. But if I've learned anything in life it is this: walls are put up to keep the quitters out. They're put up to show how much you really want it.
So I pushed on. One painful gasp at a time. I wanted to go for a short, out-and-back run. 15 minutes out, 15 back. I was getting close to the end of my 15 out, and when I run I usually just focus forward on my goal and take little or no time to sight-see or look around, even. Well my gaze strayed to the south and I had to stop because what I saw really hit me. There was a beautiful landscape of rolling hills, a brilliantly blue sky and one of the most wonderful sun rises I had ever seen. An in the middle of these rolling hills was a single windmill, slowly spinning, collecting the wind that was slowing me down and turning it into something useful. I was taught a lot as I stood there and looked out.
Lesson learned:
1) We need to capture the winds that hold us back in life and turn them into something productive.
Sometimes (like my run today in the middle of nowhere at high elevation, uphill into the wind) we're thrown into situations we're not prepared for. Some can be difficult. We want to quit or turn around, or at least not move forward. I think we can get so caught up in our own situations (our own strong winds?) that we need to take a step back and look around. Use those winds. Control them. And then use them to do some good. We're all blessed with abilities to lead, comfort, support and guide. We need to use those abilities at all times, no matter what our personal predicaments may be. No matter what happens in life, we need to focus on being the best person possible. And that comes as we focus on helping others be the best people possible.
Today it's on to Moab, Utah and I'm sure I'll make some other analogous connection and post it on here as some deep meaningful life lesson ;)
Cool runings, everybody!
Thursday, August 19, 2010
I'm Back
I feel like, lately, I've fallen in love with running all over again. My knee pain is gone. My switch to FreeRun's has really facilitated my love, i think. They are so basic. They bring lots of joy to my bosom.
Lately I've been running a lot faster than usual. I've only been knockin down 5 milers lately, but i've been doin them at about an 8:30 pace. I come alive when I run that fast. I motor up every hill in front of me.
Running for me has made life more manageable. Everything is so clear out there. I am in touch with something Higher when I push my body to it's limits. My focus is absolute and, as I run, I know exactly what I need to do and who I am. There are no unhealthy thoughts. There is no self-pity or self-doubt. There is no sadness or pain. There is only me. There is only the road in front of me, and I reckon that's how you navigate through life. Whatever is behind you is just mileage you've accumulated, hard-fought strides that have worked within you to make you stronger. In front of you is the unknown, and can only be taken one step at a time.
Most of the time it seems like the only thing in front of me are more hills (in life and on runs...wink face), but for me, a good hill can always carry me through the rest of my run and help me finish strong.
I'm profound, i know ;). I have always loved to run, and I think it's because I can always count on it to put me in a better place. A stronger place. A confident place.
Just an FYI, I'm running this morning in Wentzville, Missouri. My next run will be in Huntington, Colorado. Pimpin all over the world. I've put about 50 miles on my freeruns and have loved them so much I bought another pair for when I need new runnin shoes. I recommend them to everyone!
Lately I've been running a lot faster than usual. I've only been knockin down 5 milers lately, but i've been doin them at about an 8:30 pace. I come alive when I run that fast. I motor up every hill in front of me.
Running for me has made life more manageable. Everything is so clear out there. I am in touch with something Higher when I push my body to it's limits. My focus is absolute and, as I run, I know exactly what I need to do and who I am. There are no unhealthy thoughts. There is no self-pity or self-doubt. There is no sadness or pain. There is only me. There is only the road in front of me, and I reckon that's how you navigate through life. Whatever is behind you is just mileage you've accumulated, hard-fought strides that have worked within you to make you stronger. In front of you is the unknown, and can only be taken one step at a time.
Most of the time it seems like the only thing in front of me are more hills (in life and on runs...wink face), but for me, a good hill can always carry me through the rest of my run and help me finish strong.
I'm profound, i know ;). I have always loved to run, and I think it's because I can always count on it to put me in a better place. A stronger place. A confident place.
Just an FYI, I'm running this morning in Wentzville, Missouri. My next run will be in Huntington, Colorado. Pimpin all over the world. I've put about 50 miles on my freeruns and have loved them so much I bought another pair for when I need new runnin shoes. I recommend them to everyone!
Monday, March 29, 2010
Running is my release. Every night I go out to battle. Every night my foes are different. But every run i complete, i come home victorious. I come home free.
Running is the most natural thing i know how to do. To me, there is no better what to get in touch with one's true self. Running helps me peel back all the layers and melt all the dross from my mind and soul. I become pure and totally liberated. I know who I am. I know my place in this world. I have no worries.
When I run, I'm alive.
When I run, I am me.
Wednesday, February 24, 2010
OH DEAR!
How fast 3 weeks goes by!
I've been out of commission, friends. Got a bad case of the somethin or others and felt that if i ran, i would just exacerbate my illness and i'd be in a whole truck load of bad luck. But i'm back. Ran monday. And Tuesday.
Monday Feb22 2010
Just a basic loop around temple square. 3.5 miles. Goin east on South Temple is a steady uphill and i could not breathe at all to save my life. It must of had somethin to do with the fact that i hadn't run in almost two weeks and I was heaving up mucous like you wouldn't believe.
Tuesday was the usual cemetery loop, with a slight mod. Instead of going strait down E street and blowin our knees out like a couple of dry ball bearings, we decided to stagger the downhill by alternating going east and south every 2 blocks. It worked great and we passed somebody else running which is always a little thrill for me. finished 3.9 miles in about 36 minutes.
I've been focusing on core strength lately, to improve my form. It'll be interesting to see if it makes me a more efficient runner.
OH! And i have an interview at the Salt Lake Running Company on friday morning! So excited about that. Hopefully I'll land my dream job and learn even more about running from some really knowledgeable people.
Long run on thursday and the speed work on then speed work on Saturday. This week's gonna be a breeze...
How fast 3 weeks goes by!
I've been out of commission, friends. Got a bad case of the somethin or others and felt that if i ran, i would just exacerbate my illness and i'd be in a whole truck load of bad luck. But i'm back. Ran monday. And Tuesday.
Monday Feb22 2010
Just a basic loop around temple square. 3.5 miles. Goin east on South Temple is a steady uphill and i could not breathe at all to save my life. It must of had somethin to do with the fact that i hadn't run in almost two weeks and I was heaving up mucous like you wouldn't believe.
Tuesday was the usual cemetery loop, with a slight mod. Instead of going strait down E street and blowin our knees out like a couple of dry ball bearings, we decided to stagger the downhill by alternating going east and south every 2 blocks. It worked great and we passed somebody else running which is always a little thrill for me. finished 3.9 miles in about 36 minutes.
I've been focusing on core strength lately, to improve my form. It'll be interesting to see if it makes me a more efficient runner.
OH! And i have an interview at the Salt Lake Running Company on friday morning! So excited about that. Hopefully I'll land my dream job and learn even more about running from some really knowledgeable people.
Long run on thursday and the speed work on then speed work on Saturday. This week's gonna be a breeze...
Thursday, February 4, 2010
Run on February 3rd, 2010
Distance: 7.9 miles
Time: 70 minutes
Route: 3rd Ave to City Creek Canyon. South on Bonneville to E street, then back.Finish with State Street to So Temple, to M Street.
Whoa. Lastnight was nuts. The longest run since the surgery. HOLD UP. Let me explain my surgery right quick:
After I ran a half in Rexburg, Idaho, I started experiencing some major pain in my anterior tibialis. At first i could run through it but i decided I should quit because my foot and lower leg got completely numb. I went to the doctor said "You've got hernias all up out your fascia!" So i decided to get referred to a sports med doctor who diagnosed me with Compartment syndrome, only after he stuck a meat thermometer sized needle into my lef to test my pressure. (i dunno what they measured in, psi? alls I knows is that normal resting pressure is about 15, and exertion pressure is about 30. My resting was 40 and my exertion was 140. Ya, i know, my muscles were bursting out of my leg. Ps I don't know why this is all in parenthesis.)
There were only 2 options: stop running or cut my legs open. So i chose the wonderful bilateral comparment realease surgery wherein they cut open my legs and removed the fascia(muscle covering) on four of my compartments. After 2 weeks I could walk with pain. After 5 I could bike. After 7 I began to run again.
-my legs 1 week post op-
Distance: 7.9 miles
Time: 70 minutes
Route: 3rd Ave to City Creek Canyon. South on Bonneville to E street, then back.Finish with State Street to So Temple, to M Street.
Whoa. Lastnight was nuts. The longest run since the surgery. HOLD UP. Let me explain my surgery right quick:
There were only 2 options: stop running or cut my legs open. So i chose the wonderful bilateral comparment realease surgery wherein they cut open my legs and removed the fascia(muscle covering) on four of my compartments. After 2 weeks I could walk with pain. After 5 I could bike. After 7 I began to run again.
-my legs 1 week post op-It's now been over 3 months and I am running like a champ. There's still minor pain in my ankle and around my incisions but nothing serious at all. It's taken quite a bit of physical and mental exersion for me to get to this point but I am back! 8 miles yesterday. I'm completely on track to run the Teton Dam Marathon in june. Everyone get excited.
Wednesday, February 3, 2010
Alrighty Kiddos, my surgery recovery is complete and I'm back on the horse. Or the wagon. The horse and wagon? I'm back up to snuff. Ew. Anyways my running partner Shawn and I are out to traverse the rolling mountain slopes of Salt Lake City. I've been here for about a month now and I feel acclimated and ready for action. So far the furthest we've been is about 6 miles. LETS CHECK IT OUT:
We did an uphill run through City Creek Canyon (as pictured above). I pulled a rookie manuever and decided to indulge in a bowl of peanut butter crunch about an hour before the run so by the time i got up to the Cemetery on 11th Avenue i was having a heck of a time. And by the time i got home, my colon was having a heck of a time. It was brilliant though. A great run. No pain after. Probably because of the banana I ate. Mmmm Potassium. The end.
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