Yah Mon

Morning cycling recap:
Avg speed: 16.4
Avg rpm: 87
Total miles: 32
Total hills: 4
Total times Chaka Demus' "Murder She Wrote" played thanks to sneaky iPod repeat: 5

Feeling pretty good, wish I had gotten out sooner - it's damn hot out. Will run tonight after BBQ. Should be cooler.

As I got situated on the bike, I looked up at the perfect, blue & bright sky and thought immediately of my friend who passed away last Sunday night. So, I dedicated the ride to him. I'm completely convinced he is still with us, in some way. I may feel differently after the services next week, but for now he's with me in spirit. This past weekend I reread our correspondence from over the years, and am so thankful to still have that. We had some stellar conversations, on and off the page. His last two phrases he wrote me were "Positivity beats all!! Believe it!"

I do.

As I was writing this, one of our shared favorite songs came on - Iridescent by Linkin Park. He turned me on to it, and we both related to the message - let it go. You can be your own worst enemy by holding onto hurt and frustration and the past. Just let that shit go and look ahead with happiness.

Good message. Good man.

Ahh

Really great 3-day weekend.

Got many chores out of the way Friday, and also got the kayak rack installed at the Alpine Shop. Looking forward to putting it to use soon, the yak has been dry for far too long.

Saturday I had a great session with my coach Jeremy from Integrated Wellness. We worked on increasing areas of my strength training routine. We also talked about working on speed. That afternoon the sun peeked out for a good long while so I took advantage and did an 18-mile bike ride. Heaven. Sore now but worth it.

Today I waited til the rain let up and did a 7 miler. Plodded along but got'er dun. Even more sore now. Hello, foam roller...

My tri-buddy Peter has been uber helpful in giving me tri training tips - apps, swimming, nutrition - and I'm so grateful for the help and the friendship/mentoring. We're planning a ride sometime in the near future...at least when my schedule lets up later on this month when my boss is back...

Thinking about starting a tri blog to track my progress this year. If so, will need to
launch soon...

On a side note, Girls is such a boring disaster. The first season was clever and unique and had a snappy script. This season is lacking punch and panache and is wholly a letdown. Why do I keep watching? I'm hoping against hope it gets better. Wtf, Lena Dunham? Where's the steam?

On another side note, I had breakfast with my best gal pal today and it was such a good, long chatfest! We've not seen each other for awhile, and even though we talk almost everyday, there's something special about looking your confidant in the eye and having those meaningful convos. She also gave me a dozen of her high-school records - Rex Smith, Rick Springfield, Chicago 17, etc. She's so damn rad!!!

Pee Lattes

Due to my kray-kray work schedule, I am limited to only one yoga class a week.

I've found a mat pilates class at the gym that I can fit on once a week, so I'm gonna give it a whirl.

I love me some stretching. I'm sure there's more to it than that, but whatevs - I'm in.

I busted out 15 miles on the mag trainer tonight. My dog Ollie hung out on the bed and watched me in between dozing off. He's such a sweet soul.

Looking forward to the Go! training kicking off this weekend. Hoping for decent weather.

The joy of running

I only learned this a month ago.

I've been known to be a late bloomer in some things. :-)

I’ve been running, on and off, since high school.

It’s never been anything I enjoyed. At all.

Sprints were okay, as were hurdles. Long distance? Bleh - not my cup of tea, but I did it to help stay in shape and because my friends were in track. And I did it with intense hatred.

I've had a special mantra in my head, reserved for long runs.

“I f*cking hate this.” Sometimes it varied. "This sucks."

Not sure where it came from, or how it developed, but I’ve always had a hate-hate relationship with running. I approached it in a half-assed, grudging way, and it did the same for me in return.

If there's anything I've learned throughout my life, it's that you can control how you react to something or someone, and this is a powerful thing. Your state of mind can make all the difference.

I’ve been taking a certification course in hypnotherapy. No, it’s not hypnosis, we don't use watches or trick people into acting like a chicken. It's more of a deeply relaxed state so that a client can work through issues such as phobias, trauma, pain, grief, and sports performance.

All the demonstrations I saw in class and had experienced first-hand as a demo subject made me a believer. If you’re open to it, and the therapist is patient and skilled, you can accomplish much through hypnotherapy. Might sound hokey (it did to me the first time I sat in class), so I get it if you’re reading this going “ah, yeah..whatever”.  But it does have it’s benefits.

So back to my tale of kick-ass. One evening ;ast month, as I was preparing for a run, I decided to employ some of the deep relaxation techniques used in hypnotherapy on myself while doing a short pre-run stretch. It was kind of on a whim, just popped in my head as I was lacing up my right shoe. What the hell, I thought, I had nothing to lose. I'm certain it helped to approach it with a very laid-back, open attitude.

I don’t remember much, but what I do recall doing was mapping out my run in my head (3.2 miles, door to door, to my mom’s house and back), deciding that I would not stop at all, but rather slow down to a comfortable pace to overcome whatever might be ailing me, and to find small “goals” throughout, such as working on a negative split and improving my time by a minimum of 10 seconds.

Nothing too complicated. And again, approaching it in a way that it felt very basic, unencumbered and light probably helped. I uncomplicated it. :-)

Then, on a whim, I decided to add balance to the run. I’m big on balance, and I decided to listen to that part of myself in this situation. I usually run with my inhaler in one hand, rarely used, but it helps me feel comfortable. So what I did was find something equal in size and shape to hold in the other hand. My little can of mace fit the bill. I didn't think I'd need to use it, but this way I felt even, balanced.

And here’s what happened….

I completed the run at a good pace, with a negative split, and didn’t slow down or stop.

It didn't feel effortless, but it felt fantastic.

I arrived home feeling euphoric – runners high? Maybe. I don’t need to label it – whatever it was rocked.

But most importantly, I never once had a negative thought in my head. I waited for it, as it was the norm. All I thought about was how great running felt. Everything – the pace, the night sky, the smells of autumn.

Since then, I haven’t looked back. I want to run every day, and have to stop myself from doing so. I run every other day, and after each run I start planning out my next one. I missed a day due to travel recently, and it made me feel off-kilter.

So while I’ve run on and off throughout my life, I never considered myself a runner.

I do now.

And after a shit year, finally having a few things come together feels like a thousand blessings.

Update: Just finished a 6 mile run. 11:43 average pace. Very happy with that. Now for a hot shower, some good conversation, maybe a little wine and some foot reflexology.

Embrace the swass.

I decided, around 64 days ago, that I wasn't going to let this redonk heat do me in.

It is what it is. I cannot change it.

So I decided to embrace it.

I bike in the mornings because it takes longer than a run.

I run in the evenings because it's not as hot (note that I didn't say "cooler"), and because I live in a neighborhood that's safe to do so.

I have also embraced a lot of other things that come along with working out in the extreme heat and humidity...

Swass.

Swoobage (commonly known as swits, but I find this word a bit harsh on my innocent ears).

Swussy.

As you might guess, swass is sweaty ass. Swoobage? Sweaty boobs.

Do I need to explain swussy? Okay, thanks.

Guys experience the same phenomena, but theirs is called swootch.

Not gonna explain this, find out for yourself.

Anyway, you run in normal conditions and you get sweaty.

But running in such hot, humid weather and your creases get all swampified.

I guess I'd rather have all the SW's combined, momentarily, than an entire afternoon of pristine clean from not working out.

Embrace the swass, and whatever else is making gravy. You probably earned it.