Passion For Running Part 7: What Do You Like About It?

By now, you are hopefully on your way to making running a part of your exercise routine. You have a handle on the why, the how, and the elements of nutrition, hydration, and equipment.

Your friends and significant others are seeing a change in you. What you once complained about and procrastinated over is now something you seek out, at least some of the time. Or maybe you have broken through a barrier that before you just couldn't get beyond.

This is the goal and you are making wonderful progress. You may be feeling the change as well. You can now run stronger and longer. You may not labor through it quite as much as you used to. Dare I say that maybe you look forward to it once in awhile.

Now that you don't hate running quite as much, it is time to give serious thought to what you like about it. Look past the negatives or the difficulties (unless the challenge is what you like!). Push them to the side. Nobody ever perfected anything while focusing on the negatives.

What do you like about running? As with everything else, every reader of this post will have a different answer. Some may have multiple answers.

Here are some things I like about running, just in case you need help to get started:

• the healthy heart link
• the freedom
• the challenge
• the contribution to weight management and body shaping
• the races
• the challenge of a new race PR (sorry, can you tell I like the challenge?)
• the people I meet at the races
• the new race travel destinations
• the cool running gadgets and paraphenalia

So, now it's your turn.

What do YOU like about it?

Whatever it is, maintaining your focus on the things you like about it will naturally push to the side anything that you don't quite like about it, making it easier and easier to achieve and maintain your passion for running.

Christmas Woes

I will be honest with you.

This was not the best Christmas I have ever experienced. In fact, it was probably the worst in many ways.

OK, can we settle on bittersweet? I don't want to complain; there were good and bad parts, as with anything in life.

Things I am thankful for:

• It remains the birthday of Our Savior, Jesus Christ. His birth should be enough to rejoice despite my earthly, human disappointments: His birth, His star, the eternal promise, light and warmth of His love.
• The knowledge that all of my greatest friends were surrounded with their family and enjoying the togetherness that naturally emanates from this season. In my head, I lived vicariously through them.
• I still had my children by my side, with their sweet smiles and embraces of complete love of the purest nature. There are many I know who did not, could not, have their children with them.
• My youngest son did all the decorating this year, solo. He happily and willingly dragged the boxes out, organized, and creatively brightened up the house, inside and out, when I couldn't make myself do it. He asked for nothing more than affirmation at the end that he had done a good job. I couldn't sing enough praise for him no matter how hard I try. Thanks, JJ.
• My daughter thoughtfully gave gifts to everyone in the family AND played Santa at the Christmas tree, when I didn't feel moved to do it. I can't tell her enough how much I appreciate her infectious smile and spirit. Thanks, KK.
• My oldest son didn't dissect my faith. He tried, but backed off of his own volition, therefore preserving the spirit of it. Thanks, B-man.
• I didn't have to suffer in-laws, as much as I love them. Enough said.
• Cooking and clean up was no more extensive than a regular everyday meal. OK, a little more, along the lines of when I cook gourmet. But, much less stress and not too many leftovers. The stuffing only lasted 18 hours.

For each one of these blessings, I give thanks.

Nonetheless, the greater feeling of joy eluded me this year. The fear, the uncertainties, the hovering discord, the longing for happier times...these all haunted my spirit.

Do not despair for me, though, for my faith is strong.

"Faith is confident assurance concerning what we hope for and conviction about things we do not see." Hebrews 11:1

And, there is still Job's example in these troubled times:

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; blessed be the name of the Lord. In all this, Job did not sin, nor did he say anything disrespectful of God." Job 2:21-22

I still have an example to which to aspire.

Practice Makes Perfect

Consistently throughout my teaching career, my message to my students has always been to study, study, and study some more. Every night, memorize a few more words, work a few more problems, take another practice exam. It will alleviate the panic.

One would think that I, as the student and incumbent to taking the GRE exam, would follow my own sage advice. After all, it comes from a program in which I have complete faith. I know it works; I have seen it work in the students' increased understanding of concepts about which only a few weeks earlier they were unclear, in the students' improved scores between practice tests one and two.


Practice ALWAYS makes perfect.


So why couldn't I follow my own advice? My own teachings?

Probably for the same excuse my students always give me: I don't have time.

Oh, but you do, which is what I always tell my students when they give me that excuse. All it takes is the desire to get it done and then work it into your schedule. Make it happen.

I had the desire to get it done but every time I sat down to do it, I came up with a handy excuse why I couldn't. Or some other more interesting activity presented itself at the same time as I had my study guide open: my computer beckoned me to check my email, update my status on Facebook, or write a new blog post.

I rationalized. I came up with some good ones, too.

1. "You don't need to learn new vocabulary words. With as much as you read, and all of the times you have taught that SAT class, you probably know any word that could come up on the GRE." WRONG! Words like abstruse and sedulous appeared instead of words like banal and prescient.

2. "Practice tests are a waste of time. I only need to know the strategies and method; this will keep me from spending too much time on the questions." WRONG! The computer-based test does not allow you to move to the next question until you answer the one you are on. So, unlike the paper test, you are not allowed to leave any answers blank. Consequently, I did alot of guessing even after taking too long to try to come up with the right answer.

3. "Math is boring; why would an English Literature student need to know math anyhow?" WRONG! Well, no matter how you look at it, math IS boring. And, I will not be required to take any math classes in my master's program. Already checked that out. However, I felt so stupid and inefficient as I guessed my way through the quantitative sections of the test. I berated myself over not being sure of answers to even the simplest percentage and word problems. The result was a personal sense of failure. I know I could have done better.

In the end, I achieved an average score: slightly above average in verbal, slightly below average in math. Not suprising but disappointing all the same. Especially knowing that I knew about this test well in advance and had all the materials, and time, I needed to properly prepare and perhaps increase my scores significantly from where they ended up.

One positive note: I do feel I excelled in the two writing sections. My SAT teaching helped me to apply myself in a strong way. However, those scores are about 2 weeks away.

The result of this learning experience is that I need to take the GRE one more time. I think I could still get into the program I want with the score I received, but for my own self-esteem, I want to do it the right way and hope to drastically improve my score.

The good thing about this painful lesson is that next time I teach my SAT course, I will know from experience the excuses my students give me....and I will be able to respond from a perspective of understanding.

Passion For Running Part 6: Toss It Up

One of the strongest barriers you face in maintaining your passion for running is boredom. I consider it one of the strongest because it cannot be resolved by taking in more fluids, like hydration; it cannot be assuaged by eating the proper foods, like nutrition; and it cannot be ameliorated by buying better shoes, like equipment.

In other words, boredom has little tangibility: it's literally all in your head.

What does this mean? It means a runner cannot survive on running alone. To maintain your passion, you need to toss it up.

William Cowper (1731-1800), an English poet, wrote: "Variety is the very spice of life that gives it all its flavor."

In terms of real life, this couldn't be more true:

What is food without spices, seasoning?
What is a vacation without sightseeing?
What is a road trip through a desert where sand is all you see for miles?
What are brain cells and muscle tissue when denied varied stimulation?

Get the point? The answer to all is boring, uninteresting, dull, pedestrian. And, in some cases, it can result in atrophy and reduced functionality.

Imagine what havoc this type of atrophy can wreak on the determination of any seasoned runner, much less that of a novice. It doesn't support learning to have passion.

Therefore, add variety to your running, toss things up. You need to cross-train.

Instead of running every day, slowly increasing your miles or varying between long runs and intervals, throw in a day of cycling, or swimming. Add strength and weight training to your routine. If you need more challenge, combine these activities by having a day where you run and then weight train, or swim and then run.

I create a weekly schedule. In this way I know what I will do every day and where I will fit it in.

Other benefits exist.

• target different muscle groups. Swimming works the upper body; cycling works the lower body.
• increase endurance and efficiency
• reduce overuse injuries and prevent injury.

Whether to avoid boredom or to enhance endurance, cross-training is an excellent way to achieve balance in your routine, avoid injury, and move faster toward finding the passion of the better, stronger runner inside you.

For more about the benefits of cross-training, check out Eight Benefits of Cross-Training at RunnersWorld.com.

Re-evaluating in Memphis

While I was in Memphis, I did some things that many tourists do.

I saw the famous ducks of the Peabody Hotel and basked in the ambience of the hotel's ornately festive lobby while I enjoyed a cocktail.

I met a young family from Birmingham; they drove in the day before, as had I, so the husband could run in the half-marathon. His school-age son was a football fanatic and was proud to say he had also run in his first race this year; but then declared that he doesn't like running and doesn't want to run another race. This seemed to be news to his father. I helped the son use my phone to look up scores for the Auburn vs. N.C. game. He was backing N.C., which was getting trounced in the first quarter. He didn't seem perplexed by that.

I absorbed the sights, sounds, and, smells of Beale Street, both during the day and at night and contemplated all the cities in which I have experienced the same sort of funky, Bohemian allure. I tried to compare and contrast its elements with those of New York's Greenwich Village, London's SoHo, and Austin's 6th Street. Every city seems to have one and each one of them--whether created by the developers to lure in hapless tourists and their screaming wallets or established through time and critical in the city's history--is enduringly unique.

I wandered Union Street looking for Rendezvous Grill, which is purported to have the best ribs in Memphis. I didn't find it. It is in an alley within blocks of the Peabody Hotel. My single status in a strange city at night deterred me. I did try to ask directions from several "locals", just like the man from the hotel had suggested to me if I got lost.

"Everyone in Memphis can tell you how to get to Rendezvous."

I must have found the only three people who didn't. They were probably tourists, just like me. I didn't think to use the GPS system on my phone but instead wished for a man to walk with, on whose arm I could hang and not be quite so fearful. My wish was not granted.

I marveled at the expanse of the Mississippi River as I rolled over it the next day on my way home. The rising sun was shimmering a goodbye in my rearview mirror and the childhood spelling rhyme was chiming in my ears: M-I-S-S-I-S-S-I-P-P-I.

I did something that many tourists don't do.

I ran the St. Jude Memphis Half-Marathon. Actually, that was my reason for coming. The sightseeing was just an afterthought and the filling between the slices of two 8 hour drives. My mother thinks I'm absolutely insane; but she should know me by now.

I didn't do some things that many tourist probably come to Memphis to do, mainly visit Graceland. Another tourist mecca, and one that I would most likely avoid on my next trip to Memphis, IF I had the time to visit it this time. But, I didn't.

So, next time Graceland.

I also did some self re-evaluation. It came on without warning as a gradual realization, like the dawn's first light, growing bolder and brighter in the morning sky.

I felt lonely.

For the first time among many solo trips just like this one.

I couldn't shake it and I couldn't find anything good or positive in it to write about. I was just lonely.

Maybe it is my age. Or, it could be a symptom of the chapter of my life in which I am at this point. Nope. Too easy.

It could be a need to celebrate the successes of the race with someone close, instead of having to text or email them like I usually do.

Or, could it be that being alone is losing its attraction. Is the mystique evaporating or is it just transforming, teasing me to find it again?

As I traveled west on I-40, battling the truckers and race fatigue, I didn't feel quite as lonely as the night before. It was back to the usual contentment with being alone, my own music, my own speed, and my own stops.

I do hope that loneliness stays hidden from view or comes fully out of the closet. I never did like hide and seek and at my age, I'm not changing my ways now.

Solo On The Slopes

Before my Thanksgiving trip with my kids to Breckenridge in Colorado, I would have never thought it possible to be solo, or feel solitude, at a major ski resort. My past experiences have taught me exactly the opposite. Endless streams of people in the parking lots, at the lifts, on the trails, and in the restaurants and restrooms. It is hard to escape them.

Crowds just go with the territory when skiing. You learn to be patient because much of your time is spent just waiting.

Remember "The Waiting Place" in Dr. Seuss' book, "Oh The Places You'll Go"?

One of my favorite childhood stories. One that continues to inspire me on a daily basis.

Despite my past skiing experiences, both here in the U.S. and in Europe, I was able to find solitude at Breckenridge.

And, I daresay, a welcome hint of peace.

The solitude happened in inconspicuous places and at random moments, which might have been overlooked had I not been paying attention. Maybe without knowing I was seeking solitude.

On the first day of skiing, Thanksgiving Day, it happened on the trails. The trails were clear of the throngs of people. The reasons for this were clear as well: sub zero temperature and a holiday. Many people, including the avid skiers, avoided the elements and instead opted for their warm homes, surrounded by family and friends and an endless, edible landscape. Why venture out?

I was glad they didn't, because I benefitted from wide open trails and few obstacles except my own wobbly, rusty ski legs and the potential frostbite that threatened to consume one of my fingers. Other than that, I could ski as slowly as I wanted, traverse across the entire trail, and not worry about being blindsided or run over. I heard the wind rushing past me.

Interesting how one's senses adjust when external stimuli are reduced.

The second day was much different. Normally, I would have ridden up the lift with my friend or my daughter. However, my friend had another commitment and my daughter decided not to join in because of a fall she had the day before.

Alone again...with my son and my friend's son. Both of them snowboarders. Believe me, not only is there a division between teenagers and parents, but between snowboarders and skiers. Three is an awkward number in most cases; even more so when one of them is a mom AND a skier.

So, I was solo.

Here is where I discovered that solitude exists despite the lines of people waiting to get on the lift. And, in the ten minute ride to the top of the mountain, I not only reveled in that solitude...but found peace as well.

Peace in the whisper of the wind (as bone numbing as it was) through the pine trees.


Peace in nature's scenery embodied by the waving pine trees, the sparkling snow, the majestic mountains, and the cloud-masked azure skies.


Peace in the silence of the ride far above the activity of the slope below.


Peace in the undulating movement of the skiers pirouetting down the mountain, almost like watching raindrops meander down a dirty windowpane, only much faster.


Peace in the solo run down the slope without the delay of falling snowboarders trying to right themselves.

Regardless of the chaos that can overwhelm us, peace is found in solitude and solitude can be found everywhere. All you have to do is open your eyes, unplug your ears, take the walls down from around your heart, and experience the world around you.

Perhaps Dr. Seuss had it right all along.

"All alone, whether you like it or not, alone will be something you'll be quite alot...and when you're alone there's a very good chance you'll meet things that scare you right out of your pants...but on you will go though the weather be foul...kid, you'll move mountains...today is your day! Your mountain is waiting so get on your way."

Passion For Running Part 5: Good Equipment

Every sport requires specialized equipment. Running is no exception; however, the requirements are substantially fewer, and consequently less expensive, than what you might see for other sports.

For example, think about all the equipment one needs to cycle. Not only that, but the decisions that go into deciding which equipment to buy. Road bike or off-road? Clip pedals or cage pedals? Helmet or no helmet? T-shirt or tech shirt? Gloves or no gloves? Night cycling or day cycling? I could go on and on. Each of those decisions results in a separate purchase and possibly greater expense.

On the flipside, there is swimming. While I do swim about once a week, I am definitely not what you would call an enthusiast. I have my swimsuit, moldable ear plugs, and goggles. Period. And my equipment is simply basic, and inexpensive. However, when I shopped for this equipment, I could see how a swimming enthusiast might get carried away with purchasing super expensive supplies, like $25 techno ear plugs instead of the $5 moldable ones and $30 goggles instead of the $15 version.

Other sports with high price tags for equipment are golf, horseback riding, skiing, baseball, football.

Thankfully for us, the running enthusiasts, the equipment needs are rather basic.

I would say the most important element of equipment~the one on which you want to spend as much as you can~is the shoes. Shoes provide both cushion and support for your feet and legs. Not enough support, and your whole body could be affected, from your knees to your hips to your spine.

Every athletic shoe manufacturer carries a multitude of styles to fit every need, and usually in a range of prices. In fact, there are so many styles that I get overwhelmed and rely instead on the friendly staff at my local Luke's Locker. I wear Saucony now, but don't ask me which style. Last year I wore Basics, and, way back in the dark ages of my college years, I ran in Adidas and Reebok court shoes. I don't even think there were shoes made specifically for running. If something like it existed, I didn't know about it. No wonder I suffered such horrible shin splints back then.

As you can see, it helps to do your own research and find a quality running supply store with staff whom you can trust. Furthermore, as with any purchase, more money spent does not necessarily equal better quality. The $100 Saucony shoe that works for me might not be the right one for someone else who runs better in the $60 Adidas.

Depending on how many miles and on what type of surface you are running, you can expect to replace your shoes at least twice a year. I can always tell when mine need to be replaced by gauging my shin, knee, and hip pain. Plus, it helps to focus on when it starts to feel like I am running with pancakes strapped to my feet.

And, aaahhh, to run in a brand new pair of sneakers. So light, so airy. Who wouldn't want to perpetuate that comfort?

There are other items that you might want to consider:

1. Good quality socks that not only help cushion your feet but also absorb moisture efficiently.
2. Lightweight clothing, preferably tech tops of some sort, which will absorb moisture regardless of the temperature in which you run. The benefits of this for cold weather running are obvious~cold gear is a must~but running in a heavy, wet, sweaty t-shirt in 85 degrees is never comfortable. For all the men reading this: I will always envy your ability to run shirtless (and don't mind me if I stare at you as you run past)!
3. A reusable water bottle, along with some way to carry it. This is a personal preference. I prefer to hold my bottle in my hand. Some prefer fuel belts, others a waist pouch. Pick what works best for you.
4. A ball cap works well to keep sun out of your eyes and to absorb moisture.
5. Sunglasses. I can't run without mine, even on cloudy days. I think is it part of my running persona.
6. Sunscreen. No other explanation needed.
7. Headlamp, flashlight, or other luminary devices if you run at night. Don't be that runner who gets hit in the crosswalk because the driver coming from behind the hedges couldn't see your approach.

If you are intent on growing your passion for running, as with any sport, invest in the necessary equipment for comfort and control. You will not enjoy anything if you are practicing it with missing, ill-fitting, or worn equipment. Take care of your body by supporting it with what it needs to do its job. It will then take care of you.

Solo Re-Defined

Actually, this transends solo and bridges into lonely.

I think I found a new way to do "solo" and one that would never have crossed my mind previous to this past week.

Last week, the job of my dreams landed right in my lap, for the most part. I know God was at work here. After all, everything in His timing. And, don't get me wrong, I AM grateful.

The job is through a temporary agency in my town. It is a job that I found through a job board that I subscribe to. Actually, I ran across the job listing accidentally and, on a whim decided to post to it because it was unlike any other job listing I had seen in my desired field of technical writing. It did not require any specific software work experience, of which I have none that is recent, and it did not require a slew of competencies and education. In other words, they really just wanted a warm body who knows how to write.

This is right up my alley. I had landed the job in less than a day. God-thing, definitely. The right job at the right time.

But, that said, it is temporary. And I have not worked in an office environment in about ten years. The company is in the cruxt of assembling a proposal, which they received almost by accident last minute and which has to be complete in about a week. They are barely out of information gathering phase as of today. Hmmmm..... Warm body, definitely.

My first day, the president walks me around and introduces me to everybody. Miraculously I remember everyone's name, except for two of the IT guys. That is about 15 people. He introduces me to the woman I will work with. She is very nice. And then, after about an hour of sitting at my "boss'" desk learning the RFP, they take me to my desk at a makeshift counter opposite a printer, which doesn't work, and the fax machine. On the other side of the office. Upside is that it appears to be on the side of the office that houses all the executives. WhhoooHoo.

Not so bad. Like I already mentioned, everyone is VERY nice. But, they are a small group and by definition are cohesive. I have worked in a small company before and that is the only way it can function.

My little cubby is not so bad. I try to write, to concentrate on this monstrous RFP, while listening to the din and echoes of three or four different conversations going on around me and a co-worker coughing incontrollably in an office on the other side of the wall. My ADD kicks in and I consequently cannot concentrate. I pretend to look absorbed in thought as various people walk by.

But, the worst part was the morning the office suddenly became quiet. The office manager and her cohort were gone and the din was silent. The silence was overwhelming. I had a question, or two, to ask my colleague, so I walked over to her side of the building. On the way, I passed the conference room (right on the golf course with sliding glass doors out to a deck. Can't beat that!)

Every single employee was in there.

How's that for solo...hmmmm lonely. I think I tried not to shrink back to my office. I continued walking in the direction I intended. After all, I didn't want anyone to know I was suprised by their beginning-of-the-week morning meeting. I am, after all, only a temp there. But that was the loneliest I have ever felt. To be a part of a group, putting together a project, but to not really be a part of that group. Like eavesdropping or interloping, you can be physically there, enough to hear what is going on or be mistaken as part of the group, but not close enough to truly experience it.

I have since had some engaging conversations with several of the employees. I truly hope that temporary turns permanent, and that I can be considered part of the group and not just some passing face that came in and left on the wings of some project.

A Tribute To Good Friends

What is friendship?


Words like compassion, companionship, understanding, safety, support come immediately to my mind. Everyone will have a different definition and not every friend will fulfill every quality at every step of the way. Some of our friends may never do any of these things for us, yet we still call them friends. Maybe because we embody one of these qualities, or something else that friend needs, for them. After all, there are givers and takers in every relationship, a balance to be maintained.


There is also a difference between a friend, and a good friend. I would rather have one good friend than a cluster of "ordinary" friends. Here is why:

• A good friend is devoted, accessible, and always has your heart in her thoughts, through the triumphs and the challenges.


• A good friend is dependable. He is the one you can call, text, or email any time and know that he will come through for you, whether you are just checking in or are having a crisis. A good friend will find a way to at least be there by your side, cheering you on or making sense of the chaos.


• A good friend is timeless. You can pick up where you left off, whether after 3 days or 3 months, and it always feels like coming home.


• A good friend can make you laugh when all you want to do is cry; a good friend can also make you cry so that after the tears subside you can see the light.

I came across a quote that I think encompasses it all perfectly:


"Friendship is the comfort, the inexpressible comfort, of feeling safe with a person, having neither to weigh thoughts nor measure words, but pouring all out just as they are, chaff and grain together, certain that a faithful, friendly hand will take and sift them, keep what is worth keeping and, with a breath of comfort, blow the rest away." ~ A Life for a Life by Dinah Mulock Craik, 1859 found at http://www.xenodochy.org/ex/quotes/friendship.html.



I am blessed to have several good friends who have lifted me up through many struggles and cheered me through many victories. I can only aspire to be as good of a friend to them, to hold their hands, in any way they need.

Passion for Running Part 4: Proper Hydration

Proper hydration is a tricky issue for every athlete. A multitude of opinions are out there for how much to drink, what to drink, and when to drink. Ultimately, the perfect solution for you will be just that, unique and personal for you. The same solution won't work for your running buddy.

The most complex issue you will face is figuring out how much to drink. Most times, athletes worry about not drinking enough. Dehydration causes cramps, fatigue, decreased coordination, not to mention dry mouth. It is uncomfortable and painful.

But did you know that an even bigger issue is drinking too much? The condition is called hyponatremia and it occurs in even the most elite athletes. The danger is low blood sodium, which can result in brain swelling and possibly seizures and other life-threatening complications.

The factors that most impact proper hydration are sweat rate and length of exercise. How long you are going to run will obviously mean more hydration. But, determining your sweat rate is important as well. How do you do this?

{fluid loss} ...can vary between 1 to 4 quarts per hour. Weigh yourself nude before a timed training run and then again after. One pound of weight loss equals 1 pint of water loss. Calculate your sweat rate and use this to determine your fluid needs during a run or race. For example, if you lose 2 pounds during an hour run, that's 2 pints or 32 ounces. Thus, you need 8 ounces of water or sports beverage every 15 minutes. ~ excerpt from http://running.about.com/od/nutritionandhydration/a/hydration101.com

To be honest, I avoid anything that involves mathematical thinking, much less calculations. So, let me tell you what works for me: knowing how much drymouth I experience in relation to how much yellow is in my urine and how often I pee. It's that simple.

There IS one other thing you might want to consider in terms of how much to hydrate. I feel the most important issue is to keep hydrated all the time, not just when you work out. Don't wait for that 6 mile run, or that 5K race, to worry about hydration. Maintain proper hydration all the time, even on rest days. This includes, by the way and I hate to bring it up, watching your consumption of both alcohol and sodium, both of which drastically impact hydration. If you do these things, proper hydration won't be so much of an issue on race days.

Now, on to what to drink. I am here to tell you that water is not enough during your workout. Water is fine during your rest days. During workouts, some form of electrolyte drink is imperative to restore minerals that are lost when you sweat. These minerals are critical in fighting fatigue and muscle cramping. If you want to make it through your workout, it behooves you to drink an electrolyte replacement drink and not just water. Just try to keep the sugars low. Try Physique by Shaklee.

When to drink...refer back to paragraph 7. My suggestion is basically all the time. However, on my running days I try to drink eight ounces of water about an hour before. In this way I get the benefits of the hydration, and then my body gets to pee out the excess before I get going.

Now, some of my suggestions may differ from what you have heard. For example, my yoga instructor suggests drinking only a mouthful every 10 to 15 minutes. The key being that if you are peeing it out, you are basically taking in more than your body needs. I agree with some of that, but I am not sure whether he is has ever been an endurance runner. I know for certain that I would pass out from cramps or dehydration if I were to only take in that amount of water. Sometimes I would like to just hook up a mobile IV...but that might look a little funny.

The bottom line here is that you need to know your body and do what works for you. Seek out information, new theories, and experiment with them. And, most important of all, keep working at it.

"To keep the body in good health is a duty...otherwise we shall not be able to keep our mind strong and clear." ~ Buddha

Hills, Headwind, And Going The Distance

Being alone as much as I am has its pros and cons. Without going into detail, one thing is certain.


I tend to think too much.


Possibilities, ramifications, and consequences swirl like a maelstrom inside my head. Most times they stay there, confined and secure; other times they seep out and interact with others in my life. The storm eventually blows over, leaving me calm and peaceful; most times it refuses to stop or even to slow down. And it wears me down.


While many of you reading this now might think of that as a disadvantage, I am here to tell you from first hand experience that is not always the case.


Sure, over the years this has proven burdensome. But, on the flipside, it continues to enable me to survive and overcome the worst situations, given time and patience. If I think enough about a specific situation, I can think of it metaphorically and it helps me to move through it. Not just move through it, but rise above it to become a better, stronger person.


Usually, I have alot of time to think. But, I do most of my best thinking when I work out. Cycling and running provide me a fertile ground for analyzing my life against any manner of metaphor.


Today's metaphors come courtesy of yesterday's 25-mile cycle. It was a picturesque midday with crystal blue sky punctuated by wispy clouds and long-awaited sub-70 temperature. I almost wore my new long sleeve jersey but was glad, as I heated up mid-ride, that I had chosen a short sleeve.


Despite these parts of the ride for which I was thankful, there were elements that were less gratifying...at least on the surface.


The rides I take around home don't have many hills. If there are hills, they are low grade and gradual enough that I don't always realize that I am actually on a hill. But yesterday, I took a route that has steeper hills in quick succession.

Hills are representative of any troubles that exist in life on a daily basis. The low grade, gradual hills are the easier, daily challenges that tend to be forgotten the next day. These hills have greater visibility, which clears the way toward the target on the other side. The high grade hills, the ones I need to throw my bike into low gear to power through, are those more intense challenges that punctuate everyone's lives and tend to hang around longer. The other side of the hill is not visible on higher grade hills. Energy loss, decreased stamina, and a need to slow down to crest the hill are some of the symptoms that result.

But, the downhill thrill is so much more exhilarating. Bigger challenge = bigger success. More than that, the downhill is like a renewal, a breather and time to relax before the next challenge presents itself.

Headwind is always an issue. The obvious impact of headwind is that you slow down but work harder to go the same distance. One interesting side effect when cycling is that it makes it difficult to hear what is going on around you: the birds, the rustle of the leaves, the spin of the pedals, and the beat of your heart. I imagined on yesterday's ride that it was God's whisper trying to break through the chaos of my life. If only I could have deciphered all of His word.

The traffic further complicates the ride: more noise, more dangerous diversions, more near misses. Attention to the details is critical to avoid injury or instant death. Yesterday's ride seemed more dangerous than most as I almost ran myself into a ditch trying to make room for a passing car and almost fell off my bike two different times while maneuvering at traffic lights.


There are frequent straightaways. Straightways are not challenging, unless they go on for miles at which point they become boring. Then, the challenge for the cyclist is to stay engaged in the ride. But, straightaways are restful and dependable, even necessary. Too many of them, though, and you tend to get bored and complacent.


Overall, life is like a long bike ride. The hills, the headwind, the traffic, and the straightaways combine to make life interesting, exciting, fulfilling, exhausting, and enjoyable at intervals that God designs and sees us all through. And, on either side is a beginning and the end.


No matter the length or destination, I intend to enjoy the ride and to go the distance.

Passion For Running Part 3: Healthy Nutrition

One of the more critical ways in which I maintain my passion for running is to keep my body strong and satisfied. There are three tenets: healthy nutrition, proper hydration, and good equipment.

Today, I will focus on nutrition because, frankly, I do love to eat. Anything goes, too. I have a major weakness for any kind of cheese, nuts, chocolate, desserts, pasta, and sauces, particularly the gourmet, creamy, fat-laden ones. I love to eat out, too, which means extra fat, sodium, and cholesterol, all of which I try to keep to a minimum when I cook at home but indulge in elsewhere.

It would not be too much of a stretch to say that I have a passion for food.

My passion for food is dependent on my passion for running for one obvious reason: I can only eat the way I do because I run. I can't imagine returning to my previous weight or losing my size 5 jeans. I worked too hard to get where I am.

So, yes, I run to eat, as pathetic as that sounds.

Over the years of learning how to eat healthy, I have lost a taste for many things that I used to love, like fried food, bread, and soda. When I do eat these things, they tend to make me nauseous and leave me unsatisfied, or at least a bit guilty. They also inhibit my intiative, make me lazy and lethargic. Lazy and lethargic do not support running. It's a little hard to get out there to run~~especially if it is too cold, too hot, drizzling~~if I can't get up off the couch or out of my bed.

Everyone has their own food habits. The first part of healthy nutrition is to know and/or learn what foods are healthy and why. That is relatively easy. Check out Grains & More at http://www.grainsandmore.com and http://grainsandmore.blogspot.com for some great advice. After that, it is up to each person to determine which healthy foods she likes and can eat regularly and which she doesn't really like but can eat occasionally, just for the nutritional value.

Over many years of practice, I have learned to like things like oatmeal, muesli, yogurt, multi-grain bread, dried fruit, and raw green vegetables of every variety. Not that I didn't like these things before. These types of food were never at the top of my list. Now, they are and because of it I have more energy, better body function (if you know what I mean), and lower cholesterol.

In other words, my body is satisfied.

Furthermore, make a friend of healthy protein. It is critical in building muscles after a workout and can help one slim down. For helpful hints on proper nutrition for runners, check out http://www.runnersworld.com.

Another critical element of nutrition is a good multi-vitamin supplement. The reason: no matter how good your diet is, you will never get appropriate levels of vitamins and minerals from food alone. I use and recommend Shaklee Vitalizer.

The final element is to know when to eat. As with everything else, this is different for everyone. I eat a small snack ~ yogurt and muesli, or oatmeal, or a bowl of Cheerios ~ about an hour before I run. I drink an electrolyte mix (also by Shaklee) while I run. I drink a protein shake (a Shaklee product) within 30 minutes after I run. For the rest of the day, I keep my portions small but frequent.

If I neglect any of the above parts of my healthy nutrition, my body lets me know.

If you can spend some quality time with your food choices, your body will return the favor by staying energized and strong to maintain your passion for running.

Fried At The State Fair

Check out http://grainsandmore.blogspot.com for my nutritional review of The State Fair of Texas.

My apologies for infrequent posting of late. I have been out living my life AND failing to blog about it.

A new post is forthcoming ~ tomorrow.

Laptop Withdrawal

I love and hate technology. The details of this distinct dichotomy came to light over the past two weeks when the hard drive on my beloved laptop crashed and the Geek Squad at Best Buy had to step in and save the day.

Unfortunately, the only way they could save my day was to pry my laptop, blue screen and all, from my fingers, and ship it off to the manufacturer with the promise that as long as the crash was not caused by a virus, the fix would be free of charge. Great!

"And, by the way, it will take about three weeks, " said the young girl behind the counter as she whisked my computer off to the back room.

As I walked out of Best Buy, I wondered what I was going to do with all that time.

Until these past few weeks, I never realized how much time my computer sucks from my day and how much I rely on it to feel productive.

I could have reverted to my desktop. After all, it has the potential: most of my files that I use daily are there and it is hard-wired to the Internet so I don't have to deal with the WiFi, which at times can be a hassle. But, here again, technology has me by the shorthairs. Via my laptop, I have become accustomed to getting things done quickly, and from any room in my house (even the bathroom, I dare say) at any time. Sitting at my desktop -relegated to one venue with only one view and operating an antiquated system utilizing a hard drive with limited space and roving spam - seems so limiting to me now after the freedom afforded by my laptop.

And, like I mentioned, the view from my laptop offers more variety and comfort, with views of the pool, or the TV, and sitting in bed or on the couch.

I opted for waiting for my laptop. And....

...basically, I did nothing productive:

• I did not update my blog (gee, did you notice?)
• I did not work on my book or any of my stories
• I did not research grant information
• I did not work on my estimated corporate taxes
• I did not order new ski gear for my upcoming trip
• I did not order refills for my animals' flea meds
• I did not post my status on Facebook

Like I said, I was hugely unproductive. It does not help me to think that if I really wanted to, and I promise I did, that I could have also done all of these things from my relatively new SmartPhone by Verizon. I know how to use it now, so lack of knowledge is no excuse. But, I did not because the screen is way too small and even when I zoom in my fingers are much too big and clumsy to be anywhere near effective.

Excuses, excuses. Say it, I know you want to....just quit whining.

That said, however, one big advantage was that I did not waste time surfing the internet, as I am wont to do in between items on my usual to-do list. This can be as much of a time-sucker as not having the computer. Laundry can be done tomorrow, or the next day, and don't worry about emptying the dishwasher or even cleaning the sink out. Clean windows, forget about it.

It can all wait.

I did do sorted other things, no less unproductive in many peoples' eyes:

• I spent more time sleeping, both after the kids went to school and midday napping (ssshhh...don't tell the kids!)
• I spent more time studying the Bible
• I spent more time (not alot!) cleaning
• I spent more time thinking
• I spent more time working out and exercising with a clean conscience

...did I mention sleeping already? I think I did way too much of that.

Now that I have my laptop back, I am faced with re-loading my software. This has become a whole other battle, which will consume time, and thoughts, and not a little mental energy. And, it will most likely re-chain me.

Bottom line to all of this is I love technology because it makes my life more fluid. Dare I say, easier...

...to try to cram too much in, to be over-productive, to lose touch with many of the things that ground us to who we are and what our purpose is. The time on the computer, even on the phone, not only supports us losing touch with ourselves, but actively pushes us farther and farther away from many of the things that are important to solid mental health, to well-being. The computer can lure us away from rest, from thought, and from meditation.

I will try to maintain some of the extra rest I have had over the past two weeks. But, I can guarantee that the whisper and moan of my laptop will eventually overwhelm me and will lure me back...

...as it is doing now. Past my bedtime and still typing....tsk, tsk, tsk.

Passion For Running Part 2: Know Why

Once you determine to make exercise, running in this case, your priority, the next step is to know why.

There could be many "whys": to lose weight, to get healthy, to run a marathon or compete in some other competition, to meet the hot guy who lives down the street and runs shirtless through your neighborhood every morning.

Your "why" might be one of these, or several of them. The key is that you know what it is.

Knowing why you are running not only provides you with a critical focus, but it also is the first step to establishing smaller, more attainable goals. This focus, and the ensuing goals, creates a final destination and a path to that destination. Without this focus, you might easily lapse back into old habits and get lost along the way.

I think of it in terms of traveling. What is the first thing you do after you decide to take a vacation, whether a long summer holiday or a weekend getaway?

You decide on a destination.

That destination could be someplace exotic and halfway around the world, or it could be someplace close. Either way, you have to figure out where that "someplace" is. Once you decide where, you can then work on how, which will include the path you travel to get there and what you visit along the way.

Have you ever taken a drive without knowing exactly where you intend to end up? What happens? You meander. Sometimes you run into sights and experiences that are pleasant, but many times you spend so much time figuring out which road to take and where it will end up that you sacrifice some of your ability to relax and enjoy the trip.

Another way to think about this is in terms of learning new things. It could be a new software application, a new skill, or simple everyday tasks. When I am confronted with learning something new, it helps me to know why I am doing that particular task.

• I have to save a new document in Word before I get to the end because if I forget I will lose all that work if my computer freezes.
• I put fabric softener in the rinse cycle because it makes my clothes smell fresh(er).
• I get regular oil changes on my cars because they will run better and last longer.
• ...and, for those moms out there, "But Mom, why do I have to go to bed so early?", or, "Mom, why do I have to brush my teeth. I don't want to."

Knowing why can also help you express, or even defend, your choice. There are those in my life who question why I exercise so much. Some of the concerns are wear and tear on my aging body, time away from my motherly duties, money spent competing. If I didn't have a strong commitment to my "why", these dissenting opinions might serve to weaken my will, or lead me to second-guess my choice.

I run and exercise regularly because it helps me stay fit, which helps me feel better both physically and mentally. When I am not exercising regularly, I eat more and consequently feel sluggish, not to mention that I get extremely cranky when those endorphins are not coursing through my brain in a steady, strong stream. Don't even get me started on what happens when I am PMSing AND not exercising regularly. Better watch out!

As you might have concluded, making exercise your priority goes hand in hand with knowing why you are exercising. You have to have your focus set before you can push yourself out of bed, or away from the computer, to go out and run even on those days when you don't feel like doing it.

So, what is your why?

ITB Update

It has been several months since I last blogged about my physical situation.

It's been nice, right? No complaining about aches and pains or whining about frustration over reduced performance.

That means it is time for an update.

The update is positive. I write this even as I knock on the real wood tabletop; I would hate to jinx my 10K on Sunday.

With that ~ knock, knock, knock ~ I happily report that I have conquered my ITB issue. For the better part of this year, and since I started researching ways to reduce or eliminate it short of surgery, I have been ITB-pain free.

How did I do it? I truly believe it is the result of only two factors: change in gait and running form, and regular Bikram hot yoga.

Through my research I learned that the ITB pain was caused by friction of the muscle at the knee and at the hip. The friction is always going to be there but how you run can greatly reduce how much friction is created. Less friction means less tightness and less tightness means less pain. It was a simple matter of using more of my upper leg muscles to take the stress off the knee and lengthening my stride to reduce the number of times the ITB has to come in contact with the knee joint. Lots of strength and weight training focused on my quads, gluts, and hamstrings.

The downside is that I have to think more when I run and I have to run slower so I can concentrate on my form. Not too much of a sacrifice in my book.

The Bikram hot yoga was the sleeper solution. From everything I read posted by other runners dealing with the same issue, it appeared to be a questionable solution at best. But it has worked for me even though I am still working on completing some of the poses, like toe stand and fixed firm, because of how the ITB has affected my left knee.

Now, however, I have a new problem. Not quite as debilitating as the ITB, but just as annoying.

This time it is my right upper hamstring. To date, the pain is only at about a 2 out of 10.

But, that is how the ITB started too.

If it's not one thing, it's another.

Passion For Running Part 1: Make Exercise Your Priority

Recently, a good friend of mine asked me if it is possible to learn to like running.


My quick answer to her was yes; but I was neither emphatic nor bold about it because there are so many variables to liking something when that 'something' does not come naturally.


Her question, my quick response, and the possibilities of the problem led me to ponder it ad nauseum for quite some time. My innate propensity to overthink things did not make this process any quicker, or smoother. However, eventually I came up with quite a few ways in which one could attempt to acquire a passion for running.


The first way, the most critical, is one I have already touched upon. I prefer not to think of it as learning to 'like' it. 'Like' is such a diluted word. When I think of things I 'like', these things are things I can do without. For instance, "It would be nice if I could get that sweater in blue, because I 'like' blue, but I'll get it in black instead," or "I would 'like' to run through Starbucks today and get a latte because I 'like' lattes." I can take it or leave it, depending on the circumstances.


Instead, I turn the 'like' into 'passion', thereby making it something transformative, something nurturing, something substantive. It might be something you cannot live without. Or, you might be able to live without it (because we CAN live without many things) but if you did you would be consumed by thinking about it or how to get it.

An example from my world is my writing. I have a passion for writing. On those days when my schedule prohibits me from writing, I still think about it frequently throughout the day. Sometimes I feel an intense guilt, a pain, when I cannot write. When I am finally able to do it, either in the form of my blog post or working through a story, I feel fulfilled, complete, and successful.


In other words, the pursuit of 'passions' correlates directly to the growth of one's intrinsic values and self-worth; the pursuit of 'likes' simply augments us on the outside but has little ability to penetrate to the core.


So, how does one develop a passion for running?


It is not easy.


The first and most important step is to make it a priority. In other words, make exercise ~ whether it is running or cycling or walking ~ a priority.


In the beginning, it is very important to establish a pattern that works well with your daily schedule. You do not have to run every day; but, it helps if you set aside time every day to be active.


This achieves three goals:

• Time set aside just for you. No phone calls, no texting, no laundry, no computer, no kids, no dogs and/or cats, no spouse, no work. You can get out of the house and focus only on you. I bring my phone with me, but it is always on silent.
• Time for training your body and your mind for what is to come. Challenges are forthcoming on this path. You will challenge yourself to push through walls, both physical and mental. Daily and gradual training is the first key to meeting and surpassing these challenges. I use it as quiet time: I talk to God, I work through problems, I talk to myself. Quite liberating, actually.
• Time to form a habit. Without practice, you cannot succeed, much less excel, at acquiring a passion to run. Practice is achieved through habit and discipline. I plan my exercise schedule, including days off and what activity I will do on which day, on a weekly basis. Sounds rigid, but it keeps me focused.

These are methods that work for me. I use them because running did not start out as a passion for me. I had to learn to embrace it and that has taken time.

In fact, it started out with pain. I battled terrible shin splints when I ran in college. I later found out, about 15 years later, that the shin splints were caused by inproper footwear and inadequate stretching. Of course, now they tell me that you can't run with court shoes. And stretching? Really? What did I know as a sophomore in college anyhow? Who stretched back then?

Running was something I took up as a result of social pressure. Not a bad thing in all cases, but for me it became something I did because I wanted to be liked by someone else...and running is something that other person did. She set the schedule, the course, the speed. I just followed along, whether I really wanted to or not. Today, I am a very different person. The person I am today would say to the friend of yesterday "No...my legs hurt like hell and there's no way I'm running with you. Check back with me tomorrow. But, have a nice run!"

This made the perfect recipe for the exact opposite of passion: hatred. I hated to run. It brought back memories of pain and social confusion.

But out of that hatred has come a passion that keeps me focused every day. It is my priority every day.

Speed Cleaning

Before you read this post, please refresh your understanding of speed. The definition for speed, according to Wikipedia, is "the magnitude of its velocity" or "the rate of change of its position". There are many examples of speed that permeate our culture including: speed dating, speeding, Speed Racer, the Speed Channel, and, dare I say, even speed pills.

Speed is good, I like speed. Not the pills, the concept. I can get more done in a shorter timeframe. I can feel more productive and get though my whole list of chores.

Oh, and I have been known to speed in my truck...often.

Today, I coin a new example: speed cleaning.

Speed cleaning is like speed dating. In speed dating, you are allotted a finite amount of time, about four minutes, to meet with a finite number of people, about 15-20, in one evening. This gives you only so much time to ask the questions you want and get the answers you need before you move onto the next person. Speed thinking, speed talking, speed listening, and speed comprehending are critical. In order to make this efficient, you have to carefully select which questions to ask and have very little time to explore the details.

In the same way, speed cleaning requires that you carefully choose what to clean and how much to clean. The difference is you determine how much time you want to spend. No matter what that number is, it allows only certains areas to be cleaned, and only to a certain level of detail. You won't have time to scrub the toilet with a toothbrush, or detail the grout in the tile floors.

Let's face it, speed cleaning is all about getting your house somewhat clean and getting you out of the house to do whatever makes you happy.

Like anything where speed is concerned, important details get passed by or forgotton. When speeding in a car, you might forget to signal when changing lanes or you might not see that car making a right turn in front of you. In speed dating, you might not have time to ask that one brilliant question or you might forget to smile when he compliments you.

In other words, the fine details.

Speed cleaning is no different and because of this might not be for everyone. In fact, germophobes and neatnicks need not apply for this methodology.

You have to choose between cleaning your kitchen completely or cleaning only the countertops in both the kitchen and the bathrooms, but also the refrigerator, the laundry room, and the toilets. Another day your choice might be only vacuuming and dusting, or washing floors. Not every room will be completely clean all the time, but quite a few rooms will be partially clean some of the time.

You may choose to clean only those rooms that guests to your home will see. I do this quite often. In fact, most people comment on how clean my house always is. If only they could see my closet, my kids' rooms, sometimes my shower, and any other room that has a door that closes. They might change their minds.

Speaking of kids' rooms: they are impossible to speed clean. Maybe this applies only to my kids' rooms. I have tried a multitude of ways over the years to clean their rooms; moreover, to maintain their rooms. I fantasize about my kids' cleaning their own rooms. Cajoling, bribing, threatening, elimination strategies, pop cleaning (yes, just like pop quizzes). Nothing works. The floors remain covered 6-8 inches deep with both clean and dirty clothes, and the desks and sidetables remain littered with junk. The best I can do is to keep the trash and food litter out. After that, like I already mentioned, I simply close the door. I do believe even my animals maintain a cleaner environment than my kids.

The speed cleaning dilemma is mine again since my maid went MIA. It works for me because I would much rather have my personal time to pursue other interests than have the cleanliness of my house permeate my every thought. Sure, it seems like I am always cleaning, but wouldn't it also be that way if I was a neat freak? I would be cleaning all of my house, all of the time.

When would I blog?
Run?
Cycle?
Yoga?

Dream?

Try it sometime!

Road Etiquette

You have all read my rants about driving etiquette for both drivers and cyclists. Now I am going to extend that to encompass runners. But, I am going to start it out with a question; a poll of sorts.

How many of you give wide berth to runners on the road?
Or, do you just assume that they have the shoulder, which should be enough space for them?
Or, alternatively, do you get irritated with them being in "your" space and get as close as possible to them as you race by at speed, thinking "I'll just scare them a bit, that will get them to use the pathways (if there are any) next time?"

I am one of those who doesn't use the pathways. They're too curvy and crowded, especially this time of year when the weather is cool and the fair weather runners are out. These are the ones who were huddled in their air-conditioning all summer complaining that it was too hot to be outside running. Instead, I use the road and try to run on road that provides ample shoulder room. There are never any other runners congesting my path, and I can always see my target.

As a runner, running on the road and not the paths, I am always cognizant of my space. More specifically, the lack of it when facing oncoming traffic. I love when there is a shoulder; I run as close to the far edge as possible with my eyes on the cars coming at me. I constantly calculate what that driver is apt to do and based on the result I either maintain my space or move over even more.

I have been paying more attention lately to categorizing the different types of drivers. There are not a lot of drivers who speed past to prove a point; however, there are those drivers who, out of simple distraction or lack of attention, swerve into my path. In the past, I have posted about these crazies. They really are few and far between, thank God.

Most drivers fall in a range between those who give a little more space, as long as there is no oncoming traffic for them, and those who will move into the opposing lane to give as much space as possible. In my experience, do you know which type of drivers are most likely to move over?

The truckers.

Now, I was thinking as I was running today that there could be a few reasons for this. First, they are usually professionally trained. I imagine that part of this training involves heightened awareness of using their space efficiently, and safely. Their eyes are probably farther up the road than the average driver and figuring out how to deal with maintaining their space safely. Or, conversely, they may just see the woman running on the side of the road and want to create more space in which to see her both on the approach and from the "rear" mirrors.

There are all factors, yes. I have another theory. I think it is because I wave to them. Yes, I wave to the drivers who go out of their way to accomodate my space. Actually, I give them a thumbs up, thank you, then a wave.

They always wave back.

Maybe word is getting around on my running routes that a crazy runner, that would be me, is waving to all the truckers. I wonder if they understand why I am waving. When there is a row of oncoming vehicles, I like to see how many of them will move over. I wave at every one that does. I spurn all those that don't. I never have to spurn the truckers.

I hope that maybe my good will to the drivers on the road, who have more power in the situation than I do, will influence these same drivers to transfer their consideration of their space on the road to all other runners and cyclists. I hope that the drivers of cars will take heed from the actions of the truckers. And, I hope that all other runners and cyclists will understand the power they do not have and be grateful for what they can get.

Bottom line: everybody just be courteous and respectful. Progress will be made when the drivers of vehicles stop acting like bullies on the playground, and the runners and cyclists stop testing and teasing said "bullies".

The Good And The Bad In Huntsville

Before I start, let me humbly apologize for not posting in almost a week. I did not have anything mind-numbing or provocative come to mind this week; or, at least nothing that was suitable for public display.

Also, as much as I like writing, my life is a blog but my blog is not my life.

Here I sit, showered, fed, and coming down off my adrenaline high. I took a nice nap at the mechanic's shop while he changed the oil in my truck and then told me that my radiator was leaking: he will have to keep the truck until Tuesday to replace the radiator, free of charge thank goodness because it is under warranty from a job they did in November. I intended to take a nice long nap when I got home, after showering and eating {in that order} but the headache meds he shared with me must have had caffeine because now I am not sleepy. Oh well!

This bodes well for you all, my burgeoning audience.

I rode in the Huntsville Raven's Ride, or Raven's Revenge this morning. Not sure why the term includes "Revenge". Maybe it is because of the sore body that results and hangs on for days afterward.

This was my first bike race after many running races, spanning 5Ks to half-marathons. Aside from the fact that I had to bike 33 miles when I was only mentally prepared for 20, I did those 33 at an average speed of 18.5 mph and was among the first to finish of those who rode the 33-mile route. I had some concerns going into it; and probably a few expectations. Overall, like any race I have competed in, there were things I loved, and things I hated.

Things I Loved {I always start with the good things}:

1. The picturesque scenery of the last half.

   If I wasn't such a twit about not stopping during
   my races, I would have thought to stop and take pictures. I always forget that part.

2. The straightaways.

   ...in a field of hills. No other explanation needed. However, sometimes it was hard to tell the difference between a truly flat straightaway and a very low-grade hill ~ until I was into it a few minutes and started slowing down.

3. The downhills.

   I could throw it into high gear and race down at 25mph. Woohoo!

4. The brisket that was served after...

   ...sounded like something I would love if I had stuck around long enough to eat it.

5. The compliment on my speed and form from another rider.

   He (ya think?) could have just been trying to pick up on me. He followed this with a comment on how he was tucked in behind me in the first 10 miles because of it. Or, maybe he just liked watching my ass. Either way, huge ego boost.

Only 180 participants.

Why can't the other races I participate in be this small and cozy?

Things I Hated:

1. The uphills.

   A lot of them. I am still trying to decide which type
   of hill is more tolerable: the short, high-incline ones where you have to drop into the lowest gear and power up at speed or the long, low-incline ones where you think you are never going to reach the top and the speed you gained from the downhill of the previous hill wears off far too quickly to give you any help up.

2. The fire ants at the start line.

   They obviously thought I was an interloper; I still have the welts. Where's the Ortho man when you need him?

3. The missing marker for the 20 mile turnaround.
4. The last 12 miles I had to do because of #3.

   However, that was where the most idyllic scenery was (see #1 in Things I Loved).

5. The lady cyclist who kept trying to pass me on the hills.

   At one point she blocked me in while trying to pass--huffing, puffing and hacking beside me--but couldn't get the speed to actually do it. I kept waiting for her to pull past me. I finally got pissed off and blew past her as we crested that hill and then in high gear made some distance between us so I wouldn't have to suffer her anymore. She caught up with me at the second rest stop (about 15 miles later) as I was about to pull out.

6. The policemen directing traffic along the route who had no idea what the route actually was.

   In the final three miles, I went straight when I think I should have turned left. Can you say 'missing directionals'? There was a policeman at that intersection who just stopped traffic, smiled, and waved me on. One other rider did the same thing; I didn't feel so very stupid and alone that way. Thanks to Trent for being there; we got a tour of some of the local business parking lots and side streets. We briefly entertained the idea of going the wrong way on the feeder but decided it would be too risky. This added about 2.5 miles to the route.

As you can see, it was a mixed experience. I may not do this race again, but then I rarely repeat races. What I definitely plan to do is use the route they mapped to go up there early some Saturday or Sunday and do parts of it again on my own. It really was a very peaceful and bucolic setting, one which it is hard to duplicate in my town.

And, I promise when I do that, I WILL get pictures. But for now, my body has to rest. I don't want to even think about getting on a bicyle until at least Wednesday.

Charitable Donations

Merriam-Webster defines charity as:

a. benevolent good will toward or love of humanity;

b. aid given to those in need;

c. an institution engaged in relief of the poor.

Anyone who attends a church even semi-frequently is familiar with this concept. And, even if one does not attend a church, this concept of helping those less fortunate is common in our society. In fact, it is most cogent in tragic situations: Hurricane Katrina, 9/11, the tsunamis in Asia, etc. Americans come to bat without hesitation.

Today, a visiting priest from Kenya presided over the Mass. I can't remember his name. The cantor for some reason departed from protocol and did not formally introduce him to the congregation. This struck me as odd.

His English was moderately comprehensible ~ there were only 5 times during his homily that I had to glide over a word that was inaudible or garbled~ and his manner was pleasant enough.

His homily began with a joke about paying attention. It made everyone laugh. Then he launched into the meat of it all: charitable donations, specifically, a mission appeal for his church in Kenya. He proceeded to describe the work he does there, the congregation he serves, how he believes that his congregation does the best they can with little resources. He detailed the costs of sending seminarians to school by illustrating that out of 10 vocations he receives in a year that his bishop can only afford to send 5 to seminary.

Underlying this all was how Kenyans have little and Americans have much.

He talked about the orphans and how they become a ward of the church. He detailed what costs are involved, paralleling it to the costs of raising kids. Understandable.

But, this is where he transgressed into a fragile arena. He likened those orphans to the seeds of terrorism.

"If they do not get the support they need to pull them from poverty, they will turn to sin and be more likely to turn to drugs, sex, and crime which will make them fertile ground for terrorist activity."

Unbelievably, he went even further. He then used good 'ole Catholic guilt on the congregation. Can you imagine that?

Addressing the women, he asked "How many pairs of shoes are enough, ladies?" He repeated it several times. I sat primly in the pew, envisioning my closet and the multiple stacks of shoe boxes that reside there. I tried to keep a smile on my face as my mind calculated how many times I actually wear each pair of those shoes in a year. Then, I did a quick cost analysis and rationalization for why I need all those shoes. Something to do with matching the clothes in my wardrobe and replacing old shoes that were worn down or out.

Catholic guilt is a powerful tool. I know because I have lived with it all my life.

He turned his sights to the men in the congregation. "How many shirts are enough, gentlemen?" Again, repeating it several times. Even though I am not a man, I still sat pristinely in the pew, mentally ensconced in my closet, looking at the rows of hangers and rationalizing why I need all those clothes.

But I don't buy haute couture and I only buy what can be worn with several other items in several different ways. That's OK, isn't it?

For a moment, his guilt worked on me. I began to feel that maybe I should be giving my money to the mission appeal. After all, just because my husband has been out of a job for two years, I am still better off than most people in his country right? I have a house, a few cars, and know where my food is going to come from every day. I have a warm bed to sleep in, in a house that is safe and secure from invasion.

And I thank and praise God every single day for these things.

Struggling over his homily, the thought strikes me: I would give so much more to help those in need if it weren't for the corruption that has seeped into every facet of charitable giving. Think about all the instances where the wolf in sheep's clothing has made off with millions upon millions of dollars of money intended to help those in need.

Think about the food drops that have been stolen and/or confiscated by warring factions in multiple countries. All of the helpless souls who starved because of this.

Think about the middle men who get their hands on the money that is donated magnanimously every single day. Money that could have supported a family for a year instead used to buy fancy cars, jewelry, clothes, and who knows what else.

This is where the responsibility collides with reality. And this is where I grind my teeth and wonder how much of my money is really going to help those in need. And I hate to waste money but even more, I hate to see my hard-earned money go to thieves and villains.

My husband and I work very hard for what we have. We have never been selfish in our donations but we have found that over the years we need to be prudent. The evils of many a ploy for charitable donation have led to jaded opinions of all of them, benevolent or not.

Maybe Merriam-Webster's definition needs to be modified.

Or maybe the organizations that are truly benevolent need to be more in the open about their operations.

In either case, I don't savor donating money anymore. I will donate things. I will donate my time. In fact, I would much rather take a mission trip to help those in need, maybe those orphans in Kenya of which the visiting priest spoke of, than to dump money into an operation fraught with usury, corruption, and greed.