Man Verses Nature

Conflict theorists such as Karl Marx see much of life, especially interaction, as a competition. Economically, politically and athletically it certainly holds true with no explanation necessary. Socially, we may attempt to ignore or deny class and lifestyle competition, but we know they thrive. In our culture competition is not threatened or endangered and indisputably does not hang in the balance of extinction.

A movement has made headway in recent years to remove the competitive aspect from sports and other activities for young children. However, few complain about competition in professional sports and a range of other events. These include things from the commonplace like beauty pageants (I added this one intentionally) to the absurd such as eating Madagascar roaches. Last year, Shannan and I witnessed young girls in a pumpkin pie eating contest. What a hoot!

Still some want more, so we compete against nature. Reality TV has survival guru, Bear Grylls, tests his MacGyver-like skills verses worst case scenarios in the most inhospitable places on Earth. Adam Richman pits his stomach in obscene battles against massive amounts of food. Surprisingly, both men win more than they lose.

I, like many, am in an epic battle where I know there are battles to be won, but the overall war is a beyond my means. My quest for good health has the enemies of pizza, bacon, potato chips, peanuts and donuts, some of the most tasty, yet unhealthy stuff on Earth. Isn’t it odd that many of the good things to eat are high in both calories and in fat?

As an adult man I come to the game with a host of natural competitors such as hair loss, beer bellies, double chins, decreased sex drive and an onslaught of disease. Add to that my genetic code is riddled with cancer, obesity, heart disease and diabetes. Those are my natural foes. Years ago I succumbed to the loss of hair, but through The Streak I have kept one chin, managed my gut, have low blood pressure and relative healthy metabolism. I don’t have a goal of living forever, but I do go head to head with nature each day in a competition to live well.

A body in motion tends to stay in motion.

Tom

Interest and Commitment

Do you know the difference between interest and commitment? Tina, my running coach, differentiated between the two in a tag line to her weekly e-mail. It reads as follows: Interest is when you do something at your discretion. Commitment is when you do something with no excuses.

Tina regularly includes some sort of inspirational final word in her weekly e-mails to the athletes she trains. Surely she intends for these pithy words to motivate. This statement weighed heavy on me. I’m interested in many things--hydrology, archeology, mythic memory, collective consciousness and more. I have a true commitment to education, to mine and that of others, and to health and exercise. For me, the areas of my commitment fit together perfectly via The Streak, which for me means there is NO excuse not to exercise every day. Not only am I grateful to have the wherewithal to fully engage in my commitment, I appreciate Tina and others for helping me to articulate it so clearly.

I leave you with another “Tina-ism”: Run with Passion.

Tom

Boy Scout Running

A series of comical circumstances forced Shannan to be in Columbus, GA, on a recent Saturday. We decided to make the best of the situation and stay for the weekend. We count ourselves as seasoned travelers, so we didn’t even make a packing list to get ready for the impromptu trip.

All went perfectly according to plan. Late Saturday afternoon I set out my running gear for the next morning. That’s when I realized I had failed to bring running shorts. Oh, the shame! So I’m not the traveler extraordinaire I thought. No need to panic, though, as at Shannan’s suggestion I have a fully-equipped emergency running bag in all of our vehicles.

Pre-dawn morning arrived and I quietly readied myself for a nice run in Columbus. I stepped outside to a chilly temperature in the low forties with a slight wind. I wasn’t mentally prepared for that, not to mention that I wasn’t physically prepared with gloves. I decided to warm up with a cup of coffee (bad practice) and let the sun come up in hopes of the temperature increasing with it.

Thirty minutes passed as I bemoaned my woefully inadequate planning for the trip. Finally, I cowboyed up and ran for about an hour. I came back to the hotel room and whined about my freezing and slightly numb fingers and hands. Shannan showed no sympathy. I took an important lesson away from this mess. If I’m not going to pack more thoroughly, then I need to add more items to my emergency bags.

Run like a Boy Scout.

Tom

Unbelievable Greenway

Unbelievable, absolutely unbelievable. Saturday morning, as part of the route for the running clinic, our group took a turn down the Alpharetta Greenway. Given that it’s one of the best places to exercise in the metropolitan Atlanta area, I didn’t find it unbelievable the coaches had us run on the course. In fact, I was delighted when I heard it was part of the plan.

We entered the well-shaded and stunningly sublime trail about two and half miles into the six mile course. It had been some time since my last run on the Greenway. I welcomed running through the densely wooded and calming path along Big Creek. As I took in all the wonders around me, I realized something was markedly missing.

Where were all the other people? I ran ahead of my group, but what I was thinking of was the bikers, walkers, in-line skaters and other joggers who generally crowd the trail. Here it was a Saturday morning with the temperature barely reaching 70 degrees. Most people see this as an ideal time to get out and exercise, in terms of both time and weather, yet seven minutes ticked by before I saw another human being. In our mile or so on the trail before we pulled off to head back to the starting point, I passed only one other jogger. I felt like a character in an episode of the Twilight Zone.

It was a grand morning to be outside. Sorry y’all missed it.

**Post script- as the temperatures in the piece above indicate, this blog was written at the beginning of September.

Tom

Customer to Coach

July 19 I posted a blog reflecting on the first thirty days of using Shaun T’s Insanity 60 Day program. I began the entry with a semi-legal preface. It read, “Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any fashion from anyone affiliated with Shaun T’s Insanity program. I continue to write about the rigorous schedule of workouts because at present they set the pace for my day.”

How true! Insanity took a front seat in my life for those two months, even while on vacation out of the country. Since I completed the program I’ve been so pleased with my fitness level that I created an Insanity and running hybrid and have since repeated the first thirty days of the program, again. My respect for the flexibility, balance and core strength promoted by Insanity and other Beachbody products continues to grow. I must confess that I have now crossed to the other side and have a formal association with Beachbody. Recently, I signed up as a Coach. As a result, I have access to six other exercise programs from Beachbody and can help others get started with any of their fitness products.

As is my custom, I’ll share my experiences with the programs and honestly review the products. That said, this blog will not become a marketplace to sell Beachbody products. I’ll do that at http://teambeachbody.com/socdr (okay so I gave myself one small plug :-). Regardless of my new affiliation with the organization I’ll be forthcoming when I do refer to the Beachbody exercise programs here. As always, my main commitment is toward the end of staying in motion.

Regardless if you workout inside or outside, use rigorous routines or take spontaneous walks, find a way to stay active. It makes life grand.

Tom

Thanksgiving Tour of Atlanta

More than once I have vowed never to run the Atlanta Half Marathon again. Problems have cropped up frequently before or after the race in my twenty-year history with the event, to my great annoyance. This year the Atlanta Track Club changed the route of the race to meander through the city rather than the previous one-way shot down Peachtree Street, Peachtree Road and Industrial Boulevard as it is collectively known along that stretch. The new course did cross over the famed Peachtree Street. And honestly, pray tell, how could it be a run in Atlanta otherwise?

Beginning at Turner Field runners made a pass of all of the following: The Capitol Building, Georgia State University, Five Points MARTA Station, Centennial Olympic Park, West Atlanta, Georgia Tech, Atlantic Station, Midtown, Piedmont Park (we entered from 14th Street--ah…the memories of my very first Peachtree Road Race), downtown hotel district, Sweet Auburn Ave, Martin Luther King Center, Cabbage Town, Oakland Cemetery, Underground Atlanta, Downtown business district, Atlanta City Hall and back through the Olympic Rings to the finish line. Now, tell the truth y’all, ain’t that Atlanta?

Hard core Atlantans may bemoan that we missed the Carter Center, the Varsity, Virginia Highlands and Five Points (the alternative scene). It would have been nice to hit those highlights as well, but there’s only so much ground you can cover in 13.1 miles .

As for the course, it had a few rolling hills, but nothing severe. This Thanksgiving morning served up great running weather. Some probably found it a bit humid; I fancied it perfect. Even though I enjoyed the stroll through the historic, scenic and important areas of my hometown, upon its completion I once again proclaimed to Shannan that I’m finished with the Half Marathon. Only time will tell.

I hope you had a Happy Thanksgiving.

Tom

Marathon, Myths and More

Saturday, September 25th marked the 2500th anniversary of the fabled story of Phidippides’ run from Marathon to Athens. The basic tale has all the trappings of legend. However, folklore from Athens to London gives differing accounts for the actual distance Phidippides covered and how our modern marathon race came to be 26.2 miles. I encourage you to read some of the tales, fanciful and more factual, to make your own decision. This is one of the few exceptions where I care less about the precise history; I just love the idea of the run.

Carlos Museum of Emory University commemorated the anniversary with a 2.62 race. No, that is not one of my notorious typos, the museum held a Dolichos (Greek for a running a short race) to be followed by a Greek symposium. I wanted to run the race, but instead logged 7.38 miles with the running clinic. Of course the topic of the Marathon anniversary came up as runners chatted along the course.

While I ran with the group I remembered nostalgically running the same course of the Olympic Marathon held in Atlanta for the 1996 Games in Atlanta. I recalled a couple of years later when in Athens, Greece, I ran portions of the Olympic Marathon track. Today was a fun day to think about the history of running, about Marathon as history and as a race.

Thanks to story tellers, race coordinators and of course a special thank you to Phidippides for this very special event that few experience and even fewer come to love.

Happy Anniversary.

Tom

Kickin’ down on Bourbon Street

Up and out at 4:00 a.m., I wanted to make the most of running in New Orleans. I planned to complete each turn of Jackson Square, pass through the French Market and run along the mighty Mississippi. Thirty seconds into the run I wondered how I had forgotten to include Bourbon Street. I spun down St. Charles and headed toward the world renowned party road.
En route I wondered if anyone would be out and about at the early hour. As if on cue, I came into earshot of music, which I soon realized was a live band. As I approached, other tunes from various bars mingled and filled the early morning air. Far more than a critical mass had taken the night life and turned it to day. Dancers kept the beat in clubs and on the sidewalks revelers pumped eclectic life into the predawn. Intrigued, I kept running down the south's version of the Vegas Strip.

Many of the energized partiers made some sort of comment as I jogged past. Mostly the words were humorous or supportive of exercise rather than drinking and debauchery. Suddenly I had a thought crash in on me. Most of these folks had been imbibing for an untold number of hours. I followed that thought with the consideration of a lecture I give on New Orleans as a place where people go on “moral holiday.” In short, norms and rules are suspended and impulsive actions are the standard. I decided not to roll the dice.

I had seen enough and didn't want to test my luck. So, I continued toward the other destinations on this Taste of New Orleans run. I scooted around the places previously planned. Along the way I passed the Cafe du Monde, which had just been cleaned for the night. For a few fleeting hours, the patio wouldn’t be covered in powered sugar. People staggered along the sidewalks, lovers cuddled in breezeways, cars and bikes traveled as if it were lunch hour. I think New Orleans can rival New York or Las Vegas as the city that never sleeps.

Tom

Run for the Ruah

Many years ago I attended a religious education class. That’s grown up speak for “Sunday School.” Our priest, Ken, opened each session by inviting us to close our eyes and breathe deeply as he said, “Spirit of the Living God, fall afresh on me.” Some time later in the class I learned that the soothing line came from a hymn. Since the time with Ken I’ve always found that closing my eyes, breathing deeply and repeating the chorus of the hymn has a calming effect. Whenever I have utilized the practice it has helped me to be mindful of the presence of God.

Some years later when I attended theology school my favorite professor, John H. Hayes, talked about ruah, a Hebrew word for the breath of God. The concept reminded me of the hymn, “Spirit of the Living God.” Hayes likened ruah to the air we breathe. He went on to further suggest the notion that the very air we breathe fills us with the spirit of God.

Recently, I finished a strong run on one of the many beautiful afternoons we have had. Afterwards, I walked back to my classroom dripping in sweat. A cooling breeze blew. It refreshed me. I opened my arms, mind and mouth and breathed deeply the ruah of God.

What a feeling! The best part of running is being outside.

Tom

Battle at Big Creek

Fortunately, it didn’t turn out to be as cold as predicted in the Decisions blog I posted last week. Battle at Big Creek race day morning brought a nippy temperature of 37 degrees. As I expected, my throat did not miraculously cure itself, but it didn’t bother me enough to call off the race. I geared up and headed out to run on a mountain bike trail. I must admit I felt more anticipation than anxiety.

The only problem came via the race day packet pick up system. The desk closed at 8:00. An 8:30 start time left a miserable thirty minutes to warm up in the less-than-desirable conditions. On the way to pick up the race packet of bib, timer, goodies and a very nice runner’s shirt, we saw Lee. He was smart enough to go for a warm up and to check on the course. I made the mistake of staying in the car too long and pulled up to the race right at the start. This put me in the back of the pack.

After the race, another friend, Brian, pointed out this was a mentally engaging race. He was dead on in his assessment. Every step had to be fairly well calculated. The narrow path was filled with roots, rocks, uneven surfaces and other surprises for your footing. Add to this watching the person in front of you, listening to the runner behind, anticipating gaps through which to pass and knowing when to surge or slow down based on the sudden change of the terrain, it made for a very different kind of run.

From time to time during the race I would look up. I found it odd to see a human chain winding through the woods (see pics). Other times in the midst of all the strategic mental work I managed to look around and admire the natural beauty of this fantastic bike trail.

It was well worth the time, effort and chill, although I’m still coughing and living with a sore throat as I write.

Run. Bike. Do something!

Tom

Decisions

Decisions. Lee, a coworker and fellow runner, suggested we break out of our ruts in running and try a new style of race. Following his lead, we registered for the Battle at Big Creek. This event has a 9 and 5 mile race on a hilly and rock-infested bike trail. Lee and I decided to go for the shorter distance since it was our first time out in a race like this one.

Neither one of us had been training properly for the terrain, or preparing for an astonishing finish. In fact, Lee declared he would not wear a watch on the day of the race. He planned to simply go out and run a new and interesting course. It sounded like a good plan.

What is it they say about the best laid plans? The day before the race, I took on the early signs of a cold. I have a scratchy throat, mucus build up and am coughing. Moreover, out of nowhere the temperatures plummeted nearly twenty degrees compared to the averages over the last two weeks.


The race day forecast calls for a freezing 32 degrees that will “feel like” 26. Friday, Lee and I lamented over the prospect of running in the cold. Neither one of us are deeply excited about the winter climate for the race. Another twenty hours will hold the answer as to what we decide.

Tom

Cellular Health

It has always been the intention of this blog to provide a connection between health and wellness. As I write I’m aboard an airplane. Captain and crew have prepared for pushback. Five minutes ago the flight attendant announced all electrical devices need to be turned to the off position. She especially noted cell phones need to be turned off, not placed in plane mode. Immediately following her announcement a young man to the left of me and two adults to the right all began quickly jabbing at keys sending one final text, e-mail or making a last call.

One of the adults had two (2) cell phones and a digital music player. Another flight attendant passed through the cabin and reminded the man to disable all three devices. “Yes, ma’am,” he said. Yet, his action belied his words. He shut down one phone, but never turned off the power on the other two. He placed the phones out of sight and put on headphones to enjoy his music and jeopardize the safety and well being of over two hundred other passengers.

It’s not a long leap to decide that since I celebrate health, I in turn cherish life. We all know the repeated message that electronic equipment can interfere with the plane’s navigation system has merit. Thus, the admonition to power off electric devices of all sorts is not a power struggle, but a precaution for the safety of all. Situations like this one leaves passengers with no choice but to be a pill and inform the airline attendant.

If you want to be rebellious, defiant or plain old stupid, I recommend you do so when it only puts your own life in peril.

Follow the rules. Live longer.

Tom

Tip of the Day

When will I ever learn? Unfortunately, my bizarre little exercise slump continues to linger. Yesterday, I didn’t start out on my run until after 8:30 p.m. I rarely ever wait that late to exercise, largely as I go to bed relatively early. The running clinic plan I’m using called for a five mile run today. In an effort to finish quickly, so I could get back to my normal routine, I ran the required mileage with a little pep in my step.

Once I finished I cleaned up and immediately prepared for bed. Here’s a no-brainer Tip of the Day: NEVER finish a run and then go to directly to sleep without stretching. The whole four to eight minutes of time I saved cost me a very achy morning the following day.

I really must break out of this cloud.

Tom

A slump in the streak

I have hit an unexplainable little slump. For three days in a row I failed to get up with the alarm. Moreover, I have procrastinated greatly with regard to my daily exercise. I can’t figure out this mental oddity. I have a weekly exercise plan with my running clinic. I know what needs to be done. I can’t account for why I keep delaying the inevitable. Temperatures have remained in the 90’s, and no meaningful excuse exists. I must say this is working me over mentally.

Each day I feel great once I got started with my exercise, but the getting started took a while. Cathartically, I write this blog in hopes of uncovering the psychological obstacle on my running path. It’s late in the day and I haven’t preserved The Streak today. I guess I’ll get going as no lighting bolt has come crashing in to help me better understand my current situation in the last few minutes.

I’m off to run; perhaps an epiphany will occur on the road.

Tom


Postscript—

**As you can tell from the mention of warmer temperatures, this was written a month ago. I have since found an answer and will share it in an upcoming blog post.

Calm before the ....

Greetings! I found this piece in my files. I wrote it the Fourth of July weekend. Ah, the memories of Insanity...

A stretch sequence follows the brutal warm-up in each workout of the Insanity program. Shannan's cousins had opened the garage door to allow for fresh air in anticipation of my early morning workout. As I stretched I looked out over their pasture as the sun cut its way in the sky over the Tennessee hills. What a sight to behold! It truly was soothing and calming as I prepared for an insane nonstop cardio circuit with Shaun T.

It moment got better. A sweet deer cautiously came into the yard. I later learned the deer comes every day to harvest an apple or two. Unfortunately, when she caught sight of me, the doe didn't find me equally as precious and scurried into the woods without her apple for the day.

Nature works wonders on my psyche. I needed it as Shaun T. worked the rest of me in a less appealing sort of way.


Tom

Health Will Find a Way

I write this blog to share stories from the road here and abroad. I have the goal of opening discussion with regard to athletic gear and running strategies, and ultimately I hope to inspire readers to engage in an active lifestyle. With that said, here’s a bit of humor, irony or whatever the case may be. My wife, and life partner for more than 18 years, is a non-exerciser. A prime example of this is that one year for her birthday she instituted non-accomplishment day. I don’t mean to paint her as a sloth. That is not the case at all. She gets into grooves of walking, and once she walked at least a mile a day for the better part of a year.


The simple fact of the matter is Shannan doesn’t love exercise. When she engages in exercise she does it for health benefits, but hasn’t managed to cross over to a complete lifestyle change. I think for many that’s the primary reason they are not active. It’s not due to a lack of time or the other numerous excuses that are heard and used regularly. Many people simply don’t like to sweat, and more importantly many have a distinct distaste for the pain, aches and stiffness associated with exercise.

Medical professionals have made it as clear as a “body in motion tends to stay in motion.” That’s a hard sell to get people to buy into fully. Goodness knows I try. Given that our society is market driven, there are many options for every taste to get your body into moving including: kickboxing, Zumba, spin classes, swimming, team sports, water aerobics, weight training, running, biking, walking, in-line skating, and a whole host of others. If one doesn’t suit you, then try another, but don’t give up!

I originally wrote this blog in March. 13 years of running and aerobic exercise didn’t inspire Shannan to join in my obsession. However, my success and enthusiasm for Shaun T’s Insanity program reached her. As of this morning she has completed four consecutive days in the Insane 60 day program. Go, Shannan—Dig Deeper!

Search. Find a Way. Exercise for life.

Tom

Running and Religion: Divergent Paths

Exercise can take many forms. Under the umbrellas of aerobic and anaerobic exercise, numerous activities abound. Regardless of the form, exercise carries the function of improving and sustaining health. People have their personal favorites, but rarely is anyone offended when a person mentions his or her exercise of choice.

No matter what type of exercise you choose, it can offer personal, professional and spiritual benefits as great as, and arguably greater than, solely promoting health. Examples come to mind like the euphoria of cresting a mountain, finishing a race, meeting a personal goal, or communing with nature. I’ve been fortunate to have had many amazing experiences, primarily as a result of running. Again, most folks don’t care that I prefer running over biking.

Today I thought of religion much the same as I have described exercise. Over the course of four days Shannan and I had the opportunity to remember a dear friend in a Baptist memorial service, confess our sins and complete Yom Kippur prayers and rituals, and attend an Open House at a local Islamic masjid. Although my Quran class at the Baha’i Center was cancelled, we also completed daily readings of the Bible, read from the Bhagavad Gita, and attended a worship service at a Universalist Unitarian Congregation. That was followed by having a meal at a Middle Eastern Festival held in an Antiochian Orthodox Christian Church.

We had much of this planned, but not as an intentional interfaith smorgasbord. Of course our weekends never adhere to what others consider normal. In these religiously diverse settings we encountered people and traditions all with the same ultimate goal of relating to God. Unlike the differences across various types of exercise one prefers, religious difference often breeds intolerance and all too often leads to violence. It will be a fine day when someone says, “I’m a Muslim” and it’s as well received as saying, “I’m a runner.”

Tom

The Ironman and other Interesting Athletic Events

Shannan and I watched snippets from the recent Ironman World Championship on television. I’m of the opinion that any woman or man who seriously takes on that challenge has a story to tell. We particularly enjoyed hearing the vignettes of the human spirit to overcome insurmountable odds not only to live, but then to express an appreciation of life through this grueling athletic event.

Watching the full-day event boiled down to a one hour summary still made it clear that to finish the course you need not only an iron body, but an iron will as well. I tip my hat to those folks, but have no interest in throwing my hat in the ring with them. I have enjoyed unorthodox physical activities such as participating in a race that started at midnight. I have several times run in two separate races in the same day and once I ran in three. The Mount Marathon race is a category unto itself, straight up a mountain and back down again. I’ve raced on beaches and even on a course meant for horses and riders, complete with hedges, hurdles and creeks.

Some silly, some painful, but mostly all fun. I hope to sign up for more of those types of races along the way, as this sort of thing makes daily exercise more interesting. However, too much could go wrong in tedious Ironman training, not to mention the excruciating competition. Any manner of things could go astray: body mechanics, exhaustion, exposure, or just a bad day. Just thinking about it, makes me sweat. I am happy to admit that all those women and men are better athletes than me.


Tom

Charles O. Sorrow

A day in the park came with bright sunshine and warm midday temperatures. Birds sang beautifully, little fuzzy creatures scampered underfoot, and all the while flying and crawling insects went about their business. People walked dogs, runners took advantage of the trail which offered a nice mixture of sun and shade. Workers broke up the day with a peaceful lunch amid new lovers and infidels who sought a serene locale for anonymity. Just another day in paradise.

I had left work early to attend a funeral of my dear friend, former colleague and a great man, Charles Sorrow. I chose to run in the park in hopes of what I found. I wanted to celebrate life. It worked. I enjoyed creation. I delighted in being alive. I rejoiced in times spent with Charles. I honored how Charles Sorrow made the world a better place. I prayed for Charles and his family. And I offered thanks for life and thanks for Charles.


Thanks be to God. Amen and Amen.

10 States, 2 Adventurers and 1 River

Admiration and envy. I have both for great river explorers like Lewis and Clark and their Discovery Corps, and John Wesley Powell, who with a handful of men by his side, made a deadly effort to chart a river passage through the Grand Canyon. Oh, but my admiration and envy reached new heights this summer when my wife, Shannan, and her father, Dave, traveled the Great River Road of America’s mightiest river, the Mississippi. Beginning at its humble trickle from Lake Itasca in Minnesota, the two adventurers started their modern day expedition.

 

Not only did they follow the powerful and majestic river as it snakes its way through ten states, but the father and daughter team enjoyed the sights, sounds and people in the heartland of the United States. Along the way Shannan and Dave encountered Americana past and present including the likes of the Civil War, Paul Bunyan and Babe, John Deere, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Joseph Smith, Mark Twain, American Eagles, southern plantations, of course a riverboat cruise, and modern time’s infamous contribution to the mix, fast food.

A ten day bona fide road trip for the sake of the road itself is a vacation few contemporary families value. “What do you do? What do you get?” parents and children alike might ask. If being together on a father/daughter trip were not enough, then I contend the answer is: Dave and Shannan saw and interacted with the magnificent landscape of North America. They felt the full force of history while envisioning the future. They were imbued with the spirit and legacy of the river itself. Shannan and Dave lived as the Mississippi lives.

I remain impressed and jealous.

Tom

Cruising with the Clinic

Around the fourth of July I noted that it’s no accident I like running. It provides an excellent opportunity to engage in exercise without the need for socialization. Loners love the sport. I mentioned at the end of the Insanity 60 Day Challenge that for my next endeavor I planned to join a 12 week running clinic. I understand that in and of itself the concept of a running group stands in contrast to the loner position.

Nonetheless, I was excited about the prospect. We woke up early and Shannan and I milled around the house. I packed my running bag, made a fruit smoothie and we decided to drive to the convenience store for coffee. To my surprise, time zipped along faster than I had noticed. It was already 7:07 a.m., and I needed to be across town, NOW. I drove faster than I like to do and arrived at the starting point for the running clinic two minutes tardy.

The parking lot was packed, holiday shopping style. I later learned that three running groups meet at the same place. Luckily, with it being the first day, our group hadn’t started running yet. I made a quick stop in the restroom. When I returned the groups had separated. The folks running the longer distance had left already. I hurried behind.

A good number of runners cruised through the parking lot and filed onto the sidewalk, creating a thick bottle neck. Thirty or so people moved slowly on the narrow concrete path. I had every intention of running with the pack. I didn’t mind the reduced speed, so much as being crammed together. I desperately wanted to be free. Finally, a fellow made a move to the outside and began to pass. I followed.

We ran in tandem for a couple of miles, no conversation--just running amid upscale office parks, then out in the remnant of farms that soon will succumb to the ever-encroaching urban sprawl. It was a cool morning and a perfect day to be outside. For me, the five miler turned out to be a strong run. Back at our assembly area one of the coaches shared stretching techniques. I picked up several new ones. Participants made casual introductions. I’m looking forward to the next three months of running and learning. I may even practice my grossly lacking social skills.

Tom

Work in a Run

Shannan and I once had a layover in Denver, CO. At that point in time I had never been to the Rocky Mountain State. I wanted desperately to get in a run while there. Keep in mind this was post September 11, 2001. Even still, I couldn’t deny the urge or waste the opportunity. I took my identification and boarding pass and placed them in a plastic bag, which I shoved into the leg of my sock. While Shannan remained in the gate area, I exited the airport terminal and ran for thirty three minutes around the parking lot.

I admit it wasn’t the most scenic experience I have had as a runner, but it was nice. The landscape was as expected--pavement, cars and parking decks. To my surprise, though, multitudes of jackrabbits ran about the impervious surface and took cover in the sparse shrubbery to each side. Occasionally, I felt a little bit goofy jogging in a parking lot. Several travelers shook their heads at me in disbelief.

When I had preserved The Streak, I re-entered the airport. I stopped in the restroom for a quick clean up and to get some hand towels. Of course, these bathrooms were equipped with air dryers. I continued to sweat as I moved through the security line. I knew this looked bad and felt sure I would be selected for a security check. However, I moved through with no problem whatsoever. I count myself lucky and I have no intention of ever doing that again.

Run safely.

Tom

September 11th and the Singleton

Saturday, September 15, 2001, Shannan and I refused to give in to terrorism and abandon our plans for a weekend of camping at Stone Mountain. Park staff handed out miniature American Flags for the handful of campers who came out following the atrocities that happened in Pennsylvania, Virginia and New York and struck horror in the lives of all Americans here and abroad on the frightful morning of September the 11th. We affixed our flag to the pole of the tent for solidarity as much as patriotism.

For years I had wanted to take part in the Atlanta Track Club Grand Prix series, but managed to always find an excuse to miss the races. Perhaps this year provided the best excuse ever. Nevertheless, I found the inner drive to say “yes” to the “no.” I was firm in my resolve and following the attacks that fateful Tuesday morning I committed to the task. Running was one of the things I did, and in the face of terrorism Americans were encouraged to get back to life as a means of not being victimized. So I ran.

A small, yet critical mass of runners showed up for the Singleton 5 and 10 mile races. The Track Club gave out red, white and blue ribbons for the runners to wear. We did so with pride. I ran the ten mile race and finished in a respectable time of a time of 1 hour and 13 minutes. However, I think each of us out there that morning ran for something more than time.

Today, on Sept 11, 2010, I ran the Singleton 5 mile race. Last year, the race moved from Stone Mountain Park to Tucker, GA. The route takes runners through working class neighborhoods filled with churches and houses with character and people who form the backbone of this nation. Our course allowed us to get a glimpse of the newly remodeled Tucker Middle School and pass local shops and businesses in the heart of the old downtown Tucker. Many flags were out, given the significance of the day. I particularly enjoyed running the course as I felt a great deal of pride. I liked looking at the people who stood in their yards watching, the volunteers who held out water, the police officers who blocked traffic and the taste of Americana in this metropolitan suburb.

Albeit one small town in the American south, I felt an overall message that no matter what, we are still standing. Sure there’s a mess in the world and Osama bin Laden remains at large, but the work of terrorism and scare tactics didn’t work nine years ago and still aren’t working today.

It was a good day to run, a good race, a good course, and a good time to be an American.

Tom

Take It Easy

Take it easy. I told myself I’d take it easy when I decided to run a 5K race a couple of weekends ago. I haven’t participated in a road race for almost exactly a year. My running coach for the half marathon gave me a pre-clinic prep schedule, which included the 3.1 mile race. So, I stuck to the schedule.

Regardless of my self-talk, I awoke Saturday morning without feeling calm. So much for the “take it easy” business. I felt all the same old pre-race jitters and nerves. We arrived at the race to see many familiar faces. Most of them have been running the Grand Prix Series for at least the 10 years I’ve been around. I feel confident many have been at it a lot longer than that.

Stretching, sprinting, warm up jogs--people engaged in their customary preparatory acts. I like to look around for a while and then have a slow warm up run. I prefer to finish running with just a couple of minutes before the start of the race. I did just that.

Ready. Set. Go. I intentionally joined the back of the group to run slower. My thoughts moved faster than my feet. I looked at my watch. I took in the landscape. I prayed. I glanced at my watch. I thought about the course. I checked my watch. Bunched up in the pack I kept telling myself to take it easy. I pushed the hills and thought I’d have lots of gas for the finish.

Finally, I could take no more and sped around the others. It was too late. I finished in twenty-three minutes and change, a personal record for my slowest 5K. Prior to the race I planned for a nice and easy twenty-five minutes, yet mentally I struggled with the finish time. The good news is I finished the race with no injuries. I felt good and truthfully it was a nice return to racing. In the end, the “take it easy” method worked.

I’ll test the engines again in September with a five mile race as the circuit begins.

Tom

Summer Sensations

Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. I, for one, enjoyed the smoking hot summer we had in the south. Historically, one of the things I love about summer is that if you remove the heat and humidity, so many other sensations abound which also identify the season.

You know it’s summer from that undeniable smell of chlorine in the pool, fish at the lake, salt of the ocean, sunscreen (do people still use sun tan oil?), freshly mowed lawns, and the aromatic smoke from BBQ grills.

It sure feels like a summer day when you go strolling through the grass and push your toes around in the morning dew. What a blast it is to take a walk in the late afternoon, feeling the sun beaming down on your head and shoulders with hot earth under your bare feet.

It looks a lot like summer to see plants and gardens in full bloom, friends with bright red sun burns, peeling skin, or deep Caribbean tans. My all time favorite is the sudden illumination of a lightning bug on a warm summer’s evening.

You can sit out on the porch and enjoy a concert of insects and night creatures frolicking, fighting, hunting and mating.

As a southerner, I don’t know if it gets any better than eating vine ripe fresh tomatoes or juicy watermelon with friends and family

As the autumnal solstice rapidly approaches, I must confess I don’t believe you have to be a kid to love summer.

Live lively.

Tom

Gracias por todos

During our outings the day before I spotted an odd street side park not far from our hotel. Since the room was on the seventh floor, I didn’t want to be a nuisance and engage in the noisy exercises of Insanity. Thus, I thought this awkwardly placed public park would work just fine. For the most part it did. I hadn’t thought about the dirt, which I kicked up and nearly choked on several times. Mixed with the heavy sweating, I must have looked like a troglodyte. Several folks, including local police, stopped to watch me. I kept going and all turned out fine.

Once I finished the routine I returned the mini DVD player to the room and took off to explore just a bit more of Barcelona. I so enjoy the funny things you see while running, such as a woman in a terry cloth robe tending her rooftop garden. Two elderly gentlemen having a cordial, yet firm argument on a sidewalk bench. Shopkeepers smoking cigarettes while unloading fresh bread.

I sprinted across spacious, tree-lined sidewalks, taking in the sights of the morning and reflecting on those from the previous day. I likened Spain to Babylon from days of old. This romantic, beautiful and strategically placed country has long been revered as a cultural center for sports, arts, music, dance, food, drink and groundbreaking architecture. Holding true to their roots and keeping pace with the times the modern urban areas practice sophistication with ease and grace.

Traffic flowed well in the busy morning hours, especially for a highly populated city the likes of Barcelona. Busses, taxis, bikes, scooters, numerous walkers and a fair amount of joggers all made their way in harmony. Time did as it does and ran out on me. I had to get back to prepare to head to the airport for a full day of travel. I said a prayer and found myself calm, centered and ready for the day. Graicas por todos, Espana.

Tom

Espana

Shannan and I had arrived in Barcelona nine days previously, took a taxi to the port and sailed away before evening. We saw every bit of twenty-five minutes of road between the airport and the dock looking through a cab window. Albeit nice, we didn’t get much of a flavor for the city. Today, we would remedy that. I had finished my Insanity workout and had a final run on the ship. It was time to explore the wonders of Espana.

Direct from the ship we took a bus tour to Montserrat where we visited Santa Maria, a Benedictine Abbey, which houses the revered and venerated Black Madonna. The ride to, and walk within, the monastery provided breathtaking views of the Catalonian Mountains. Their captivating beauty was nearly paralleled by the grounds and interior of the church.

Back in Barcelona by early afternoon we discovered many businesses close on Sunday. Fortunately, we located a local market and purchased Cava, cheese and chips. After retiring to our vogue hotel room Shannan and I enjoyed a picnic of sorts. While enjoying bread baked by the Benedictine monks and our other goodies we watched an entire episode of a grammar game show for adults in Catalan. It was a hoot!

Refreshed from the short respite we walked several blocks to see the magnificent Familia Sagrada begun some one hundred twenty-eight years ago under the artistic genius of Antoni Gaudi. This is a must see if you ever find yourself in Barcelona for any period of time. Though envisioned and begun so long ago, the unorthodox cathedral remains far from finished, the work continues. A best case scenario has as completion date set for sixteen years from now.

We did our best to make up for rushing through the great city of Barcelona. I felt good about it.

Tom

In the Middle of Something Beautiful

Unfortunately, the last day of our delightful European cruise arrived. I worked out and welcomed the new day. Our boat had docked in Barcelona, and a cemetery built into the mountain gave me pause. I took time to cherish life and the natural wonders of creation. We later learned that people buried in this cemetery can face either the mountain or the Mediterranean Sea. Believe it or not, it costs more to face the sea, but that does include a window (see picture).

As I circled the top deck of the ship I realized something lovely. Along the port side of the boat, the morning sun crested the horizon in a marvelous display of colors. In contrast, while on the starboard side, a full moon remained and was illuminated in the sky. Being cradled on the Mediterranean between the rising sun and a lingering moon filled me with the zeal for life. I don’t have the words to get at what a wonderful journey it had been. I ran and savored the poetic moment.

Enjoy precious moments in time.

Tom

Naples New And Not So New

I cannot tell you how happy I was to find a nice wide sidewalk in Europe. Cheerfully I strode out of the port of Naples, Italy, in a spot where much construction was underway on the Via Nuova Marina. If not a new marina, as the name suggests, Italy’s largest and busiest port was undergoing a face lift. I marveled at the handy work as I cruised along the busy multi-lane road. Work was far from complete. I noted the opposite side of the road being torn up as I ran. On my side and in the median new additions included lovely decorative lampposts and lots of trees along the sidewalk.

It was great while it lasted. To my profound dismay, the sidewalk had not been fully completed, and much work remained. I ran up to a construction gate that barricaded the sidewalk. I quickly found myself on the road, a place where drivers acted like pedestrians were a nuisance. I clung to the side of the road until I encountered street venders who were literally set up in the street, which nudged me further out into traffic. I ran pigeon-toed, hugging the edge of the road with angry car and bus drivers honking their horns at me. For those of you wondering, no, turning back was not an option.

Trying to keep my mind away from imminent death, I enjoyed the sights of this populace city that has managed to use every inch of available space. Attached homes and businesses reached high toward the heavens. A gas station operated right on the main thoroughfare, providing only enough room for cars to pull off the road and pump petrol. Civic pride boomed as residents and merchants proudly displayed Italian flags in support of their team at the World Cup. Medieval watch towers stood as a memory and a link to the majesty of the past. Unfortunately, all the interesting and unique parts of Naples I encountered on this run were cluttered by trash. I mean piles of actual litter. I had never seen anything like it, especially in an international tourist destination. I’m talking hard core garbage, like used feminine napkins out on the streets. I hadn’t seen the worst of it yet.

At long last I saw a fence that opened to a trail of stamped down grass. Needing no further prompting I exited the roadway and followed the path. It led to a tent town of sorts. Homeless people had built shelters from every conceivable piece of junk and trash you can bring to mind. By this point, I’d had my share of fun for the day and decided to go back to the dock to finish up the run.

Since the opposite side of the street was in worse shape I had no choice but to return by the same harrowing route to the ship. I arrived no worse for the wear and spun around the dock for a turn or two. A port guard wouldn’t allow me to jog down to the edge of the dock. I promptly went around a different route and found a lovely view of water fowl jockeying for food between the ships. This made for the most aesthetically pleasing view I had in Naples.

Run and enjoy the good, bad and everything else.

Tom

22 and Counting

Ahh, a nice shady corner where Shannan can read and enjoy the Mediterranean beach town of Porto Christo, Mallorca, while I zip away for a run. A great start turned into a silly little outing. After no more than five minutes of running I ran out of road. That wasn’t so bad, though, as I landed on a working pier. I jetted along the marina, enjoying the people, outdoor cafes, fishermen, tourists happily ambling along in the midday sun and an occasional stray dog. Urg! I soon happened upon the end of the pier. No problem. Across the street I spotted a nice wide dirt path along the shimmering waters of a canal.

I didn’t need to know Spanish or Catalan to translate the “do not enter” sign posted on the internationally recognized octagon of a stop sign. I pretended not to see it and continued forward. The path gradually narrowed and abruptly ended in a marshy swamp. Of course that happened just when I was enjoying ducks and other water fowl frolicking in the canal. Dang!

I turned back, ran a circle or two around a city park, and headed toward to my beloved Shannan. My short jog in Porto Christo was not an Olympic one, but more than enough to count as the twenty-second country where I have had the chance to go for a run.

Once reunited, Shannan and I enjoyed shopping, walking on the beach and an ice cream. Porto Christo really is a lovely resort town. If ever you’re out this way, make sure to visit the Caves of Hamm. The beautiful site is between the cities of Palma and Porto Christo and it has gravity-defying stalactites.

Life is good!

Tom

Preparing for Palma

Like the previous six mornings, today started with getting up at 5:00 a.m., milling around, reading a little and beginning to exercise at 5:30 a.m. As I mentioned in an earlier blog, on the second day of the cruise I found a place I liked to set up to exercise on the top deck, as the gym didn’t open until 6:00 a.m. (see picture at right). I quickly realized how nice it was to do the Insanity exercises with the cool ocean breezes. Plus, it was a sheer pleasure to watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean Sea each day.

Shannan and I tend to pack in activities on any vacation, and especially while we are on cruises. We usually walk a mile or two per day on the ship. That has not been the case on this cruise, as we have been moving from one event to another with little opportunity for breaks between. That notwithstanding, I think we have both lost weight on this cruise. We have opted for healthy meal choices (not forgoing moderate desserts), we always use the stairs and stay on the go. I recently learned that there are fitness cruises that take place on some cruise lines. I may look into the concept when we get home.

As for today, I have completed Shaun T’s Cardio Core and Balance, had an easy run on the boat and we soon dock in Palma de Mallorca. I have it in my mind to run on the beach while there, but of course that’s always subject to change.


Tom

Spend a day in Pompeii

Spend a day. Spend an entire day. You need at least a day. I’m like a broken record. I realize that saying is on its way out, but saying “I’m like a skipping CD track” doesn’t have the same appeal. Oh well, back to my point. I hear myself saying “spend a day” all the time when talking about historical sites or museums. I implore folks to spend as much time as possible. It’s never enough. This especially holds true for the archeological site at Pompeii, Italy.

I did some running on the grounds, but not in the formal sense. I kept trying to catch up with my group as I continuously lingered too long, staring, thinking, note taking and constructing theories. I did however have a run in nearby Naples, more on that in a separate blog.

Prior to going to Pompeii we went to the top of Mount Vesuvius, which erupted nearly 2000 years ago and literally froze the Roman seaside towns of Herculaneum and Pompeii in time. As a student to history and archaeology I found looking into Vesuvius’ crater and the touring the ruined city fantastic and morbid all at once. One horrific moment in life has been preserved for future generations to remember, memorialize and mourn. At present, Mount Vesuvius emits steam regularly and is expected to push pyroclastic material out in rage and fury yet again.

There is a small museum with artifacts from Pompeii and Herculaneum. Unfortunately, we did not have that on our overly packed itinerary. As you might imagine, I hope to return to spend much more time.

Maybe I need to spend a week!

Tom

Sacred Spaces

Many exist and I hope to visit them all. Yesterday we had a hurried, yet delightful, tour of Vatican City, a chief pilgrimage site for Christians worldwide. Shannan and I have been fortunate to visit many sacred places for people of faith across numerous religions. In Rome I wore running shorts under my pants in hopes of a quick jog in the world’s smallest country, the home of the Pope and the keystone for the largest and oldest organized Christian denomination. After arriving and seeing far too many disrespectful tourists, I thought better of it and passed on runnig.

I found that touring the grounds and the museums of Vatican City gave a little credence to the vast conspiracy theories about religious artifacts hidden on the premises. The simple reason is that the Vatican’s collection of international sacred and pagan relics boggles the mind. Seriously, I know many people who have chosen not to visit Vatican City as a part of their travels because they are not members of the Catholic Church. You must put that aside. Come to this place of astounding political, historical, architectural and religious importance. Saint Peter’s Square alone is a testament to the human spirit and the belief in something greater than ourselves.

 

Run with respect.

 

Tom

End of Insanity

I’ve been reading reviews of the Insanity program from various sources. It’s clear to me that like many things in life you get what you put into it. I took a lot away from the 60 day challenge. Physically, I am at a personal peak. I noted much of that in the blog before the last week of the program. Furthermore, I improved on my Fit Test at each two week interval and made significant gains from beginning to end.

It wasn’t a joy ride, though. I sustained minor injuries to my toe, hand, and wrist, as well as irritating my right knee. So many times I wanted to stop, not just the program overall, but actually stop mid-exercise. I wanted to throw up my hands and scream, “Why am I torturing myself?” Honestly, I can’t tell you how I found the will in those moments to “dig deeper,” but somehow I did. However, I can unequivocally tell you I am thrilled I did. Now, not only do I feel good, but I know there is something inside of me that can go further and push harder.

I did decide what to do next. Shannan and I discussed many options over a couple of days and I’m going back to my first love. I’m going to participate in a twelve week running clinic that begins later this month. I took part in a clinic like this a couple of years ago and sustained a serious injury at the end, two weeks before the half marathon we had been training to run. With the core and cardio strength gained from Insanity, I’m now poised to run my best half marathon ever. So, now it’s time to see if I can push harder and run faster.

I have learned that Shaun T will release Asylum, a follow up to Insanity, in the winter. Interesting timing. Hmmm.


Tom

Pisa!

Housing three world-acclaimed renaissance architectural masterpieces, the Piazza del Duomo, affectionately known as Cathedral Square, graces the heart of Pisa, Italy. The serene square reminded me of a quaint park, barring the four ornate and imposing buildings. This magnificent complex includes the Cathedral of Pisa (Duomo), the Baptistery of Saint John (Battistero di San Giovanni), the Cemetery (Camposanto Monumentale) and the piece de résistance, the Bell Tower (the Leaning Tower of Pisa).

Another name for this marvelous walled area is the Square of Miracles, or Piazza dei Miracoli. Exploring the grounds and buildings leaves little question why Gabriele de Annunzio, an Italian writer, chose such a description. We visited Piazza del Duomo on a glorious day. People filled the lush green grass of the park as they frolicked, picnicked and one group of four struggled to open a bottle of wine without the benefit of a corkscrew. All the while, masses of tourists jockeyed for positions to take pictures of them pushing or supporting the famed Leaning Tower. I busied myself thinking of a run. An outer road circled the square. I took it to be plus or minus one half mile around. What a lovely place to jog.

A word or two of caution--most tour busses park about three quarters of a mile away from the Piazza del Duomo. This provides an interesting stroll through an Italian neighborhood. Once at the Square, be prepared for fairly aggressive vendors bombarding you with their trinkets. Oddly, one of my more memorable moments came as we left the Square. The previously aggressive venders had piled up in an outdoor café, leaving their wares and hopes of money-making, to catch a few minutes of World Cup action at a television in an outdoor café. Ahh, priorities.

Tom

7 Days and Counting

In proverbial terms, I can see the light at the end of the tunnel. I have a week remaining to complete the Insanity 60 Day Challenge. Over these past two months I’ve developed a love/hate relationship with the daily exercises and the program leader, Shaun T. Many mornings I dreaded the physical and mental exhaustion I knew awaited. Other days I felt invigorated afterwards reveling in cardio endurance.

Like the nerd that I’ve become, I posted the wall calendar that comes with the program and marked off the days as I completed them. As I counted off each day I looked forward to freedom from exercise oppression. However, now as the end is close at hand I wonder what comes next.

Prior to beginning the Insanity Program it’s suggested to take measurements, check weight and even take photographs of yourself. As I mentioned, on occasion I am very nerdy. I did it all and even collected midpoint data as well. However, holding true the rebel cool guy I once was, I did not follow the recommended diet. For that matter, I didn’t change my diet much at all—it is my summer vacation after all.

Here’s the thing, the program is not finished and already I have lost a few pounds, toned my shoulders, chest, arms, abs and legs. It’s almost enough to make me watch my diet for the remaining days. Okay maybe not, but you can believe in the last week and the final Fit Test I will “Dig Deeper.”

Still I wonder. What will I do next?

Tom

Exercise to Excursion

Disclaimer: I have not been compensated in any fashion from anyone affiliated with Shaun T’s Insanity program. I continue to write about the rigorous schedule of workouts because at present they set the pace for my day. I fully engage in the exercise, probably too much. I have completed the first month of the program and I can feel and see the changes in my body. The week of Core Balance and Recovery came as a welcomed change of pace and really helped to recharge my batteries, especially as it coincided with our vacation.

The aerobics studio on the ship turned out to be a bust. It didn’t open until 6:00 AM and I needed to start my workout by 5:00 in the morning to be ready for our early morning excursions. I promptly set up camp on the top deck and did the program there each morning. What a sight for the cruise employee who cleaned that area. There I was every day watching a portable DVD player while trying to balance or stretch. The best part came as I often fell over as I couldn’t compensate for the motion of the ship.

It was all worth it to enjoy the sea breeze and watch the sun rise over the Mediterranean each morning. Not to mention afterwards I was ready to enjoy fabulous outings such as the one we took to Florence, Italy. We bussed there from the port of Livorno. Streets were packed with cars, busses, bikes, scooters, pedestrians and hordes of tourists. I advise Americans not to even attempt to drive there, and runners beware—watch out for not only the throngs of people, but also the decorative and protruding iron bars that are attached to eye level windows.

While in Florence we rapidly moved between massive churches marking various architectural achievements, historic monuments and learned about the cultural giants born and buried in the city such as Michelangelo, Dante, Galileo and Machiavelli. Though we didn’t do much in the way of shopping, opportunities abounded. Beyond our standard purchase of a magnet and shot glass (aren’t we common?), we also enjoyed our first gelato. Shannan had pistachio and I went for the tiramisu. They were and dog gone tasty!

No time to relax! Before we returned to the boat our boot camp style vacation took us to Pisa. All and all -- exercise to excursion-- I count this as a good day, and it’s far from over!


Tom

My Response to a Two Country Run

RESPONSE. At 16 years old I marched into a hardware store, purchased 6 inch adhesive letters and affixed the word RESPONSE on the back of my 1976 Monte Carlo. That was the name I gave the car because it responded so well to the gas pedal, a 16 year boy’s dream. Of course, being a little redneck I had no idea about the correlation of the name Monte Carlo to the Formula One race that took place in Monte Carlo, Monaco. While visiting that very city I learned it was named Mount Charles, self-named by Prince Charles III in 1866.

I discovered another fantastic factoid in Monaco. Prior to arrival we knew the country was a small one, second only to Vatican City. I didn’t know, however, that you can easily run out of Monaco into France. In one strategic point where people watch the Formula One races, you can see Monaco, France and Italy quite clearly. This new information thrilled me. In May we had lunch in a restaurant that was erected between Tennessee and Georgia. In April I ran across continental boarders of Europe and Asia. Now I had the chance to run in two countries in a single outing. These make for fun little tidbits in my personal record book.

A lovely run is was. Monte Carlo is a charming, immaculate and extraordinarily expensive city. I left from the famous Monte Carlo Casio and ran up into a French suburb (see picture at right). Monaco sits at the foothills of the Maritime Alps. It’s filled with quaint shops and flats, all set against the backdrop of the Mediterranean Sea. I RESPONDED well to Monaco.


If you don’t gamble, and can’t afford to stay in the Monte Carlo hotels (and who can?), then go for a run in Monaco. It’s a good one.


Tom

Prepare for off ship run

Impromptu runs are fun for sure, and I’ve been fortunate to enjoy my share. However, one of Shannan’s lasting and most profound influences on me has been the heightened level of enjoyment of an event where I came well prepared. Today we head off to explore the tiny independent nation of Monaco. We’ll disembark for a short walk together before I spin off for a short run (I have completed my Insanity program for the day already). To make the best of this experience I used what I’ve learned over the years about proper preparation.

In the past I just took off running, only to find myself a sweaty mess later. I don’t mind that so much, but it’s not so cool if there’s a bus or tender boat ride back to the ship. Water, towel, and an extra shirt have become necessities. I add to that an mp3 player and a camera and pack it all in my rucksack. So I’m as prepared as a Boy Scout. Shannan is proud and I’m looking forward to a great run.

More to follow.

Tom

Across the Pond Insanity

I’ve run on cruise ships many times and have blogged about this experience once. Several years ago Shannan and I participated in the fitness program on the NCL Sea. We went to all the classes- early morning stretch, yoga, aerobics and “earn your meal walk a mile” before lunch and dinner. They had two physical challenges over the course of the week, including running the stairs. I managed to win both. We had lots of fun and felt psychologically better about the 5000 calories we consumed per day, not to mention we earned really groovy T-shirts for participating in all the events.

This evening we travel to Barcelona where we’ll board the Norwegian Jade tomorrow afternoon. I have exercised today, but will need to preserve The Streak upon our arrival in the morning. In the past, this been a relatively easy task. Shannan kindly watches our belongings and I hit the streets. Ah, the joys of Insanity. I’ll have to wait to board the ship to complete the Plyometric Cardio Circuit.

Fast forward--We boarded and I rushed to the aerobics studio. It made for the perfect space for this sort of exercise. The room had mats, towels, and even a table for my swanky portable DVD player. Several employees and passengers peeked in the room during the hour long workout. Luckily doing this program in the great outdoors in Independence, MO, has broken me of all potential embarrassment. I did feel weird with three walls of mirrors, although. In the end, I found the mirrors useful to ensure I used proper form in the exercises. I worried about staying on schedule with the Insanity program while on the ship, but it looks like this is going to be a breeze.


Tom

Peachtree Epiphany

May of 1989 my friend Bill and I were in the middle of a three mile run on the Clarkston High School track. Out of nowhere, we decided it would be fun to run the Peachtree Road Race on the 4th of July that year. We had just started running roughly a month earlier. To date we had never run the requisite six miles of a 10K race. A greater issue came in that we did not have a “number” to participate in the race. Due to its popularity, the roster for America’s Largest 10K fills up as soon as the applications become available in March.

Bill decided since we hadn’t trained properly anyway we should go renegade and run without bibs. “We’ll be scabs,” he said, proudly, as we labored through our run. So we did. That marked the beginning of twenty years of running Atlanta’s premier road race. I missed three races over those two decades. Once I didn’t get my application in on time, while in college I stopped running and was grossly out of shape and in 2004 I ran a different race on the 4th of July. That one went up and down Mount Marathon in Seward, Alaska.

After last year’s race I decided that twenty years had been enough. I awoke early this past Sunday and tried to convince myself I was happy not to have any of the pre-race stress, or to have to fool with traffic congestion and so forth. It didn’t work. I ached.

For the holiday weekend I was out of town for a family reunion. Each morning I did the Insanity workout and did not run at all. Then I ended up sitting around more than I have in years. During this reflective time I realized I love running and I miss the Peachtree. When the weekend called for group activities I realized it’s no accident I run. It engages the body and mind and it’s the perfect loner sport.

Ain’t that America!

Much of the joy and beauty of traveling and running in new cities and towns comes from seeing the unique landscapes and experiencing the particular make up of each community. Unfortunately, both of these continuously lose ground to the ever-present and painfully humdrum retail plazas. You know the ones. In their boring conformity, each has a do-it-yourself home repair place, a retail superstore, a bookseller, a party supplier, a handful of restaurants, a mattress place, a furniture outlet and--what retail hub would be complete without them--a cell phone provider and the ubiquitous coffee house. Oh, the monotony!

Other than the 40 degree spring morning, how might one demarcate Bay City, MI from Atlanta, GA? I started my daily run and managed to escape the anti-inspiring mall sprawl by dipping into a neighborhood. Quickly, I forgot about the institutional look of the main thoroughfare as I marveled at the delights of the commonalities in America I find more appealing. Running in the residential area was much more about real people than the pretentions and staunchly middle class blah of the commercial shopping district. I noted and took special appreciation of:

Unfinished renovations
Americana-like above ground pools, picket fences, picnic tables
Pristinely manicured lawns across the street from a yard with very high grass
The Virgin Mary illuminated by a string of lights
A dog house with hanging baskets of perennials
American flags flying
Christmas garland wrapped around porch columns
Decorative mail boxes, college banners, churches, and undecipherable yard art.

The through street ended at a set of railroad tracks that bordered the Saginaw River. I took a turn and followed the tracks into a heavy industrial area with sediment piled higher than homes. In the first light of day and along the banks of the smooth rolling water even the long rusted bridges and general trappings of Blue Collar America looked fabulous. My eyes had been opened.

The run back to the hotel wasn’t so bad. I found a lesson for myself. If you look for beauty, you’ll find it.

Enjoy the beauty all around you.

Tom

Run in the Sun

Mercifully, the intense workouts included in the Insanity program come with an off day. Of course The Streak doesn’t allow for such. Given the option I immediately decided to get outside for a change. I’ve exercised inside for what seems like an eternity. I delighted at the idea of going for a nice easy run. Wow, what a surprise. I reveled in being out in the midday sun. Yes, I waited until noon to run in Atlanta. Shannan contends I was an iguana in a previous life. As I soaked up the rays of light and heat I noticed how strong I felt early on in the run. I have long heard running gurus lecture on the importance of core strength.

After more than two weeks of Shaun T’s Insanity program I clearly felt a difference in balance, leg strength and core involvement in my run. I felt great. Mostly, I enjoyed being outside. Did I mention I love the heat of the sun? Oh the joy, the June solstice has yet to arrive. The dog days of summer are still to come.

Get up. Get out. Get going.

Tom
***Greetings! Since this piece was written the summer solstice has come and gone, and I have enjoyed many runs in the Mediterranean sun! More on Spain, Monaco, France and Italy in the weeks ahead.

Ultimate Opportunist

Local folks raised a fair amount of hoopla and falderal to celebrate the opening of the first section of a new bike trail in a public park. Shannan and I took the opportunity to check it out, although neither of us had any intention of biking. Newspaper articles made it sound like 6 miles of trail awaited us. Upon arrival I lamented that only a 1.3 mile loop had been cleared and opened for traffic.

Shannan chose to walk along the riverside paved trail and I explored the mountain bike path. My immediate thoughts and concerns centered on the narrow trails hugging steep cliffs. I’m not a bike rider, but it seemed to me that one bike would maximize the space. Two could never share the trail in either direction. I then wondered should I, as a runner, be on the trail at all?

Etiquette aside, I wondered should I be running there with the hilly and rugged terrain. It was tough! I made things worse (as I tend to do) and took an illicit opportunity to wander off to portions of the trail under construction. It was sort of neat to see the level of difficulty of marking a route and carving out a trail in tree-filled, root-bound and uneven wooded areas.

Luckily I didn’t encounter any bikers during the outing. I did, however, slip and slide a fair amount. My arms, legs and clothes got fairly muddy. I sweated heavily. Messy and tired, I decided I liked the trail and looked forward to its expansion and running there again. I turned back and rendezvoused with Shannan. Once in the car, I realized I wasn’t the only opportunist on the new bike trail. I picked up the ultimate opportunist, a tick. That always creeps me out.

Share the road, just not with ticks.


Tom

It’s Independence Day

We didn’t manage to get switched to a room on the ground floor, and I had no new plan to help me stay on Shaun T’s Insanity program. It being a Monday, the office park didn’t hold the same allure. I decided to man up and do the insane workout in the open hotel pool area. How embarrassing could it be? So, I loaded up my gear and went to get it over with as quickly as possible. As I strode across the parking lot it began to sprinkle. I’m not afraid of a little rain--cold weather yes--but not rain. However, I did have my brand spanking new DVD player, which I will need for other trips within the 60 days of the Insanity program.

So, I punted. Given it was a travel day I opted for a run in Independence (which is what I really wanted to do) and planned to complete the Insanity session when we arrived home later that night. What a great decision! Independence is a quintessential and charming middle America town with a little bit of everything. I ran through gently rolling hills enjoying the slight morning breeze.

I’m not sure if it was to attend regular classes or summer school, but kids filed out of their homes and desperately tried to look cool while standing on the corner waiting for the bus. As long ago as it was for me, I remember the feeling all too well. Much remains the same, except for most of theses students did look a tad cooler than I did at that age. Most of them had their cell phones and I Pods out and in use. It was the 80s before we could all afford a clunky Walkman, and pay phones were never the rage even when they were the only away-from-home communication option.

The rain never fully set in during the 4 plus mile run. I had no regrets. Along the way I saw a mom and pop video store that was still open for business. Now that brings back memories. Lots of local and independent businesses still dot the landscape of Independence. I delighted in seeing them and we patronized several over our short visit. A combination of clean air, wide open spaces and interesting surroundings made me appreciate that America is much more than one continuous shopping plaza linked from Atlanta to Los Angeles.

Thanks, Independence!

Tom

Insane in Independence

I’ve done some stupid things to exercise, especially while traveling. I’m reminded of running up and down stairs and on the roof of a hotel in Damascus, Syria, after flying for 16 hours. Can you even begin to imagine the looks people gave me as I thundered past them in the stairwell?

Being in a hotel room in Independence, Missouri presented an interesting situation. Like every day, I had The Streak to preserve, which ordinarily involves the delightful chance to run in a new place. As an added measure on this trip, though, I had 50 days remaining in the Insanity workout program. Doing that isn’t as easy as going for a run, even at night in a foreign country. I planned ahead and purchased a portable DVD player so I could stay on track with the program.

Here’s where things went kooky. Our hotel didn’t have a fitness center and we had a room on the second floor. They were completely booked and we couldn’t change rooms. You see this coming, don’t you? Albeit my generation often shows no consideration for others, I knew doing any aerobic exercise in the hotel was rude, but this particular program would seem like an earthquake to the guests directly below our room and possibly to others nearby as well.

So at 6:00 am I took a water bottle and the DVD player and searched for a place to set up for 40 minutes of insane exercise. I settled on a small office park a couple of blocks away. Embarrassment and self consciousness slipped away a few minutes into the punishing warm up routine. I made it through the workout without incident other than scraping my hands during push ups. I packed up and returned to the hotel before anyone entered the parking lot. Did I mention this was a Sunday? At the time I kept thinking about how much fun this would be on the following day, a work day.

There’s no shame in commitment, dedication or resolve.

Tom

Insane Travel

People regularly make fun of our travel itineraries, and for good reason. While on vacation we generally get up at the light of day and go, see and do until dusk. If you think that notion of vacation is insane, then I ask you. What’s beyond Insanity? Here’s one possibility. I popped up at 4:13 am in the morning. It was a travel day. We’re taking off to enjoy the sights and sounds of Kansas City, MO with Shannan’s folks. That is not the insane part, even at the early hour. I’m getting to the Insanity.

As you know, with fear and trembling, I committed to completing Shaun T’s 60 day Insanity program. This day marked the 9th day of grueling exercise regime, and as noted above it’s also a travel day. May 23rd I posted a silly little blog about my travel day rituals. There I noted the routine bordered on superstitious. This morning I crossed the border.

After a body breaking set of “Pure Cardio” with the insane asylum escapee, Shaun T, I dragged my drained body onto the Nordic Track and engaged in far less intense exercise while watching my traditional travel day DVD. That’s beyond Insanity.

On the verge of total exhaustion, it took a quart of Power Ade, a fruit smoothie and a gallon of water to return to a normal level of hydration and a modicum of energy.

Goodness gracious, we have other trips planned within the next 50 days. Have mercy.

Tom

60 Day Challenge

Okay, I’m going to do it. I plan to complete 60 consecutive days of Shaun T’s Insanity program. I’ve worked through the pain and soreness and used the program for nine days in a row.

Even though my mind and body said @#%& NO! after the Fit Test, I went ahead and followed the program for the next day which included 42 minutes of Plyometric Cardio. I’ve since leaned plyometric means butt kicking, push beyond your limits exercise. They named the program Insanity for good cause.

Here is what I can tell you about Insanity. The program makes the following suggestions and I strongly encourage you to heed them.

• Don’t try this if you are new to regular exercise- its not a weight loss program
• Wear good shoes, cross trainers are best
• Use an exercise mat- I can’t imagine doing this program without one. You will have rug burns or blisters from hard floors.
• Keep a towel handy
• Have lots of water close by and drink it when directed
• You will sweat buckets, keep that in mind as you choose a workout space
• Be prepared for sudden change of pace and introduction of new exercises

This weekend I discovered that if the Insanity program wasn’t hard enough, doing it while out of town is truly a test of one's sanity. More on that later.

Meanwhile, dig deeper and go insane.


Tom

Great Parks

At long last mild mornings and 80 plus degree afternoons arrived in Atlanta. Heat and humidity trouble others, but they invigorate me. I found a different story this morning as I went out for a run in Woodhaven, Michigan. I found a biting chill in the air. I hustled back to the hotel room for gloves. Once properly attired, I took up a slow gait as I decided on which direction to go. We had arrived long after dark the night before and I wasn’t able to see much of anything too terribly compelling.

Our hotel sat on the edge of the Interstate. To the left stood the same old shopping plaza that marks nearly every corner in America. I went the other way. Very close by I saw a city park. I crossed five lanes, in the crosswalk, but against the light. Civic Center Park turned out to be a gem. Asphalt and pea gravel paths circled a massive sports complex and snaked along a slow moving creek.

Lots of standing water marked the park. I pondered how the local landscape architects had gauged so poorly with their water runoff plan. I later learned the whole city and Lake Erie region is basically a marsh. I gathered the information when we visited Sterling State Park. It’s a runner’s utopia, with miles and miles of trails in the park and along the Great Lake of Erie. I’d run here all the time if I lived in the area. As is the case with other state parks, there is a parking fee (more for nonresidents). It’s well worth the money.

One great lake. Two great parks.


Tom