Saturday in Seattle

A surprise to no one, I awoke to rain early Saturday morning in Seattle. Having run previously in the west coast's city of computers, coffee and contrasts, I decided to make use of the hotel fitness center rather than getting drenched to begin the day. Nicely equipped, the gym included a sauna and hot tub for post workout relief. Out of nowhere, and on an absolute whim, I opted to deal with wet shoes. As if on a mission, I headed out into the unseasonably cool downpour.

The one thing that eased my mind regarding this impulsive choice was Seattle’s clear layout of city streets. Feeling secure about not getting lost, I weaved in and out, reacquainting myself with downtown. I managed a “best of tour” by taking a turn past Seattle's most famous landmarks: the Sky Needle, Pike Place Market, magnificent water features along Elliott Bay and out along the boardwalks of the piers. Even with fog and low clouds the waterfront exercised her abiding majestic power.

Once back to the hotel, rain-soaked and chilly (the whole whim thing didn't include going back to the room for a hat and gloves before running), I made use of the fitness center facilities and enjoyed a short dip in the hot tub.

Follow a whim. Run.

Tom

Running with Deer

Oh, the joys of summer time. I knew I wanted to wait until around noon to run. Most of you know I love the heat. After much deliberation, I decided to go for a run in a neighboring subdivision. The Homeowners Association there maintains a terrific wooded nature trail along creeks and a river. I hadn't been there in some time.

As I crested the first hill I saw a deer nibbling in an overgrown field. I slowed down and resolved to change directions so as not to disturb her. In the process, I made enough noise that three other deer poked their heads up from the grassy knoll. What a lovely sight! Regrettably, I scared them and the foursome galloped off into the safety of the woods.

 Like many other areas in our county, subdivisions continue to be developed. As a result, my running routes keep getting altered, more often than not in a negative manner. I mentioned to a friend who recently bought a home that I used to run on the trails and by the lake of that property before it was purchased and cleared for new homes. She said, "You're like the deer. You keep getting pushed out."

I have thought about that a lot. It's so true, but I can run anywhere. My furry four-legged friends are losing food and housing.

Run in harmony.

Tom

My First Rodeo

I’ve run all over the great state of Georgia. Taking to the streets with the rising sun in Swainsboro, GA, shouldn’t therefore have seemed too shocking. For the most part, things appeared the same as most. I breezed passed the main high school, through a retail area--okay this was somewhat different as 85% of the businesses were local non-chain shops and restaurants--and even spent some time in a local park. Swainsboro’s Kiwanis Park holds four lakes, one of which housed a stately couple of geese and four extremely cute goslings. Mist rose off the water and the day’s first light streamed through like teleporters from a Sci-Fi movie.

Back on the road, I enjoyed the local sights. Outside of the Moose Lodge a well-used marquee advertised for two bands scheduled to play over the weekend. I don’t even know where a Moose Lodge is in my neck of the woods. I knew I had escaped the metropolitan area when I read another sign. “May 14. Fairgrounds. Wrestling. Pine Cone Match.” Pine cone match?  Google didn't have returns for that.

Swainsboro provided a fun and terribly interesting run. With little less than four hours in the car, we had entered a world very different from our own. Truthfully, I'd been feeling it since we arrived the night before and attended our first rodeo. Wow, what a treat! Riding, roping, racing, and showcasing a very specific set of skills, these cowgirls and cowboys ruled the night. I quickly came to appreciate the rodeo as a magnificent tradition and cultural heritage that is kept alive by the young people we watched. But, still I wonder, what is a pine cone match?

Run. Ride! Wrestle?

Tom

Dry River Run

Never is a mighty long time. I feel certain that as long as I am able to run I'll never tire of running in the desert. This morning, waiting proved to be the hardest part. I sat around the hotel room delaying my run long enough to ensure I'd be out on the road when the sun took main stage in the day. Waiting didn't disappoint.

I lumbered down Speedway Blvd past the Pima Community College Downtown Campus. My agenda was to watch the sun crest over the mountain chain. What a remarkable sight that inspires me each and every time! After that I simply enjoyed the invigorating desert air. To my delight a bike/running path crossed Speedway Blvd. I eagerly joined it and cut through the Santa Cruz River Park. The path moved along the river, however at this time and season, no water flowed between its banks.

I let my imagination run as fast as my legs. I considered a roaring river being fed by the washes. I thought of stories, songs and poems rooted in rivers rushing, gently flowing, or like this one, rivers that run dry. I couldn't contain myself any longer. I hopped the guardrail and shimmied down the steep riverbank. I ran right through the middle of the river. What fun!

When it was time to return I looked for the least severe slope to get back up to the paved trail. Not many encouraging options presented themselves, so I just plowed right up the wall. Slipping and sliding, I dug my fingers, toes and knees into the loose dirt and rock and clawed my way to the top. I managed it with a minimal amount of bleeding.

For a place many see as a barren wasteland, I see the desert as one of nature's best places to run.     

Tom

Farm for Fitness

What a joy to watch plants springing forth from the ground. The wonder grows as blossoms begin to open and bring beauty as well as life. The very best comes when fruit and veggies emerge. Shannan and I have enjoyed our table garden immensely.

It's only been a short number of years in history where humans expend only a limited amount of energy to get food. From antiquity until the last century, people hunted and/or farmed in order to eat. Now we spend virtually zero calories to consume mountains of food. Conversely, we spend enormous amounts of time and energy to engage in exercise for our health and fitness.

Exercising and working the Earth intermingle in perfect harmony. This spring I worked hard tilling the ground and setting the first seeds and plants. Now, the workload has lightened significantly. Each day I weed, trim, harvest and water. The current workload is not as labor or time intensive, but work nonetheless. Truthfully, it's a bunch of fun, which is evident when an hour passes so terribly quickly.

 Farm for fitness,

 Tom

Plethora of Parks

After a lesson on National Parks, elementary students engaged in conversations about ecosystems, camping, how yucky it is to clean a fish, and all the fun of hiking, swimming and other forms of recreation. I shared photos and stories with the class from the many parks Shannan and I have visited to help stir the excitement about taking advantage of our incredible local and national recreation areas.

I managed to refrain from talking about the all the interesting and varied runs I’ve had in parks across this wonderful land. It was harder than you think to stay on topic. In fact, I wrote this piece during my break just to get it out of my system. As you might imagine, we’re big fans of parks, particularly local ones where Shannan and I enjoy regular strolls.

Go play in a park. They’re not just for kids.

Tom

Waiting is hard, but not always the hardest part

Waiting. Not many people like waiting. In the waiting room of the local urgent care center I longed to think of anything other than my aching and bleeding finger. I had nearly cut my fingertip off more than an hour previously. While waiting, I didn't want to think about the drive to get medical attention when my truck broke down and I had to walk the rest of the way (only a half a mile or so, but with the frustration of my sliced digit and distress of unknown trouble with my beloved vehicle, the walk got to me with each step).

Nervously waiting, I mentally recounted trips to the doctor or hospital throughout my life. I'm very fortunate. I have not had much in the way of injury or illness. On further review, I found this may well be my first non-sports or exercise related injury, ever. The realization didn't lessen the pain or mental anguish of having cut myself.

I write this some days later. The effects of the injury are tiresome. I don't have any pain really. Problems stem from daily routines. It's very difficult to do much in the garden, or housework. And exercise, well there's a story unto its own. I was in the final stretch of the Asylum/P90X Hybrid program. Though I wanted very badly to continue, I opted for a less strenuous exercise plan until the finger heals. Truthfully, on the day of the injury I came close to tears. I had just gotten into the grove of the hybrid program and was seeing grand results.

I'll keep the complaining to a minimum. I'm well aware it could have been much worse. Best of all and most mercifully, the waiting is long over.

Tom

Book Learning

A time long ago, in a time before the Internet, people read books. Tangible paper pages bound together reigned as the primary and most highly respected medium for the transfer of information. People read about health and exercise rather than watching You Tube clips. Odd as it may sound, countless numbers of people learned workout routines from text, not videos. This took place long before Jack Lalanne broke ground with televised exercise segments. I’m sort of enjoying making fun of myself here.

Today I had a phenomenal workout. The regimen I used came from Tony Horton's book, Bring It! I copied his Warrior Cardio and Resistance Phase One program on a whiteboard in my exercise room. Previously I had studied the pictures of the moves in the book and even practiced many of them. Still, the idea of working out while referring to a book between sets seemed silly and tedious to me.

I finally gave it a shot and am I glad I did! It's a super workout. Sure, it takes discipline to keep moving and to stay motivated, but I found a great burn by the end. I immediately decided to write a blog about working out from a book. I laughed at myself for acting like the concept was a novelty, as if we have always had personal trainers on a screen coaching us.

Read and exercise.

Tom