American River, Again

When traveling I do all I can to run a different route when returning to a city. For some time I know I’d be back to the Sacramento suburb, Fair Oaks. From the initiation of the travel plan I looked forward to running beside the American River, once again. I did, however, plan to run in the opposite direction of my previous visit. It was good plan, even if it fell short a bit.

 

Right at daybreak I hurried along the city streets to the river. Upon arrival I turned right as opposed to my left turn in January of this year. Quickly a problem presented itself as the trail disappeared into steep cliff. I didn’t and to trade in the run for hill scaling. So, I kicked a little dirt and spun around to repeat the portion of the riverside trail I jogged 10 months earlier.

 

Like before the weather was chilly, mist rose off the water and I was swallowed by immense natural beauty. Here is what was different. The salmon were spawning. That was fun. The upstream swimmers brought masses of waterfowl to the river in hopes of a meal. The sun was rising just as before, however, since my prior run in this sublime landscape I’d learned about American Transcendentalists such as Emerson, Alcott and Thoreau. The smells, sights, sounds and wonder struck me in a new and invigorating way.  This moment was part of living life, enjoying life, being alive.

 

Much good came of the road previously traveled.

 

Experience the world in new ways. Run.

 

Tom

out of pocket

Greetings!  Thanks for the notes. I know I have been remiss in posting. Things are grand and the Streak is still in place. I have been working on a big project, giving it a lot of attention. On the exercise front I am a week away from completing the Shaun T. Focus T25 program.  It’s a core monster.

Have a great week.

Keep writing and keep exercising. 

Tom

Get Focused

Like so many other Fridays, Shannan and I had this one planned from dawn to late night. Our agenda for the day included work, meetings, and travel. Scurrying around in the early hours of the morning I used my limited time poorly. We had to leave before I had exercised. I packed my gym bag with a couple of extras, a laptop and a CD of Shaun T.’s Focus T 25. I’d started the program just over two weeks ago, and I really wanted to stay on track.

After dropping Shannan at work and crawling through Atlanta’s heavy morning traffic, I pulled of the Interstate at the neighborhood of my youth. A park where I spent lots of time as a kid served as my outdoor gym. I placed the laptop on a picnic table and completed the cardio workout in a cool fifty degrees. It was nice to be back on my old stomping grounds, even with this terribly new activity.

Find a way to fit it in. Exercise.

Tom

Blue Ridge, Blues & BBQ

Shannan and I went out early in the season to pick apples. This year we visited Mercier Orchards in Blue Ridge. We decided to make the most of the road trip to North Georgia by staying the night Saturday and getting out to the orchard first thing Sunday morning. We didn't have a dinner plan for Saturday; however we did have a list of many restaurants in town. Good fortune befell us. Upon arrival we learned the Blues and Barbecue Festival was taking place downtown. Our choice was made.

We thoroughly enjoyed the festival including a turn through a local art gallery and listening to great music. Our biggest dilemma came in deciding on which BBQ station to patronize. In the end, we divided and conquered. We each went to a different place. Both vendors provided exquisite food. We had pulled pork, sausage and brisket along with traditional sides of mac and cheese, brunswick stew, cornbread and baked beans.

Some years ago we visited a traveling food exhibit sponsored by the Smithsonian in Indian Springs, GA. One of the panels noted that sharing recipes affirms the bonds of friendship and family. A year or so later while touring the Agrirama in Tifton, GA I enjoyed a small section about BBQ in the south. Several quotes suggested that barbeque is one of the unique food items which crosses racial lines, and in fact brings people together.

Roasting meat does not happen in nature. It's a practice that sets humans apart from the animal kingdom, and it's intricately linked to human communities across time and place. I plan to explore this topic more as the first theme in forthcoming podcasts, Bread, Beer and BBQ: The Sustenance of Societies.

Read. Eat. Run.

Tom

The unplanned plan

I couldn’t make up my mind if I wanted to exercise or to go for a run. So, I walked Shannan out to her car and it didn't start. In order for us both to get to work on time, we had to leave right away. So, the decision was made, not to exercise at the moment. Of course we had fully packed day planned, with an evening outing as well. To add to the dilemma, I was teaching on two campuses. I knew immediately I would have to skip lunch and exercise midday.

On the way between the campuses I stopped off in a park to get in a run. As mentioned before, I have a “go bag” always packed in my car. It has everything I need to fit in an exercise session. The park was small. I explored its fields and trails before I ventured out on the street for a bit. The weather was lovely and I took an opportunity to run in a new place. So even as a rushed unplanned experience, it turned out grand. Our busy day and fun evening went smoothly, including purchasing and installing a new battery for Shannan’s car.

Roll with the punches. Run.

Tom

Unring the Bell

“Unring the bell,” Judge Lance Ito admonished the jury in the O.J. Simpson trial. That was the first setting I heard the phrase. I liked it. A couple of years later my Hebrew Bible Professor, John H. Hayes, instructed the class, “I need you to forget what you know.”  Moreover, he instructed us to read the Bible as if it was the first time. Ito's "Uring the bell" admonition came to mind. I tried earnestly to encounter the scriptures as new throughout out the yearlong course. The more I was able to leave my prior experience at the door, the more useful it was to pick it back up after class. Make no mistake, this was a struggle every single class session. I give the same admonition to students in my Hebrew Bible and New Testament courses.

 

Yesterday, I went out for a run on the route I use most often as it’s close to my home. The sun had not made its daily appearance. I was reminded that this is the time I often run when traveling. When out of town I am very mindful of weather, and surrounding as I run. I try to commit as much as possible to memory out on the road so I can add it to my travel journal and as well as posts on this site. I decided to try to unring the bell. I wanted to look at my own neighborhood and try to see it for the first time, as if I were a traveler new to the area.

 

Wow, was it difficult. All I could think about was the process. The shops, scenery, rolling hills, and even smells were all too familiar. I failed to forget what I knew. Afterwards I decided I should have crossed the street. That might have helped. Nonetheless, this experience will help me as I work with students in future class when I call on them to unring the bell on very familiar territory.

 

Run as if it's the first time.

 

Tom

Focus T 25

Greetings!  We purchased Shaun T.’s Focus T 25 exercise program. I liked the idea of having a quick (25 minutes) high intensity workout program for hurried days. Shannan wanted the program for the workout time and because it includes real modifications, unlike Shaun T’s Insanity and Asylum. So far we have been giving each routine a try and plan to start the full 10 week program in September.

The Abs Interval and Speed 1.0 discs in the Alpha series are good workouts. However, they are not as high impact as the others. Some people may want to add other physical activities for these days. My experience has been that you want to make sure you have supportive and comfortable shoes. Generally, the moves change every 30 seconds and your feet do a lot of the work in the Alpha series.

Like Tony Horton’s 10 Minute Trainer, these workouts have many complex and combination moves. You do not have much time to switch from one to the other. You may want to watch the DVDs first before committing your exercise time. Overall, Shannan and I are both pleased with the prospect of the next 10 weeks.  We’ll keep you posted.

If only for 25 minutes, Focus.

Tom

You have to believe

Greetings!  Many times I try to convince folks that to fully embrace running it should begin as a slow process. This is especially true for adults who have never had running as a part of their regular life style, or if it has been several years since they last went for a run. Starting with one slow mile seems to offend people's senses. Many folks want to hit the road for 5 or 10K at an 8-minute mile pace. That's just not realistic, nor is it likely to be good for your body.

If you want to take up running, you have to believe distance and speed will come. It's a progression that you build up to weekly. If you create a safe and viable plan and follow it you can find running to provide numerous health benefits and to be a great individual outlet for exploring and reflecting. You have to believe.

I use belief and moderate progression in many facets of my life, and I have to say it pays off when I truly decide and commit to a cause. I have recently used this very successfully in my fitness and professional life. I set forth a plan in the late spring. I called it the 101 Days of Summer. This plan involved an intense workout regime of cardio and resistance training as well a methodical approach to my career goals in education.

After the 101 days my goals were met in both categories. I made great strides in my fitness and very positive changes in my professional standing. I feel great. All it took was faith that I could follow through and work the plan. I kept a daily diary of progress. This helped me to focus. Ultimately, I met my objectives more than a week early. This is not a "look I'm so fantastic" piece. It's a, “I took my time (slow and steady), I believed and I worked hard.” Everyone can do that. Thus, I am writing to encourage you to do just that.

Work the magic. Believe in yourself and be grateful for the results of your labor.

Believe. Run.

Tom

Ask and ye shall receive

Time and time again when traveling I seek out places to run not crowded with the same old set of retail establishments. This is a problem as we often stay near airports or close to interstate exits. I am not opposed to entrepreneurs or city running. In fact, I quite like running on main thoroughfares filled with local businesses and shops. I find this setting gives a sense of the community, unlike the same old big name retailers found in shopping plazas all over the U.S.

 

I got what I asked for in miles and miles of Cheyenne, WY. The interstate exit had a hotel, a gas station and one other industrial business. All of these were swallowed by vast wide-open spaces. What a joy it was to wind through the hills decorated by streams, ponds and ranches. Once atop of a gradual incline the road looked as if it was a path to the edge of the Earth, a truly spectacular sight to behold. The morning was cool and quiet. My only companion on the road was good-sized snake. We kept our distance. A July temperature much lower than I expected and slight altitude were not enough to diminish the wonder of the run on this day. 

 

I learned only 500,000 people live in WY. I figure a person could have a marvelous run like this one just about any time anywhere in the entire state. That's a beautiful thing!

 

In not in Wyoming, Run where you are.

 

Tom

Tell it on the mountain

Shannan and I recently had dinner with Katherine, longtime friend, in Boulder, CO. She grew up in Atlanta, attended college at UC and stayed (not a unique phenomenon).  Katherine is a very active young woman. She hikes, skis and is a runner. Over the years we’ve shared many conversations about races and training. Katherine knew while I was in Boulder I planned to run “Mags” (see previous post). We talked about that over dinner as well as her run in the Hood to Coast race.

We had considered visiting Red Rocks Amphitheater, but had not cemented into our itinerary. Katherine adamantly insisted we go to Red Rocks. She gave us details about the venue, concerts that have been there and the museum in the lower plaza. On her enthusiastic advice we adjusted our schedule and added a trip to Red Rocks.

That evening Shannan gathered information and thought it odd that the amphitheater opened at 5:00am. When we arrived around 8:00am the parking lot was a buzz. People in exercise clothes and with water bottles milled about. We decided given the high involvement of outdoor activities in Boulder, perhaps the people were out for an early morning hike amid the rust colored rocks. To our surprise, 100 plus people were in the amphitheater running, doing cardio exercises, abdominal routines and more. Katherine could have mentioned that part.

She didn’t , so I am. If you are in Boulder, plan a trip to visit Red Rocks and include time to get in a high altitude work out.

Live. Learn. Run at Red Rocks.

Tom

Running Mags with the Buffaloes

Greetings! Some years ago my friend Lee loaned me his copy of Running with the Buffaloes, a book about the University of Colorado’s Men’s Cross Country Team. Magnolia Road “Mags” provides the brutal training ground for the team. Running on a mountain is one thing. Doing so at an evaluation of 8000 feet is an altogether different animal. Reading about the training runs on this road seemed awful. Last week we were in Boulder, CO and I decided to take my morning run on Mags. Turns out I was correct, running Mags was on the verge of inhumane.

The drive up the road to reach the unpaved portion that marked the 16 miles where the Buffalo trained was harrowing. It did build the anticipation. Once out and running the first half a mile was downhill. Here the views of the Rocky Mountains and a local ranch were so stunning I forgot about thin air. That changed as soon as I started the accent. Every part of me labored by the time I was 30 minutes into the run. The temperature was 52 degrees, it was good not to overheat in July, but the cold air proved annoying as I took in deep breaths.

I enjoyed coming to this place that had sparked my imagination from far away. I relished the pounding out one of the hardest runs of my life. I delighted in the view of one of North America’s most spectacular landscapes. This morning was not one of the best runs of the year. This morning epitomized why I run.

Thanks for the book, Lee.

Read and Run!

Tom

Presidential Running

Romulus, MI, a suburb of Detroit, was the location of a very early run recently. I found my way on to a small road that split farmland and let it rip for about 4.5 miles. I enjoyed the run very much in that I have been exercising indoors for a month or so. Once I got back to the hotel, Shannan was ready for a day of exploring. I cleaned up and we lit out for Freemont, OH to visit the Rutherford B. Hayes Home and Presidential Museum. Our tour guide, Eileen, made it a stop well worth our time. We discovered as soon as we arrived the property welcomed runners and walkers. 

 

Many people took advantage of the beautifully landscaped area to exercise. Had I know in advance, I might have delayed my morning run or at least used time more wisely to afford a short jaunt around the green. I missed the opportunity, but if you are ever going to visit this wonderful historic site, save some time for a jog. All indications are it will be a pleasant one. If not here, then enjoy the fantastic park at the William McKinley President Museum and Monument. 

Tom

E. Pluibus Pilgrimage

Thomas Hardy, King Arthur, Jesus, Jane Austin, the Eden Project, Doc Martin, Stonehenge, The Magna Carta, Salisbury Cathedral, Roman Baths, Buck Fast Abbey, cities, towns and the sea, apart from all of these things being in England, they all are related to pilgrims, believers, scholars, fans, and curious tourists who pour in from cities, suburbs. In our case we came from out of the country to take in the sites, museums and sacred locations.  

From vastly different places people come with common goals to see, experience, listen, read, learn and ultimately to share in conversations, classrooms or on social media (like this).  People make pilgrimage of sorts to gain first hand experience of uniqueness, of beauty, wonder, nature, and to muse at the ingenuity and creativity of human beings. These things make life quite interesting. For me, it's especially interesting to consider the journey, the experience and the reflection of those who traveled to locations like those mentioned above in ritualistic fashion. I think about what they hope to find and how it impacts their lives. To some degree the what is religious in nature, yet has become deeply entwined in pop culture.

I firmly believe you don't have to travel to exotic part for the world for pilgrimage.  People can attend an event; engage in an activity or outing just for a few hours. You may be alone in the moment, but the notion of pilgrimage is communal in nature, E. Pluibus Unum, out of many, one. I plan to start a life changing one right here at home next month. More to follow.

Engage in ritual. Run.

Tom

Sacred Stones and Sacred Stories

From Heathrow International Airport to the Salisbury Plain, England windy frigid weather did not detour our quartet from a great beginning to our stay in the West Country. We enjoyed a long and thoughtful stay around the sacred stones. We considered the evolution of the site, the purpose of the otter ditch, the hinged megaliths and the border markers. This site which draws visitors, baffles anthropologists and intrigues the curious did not disappoint. Visiting Stonehenge has long been a personal goal. It was worth the years of study, consideration of various theoretical positions to be standing on the plain. A little chill did not take away from the majesty of the Stonehenge.

I didn't run at the World Heritage Site, not its neighbor, Durrington Walls. I did have a very nice, yet frosty run Easter morn in Bath, England. I trotted along the Avon River and through the historic town. Within twenty-four hours we had gather information about gods, King Arthur, we related to the land, and spoke of faith, lore and legend. After my run I hurriedly clean up and hustled back to town for an early Easter service.

I never removed my coat in the large drafty cathedral. I did listen attentively as The Church of England priest gave a nice homily on the resurrection story. It was Mary of Magdala who told the tale of the empty tomb and risen Jesus. Her narrative has been shared over time and place again and again. The human endeavor to pass along a story of love and sacrifice is symbolized in the Christian Eucharist. Like much of the information we had encountered in our first day of travel, this story involves basic elements- earth, bread and wine. Like the stones on the Salisbury Plain these organic materials are given meaning by stories that strengthen tradition and keep the work of the past meaningful in the present.

Engage the Sacred. Run.

 

Tom

Chilly Cleveland, TENNESSEE

Like many times before in frigid weather I read and tended to various tasks early in the morning waiting for the sun to rise. Usually this gives the temperature a slight bump up a degree or two. This day it increased from 27 to 30 degrees. I lamented more than necessary before finally leaving the hotel for a run in Cleveland, Tennessee.

Upon exiting the hotel I noticed an addition to the cold and windy morning, a constant stream of snow fell. Oddly, my immediate thought was this will be nice. Cold is not of any interest to me whatsoever yet since we see so little snow in the Atlanta area the novelty of it held a strong appeal. Make no mistake the excitement of snow wasn't as powerful as the joy of running in a new city. I got going and took it all in, the rolling hills and falling snow.

In a mile and a half I entered the Bradford County Greenway.  I watched a magnificent Great Blue Herron gliding in for a landing near a small stream. The bird descended as effortlessly as the frozen white flakes. The Heron landed in a landscape that could easily have been the backdrop for a Thomas Kinkade painting. I enjoyed the experience of the cold crystals, including the ones landing on my face. All my senses were engaged and invigorated. 

The chilly run left me ready for a great day of exploring even more of Cleveland. Shannan and I visited a local museum, ate lunch at The Spot, an historic diner, and made some purchases in local shops. We had a riverboat cruse planned, but it was cancelled due to inclement weather. Who's afraid of a little snow?!

Do something different. Run in the snow.

Tom

Marking my place in the world

12 years ago I arranged a birthday day party for myself, one of only two. As party favors each attendee received a small booklet entitled, 3 Decades of LaPorte: Poetry, Pictures, Prose and Propaganda. During the evening I read two short pieces from the collection which I wrote especially for the occasion. One reminisced about a tattoo of my initials on my shoulder. I mocked it as immature, yet honored it as marking my life as it was in my teen years.

That tattoo was homemade and didn’t cost me anything more than a little pain and time. Today I had my first (more to follow) visit with a professional to have the tattoo removed via laser. The pain was less this go around, but the cost was much more. I know tattoos continue to grow in popularity and cultural meaning in this country and others. For me, the ink on my arm represents a social location far removed. I don’t wear short sleeve shirts because of the tattoo. I decided it was time to make a change. The tattoo served its purpose, sometimes better than others. Nowadays I look for new, less permanent ways, to identify myself in the world, like posting a health and fitness blog.

Run well.

Tom

Running with the Roosters

Istanbul has many mosques and masjids, including the Hagia Sofia and Sultan Ahmed, better known as the Blue Mosque. When the call to prayer comes in Istanbul, it is overwhelming and powerful. I felt the voice of the Adhan reverberate in my very being as I ran in the early morning. It made the trip memorable.

A sunrise run in the Village of Fair Oaks, CA worked my auditory senses in a similar manner, yet not religious or human driven by any means. Roosters, many roosters announce the new day with the classic onomatopoeia: cock-a-doodle-do. The crows of the feathered males echoed across every city block of downtown of Fair Oaks. I heard them long before I entered the town square. Closer and closer the volume grew as well as the number. Along the way I passed a few rosters waddling about yards, businesses and sidewalks. The intensity and repetitiveness of their morning call was compelling. When I reached the center of town it was like a surreal dream. Roosters roamed everywhere. Most passively went about their business, others aggressively protected their domain from other roosters and from me.

I noticed many business and signs that had images of the roosters. The creatures were indeed a symbol of the town. There was a rooster shaped stop sign to allow the birds to cross the road, and a shop filled with chicken related paraphernalia. It was sort of neat to see this symbiotic relationship. This beckoning to start the day is much different than the Islamic call to prayer, but I found it a very nice way to welcome the day.


Start the day with a run.

Tom

Waiting and the American River

A temperature of two degrees below zero and darkness kept me sitting around very early in the morning in a suburb of Sacramento, CA. Around 6:30am I bounded out toward the American River. Fishermen, boaters, runners, dog walkers and an abundance of wildlife awaited. I navigated narrow dirt trails, river rocks and gravel as I deeply appreciated the surrounding tapestry of options for the naturalist and exerciser. Mist rising, the sun cresting and a variety of creatures singing songs of the morning inspired and invigorated. I never tire of opportunities in life like this one. Many of them take place when we are out of town, yet another fabulous benefit of travel. Other than the lovely morning run, we had a day planned to visit Shenandoah wine country. The day’s agenda caused me to spend less time along the American River than I wanted. I hurried back to join the group. By the time I arrived they had breakfasted and were ready to go. Regrets? Not a one. If I had started sooner I would not have been able to enjoy the fabulous scenery in the light of day. It was a perfect way to start the day. The memories linger much more so than the fleeting irritation I caused. Start the day with a run. Tom

Think It. Do it!

I often exercise without listening to music, which seems quite odd these days, especially to the younger generation. On trails, the road or in gyms most folks are plugged into some electronic device. Even when I do run with a MP3 player, I do so to allow the music to provide background while my mind wanders and wonders. More times than not, I take time to pray while running. Along with prayer, I've noted many times how much I appreciate connecting to nature while running. Other than that I tend to muse, recollect, construct sociological and religious theories or plan for things I need to do. These tasks can be in the short or long term. I “run” through mental checklists of what has been accomplished and what needs to be addressed. In short, it’s like doing a progress check on my goals. I'm a firm believer in setting positive goals and using affirming mantras with great regularity. Over the years one of the things I visualized while exercising was participating in a community of scholars. In 2000 that goal came to fruition, and continues to evolve. I’m delighted at the to be participating in research and educational settings. These achieved goals did not disappoint. Still, each day I am mindful and fairly intentional about thinking through my to-do list and my dynamic list of goals. Also, I tend to rotate mantras. Here are two quotes that I like. “Take the first step in faith. You don’t’ have to see the whole staircase. Just take the first step.” Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “When you visualize then you materialize. If you have been there in the mind, you’ll go there in the body.” ~Denis Waitly, Jr. I’m not suggesting things just happen. I support being a positive advocate for what you want and actively being involved in making things happen. Think it. Do it. Run. Tom

Ode to Al

Greetings!  Over the years I've posted a handful of times following a funeral of in remembrance of someone who recently died. Today, I am thinking not so much about death of a person, but of a loss for sure. I want to pay homage to a truck. Yes, I understand my true southern heritage is showing through. Twenty years ago I walked onto a car lot, determined to buy a brand new truck. I did. I purchased a bright blue Ford Ranger. For reasons unknown to me, many people in my family name cars. From my very first car when I was 16 to my current vehicle, I have followed the tradition and named vehicles. This truck was immediately named Al, which I am not ashamed to admit was influenced by the then burgeoning Fox Network and its anchor show of the day, Married with Children. 

 

As we all know, folks tend to experience a great deal in the span of 20 years. Al, the truck, was along for the ride during many major and important changes in my life, including the beginning of The Streak. In the later years I would always take Al when I went for a long run, as it didn't matter so much when I hopped in the cab dripping with sweat. Al never left me stranded. The truck was a symbol of growth and strength for all the years I drove it. 

 

Last week I donated Al to the Atlanta Humane Society. I hope Al can keep doing good in the world. When the tow truck drove away I realized how much the Al had, and still does, mean to me.

 

Thank you, Al.  I wish you good luck and I know you will do noble things.

 

If you can't drive, RUN.

 

Tom

 

16 Years and Running

16 years of an unbelievable journey, and I am profoundly bewildered by the road traveled, literally and psychically. I am delighted with the previous 16 years of The Streak and determined to keep going and going. I think everyone who has encouraged and indulged me in the years past. I deeply appreciate those who have read the postings on this site over the years.

Good health is a great thing and I try not to take it for granted. I look forward to countless more years of the uninterrupted Exercise Streak.

Thank You!

Tom

Celebrating and Appreciating 2013

Greetings! In my sphere of influence there is much to celebrate. Several birthdays take place in my family around now, including my own. Also, it's less than a month until the 16th anniversary of The Streak. As I age, I really have been pleased with life and the direction it has taken me. Good health has played a key role in that. I am proud of The Streak, and grateful for its many benefits.

I am so grateful for the many magnificent opportunities of 2013 so far, and I am thankful for the ones to come in the year.

I know exercising every single day is not for everyone. However, I strongly encourage you to engage in regular physical exercise. Whatever you do, find something that brings meaning to life. Do it. Enjoy it. Give thanks for it.

Celebrate Life. Appreciate Life. Exercise.

Tom

Wait for it!

Advent, for Christians marks the beginning of waiting. In four weeks’ time they celebrate the birth of Jesus. The long awaited day is close at hand. I awoke on Christmas Eve morning long before dawn. My excitement stirred, but not about ripping into wrapped holiday gifts. I anxiously waited for a morning run as the sun rose over Easter Island.

As I ran I noticed a very large Christmas tree brightened the darkness high on a hill. I wish it had been bright enough to illuminate the tough coastal road under my feet. A mile or so of it that was paved was filled with potholes; the remainder was rough rocky terrain. I turned away from the coast and inland toward the glowing tree.

On approach I realized it was a live tree that had been strung with lights in front of the Naval Base. I stayed the new course, which eventually looped back to the heart of the Hanga Roa village. I took note of where to run for the next day. Just as I was leaving, in the distance I saw a battered Moai. This being my first morning on the Island, how could I resist?

I sped up and ran toward the sculpture. Of course this was in the direction I had just determined would be good for the next day, and the turn added another thirty minutes to the morning run. This was a half an hour I will always cherish. It was glorious to be in sacred space on a sacred day. A smaller Christmas Tree stood on the coast. I ran in line with the two Christmas trees and a row of Moai that stretched from the shoreline to the highest hill in Hanga Roa. It was a vision and experience worth waiting to have.

Wait. Run.

Tom

Natural Strides

Here's an update on barefoot running. As mentioned previously I purchased a pair of all terrain barefoot running shoes. They are not the best for running trails or over leaves as they tend to slip a bit in those situations. There is a barefoot trail shoe, which does great. Back to the all terrain shoes, I took them with me to South America for an eight day trip. Over the course of time I had the opportunity to run in a variety of conditions and settings. Overall the report is a really good one.

I had worked up to regular runs and high mileage with the barefoot shoes before the trip and strongly encourage others to do the same. The reason is the barefoot shoes allow for different parts of your feet, legs into play than traditional running shoes. You will feel this as you begin using the barefoot shoes. I felt tightness in my ankles, a slight sensation in the top of my feet and a touch of muscle soreness in my back. All of these subsided with continued use.

In Santiago, Chile the shoes were put to work on streets, sidewalks and on pea gravel trails. I experienced no problems whatsoever. However, Easter Island has few paved roads. There is volcanic rock everywhere. I was able to feel a good deal of that through the shoes. The bottoms of my feet didn't bruise, but I knew I had run differently. I became very aware of my strides. Being so focused carried a wonderful byproduct- I was super mindful of the surroundings, which are stunningly beautiful from rolling hills to the ever-on-guard majestic Moai.

Run Naturally. Run Barefoot. Run.

Tom

Running is a Gift

It's been said many times by many folks, “Running is a gift.” I concur. Running is a gift which allows for good health and a superb way to explore of the world around us. I have had the opportunity to run in many places from the Grand Canyon to Mount Cook, New Zealand. This spring, if all goes according to plan, I'll visit the Salisbury Plain in England. As you may know, this is the location of Stonehenge. If at all possible, I'll run there. Someday I hope to run on along the Great Wall of China. That is high on my list. Unfortunately, the list is a long one.

For me, it's not just a check it off kind of list. As I wrote at the beginning, I value running as a gift, a great blessing in my life. To combine running with travel and study of sacred places is deeply spiritual to me. I'm grateful for the wherewithal to engage in such endeavors. I’m mindful socio-economics doesn’t allow everyone to engage in this sort of thing. Oh that everyone who desired could have the time and resources to travel, think, study and reflect. I delight in the chance to recall everything from the ground, hills, water, climate and communities that make places memorable while out for a run.

Experience. Run.

Tom

The wrong side of the river

Some eight years ago I discovered a riverside park while it was under construction. Although the sports fields took nearly a year to complete, trails exited along the river and through the woods. ATV and horse riders had carved out and maintained the trails. In previous writings I lamented this wonderful location has terrible water runoff. Even a slight rain will make it a slippery and muddy mess.

This past weekend the mid-January temperatures were in the upper 60’s and low 70s. I really wanted to have a nice run to enjoy the weather. However, it had rained a couple of days in the week, so the river was out, at first. Then I decided that mud was no longer an issue thanks to the Vibram barefoot shoes. Furthermore, there are trails on the other side of the river I have never explored in all these years. I could cross through the water in the Vibrams.

Off I went relishing in running through puddles within the first 60 seconds of entering the park. I picked a place to cross the river only to find the water stronger than I expected and worse, deeper. I was wet waist high. The warm air was nice the icy water was a terror. My MP3 player was destroyed. At this point, there was nothing to do but to get in at least thirty minutes, twenty-seven more, and call it a day.

The trail opposite the river was a delight. I ran up hills, over dirt and rocks. It had twists and turns and splits. Unknown to me, the river split as well. I came to a bridge I couldn’t place. I crossed the river and headed back and ended up at another sports complex, one I had never seen in my life. I decided to back track, only to get lost again in the maze of trails.

After pushing through brush, sliding down a steep part of river bank crossing the water (again) up steep bank on the other side, and crashing trough briars and other uncomfortable stuff I finally found my way back, an hour later.

Whew! The shoes held up well. If not for the stress, this would have been a stellar run.

Tom