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