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