Do you see what happens when you look away for just a minute?
BOOM! Days pass by and you get so caught up in the day-to-day you don't realize it's gone until you sit again and take account. Where did the last few days of January happen to go? I did a few things, I moved around, I got myself from here to there, and landed just in time to look up to see where I am.
I think that is how it works. Don't look back, that's not the way you are going. Look ahead, go forward, live it now, and all that stuff is the way they say to keep on.
My early morning co-worker retired yesterday. She handed over her laptop and security badge, she cleaned out her desk and said many goodbyes. She won't be coming into work this morning. I bet she erased her alarm from going off.
It will all happen in good time. Just look away for a few more minutes.
TT
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Showing posts with label inspiration. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 1, 2017
Thursday, January 26, 2017
Boring Weather
We could talk about the weather.
This happens more in winter than any other time of the year. It's due to the fact that I don't care for it - the colder temperatures, the rain mixed with wind, the overall feeling I might not make it from the house to my car without losing a few fingers to hypothermia. Okay, that might be a little drastic but you get the general idea of how little this season means to me or should I say how much? I sure talk more about it more than any other season but then I hear others giving summer a bad rap. I guess it's all fair play although boring.
Give it a minute, it will change. Be open to the different experiences it can provide. If you know the run in the winter is going to cause all the unpleasantness I could possibly imagine than find another way to go for a run. There are other options. And thinking about the other options can give another perspective on how you look at that same thing. Change the camera angle and you'll get a different picture of the same landscape. It might even get you to think of the same things in a way you hadn't thought about before.
Then it isn't boring.
TT
This happens more in winter than any other time of the year. It's due to the fact that I don't care for it - the colder temperatures, the rain mixed with wind, the overall feeling I might not make it from the house to my car without losing a few fingers to hypothermia. Okay, that might be a little drastic but you get the general idea of how little this season means to me or should I say how much? I sure talk more about it more than any other season but then I hear others giving summer a bad rap. I guess it's all fair play although boring.
Give it a minute, it will change. Be open to the different experiences it can provide. If you know the run in the winter is going to cause all the unpleasantness I could possibly imagine than find another way to go for a run. There are other options. And thinking about the other options can give another perspective on how you look at that same thing. Change the camera angle and you'll get a different picture of the same landscape. It might even get you to think of the same things in a way you hadn't thought about before.
Then it isn't boring.
TT
Wednesday, January 25, 2017
Agitated Stillness
What would life be without a thought in your head? Empty-headed. Devoid of thought. Still.
I'm not sure if that sounds all that good. I read an article about finding your stillness. The theme of the article is when things start spinning in our heads we should pause, sit back, settle into what is happening and work with what we are thinking. The article said to concentrate on what was causing the thoughts, access how they are making us feel, calmly let them sit inside us. It suggested to face what we are thinking at that moment and find some gratitude and compassion and then give yourself permission to go back to your day to day.
Yikes. That is a whole lot of thinking. It sounds pretty counter-intuitive to think so much if what you are trying to do is settle down and clear your head. Why not just pause and stop. Why all the self analysis. Do I need to have a list of things I need to think about when I'm thinking so hard I can't stop thinking? How am I supposed to remember the steps and what am I to think about next when I already have too many things to think about.
I thought this pausing, calming, meditation type thing is supposed to be less imposing. It sounds like a lot of work to me and I don't think I can remember all the things I'm supposed to think about when I do it. That could cause even more anxiety over all the things I'm already thinking.
If I want to clear my head I think I will just take a break. I will distract myself with something else, take on a different chore, go for a run. Don't think so hard. That seems to be an easier mantra to remember when there is too much going on in my head.
TT
I'm not sure if that sounds all that good. I read an article about finding your stillness. The theme of the article is when things start spinning in our heads we should pause, sit back, settle into what is happening and work with what we are thinking. The article said to concentrate on what was causing the thoughts, access how they are making us feel, calmly let them sit inside us. It suggested to face what we are thinking at that moment and find some gratitude and compassion and then give yourself permission to go back to your day to day.
Yikes. That is a whole lot of thinking. It sounds pretty counter-intuitive to think so much if what you are trying to do is settle down and clear your head. Why not just pause and stop. Why all the self analysis. Do I need to have a list of things I need to think about when I'm thinking so hard I can't stop thinking? How am I supposed to remember the steps and what am I to think about next when I already have too many things to think about.
I thought this pausing, calming, meditation type thing is supposed to be less imposing. It sounds like a lot of work to me and I don't think I can remember all the things I'm supposed to think about when I do it. That could cause even more anxiety over all the things I'm already thinking.
If I want to clear my head I think I will just take a break. I will distract myself with something else, take on a different chore, go for a run. Don't think so hard. That seems to be an easier mantra to remember when there is too much going on in my head.
TT
Tuesday, January 24, 2017
Make it bold
Don't blink twice or this month might be over. I've been marking little forward slashes across the numbers of the calendar and it looks like it's picked up a rhythm. Some slashes started out small but as we march along through the month they have become progressively larger and bolder.
Can't do anything about those days with the slashes. Can't look back and don't have the time to wonder what I did with them. I can work with the ones still to come and concentrate on today. I can do what I can with right now and work on it to make those slashes bold today so I'm not thinking about yesterday. Besides.
It will all be filled if you blink...twice.
TT
Tuesday, January 17, 2017
Less Boredom
Brainstorming. A process of making a list of ideas to solve a problem.
I should be good at this. I make lists all the time! I used to make lists for all the many things I had to do to keep them in priority order. Now it's more a tool so I don't forget to do the things that are important. Either way, I guess I could use a little brainstorming session to come up with some creative ideas of how to break up a mundane routine. I need to come up with a list of things to do after work so I don't continually waste hour blocks of time. And some kind of fun should be involved since it is my after-hours. That shouldn't be too hard since my ideas of fun don't always match up to the normal ideas of fun. Sometimes my fun might be considered work by others but it's all in the perspective. It should be a no brainer and I could have an enormous list of items in no time at all.
I can get into this process. I can solve that problem, err, except it isn't really a problem. Is not knowing what to do with your extra time after your boring routine a problem? It is if you continue to be bored.
TT
I should be good at this. I make lists all the time! I used to make lists for all the many things I had to do to keep them in priority order. Now it's more a tool so I don't forget to do the things that are important. Either way, I guess I could use a little brainstorming session to come up with some creative ideas of how to break up a mundane routine. I need to come up with a list of things to do after work so I don't continually waste hour blocks of time. And some kind of fun should be involved since it is my after-hours. That shouldn't be too hard since my ideas of fun don't always match up to the normal ideas of fun. Sometimes my fun might be considered work by others but it's all in the perspective. It should be a no brainer and I could have an enormous list of items in no time at all.
I can get into this process. I can solve that problem, err, except it isn't really a problem. Is not knowing what to do with your extra time after your boring routine a problem? It is if you continue to be bored.
TT
Sunday, January 15, 2017
Last Weeks Recap
I've gone though my posts for last week and the general consensus seems to be I'm preoccupied with the future. Plan this and plan that...don't take a day off to do nothing because it isn't in the plan. If I'm not careful the things I do now won't add up to the resounding plan I have for the finale that has built itself in my mind if I don't stay on track. That is even if I know it won't turn out as imagined no matter what I do (or plan). I also reused words like overlay and hum-drum. It's been quite a week!
I do think it's a good idea to change things up a little. The routine is a little worn and could use some revitalizing. I'm making efforts to not be so boring. I baked cinnamon rolls from scratch yesterday afternoon and that was something I hadn't done in many years and it wasn't planned. They came out pretty well and it seems I can still bake.
Maybe baking cinnamon rolls is still boring but at least it was different. It made the house smell wonderful and it's a start in a new direction of wherever it's supposed to go or not go. If it can lead me on to something that will spark another idea of different and various things to do in my present instead of waiting around for an unknown future then it's a good thing.
And I'll try to avoid using the words overlay and hum-drum.
TT
I do think it's a good idea to change things up a little. The routine is a little worn and could use some revitalizing. I'm making efforts to not be so boring. I baked cinnamon rolls from scratch yesterday afternoon and that was something I hadn't done in many years and it wasn't planned. They came out pretty well and it seems I can still bake.
Maybe baking cinnamon rolls is still boring but at least it was different. It made the house smell wonderful and it's a start in a new direction of wherever it's supposed to go or not go. If it can lead me on to something that will spark another idea of different and various things to do in my present instead of waiting around for an unknown future then it's a good thing.
And I'll try to avoid using the words overlay and hum-drum.
TT
Friday, January 13, 2017
Ideas for Change?
I need to shake things up (again). It's time to change a few routines that can be changed. The time for a few slight adjustments to the mundane routines are in order.
I've become so focused on my crusade to get my business in order that now it's well on its way I've become stagnant. Hum-drum is the name of my game lately and that needs to change even if it is only a slight shift in what I do. How predictable can one person be? How far can I take my adherence to my everyday routines? If someone was watching my daily life they would be able to plot my path with tremendous accuracy since I never waver or shift. You would be able to overlay any day in my life and that day would match up exactly to any other random day. I don't have to worry about anyone charting my days but maybe it's time to shake it up even if just a little.
That means I need to come up with new ideas on how to change things around and that might take a while. Let me think about it as I go off to my regular routine.
TT
Wednesday, January 11, 2017
Predicting the Future
My mind was wandering off into some future that might never happen. I'm sure some of the parameters might be slightly accurate but there isn't any way thinking off into a very distant future can be any where near accurate the way it is imagined. The area might be the same, the walls, the furnishings but to try to place what the situation will be and how others will act in that timeframe is no way predictable.
It's a wonder all these goals and resolutions are put into place year after year by so many that haven't been able to do these things when they try over and again. What's the deal with continually trying to do something that continually doesn't work. Is the blame with the goal or resolution or the person that keeps attempting the same thing the same way.
When my mind was wandering it had nothing to do with goals and resolutions. It's funny how it turned into that conversation at all. It was an easy way to make another point about trying to predict how things will be when you have not the slightest idea. The future is out there and I keep trying to pinpoint it. No go. Not gonna happen. Stay right here where you are today, do what you can, and the future will come when you are ready or not.
TT
It's a wonder all these goals and resolutions are put into place year after year by so many that haven't been able to do these things when they try over and again. What's the deal with continually trying to do something that continually doesn't work. Is the blame with the goal or resolution or the person that keeps attempting the same thing the same way.
When my mind was wandering it had nothing to do with goals and resolutions. It's funny how it turned into that conversation at all. It was an easy way to make another point about trying to predict how things will be when you have not the slightest idea. The future is out there and I keep trying to pinpoint it. No go. Not gonna happen. Stay right here where you are today, do what you can, and the future will come when you are ready or not.
TT
Monday, January 9, 2017
Fun over Fear
It turns out I somehow missed yesterday. I must have been in massive hibernation because it was one day I can say was a blank, a miss, a didn't take the time to even try to do a thing day. Nothing was accomplished, nothing could be checked off any list, and there isn't any sign of anything happening other than, well, nothing. Is this what taking a day off might really mean?
Depending on what article of fake news you would like to read, what happened could be observed as the absolute wrong way to observe the new year and all the wonderful things you think you need to change about yourself. Those improvements won't happen unless you pay stringent attention to the rules. There is no such thing as a hibernation day, even if it falls on a Sunday and is one of the coldest day of the year. You must stick to the plan!
It might help in these articles if they were at least credible. You could overlay each one, all written by different experts, and see they are all the same. Not one offers anything different or creative. They are all stoked with keywords such as: fear. They like to use that one. It seems if they can evoke that feeling in anyone it can drive motivation or psychotherapy. I think they are going for the last option but mostly they don't tell you anything except that if you want to change to got to figure out why. Well, I'm not sure they say that because if they did, no one would read any of their articles because then you could figured out the best way to get yourself to do anything. Once you figure out why, you have all the motivation you need even if the reason is to have more fun.
I had some fun yesterday while in hibernation all day. I didn't read or think or miss a single thing.
TT
Depending on what article of fake news you would like to read, what happened could be observed as the absolute wrong way to observe the new year and all the wonderful things you think you need to change about yourself. Those improvements won't happen unless you pay stringent attention to the rules. There is no such thing as a hibernation day, even if it falls on a Sunday and is one of the coldest day of the year. You must stick to the plan!
It might help in these articles if they were at least credible. You could overlay each one, all written by different experts, and see they are all the same. Not one offers anything different or creative. They are all stoked with keywords such as: fear. They like to use that one. It seems if they can evoke that feeling in anyone it can drive motivation or psychotherapy. I think they are going for the last option but mostly they don't tell you anything except that if you want to change to got to figure out why. Well, I'm not sure they say that because if they did, no one would read any of their articles because then you could figured out the best way to get yourself to do anything. Once you figure out why, you have all the motivation you need even if the reason is to have more fun.
I had some fun yesterday while in hibernation all day. I didn't read or think or miss a single thing.
TT
Tuesday, January 3, 2017
Mini-Steps
It's been a great time off with the holidays but it's time to return to the routine of work. I managed to take advantage of my last free day yesterday to take down all the holiday decorations and get the house back in regular order. The floors are clean and so is the kitchen and refrigerator. Laundry is all folded and put away which left me with the afternoon to head and out enjoy the 75 degree weather with a 4 miles run in the neighborhood.
I will be re-reading one of my completed short stories. It is about 18000 words and I want to start editing so I will need to make notes. It will take a fresh perspective and I already have some ideas how to change up the first few pages. Then I can delve into all the chapters. I will see how much I can accomplish in the next few days. I will need to see what I think after I've completed the reading and then brainstorm how to pull it apart and put it back together. New outlines will be on the agenda, I'm sure, to keep myself on track but that might be next week.
We shall see...mini-steps being taken here.
TT
I will be re-reading one of my completed short stories. It is about 18000 words and I want to start editing so I will need to make notes. It will take a fresh perspective and I already have some ideas how to change up the first few pages. Then I can delve into all the chapters. I will see how much I can accomplish in the next few days. I will need to see what I think after I've completed the reading and then brainstorm how to pull it apart and put it back together. New outlines will be on the agenda, I'm sure, to keep myself on track but that might be next week.
We shall see...mini-steps being taken here.
TT
Monday, January 2, 2017
Get Specific
I wrote my short list. I figured out some mini-steps. Good start.
Now I need to take a look and see when I will carry these out. What will be the actual time of day I will take a mini-step. What days of the week is best to do it? I think smaller is better. I have more times on the weekend but a larger chunk that is missed is harder to make up than small bits during the week when I have less time. Spread it out. Make it small and keep it simple. I'm not going for any olympic effort but just a small adjustment.
I'm figuring it out. I'm writing specifics down. I can see how they work out after this week. I can keep doing something small for a week. It won't be that hard, it won't take much time, and it will be fun. It will be something to look forward to doing.
Can I do it? Will I?
TT
Now I need to take a look and see when I will carry these out. What will be the actual time of day I will take a mini-step. What days of the week is best to do it? I think smaller is better. I have more times on the weekend but a larger chunk that is missed is harder to make up than small bits during the week when I have less time. Spread it out. Make it small and keep it simple. I'm not going for any olympic effort but just a small adjustment.
I'm figuring it out. I'm writing specifics down. I can see how they work out after this week. I can keep doing something small for a week. It won't be that hard, it won't take much time, and it will be fun. It will be something to look forward to doing.
Can I do it? Will I?
TT
Sunday, January 1, 2017
A Fun Year
So what if I was to say that 2017 is going to be amazing!
Doesn't that make you feel great even if it's only for an instant before you turn on your skepticism? Admit that reading that first sentence gave you a moment of optimism. It's affirmative and positive, confident and encouraging. Those are good things. So don't turn on the negative just yet. This year is going to be amazing.
I know because I am not stopping with a statement. It will not only be a sentence I happened to write at the beginning of a new year. It will be a starting point, a place to instigate and initiate the things that will turn this year into whatever I decide to make of it and why wouldn't I want it to be amazing.
How do I know this? Simply because I can plan and decide. The first thing to do is to simply decide what you want to do. Think about it, make a short list, write it down. Just put whatever you think about and don't worry about whether they are do-able or not. Look at what you have and then break each item down into small steps of how you might be able to get them done. Don't make it hard. These should be mini-steps to keep it fun. You are wanting to do these things so they should be enjoyable.
Decide to proceed with your mini-steps. Try them out. See how they work. Decide when you will revisit your list. Decide what is working and what needs to change in order to make it work better. Stay with it. Remember it's suppose to be fun.
What if a few or even one of these things worked. Wouldn't that make you happy? You would be pleased, glad, and even cheerful. Let that moment stay with you. It's encouraging, and upbeat and can make other things seem brighter or less disagreeable.
Isn't that amazing? You are worth a few minutes to think about what you want. It could be fun.
TT
Doesn't that make you feel great even if it's only for an instant before you turn on your skepticism? Admit that reading that first sentence gave you a moment of optimism. It's affirmative and positive, confident and encouraging. Those are good things. So don't turn on the negative just yet. This year is going to be amazing.
I know because I am not stopping with a statement. It will not only be a sentence I happened to write at the beginning of a new year. It will be a starting point, a place to instigate and initiate the things that will turn this year into whatever I decide to make of it and why wouldn't I want it to be amazing.
How do I know this? Simply because I can plan and decide. The first thing to do is to simply decide what you want to do. Think about it, make a short list, write it down. Just put whatever you think about and don't worry about whether they are do-able or not. Look at what you have and then break each item down into small steps of how you might be able to get them done. Don't make it hard. These should be mini-steps to keep it fun. You are wanting to do these things so they should be enjoyable.
Decide to proceed with your mini-steps. Try them out. See how they work. Decide when you will revisit your list. Decide what is working and what needs to change in order to make it work better. Stay with it. Remember it's suppose to be fun.
What if a few or even one of these things worked. Wouldn't that make you happy? You would be pleased, glad, and even cheerful. Let that moment stay with you. It's encouraging, and upbeat and can make other things seem brighter or less disagreeable.
Isn't that amazing? You are worth a few minutes to think about what you want. It could be fun.
TT
Saturday, December 31, 2016
Goodbye 2016
Say goodbye to year 2016.
The year I turned 60 is over and done and 61 takes over from here as of this very day. I can't predict what the future will hold. I can only make some choices along the way and see how they play out over the course of the coming year. I somehow managed a few things this past year I might not have accomplished if I hadn't made the choices I did during 2016.
I whined for years to myself and others how I would like to run another half marathon. I got down to business this year and ran it October 22, 2016. I almost let the year get away from me but when I knew the date of this race I figured out a training plan with the weeks left before that date to get ready. It was a tough race with many hills. I did it. That was what I wanted to do. In the past I would have whined about how I didn't have enough time or placed some other obstacles to make it impossible for myself to do it the way I had before but I figured there was nothing to lose except my whining. It worked. I got it done.
I also started the year off with a mileage goal. I calculated the average number of miles I have run the past six years and it is about 560. I thought I would go for 800 miles this year. It was aggressive for me but I figured what could it hurt. My last run for the year was this morning and it gave me a total of 770 miles for 2016. I was short of my goal of 800 but how can I not be more than satisfied that I was able to improve by so many more miles even when I am so much older than I was six years ago?
I'm not sure what made any difference this time around but somehow putting some plans into action did the job. I figured if it didn't work I couldn't be any worse off than my average. No one would be the wiser if I didn't run another half marathon or if I ran my 560 mile average. It wouldn't be any big loss except there were no loss this year. There were only big gains.
It's time to say goodbye to a good year - 2016. It's almost over with only a few hours to spare. Sixty years and I might have learned a thing or two. Now to use that momentum into my new improved age of sixty-one.
Hello there, 2017. What do you have planned?
TT
The year I turned 60 is over and done and 61 takes over from here as of this very day. I can't predict what the future will hold. I can only make some choices along the way and see how they play out over the course of the coming year. I somehow managed a few things this past year I might not have accomplished if I hadn't made the choices I did during 2016.
I whined for years to myself and others how I would like to run another half marathon. I got down to business this year and ran it October 22, 2016. I almost let the year get away from me but when I knew the date of this race I figured out a training plan with the weeks left before that date to get ready. It was a tough race with many hills. I did it. That was what I wanted to do. In the past I would have whined about how I didn't have enough time or placed some other obstacles to make it impossible for myself to do it the way I had before but I figured there was nothing to lose except my whining. It worked. I got it done.
I also started the year off with a mileage goal. I calculated the average number of miles I have run the past six years and it is about 560. I thought I would go for 800 miles this year. It was aggressive for me but I figured what could it hurt. My last run for the year was this morning and it gave me a total of 770 miles for 2016. I was short of my goal of 800 but how can I not be more than satisfied that I was able to improve by so many more miles even when I am so much older than I was six years ago?
I'm not sure what made any difference this time around but somehow putting some plans into action did the job. I figured if it didn't work I couldn't be any worse off than my average. No one would be the wiser if I didn't run another half marathon or if I ran my 560 mile average. It wouldn't be any big loss except there were no loss this year. There were only big gains.
It's time to say goodbye to a good year - 2016. It's almost over with only a few hours to spare. Sixty years and I might have learned a thing or two. Now to use that momentum into my new improved age of sixty-one.
Hello there, 2017. What do you have planned?
TT
Monday, November 21, 2016
Keep stepping
Start.
Two consecutive days with runs is a beginning. A 5K Sunday and 4 miles Monday is just the tip of what may be. It could turn either way but the only way to stop moaning about how badly it's all been is to start now, don't look back and move forward. Keep moving forward. It may be a small amount of kms, miles, time but it all counts as long as it's a forward motion and not whimpering over how it's not being done.
The smallest steps have immeasurable amounts of positive rewards hidden inside.
TT
Two consecutive days with runs is a beginning. A 5K Sunday and 4 miles Monday is just the tip of what may be. It could turn either way but the only way to stop moaning about how badly it's all been is to start now, don't look back and move forward. Keep moving forward. It may be a small amount of kms, miles, time but it all counts as long as it's a forward motion and not whimpering over how it's not being done.
The smallest steps have immeasurable amounts of positive rewards hidden inside.
TT
Sunday, November 20, 2016
Do it
What happened?
I've been missing many runs lately. When I say lately I mean all this month. I can't seem to get into the swing of things the way I managed the past two months. I know my self-prescribed training plan ended right after my half-marathon on October 22 but even so, I haven't been able to figure out what happened to stall and stop almost all my regular runs. I have been a total no-show, no-miles, poor attendance for the entire month of November.
I went out this morning before I could figure out a way to stop. I did a simple 3 mile run. I'm hoping the fact that it was simple, easy, and so doable I will continue and start to build up again. It won't help to spend time trying to figure out what happened when I need to just fix it from here and now and go forward. Keep moving. Keep it simple. Let's do this.
TT
I've been missing many runs lately. When I say lately I mean all this month. I can't seem to get into the swing of things the way I managed the past two months. I know my self-prescribed training plan ended right after my half-marathon on October 22 but even so, I haven't been able to figure out what happened to stall and stop almost all my regular runs. I have been a total no-show, no-miles, poor attendance for the entire month of November.
I went out this morning before I could figure out a way to stop. I did a simple 3 mile run. I'm hoping the fact that it was simple, easy, and so doable I will continue and start to build up again. It won't help to spend time trying to figure out what happened when I need to just fix it from here and now and go forward. Keep moving. Keep it simple. Let's do this.
TT
Friday, November 18, 2016
Gratitude
Ahhh.
And today is Friday. The end of the work week. The beginning of the weekend. Let's all get through today and be set free for multiple hours without harness. To be able to roam and create freely without timetables. It all sounds good until I realize in the middle of the weekend I am watching the clock and fretting over not having enough time or where did the time I had go so quickly? Round and round.
I'm glad it's Friday. I'm glad to have the weekend. But without the week would I appreciate the next few days as much?
TT
And today is Friday. The end of the work week. The beginning of the weekend. Let's all get through today and be set free for multiple hours without harness. To be able to roam and create freely without timetables. It all sounds good until I realize in the middle of the weekend I am watching the clock and fretting over not having enough time or where did the time I had go so quickly? Round and round.
I'm glad it's Friday. I'm glad to have the weekend. But without the week would I appreciate the next few days as much?
TT
Tuesday, October 25, 2016
Battle of Hill-otes
This past Saturday I ran a half marathon. It was a tough one to conquer since it's only description on it's website was: Description: Hilly. It was telling no lies. It was aptly named the Battle of Hillotes which was a play on the name of the small town of Helotes that it took place.
There was no way I was coming home without finishing. I took the past seven weeks and three days following a training plan I devised for myself by plotting it on a spreadsheet. I took 3 or 4 other 10 and 12 week plans that I had and figured out how I could improvise them into something I could actually use. I don't know if it was a good plan or not but it got me to where I wanted to go and that was crossing the finish line.
It was more than planning. It was getting up at 4:00 am and running 3 or 4 sometimes 5 miles before work. The alarm would go off and I would push to get up. Some days it was easy and some days there was no way I believed I hadn't just closed my eyes to fall asleep. There were a few mornings I was up and dressed to run before my brain realized I was ready to go. Coffee was gulped down in a few, hot sips and left for later. I had a finish line I needed to cross. I had work to do before I got there.
The morning of the race it was a cool 49-50 degrees but I knew it would warm up quickly. It only took until mile 2 to get the feeling back in my numb fingers and that was the last I thought about the weather. I had to stare down some mean hills and not just one or two but six, seven, steep and cruel ones. I got to the top of one and just looked out. The sun was coming up and there was a view to see for miles. This is why I do this. When and where else could I have been in this moment.
Looking back at my splits my pace was fast coming up through mile 7 but the hills had taken it out of me and I slowed to some snails pace the last half. I don't know what I was doing on mile 12 except maybe crawling? But none of that mattered since I had no pace goal. I only wanted to defeat the finish line and I did that last Saturday.
Since there aren't many in my age group that ventures out, I placed second in my category with a time of 2:38:38. I was a good 14 minutes behind first place (damn mile 12)! I can at least look at the bright side that the person behind me came in right at 3 hours which put me a good 40 some minutes ahead. It doesn't really matter since all of this is extra. My only wish was to get it done.
Done it is. I'm re-grouping to see what's next.
TT
There was no way I was coming home without finishing. I took the past seven weeks and three days following a training plan I devised for myself by plotting it on a spreadsheet. I took 3 or 4 other 10 and 12 week plans that I had and figured out how I could improvise them into something I could actually use. I don't know if it was a good plan or not but it got me to where I wanted to go and that was crossing the finish line.
It was more than planning. It was getting up at 4:00 am and running 3 or 4 sometimes 5 miles before work. The alarm would go off and I would push to get up. Some days it was easy and some days there was no way I believed I hadn't just closed my eyes to fall asleep. There were a few mornings I was up and dressed to run before my brain realized I was ready to go. Coffee was gulped down in a few, hot sips and left for later. I had a finish line I needed to cross. I had work to do before I got there.
The morning of the race it was a cool 49-50 degrees but I knew it would warm up quickly. It only took until mile 2 to get the feeling back in my numb fingers and that was the last I thought about the weather. I had to stare down some mean hills and not just one or two but six, seven, steep and cruel ones. I got to the top of one and just looked out. The sun was coming up and there was a view to see for miles. This is why I do this. When and where else could I have been in this moment.
Looking back at my splits my pace was fast coming up through mile 7 but the hills had taken it out of me and I slowed to some snails pace the last half. I don't know what I was doing on mile 12 except maybe crawling? But none of that mattered since I had no pace goal. I only wanted to defeat the finish line and I did that last Saturday.
Since there aren't many in my age group that ventures out, I placed second in my category with a time of 2:38:38. I was a good 14 minutes behind first place (damn mile 12)! I can at least look at the bright side that the person behind me came in right at 3 hours which put me a good 40 some minutes ahead. It doesn't really matter since all of this is extra. My only wish was to get it done.
Done it is. I'm re-grouping to see what's next.
TT
Saturday, October 8, 2016
Lots of miles
I could go ahead and give a long list of miles but I did that more than a few times already. I could go back to my last post to see where I left off and add the new numbers to that already too long list. I'll spare myself and you the list.
This past month of September I ended up with a total of 113.37 miles. That is more miles in a month for me in the past six years I have actual stats to compare. I ran 112 miles in October of 2010. It took me six years to do it again but I did last month. I have a total of 40.18 miles for this month and it's the eighth day of the month. That isn't a bad showing by any means. I am 26.38 miles away from meeting the best mileage in any year for me. I won't be doing it as a marathon in one day but give me a week and I'll probably have that stat blown too.
Miles, miles, miles. I had someone ask me how I could run all those miles without anyone or anything chasing me. It's not the most original comment. It isn't original at all. How many times has everyone heard that one before? I probably couldn't even outrun someone if their intention was to chase me down. It doesn't take being pursued to run.
Drive, confidence, consistency, strength, discipline, determination, endurance, courage. Chase me.
TT
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Wednesday, September 28, 2016
Day 28
It's almost the end of the month and I realized I hadn't updated any of my status lately. It hasn't been because I haven't been doing the work, I just haven't sat and gotten it down here.
Day 1 - 6.24 miles
Day 2 - 3.55 miles
Day 3 - 8.17 miles
Day 4 - 5.07 miles
Day 5 - 4.17 miles
Day 6 - 5.63 miles
Day 7 - Rest
Day 8 - Rest
Day 9 - 6.41 miles
Day 10 - 9.08 miles
Day 11 - Rest
Day 12 - 5.27 miles
Day 13 - 4.52 miles
Day 14 - 4.22 miles
Day 15 - Rest
Day 16 - 4.73
Day 17 - 4.73
Day 18 - 5.05
Day 19 - Rest
Day 20 - Rest
Day 21 - Rest
Day 22 - 5.8
Day 23 - Rest
Day 24 - 12.04
Day 25 - Rest
Day 26 - 3.48
Day 27 - 5.05
Day 28 -
Day 29 -
Day 30 -
That brings it all up to date. Only the three days left in the month but I have a total of 103.7 miles for September. It was the goal to hit the 103 miles this month because I had gone through all my stats since 2010 and the last time I had a distance that high in a month was September 2011. That's a lot of years in between without coming close to that distance in a month.
TT
Day 28
It's almost the end of the month and I realized I hadn't updated any of my status lately. It hasn't been because I haven't been doing the work, I just haven't sat and gotten it down here.
Day 1 - 6.24 miles
Day 2 - 3.55 miles
Day 3 - 8.17 miles
Day 4 - 5.07 miles
Day 5 - 4.17 miles
Day 6 - 5.63 miles
Day 7 - Rest
Day 8 - Rest
Day 9 - 6.41 miles
Day 10 - 9.08 miles
Day 11 - Rest
Day 12 - 5.27 miles
Day 13 - 4.52 miles
Day 14 - 4.22 miles
Day 15 - Rest
Day 16 - 4.73
Day 17 - 4.73
Day 18 - 5.05
Day 19 - Rest
Day 20 - Rest
Day 21 - Rest
Day 22 - 5.8
Day 23 - Rest
Day 24 - 12.04
Day 25 - Rest
Day 26 - 3.48
Day 27 - 5.05
Day 28 -
Day 29 -
Day 30 -
That brings it all up to date. Only the three days left in the month but I have a total of 103.7 miles for September. It was the goal to hit the 103 miles this month because I had gone through all my stats since 2010 and the last time I had a distance that high in a month was September 2011. That's a lot of years in between without coming close to that distance in a month.
TT
Wednesday, August 31, 2016
Reflecting on Goals
It's the very last day of August. Since it's the middle of the week it doesn't seem to be anything monumental and I'm not sure it should be anything bigger than another day. It always makes me think of tomorrow when something makes that turn to a stopping point. It makes me think toward the future and what I should be setting as goals for these last four months of this year 2016.
It seems too late to be thinking of setting any goals now. That is supposed to be done in January every year. Goals aren't for September. So don't call them goals if reflections are better. I'm reflecting on what I want to accomplish in the next four months. I'm merely thinking of what I would do and how I want to do it. It doesn't matter to me what time of the year it might be at the moment because some things don't wait or shouldn't.
I can't be sitting around until January, twittling my thumbs, wasting my time. If I have the notion to get started and if this last day of the month of August is an incentive to get started, I will use that as motivation. Time to get a move on.
TT
It seems too late to be thinking of setting any goals now. That is supposed to be done in January every year. Goals aren't for September. So don't call them goals if reflections are better. I'm reflecting on what I want to accomplish in the next four months. I'm merely thinking of what I would do and how I want to do it. It doesn't matter to me what time of the year it might be at the moment because some things don't wait or shouldn't.
I can't be sitting around until January, twittling my thumbs, wasting my time. If I have the notion to get started and if this last day of the month of August is an incentive to get started, I will use that as motivation. Time to get a move on.
TT
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