Since moving to Colorado earlier this year on my long term assignment, my running has taken an unexpected turn. I knew at first the altitude and the dryness were going to make running difficult and that it was going to take some adjustment time. The traveling back to Alabama on work trips every couple of months threw wrenches into training as well. Those items were expected though.
What was unexpected was the joy that would reenter my training.
To be clear, I have always loved running and to be clear, I have always enjoyed the training more than racing. However, even though I love running, sometimes it feels like I am going through the motions in my training. For a little while, I have been focused solely on keeping my hamstrings, my calf muscles, and everything else as healthy as I can. Following my training schedule that my coach and I laid out was my focus. In the process, I lost sight of why I run in the first place. Because I love it.
A change in location, scenery and weather, is what it has taken to remind me of my love of running. This re-insertion of joy into my morning training runs has slowly, yet persistently, occured. It was so subtle at the beginning that I did not even notice it that it was there. Looking back, there were signs, but I didn't fully notice them at the time.
The going to bed looking forward to the early morning alarm. The slight excitement of listening to the weather forecast for the next morning and picking out my running clothes for the morning. The waking up slightly before my alarm and wanting to get out of bed to get running.
This subtle joy was infecting more than just what I thought about getting out the door for training. It was also entering my runs themselves, with or without me consciously noticing it. The joy of seeing my breath on cold morning runs. The joy of hearing my breathing while out running in the early morning before the quietness of the city was shattered by everyone getting out and about. The joy of the sun coming up over the horizon.
While I have started to realize that I was enjoying my training runs more lately, it had not hit me with the full force that it did this weekend.
On my long run on Saturday morning, I got out early, although not quite as early as I do during the work week. It was still dark and it was cold. About 3 miles into my run, even though it was still less than 20º, I realized that I had a smile on my face. While my face was still adjusting to the cold breeze, the rest of me was filled with warmth. I took stock of my body, starting from my feet and working up to my head. Everything seemed to be full of running.
The sun was just starting to inch up as I headed on a new path that I had not run on before. About half way along this greenway, I looked up. I hadn't noticed until right then that I had a perfect view of the whole breadth of the front range of the Rockies with the rising sun turning them that reddish-pinkish hue. Given where I was, there was nothing blocking my view and I was able to take in the Rockies as they were meant to be seen. Even though I was miles away from them, they appeared massive. Overwhelming. Before I knew it and without my mind taking part in the decision, I had stopped and was standing there with a goofy grin on my face looking left and right at this beautiful, impressive scene. While I felt like staying there longer, soaking it in, I knew the rest of my run awaited. So I took off again, the smile coming with me.
Next came my recovery run this morning. I allowed myself the opportunity to sleep in a little this morning before going out for my run. The sun was already starting to come up when I got out and let me tell you, my normal running routes looked different in the sunlight than in the dark. I didn't have to worry about looking down to make sure I saw cracks and potholes waiting to twist my ankles which allowed me to look around more. I enjoyed looking at the houses along my downtown route this morning. I enjoyed looking at the Christmas decorations that many of them sported. I enjoyed seeing more people out on their morning walks with their dogs, especially the seeing the dogs part. Once again, I found myself smiling and once again, my body was full of running.
When I was finished with my run, I was thinking about how my runs had gone this weekend. It suddenly dawned on me that in these runs, it was not that my body was full of running. It was that my body was full of joy. The smile on my face while I was running was the excess joy that my body could not contain.
This was something that I had not felt for some time. It took some running next to the Rockies, soaking in the view, along with some cold, non-humid weather, to stoke the fire within me and bring the joy back to the surface. But it is back and I am hoping it stays for a long, long time.
Sunday, December 9, 2018
Sunday, December 2, 2018
Long and Fast Weekends
By the title, you are probably saying to yourself, "Oh, great. Another post of Jim's talking about how great of a long run he had this weekend." Or maybe you are saying to yourself, "Oh, great. Another post about being tired of being injured and finally having a great weekend run."
Sorry to disappoint if that is what you were thinking. Instead, this is going to be one of my non-running related posts. It does, however, continue my string of posts, albeit spotty, on random thoughts and facts about my personal life.
You should consider yourselves lucky (said with tongue in cheek). I usually have to know someone for quite a while before I share anything personal and that is usually reserved for my family and my closest of friends. Oh, who am I kidding. I don't really have "closest of friends" as that would require more energy than this introvert has. So, thank the fact that posting online allows for folks like me to more easily share from behind the safety of a computer screen.
Back to the title. As you may be aware (see past posts), I am on a long term assignment in Colorado Springs. Given this, I do not get to see my family much. I take the occasional work trips back to AL and E- plans visits out here in between my work trips. With two doggos at home though, we do not like for her to come out very often. This weekend, E- found a deal that was too good to pass up. With Frontier flying direct from HSV to Denver now, she finds occasional deals that are too good to pass up. This weekend was one of those deals.
I had been telling her that the Festival of Lights parade was this weekend. I have never been to one here in downtown CoS, but from looking into it, it looked like a pretty big parade that a lot of people come to watch. My apartment complex was also going to have a cocktail party before the parade. The Frontier deal was the perfect storm with this weekend's events and we couldn't pass it up. Of course, even if there was nothing going on here this weekend, I still would have wanted her to come visit because she is my life and my light.
Thursday night she arrived and she left this morning. As I type this, her plane is getting ready to take off. That is where the long weekend comes in. I had from Thursday night until this morning to spend the long weekend with her. As usual, I had an awesome weekend with her. With Christmas approaching faster than ever, the weekend was full of activities centered around the run-up to Christmas. We went to a craft fair at Colorado College. We walked around looking at the Christmas lights and decorations that have appeared throughout downtown CoS. We, of course, enjoyed some cocktails and then stood out in the cold (and some snow) to watch the Festival of Lights parade, enjoying every minute of it. And, yes, I probably do not have to state this, but we enjoyed some Christmas shopping while frequenting several of our most favorite CoS coffee shops.
The most fun to me was walking around with her, holding her hand, having her next to me. There will never be anything that is more fun to me than that. I repeat, nothing will ever be more fun to me than this when I am with her. That one simple thing makes me feel whole. That one simple thing makes everything right.
And this brings me to the rest of the title. While this was a long weekend, it went way, way too fast. Weekends usually go fast, as you all know, but weekends like this, when you are with a person that makes you feel happy just being near them, go by in a flash. As I stood in the cold this morning watching E- drive off, it already felt like this weekend had been imagined; it was a dream in a blink of an eye. And it was over.
I will see her soon, in less than two weeks, but compared to this weekend, that will feel like an eternity. As I watched her car disappear around the corner, it suddenly felt very cold outside. My light was gone and my wholeness was suddenly less than whole once again.
If there is one thing I wish I could give to everyone, it would be the ability to have that person that is your life and your light and the ability to make those long weekends slow down to where they feel like an eternity, with the time in between moving at the speed of light. I have that person. Now, I just need to work on the time.
May your weekends be long and slow.
Sorry to disappoint if that is what you were thinking. Instead, this is going to be one of my non-running related posts. It does, however, continue my string of posts, albeit spotty, on random thoughts and facts about my personal life.
You should consider yourselves lucky (said with tongue in cheek). I usually have to know someone for quite a while before I share anything personal and that is usually reserved for my family and my closest of friends. Oh, who am I kidding. I don't really have "closest of friends" as that would require more energy than this introvert has. So, thank the fact that posting online allows for folks like me to more easily share from behind the safety of a computer screen.
Back to the title. As you may be aware (see past posts), I am on a long term assignment in Colorado Springs. Given this, I do not get to see my family much. I take the occasional work trips back to AL and E- plans visits out here in between my work trips. With two doggos at home though, we do not like for her to come out very often. This weekend, E- found a deal that was too good to pass up. With Frontier flying direct from HSV to Denver now, she finds occasional deals that are too good to pass up. This weekend was one of those deals.
I had been telling her that the Festival of Lights parade was this weekend. I have never been to one here in downtown CoS, but from looking into it, it looked like a pretty big parade that a lot of people come to watch. My apartment complex was also going to have a cocktail party before the parade. The Frontier deal was the perfect storm with this weekend's events and we couldn't pass it up. Of course, even if there was nothing going on here this weekend, I still would have wanted her to come visit because she is my life and my light.
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| My Light |
Thursday night she arrived and she left this morning. As I type this, her plane is getting ready to take off. That is where the long weekend comes in. I had from Thursday night until this morning to spend the long weekend with her. As usual, I had an awesome weekend with her. With Christmas approaching faster than ever, the weekend was full of activities centered around the run-up to Christmas. We went to a craft fair at Colorado College. We walked around looking at the Christmas lights and decorations that have appeared throughout downtown CoS. We, of course, enjoyed some cocktails and then stood out in the cold (and some snow) to watch the Festival of Lights parade, enjoying every minute of it. And, yes, I probably do not have to state this, but we enjoyed some Christmas shopping while frequenting several of our most favorite CoS coffee shops.
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| Festival Of Lights Parade |
And this brings me to the rest of the title. While this was a long weekend, it went way, way too fast. Weekends usually go fast, as you all know, but weekends like this, when you are with a person that makes you feel happy just being near them, go by in a flash. As I stood in the cold this morning watching E- drive off, it already felt like this weekend had been imagined; it was a dream in a blink of an eye. And it was over.
I will see her soon, in less than two weeks, but compared to this weekend, that will feel like an eternity. As I watched her car disappear around the corner, it suddenly felt very cold outside. My light was gone and my wholeness was suddenly less than whole once again.
If there is one thing I wish I could give to everyone, it would be the ability to have that person that is your life and your light and the ability to make those long weekends slow down to where they feel like an eternity, with the time in between moving at the speed of light. I have that person. Now, I just need to work on the time.
May your weekends be long and slow.
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| My Fav Float |
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| It's Santa!!! |
Sunday, August 26, 2018
Observing and the Benefit of the Doubt
As most of you know that know much about me, I love God, I love my family, I love running, I love listening to all kinds of music, and I love coffee and coffee shops. Mostly in that order, maybe coffee before music.
One of my other favorite pastimes though is using my powers of observation and sitting in places and just people watching. I think that's one reason I love coming to coffee shops in the mornings on weekends or sitting in breweries sipping a good stout in the evening. They are great places to sit and think about my plans and my life in general, but they are also great places to watch the bustle of humanity come through or walk by.
I like pondering what the people passing through have planned for their day. I like seeing what books are being read and whether the person reading them is enjoying them. I like wondering if I would like the music they are listening to. I liked wondering if the employees working are enjoying their work or if they are just putting on a smile for the customers.
I enjoy watching the first dates, the blind dates, the business meetings, the new employees learning their job and their roles, the runners and cyclists getting some coffee after their training, the young puppies being socialized, and the older couples just sitting and enjoying each others company and life in general.
One of the reasons I believe I have been successful in what I do in my job is because I am observant. I pick up on very minor things that just don't look right or on things that just don't feel right. Once you are able to notice these little hints and clues, then you can focus on them and ignore the rest of the chaff that is just covering and you can start to figure out what really is going on. I not only put this to use at work, but it is what makes people watching so fun to me.
There are a lot of people I see that are downright rude, or obviously having a really bad day, and lately I have been trying to view these people with the lens that there has to be good in all people and that everyone has that something that they are dealing with or struggling with in their life. I watch the employee that is obviously off their game and wonder what they are thinking about even as they are trying to do their job. I watch the person on their phone who is obviously having a conversation they would rather not be having. I watch the young couple on a date and wonder if they feel like this is another dead end. When you try to give people the benefit of the doubt that they are trying and you look at them with the lens that something else in their life is causing them to act like they are, then I believe you are being a better fellow human. It is a struggle sometimes to think this when someone is behaving in a manner that leads to them not treating you or someone else very well, but I think it is a worthy attitude to try to have.
If you enjoy observing others or even if you don't normally do it, I encourage you to give it a try and to give folks the benefit of the doubt. Assume there is some reason they are in a bad mood or that they appear to be angry. If you assume this, then you can start to see them as good people. Look them in the eyes and give them a smile. Heck, just look them in the eye and give them the recognition that says someone cares they are here. Say a kind word to them even if you do not think they deserve one.
Oh, and have fun just people watching.
One of my other favorite pastimes though is using my powers of observation and sitting in places and just people watching. I think that's one reason I love coming to coffee shops in the mornings on weekends or sitting in breweries sipping a good stout in the evening. They are great places to sit and think about my plans and my life in general, but they are also great places to watch the bustle of humanity come through or walk by.
I like pondering what the people passing through have planned for their day. I like seeing what books are being read and whether the person reading them is enjoying them. I like wondering if I would like the music they are listening to. I liked wondering if the employees working are enjoying their work or if they are just putting on a smile for the customers.
I enjoy watching the first dates, the blind dates, the business meetings, the new employees learning their job and their roles, the runners and cyclists getting some coffee after their training, the young puppies being socialized, and the older couples just sitting and enjoying each others company and life in general.
One of the reasons I believe I have been successful in what I do in my job is because I am observant. I pick up on very minor things that just don't look right or on things that just don't feel right. Once you are able to notice these little hints and clues, then you can focus on them and ignore the rest of the chaff that is just covering and you can start to figure out what really is going on. I not only put this to use at work, but it is what makes people watching so fun to me.
There are a lot of people I see that are downright rude, or obviously having a really bad day, and lately I have been trying to view these people with the lens that there has to be good in all people and that everyone has that something that they are dealing with or struggling with in their life. I watch the employee that is obviously off their game and wonder what they are thinking about even as they are trying to do their job. I watch the person on their phone who is obviously having a conversation they would rather not be having. I watch the young couple on a date and wonder if they feel like this is another dead end. When you try to give people the benefit of the doubt that they are trying and you look at them with the lens that something else in their life is causing them to act like they are, then I believe you are being a better fellow human. It is a struggle sometimes to think this when someone is behaving in a manner that leads to them not treating you or someone else very well, but I think it is a worthy attitude to try to have.
If you enjoy observing others or even if you don't normally do it, I encourage you to give it a try and to give folks the benefit of the doubt. Assume there is some reason they are in a bad mood or that they appear to be angry. If you assume this, then you can start to see them as good people. Look them in the eyes and give them a smile. Heck, just look them in the eye and give them the recognition that says someone cares they are here. Say a kind word to them even if you do not think they deserve one.
Oh, and have fun just people watching.
Sunday, August 19, 2018
Lifeline
Been a little while since I last posted. I have busy going back and forth between AL and CO and trying to settle into a new routine in a new city and state. Getting new hangouts (which is pretty easy since there is a coffee shop as well as a brewery within 50 yds of my apartment building), finding new places to run, and exploring a new location have taken up most of my time besides work.
As I expected, the hardest part is being away from E- for long stretches of time. I knew this part was going to be hard and it still continues to be. This process is solidifying one thing though. How much I love her and how much I enjoy being with her. I have known for a very, very long time now, since our graduate school days in Clemson, that she is my best friend. However, I now have cemented it in my brain that she is much more than that. I cannot put into words how nice it is for me when I know that she is in the same house as I am. I don't have to be in the same room and don't have to be in visible contact with her. I just have to know that she is there and I am happy and content. I just have to know that I can find her and give her a hug and a kiss if I want to. I just have to know that I can hear her voice if I want to. It sounds cliché, but she is my soul mate in every sense of the word.
When I wake up in the morning here in CoS or when I walk in the door when getting home from work, I have that momentary thought of looking for her. It is quickly replaced by being somewhat disheartened when I remember where I am and where she is. She is in my thoughts a lot. I definitely miss her big time. Even though we are miles apart, I still feel that lifeline that connects me to her. It is my fuel line and it is what sustains me. It has for over 25 years now and I am more dependent on it now than I have ever been. Without it, I truly believe I would waste away to nothingness.
So, while I sit here enjoying one of my new hangouts, I have many wishes.
I wish she was across the table from me reading a book and enjoying a coffee with me.
I wish she was here so I could show her that I am capable of cooking a decent dinner even though I still have my doubts.
I wish she was here to enjoy exploring this city with me.
I wish she was here so I could see and hear her when I wake up in the morning, when I get home from work, and that she is the last thing I see before going to sleep at night.
I wish she was here so that my lifeline was not stretched quite so far.
I wish she was here because she is my best friend and she is my soul mate.
I wish she was here.
As I expected, the hardest part is being away from E- for long stretches of time. I knew this part was going to be hard and it still continues to be. This process is solidifying one thing though. How much I love her and how much I enjoy being with her. I have known for a very, very long time now, since our graduate school days in Clemson, that she is my best friend. However, I now have cemented it in my brain that she is much more than that. I cannot put into words how nice it is for me when I know that she is in the same house as I am. I don't have to be in the same room and don't have to be in visible contact with her. I just have to know that she is there and I am happy and content. I just have to know that I can find her and give her a hug and a kiss if I want to. I just have to know that I can hear her voice if I want to. It sounds cliché, but she is my soul mate in every sense of the word.
When I wake up in the morning here in CoS or when I walk in the door when getting home from work, I have that momentary thought of looking for her. It is quickly replaced by being somewhat disheartened when I remember where I am and where she is. She is in my thoughts a lot. I definitely miss her big time. Even though we are miles apart, I still feel that lifeline that connects me to her. It is my fuel line and it is what sustains me. It has for over 25 years now and I am more dependent on it now than I have ever been. Without it, I truly believe I would waste away to nothingness.
So, while I sit here enjoying one of my new hangouts, I have many wishes.
I wish she was across the table from me reading a book and enjoying a coffee with me.
I wish she was here so I could show her that I am capable of cooking a decent dinner even though I still have my doubts.
I wish she was here to enjoy exploring this city with me.
I wish she was here so I could see and hear her when I wake up in the morning, when I get home from work, and that she is the last thing I see before going to sleep at night.
I wish she was here so that my lifeline was not stretched quite so far.
I wish she was here because she is my best friend and she is my soul mate.
I wish she was here.
Sunday, July 15, 2018
Change and Future is Here and This is Good.
So, with my drive to Colorado Springs the past couple days, my long term assignment is beginning in earnest. While I have been out here quite a bit over the past several months, I am now here for good and any business trips will be back to Huntsville. On a previous trip, M- and I had found an apartment, mainly so that M had a place to stay for his internship. Now is my turn to settle into the apartment instead of just feeling like I am visiting him. This is good.
I have unpacked and put away all of the items that E-, Rebbie, and I packed into my little car. It is nice that I am already familiar with the apartment and the surrounding blocks around the building and I am not feeling like I am starting completely from scratch, although I still feel very close to that point. This is good.
I am ready to truly live here, take in the new location and all of the sites and sounds that it has to offer, and immerse myself in new things. It is going to be scary, no doubt, but I do not feel scared and I have not had one ounce of questioning this decision. This is good.
To me, the fact that I am not doubting is miraculous. I doubt my own decisions on a daily basis. I question myself and what I choose to do all the time. I am my own devil's advocate whether I want to be or not. I hate failing at anything and so usually end up making choices that make the probability of failure essentially non-existent. This is not good.
But not with this. Right now, there is no doubt. There is no questioning my own choice. There is just the feeling that this is what I needed at this point in my career and the feeling of expectation of what might come. Bring it on. If I fail this time, I don't care. I really don't. If it doesn't work out, at least I will be able to say that I didn't take the safe path and I will be satisfied. This is good.
The only other decision I have made in my life that I had no doubts about at all was the decision that E- was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. That one decision alone has set the tone for my life and is the cornerstone that everything else has become dependent on. This is great.
While I am positive that this choice was the right choice at this point in my life, there is one bad part of how it is starting out. The bad part of right now has to do with running. I have been looking forward to being here long term and training in the altitude. My training was going great and my workouts were truly being a blessing to me, until 2 weeks ago, when a pesky calf decided that I was having too much fun. Since then I haven't been able to run. I tried this morning and it was a quick no-go. This is killing me, finally being here in the scenery, the altitude, and the cool morning temps, and not being able to step outside and run. If I were more of a cussing man, I would have a full blown rant at my calf. This is not good.
But, while I cannot have as much fun as I want to be having right now, that still isn't diminishing how much I am looking forward to the coming months and more. This is good.
I am finally here and it is finally starting for good. I have already found several local places that are becoming my haunts. Loyal Coffee (essentially connected to my apartment building - not good for the wallet), Switchback Roasters, and Wild Goose Meeting House are becoming my coffee places. Iron Bird Brewing Company (again, connected to my apartment building) and many other local places (probably going to be too many) are becoming my places to go grab a drink when I feel like it. Lots of new and great places to eat when I don't feel like cooking. Lots of new events and evening concerts to start visiting. This is good.
I hope that all of you out there that are considering making decisions, in the middle of making a decision, or starting out after a decision have as much peace and confidence in your thought process and your decisions as I have right now in mine. May it be good.
I have unpacked and put away all of the items that E-, Rebbie, and I packed into my little car. It is nice that I am already familiar with the apartment and the surrounding blocks around the building and I am not feeling like I am starting completely from scratch, although I still feel very close to that point. This is good.
I am ready to truly live here, take in the new location and all of the sites and sounds that it has to offer, and immerse myself in new things. It is going to be scary, no doubt, but I do not feel scared and I have not had one ounce of questioning this decision. This is good.
To me, the fact that I am not doubting is miraculous. I doubt my own decisions on a daily basis. I question myself and what I choose to do all the time. I am my own devil's advocate whether I want to be or not. I hate failing at anything and so usually end up making choices that make the probability of failure essentially non-existent. This is not good.
But not with this. Right now, there is no doubt. There is no questioning my own choice. There is just the feeling that this is what I needed at this point in my career and the feeling of expectation of what might come. Bring it on. If I fail this time, I don't care. I really don't. If it doesn't work out, at least I will be able to say that I didn't take the safe path and I will be satisfied. This is good.
The only other decision I have made in my life that I had no doubts about at all was the decision that E- was the one that I wanted to spend the rest of my life with. That one decision alone has set the tone for my life and is the cornerstone that everything else has become dependent on. This is great.
While I am positive that this choice was the right choice at this point in my life, there is one bad part of how it is starting out. The bad part of right now has to do with running. I have been looking forward to being here long term and training in the altitude. My training was going great and my workouts were truly being a blessing to me, until 2 weeks ago, when a pesky calf decided that I was having too much fun. Since then I haven't been able to run. I tried this morning and it was a quick no-go. This is killing me, finally being here in the scenery, the altitude, and the cool morning temps, and not being able to step outside and run. If I were more of a cussing man, I would have a full blown rant at my calf. This is not good.
But, while I cannot have as much fun as I want to be having right now, that still isn't diminishing how much I am looking forward to the coming months and more. This is good.
I am finally here and it is finally starting for good. I have already found several local places that are becoming my haunts. Loyal Coffee (essentially connected to my apartment building - not good for the wallet), Switchback Roasters, and Wild Goose Meeting House are becoming my coffee places. Iron Bird Brewing Company (again, connected to my apartment building) and many other local places (probably going to be too many) are becoming my places to go grab a drink when I feel like it. Lots of new and great places to eat when I don't feel like cooking. Lots of new events and evening concerts to start visiting. This is good.
I hope that all of you out there that are considering making decisions, in the middle of making a decision, or starting out after a decision have as much peace and confidence in your thought process and your decisions as I have right now in mine. May it be good.
Saturday, June 2, 2018
Run to Race or Race to Run
I have been thinking the last couple of weeks about races. Not about running one really, but just about those larger races that have taken place the last couple of months. I see folks I know talking online about races they participated in or have coming up or speak to local runners about how their races went. With Memorial Day just occurring, there was a lot of talk about Bolder Boulder and locally about the Cotton Row Run here in Huntsville. When reading about folks races and talking to others, I am really not jealous that I didn't get to race with them. I haven't really felt anything that would be classified as missing running in the races. I have sort of been like this my whole life, but here in the past 3 years maybe, I have not had the urge to jump in weekend races or participate in many races during the year.
Now don't get me wrong, I still absolutely love running. You may think I am nuts, but I enjoy my alarm going off at 5 and finding the inner push to get out of bed and get out on the roads. I enjoy the training. I thrive on the self-motivation. I enjoy having a plan from Coach Will and I love having the discipline to follow that plan. I love the track workouts; I love the tempo runs; I love the long runs; I love the short, easy recovery runs. Ok - truth in advertising, I only like the tempo runs. I love when they are over and I have accomplished them though. There is something satisfying about having a plan and accomplishing that plan week after week.
I just do not love the races though. I am not talking about not loving the effort required to run a race. I am talking about just not feeling it when it comes to stepping up to the starting line. I am likely in the minority among runners, here. I feel like most runners enjoy racing and tolerate training so that they can race harder and faster. I, on the other hand, only really use a race as a focal point to base my training around. It gives a little upper to just going out every day and doing whatever sort of training run I feel like doing. It adds a plan to the training. I like the idea of a race being somewhere out there in the future that my training is based around. I just don't like when it comes time for that race.
To be honest again, most times waking up on the morning of a race, driving to the race, and toeing the starting line actually mildly terrifies me. Yes, you read that correctly. It scares me. Now I have always had nerves when it comes to racing, but the past couple of years those nerves have morphed into being downright scared. I do not know what is scary to me. I don't think it is some innate fear of failure or fear of not placing somewhere high, but I cannot rule that out I guess. Maybe with the injuries that have plagued me over the past couple of years, I now have instilled a correlation in my head to racing and having a sidelining injury and my body and mind would rather not race than have to take a long time off from training. I have joked with myself many times that a sports psychologist is what I really need.
My running self has evolved into someone that races to run. What I mean by that is I would rather just be training for a race than actually racing. I no longer run to race. I no longer put up with training so that it makes me a better racer. In thinking about this over the past several weeks, I don't know if this is normal for folks my age that are well on the downward slope of the ability graph. Is this something that comes about when you are somewhere around the half century mark? Or is it just how my body and mind have decided to live out this portion of my life.
I would like to know, if for no other reason than my own sanity, what others think. For those that are around my age or older, do you still enjoy racing? Did there come a time in your life where you changed from running to race to racing to run like I have? For those not around my age, what are your thoughts? Am I in the minority when it comes to this?
Let me know.
While I wait to see what everyone else thinks, I will continue to revel in my alarm going off and in hitting the roads to follow the plan that Coach has set for me. I will continue to bask in the glow of my training runs and accomplishing them, knocking them off day by day. And, since it is hard for me to let go of things, I will continue to stress about and fear race days.
Now don't get me wrong, I still absolutely love running. You may think I am nuts, but I enjoy my alarm going off at 5 and finding the inner push to get out of bed and get out on the roads. I enjoy the training. I thrive on the self-motivation. I enjoy having a plan from Coach Will and I love having the discipline to follow that plan. I love the track workouts; I love the tempo runs; I love the long runs; I love the short, easy recovery runs. Ok - truth in advertising, I only like the tempo runs. I love when they are over and I have accomplished them though. There is something satisfying about having a plan and accomplishing that plan week after week.
I just do not love the races though. I am not talking about not loving the effort required to run a race. I am talking about just not feeling it when it comes to stepping up to the starting line. I am likely in the minority among runners, here. I feel like most runners enjoy racing and tolerate training so that they can race harder and faster. I, on the other hand, only really use a race as a focal point to base my training around. It gives a little upper to just going out every day and doing whatever sort of training run I feel like doing. It adds a plan to the training. I like the idea of a race being somewhere out there in the future that my training is based around. I just don't like when it comes time for that race.
To be honest again, most times waking up on the morning of a race, driving to the race, and toeing the starting line actually mildly terrifies me. Yes, you read that correctly. It scares me. Now I have always had nerves when it comes to racing, but the past couple of years those nerves have morphed into being downright scared. I do not know what is scary to me. I don't think it is some innate fear of failure or fear of not placing somewhere high, but I cannot rule that out I guess. Maybe with the injuries that have plagued me over the past couple of years, I now have instilled a correlation in my head to racing and having a sidelining injury and my body and mind would rather not race than have to take a long time off from training. I have joked with myself many times that a sports psychologist is what I really need.
My running self has evolved into someone that races to run. What I mean by that is I would rather just be training for a race than actually racing. I no longer run to race. I no longer put up with training so that it makes me a better racer. In thinking about this over the past several weeks, I don't know if this is normal for folks my age that are well on the downward slope of the ability graph. Is this something that comes about when you are somewhere around the half century mark? Or is it just how my body and mind have decided to live out this portion of my life.
I would like to know, if for no other reason than my own sanity, what others think. For those that are around my age or older, do you still enjoy racing? Did there come a time in your life where you changed from running to race to racing to run like I have? For those not around my age, what are your thoughts? Am I in the minority when it comes to this?
Let me know.
While I wait to see what everyone else thinks, I will continue to revel in my alarm going off and in hitting the roads to follow the plan that Coach has set for me. I will continue to bask in the glow of my training runs and accomplishing them, knocking them off day by day. And, since it is hard for me to let go of things, I will continue to stress about and fear race days.
Saturday, May 19, 2018
Setting Up Shop in Colorado Springs
So, the last week has been a whirlwind of trying to find a place to live in Colorado Springs, getting work done, signing papers for that place to live, shopping for some furniture and household items to make the place somewhat livable, setting up utilities, getting Matthew set up in his new internship, and still getting my running in at altitude.
I am exhausted. But it is getting done. I miss having E- with me to help as she is the one that has the head for this. She is a lot smarter about these types of things than I am. I have been relying on texts and phone calls with her a lot this past week. I miss having her here to help with decisions; however, I miss her so much more because she is my sweetheart. I miss seeing her before I fall asleep. I miss seeing her when I get up in the morning to go run. I miss seeing her when I get back from work. I am definitely being selfish because I want her to move here with me. This long term assignment is going to be hard being away from her. I knew that was going to be the case before I started working this with my company, but now it is hitting me as to the depth of this longing. I am sure I will get through it, but this aspect is going to be the worst part of the coming year.
On a brighter note, I have immensely enjoyed this past week with M-. He is getting his feet wet in his new internship position and I think he is having a ball so far being in Colorado Springs. I am so excited for him to get to spend the summer here and I hope that he gets out and about to do as many things away from work as he can. Due to him not having all of his badges yet, he has been having to ride to and from work with me, a 25 minute trip each way, and he has been staying with me until we get the apartment set up. This is the most time I have spent with him for years and years, and I don't know about him, but I know that he hasn't gotten on my nerves at all! I am sure I have gotten on his, but that's what Dads do. It has been fun shopping for the apartment and furniture with him. I am sure our testosterone dominated minds haven't picked out the best furniture in the world, but it is ours. Our bachelor pad is coming together (somewhat :-) ).
The coming months are going to continue to be a whirlwind, I am sure. I can already tell that when M- is done with his internship and has to go back to school in August, my life is going to become lonely. I will miss E-; I will miss Rebbie; I will miss M-; I will miss my pups. This is what I feel that I am being called to do for work though, so that will sustain me when I am missing them the most.
So this chapter of my life is taking shape. The intro is being written and we will see how it takes shape. Right now the conclusion is unknown and this chapter could definitely go a multitude of directions. Hopefully it will end up being a fun ride!
 |
| View of Pikes Peak |
 |
| View from Garden of the Gods |
On a brighter note, I have immensely enjoyed this past week with M-. He is getting his feet wet in his new internship position and I think he is having a ball so far being in Colorado Springs. I am so excited for him to get to spend the summer here and I hope that he gets out and about to do as many things away from work as he can. Due to him not having all of his badges yet, he has been having to ride to and from work with me, a 25 minute trip each way, and he has been staying with me until we get the apartment set up. This is the most time I have spent with him for years and years, and I don't know about him, but I know that he hasn't gotten on my nerves at all! I am sure I have gotten on his, but that's what Dads do. It has been fun shopping for the apartment and furniture with him. I am sure our testosterone dominated minds haven't picked out the best furniture in the world, but it is ours. Our bachelor pad is coming together (somewhat :-) ).
 |
| M- outside of Garden of the Gods |
 |
| M- in Garden of the Gods |
The coming months are going to continue to be a whirlwind, I am sure. I can already tell that when M- is done with his internship and has to go back to school in August, my life is going to become lonely. I will miss E-; I will miss Rebbie; I will miss M-; I will miss my pups. This is what I feel that I am being called to do for work though, so that will sustain me when I am missing them the most.
So this chapter of my life is taking shape. The intro is being written and we will see how it takes shape. Right now the conclusion is unknown and this chapter could definitely go a multitude of directions. Hopefully it will end up being a fun ride!
Sunday, April 22, 2018
Progression (And That Someone)
Having recently talked about my work location changes, it got me thinking about progression in facets of my life. Progression of getting things at work set up and approved for the assignment in Colorado Springs is just one of the items that I have been tracking and thinking about lately.
Another that has been on my mind for a long time is my running progression and getting back to a semblance of shape that I used to be in prior to my hamstring injuries. While I know that I likely will never be able to spin my wheels on the streets as fast as I used to, I do know that I have some racing left in me and am training to get to the point where I can do that. My training has been going quite well. I am pleased to say the least. My coach has me up to around 50 miles a week and we just bumped up the number of days per week I am training from 5 to 6. This progression has been metered out slowly over the past 4-5 months so that I do not have a reoccurrence of my hamstring issues and to force me to make sure I am working not only on my running, but also on keeping my muscles and core strengthened. While we are slowly bumping up the mileage, we are also bumping up the types of workouts I am completing, track intervals, progression runs, tempos, fartlek runs, wave tempos. Getting back into these types of runs is infusing my spirit. I didn't realize how much I had been missing getting some laps in on the track. The big thing I figured out I was missing was the feeling you get after completing one of those hard workouts that at first seems daunting when read. Success breeds success when it comes to running and training.
If I take a look at my life from a somewhat wider focus, there is something that I see that has been present in my work progression as well as running progression, supporting me in these focused areas and contributing to these areas, but also has been present in everything else in my life and I dare say defines my life. That something is my wife. Elizabeth truly is my life. She is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning. She is the last thing I think of when I go to sleep. I do not know that I could keep track of the number of times I think about her during the day when I am at work.
But, you say, how does this fit into the theme of progression? Getting to the point where I have this immense love for E- has been a steady progression from when I first met her years ago at Clemson. Have I loved her all of this time? Of course I have. But this love is multi-faceted and builds upon itself. Just as success breeds success in running, love breeds love in life. We have been married for over 25 years now and I am still finding things about E- that make me grin like a kid and build my love for her. If someone is your life, you can't help but build your love for them and you can't help but get excited about how your life with them will progress, no matter how long you have had them in your life. I have been thinking about this a lot lately because as I potentially transition in the work place, I will be away from her for long periods of time and I am not going to like that. I always want to be around her, mainly just to be around her. She calms me. She is my focal point when I need to orient myself. I am hoping that I will be able to find that focal point over the phone when I need it while in Colorado without her.
Progression. Everything we successfully do in life has a progression. Everything we unsuccessfully do in life has a progression. Everything we attempt has a progression. You get my point. How you live your life depends on how you meter out that progression. Be wise in how you progress and items in your life will work themselves out.
What items are you working on right now in your lives? Do you have a progression plan for them or are you sitting back and just observing how they progress? No matter which, I hope you have someone in your life that is there with you as you go. I definitely know I have such a someone and I love her to death.
Another that has been on my mind for a long time is my running progression and getting back to a semblance of shape that I used to be in prior to my hamstring injuries. While I know that I likely will never be able to spin my wheels on the streets as fast as I used to, I do know that I have some racing left in me and am training to get to the point where I can do that. My training has been going quite well. I am pleased to say the least. My coach has me up to around 50 miles a week and we just bumped up the number of days per week I am training from 5 to 6. This progression has been metered out slowly over the past 4-5 months so that I do not have a reoccurrence of my hamstring issues and to force me to make sure I am working not only on my running, but also on keeping my muscles and core strengthened. While we are slowly bumping up the mileage, we are also bumping up the types of workouts I am completing, track intervals, progression runs, tempos, fartlek runs, wave tempos. Getting back into these types of runs is infusing my spirit. I didn't realize how much I had been missing getting some laps in on the track. The big thing I figured out I was missing was the feeling you get after completing one of those hard workouts that at first seems daunting when read. Success breeds success when it comes to running and training.
If I take a look at my life from a somewhat wider focus, there is something that I see that has been present in my work progression as well as running progression, supporting me in these focused areas and contributing to these areas, but also has been present in everything else in my life and I dare say defines my life. That something is my wife. Elizabeth truly is my life. She is the first thing I think of when I wake up in the morning. She is the last thing I think of when I go to sleep. I do not know that I could keep track of the number of times I think about her during the day when I am at work.
But, you say, how does this fit into the theme of progression? Getting to the point where I have this immense love for E- has been a steady progression from when I first met her years ago at Clemson. Have I loved her all of this time? Of course I have. But this love is multi-faceted and builds upon itself. Just as success breeds success in running, love breeds love in life. We have been married for over 25 years now and I am still finding things about E- that make me grin like a kid and build my love for her. If someone is your life, you can't help but build your love for them and you can't help but get excited about how your life with them will progress, no matter how long you have had them in your life. I have been thinking about this a lot lately because as I potentially transition in the work place, I will be away from her for long periods of time and I am not going to like that. I always want to be around her, mainly just to be around her. She calms me. She is my focal point when I need to orient myself. I am hoping that I will be able to find that focal point over the phone when I need it while in Colorado without her.
Progression. Everything we successfully do in life has a progression. Everything we unsuccessfully do in life has a progression. Everything we attempt has a progression. You get my point. How you live your life depends on how you meter out that progression. Be wise in how you progress and items in your life will work themselves out.
What items are you working on right now in your lives? Do you have a progression plan for them or are you sitting back and just observing how they progress? No matter which, I hope you have someone in your life that is there with you as you go. I definitely know I have such a someone and I love her to death.
Sunday, April 15, 2018
Decision!
So in my last post, which by the way has been too long ago, I wrote of how I tend to handle making larger decisions, and how I tend to obsess over them (see: Decisions, Decisions). I have not followed up since then on if I had made a decision yet.
Well, I have. More accurately, we have, as this decision involved my whole family, not just me. At work, I have been pursuing an innovation which involves a new type of position. This position involves embedding a development/integration position at a location that is not Huntsville. As part of bringing this to my program for consideration, I have volunteered to be the person to assume these new roles and responsibilities. What this means is that I will be splitting time between here in Alabama and in:
(imaginary drum roll)
Colorado Springs, CO
As I move into this role, the bulk of my time will gravitate towards CO. What about my family, you ask? For the next several years, E- and I did not feel comfortable doing a full-blown move to CO while thekids adult children are in college. We wanted to have someone close enough to drive to Auburn or Starkville in case something came up. Even with a larger part of my time being in CO, I will be in Huntsville periodically and E- will come out to CO to spend time there too. Part of this will be E- and I feeling out how this works, how we feel about it and things like that. Same goes for figuring out the work/position part.
When I first mentioned this to E-, I expected a flat-out NO! However, her response was "Heck yeah!" followed by "I would move there if we didn't have M and R in college close to here." It seems she is as ready for some life changes as I am.
Will I be slightly nervous doing this? Of course I will. That is who I am; I cannot change that. However, as I have told E-, one reason I feel like this is the path I am supposed to take is that I have not been stressed about it. I have not even been nervous about it yet, other than just momentary "what about this" and "what about that" questions that pop into my head at random times. This lack of stress and nervousness is not the norm for me, so I am taking this as my sign.
We are ready for a new adventure and if this works out in the long run, it will be just that. I see others that I know that move to various places and do not seem to be too phased by it. E- and I have not done that since moving here from graduate school back in 1991, mainly because we loved the Huntsville/Madison area and the excellent schools located here for our children took precedence over anything else.
I am excited. E- is excited (or at least I believe she is!). And, another shocker to me, M and R are excited about it as well.
Will we end up in Colorado Springs permanently in the future? I don't know. But it is fun and exciting to know that over the next several years, that answer will take shape.
I am sure future posts will bring new info on how this is all working, how my running is going now that I will definitely be getting plenty of training in altitude, and how E- and my adventures are taking shape. For those of you in or close to Colorado Springs, give me a ping as I will be looking for establishing new connections while I am there.
Here's to those of you that let me know how you handle making major decisions after I posed that question in my last post. It was nice to see how everyone handles it slightly different, but kind of the same. Big props to my father-in-law, Zeb, for sending me a nice email on past decisions he has had to make. What all of you sent as comments, texts, or emails helped me organize my lists and gave me other things to think about at the same time.
In my heart, at this point in time, I am confident that I have made the right decision. That doesn't mean that I will not have to make another decision in the future related to this same item, but I will worry that in the future when/if it comes.
I will ask another question in closing. After making past major decisions, how did things turn out? Do any of you regret the decisions you made or if things didn't turn out as expected, are you still glad you chose the path you did?
Wish us luck on our new Clemens' adventure!
Well, I have. More accurately, we have, as this decision involved my whole family, not just me. At work, I have been pursuing an innovation which involves a new type of position. This position involves embedding a development/integration position at a location that is not Huntsville. As part of bringing this to my program for consideration, I have volunteered to be the person to assume these new roles and responsibilities. What this means is that I will be splitting time between here in Alabama and in:
(imaginary drum roll)
Colorado Springs, CO
As I move into this role, the bulk of my time will gravitate towards CO. What about my family, you ask? For the next several years, E- and I did not feel comfortable doing a full-blown move to CO while the
When I first mentioned this to E-, I expected a flat-out NO! However, her response was "Heck yeah!" followed by "I would move there if we didn't have M and R in college close to here." It seems she is as ready for some life changes as I am.
Will I be slightly nervous doing this? Of course I will. That is who I am; I cannot change that. However, as I have told E-, one reason I feel like this is the path I am supposed to take is that I have not been stressed about it. I have not even been nervous about it yet, other than just momentary "what about this" and "what about that" questions that pop into my head at random times. This lack of stress and nervousness is not the norm for me, so I am taking this as my sign.
We are ready for a new adventure and if this works out in the long run, it will be just that. I see others that I know that move to various places and do not seem to be too phased by it. E- and I have not done that since moving here from graduate school back in 1991, mainly because we loved the Huntsville/Madison area and the excellent schools located here for our children took precedence over anything else.
I am excited. E- is excited (or at least I believe she is!). And, another shocker to me, M and R are excited about it as well.
Will we end up in Colorado Springs permanently in the future? I don't know. But it is fun and exciting to know that over the next several years, that answer will take shape.
I am sure future posts will bring new info on how this is all working, how my running is going now that I will definitely be getting plenty of training in altitude, and how E- and my adventures are taking shape. For those of you in or close to Colorado Springs, give me a ping as I will be looking for establishing new connections while I am there.
Here's to those of you that let me know how you handle making major decisions after I posed that question in my last post. It was nice to see how everyone handles it slightly different, but kind of the same. Big props to my father-in-law, Zeb, for sending me a nice email on past decisions he has had to make. What all of you sent as comments, texts, or emails helped me organize my lists and gave me other things to think about at the same time.
In my heart, at this point in time, I am confident that I have made the right decision. That doesn't mean that I will not have to make another decision in the future related to this same item, but I will worry that in the future when/if it comes.
I will ask another question in closing. After making past major decisions, how did things turn out? Do any of you regret the decisions you made or if things didn't turn out as expected, are you still glad you chose the path you did?
Wish us luck on our new Clemens' adventure!
Thursday, February 1, 2018
Decisions, Decisions
I have stated before, and I will state again, I do not do well with major decisions. I take that back. I do not do well with decisions, period. They can be simple, they can be complex; making decisions causes me anxiety and stress. So when the occasional life-changing decision comes along, you can imagine how much the stress and anxiety ratchets up.
I am on the cusp of one of these right now. This decision will be one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in a long time. While I do not look forward to that day when I actually have to decide, if and when it comes, this decision is self-imposed. I have no one to blame for it but myself.
In thinking about this decision though, I also began thinking about how I handle items like this and what I might be able to do to help ease the stress and anxiety. I see others making hard, life-changing decisions and I wonder how they do it without showing any stress. How do they look so calm and happy when going through the decision making process?
For me and my obsessive/compulsive tendencies, I make lists. Pros and Cons. Random thoughts. Others' inputs and ideas on the topic. I don't necessarily do this so that I can rank them and see if they offset each other. I do it mainly just to do it. I like the process. I like seeing it "on paper". I like being able to read through them over and over. I like being able to think about things that I may have forgotten.
Lists calm me.
By the way, I don't do this just for decisions. Any time I travel, I have a list for packing. If I don't do that, inevitably I forget something. For example, as I sit here and type this in Colorado Springs, I am sporting 3 days worth of beard growth. Why, you ask? It is not because I forgot my razor. However, I did forget the charging cord for my razor. And my razor had enough juice left for one shave. Yes, my lists go to the detail of not only listing razor, but also listing the charging cord. I didn't make a list and print it out and I failed. My family makes fun of me for having packing lists, but they just do not understand the depths of my stress about forgetting something.
So, besides my calming lists, I am trying techniques to not induce excessive stress upon myself over this potential, impending decision I will have to make. Yoga helps. Reading helps. Lying in my bed with my eyes closed and trying not to panic helps.
So I am soliciting input from you all. What do you do that helps you stay calm over big decisions you have to make? What techniques do you have that help you figure out the right decision for you? How do you keep so calm and happy looking when your mind is racing over pros and cons? Send them to me.
I am making a list.
I am on the cusp of one of these right now. This decision will be one of the biggest decisions I have had to make in a long time. While I do not look forward to that day when I actually have to decide, if and when it comes, this decision is self-imposed. I have no one to blame for it but myself.
In thinking about this decision though, I also began thinking about how I handle items like this and what I might be able to do to help ease the stress and anxiety. I see others making hard, life-changing decisions and I wonder how they do it without showing any stress. How do they look so calm and happy when going through the decision making process?
For me and my obsessive/compulsive tendencies, I make lists. Pros and Cons. Random thoughts. Others' inputs and ideas on the topic. I don't necessarily do this so that I can rank them and see if they offset each other. I do it mainly just to do it. I like the process. I like seeing it "on paper". I like being able to read through them over and over. I like being able to think about things that I may have forgotten.
Lists calm me.
By the way, I don't do this just for decisions. Any time I travel, I have a list for packing. If I don't do that, inevitably I forget something. For example, as I sit here and type this in Colorado Springs, I am sporting 3 days worth of beard growth. Why, you ask? It is not because I forgot my razor. However, I did forget the charging cord for my razor. And my razor had enough juice left for one shave. Yes, my lists go to the detail of not only listing razor, but also listing the charging cord. I didn't make a list and print it out and I failed. My family makes fun of me for having packing lists, but they just do not understand the depths of my stress about forgetting something.
So, besides my calming lists, I am trying techniques to not induce excessive stress upon myself over this potential, impending decision I will have to make. Yoga helps. Reading helps. Lying in my bed with my eyes closed and trying not to panic helps.
So I am soliciting input from you all. What do you do that helps you stay calm over big decisions you have to make? What techniques do you have that help you figure out the right decision for you? How do you keep so calm and happy looking when your mind is racing over pros and cons? Send them to me.
I am making a list.
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