Spring Runs Along

Back to working 6 days a week leaves little wiggle room;  the chores still need to get done, the bills paid, and training, that elusive monster who seeks to drive me towards running goals, occasionally shouts loud enough for me to contemplate how I put my miles together.  While Spring opens up the possibilities, on Her wild wings of blustery breezes and milder temps,  my body seems perpetually caught between my physical obligations in counseling, essentially paired down movement, sitting, and my quest for motion in running. 

I noticed more on yesterday and today's run the 'pretzel' phenomenon, or how the kinks, aches and pains can become cemented after a long stretch of sitting... I take all this out on the road and expect the miraculous- won't my stride be painless, effortless?  Can the simple cadence of foot strikes rhythmic like acupressure bring healing comfort to all those stuck places?   I was far away in my mind today, in what for me is the dissociative strategy in running,  the gentle defocusing of awareness from whatever my body is doing, to the mystic inner reaches in my head, the meanderings that allow me to direct my mind back to dreamlike potentials, to feel how anything is possible if I can see it, feel it there.

This curious conflict between quirky physicality and the dream-mind poses new experiences and possibilities;  what can I learn from this that might bring a more harmonious collaboration?  I am certainly taking the runs more one by one.  I head out and decide as I warm up, which way, how much and how hard to take it; I have more rest days than before, and I sleep as much as I can!

There is no doubt in my mind that the Pressures of Change are such that no matter how masterful you may think you are about your healing or health status, it will take another level of understanding to accept the challenges of these times.   We think aspects like environmental toxins or even Cosmic vibrations are 'subtle' in nature, and yet, it is the stuff of such subtleties that comprise real challenges in maintaining our wellness.  Both within and without, you are a Work in Progress seeking the next Breakthrough.  All this elemental force coalesces in the Cauldron of your Soul.  And as each piece is another voice in the matrix, we seek to listen, adjust and transform.

Weekend with Nature, and a run

The reconnection with CeeCee and Mother Nature had an empowering and healing impact on me, as we immersed ourselves in the magic of Fairchild gardens and John Lloyd beach.   The hot clear stretch prior to her visit was broken by the tip of the tail of that intense northern storm, which brought us much needed rain relief from our drought.  Storming at Fairchild, and again yesterday, after the beach....a wonderful window to catch the ocean, and a run from end to end at John Lloyd.

I typically head out by 7:30ish;  yesterday I was gearing up about 11:30, and the sun was full on.  It's been a long time since I attempted any hot weather running.   Predictably, I underestimated the need for fluid and the intensity of heat radiating off the pavement.   The stretch from our end lot all the way in to the front gate went well....I blocked out the heat until I stopped, and did the turn around back, realizing that I had a very challenging stretch with half a bottle of water.  Still, the heat had a soothing effect, as I felt it penetrate shoulders, arms, and gave me full on light to see the beauty of the landscape- no soft dawn here!

I love John Lloyd and its corridor of grape, brush, and then the looming presence of the huge cruise ships, all lined up and ready to slide out to sea...the little switchbacks, the feeling of being a part from the bustling world, the runner's dream of stretches of open road and no pressure to do anything but place a foot in front of the other...and all to the wonderful roll of music, lifting me, encompassing me...carrying me however far I want to go.

It was an extraordinary weekend, full of the magic of old friends and only the sort of sharing that the shorthand of our shared Path expresses....a little ritual, art, lots of music, good food...and of course comparing notes on it All....the Mystery as it unfolds for both of us, all of us, in our lives.

So to all those who are 'en route' to your next destination, whether you know where/what it is or not,  I would say if you feel what I feel when caught up in the pleasure of that rhythm in the long stretch of open road, the buoyancy of your own excitement, roll with it....and take the heat, the presence of deep Nature with you.  See what surprises might come your way.

Birthday Run

Couldn't sleep last night, felt like Mom and Dad were close around, 'pressing' themselves on me with a sense of our deep connection and leading me down Memory Lane and the years of karmic meandering, growth and shared love.  I had my mind made up that no matter what I would run this morning,  as much a dare to my now 55 year old self as anything.   Yesterday, I looked longingly at my MC marathon pix, wondering how I managed to get past that 13 mile mark when I felt like quitting, to do another 13+ miles to the finish....admiring that girl, and realizing that yes, I have ACCOMPLISHED A LOT!!

I am so 'in process' of whatever I seek to manifest in this world that I constantly forget about where I've come from, and what I've gained a long the way.   If I focus on losses, then it feels as if my world has shrank.  But in reality, there has been a perceptible opening of abilities, awareness in conjunction with my constant ambitions....elderhood has done me a lot of good.  I was a miserable young person;  everything seems to have coalesced to give me this door into whatever is coming, with balance, faith and hope.

I appreciate everyone who has thought of me today.  You may think it is not so important, but I can tell you that every connection is so precious, every good word anchors deep in my heart to buoy me in tough times.   I can only translate the love and care I give to my clients by the flow of good graces bestowed through the Generosity of Those who seek my fulfillment in this life, and move me, through my loved ones, to continue to strive, motivate, believe.

If you haven't yet, take yourself outdoors and breathe. ... and feel the sense that Mother Earth is under you, supporting you while the Wild Winds of Fate blow all around to Teach you where to go!

Sunday long run 4-3-11

I was back up on the longer Griffin loop, without the John Williams stop at the outer edge, but I would guestimate a 10-er more or less, up the north 40th cut.   We are firmly back into warm temps, high humidity and little cool-down at night.   If I am out early enough in the AM, I can just catch the last of the fresh-feeling crisp edge to the morning air, before the sub-tropical sun gets a hold of us all, and builds back the heat. 

I have some good stretches, plenty of walk breaks, overall I'd say endurance is still building, but not there.   I am not finding enough rest on my current schedule.   I can speculate on precipitating factors, but the bottom line is that I feel I am needing more time to work with my aging body as well as get a handle on all my projects.   There is nothing unusual about the slight shift in my gyroscope these days;  after all, I am on the heels of an upcoming birthday....but in my childish mind, I still crave that unaccountable bliss of non-action- and still find it here or there- out on the roads, deep in meditation, writing.  And yes, some artwork.

I have high class worries compared to most of the world, I use this to put it in perspective and remember my privileged position;  to angst over spiritual issues is to celebrate the stability I have in my life to do just that.   I am not willing to throw that over lightly.   Yet at the same time, the Powers that Be are mounting their own campaign to rev up the fires of change in us all, and how it all manifests in our near future...we will have to hold on and see!