In 2016 I want to..........

     I am starting to pick goals for the new year.  Many, like always, are to continue to work on the old resolutions, but these sound like a great start.

Carpe 2016--Seize the Year!

Choose adventure

Happy Holidays Everyone!

Winter solstice

     It silently took place in Denver last night at 9:49 PM. Winter begins again, but the days are getting longer. Welcome the light.

                                  And the seasons they go round and round
                                   And the painted ponies go up and down
                                                               Joni Mitchell, Circle Game

     May this solstice and the turning of the wheel bring you love, peace, and good fortune in the coming year. 

Next week the days start to get longer!!!!!

Yay!!!!!

I watched "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" last night.  I can't believe it came out in 1966 and Boris Karloff was the voice of the Grinch and the narrator.  What a great little movie and children's book.

I am starting to feel Christmas.  I have to wrap gifts today.  At run group later this morning, where I plan on walking due to all the ice, I am wearing red (Husker gloves and headband, Maryland Terps jacket) plus reindeer antlers.  I don't have a red nose to don so will stick on a red bow for their red nose competition. Plus, I have added jingle bells to my shoes. We are always a goofy group.

Happy weekend.



I made the picture huge so you could see me....in front row with red jacket and gloves, and huge red nose.  Like I said, runners are a goofy group.

Winter---the struggle is real.

Damn......it is snowing again.

A blog worth sharing!

zen habits: 31 Perfect Things

---

31 Perfect Things Posted: 15 Dec 2015 10:17 AM PST By Leo Babauta As we see more and more holiday gift guides, articles espousing the perfectness of glitzy products, I’d like to offer an alternative perspective. We don’t need to buy things to make our lives beautiful or joyous. We don’t need more glamorous items in our lives to find happiness and contentment. We can find these wonderful qualities in what’s already in front of us. Most moments, I forget this. In my best moments, I remember, and my heart expands with love for life and everyone around me. In my mind, these things are perfect, and are proof that we don’t need to buy anything to be happy, cool, excited, contented: A quiet morning. A walk outdoors. Reading one of those books sitting on your shelves. A cup of tea, drunk slowly. Family. A hug. Meditation. An avocado. Berries, savored. A good workout. Time to practice sketching. A song that gets you dancing. Creating something. This current moment. A connection with someone else. The light of the dying day. Fallen leaves. Warmth. Love. Learning something new. Someone wanting your attention. A friend. Coconut. Reflecting on life, in a journal. People laughing around you. Imagining future possibilities. A bite of mango, lingered over. Writing a love note to someone you miss. Solitude. Knowing that you love yourself. You.

A new "Personal Best"

                                                                      The Awkward Yeti


Here are two articles about alzheimer's and running.  The first is one runner's story. The second is a more general article about how running helps.  Both highlight some very brave people.

http://www.runnersworld.com/runners-stories/outrunning-the-demons

http://www.runnersworld.com/health/exercise-may-be-the-best-weapon-against-alzheimers

Snow day

     I woke up to 8 inches of snow, blustery winds, and freezing fog.  2-4 more inches are predicted during the day.  It is still snowing hard. All city/county (not college) schools are cancelled. Where did this come from, and don't say "up."
     Just yesterday I was wondering why anyone would live anywhere else than here!  It was sunny and in the upper 30s and felt wonderful.  All of the weekend's snow was melted off of the roads.
     By the time this storm is done I'll have a foot of snow to scoop which will probably blow back over my driveway overnight. I'm feeling Scroogeish again.  I miss sunshine.
     Bah! Humbug!


     Don't get me wrong....I am so very thankful I don't have to drive anywhere.  There are traffic accidents galore!  And it is beautiful.
     Here is the view from my backyard at 8 AM.  I had to scoop a path out back for the dog as the snow is belly-deep for her.  The path snowed in while I was still scooping.  I'll wait til afternoon for the big job of driveway and sidewalk.  In Colorado you must get used to living in a snow-globe.

 2 PM, maybe 16-18 inches so far and still snowing, but driveway is scooped for the moment.  The snow is well above the dog's belly.

                                         View from my back door......

Something to contemplate

It’s impossible to put the pieces of your life back together when the pieces have all changed, 

Quote for the day

Once you bring life into the world, you must protect it.  We must protect it by changing the world.
                               Elie Wiesel


     This is especially important now in this era of global warming and political upheaval.  Protect the next generations in all that you do, and consider them in all the decisions you make.



     My exercise for the day will be scooping snow.  It looks like we got maybe 4 inches of it yesterday and overnight.  I won't make the mistake of leaving it and hoping it will melt in subsequent days this time, as the next snowfall is predicted for 2 days away.
     My reward....lunch out with my brilliant daughter and nephew....always a good time.

Say "snow"

Run group today where I got in a brisk 3 mile walk with friends.  It was very cold and the snow was just beginning to fall.  (Note Zooey the dog's fascination with Jeannie the skier's knee brace.)

Now that breakfast is done and I am warm again, it is time to hit the treadmill and watch "Singing in the Rain."

Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays these couriers from the swift completion of their appointed rounds.

Herodotus, Inscription, New York City Post Office, adapted from Herodotus

Prescient.

"The task of the modern educator is not to cut down jungles, but to irrigate deserts."
                                           C.S.Lewis

To stretch, or not to stretch, that is the question.

     The newest review of hundreds of studies shows that the answer is yes, in case you were wondering.
     http://sportsgeezer.com/2015/stretching-yes-says-newest-study/

     I don't stretch often enough, I know, but will work on it. I'm a stiff runner.  Meanwhile, my plank is up to 3 min., 5 sec.  I don't know how much longer I can continue to add 5 sec. a day but will keep at it.  This is a difficult challenge.
     I'm off to meet my friend Susan, whom I haven't seen for at least a year.  We will take my goofball dog for a walk since today is the last warm day for a while.  More snow is anticipated.  

Beautiful blog. This woman can really write!

     There are places that have a soul.  Old houses that were real homes are one.  Mesa Verde, Colorado, with its deserted cliff dwellings, and John Muir Woods with its ancient redwood forest are two others that I have found. How about you?  What places have you found when you "listen properly and look with the right eyes"?

http://appalachianink.net/2015/12/08/this-house-has-a-soul/

Quote of the day:

Your body will argue that there is no justifiable reason to continue.  Your only recourse is to call on your spirit, which fortunately functions independently of logic.
                                       Tim Noakes

Happy December

     This will be a nice week, weather-wise.  Much of the ice has gone from the sidewalks so it is great to get outdoors again.
     I have taken on a daily plank challenge for the month of December, adding 5 seconds to my time each day.  It doesn't sound hard, but those extra seconds really add up even though I am only one week into this adventure.  I am up to 2 minutes, 50 seconds.  Wish me well as I progress through the month.

Those who move mountains begin by carrying small stones.
                                                     Confucius

I love this quote. I need to remember this more often!

     A few days ago I mentioned the book "Proteinaholic."  Here is a podcast interview with the author, Dr. Garth Davis.  It is 56 min. long, but well worth your time. I encourage you to listen.
     One detail that I learned was about heme iron.  This is the type of iron in animal foods.  Plant foods have non-heme iron.  I know that heme iron is dangerous....it increases aging, it oxidizes fats, etc.  What I did not know is that it affects the beta cells in the pancreas, which make insulin, in a negative way, correlating with increases in type 2 diabetes mellitus.
   

http://foodhealsnation.com/36/

2015 in 2015.

     My running buddy and I met our goal!  And with a month to spare.

How To Walk Off A Thanksgiving Dinner: 63 Miles

I'm sure you've read this, but it is a great reminder at this time of year.

Want to know how to walk off the calories from a Thanksgiving dinner? Keep walking. About 18 hours after you start, you’ll be back to ground zero. According to this calories burned chart, walking burns about 250 calories an hour. And according to thisThanksgiving calorie counter, a Thanksgiving meal delivers 4,575 calories. The math is simple, the journey is not. Here’s some more math: if you walk at a normal pace of 3.5 miles per hour for 18 hours, you’ll cover 63 miles.
           http://sportsgeezer.com/2015/how-to-walk-off-a-thanksgiving-dinner-63-miles/

Lab gluttony, owner stupidity

     I have a labrador/golden mutt.  Charleigh is a heavy chewer and loves rawhides, which have gotten very expensive lately.  The big Christmas ones were on sale this week (the 2 footers), so I got her one.  She just carried it around for a while trying to figure out how to tackle it, but once she did, I couldn't get it away from her.  She would grab it and run away from me all around the house.  It was hers.
     I gave up and hoped she would quit when she was full.  No such luck.  Within an hour it was gone.
     At 3 am I was awakened by retching.  By the time I got the light on and got to her she had puked the entire thing onto my bedroom carpet...a steaming pile of rawhide bits.  She was wagging her tail and I swear she was smiling.
     30 min. later it was all cleaned up, and I couldn't get back to sleep.  I could only be angry at myself.  Labs are gluttons and will eat themselves into a coma if given the opportunity.  She is worse than me at Thanksgiving.  I must remember this for next time.  

Turn up the volume

     We only got 3 inches of snow from yesterday's storm, but it is 12 degrees out this morning and I promised to drive a friend to run group!  I so want to stay in where it is safe and warm.  Darn accountability! It will be icy so I will only be walking anyhow.  I wonder how many layers I can fit under my running jacket?

Quote of the day:

     There is only one way to avoid criticism:  do nothing, say nothing, and be nothing.
                                                  Aristotle





     The sidewalks are finally more or less cleared of ice, and there's another storm blowing in.

Quote seen on FaceBook this morning from Humans of New York:
         "I'm realizing that nobody grows up.  Everyone just grows old."

Wow!

'Some believe it is only great power that can hold evil in check. But that is not what I have found. I've found it is the small things, everyday deeds of ordinary folk that keeps the darkness at bay. Simple acts of kindness and love.' - Gandalf

It hurts everywhere. The world is so sad. I have no words.

                              For so many reasons, the whole world aches.

                        Here is a Charlie Chaplin clip as true and needed now as then.

 

I'm on my way

                                    shared from The Mind Unleashed




     The above meme reminds me of this song, which I love.  I have it on my running playlist.

Today I run for Paris

World Kindness Day, and Friday the 13th.

     Today marks Friday the 13th as well as World Kindness Day.  Of course, every day needs to be World Kindness Day.  If the opportunity arises, I will go out of my way to be kind....it is a serendipitous thing.  I also plan on making the balance of my charitable donations for the year today. That makes me feel kind and warm and good.

Practice random acts of kindness.

A warm smile is the universal language of kindness.---William Arthur Ward

A boring but much needed recovery day.

     Yesterday we had our first significant snowfall of the year--6 inches.  It was a day to stay warm indoors and do winter-like things.  I read a book.  I cooked a couple of pie pumpkins and toasted their seeds, and then made pumpkin pudding.  For some reason I was craving pumpkin foods.
     Today I will make pumpkin soup with roasted corn.  I can't wait.
     I did jog a very slow mile on the treadmill (while reading said book) to keep my streak intact (day 442).
     Today there is sunshine, lots of errands to run, a dog to walk....back to normal.  Some days, though, you just need to take it easy,

Veteran's Day

     This is the most memorable poem I read in high school.

In Flanders Fields

John McCrae, 1872 - 1918

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row, 
That mark our place, and in the sky, 
The larks, still bravely singing, fly, 
Scarce heard amid the guns below. 

We are the dead; short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow, 
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields. 

Take up our quarrel with the foe! 
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high! 
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

"Everything was beautiful and nothing hurt."----Kurt Vonnegut, Slaughterhouse Five

     I read this interesting quote today and had to look up its context.  I read the book twenty years ago and don't recall it.   Billy Pilgrim thinks this when his daughter asks him what it was like to be in the war.  The book's narrator says that it would make a good epitaph for Billy.  Irony is in play here. I can see why the quote is so well-known.

     I'm sure you recall the poem, "The road not taken," by Robert Frost.  (Two roads diverged in a yellow wood, and sorry I could not travel both.....").  I recently read a very pretentious article on how everyone interprets Frost's meaning incorrectly.
     It is poetry.  Its beauty is that its meaning is open to interpretation. The meaning to me in my life can be different than the meaning to you in yours, and it is okay.  It is still poignant.
     This is why I disliked literature classes in high school and college.  I loved the reading but disliked that the interpretation was graded on such a narrow basis....view it my way, or the highway, so to speak.


     It is a gorgeous fall day here.  I took Charleigh for a slow three mile scratch/sniff/and explore walk.  There must be wonderful smells hiding under the drifts of damp leaves.  She deserved some excitement as she didn't get much exercise yesterday.  I enjoyed soaking up the sun.  There won't be many more days like this in 2015.  Enjoy.

Nice race this morning...I'd do it again.

     I always ask myself why do I do this?  It was so cold waiting at the start for an hour, with a bitter wind.  But I have to get there early.  Why, you ask?  Because there were 8 portapotties for over 1000 people, is why.  The people getting there late were in a line a couple of blocks long.
     Afterward, I realize every time that I race, I do it because I can....because I can say I did this difficult thing.
     I was wrong about the course.  2 1/4 miles of concrete, 2 miles of pasture dodging badger holes and cow pies, 5+ miles of single track with lots of rocks and roots covered by fallen leaves. the rest was double track all along 13.1 miles of continuous non-stop hills!
     Being a klutz, naturally I tripped and fell, but only once, skinning my elbow and both palms.  The next song on my race playlist....."Human" by Christina Perri, with lyrics:  "But I'm only human, and I bleed when I fall down."  A few songs later, "I feel the earth move" by Carole King; lyrics:  "I feel the earth move under my feet, I feel the sky tumbling down, tumbling down."  I love both songs but you can see how they might be bad luck when dodging rocks and roots on hills.I might have to rethink them both.
     I finished in about 2:58.  My Garmin watch won't sync today so I can't view the results, and official race results won't be posted online for at least 24 hours.  Can't wait to check my Garmin....I'm guessing altitude gain was well over 1000 feet. At least it seemed that way.
     I always learn something during these races.  Today I learned not to leave my sports drink sitting at home on the counter.
     And Siri, my cell phone navigator, got me there and back without problems so I thanked her, feeling guilty over my snarkiness yesterday.  She replied, "I'm just doing my job."
     Food at the end of the race was pancakes and craft beer.  Wonderful, but how very German.

     Great bling----shirt, medal, and mug.  I'd do this race again.

PS  The only wildlife sighting was the Wookie giving high-fives at mile eight.

PS  Garmin Express is functioning today finally.  The total elevation gain at yesterday's race was 1115 feet. I need to work on running more hills and trails before I do this again.  I think this race was the last for me in 2015.

Happy weekend

     I am running?? a trail half marathon this morning.  A few months ago when I signed up, it seemed like a good training idea.  I am not really recovered from my last race.  I have never run a trail race before.  This one has 1000 ft of elevation gain, is 95% trail, but involves no mountains or rocks or roots for me to trip and fall.  Yes, I am a klutz---I freely admit it.
     But it will be 25 degrees at the start.  I don't do well standing around waiting when it is 25 degrees.....freezing fingers, shivering, stiff muscles, etc.
     I spent a couple of hours yesterday driving around Highlands Ranch trying to find the expo to pick up my race bib and shirt.  Siri, the navigator on my cell phone, couldn't navigate herself out of a paper bag!  I advised her to notify "Apple" that she was stupid.  It didn't make her smarter.
     Let's hope she can get us to the race this morning.
     I almost wouldn't go, but I paid money for this and people know I registered, and will be watching on FaceBook for my results.  Dratted accountability.

I need to remind myself of this daily.

IT'S NEVER TOO LATE "Before you decide you're too old to run across mountains, rock-climb in canyons, or take up scuba diving, remember: It's never too late—muscles never lose the ability to improve, no matter how old you are. We are raised with the idea that when you hit fifty, you should relax and take it easy. I think this is a mistake. The more energy you expend, the more you get back. I get more tired sitting all day than when I run fifty miles." Helen Klein, holder of approximately 75 World and American running records. Klein's running career began with no previous experience in 1978 at age 55.

Yesterday's quote

     I read yesterday's quote by Madeleine L'Engle in an article about Alzheimer's Disease.  It really puts the quote in a new perspective, doesn't it.

"The greatest hazard of all, losing one's self, can occur very quietly in the world, as if it were nothing at all.  No other loss can occur so quietly, any other loss--an arm, a leg, five dollars, a wife, etc.--is sure to be noticed."
                                Soren Kierkegard

                                                       This is your life.  Enjoy.

I love Madeleine L'Engle

"We are all strangers in a strange land, longing for home,

but not quite knowing what or where home is.  

We glimpse it sometimes in our dreams, or as we turn a corner,

and suddenly there is a strange, sweet familiarity

that vanishes almost as soon as it comes."

-Madeleine L'Engle

Which kind of reader are you?

"I divide all readers into two classes:  those who read to remember and those who read to forget."---William Lyon Phelps

     I do both, I know.  Some books I read to learn, to formulate knowledgeable opinions; or to remind myself of my past.  Some (as in mysteries) I read for recreation, to empty my mind.  They all have their purpose.

"Proteinaholic, How our Obsession With Meat is Killing Us and What We Can Do About It" by Garth Davis, MD

     This is a well-written book and was exhaustively researched.  Dr. Davis is a general surgeon who specializes in bariatric surgery and the treatment of obesity. He admits he was a proteinaholic and discusses his own transformation and that of his medical practice.  He goes into the history of protein, and death and disease by protein.
      We somehow have minimized diet to macro-nutrients....i.e. where do you get your protein?  Our bodies don't use protein.....we use amino acids, the building blocks that make up protein.  We are very good recyclers of amino acids and recycle them to be available for re-use.
     Do you know of anyone with kwashiorkor (protein deficiency)?  It is virtually unheard of in this country.  If you are getting enough calories, you are getting enough protein. Even fruititarians who eat nothing but fruit get enough.
     Somehow we have assumed, without any medical research to back it up, if the small amounts we need are good, then more must be better.  That could not be further from the truth.  Excess protein, especially that from animals, is extremely harmful.
     We don't eat macronutrients.  We eat food.  As Michael Pollen says, "Eat food, not too much, mostly plants."  This book suggests that eating food, not too much, entirely plants, is better.
     Conclusion: excellent book with pages and pages of well-documented research.  Amazon gives it 5*****s.  I agree.

NYC Marathon

     I am feeling like a slug today.  I ate leftover Halloween candy, more than a little, after shutting off the lights last night. Once a year is okay, right? So this morning I am sitting, drinking coffee, and watching the NYC marathon live on ABC7NY.com/live/
     It will be a beautiful warm day here so I will hold off heading outside with the dog.  Maybe the race or all the caffeine as well as the sunshine will inspire me to move.
     I have a couple of acquaintances running in the race (Boulder Running Co. coach Daniel Glass and his Mom).  I'm sure I'll never see them among the 50,000 televised runners but love watching anyway.  There are always a lot of celebrities running as well as the elites. It is exciting.


(woo hoo, 6 miles in and Danny is averaging 6:26 min. miles)

Kenyans and Ethopians were the top men and women runners.  Meb K came in 7th for America breaking the Masters record.

My race tracker lost track of Danny at mile 10.  I hope he wasn't injured or ill having to drop out.  His Mom is doing great and has passed 20K.

I am such a dork sitting around watching this, but loving it.

BTW....Happy World Vegan Day.

(ps, Danny must have dropped out at mile 10, I hope he is okay.  His Mom finished in 4:52. There is never a guarantee you will finish a marathon)

"You only have to exercise on the days that you eat." ---Joseph S Alpert, editor-in-chief of the American Journal of Medicine

     I read this quote recently.  It is simple and to the point, and will be easy for me to remember.  Exercise is much easier than not eating.

http://www.runnersworld.com/weight-loss/a-weight-loss-manifesto?cid=soc_Runner%27s%20World%20-%20RunnersWorld_FBPAGE_Runner%E2%80%99s%20World__Weight%20Loss



     Here is more evidence that exercise slows aging. I need lots more exercise evidently! Ha.
http://sportsgeezer.com/2015/more-evidence-that-exercise-slows-aging/


     I saw this quote on Facebook, and liked it.
This morning I feel....mortal.  I am going to run until that feeling goes away.

As you may have noticed,

I love quotes.  This morning I read three good ones and hope you enjoy them.

"Setting goals requires gazing way out at the horizon of your life.  But once you set your course, most of the time your awareness should be on the trail under your feet."
                                                      Lauren Fleshman


"Life is either a great adventure or nothing."
                                                       Helen Keller


"Love is a hole in the heart."
                                                         Ben Hecht

MCM Mission Complete

     The Marine Corps Marathon Sunday was a great race.  It lives up to its billing as "the people's marathon." We went through security outside the Pentagon and made our way up to Arlington National Cemetery for the start.  It was raining lightly but the two Marine Ospreys still had their flyover and the Skydivers jumped. A howitzer sounded the start.
     We ran through Rosslyn, Va, crossed the river, went through Georgetown and did an out and back through Rock Creek Park.  By then the rain had stopped.
     Mile 10 Kennedy Center, Lincoln Memorial, FDR Memorial (I didn't notice them)
     Mile 12 was the Wear Blue Mile to honor fallen veterans. There were photos of deceased soldiers, some with their families, lining both sides of the road.  Volunteers canopied the road with flags. It was extremely moving. Runners wept.
     Mile 15 Jefferson Memorial, Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial (I didn't notice them, either)
     Mile 16 Lincoln, WW II, Korean War Memorials
     Mile 17 Washington Monument, Smithsonian Museums
     Mile 18 National Capitol, Art Gallery, more museums
     Mile 19 National Air and Space Museum
     Mile 20 "Beat the Bridge"---(time cut-off point)
     Mile 22 Crystal City, VA
     Mile 24 Pentagon
     Mile 25 Arlington National Cemetery
     Mile 26.2 Charge up the final hill to the Iwo Jima/US Marine Corps War Memorial
         
   

Osprey flyover

Some of the skydivers

     Here are my results.  My split times were remarkably consistent for me.  I didn't hit any walls this time.  Had I not had to stop to use a portajohn, which involved 10 minutes of waiting in line, I would have beat my prior marathon time. I came in 83rd of 164 women in my age group and had a good time, so I am satisfied. If it isn't fun, you aren't doing it right.

     I am home now.  My crazy dog was so very glad to get out of the kennel and come home.  My muscles aren't too sore anymore, so it is time to contemplate the next race.

Wow. Inspiration.

     The TCS NYC marathon will be held on 11-1-15.  Among the over 50,000 runners will be 397 runners aged 70 and older (84 women, 313 men).
     This link covers a few. They can all kick my butt.
http://nypost.com/2015/10/12/these-80-year-old-marathon-runners-can-kick-your-butt/

     I want to be them when I grow up.

   

How to be a winner at life

HOW TO BE A WINNER "If you finish the race, you win. If you participate, you win. If you wake up in the morning, and feel good, you win. If you live the good life, and eat the good food, and have love for other people, you win." Micah True, American ultrarunner and a central character in Christopher McDougall's best-selling book Born to Run

     Micah True, aka Caballo Blanco, was amazing.  I am anxious to see the movie of his life:  "Run Free."

Adult Onset Running

     So this is the name of what I have contracted late in life....Adult Onset Running.  Below is a link to a good article describing why it is awesome. It reminds me to focus on the joy and mystery of running.  I don't need to PR or go fast.  I'll never be able to keep up with young athletes.  But I can have fun and stay healthy. There are certainly worse conditions to acquire as a person ages.

https://ilovetorun.org/adult-onset-running-why-it-b-831.html

Is it too late to start training???

    Most all of my running friends are racing in the Denver Rock and Roll Marathon/half marathon today.  I sort of wish I was there for the camaraderie, but mostly I am so glad I could sleep in, not getting up at 3 am, not having to go out there and push myself so hard.
     I know it will be my turn in a week, but I've always been the Queen of Denial, so not thinking about it will get me through the week.  It is either that, or I might throw up.

Taper madness----check!

     I am in tapering mode for my marathon next weekend.  I am suffering from all of the symptoms listed below.  I am running very little, yet I have twinges everywhere.  My foot hurts...could it be a stress fracture? I am eating everything in the pantry not nailed down every single day even though I'm hardly running.  I feel like a fraud....an impostor who is deluding herself about being a runner.  I feel like I've never run before and that my pace is super slow even when I push myself. None of my running shoes seem to fit comfortably anymore. My dog Charleigh finds me to be extremely cranky.  I am wondering why I ever was crazy enough to sign up for this.

Life is

Indigenous Peoples Day

     Denver declared Oct. 12 Indigenous Peoples Day instead of Columbus Day.  Yay!

http://www.thedenverchannel.com/news/local-news/denver-declares-oct

Columbus Day....an embarrassment

     You may already be aware of this, but if your view of history came from your elementary school days you should read this.  I cannot fathom why this holiday has not been cancelled or re-named to something like "Native Americans Day."

http://www.the-open-mind.com/8-myths-atrocities-about-christopher-columbus-columbus-day/


The Oatmeal's take:
http://theoatmeal.com/comics/columbus_day

Should be vs actuality

     I should be out walking the dog or running, but instead I am spectating and being a couch potato.  I am watching the Chicago Marathon live-stream on my computer.  Being a slug.  I'll do today's run tomorrow.
     It is exciting to watch but they are having technical problems with the live feed, which is really irritating.

     I lost satellite coverage halfway through.  Went out for a short run but ran into a friend, we talked for a half hour.  Ran into a neighbor and we talked for 10 min.  Today was just not meant to be a long running day.
     There is always tomorrow.
     This is partially why I'm not a better runner....I use my training plan as a very general guideline to be taken with a grain of salt.

One life

     It is an absolutely stunning fall day here.  I could live in this weather forever.  I love Indian summer and both of its definitions....maybe I love the second meaning even more than the first.

In·di·an sum·mer

noun

1. a period of unusually dry, warm weather occurring in late autumn.

   • a period of happiness or success occurring late in life.

We were going to run forever and be the oldest (and probably slowest) runners out there. We still will be. He's by my side.

                                                             I run for Dean

Goal-setting time

   
     I am starting to consider goals for next year.  I love this quote.

Hot Chocolate 15 k

     The Hot Chocolate 15k yesterday was fun.  The weather was cool and overcast....a great thing.  It took me one hour and 51 min. to run 9.4 miles.  I was 37 out of 60 in my age bracket. Someday I'll be faster.  Here are some things that made the effort worthwhile:

Cool finisher's medal and jacket

Friends

More friends (Note portapotties are de rigueur for backgrounds in running pics)

Plus I rewarded myself with new shoes (just call me Imelda--remember her?)

     I am sore today.

Marathon truth

     This applies for all lengths of races for me.  Today is the Hot Chocolate 15k.  All the chocolate at the end will make it all worth the effort, though.

     Again up at the dark of 3 am to eat, walk the dog, and leave for light rail by 4:45.  It should be cold at the start, just a 20% chance of rain so fingers crossed it'll stay dry.  I know at least 2 dozen people running or walking the 5k or the 15k.  It should be fun. Like I said.....fingers crossed.
     I have a couple of friends running a trail marathon in Fort Collins today.  I can't even imagine running 26.2 miles on mountainous trails with 4000 ft. elevation gain. That is insanity. So my race should be a piece of cake (chocolate, of course.  see what I did there?)

Now Autumn's fire burns slowly along the woods and day by day the dead leaves fall and melt.----Wm. Allingham

     Tipping point reached.  It is now officially the time for long sleeves, long pants and jackets.....the time for sweaters, slippers, headlamps outdoors and furnace heat in.  No more shorts and t-shirts. Hot tea replaces iced. Soup instead of salad.
     It is not yet time, though, for boots, shovels, yaktrax to keep footing, wool caps, mittens, and parkas, so life is good.

     It is not all bad.  I just mowed the lawn for the last time this season.  Woo Hoo!

“Autumn is the eternal corrective. It is ripeness and color and a time of maturity; but it is also breadth, and depth, and distance. What man can stand with autumn on a hilltop and fail to see the span of his world and the meaning of the rolling hills that reach to the far horizon?” – Hal Borland

My favorite pun of the week:

     Twenty five days until marathon time.  I am constantly muscularly exhausted and every other day I eat absolutely everything not nailed down.  I crave all the carbs. I guess this is where I am supposed to be at this point in training? I have only one long run left the first of next week and then taper time.  Yay. It can't come too soon or I will gain ten pounds.

Personal best--becoming a hero

     I am continuing to read  "Personal Best" by George Sheehan, MD.  In the current chapter he writes of running the Marine Corps Marathon, which is the people's marathon.  He notes that mass competence at the start becomes mass determination around mile 17, and later turns into mass courage. There is no guarantee for anyone, Olympian or other-wise, to ever finish a marathon.
     The Marine Corps Marathon begins and ends at "the burial ground of ordinary men who had become heroes----soldiers who in the end had found in themselves a competence and determination and courage they never knew they possessed.  When we returned, so had we."
      This is reassuring. I hope to find those things in myself, as well.  The race is less than 4 weeks away and my worries are rising. My usual "just don't think about it" will get me through the next few weeks.  I'm doing the training and have to hope for the best.


     He also discusses the aging mind and body, and refers the reader to Marcus Tullius Cicero's "On Old Age" written in 44 BC.  Here is a great summary, if you have the time to read it. Cicero expected the aging person to accomplish great things.
https://successfulretirementguide.wordpress.com/2009/12/06/ciceros-thoughts-on-growing-older/

     I've been thinking about aging a lot lately.  It bothers me that I am a slow runner.  It shouldn't, I know, because actually I'm about mid-pack or better for my age group.  Most of my runner friends are 15-30 years younger than me, so are much faster, and it is difficult to avoid comparison.
     I know, I know.  I am faster than everyone sitting at home on the couch and my only competition is against myself. Sometimes it is hard to remember this.  I expect more and faster improvement.
     I just wish I had started back in my twenties or thirties.

     I recently read "Spring Chicken: Stay Young Forever (or die trying)" by Bill Gifford.  He is a journalist and covers all the research being done currently on prolonging life and health.  He exposes all the hoaxes and scams out there, as well. It was an interesting read, especially for a health care professional.  For the time being until the science comes up with solutions, the best way to live longer and better are in doing the things we already know....exercise, eat healthy, get enough sleep, don't smoke, try intermittent fasting, and exercise some more.  
   

Trying to be positive....

     Winter is coming, Oh No.  Trying to stay in the moment and enjoy this perfect autumn.

                                                The Awkward Yeti

Invest in yourself. Earn your body.

     So many people I know have recently become seriously ill.  This is a big reminder to take care of ourselves!

     I am reading "Personal Best" by George Sheehan, MD.  He says that life is a permanent boot camp.  We must always be in training---our minds and spirits as well as our bodies. "Life is not a skill sport.  It does not require hand-eye coordination.  It is not determined by our intelligence quotient, not dependent on a beatific vision.  It is a game anyone can play and play well."
     We are all here to lead a heroic life, but we are in contention with our youthful selves. The battle is never over and the war is never won.
     My legend will not be yours.  We all must be heroes in our own ways.    
   
     

            So take care of your body.  You only get one.
(At least for now. We'll see how well that human head transplant scheduled for Dec. 2017 in Turin, Italy actually works out. I think I'll stick with and work on the body I've got).

There is hope for the planet.

Americans are eating less and less meat every year.

http://www.forksoverknives.com/americans-are-eating-less-and-less-meat-every-year-why/



Here is a great article by a physician specializing in diet and nutrition, on why people should eat less meat, or no meat.  It is reassuring.  In all of the research, vegans live longer.

http://www.mindbodygreen.com/0-21759/im-a-doctor-who-specializes-in-diet-nutrition-heres-why-i-dont-have-concern.html?utm_source=mbg&utm_medium=email&utm_content=daily&utm_campaign=150924-im-a-doctor-who-specializes-in-diet-nutrition-heres-why-i-dont-have-concern


“My refusing to eat flesh occasioned an inconveniency, and I was frequently chided for my singularity, but, with this lighter repast, I made the greater progress, for greater clearness of head and quicker comprehension. Flesh eating is unprovoked murder.” 
                                        Benjamin Franklin

Just do it

     I am trying to stop caring about what I can't do and be glad of what I can.  I made myself go back to my Wednesday night run group last night.  It is always so easy to just talk myself into putting on my PJs and curling up with a good book at night instead so I haven't been there for months and months. I did go, though, and had a really nice time running/walking with 2 friends who run at my speed.  I won a new water bottle in the drawing plus got to test out some new shoes I am considering getting.  I must push my limits more than I do.