And now we welcome the new year. Full of things that have never been. -- Rainer Maria Rilke

     I did it....2017 miles in 2017.  It was a close one this year. Stay warm, and happy new year everyone.

End of Year Stats:  Today completes run streak day 1211, total run streak miles 6833.6, miles run in 2017=2021.6.


And I got this in the mail just in time for 2018.  This is the medal I will be working to earn.  This will be my 4th year of running the year, thus 4 legacy coins.  WooHoo.

Carrying my grain of sand in the sacred dust of my home.....

     I was away over the holidays, so I didn't get the chance to post this reminder at Christmas. It applies as well to a New Year at Midlife.

Christmas at Midlife

I am no longer waiting for a special occasion; I burn the best candles on ordinary days.
I am no longer waiting for the house to be clean; I fill it with people who understand that even dust is Sacred.
I am no longer waiting for everyone to understand me; It’s just not their task
I am no longer waiting for the perfect children; my children have their own names that burn as brightly as any star.
I am no longer waiting for the other shoe to drop; It already did, and I survived.
I am no longer waiting for the time to be right; the time is always now.
I am no longer waiting for the mate who will complete me; I am grateful to be so warmly, tenderly held.
I am no longer waiting for a quiet moment; my heart can be stilled whenever it is called.
I am no longer waiting for the world to be at peace; I unclench my grasp and breathe peace in and out.
I am no longer waiting to do something great; being awake to carry my grain of sand is enough.
I am no longer waiting to be recognized; I know that I dance in a holy circle.
I am no longer waiting for Forgiveness. I believe, I Believe.

-Mary Anne Perrone

I especially love the line about my children's names burning as brightly as any star.  My grandchildren's do, too.

The great thing about getting older is that you don't lose all the other ages you've been.....
                 Madeleine L'Engle

New year on the horizon....WooHoo!

Were our ancestors nearly all vegetarian?

     This article, based on a post published in Scientific American, thinks so.

http://www.lovely.tips/roamed-earth-us-nearly-vegetarian/

running

People fall forward to success.....Mary Kay Ashe

     I have been trying Chi running.....using gravity as my friend.....using a lean to fall forward with each step to "make running easy."  It isn't working for me yet, but I found the above quote funny and applicable, so felt the need to explain.

     I ran in the Santa Stampede 10 k yesterday.  First there was a little kid's run, then the 5 k which had lots and lots of families entered.  Of course Santa was the master of ceremonies, and there was a costume contest. I can see why it is such a popular event. 

     As I've said lots of times, I am not a good runner at all, just a runner.  But I loved seeing the age group winners.....men and women 75-79 looking decades younger than their ages.  There were no winners in the 80+ category, so maybe if I hold on for 14 more years I will have a chance....LOL.  Not that age group winners actually win anything.

     I was ill yesterday....just a cold and cough, for which I blame my dentist and dental hygienist who had their hands and sharp implements in my mouth on Tuesday. 
     However, being under the weather gave me the opportunity to stay home, sip tea, eat soup, and read a good book cover to cover.  I read "My Grandmother asked me to tell you she's sorry," by Fredrik Backman, and do recommend it.
     It's the story of a 7 year old and her crazy grandmother.  The grandmother, after her death, leaves clues for the 7 year old for a treasure hunt of sorts.  It does involve real-life princes and princesses, monsters, dragons, superheroes, and learning courage to defend your castle at all costs. This is not a  fantasy story.
     I felt a bit like the sick-kid in the "Princess Bride," whose grandfather read him the book by the same name, and wants to hear it all again the next day.

Good news for the Davidson/Johnson clan....

     Big-headed babies are more likely to be intelligent.
https://www.simplemost.com/big-headed-babies-likely-intelligent/?partner=scripps&partner-sub=KMGH&utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=partner&utm_campaign=scripps&utm_content=KMGH

     I guess that having trouble finding hats that fit well is a good thing.

Written by an anecdote---

     Your doctor should be telling you this.....
https://nospringchickpea.com/2017/12/12/your-doctor-should-be-telling-you-this/

“Either you run the day or the day runs you.” – Jim Rohn

     This is important for me to remember at this busier time of year.  Happy Holidays!

The beauty of the morning and the radiance of noon are good, but it would be a very silly person who drew the curtains and turned on the light in order to shut out the tranquility of the evening. W. Somerset Maugham

     
       I skimmed the book, "Run Strong, Stay Hungry" by Jonathan Beverly.  A quote of his I really enjoyed, because it is so whimsically written, follows below.  I imagine it applies to all runners, not just those in cross-country:

     Cross-country is the Statue of Liberty of sport, proclaiming to the world of athletes, "Give me your skinny, your weak, your huddled outcasts yearning to be cool."  The sport gives these misfit toys an island where they find that by applying dogged persistence, they can improve and eventually contribute--even succeed.

     I love this...running being the Statue of Liberty of sport and all of us weak, huddled, outcast runners being misfit toys given an island.  Whimsy at its best.

Live kindly.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Wvm7xymgk_k

     I found a great source of Soul and Inner Spirit quotes.  I loved these and thought I would share in case you are also searching for a life fully-awake. (My favorite is the last quote).

“You are the Universe expressing itself as a human for a little while.” ~ Eckhart Tolle

“You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.”  ~ C.S. Lewis

“Find yourself, and be that.” ~ Anon

“Stop acting so small. You are the Universe in ecstatic motion.” ~ Rumi

My Christmas gift to myself....

          Shoes are my weakness and these are snazzy.  (Will wear around the house for a few days to make sure they fit well....hope they work out).  It doesn't take much to make me happy, and new shoes make my day.

   

    "Kindness in women, not their beauteous looks, shall win my love."......Washington Irving

     Mr. Irving, this applies to men, too.  Compassion is key!

Here is your country. Cherish these natural wonders, cherish the natural resources, cherish the history and romance as a sacred heritage, for your children and your children's children. Do not let selfish men or greedy interests skin your country of its beauty, its riches or its romance. ~ Theodore Roosevelt

Rumble--Native influences on American music, continued.

     Today I moved on to the music of the "Black Eyed Peas."  I'm listening for the Native influences. I've never appreciated anything labeled as RAP before, but I'm really enjoying the drums.
     Next, I'll be getting some Jesse Ed Davis, with some Jimi Hendrix to follow.
     I'm enjoying this educational experience. I just wish my library carried more.

Rumble

     I happened to watch the new documentary, "Rumble: the Indians who Rocked the World,"  about the Native Canadian and American Indians and their influence on American Music.  It was informative. I have so much to learn.

     Where was I in the 70's to have missed out on the band "Redbone".  I listened to their "Best of" album on my run today and really enjoyed picking out the native drum/guitar influences.

     Look what I found when I got home from my run.  This is my neighbor's front yard.

     This is mine.  Guess which I like better!

What's chasing you today?

     Run group this morning with coffee/bagels after at Einstein Bros.  I just realized I have to run 182 miles in December to reach my 2017 miles in 2017 minimal goal.  This is going to be tough. (I've already signed up for the Run 2018 in 2018 group).

Excellent!

Happy December 1!

     It is a new month.  All things are possible.  There is no need to wait for a new year to start. 
     Ok, Ok.  I will get off of the computer and get to it.

Vegan 2017 Documentary....please watch.....get educated.

https://www.plantbasednews.org/post/pbn-releases-vegan-2017-film

Mary Oliver, still my favorite poet.

Fit is not a destination. It's a way of life.

Sorry, I couldn't help myself

Ya gotta love puns.

Begin to be now what you will be hereafter.----William James

     I don't imagine my kids remember this, but it was the first poem we taught them after they learned the "Twinkle twinkle little star" song as toddlers, and we would recite it every night.  It brings back such nice memories.

"Star light, star bright,"

BY ANONYMOUS

Star light, star bright, 

First star I see tonight, 

I wish I may, I wish I might, 

Have this wish I wish tonight.

                                    (must go to blog to play YouTube video)

                                     (I'm an unashamed lover of musicals)

     Motivational Monday:

 “It does not matter how slowly you go as long as you do not stop.”

– Confucious

So true!

Every day I rise from the ashes.

     These words of wisdom are from the following link titled "I'll never be good at running, but I'm sticking to it."

“Kid, if you only do the things you’re the best at, you’ll never do much. You won’t see much, you won’t know much, you won’t laugh much. Doing, seeing, knowing, laughing—these are the things that make a life. If you only aim to be the best, you may one day succeed in that, but you will likely have failed at everything else.”

https://www.runnersworld.com/human-race/sticking-to-it

"You'd think that they would hear the voices of the American people, but it's hard when your ears are stuffed with money from your donors." Elizabeth Warren on the GOP tax plan

Love is what you've been through with somebody.-----James Thurber

I love this quote!   Love=your history together.

I tried a free 45 min. spin class last Sunday

     That's me, back row on left.  My legs are still tired 2 days later despite not working as hard as the leader would have us do!  I sweated buckets. I obviously need some type of cross-training.

Loved this movie

Quote of the week:

"Sometimes the things that may or may not be true are the things a man needs to believe in the most. That people are basically good; that honor, courage, and virtue mean everything; that power and money, money and power mean nothing; that good always triumphs over evil; and I want you to remember this, that love... true love never dies. You remember that, boy. You remember that. Doesn't matter if it's true or not. You see, a man should believe in those things, because those are the things worth believing in."
(Hub [Robert Duvall] in the movie Secondhand Lions)

Strength training can add years to your life

https://www.runnersworld.com/strength-training/strength-training-adds-years-to-your-life

     This is good to know, but I sure do hate it......  pushups, situps, planks, and squats.

Just living is not enough...one must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower-------Hans Christian Andersen

     It was a gorgeous autumn day today.  I was out enjoying the nature.

Front yard

My dog and I tried to sneak by this guy in my neighbor's back yard.  Looking fierce!

Day is done, Gone the sun,
From the lake, From the hill,
From the sky.
All is well, Safely rest,
God is nigh.

Go to sleep, Peaceful sleep,
May the Soldier or Sailor,
God keep.
On the land or the deep,
Safe in sleep.

If you don't have a seat at the table, you're probably on the menu.-----Sen. Elizaabeth Warren

     No representation of women or minorities of any kind.....just a room full of fat old white billionaires on the take from their rich donors trying to fatten their own wallets.  This is where America has fallen.

“We can complain because rose bushes have thorns, or rejoice because thorn bushes have roses.” – Abraham Lincoln

(An oldie but a goodie)

Fox

     Here is a wily fox teasing my dog while surrounded by magpies and trying to eat a rabbit.  Reality TV at its finest for my Charleigh-girl.

"Remember, the mind is your best muscle. Big arms can move rocks, but big words can move mountains.” – Rocky Balboa

    This quote is going out to all kids.  Study hard.  Move mountains.

     A friend and her son are doing the Rocky Balboa run in Philly this Saturday.  They are huge Rocky fans.  She has been sharing Rocky quotes all week.  So excited for them.

P.S. to Rim Rock, Action (?) shot

Jen and I chatting away oblivious to camera-person.

     All race proceeds go to Colorado Mesa Univ. providing athletic scholarships.  All of the volunteers were college students, which was cool.

Quote of the day....

Many a trip continues long after movement in time and space have ceased.
                              John Steinbeck

    This quote really caught my attention this morning.  It is one to contemplate and has so many levels, don't you think?

Mental musings

     I reread "Born to Run" by Christopher McDougall a few weeks ago.  I love and believe the above quote.  Watching the NYC marathon Sunday, or standing at the starting line with hundreds or thousands of other people, and then watching all the runners being cheered on as they finish even many hours later, you feel this.  Except for the elite professionals actually vying for prize money, the rest of us are there to compete only with ourselves, and to be with each other....our tribe.
     I watched the very last NYC Marathon runners finishing in the rain, in the dark, hours after the start, and there were still a small crowd of people there to cheer them in.  Talk about inspiring!! I can't find the quote right now, but John "The Penguin" Bingham ("The Courage to Start") referred to when, in his first race, people cheered for him, and he cried because in real life, that doesn't happen.
   

“The only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.” ― Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

     Watch this clip if you can without crying.  I'm not crying, you're crying. Last but not least.
https://www.nytimes.com/video/sports/100000005536980/last-but-not-least-at-the-new-york-marathon.html?smid=fb-share

“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting the rest of our lives.” – Lemony Snicket

     It's nice to be home, even though I had a great couple of days in Western Colorado with friends.  I picked up my insane dog from the kennel yesterday morning.  I missed her imperfectness.  We must have complementary craziness, because she missed me, too.  It's nice having a dog follow me wherever I go, and curl up at my feet.

A new week

Yesterday's Rim Rock Half.....beautiful, and a learning experience.

Pre race, in Fruita, CO gym getting instructions

At race start after a long bus ride to the top of the Monument

The views the entire run through the Monument, that's me with orange jacket

More scenery. It distracts your mind from running

     The running part of the race went great for me....till about mile 9.  I started looking for a bathroom after mile 8 and started walking at mile 9....... There were none!!!  How can that be?? No bathrooms in the last half of a race?? I ended up walking until we got back into the town of Fruita and I found an open business I could stop at.  (You can tell from the pictures that the scenery is beautiful, but the scant shrubbery would provide little cover). My time was 2 hours 55 min., still good, but could have been a personal best had I not had to walk for 4 of the 13 miles.  A learning experience for sure.....no breakfast prior to a race for me after this. It is one of those funny life events, miserable at the time but turned out okay.

     Next year.   There is always next year.

     I am watching the NY City marathon today.
     I'll never get through their lottery to run it but enjoy watching.

     Watching Shalane Flanagan win NYC, and Meb complete his 26th and final marathon at NYC was amazing....tears.

This is my problem......

We are only a moment. Make that moment awesome.

     I am heading to Grand Junction/Fruita Colorado later today with 2 friends for tomorrow's Rim Rock Half marathon at the Colorado National Monument.  There is a 30 % chance of rain tomorrow, so fingers crossed that it holds off.
     Be awesome this weekend, folks.

To get in the appropriate scary mood for trick-or-treating goblins....

     It wouldn't be Halloween without a little Thriller (it never gets old),

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sOnqjkJTMaA&feature=share




     ...and some Rattlin' Bones.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y3gtQ2RhcLA&feature=share



     I'm saving this for tonight....the 1938 RadioHour "War of the Worlds," by Orson Wells, the prank that shook the nation.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xs0K4ApWl4g

“Another belief of mine: that everyone else my age is an adult, whereas I am merely in disguise.” ― Margaret Atwood, Cat's Eye

   

My welcome home committee!!! No fear.

Another nice fall day with frigid winter expected tomorrow....I am enjoying it while I can.

Autumn.....I love you and am going to miss you!

Bowlines

Best quote I've read in a while!