Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Action 105 - Get Some Sleep.

I'm exhausted. So why is my mind racing? Ugh.

Action 105 - Get Some Sleep. It's that simple.

I can sleep now and look like this:


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Or stay awake and look like this all day tomorrow:


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G'nite, all.

Action 104 - Think Like A Professor.

Small surprise to anyone who knows me, but I'm usually a bit of a joker in the classroom. I pay attention and I get the work done, but I find every opportunity to enjoy a laugh or two. I'm just that kind of student who sits in the back, cracks wise from time to time, and makes the whole experience a little better for everyone.

Usually. But this Saturday, it's a completely different situation. Saturday, I'm at the other end of the classroom. Mira Costa College, here I come.

Action 104 - Think Like A Professor. Instead of being the class smart aleck, I'm going to be the class instructor. I'm teaching two classes on the iPad for beginner and intermediate users. As surreal as it sounds, I am going to be the authority figure in the classroom.

Now, if I only knew how to think like a professor. I'm hoping to strike balances between informative and entertaining, educational and amusing, and knowledge and humor.

Wish me luck!

Action 103 - Find A Way.

I ran my second Ragnar Relay and I already want to run another one. Heck, I want to run them all. But that just isn't realistic. The races aren't cheap, and there's also the cost of travel to and from the events. I hate to think that money is going to keep me from the Ragnar experience.

Or, is it?

How about Action 103 - Find A Way. Sure, I want to run the next Ragnar Relay. But if I can't run an event, I can still find a way to be involved. In April, the Ragnar comes to Southern California. And I have signed up to volunteer for Team Horns and Halos. I'm not sure yet what I'll be doing, but who cares? I'll be able to have a good time at the event, cheer on the teams as they go by, and help make the next Ragnar a great success.

Action 102 - Refuse To Engage.

Election season is upon us, and the political site I visit from time to time is in full-swing with the usual rants and raves. And though some of it is entertaining and informative, the effort required to find those nuggets of humor or wisdom is far greater than the reward.

Action 102 - Refuse To Engage. I'm nearly certain how I'm going to vote this year, though I intend to stay informed on the candidates and their positions all through the run-up to election day. But I am not going to kid myself that my ranting politics with random strangers on the internet is going to make one iota of difference in the world.

I'm sure I'll comment on the big goings-on of the day from time to time, but for the most part, the political website world is going to have to get through this election cycle without input from me. The annoyance factor is too great.



(Image courtesy of http://xkcd.com/386/)

 

Tuesday, February 28, 2012

Action 101 - TRI to Leap.

It's Leap Year, Leap Day, February 29th. And I'm using this special day as a a reason to push myself out of my own comfort zone. I feel like I need to keep expanding my experiences, learn to say "yes!" and just go for the challenge.

Action 101 - TRI to Leap. And my choice is to leap into my first triathlon. I'm going to compete in the Mission Bay Triathlon on Sunday, September 30th. I'm so nervous about this that I can barely type the words, but I'm going to do it.



Oh, man. My stomach just flipped. Kim, Christine and Jarred, I hope you three are ready to help me get ready, because I'll need all the encouragement, instruction and coaching I can get!

Action 100 - Reflect.

It's been 20 days and now, 100 posts. I am 80 days away from running the Pasadena Marathon, and I'm going to take a little time today to read back over these blog entries.

Action 100 - Reflect. I'm proud of what I have created here and I really do believe that it will make a difference for me in the long run. (Ha! A pun. See what I did there? "In the long run." And I run long runs. Get it?!)

Anyway, I will also take this opportunity to thank each and every one of you that has bothered to read my blog. Your comments and feedback are encouraged, and your support and encouragement is appreciated more than I can say. I will run with a part of each of you and I promise to make you proud in the marathon.



 

Action 099 - Improvise.

I know what I want with me on a long run. I want my iPhone with RunMeter app and, at night, I want my Nathan reflective vest and Petzl headlamp. That was my plan for Ragnar, anyway. But sometimes, things don't work out according to plan.

No problem. Time for Action 099 - Improvise. On my first night run at Ragnar, the blinking lights on the back of my vest wouldn't blink. My running buddy, Ryan, quickly slapped a magnetic light on my back and sent me on my way. Part of me was bothered that my fancy vest wasn't doing its thing, but the sensible part of me knew to be grateful that Ryan was thinking quickly and got me out of the exchange on time.

On another run, my iPhone was acting up. The RunMeter app kept shutting off my music, so I had to choose between the two. No problem. I chose the music and ran with my Garmin watch for the distance and pace monitoring.

The point here is that each run, each time, something is likely to go wrong. I need to remain flexible and be prepared to improvise. And at the end of the day, the only thing that really matters is that I start and complete my run. All the rest is just bells and whistles.

Action 098 - Play Well With Others.

While in Palm Springs, I blogged about sometimes going alone to events. I said that it was important to be willing to enter a race without any friends, if the only other choice was to not go at all. And I still believe that. The journey has value, even when parts of it are done by myself. But a willingness to push on alone should not be confused with a purposeful choice to remain alone.

Whenever possible, I need to remember Action 098 - Play Well With Others. By myself, the events are training runs with better scenery. With other people, though, the events themselves become a celebration. They're a party with a side of running or biking on the side. And the best part of having others with me? Someone else to chime in later when I'm talking up the event and the experience.



This is the good stuff right here, the time spent with friends challenging ourselves with miles and obstacles and weather. It's the very best way to feel alive.

 

Action 097 - Figure Out Fuel For Distance.

I've run one full marathon, seven half marathons and two Ragnar Relays, and I still have no real clue what fuel works best for me over the long miles. I've tried many different things, but nothing consistently enough to know if it is really helping or not.

If I'm going to run a better marathon in Pasadena, I definitely need Action 097 - Figure Out Fuel For Distance. That means trying different fuels on the next several half marathons and paying attention to how they affect my body. Do they give me any energy or do they just quiet my hunger? Do I feel better after eating them or do I just feel queasy?

Gu gels. Clif Bloks. Sport Beans. Just three of the many choices out there to fuel a runner over long distances. What works best for me? I'll pay attention and figure it out.



 

Action 096 - Make New Memories.

In 45 years, I've made mistakes. Some small and inconsequential, some large and horrendous. And I've had bad things happen to me, some annoying and some devastating. For better or worse, those mistakes and dark days are forever associated with key times and places in my life. But I think I have accidentally stumbled onto a way to fix that.

The solution is Action 096 - Make New Memories. For example, instead of Dallas, Texas, being the city where I let my job consume me to the point that it nearly cost me my marriage in 2000, it is now the city where I ran back-to-back half marathons over New Years Weekend. Instead of Phoenix, Arizona, being the place where I watched my Mom and Stepfather end a terrible marriage, it is now the city where I ran a Ragnar Relay. Instead of my time as a Marine ending in a public and painful battle over me being gay, it has now been capped off with my running and finishing the Marine Corps Marathon.

I'm building new connections and creating new associations. I'm casting off the pain of the past and embracing a life of my own design. Most importantly, I'm making new memories that bring me peace, joy and comfort when I look back on them. And that is an action worth taking.



Soon to come? New memories for Miami, FL, Riverside, CA, and Oahu, HI.

Monday, February 27, 2012

Action 095 - Say A Prayer.

Today has been a tough day. Or at least I thought it had, until I read that a USCG helicopter crashed off Point Clear in Mobile, Alabama, and three sailors are still unaccounted for. And until I remembered that last week, seven Marines were killed in Yuma, Arizona, in a different helicopter crash. On second thought, my day hasn't been tough at all.

The loved ones of the Marines lost are having tough days. They are the ones that must wake up tomorrow, and the day after that, and the day after that, and go on in a world that no longer includes their loved ones. Me, I just have to sort out a few petty annoyances.

Tonight, I'll turn to Action 095 - Say A Prayer. I don't even know what all I believe anymore, but I do know that it is my fervent wish that the families of the lost feel comfort, and the families of the missing are reunited with their loved ones. And I send that wish out into the universe, as a prayer or a wish or a dream. And while its intended recipient is painfully unclear to me right now, its sincerity is beyond measure.



Amen.

Action 094 - Think Zinc.

I've never really been consistent with supplements or vitamins. Supplements always seem like such a racket, making outlandish claims and miracle promises. And vitamins seemed like something for children or expectant mothers. But I'm not a young man, anymore. I'm 45 years old. And I'm at the point where I need to do all I can to keep myself healthy.

Action 094 - Think Zinc. And all the other vitamins and minerals, too. I'm going to commit to taking a single, daily multivitamin and see if I notice any difference. I'll skip the additional supplements for now and take this one improvement at a time.

Action 093 - Run Local.

I've traveled to my last few events, and that makes them more fun to do but more stressful to get to.  I have to pack extra running gear to make sure I am prepared for different weather conditions, have to sleep in a different bed, and usually try to work in a social call or two in the host city. But not for my next event.

Action 093 - Run Local. The next event is the San Diego Half Marathon, an inaugural run through downtown, along the harbor, through Hillcrest, to Balboa Park, and finally back downtown to Petco Park. It's the only event that I'm running here in my own backyard, and I'm looking forward to it. I'll get a good night's sleep at home, be able to decide that morning what gear to run in, and then be at the fabulous Gossip Grill for breakfast.

Best of all, I'll be sporting one of these bad boys at the finish!



Think Local? You bet!

Action 092 - Prepare For The Crash.

Big events mean big excitement. A week long vacation in Cancun. A marathon you trained months to run. A last minute invite to a relay race. Or even an all-consuming work project that you finally complete. The rush can be amazing. But what happens when it's over? What happens when the excitement fades, the race is done, and all you have left is a wrinkled bib, a medal, and great memories?



Action 092 - Prepare For The Crash. The bigger the event, the more involved or intense it is, the harder I seem to struggle to get back on track when it is over. And I knew I would feel this way after running the Ragnar. Heck, being in a van for 30+ hours with a group of other runners feels like a long party, and it can be a letdown to go back to everyday life.

But this time, I'm ready for it. I've got two things working in my favor post-Ragnar. One, I already have two more relay races to look forward to. The Texas Capitol to Coast is in October and the Ragnar Florida Keys is in January. Knowing there are two fun events coming up helps me stay motivated. Two, I made a plan to get right back to the gym and to my healthy eating post-race. Yes, I took a couple of days off to let my shins recover, but I'll be right back tomorrow morning working out. The sooner I get back on my routine, the less likely the post-race gloomies will knock me down.

Prepare for the crash. That's the only way to beat it.

Action 091 - Be Patient.

Because I am such a multi-tasker, I find myself clicking on a link and then clicking elsewhere (another tab, another browser) while waiting for the first one to load. Small surprise, then, that I am often distracted. I peek at Facebook and I lose the next 10 minutes reading and posting there. I check CNN and lose the next 10 minutes reading one news article after another. Wherever I click, I'm going to get lost in a web time vacuum. But there's a solution.

Action 091 - Be Patient. When I am loading up a file or a page, I need to be patient. Wait the 30-40 seconds it might take. The time it takes to wait is far less than the time it will take me to get my focus back should I click away somewhere else.



(Photo courtesy of babyworldbundle.com.)

Sunday, February 26, 2012

Action 090 - See The Difference.

It's tough to notice day-to-day changes in myself. And being candid, it's those changes that I am working for. I want to look better, leaner, healthier. Yeah, it's about health. But it's also about improving my appearance. And there is a way I can compare.

Action 090 - See The Difference. It's not easy to see the difference a day or a week make, but a bigger time window makes it possible. When I compare the me I am today to the me I was just two years ago, I'm very happy with the results.

These are two pictures, the one on the left taken this week and the one on the right taken in December 2009. It may be partly the glasses and the beard aging me, but I really do think I look younger on the left.



I don't want to look like a young man again. I'm not unrealistic. But I do want my outward appearance to reflect my commitment to health and fitness. I want to look like a man who takes care of himself. And comparing these two pictures, I think I'm on my way.

Action 089 - Taste It First.

I don't consider myself a picky eater, but there are definitely some things that I don't like: tomatoes, asparagus, mushrooms and olives. There used to be a much longer list, but I am working from a new perspective.

Action 089 - Taste It First. Used to be, I wouldn't eat pickles, bell peppers, mustard, broccoli... the list goes on and on. Either I tried those things as a child and didn't like them, or I just knew from the look and smell that they would be horrible.

These days, I find that my taste buds have changed and some of the awful things aren't awful at all. So I'm keeping that in mind when I find myself offered something that I usually don't eat. Maybe it's a restaurant offering an eggplant dish or a friend cooking an unusual fish. Whatever the opportunity, I am finally wise enough to at least taste the item and give it a chance.

Who knows what my new favorite food might be?



(Photos courtesy of SparkPeople.com and the SparkPeople Cookbook.)

Action 088 - Reap The True Rewards.

I described the shiny medal from Ragnar Del Sol as a reward worth having. And it is. It's something physical and tangible, an item to hold in my hand and proudly display as proof of my accomplishment. But at the end of the day, it's just a medal. There are far greater things to celebrate.

Action 088 - Reap The True Rewards. Below is a picture of my team, Kilty Pleasures. And having the opportunity to spend time with them, to get to know them, to now be able to call them friends... well... that really is the true prize I am walking away with.



I knew three people from Ragnar SoCal last year - John, Kat and Timm. And even they were going to be in Van #2. So once again, I was getting into a van with five strangers. Jan and Marianne, kind enough to allow me to ride to Phoenix with them. Ryan and Brent, easy-going guys that made me feel instantly part of the team. And James, at least as crazy as me and happy to let the world know it. I was surrounded by five fantastic people who welcomed me from the first moment onto the team.

And Van #2? They were just as incredible. I enjoyed my fleeting moments with them so much that after my van had finished our last set of runs, I decided to ride along with Van #2 as they ran their last, too. And I'm so glad I did. I got to finally get to talk with John, Kat and Timm. And I got to know Chris, Bobbie and Jerry. All six people in that van made sure I knew how glad they were that I was riding along with them for the final legs and that my being there helped keep them motivated and pumped up for their runs.

And the party after? John and Kat opened their home to all of us runners, plus we were joined by the extended circle of friends, including Rachel, Karrie and Pebble. And to a person, I was so completely overwhelmed by how immediately comfortable and connected I felt. And don't get me started on the ride home to San Diego with Timm and the music connections we have. I have never been around someone who has as eclectic a collection of music as I do. And his explanation of "I just started saying yes" was fantastic inspiration to me.

It's funny, but all of this happened because I made the same connections last year at Ragnar SoCal. My van was full of amazing people that I am still connecting with and getting to know today. And nearly a year later, the rewards of that weekend event are still revealing themselves to me. I can only imagine that the rewards of this weekend will unfold for many, many months to come.

And Ragnar Del Sol's Team Kilty Pleasures? You all are truly amazing, and I can't put into words how much this relay meant to me. With all the crazy that is happening in my life right now, I really needed a chance to get away and experience something completely positive. You all gave that to me, and I will always be grateful to you for that.

Saturday, February 25, 2012

Action 087 - Reap The Rewards.

With passion comes determination. With desire comes commitment. And with effort comes results.

At the Ragnar Del Sol, I wanted to do well for myself. I needed to do well out of respect for my team. And I worked hard to do well for them and myself.

And Action 087 - Reap The Rewards. Finishing an event like this means a handful of bling, and Ragnar does not disappoint.



This is the Finisher's Medal for Ragnar Del Sol. Sweet, huh? Guess my husband will need to expand that medal display case of mine sooner than he thinks!

Action 086 - Take The Moment.

It's so easy to move quickly from one thing to the other, wrapping something up and immediately launching into something new. And when running a crazy and complex event like a Ragnar Relay, it's really easy to fly through the whole thing without acknowledging moments that matter.

Action 086 - Take The Moment. After completing my third leg, I climbed into the van and felt an overwhelming sense of accomplishment. I had done it. I had run 7.4 miles, nearly half of which was a crazy hill, and this after running 11.2 miles on two earlier legs.

I had finished my part of the Ragnar Del Sol. I had done what I came out from California to do. I had stepped in for friends in need and completed what was asked of me. And fortunately, I was smart enough to know that I needed to take a moment and let it all sink in.



Challenge accepted and met. And this is me, taking a moment to bask in the glory of it all. And that smile stayed plastered on my face just like that for at least the next fifteen minutes.

Action 085 - Meet The Challenge.

I've run a full marathon. I've run a Ragnar. I've run a Tough Mudder and a Super Spartan. I'm not afraid of trying something new or difficult. But that doesn't mean that I don't get a little nervous before I do it.

My third run at Ragnar Del Sol was a 7.4 mile leg, half flat terrain and nearly 3.5 miles of significant elevation gain. Yep, uphill. And I would be running it on little sleep after having already run a 5.5 and a 5.7 mile run earlier.

Action 085 - Meet The Challenge. I signed up and agreed to step in as Runner 2, and that meant doing Leg 26. I was determined to hit the ground running - literally - and keep going until I hit the exchange chute 7.4 miles later. And here's what I had to do:



It was a tough run. It was pitch dark when I started, though the blackness gave way to a pre-dawn show of colors in the sky as I ran. And my time was slower than my earlier pace, but I truly gave it everything I had. By the time I finished, one hour and twenty-something minutes later, I felt confident that I had truly met the challenge.

And yep, it felt pretty good.

Action 084 - Have Fun.

For those who know me, this might seem like a no-brainer. I mean, when am I not fun, right? Believe it or not, it is not always an automatic thing. I make a conscious choice to enjoy myself and have a good time rather than stress about the unknown or worry over whatever might not work out perfectly.

Action 084 - Have Fun. When I decided to accept the invitation to run Ragnar Del Sol at the last minute, I knew that I would be joining a group of people already bonded together. Even the three people on the team only knew me as "that guy in the other van last year." So there were lots of reasons for me to be concerned. But I told myself that the people I did know were great people and that, by extension, the rest of their running buddies had to be good people, too. And I decided that I would be bring my very best attitude and make it a fun experience for me and, if I could, for others.

Yeah. That happened. We had fun from start to finish. The group of people turned out to be absolutely amazing and I loved every minute of the experience. These few photos barely scratch the surface of the fun I had. It was absolutely fantastic!

This is our van, decorated from top to bottom... with a kilt!

Ryan and Brent, doing a little pre-run kilt check.



Me, finally finding a way to have long legs.



These folks were taking a picture of our van and of me and Jerry in our kilts, so we turned the tables and asked to take a picture of them, too. They were good sports and said, "sure!"

Action 083 - Remain Calm.

If you know me at all, you have seen me in "organizer/planner" mode. I admit, it can be a bit manic. And regimented. And inflexible. And...

Alright, you get the idea. Planning and organizing a big event with a lot of people takes wisdom beforehand, skill during, and patience always. I know that from firsthand experience. That is why I make such an effort when I am the recipient of someone else's planning to be as easygoing and relaxed as I can. I know they are already stressed out and I don't need to add more to it.

Action 084 - Remain Calm. Getting from any exchange to another is stressful. Every other team is doing the same thing, and trying to get that many large passenger vans into small spaces can be a chore. And if the exchange is a major one, where the last runner from one van is replaced by the first runner from the other van, there are twice as many vehicles and at least twice as much confusion.

This is just one quadrant of the parking lot at Exchange 13. Each team's second vans are picking a runner up, and each team's first vans are dropping a runner off. So every van comes through at some point, and it is chaos.



What my team driver needed was for the rest of us to remain calm, get from and back to the van quickly, and help guide him as he backed out of the space and navigated through the onslaught of foot traffic.

I was not in charge, so my task was simple. Remain calm and assist the driver. That's it. And that's exactly what I did. And surprise, surprise, but the entire exchange went off smoothly and we were on the road in plenty of time.

There's something to this remaining calm business, eh?

Action 082 - Enjoy The View.

Running the Ragnar Relay is a series of "hurry up and wait" moments. Sometimes, you sit in the van and wait for your runner to catch up to you so you can give them water. Or you sit at the exchange point waiting to drop off and pick up a runner. Other times you hurry to make that support stop or exchange drop. And any attempt to eat or sleep between running sets is crazy busy.

It's important to remember Action 082 - Enjoy The View. An event like the Ragnar Del Sol offers so many opportunities to see absolutely spectacular scenery, beautiful sunsets and sunrises, and desert landscapes and mountain backdrops as far as the eye can see.

It does the soul good to take in the greatness that is nature. And on this trip, that greatness is truly all around me.

Friday, February 24, 2012

Action 081 - Rise And Shine.

It's 4am and I'm back in the van. We just left the hotel after just over an hour's sleep, and we are now heading to the Exchange where we will begin our last set of runs. It's pitch dark and cold outside. And me, I am about to run my longest and hilliest leg, ever.

Action 081 - Rise And Shine. The rise part, already done. I'm awake and ready to go. The shine part? Well, my team is looking to me to deliver a solid 7.4 mile run. And this guy is just the runner to do it!

Oh, and the best part? I'll be almost done with my run just as the sun comes up over the beautiful Phoenix desert. Sweet!



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Action 080 - Help And Be Helped.

Some of life's greatest lessons come to us in the most unexpected of moments. Running through the night at Ragnar Del Sol isn't a place I expected to be reminded of the good in humanity, but still, there it was.

Action 080 - Help And Be Helped. Ragnar is a relay race. Teams compete to be the first across the finish line with the fastest times. But it's way more than that. It's also an amazing experience of fellowship and camaraderie and team-building. And it's a opportunity for complete strangers to share moments of support and encouragement.

While running my second leg, I was passed by a few people and I passed a few others. Without exception, each person that passed me took the time on their way by to say, "good job!" or "you're doing great!" or some variation of. Being passed can be demotivating, but the encouragement of other runners keeps you fired up and encouraged.

It's a great reminder of the simple power I have, to help someone with a kind word. It means the world to me when I am struggling through a run, and I need to remember to help others when I have the opportunity.

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(Photo from Ragnar Relays. Just another example of teams cheering each other on.)

Action 079 - Follow Through.

It's important to do the work, but it means nothing if you don't see it through to completion.

Action 079 - Follow Through. When running a Ragnar Relay, that means making sure you do the "paperwork" after running your leg. Here I am, checking off my 1st Leg. Yep, that baby goes in the done column!



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Action 078 - Bask In The Glory!

After Wednesday's treadmill and shin debacle, I was really worried about running my first leg here at Ragnar. I really had no idea what to expect. I was hopeful but not confident.

Pfft, no reason to worry. Action 078 - Bask In The Glory! My run was 5.5 miles, gently downhill most of the way. And ladies and gentlemen, I kicked its butt! I was hoping for 10 minute miles, and I blew that away. I ran 5.51 miles in 48 minutes and 24 seconds. That means my pace was 8:47 minutes per mile.

Bam! That's how we do it, baby! And my shins feel great and I feel great. I'm ready for my next leg!


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Action 077 - Gear Up!

I'm Runner Two, so I need to be ready right away. Our first runner will be hitting the exchange point soon, and then I am off.

Action 077 - Gear Up! My cell phone service up here is sketchy, so I'm not going to run with my phone or use my RunMeter app. Instead, I'll use my iPod Shuffle for tunes and my Garmin to track my pace.

I'm ready!


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Action 076 - Saddle Up.

It's Friday morning, Day One of the Ragnar Del Sol Relay. We spent the night at a hotel here in Wickenburg, Arizona, and are now gathering our stuff and getting ready to head out. There were six of us sharing the hotel room, so it's a bit hectic gathering everything up.

Did I mention the hotel has a bit of a western theme? Action 076 - Saddle Up. Time to get over to the start area and get checked in.

The patio in front of the hotel.


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And me, waking up just a bit slower than usual.


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Thursday, February 23, 2012

Action 075 - Get It Started.

Every experience has a beginning. And I'm ready to enjoy mine.

Action 075 - Get It Started. I arrived here in Phoenix and saw that my name was already emblazoned on our van!



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Fun, right? We have all of our names on the van, and we mark the checkboxes each time we complete a leg.

And we are loaded up and heading out.



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Go Ragnar!

Action 074 - Celebrate The Unusual.

Sometimes, the best part of any adventure is the unknown. What new sights and sounds am I going to experience? What beautiful amazing things are out there waiting for me?

Action 074 - Celebrate The Unusual. Okay, so maybe everything out there isn't amazing. In fact, some of it is downright tacky. Still, it's unusual, so I'm going to celebrate it.

Exhibit A: The Fat Mariachi Band
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Exhibit B: The Metallic Pig and Flower


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Yeah, it's silly. But it was worth a chuckle for us as we stood there staring at it wondering, "really, who buys this stuff?!"

Action 073 - Handle The Nerves.

It's sinking in now. I'm running a Ragnar Relay. I've done it before, but the stakes are higher this time. I'm running the 4th longest distance, and that means I feel more pressure to deliver for the team. What if my shins are a problem? What if the hill on the last leg kicks my butt? What if a dust tornado blows me off the course?!

Okay, that last one might be a bit of a reach, but still... I'm stressed. Time for Action 073 - Handle The Nerves. I have been here before, nervous before an event. And I've never quit or not finished, yet. And this Ragnar won't be my failure.

Deep breaths. Confident thoughts. I've got this!




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I'm Runner 2. Check out those miles, baby!

Action 072 - Break Two Hearts.

Sure, it's fun to go on a trip. I get to pack a bag and head out the door to an adventure. But it's not without a bit of heartbreak.

Action 072 - Break Two Hearts. Yep, leaving for a trip means saying goodbye to Idgie and Ruth. And seriously, look at them with their sad little eyes and lonely faces.



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It's like they know that I'm leaving them and they want me to feel as sad as they do. *sigh*

Action 071 - Be Ready.

It's Ragnar Relay Del Sol weekend, and I'm bound for Phoenix. But a trip like this requires thought and planning.

Action 071 - Be Ready. And I am! My bags are packed with my running gear (Road ID, Gu, Camelback, headlamp, safety vest, etc.), running attire (multiple options, might want to run sleeveless or long sleeved, who knows?), my iPad, my iPhone, my chargers, a good old-fashioned paperback book, and my sleeping bag.



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Ragnar Relay, here I come!

Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Action 070 - Watch As It All Works Out.

It's been a tough day. I spent hours back and forth with my attorney dealing with my professional matter, hurt my shins when I tried to run inclines, and I had to say no to a last minute invite to run Ragnar Del Sol. What I hoped would be a good day went completely sideways, right? Wrong.

Time for Action 070 - Watch As It All Works Out. My attorney and I sorted it all out and she has everything she needs from me, my shins are feeling better already and just need a day of rest, and my husband decided that I was was going to run Ragnar Del Sol and we would find the money to make it happen.

And the details? I'm riding out tomorrow morning with two of the runners, who just happen to live in Oceanside and will be driving right by my house on the way to Phoenix. I'll get a ride back with another runner who lives here in San Diego. And I already have all the gear required from running the Ragnar SoCal last year.

I am so on Cloud 9 right now. I was really dragging around today, but a friend reminded me to Trust My Journey. And I did, turning my grumpy mood into a better one. I told myself, "it's not the end of the world and things will be better tomorrow, so cheer up." And here I am a few hours later, packing and getting ready to head out and run my relay race.

Yep. I just sat in amazement and watched as it all worked out!
Who is the coolest Husband in the world? This guy right here!

Action 069 - Trust My Journey.

I'm ten days into this project, my shins are hurting like crazy, and this day has been all-around crappy. At times like this, it's easy to wonder if I'm just fooling myself. Am I really going to be in any kind of shape to run the Pasadena Marathon? Are these stupid "actions" making any difference at all?!

And then, out of nowhere, comes Action 069 - Trust My Journey. A Marine Brother of mine posted a note to my Facebook wall, and it was exactly what I needed to see.
I thought of you when I read the saying on the bracelet. I know that your process is a bit extended and this saying might be good timing.

And this was the photo that came with it:



Absolutely, spot on perfect saying and at just the right time, too. I have to trust that this project is going to work, that it is going to be just what I need to prepare myself body and soul for the marathon.

Thanks, Brian. I will Trust My Journey.

Action 068 - Admit It When It Hurts.

So much of my attitude is about dealing with setbacks, fighting through obstacles, and getting over hurdles. But sometimes, there's no winning. Sometimes, I lose the fight.

Action 068 - Admit It When It Hurts. I came to the gym to run today. I planned to run slow, 5mph, but to add random hills. I thought it would be a good change of pace from the speed work and hills are always a challenge.

Pfft. I made it a mile and a half before I had to stop. Not just slow down, but completely stop. My shins hurt so much, every single step was painful. At the first mile, I thought I could power through it, but no way. They are literally throbbing right now.

This sucks. I'm on the bike, trying to get some cardio without putting too much impact on my shins. I was already in a crabby mood, and this is the shit icing on my craptastic day. Yes, I know I need to get perspective and not let this get to me, but I hate it.

Admit It when it hurts? Yep, it hurts. Too much to run. Damn it.


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