What I Love About Running

If you're familiar with the twitterverse, then you probably know about the many "#chats" there are to join. I have become a huge fan of #runchat, which is every other Sunday night at 6pm MT. Runners of all different backgrounds join here to share tips, encourage others, talk about races, and much more running topics. I have grown to love this community and the people I have engaged with here.

So #runchat is encouraging us all to share what we love about running for Valentine's Day (I can pretty honestly say that running was one of my first true loves!). Here goes:

1. Running is good for the body. I love the physical benefits I get from running. Helps me meet my cardio requirements and stay fit.

2. Running is good for the mind. I have experienced the "runners high" several times, if not every time I have run. Endorphins are released from the pituitary gland during strenuous exercise, which results in a state of euphoria which leaves you feeling motivated and energized.

3. Running is good for the soul. Taking time out of the day to reflect and be by myself is a necessity. This is my meditation time, and a time to reflect and sort through this crazy life.

4. Running is a good way to experience the outdoors. I am an outdoor sport junkie. My favorite runs are outside, whether it be around a city park, or on a secluded trail.

5. Running is a great way to meet people. Runners are a great group of people. It's also great to motivate others, or to be motivated by others, to go for a run.

6. Running is an achievement. Not everyone can run. Not everyone can run fast. I myself am pretty competitive, so this is a great way for me to win something.

7. You get better at running as you get older. Well, from what I understand it looks more like a bell curve, peaking at around age 40-45. This has been incredibly motivating to me to keep at it - keep increasing my distance and speed. And I seem to get better every year.

8. Running is cheap. Especially in the summer time. Sports bra, tank, and a good pair of shoes are the basics. Even the extras (nice socks, radio, gps, etc) I usually find I have for other reasons.

9. Running isn't pretentious (at least that I've encountered). Unlike other sports (you know who you are), runners are real, everyday people. They're not uber cool and unapproachable. There are so many different levels of runners. I go out in my bare bones shoes, my running shorts from high school (yes they still fit), and race shirts I've gotten, and am a-ok.

10. Running encourages a well-balanced, healthy lifestyle. So, you can't sit around and eat fast food all day and expect to be motivated to run. To be successful, you have to be well hydrated, and well fueled. I am not the best at either, but the fact that I have a run scheduled encourages me to eat and drink healthy.

So, there you have it. I am a runner, and always will be. I hope this encourages others to get out there and do it! 

Snowboarding: Point Your Nose Down and Go

Snowboarding season is here! Yeah!

Beginning season conditions, well let's face it, they kinda suck. But it doesn't matter because everyone is so stoked that it's time to ski/ride again.

So I went to Loveland Ski Area a couple of weeks ago (holla! love that place!), and there was there usual icy patches in the mandmade stuff. Thank goodness I learned to ride east coast, so I am more than used to it.

Anyway, so I was riding down a steep section under Chair 6 and it got super icy, choppy, chunky, just gnarly. I tried to fight it, side swiping, digging in my edge at first. But then about half way down, thought "Screw that, I'm just going to point my nose downhill and go."

So, what happened? I bent my knees, picked up speed, and went with the terrain. And guess what? No spills. Haha, a couple of scares, but all ended well.

While I was doing this I thought about how snowboarding was a metaphor for life. Instead of fighting the terrain (or what life throws at you), sometimes you should just ride out that wave and go with it. You may fall hard. But, you may not. And if you don't fall, it may have just been one heck of a ride out. Which, you may not have experienced if you didn't just point your nose down and go.

Giving Back

Giving back, paying it forward, charity. It makes you feel good. Now is certainly the time of year when it's seems easier to do. There's opportunities-a-plenty to give to food banks, toy donation centers, families in need at the holiday season.

Why do people freely engage in these activities? Is there true altruism? Do people actually give and expect nothing (nada, nilch, zippo) in return? I would argue that the feeling you get when you do negates this proposition. Whether this feeling is: pride, accomplishment, warm and fuzzy, whatever...it makes you feel good.

Recently I had a discussion with someone about focusing on yourself or putting your efforts towards focusing on someone else. The statement was made to me that the first half of one's life was spent focusing on one's self: going to/completing school, finding a soul-mate, career progression. In other words, me, me, me. How can I improve myself. But, then you come to the second half of your life (midlife?). You have, or should have, already accomplished these things for yourself. And be ready to take care of someone else. Whether it be a child, an elderly parent, or someone else, now is the time to give back.

Is this what a midlife crisis is all about? The refusal to accept that it's now time to focus on others? That although you should have gotten everything accomplished for yourself by now, perhaps you haven't?

But I digress...

'Tis the season to get out and do for others. Whether it be physical, mental, or spiritual giving, give what you can to those whose needs are bigger than yours. Give what you are overflowing in.

Unless you try to do something beyond what you have mastered, you will never grow. - Ralph Waldo Emerson

Close-mindedness. How's that working out for you?

As voting day comes to a close, it reminds me of a subject that a colleague and I were discussing the other day. Close-mindedness. I mean, everyone knows what I am talking about here, especially as it relates to politics. You're a liberal. Your friend is a conservative. You try to convey your ideas, thoughts, or opinions to your friend but they just won't listen. ARGGGH!

So, as a self-proclaimed open-minded individual, where does being close-minded get you? I am not talking about having convictions, or having strong values that you stand behind. That, I get. But at what point do you close your mind and make the decision that no matter what the individual you are speaking with says, you are not going to listen, entertain, or even acknowledge his/her thoughts or opinions? Or better yet, you decide to berate the individual for having a different opinion than yours.

I love variety. I love diversity. I know when I think I am right, I can be a bit stubborn (many can attest to that). But I also know that differing viewpoints and perspectives on matters help to create the most whole truth that there can be. And therein lies the true value of being open-minded: knowledge.

Knowledge and wisdom are power. So maybe we should open our minds a bit man and see the world in a whole new way.

 

 

 

 

“The measure of intelligence is the ability to change.”
― Albert Einstein

On Caring

The inspiration for this post came from a conversation I recently had on a 3 hour flight. The random encounter was nothing short of miraculous, but I'll spare those details here. The important part was the outcome and my realization of the importance of a basic concept. Caring.

We all work with, or in some way interact with people who care and people who don't. The way these interactions look are drastically different. Customer service is a great example. If someone cares about you, about the product they are selling or fixing, about the end result of the interaction, this comes through. A caring individual goes the extra mile to ensure a positive outcome. A caring person shows empathy. A caring person works hard to make sure that whatever they care about is shown in a positive light in the end.

Juxtaposition this caring person with someone who doesn't. Not caring can manifest itself in a number of ways. Avoidance. Sabotage. Poor performance. When you want to get something done, a noncaring individual is the worst kind of person to deal with.

What determines how much you care? Is it your circumstance? Your personality? Your outlook on life?

I am a passionate person. When I don't care about something it's blatantly obvious (I can't help it!). And when I care, it's obvious too. So, I surround myself with people and things I care about. And let my care shine.

(Here I am receiving a customer service award this year. Cheesy I know).

Here we go...

So after much thought, but not enough research I'm sure, I've decided to jump on the blogging bandwagon. I'm admittedly not a great writer, so if you are looking for high level prose you are probably in the wrong place.

I hope to share adventures, passion, knowledge, and hopefully inspiration. Laugh at my mistakes and revel in my errors. I do!