Needed This Yesterday

I needed this so badly yesterday:

 

Some days are just hard. Being under-employed can feel like a burden instead of a blessing – too much time to think, and thinking about sad things like getting older can lead to feeling like I’m not doing enough with my life. Feeling like I’m not doing enough with my life can lead to thinking that I’m wasting my life. Thinking about wasting my life can make me feel like life is moving really fast and I’m not going to get to see and do everything I want to unless I go go go but I’ve already wasted so much time, so is there even a point?

When I finally pulled my head out from within myself and made it to the gym, I felt like a million-billion-gagillion bucks. And this, my friends, why working out in the morning is vital – you can alleviate feeling like anything less than priceless early on.

Go sweat.

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Discipline

Thanks to K for floating this across my desk (aka, sending it to me via email):

 

Especially after seeing what I look like interviewed on TV (and stepping on a scale this morning for the first time in a month), it’s time to remember this when those magical “Pizza” words are uttered…or when contemplating long naps versus long runs.

Get out there, friends.

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Thanksgiving: A Great Time to Run At Noon

So it’s been awhile since I’ve had the chance to be outside in the noontime hours (and since I have had a chance to write about running!). I have been working on a project that is taking me all throughout the country, 50/50: A Dating Documentary.* The good news is while traveling I was able to run in almost every single state (shazam!) and now that I have a bit more time I’ll be recounting those runs here, and we’ll see the country through the lens of running together.

But today, Thanksgiving, I had the chance to not be in a car in the afternoon. Instead, I was able to wake up late, drink coffee with friends, and take my running shoes outside with the sun directly overhead through a residential neighborhood. And you know what I found?

The heavenly aroma of food being cooked. Every few houses, out wafted the scents we associate with friends, family and autumn turning to winter. As I continued running, laughter started peeling out through open kitchen windows. And then on the trails, sets of families were out on walks, kids holding their parent’s hands and sons obviously home from college trekking and yakking with their dads.

I almost only have experienced a holiday from the inside. And I have to say, it was quite a treat to see it from the outside. Noontime run on Christmas, anyone?

 

*If you’re so inclined you’re welcome to read my tales from that journey here.

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Oakland Half Marathon – The Runner’s Delight Recap

Quote of the race, courtesy of Kevin: At mile 11, I was hurting. But I thought, “Damn it, I survived the Deuce Panic – I am making my goal time.” 

Spending $90 on an organized race isn’t usually my style, but I like to treat myself to a good road race every now and then – when else are streets blocked off and runners get the right of way?* Exactly. The Oakland Half Marathon was part of a full festival of running love: a marathon, 5K and Kid’s Fun Run were also on the day’s agenda – and yours truly had signed on for the half a few months ago. Why?

First, it’s not a secret that I have an affinity for the East Bay in general – nothing against the city at all, but I’m rooting for the Town  if we ever have to Rock Paper Scissors. Getting a chance to run through Oakland was like penning a love letter to the Town with my toes. With purported agility and a definite pure heart, I dedicate myself to Oakland for 13.1 miles.

Snow Park was the starting point for the race, and I met up with friends beforehand so we could hit the starting line together. Nothing says “Let’s Race!” like top-40 hits and boogieing down (I call that a warm-up). Dancing is definitely a great way to limber up and get your muscles warm, plus it clears space in the corral. Kevin and I jammed, managed not to be impolite when the mayor made a few comments (there was a shocking amount of cool decorum about her presence), and then the buzzer ignited our feet into motion.

We wound through downtown, then looped into Chinatown, where drummers and a wiggling Chinese dragon greeted us. Local bands played outside popular establishments (I recognized a friend on a drum kit in Jack London Square), and plenty of locals not on the volunteer crew offered up water, which was really sweet. We hit West Oakland and I saw some really neat loft-style spaces (should go check those out to rent), plus a mass of A’s fans who were tailgating on the route. Awesomely, a giant truck that had been hollowed out had a horse head, flares of fire, and a group of supporters. My favorite cheering squad came next – the Raiders fans, aptly hanging out under the freeway. Best high-fives of the run. The race looped back into Uptown and then finished with a lap around Lake Merritt.

All the while, I zen-ed out to the Shuffle feature on my iPod and simply enjoyed the course. The architecture. The feeling of fellow runners around me. The cheering!! The people cheering that I was smiling! There was nothing actually unique about this course, or this race, except for the fact that it was in the place I love. And some days, that’s all I need: to see people enjoying something I enjoy every day.

 I can’t help but note I did claim a personal best for my time: 1:37 – I was hoping for 1:30 though, so I’m not wicked excited. I’m more proud of Kevin for running his first sub-2:00 half marathon. That’s a feat, for sure.

*Mad props to the Oakland Police Department for blocking intersections and being keepers of running peace between turn-crazy cars and joggers of all distances.

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Got a Tough Nut to Crack? Hit the Dance Floor

Alas, life can’t always be smooth sailing. There are sirens beckoning us to death-trap rocky shores, and there’s the dumb luck of hitting an outlandishly perilous storm, and of course there’s sudden outbreaks of scurvy to contend with (Arrr, scurvy). And I am all for turning to exercise in times of discord*, or when something doesn’t quite go as planned. Yes, typically I’d say hit the gym or throw yourself into your weekly soccer game with gusto, but I forgot about one truly satisfying way to center yourself and relax:

The dance floor.

Your dance floor might be a gay bar with cohorts from college mischief. A place where Madonna, Katy Perry, and being sexy and you know it will reign. Let loose (or fine, drink a rum and diet Coke and then let loose if you must, but this really works sans liquid courage). Cut a rug. Put your body into motion. And more-so, put your emotion into motion.

Golly, I’m not saying get all ecstatic dance if that’s not your style. Just go into an open space with other people and extremely loud music and move. Shake. Shimmy. Jig. Cabbage patch. Running man. Shopping cart. Decorate the Christmas tree that comes to life and tries to eat you (anyone else like to scenario dance?). Wiggle. Waggle. Boogie. Make your shoulders do something wacky. Twirl. Swirl. Forget what is in your head – fill your head with nothing but notes, rhythm, breath and just prance.

Does this sound hard? Absolutely fine – you can do this alone, too. Pop on Pandora or get old school by revving up your boom box (hello, Ace of Base! How we’ve missed you!) and start sashaying about your kitchen, living room, on top of your bed, in the shower – wherever you can go. The dance floor follows you, you don’t follow the dance floor.

Not only are you rejuvenating your mental space ( by opening yourself to the possibilities of new ideas, thoughts and solutions), but on top of that, you’re burning calories and toning your core like it’s going out of style (which trust me, the Macarena never is). It’s like more active pilates, or less aggressive boxing. If you go out to tap your toes, you’re privy to the moves of others — which means you can steal them and use them in the future to impress your friends. #doublewin.

There’s a reason why people dance to celebrate – why some dance to remember and some dance to forget: with your body in motion yet without strict concentration you’re able to be in a relaxed state without passivity. It’s glorious.

Speaking of dancing…Worldwide Dance Flash Mob.

Think it will resemble this? I’m going to find out…

* And books that are both wise or insipid. And creative outlets regardless of crafty talent. And being just truly yourself. And and and…(one must have positive coping skills, as Kristin says).

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What I’m Telling You

Fine, I admit it. At moments like this I should have Tumblr or Pinterest. But I don’t. So when something super inspirational strikes me, it gets tacked up on here – on topic but not exactly what we strive for here and Runner’s Delight.

Regardless, maybe you need some motivation right now. Maybe you’re about run 13 miles in the rain this weekend (or 26!). Maybe it’s not even about running or fitness or exercise. Maybe it’s about impending nuptials. Or your job. Or your pet poodle. Or a certain sea captain. Or just figuring out how exactly it is that life gets more complicated as we go on instead of less (answer: because people get more complex as they get older. So even though we’re all wiser and have learned one heck of a lot, people are even more hodgepodge).

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Cats & Dogs: Some Notes on Rain Running

Oh hello precipitation! It’s been far too long since you and I met on the streets of Oakland. So long in fact, that I had forgotten a few key things but taking a run in the rain – and perhaps some other joggers out there were curious about how the hay to hit the pavement swiftly, safely, and without being saturated (let me tell you – ain’t gonna happen. Running in the rain means getting a bit soaked).

1. If you’re running with an iPod, bring your jacket. 

Yes, for real. And I say this as someone who literally hates wearing a jacket while running, even when it is raining. But your music-playing device, whatever brand it may be, should stay dry to work properly. You don’t want that puppy cutting out on you, and I hate worrying about a soggy sound system (mini or not). Even if you get hot, you can wrap your ‘pod in your jacket and keep rolling.

2. If you’re running with earbuds, cover your ears.

Rain + earbuds = buds getting the chance to experience a waterslide right out of the crook of your ear. A hat or a sweatband is advisable, or you’ll wind up doing what I did, which was eventually just drop the buds in my jacket pocket and enjoy the scenery (sorry, This American Life. I’ll catch you at the gym.) Side note: your head will sweat more and feel even wetter thanks to the drizzle. Don’t mind your reflection – you’re just bringing sexy back.

3. Feet. Wet. Now. 

Go ahead, try to avoid puddles. I double-dog dare you. Puddles are pranksters. They’re regular Pucks. Accept your feet are going to get sloshed (but without a hangover – squee!) and then you can stop fretting they will get sloggy. It’s much more stress relieving.

4. Brick paths are slippery. 

Stay off them in the rain. (And there is one in particular in the Oakland hills that might have made me flail like bacon this morning.)

5. What to Wear

- It’s raining. So…that means it must be cold, right? Oh no. Not at all. A long sleeve shirt is not required under your rain jacket for some varieties of rain (and for some I’m sure it’s welcome). I was overheated almost instantly this morning.

- Be bright. Be visible. This is not the time for black or grey. Grab your neon green Under Armor and go.

- And pants? Also not required – wait, let me rephrase. You should cover yourself, but wearing yoga pants is not advisable – they soaked up water down to my toes and then were plastered to my legs. Made me wish I’d worn shorts. Or something waterproof. Or heck, just my skivvies.

6. It’s Mighty Amazing

You might hate running in the rain. But if you can handle being a bit water-logged, running when the world going through a natural cleaning process is brilliant. Catch the scent of wet pavement, notice the ice-plant flowers either hiding from the water or enjoying the shower, see geese taking baths in runoff (and blocking traffic while they do), and enjoy the compliments – people are impressed when you run in the rain, doubly so if you challenge yourself to a hill or two.

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Daffodil Debut

I’m no botanist, but I’ve noticed something kind of wild going on with the flora of my favorite East Bay residential running streets this budding spring: an abundance of daffodils.

Now, if you’re not from the Bay Area, daffodils making an appearance may be old hat. But I never saw these little yellow trumpet-faces growing out of soil until I moved to Oregon for college (go ducks!). I was downright amazed when I first discovered them in the Spring, along with rows of multi-hued tulips like lines of lipstick colors at the pharmacy. (Curiously, the genus of which daffodils and stem from is “Narcissus.” So I had to know if tulips were of the same nomenclature based on their showy colors. They are not.)

Disbelief  found me when I noticed daffodils popping up after the nominal rains this winter. First I thought it was just one gardener who had populated his lawn with the bulbs, not a fluke of any sort but seeds purposefully purchased and spread about. But as I have continued my ambling runs I have seen far too many yellow, puckered up petals hunting for sunlight in strange places (a small strip of land between lanes of a busy road, alongside the lake, poking up next to a dumpster) for their appearance to be planned. No, it seems daffodils have made their way into the habitat here.

I couldn’t help but wonder two things after noticing all this flower-power. First, does this influx of daff’s mean we’re looking at overpopulation of these bulbs in the area? (According to fifteen minutes on “the Google” I deduced the answer is no – or at least no one it terribly concerned about it to date.) Second, and more importantly since the daffodils aren’t overpopulating and wiping out other native shrubbery, would I have even thought to take note of the great daffodil debut had I not been a runner?

Cheesy to mention but impossible not to, running makes me more connected with my landscape, my community and the sum of the parts that make up the cities in which I often take off into.

 

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What & Who

Running and running.

Hmmm. That was too easy.

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What’s At Stake?

Look, as much as the next person I enjoy living my life as though I have nothing at stake. Whether it’s affairs of the heart (figuratively or literally), negotiating a contract, or playing recreation soccer, the best way to have a favorable outcome is to seemingly care a little less. When you seem invested, you have something to lose. But in my really humble opinion, you have to throw all that away when it comes to your health.

I know. I think that’s probably even worse news than learning that it’s more likely information about Wolverine on Wikipedia is accurate than information on historical figures who actually lived in real life, too.

Due to thinking this way, I have had to accept certain truths, such as that existing entire on caprese salad isn’t particularly healthy (especially if you sub in brie for mozzarella) and even broccoli hurts if you put too much Velveeta on it. Oh, and cheddar popcorn apparently isn’t quite as low-cal as air popped popcorn with cumin on it. When the stakes are my health (and being able to fit into those teal corduroy I found in Telegraph Hill), I have to actually play like those stakes are wildly important.

The fact is, if you don’t play that way, it’s too easy to forget where you’re at. It’s too easy to be sucked down an unhealthy shame spiral, and it’s too easy be complacent instead of proactive – all of which is totally delicious and means tons of watching Battlestar Galactica while hanging out with your best pals and chowing on spare ribs and beer at a local sci-fi bar (wait, those don’t exist yet? EXPLAIN!). Unfortunately, that lifestyle has consequences. High blood pressure. Cholesterol. Diabetes. You know the rest, you’ve heard it a gagillion times before – it’s a bunch of weird sounding issues that lead to your life being short-changed.

Here’s the thing: it’s not just your life that is at stake, but your quality of life. You are ten times more likely to be considered a contender for the next Bionic Man (as Dr. Dad was a few years back) if you consider your options, indulge as a treat not a rule, and go get your Jane Fonda on every couple days. Starting now, and lasting for forever. The sooner you start, the sooner future you has a better quality of life, is less likely to get all colin-cancered out or have severe memory loss or simply deal with aches and pains on a daily basis. You’re more likely to be active and travel, check out new places, go retro-rollerblading in the year 2045, have unequivocally rocking sex in your twentieth year of marriage (or open-relationship monogamish, or civil union, whatever your pleasure).

Because what would be worse than dying at a “before your time” moment is simply this: getting old, being chronically ill, and feeling like absolute crud with no will to live and no real desires, yet no ability or will power to cease your life here. I am very likely wrong, but honestly, that’s what I think is at stake.

 

 

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