Keeping Pace

Keeping Pace

Archives for May 2012

Safety Reminders

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I know I’ve been a bit heavy on yoga and light on running lately. I guess I figured that since I’ve been writing about running for so long now, there isn’t much else to say. But that thinking is just… well, WRONG.

I think I mentioned, a while back, that I was helping a friend get up to speed (so to speak) with his running. I’ve been giving him bits of advice here and there and taking him along with me on lunchtime runs. Well, it appears that I neglected to provide him with some very important safety reminders. My bad!

You know that stuff that we could all stand to have repeated once in a while – just in case we start to feel indestructible or something like that? Well, here are just a few of them. Please, leave a comment to add anything I’ve left off to the list for the benefit of all.

  • Make sure someone knows where you are heading.
  • Have identification with you. I wear an elite bracelet made by RoadID.
  • It’s a good idea to bring a phone along, OR a friend, or BOTH.
  • If you run with music, keep it low, and consider leaving one ear free. If you don’t, remove an earplug when crossing streets or passing others.
  • Look both ways before crossing the street – even if it is a road-less-traveled.
  • Stay alert and keep an eye out for “bad guys.” Because, as we all know, they are lurking about.

Did I miss anything?

Out in the Open

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With one week until my big trail run, I slipped on my Treks for a nice long trail run. My original goal was 16 miles (8 up, 8 down). But that plan was due to change when beautiful weather, coupled by a late start, forced me to park a mile outside of the open space.

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At least that was the plan. What ended up happening was a little different. Instead of turning back where I knew was the 14 mile turn around, I waited for Ms. G to signal that I had gone far enough.

Unfortunately, Ms. G kept spacing out (losing signal). I could hear here beeping as she would come to — REPEATEDLY!

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In the “mosh pit”

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en core

Honestly, I can’t remember the last time I was on the floor at a concert. Perhaps, when I was in high school?

Even with my short stature, often having to look in-between the heads, the perspective is pretty dang cool. There’s a lot of happenings in the mosh pit: threatening looks, folks getting pulled out for smoking illegal substances (?), and all sorts of interesting people watching. And although I got knocked around by every other person trying to get further up towards the stage, knowing that theMan had my back allowed me to relax and enjoy the show.

The concert?

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Down Under

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There are mornings where virtually everything appeals to me. The morning this photo was taken was one of them.

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Stopped at the light under the freeway, I glanced up to see the underbelly of the overpass. Its ridges and chipping paint looked kind of cool. I reached for my little camera, rolled open my moonroof, and snapped this photo.

Yin and Yang

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Chinese philosophy conceptualizes two “complimentary opposites” in the universe with the Yin Yang symbol. The belief, as I understand it, is that opposing forces (hot v. cold, hard v. soft, fast v. slow) are interconnected and naturally ebb and flow over time. Maintaining a balance between the two happens naturally.

The body however, may not maintain this “natural” balance in a way that feels at all natural. Whether it be in the form of illness, or delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS), when the body insists that fast becomes slow, and aggressive becomes gentle, it isn’t always a pleasant thing.

Thankfully, I’m learning.

Although the 108 Day Challenge has ended, I am finding that I end up at the yoga studio almost daily. I’ve found a routine that compliments my activities off the mat. Hot Vinyasa on Monday, Ashtaga Foundations on Wednesday are my yang and Yin and Restorative my yin. The combination compliments my running rather nicely.

I now do my harder weekday runs on my yogic yin days and take it easy on my yogic yang days. It’s nice knowing that I’ll enjoy a nice stretch in the evening Yin class: a complimentary force to the yang-like running I’ve been enjoying in my midday runs. I find that I can hit my run workout with a little more confidence and zest knowing that I’ll be able to stretch it all out in the zen like setting the yoga instructor creates for us.

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