Fear of Getting Lost

Not far ahead, the path parted and the familiar slipped away…

As I send in my registration form for my first trail race in the woods. (See below) I hesitate, perhaps my fears are purely speculative.



For it is not the falling, getting dirty or the lack of proper gear that is holding me back – It’s the fear of getting lost and then looking like a fool.
I emailed the race director, asking him if it was an OK race for beginners. He said it was fairly easy and very scenic.
No mention of any lost runners from last year...

Surely, they will have markers along the way.

My growing Checklist:

• Bring a trail map. (I’m going to need bigger pockets.)
• Carry a cell phone and turn on the Garmin.
• Run with elbows tucked in.
• Don’t shuffle. (Me – prancing.)
• Look out for low branches and giant spider webs.
• Just try and keep your eyes on the trail – not the scenery.

I do know - I’m physically ready for this challenge!

Should You Train Like a Caveman?

-----

Trail Running Challenges

Doing some leg work on trail running. I’ve hiked a thousand trails but have only run a few. And even though I love the closeness to nature – I do not run in the woods.
My first trail race was along a x-c ski trail so there were lots of climbs and dips. It was a test not to twist my ankle on the uneven surfaces. Needless to say, I was extremely sore that next day.

There are some reasons (excuses) why I don’t trail run:

• One is the lone factor. It just isn’t safe for a female alone in the woods. Unfortunately – I have not found a group of trail runners here in Eugene.
• The other excuse – I wear progressive lenses / contacts. No, this does mean I’m hip; but that I have “geometric distortions" in my visual field. Which means my full view perspective is interrupted. I could accidentally trip over a root.

Despite these issues I’m seriously thinking about adding this challenge to my routine. (Besides If I break my wrist and can take time off work : )
Next thing to ponder -> trail running shoes.

There is a local trail race next month - only a 7K

Resources:
Trail runner
Trail running day
Trail running soul
Training: Trail Running

-----

A Late Breakfast

Wednesday’s 9 miler

I headed out a little later than usual for my run. Primary excuses: it’s only 25f outside and frost covers everything, plus my internal clock insists it’s only 7 AM – not 8. (I miss that hour!)
Diligently packed up my goodies – juice, soya milk, water, a handful of chocolate covered raisins, - cell phone, MP3 player, Garmin , and some cash - then jumped in the little truck.
I like to do my long runs along the river path – it’s perfect for an out and back. But unfortunately, I have to drive to get there... Half-way along I realized I had forgotten my gloves - Luckily I had my black shirt on with extra long sleeves.
I started off a little fast (to stay warm) – then found a steady cruising pace.

Podcasts: Listened to 3 useful podcasts – One had an interview with Jeff Galloway (Love his accent.) Thanks Michael for the tweet. The other had an interview with Jon Gordon "The Energy Bus." Positively uplifting.
And finally a LOST podcast - prophesying – who/what is the statue. Good stuff.

Wildlife: Lots of Canadian geese, a few ducks and crows. Three silvery tailed squirrels – beautiful! And a homeless fellow sitting cross legged on the path...sunning himself.

Highlights: The halfway mark.

EWEB Tower

The only problemo with park and run - is your muscles tend to stiffen up on the drive home. So to palliate this problem I picked up a double shot Americano.
Breakfast time – High noon!

-----

Snowy Tokens

We woke up to 3 inches of powder snow! How deluxe is that?
After walking the dog in the back field, she loves it too, went for a 4 mile run.

Snowy Tokens

• Digging out my ski socks.
• Running on a cushion of powder.
• Having to run slow.
• Seeing everyone driving slowly.
• Kids playing outside!
• A leaping squirrel.
• Another Christmas song…
• Christmas lights turned on!
• Wind sweeping snow off the branches.
• That bowl of steaming hot oatmeal.

Believe in Yourself
Have a great Monday!

-----

Happy Six Fix

6 Things That Make you Happy

Thanks Anne for the tag-up. I’ve customized this meme to 6 things that gave me a happy fix.

1. Fresh arugula and green onions from my garden in the end of November.

2. Running this fast.


3. Every one of the comments you folks leave. It takes time to stop and reply to one on my posts. Thanks.

4. Trader Joe's pumpkin butter on my toast this morning.

5. Underfoot treasures discovered in a near-by park.



6. Bob Marley – "I’m Jamming!"

Tagging six guys!
Ted, Reid (I think we already know what makes him happy.) John, Curtis, Vanilla, and Jesse.

-----

Running Toward Happiness

Reading about a crusade going on in Britain to promote better mental health. Their Scientists came up with these 5 simple Steps to Happiness.

1. Connect 2. Be active 3. Be curious
4. Learn 5. Give

As I glanced over them, I realized running can incorporate all these behaviors.
Connect
By entering races, joining running groups, or just wave to folks along your paths.
Be active
There is no need to explain this one to runners. Suffice to say – over training may lead to injury.
Be curious
When we run out doors we have a bevy of opportunities to explore. Look at every tree – give them a name. What are the street names? Why is there always just one shoe in the ditch?
Learn
This is one in my Mantras – “Never go a day without out learning something new.” I regularly read Runner's World, runner’s blogs, and running forums to keep up to date with the greatest training plethora. Learning is as easy as taking a run in new place. Just pay attention.
Give
It’s a great idea to volunteer at a local race event. (I still have this on my To Do List.) Try to share your knowledge about running. (Post your training routines in a Blog.) At work – I'm frequently asked about my running. How far or how fast did you run? I try to redirect the question back to them to see what they are doing to be active. Reinforce an active lifestyle but don’t brag.
~
BTW: I noted this article, which I found in The Times (London) has over 145 comments! It must be a popular topic.
What things about running make you happy?
-----

Running In The Fog

Pics from today's run

Does have advantages:

• colors are more vivid.
• there is an unspoken silence.
• you feel sheltered.
• the way headlights emerge.
• the weight of Fall leaves.
• spider webs appear frosted.
• FOG HORNS – and other lost sounds.
• seeing the swirls rise with the heat.
• glimpses of blue sky.
• Halloween decorations look SO scary!

-----

Why Humans Run

Children run for fun – to explore – to chase. But what was the purpose of adult Homo sapiens running?

“Today running is regarded as a form of exercise. But perhaps a jog in the park goes much deeper than that: It could be affirmation of the very reason that we are human.” - National Geographic

In the Beginning

Fossil remains suggest Homo sapiens originally ran to catch animals for food. It came down to survival. Early humans also employed running as a “get away” skill. Allowing them to escape from enemies – animals and other humans!
A definite advantage to being a swift runner.
Evidence also suggested running was helpful in getting to the “dead meat meal” first! Arriving before the scavengers.

Now

We typically run because we want to – not have to. [Yes, there are cases of humans running away from others for self preservation.]
But mainly, we run for the benefits.

“Some of these benefits include potential weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, increased muscle mass, increased bone density, and an improved emotional state.”
- Wiki

I would add to that list - glory and fame. For some of us : 0

The chief reason I run is to reap the psychological benefits!
Running keeps me sane – my head above water.

Why do you run?

A race on the beach.

-----

A Sign or Just a Bookmarker

As I sit on this jet reading “life is a verb”, I notice the bookmark ->
I have a collection of bookmarks – actually a pile of them. So when I open yet another book, I slip one in – not really noticing it.
It is there to mark my place…
The day before I left, I busily read a number of my fav running blogs sites including Ted’s Running Journal.
He mentions he had met a couple of authors promoting their running books. He included a picture of him with Bart Yasso.
Strange coincidence or a sign?
It seems as we age we start paying less attention to the world. Perhaps there is just too much stuff to process.

Starting now – pay attention!

1. A bike tire mark in the mud. 2. A young man walking a golden lab. 3. The sound of a passenger train. 4. A path leading to nowhere. 5. How the sun melts the frost. 6. Direction of the wood grain on the boardwalk. 7. An out of place rock – how did it get there?
ALL THIS AND MORE IS WAITING TO BE SEEN.

"Every day is a journey." wrote Basho

My Life On The Run

I wrote this post before I got home. Home Sweet Home. The above image was taken along one of my favorite runs in Canada.

-----

Favorite Running Path

This weeks TIART topic is - Your Favorite Run in Pictures!

I feel fortunate to live in a city that has a path system that follows along a river. The 12-mile Ruth Bascom Riverbank Path. pdf
Many parts of the trail are under a canopy of trees for shade in the summer.
I love crossing the numerous foot bridges and the sounds of the river. On the East bank there is a patch of wild anise – that smells so divine. The only pitfall to this path is that I have to drive to reach it, so I can’t run it as often as I would like...

Autzen Footbridge

And in the rain...

PS. My current header image is also from this very pathway.

-----

Indoorsman

“Outdoor activities have declined by 18-25 percent since 1980s.”

In the last issue of Nature Conservancy there’s an article subtitled,
“Is There Room for Nature in a Digital Age?”
Herds of humans observe nature from the safe confines of home. (Nature video junkies.) But will this replace the actual emersion into nature?
One of The conservancy’s chief scientists was quoted; This trend is more foreboding than tropical-forest loss or global warming.
I don’t profess to be an outdoor fanatic. But, I sense when I’m running down a path in the woods, that I actually belong there. I love that feeling!
Perhaps humans are evolving into a pack of indoorsman…This could be a good thing for us who are happiest outdoors.

Benefits (IMHO)

• Less trash in the landscape. Insiders would have a conveyor belt directly under their chair - transporting trash to a centralized underground repository.
• No crowds any season for camping, hiking, beachcombing, sailing, trail running…etc.
• Peace and quiet. Insiders would work from home – only venturing out occasionally to visit friends.
• Animals would be free to survive as anticipated.

What do you think will happen to us as we move away from actuality?

PS. I don’t expect to see the completion of this metamorphosis during my life time.

Videophilia
The World Without Us
The Big Trees

-----