What Doesn't Get Scheduled, Doesn't Get Done - Running cont.

"If you're running 12k on week x as you train for the marathon, the first 6 or 7km are the easy part. The rest will feel like a race...."

Apparently the two people sitting behind me are discussing running over a hot cup of java. I can feel myself smirking just about now as I type this. The person who's monopolizing the majority of the conversation sounds like the coach. The other person is intently throwing in a 'yes' or 'makes sense.' I could have easily interjected something into that conversation. After all, what they were discussing felt familiar to me. A topic I am getting to know well experientially.

It feels good to hear things like this. People who spend much time governing their physical exercises and general wellbeing. In a way, it's motivating. And while my body feels a tad battered this morning after too much fun on the slopes the day before and a heck of a lot of falls - hey, nothing ventured, nothing gained! - I feel like I have to get right back to my routine the very next morning and reclaim my usual 10km. And today I'm aiming for something better. Today I'm aiming for a 14km mid-week achievement.

Every hour of every day is planned and the time that goes to running feels especially good. I look forward to the activity. And if this makes one sound too structured, no worries. There's time in the schedule set aside for spontaneity too. Insert pertinent emoji here....

What does't get scheduled, doesn't get done. I learned that early on. I must have been 5. It stuck. I'm grateful for that. In hindsight, I'm especially grateful for that. But back to running.

I look forward to what it will feel like when I pass the 5km mark and I can rip down a hill as I get back to my car and complete my 10km. And there's nothing like running right at dawn. I don't know why it matters so much to me now that I run 10km daily, but it does. It's not just the physical benefits of this activity that I'm drawn to. I'm especially drawn to how I feel and think. There's a general sense of 'can-do' and 'heck yeah' that's tied to it. And the sensation intensifies with more time and more kilometers in the books.

And this week I saw concretely just what one of the great side-effects of daily running is. I could schlep my board up and down all day and it felt as light as a feather. My boarding buddy wondered how come I wasn't tired after a few hours of steady activity. I asked him what he meant by that. Hadn't we just started?! Apparently, no. Yet another great side effect of running daily: not feeling tired and maximizing one's time on the board. More, please!

And a great way to keep focused and on-track when it comes to running is to find ways to supplement one's training with some other activity. Boredom's antidote? Boarding! I mean, diversity!

Shaun White # 1

As a snowboarding fan I can say unequivocally that there is nobody out there who snowboards better and more impressively than Animal, formerly known as the Flying Tomato i.e., Shaun White. Shaun did the Double McTwist 1260 at the Vancouver Olympics again and, as a result, got the gold. I love seeing him do his tricks on the half pipe. And how about the Double Mctwist 1260 in this clip? One word: Yowsah!!

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Olentangy Bike Trails and Adrenaline Junkies

This weekend was the perfect time to hit the slopes. I wish I had gone snowboarding. But, since we're in Central Ohio and I won't be out West till late Winter, I thought I would do the next best thing. I grabbed my red iPearl Zumi jacket and laptop and headed to Upper Arlington instead, to meet up with my friends, watch the Ohio State vs Michigan game (we won for the sixth time in a row!) and then go on a long ride down the Olentangy trail.

This trail is breath-taking in the Spring and Summer. However, it felt even more breathtaking this weekend since even though it is the end of November it feels like crisp, sunny Spring. Being on my Ventura felt even better this time around. What I like about the trail is that I get to soak in the green around me, the at-times tummultous water of the little river which accompanies the trail, as well as feed off the energy of the other bikers and runners. My most favorite thing to do on the trail however is to get to the bridge that crosses the 315 highway, ride my Ventura hands-free, look up and let the adrenaline run its natural course. What's underneath me is the highway traffic and cars going an average of 70/75 miles per hour and the river running parallel to the road.

No matter what I'm thinking before I reach this point of the trail, when I ride the bridge, I feel, to quote the Perks of Being a Wallflower, infinite. I am including pictures of the bridge and the trail and, if any of you are fellow adrenaline junkies, do try it. Ergo, the tip of the hat this week goes to the Olentangy Bike Trail for always making me sense of clarity and happiness.

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Truck-Prius-Mountain Bike

Ok, here is something for you to consider.
The notion of the hierarchy of/in the food chain came to full organic life today.
It was morning and about to snow. It was not snowing yet, however. Now, a bona fide snowboarder and mountain biker would get this, i.e., that the weather means little of consequence.
So, I'm on the street, minding the traffic rules, waiting for the green light to appear when this monstrously big truck makes a left turn and almost runs over the blue Prius on the lane to my left.
I thought, 'wow!'
The Prius driver looked scared as any life-loving driver would have been in the same circumstance. She could really only do two things in that circumstance:
1) move to the right and threaten to harm me in the process
or
2) stay put and be potentially hurt by the beastly big truck.
The Prius, silver-haired driver looks at me confused, shrugs, and starts accelerating giving me a gestures I could translate as: "I'm really sorry to do this but if I don't move, I and the vehicle are in danger."
Nothing happened to all parties at the light but something did happen to me and I became, yet again, more acutely aware of space on the lane and how power is distributed.

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graphs per cannondale and prius

Snowboarding When Covered and Physically Healthy

While not many of us will ever come close to snowboarding like the a Flying Tomato or a Danny Kass, we can still enjoy the sport and the unique release it offers. And if we can leave the slopes with all our bones intact, then even better. Mission accomplished, I would say.

Snowboarding is no walk in the park. It is an intense sport. But what I find truly gripping about this activity is the equalizing effect the snow seems to have on everyone. Girl, boy, short, tall, soft boots, those who are especially interested in the clothing aspect of the sport and those who have to be on the slopes because they have to, and so forth. While some are more likely than others to damage, say their tail bone or a left foot, both examples being highly hypothetical, of course, when first standing on the board everyone seems the same. There are no observable differences and all appear to be the same. Till one actually gives in to the laws of physics and carefully tries to master the art of balancing one's weight on the board, of course. While the scenery is idyllic and one might feel like writing poetry while breathing the fresh air and being surrounded by white, one should first and foremost try to be safe.

After all, treatment for physical injuries that occur on the slopes is responsible for a third of all travel insurance claims.

So, if you're busting a huge air, or simply enjoying the surroundings while on your soft boots, first and foremost remember to have good coverage and be safe.

Graph of Shaun 'Flying Tomato' White