Running Point A to Point B

I'm back to thinking about running, which often inspires me to write. I have a boy who is running cross-country now and he really enjoys it. Recently, though, I asked what about running cross-country does he enjoy? He's in middle school, so perhaps my question is just too lofty for him to have a response, because he simply responded, "I don't know." So, naturally, I worked on responding to the question and it wasn't as hard. It's free, it's flowing, you can go fast, you can go far, it's an accomplishment. There's something to be said for getting up in the morning to face another workday where your time is not yours and the demands are not always reasonable, and hitting pause. There's something to be said for deciding for yourself to...run. There are mornings when, even as I get dressed, and go through a prolonged warm-up of stretches, that my mind rebels against the foot-pounding I'm setting my self up for. Lucky for me, my body has a muscle-memory that ignores my mind once I start that foot-pounding. Because, there's something to be said for a morning that starts with a run outside, with just me and my thoughts or my music. Even when my mind is the worst kind of coach in the world (that last step, didn't that hurt? wait, is that a shin-splint coming on? are you sure you should be breathing this hard?), there's something to be said when my body ignores the chatter and the clatter and just moves. It's an amazing thing to think about. God gives us the tools and with a little sharpening, they move in a way that is also simply amazing. Point A to Point B, or Point A, around the loop and back, or Point A to Point B to Point A. Maybe that's what I enjoy about running: getting to the point.

Small town news

When I used to live in Chicago, the local Mount Vernon paper always gave me a bit of a chuckle. It's headlines would mention people by name, express concern over a specific building or plot of land, or even confront the latest debate over what flavor pie should be served at some town event. Admitedly, I'm exagerating a bit, but I do recall that the local paper always seemed so simple. What about all the "big" news that made Chicago run - movements in major industries, the impact of environmental policies, etc?! Flash forward now to my weekly reading list as a resident of Mount Vernon. You guessed it, that local newspaper is at the top! And guess what?! Those simple headlines really do address the things I care about. There are hundreds of other publications in print and online that can inform me of what's going on in industry and the world. And, even though I do hear rumors about what's going on town when I get my morning coffee, nothing beats the mostly unbiased viewpoint of the local weekly newpaper. Its reporters work hard to cover the issues that are important and they mostly stick to the facts as they observe them. Even better, if that coffee shop gossip intrigues me, the paper offers a great op-ed section that is frequently packed with local letters covering the gossip of the day!

New home built in town

One of the things I've come to cherish about this part of Iowa is that we have bald eagles. I grew up in Michigan believing that this state was the most famous place to see the bald eagle. My dad would talk about them and we'd look for them whenever we were out hiking somewhere. And yet, I only recall seeing a bald eagle once or twice during my childhood. Of course, in the 70's, we blamed that on over-hunting and called for a need to clean up our trash. Here in Iowa, especially this time of year, bald eagles are a regular sight. And, here in Mount Vernon, we've learned that a couple have moved in! The exciting part of their new home is that is right along one of my favorite running courses. It's right at the corner where I either choose a very long run or a little jaunt before I turn my bike northward for a ride of rolling hills. And, more importantly for me this year, it's along my drive into town. The DNR tells us this nest is the home nest for this pair of eagles and that they may have already laid a couple eggs in it. I stop to gawk at least one a day. There's nothing like seeing a bald eagle in the middle of the cornfield on a snowy day. A couple weeks ago, we pulled off the road to sit and watch EIGHT of them just grazing. The sight of a baldie soaring through the sky is amazing. The mght appear to be a normal hawk until they get close enough to recognize their extra wide wingspan. Or, if you're lucky, it's a blue sky day when you see one and their white head is unmistakeable against the clear blue background. I stop everytime I see an eagle. Which reminda me, I'm looking for a bumper sticker that might warn you of the fact. "I brake for bald eagles"

Why I Run, Bike

As I was finishing my toe touches in the gym the other day, I sighed. Again. After going through a herniated disc, I'm pretty happy to even be in a gym. I am so happy to reach for my toes - I'm not really touching them yet. Sigh. I still don't like the gym. It's soo..."gym-ee." And so not about moving. Running and biking is really about moving. Granted, I don't really move that fast, but the fascination with these pasttimes, for me, are really about transporting my own self from one point to another. or around a loop, to a destination or just away. I miss that. I go to the gym, it looks the same everyday and, since I'm a "morning person," it's the same people everyday. And all of us "same people" do the same stuff. Everyday. Even I, who prefers mixing it up and can't stand routine, I stick to the same stuff. The gym just doesn't change. It's no wonder that so many New Year's Resolutions are burned out in this very location! Don't get me wrong - I feel lucky. I'm happy to be touching my toes. There are so many things I couldn't do when I walked into the gym 7 months ago. One of those things I couldn't do was run. I'm sure hoping that the arrival of spring changes that for me. If not, you'll find me on the stationary at about 8:05. And then on the treadmill...and then...oh, heck, just call me, let's go for a run!

Toe Touches

You haven't read too many of my running musings lately because, well, there haven't been any! I'm still nursing the remnants of a herniated disk and not running. I have taken up "the gym thing." And, I've learned that hanging out at the gym just doesn't result in those brilliant ideas that happen on a run. As much as I enjoy cycling, that sport doesn't lend itself to the same sort of musings that running does either. Perhaps it's the insanity of running that causes the brain to open up it's part stupid, part creative, part genius side. When I'm in the gym doing those toe touches, my musings lately have to do  with germs. It's winter here, you know. I regularly muse over stomach crunches just how many germs lurk in the gym. I must confess to not being one who "wipes down" everything I touch in the gym. I don't sweat much there (does that mean I'm doing it wrong?) and I don't see the point. My gym stocks tons of spray bottles with half-towel cloths...I'm thinking the germs are lurking in those towels! They are always wet and they drape over the spray bottle or lie on the floor..ew! Unlike some of the other gym patrons, I also remain fully clothed while there. I wear yoga pants, sometimes cropped tights, a tshirt (no tank tops, ever!) and usually a sweatshirt (I'm cold alot). And, yes the sweatshirt does make me hot and yes, I am working out, but no, for the last time, I'm not sweating buckets. So, wiping down those machines. Yeah. I don't do it too often. I had a cold this week,  so I wiped down more than usual. But still, who else is bringing in germs?! Not too mention all the people that don't change shoes and come in with the salt and crud from the winter streets. Yuck. When my germ musings get too strong, I usually leave the room with all the machines and touchy stuff and resort to stretches and yoga kind of stuff in the open room in the back. But, that's where the street crud is now. I've never, not once thought about germs on a run even when I run with someone who blows their nose mid-run (in a runner's sort of way..ew!) I've just provided you with another great benefit of running - no germs, no germ musings. Well, as long as your running partner doesn't have a cold! Now if you see me lurking around with a spray bottle and old rag, please, please, just help me lace up my shoes and push me out the door - those toe touches finally put me over the edge and I really need a run!

Meet the Havetos

There's this family I know that never seems to be available for casual outings at the park or spontaneous summer cookouts.  Whenever they get invited to a small party, their attendance seems cloaked in "conditions."  They give us "terms" like, we can only be at your party between 6:00 and 6:22 because Johnny has a basketball tournament all day and we have to pick him up before we have go to the neighborhood block party that we have to be at because Annie's best friend lives four doors down from us.  Or something like that.  They tend to answer our questions, with "well, I have to..."  We've found that we have to plug our ears when they talk anymore.  Just too many have to's... And, this is a pretty sad situation since I've come to realize that this annoying family is us.  Or, at least it was us  several months ago.  I'm not sure what did it, but I work up one spring morning and realized that I didn't HAVE TO do anything.  And NEITHER did my kids.  And, yes, I used that emphasis in my morning reflection.  So, I flipped a switch and started sticking with the things we "wanted" to do.  Let me be clear, our weekly schedule, the daily to-do list, the comings and goings of my busy family didn't really change.  But the conversation did.  We started talking about the activities we wanted to do this week, and how we wanted to schedule pickups and drop-offs.  It wasn't really an overnight change, but by changing the words from "have to" to "want to," there were many of those "daily drudge" tasks that started to become...not so drudge!  Overtime, the amazing thing is that, as a family, the change in words led to all of us being more present at a lot of those formerly "have to" events.  We also started talking more about our lives in conversations versus talking about our to-do lists.  As I mentioned, our busy lives didn't really become less busy.  But, our attitude about all those things shifted.  I think we, as a family, became more aware of what our priorities are.  So, rather than just working around all those busy things, we are just a little more aware that we've made choices.  Based on our choices, we have priorities about what comes first in the schedule and what things might slip from time to time.  We've certainly made a priority to carve out family time more regularly and time for each of us to be in our own space.  If you meet my family now, I won't bother you with the stuff I have to do right now, I'll actually stop, introduce myself and ask you about your day.  Don't tell me the things that you have to do.  Share with me what's important.  Tell me what moves you.  These are the things that make us friends without terms or conditions.

Baby, it's cold out there

Surprisingly, it is winter again in Iowa.  It's surprising to me that it seems like so many Iowans forget that winter is a season in our state.  Around here, they like to say we have FIVE seasons, which, by my count, is one more season than I learned about in grade school.  Not being a native Iowan, I am still uncertain WHAT that 5th season is, but it seems to me it could be that season during which people deny that winter equates to cold and snow.  There are years when this season happens in August, but most years, it occurs in November, Decemebr, sometimes January.  It is quickly over once the ground freezes.  Now, the other thing that is surprising about it being winter is that school gets called off, not because it's impossible for anyone to get there, but, yes, you heard it, because it is just too cold.  Now, I get that there are certain safety issues that exist when temperatures and windchills drop below zero, approach -40.  And, it is a little scary when you hear that it is warmer at Mount Everest than it is in your own backyard.  I will also admit that there may be some children who lack proper supervision/clothing/common sense and may be in danger of frostbite after standing outside the lunch room without a jacket for longer than 10 minutes while their new winter jacket remains tucked safely in their closet at home.  HOWEVER, I must ask WHAT are we teaching this generation when we tell them, over every possible means of communication mind you, that when it gets cold outside, it's okay to stay home all day and play video games instead of carrying on a normal life while taking a few extra precautions.  I wonder if "precaution" is even something that is taught in school anymore?  Perhaps we could add a credit course where our kids study things like "preparing to go outside when the weather changes."  Of course, in order for today's kids to be prepared, it's not like parents or teachers can just "explain" it to them.  No, someone will have to develop an app or a game or some sort of constant texting thing that lets them know when they should don a cap or consider wearing boots or gloves.  We would have to come up for some kind of shorthand that means "put the dumb jacket on now" - pdjn??  lol!  Despite being a transplant to Iowa, I have successfully predicted winter every year.  I even own an ugly hat or two that covers my ears as well as a pair of mittens that are "extra warm."  I would be happy to text you each year to let you know "WLU" (wearing long underwear).