2017 miles Day 20

To celebrate my 58th birthday I ran the last 8 miles of the first 100 miles of the Run the Year 2017 challenge.

And so this morning I'm posting a piece from Enya released in 1992.

Book Of Days

Enya

One day, one night, one moment
My dreams could be tomorrow
One step, one fall, one falter
East or west,
Over earth or by ocean
One way to be my journey
This way could be my
Book of days

No day, no night, no moment
Can hold me back from trying
I'll flag, I'll fall, I'll falter
I'll find my day maybe
Far and away
Far and away

One day, one night, one moment
With a dream to be living
One step, one fall, one falter
And a new world that cross a wide ocean
This sway became my journey
This day ends together
Far and away

This day ends together
Far and away
Far and away.

Songwriters: Eithne Ni Bhraonain / Nicky Ryan / Roma Ryan

2017 miles Day 19

 While searching youtube, I found this beautiful piece.

Take time to relax, refuel, rejuvenate, rejoice and

ENJOY!!!

Desiderata - Max Ehrmann

Music:  "Adagio for Strings" by Harold Gomberg, Leonard Bernstein & New York Philharmonic (click on Desiderata link for the video)

Go placidly amid the noise and the haste,
and remember what peace there may be in silence.

As far as possible, without surrender,
be on good terms with all persons.
Speak your truth quietly and clearly;
and listen to others,
even to the dull and the ignorant;
they too have their story.
Avoid loud and aggressive persons;
they are vexatious to the spirit.

If you compare yourself with others,
you may become vain or bitter,
for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself.
Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans.
Keep interested in your own career, however humble;
it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time.

Exercise caution in your business affairs,
for the world is full of trickery.
But let this not blind you to what virtue there is;
many persons strive for high ideals,
and everywhere life is full of heroism.
Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection.
Neither be cynical about love,
for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment,
it is as perennial as the grass.

Take kindly the counsel of the years,
gracefully surrendering the things of youth.
Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune.
But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings.
Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness.

Beyond a wholesome discipline,
be gentle with yourself.
You are a child of the universe
no less than the trees and the stars;
you have a right to be here.
And whether or not it is clear to you,
no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should.

Therefore be at peace with God,
whatever you conceive Him to be.
And whatever your labors and aspirations,
in the noisy confusion of life,
keep peace in your soul.

With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams,
it is still a beautiful world.
Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

 

2017 miles Day 18

Found this quote by an anonymous author this morning.  Thought it was pretty good and wanted to share.

   

"If it won't matter in 5 years, don't spend more than 5 minutes getting angry about it".  

That makes total sense.  How many times have I stewed about something and in the end my stew was nothing than a wast of time and emotions that could have been directed elsewhere.  Anger is a poison that creeps into your soul.  It includes the "Should-a", "Would-a", "Could-a" sisters.  These girls know how to manipulate and make life miserable.  SEND THEM PACKING!!!

Running does that for me - I work out the anger and self doubt in about the first 5 minutes, then transition to positive self talk.  I believe that running is synonymous to meditation.  Both are healing for the soul.

Enjoy you day!

2017 miles Day 17

Time to start my day.  In my  opinion, early morning is the best.  The first twinges of light on the eastern horizon, and at this time of the year, mid January, I can feel the days starting to get longer.  It is now that I feel the happiest.

Oh my .............
Watching the sunrise and listening to Agnus Dei, the choir version of Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings opus 11

Agnus Dei 

Lamb of God,
Who taketh away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God,
Who taketh away the sins of the world,
Have mercy upon us.

Lamb of God,
Who taketh away the sins of the world,
Grant us peace.

2017 miles Day 16

Top of the Monday Morning!!!  After a bout with a bad cold and the flu, I'm feeling energized to "get jiggy" with it this week.  So, thought I'd post a throw back to the 90s,  and Will Smith "Gettin' Jiggy Wit It" released in 1997.

Enjoy!!!

 

Gettin' Jiggy Wit It

January Half-Way Mark

January Fitness Goal

Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water every day.  

No alcohol consumption (communion wine excepted)

Yes and YES!!!  Met both of these goals so far.

January Running Goal - 
Run 100 miles

Pleased to say that in the past 16 days I logged 80 miles.  Only 20 more to reach my 100 mile goal for January.   Most of those were at or above a 6.0 mile/hour pace.  Think that's pretty good. 

2017 miles Day 15

Happpy Sunday!!! 

Today's words of wisdom: 

Stay hydrated!!!  Water is to our cells as prayer is to our souls.  Both are necessary for peak performance.   

2017 miles Day 14

I'm fighting a bad cold but hate how cold medicine makes my head feel swimmy.  There are several home-remedies for relieving the symptoms of the common cold.  This website has several that actually relieve the symptoms and will help make you feel better.  Remember:  A cold is caused  by a virus.  ANTIBIOTICS will NOT CURE a cold.

My dad would say.  If you don't take anything for your cold it'll last a whole week.  If you do it'll only last 6-7 days.  

Old-School Cold Remedies That Really Work

These 13 fixes will have you feeling better in no time.

By Laura McMullen

2017 miles Day 13

Yesterday I had the flu.  Today is a bit better.  At least I don't have a fever anymore.  I did walk two miles on the treadmill just because I thought it would make me feel better.  Did it?  Well, not much. I know that staying hydrated is part of the formula for wellness.  I'm going to brew a nice hot cup of tea and sit and knit.  I'm sure tomorrow will be a much better day.

Keep motivated!!!  Don't let little bumps on the trail derail your goal.

2017 miles Day 12

I have the flu and feel miserable.  Hot lemon/ginger tea and rest are the prescription for today.  I'm definitely feeling like the bug right now.

Quote for today:
"Some days you're the bug, some days you're the windshield."

2017 miles Day 11

Inspirational quote for today - 

As you make this decision remember this prayer:  

The Serenity Prayer

God grant me the serenity
To accept the things I cannot change;
Courage to change the things I can;
And wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
Enjoying one moment at a time;
Accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
Taking, as He did, this sinful world
As it is, not as I would have it;
Trusting that He will make all things right
If I surrender to His Will;
So that I may be reasonably happy in this life
And supremely happy with Him
Forever and ever in the next.

Amen.

(prayer attributed to Reinhold Neibuhr, 1892-1971)

2017 miles Day 10

I grew up drinking tap water, and my primary source of water for the past 30+ years has been well water.  The well is cased down to 165 feet  and tastes delicious.  A lot of people I know depend on bottled water as their primary source.  I have been wondering if bottled water is really healthier than just plain ol' tap water.  One thing I know for sure is that tap water is a WHOLE LOT CHEAPER than bottled. 

I did some research, and here are my findings.  In most cases, tap water is a safe source of water for human consumption.  City water is regulated and checked frequently for contaminants.  One drawback is the chlorine used to treat city water.  It doesn't taste very good straight from the tap.  Using a quality filter system removes the chlorine etc... found in city water.  An alternative to an expensive filter system is to let the water set for 24 hours.  The chlorine will naturally dissipate and have a better taste. 

Also, there is the question about all those plastic bottles.  Which is a topic of discussion later.  My personal opinion is if you have a safe source of tap water - that's the best and save the bottled water for emergencies.

Bottled Water vs Tap Water

Why Tap Water is Better than Bottled Water

Bottled Water:  Illusions of Purity

2017 miles Day 9

You can throw in the towel or use it to wipe the sweat off your face! 

I saw this on a sports drink commercial.  Not a big fan of the drink, but loved the inspiration.  So get out there and make use of that towel - GET MOVING!!!

2017 Miles Day 8

"In order to succeed, we must first 
believe we can."  

--Nikos Kazantzakis

Sounds so simple doesn't it.  Like the lyrics - "I believe I can fly" .  Just four simple words; "I believe I can....."   

It's true!  

I know it!  

I believe it!  

Therefore I can .... !!!

2017 Miles Day 7

Health isn't in a number or in miles, it's in being more active than you were yesterday.   

This is the end of Week 1.  GREAT JOB EVERYONE!!!  Look back at this week with a smile on your face that you accomplished something.  Set a goal for this next week.  Make it small and obtainable, but make it count.

REMEMBER:  The 30 day Challenge for January is "Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water every day and limit alcohol consumption to one drink per day, or better yet none at all."

2017 Miles Day 6

Check this out.  It was posted on FB and I wanted to share it here.  When I watched it I saw more than an elderly gentleman breaking out of his current life situation, I saw myself breaking free from the negative self-talk, breaking free from the what's-the-use attitude, breaking free from the "it's too far"- "you can't do it" - "what's the use" feelings.  I saw myself breaking the chains of self doubt.

Adidas - Break Free

Side note:  Of course the safety of the elderly gentleman needs to be addressed if you are watching the video and taking it literally.  

2017 miles Day 5

"Nothing will work unless you do."

Maya Angelou

That is so true!!!  Not much is gained by sitting on your arse.  It does take work, it does take determination, it does take will-power to obtain a goal.  It is up to you to get MOVING!!!

2017 miles Day 4

It's snowing lightly and 9 degrees outside.  Today is definitely an indoor-treadmill kinda day.  Put on a favorite movie, lace up the shoes, and log some miles!!!

Get up - Get motivated - Get moving!!!

2017 miles Day 3

You have to get up every morning and say "I can do this."

"Rise and Shine!!!"

**********

2017 miles Day 2

2017 miles Day 1

The 2017 miles in 2017 challenge starts TODAY!!!  This is going to be a great challenge.  Right now - positive vibes about the next 364 days.

Also, the start of the 30 Day Challenge 2017.  I did this a couple of years ago and want to revisit it. The goal is to improve overall health starting with ...

January Fitness Goal

Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water every day.  

No alcohol consumption (communion wine excepted)

January Running Goal - 
100 miles

Closing Time ...............

"Every new beginning comes from some other beginning's end."

(Lucius Annaeus Seneca)

Thirty Day Challenge

Back a few years, 2009 to be exact, my nephew Jason posted a 30 day challenge for his New Year’s Resolution.  I thought it was time to bring it back with my own twist.

(From the original 30 day challenge: 2009)

I decided rather than trying to do one thing to improve myself, I decided to go for 12! However, I know that realistically all 12 won’t happen at once. Instead, I’m going to focus on one a month while trying to incorporate the other eleven into my routine. Although this is really one thing to focus on a month, “30 Days Challenge” sounds better than “Monthly Challenge.”

With that being said, I’m inviting you all to join me! Here is the entire year’s list. Again, remember the goal is to do all of it, but focus on one thing each month. I will update the blog with the definition of the task each month.

Who’s with me!!!

Jason
=================

Here is my list for the year.  I tweaked the original list that Jason posted.  Each month has a "do" and a "don't do, or limit".   I'll also post links to related sites.

January Task

Drink eight 8-oz glasses of water every day.  

Limit alcohol consumption to one drink (max of 2) per day.

February

Exercise!!!

Don't hit the snooze button

March Task

Eat 5 servings of fruits and vegetables every day

No Fast Food

April Task

Start a compost pile

Don't just throw stuff away - minimize your trash

May Task

Plant something

Avoid eating Processed Food

June Task

Read a book

Reduce television watching time by 1/2

July Task

Watch the sunrise - at least once

Don't forget to floss every day

August Task

Can or freeze fresh fruits/vegetables for winter

Don't forget to do something special for someone

September Task

Clean out a closet

Don't forget to donate to your local food bank/thrift shop

October Task

Learn a new word every day (or at least once a week)

Don't forget to occasionally use that word in conversation

November Task

Write down something for which you are grateful

 Don't forget those who are alone/lonesome this time of year

December Task

Make a pot of soup and share the extra with a friend or neighbor

Don't get all stressed out about "Holiday" preparation

Reflection

Look  in a mirror.  What do you see?  I did that - and didn't really like it that much.  No, not in the context of Marie Osmond in the Nutrasystem commercial, but in the context of where I am and have been emotionally.  I saw a woman looking back at me that I didn't recognize.  Sure, she had my nose, my chin, my mouth, but there was something missing.  She looked tired and drained of energy.   I looked away, shut off the light, and walked out.

When will I be ready to stand face to face with myself and commit to making some changes in my life?  What "demons" will I need to confront and kick out............  what "angels" stay....................

Today was a start - I looked in the mirror.

Update - Ran the Colfax Half Marathon

Has it been over a month since I ran the Colfax half-marathon?  Time of 2:34 (not quite goal of 2:30, but close) It was quite an experience!!!  Unfortunately, a cold virus caught up with me the day before the race.  My nose wouldn't stop running, sneezing, achy - the whole nine yards.  But, there was no way I was going to let a little head cold keep me from running.

We got to the race site early, got a great parking spot, had time to streatch out, relax, and mentally prepare for the big race.  There were thousands of runners.  Awesome sight!!!

The first 10 miles were pretty good, then I hit the proverbial wall around mile 11.  I'll have to say that mile was the hardest to run - I couldn't focus, my brain wouldn't function.  It was tough to visualize that I only had 2 more miles to go - couldn't visualize or comprehend that the end was in sight.  I remember looking to my left, and there was a spectator pushing a stroller walking faster than I was running.  How defeating is that?  I did pull out that inner strength to finish strong - after all, didn't want to look like a limp noodle crossing that finish line.

I learned a lot from that first race - things to do differently:  hydrate more during the race, bring a little snack, vary the pace, don't go out too fast, finish strong.

Will definitely do it again.  Took a couple of weeks off and now back on a light training schedule - might consider running in Sedona, Az in Feb.  Will have to see......... 

T-3 Days

The day fast approaches.  I've trained hard and know that I'll be able to finish the race.  It's going to be a great day!!!!  My goal is 2 hours and 30 minutes to complete. 

T - 72 days

"You have a choice.  You can throw in the towel, or you can use it to wipe the sweat off your face."  gatorade ad.

I finally broke through to 10 miles in just under 1 hr 40 minutes - where's that towel??? 

T-91 Days

“There is no dishonor in losing the race. There is only dishonor in not racing because you are afraid to lose.” From:  The Art of Racing in the Rain.

Had a good run yesterday.  Did 7 miles in just under 70 minutes. 

T-93 Days

"There are two mistakes one can make along the road to truth—not going all the way, and not starting." - Buddha:


That is true about running as well.  I've started and I AM going all the way.  I can't wait until the weather warms up and roads dry so I can see if my tread mill training is on target with an actual road run.  Yesterday was a bit of a lighter day.  Ran 5 miles between a 12-10 min pace.  Today I'll step up the pace.

T-102 Days

"The greatest danger to most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short, but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark."  --Michelangelo (Italian sculptor, painter, architect & poet)

Monday was a rest day - much needed after Sunday's 7 miler.  Today I was determined to run my 4 miles under 40 minutes.  I DID - ran 4 miles at 35:00.  Started at a 10 min pace and changed speed every minute.  Think I'm on track for that half marathon in May....

BRING IT ON!!!!!

T-104 Days

I set my mind to running 7 miles today and did it in just under 70 minutes.  Take that! you little voice inside my head that said I couldn't.

Continuing to increase my distance.  My long runs for the next three weeks will be 7 miles.  I noticed today that I'm not as sore and never felt like I couldn't go on.  Now that I know that I can - I will!

I'm anxious to see how the treadmill runs translate to an actual road run. 

T - 105 Days

"It's very hard in the beginning to understand that the whole idea is not to beat the other runners. Eventually you learn that the competition is against the little voice inside you that wants you to quit."

-George Sheehan

This week I step up miles to 7 for my long run.  The quote about competing against the little voice inside you is so very true.  I actually didn't think I could run 6, but beat that little voice saying "that's too far".  Last week I worked on increasing speed and was able to run at a consistant 10 min plus pace for the 6 miles.  Alternating speeds every minute really helps.  Feels like I'm standing still when I go down to a 10 min pace after running at a 9.   

Side benefit to training for a half-marathon.  I get to shop in my own closet.  I can wear jeans that haven't fit for a couple of years.  

February is Heart Healthy Awareness Month

Do something good for your heart - excercise it!!!   Which, I am going to go do just that.  This morning I'm going for a speed run - 30 minutes.  We'll see how that goes.

T - 113 Days

"In order to succeed, we must first believe we can."  --Nikos Kazantzakis

Sounds so simple doesn't it.  Like the lyrics - "I believe I can fly" .  Just four simple words; "I believe I can....."   It's true.  A thirteen mile race is possible.  I know it, I believe it, therefore I can ....

Yesterday was a rest day - did a 1 mile walk on the treadmill while watching TV.  Good thing to do after Wednesday's long run.  Today, on the other hand, I worked on keeping up speed and not giving in to the desire to slow down.  It was cold and windy outside so turned on my favorite cooking hostess, Paula Dean, and ran on the treadmill.  Final distance after 50 min was 5.28 miles.  (Changed speed after every minute to keep it interesting)  I also included some weight lifting into todays work out.

run on..............

T - 115 days

"Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going."

What's growing in my garden???  My first half marathon!!! and dreams of a fantastic garden!!!
I finally quit talking and did it - I registered for my first half marathon, May 20, 2012 - Denver's Colfax.  I've been wanting to do this for awhile, but never really had the nerve to register for a race.  I didn't think I could do it.  End of Oct, 2011,  I made the decision to get back on the treadmill and stop making excuses for my jeans "fitting a bit soon".   I challenged myself to keep up the exercise routine with a half-marathon goal in the back of my mind.  Now, January 25th I made the decision to go for it. 

The weather for January has been unseasonably warm.  Today the temp at 11:00 a.m. was 52.  I decided to take my running outside for a change.  I'm happy to say that the 3 months of serious treadmilling payed off.  I was able to run a 6 mile course (without stopping) in 66 min.  The 3rd and 4th mile was a tough into the wind challenge, but I stuck it out.  Nothing is ever gained by giving up.  Felt pretty good.

New Beginnings!!!

WOW what a sunrise this morning

Taken from my front door at about 6:55 a.m.

I've neglected my garden blog for a year and decided it was time to grow back into it. Last year was not a good gardening year.  After 3 hail storms that pullmetted our wheat crop and destroyed any semblance of a garden I lost interest and planted some pumpkins and squash just to fill the space.

Hopefully this year will be better.  I have my seed catalog in hand and ready to begin a new year!!!