Thursday, August 20, 2015

Nourish the Truth that is You

At mass this past Sunday, Fr. Ray Chase used the phrase "nourish the truth that is you."  What an expression.  The statement was made in the context of a series of readings from the Gospel of John in which Jesus spoke on multiple occasions about "eat my body and drink my blood."  And the truth in this case had to do with what our Catholic faith calls on us to do.  Makes a lot of sense in context.

However, there is also a much broader interpretation.  When I think of nourishing, I think of making grow.  I think of making bigger.  I think of helping to develop in a healthy way.

When I think of "the truth that is you," I think of who am I really meant to be.  And, conversely, who am I not meant to be.  And not forcing myself to be something I am not.  And to truly pursue what I am passionate about.  What I am passionate about is the only thing that will truly motivate me to get things done.  I know that as a fact.

So, who am I?

Runner.

Writer--maybe.

Teacher.

Researcher--maybe.   Maybe not so much any more.

Communicator.

Friend.

Confidante.

Expressive.

Baker.

Peacemaker.

Team builder--sort of.

I know that researcher is something I choose to focus on less.

Writer--I wish I could be an even better one when it comes to things other than academic papers.

Team builder--I want to improve.

But all those other things are things that I choose to focus on.  That I enjoy.  That I am passionate about.  

And the most interesting question is, other than being a runner who blogs (sometimes in haiku) and who writes poetry and makes homemade cards for friends and family and who bakes for his training partners--what does this combination of things make me.  Do I have to further prioritize.  And if I do figure out what is the truth of me I should nourish, what does that look like and where do I find a way of nourishing it?

You'd think I'd have answered that at age 45 1/2.

In some ways, I feel like I'm only beginning to ask the right questions.   

Friday, August 14, 2015

Two Haiku Stanzas

Ran two with the dog
Then ran eight more by myself.
Putting in miles to
Prep for marathon.
The race will be in eight weeks.

I will be ready.

Thursday, August 13, 2015

Two More Sets of Haiku Stanzas

8/12/15
Another morning
Good rest.  Made a pizza dough.
Ran short with my dog.
The ran eight miles more.
Slow at first.  Finished stronger.
Guzzled down a drink.
When I got to work
Had a very big breakfast.
Boss was glad I'd run.
Said that I would need
A pacemaker implanted
If I had not run.

8/13/15
The temps were cooler
The plan was to run eight miles
The pace was at eight
We achieved the goal
On a pretty chatty run.
Aim for 3:30.

Monday, August 10, 2015

Friday, August 7, 2015

Celebrating A Rest Day

A rest day before
A planned twenty two mile run
Begins with breakfast. 
Thin sliced tomato
With balsamic vinegar 
All around the plate. 
A three egg omelette
With horseradish cheddar cheese 
Sits in the middle. 
A delicious meal
To provide some of the fuel 
I'll need tomorrow.

Thursday, August 6, 2015

Reflection on My First Track Workout Since June 30--In Haiku

For the first time in
Far too many weeks I ran
An on-track workout.
To get to the track
I jogged over--and this time
I really did jog. 
So I was not sure
How the workout would proceed
When I started out.
In fact I had thought
That on the day after a
Strong progression run
I might not have all
That much to power myself 
Through the track workout. 
However the first
800 meters took me
3:03. Not bad. 
In fact I worried
That I'd gone out at a pace
Like a springbok when
I should have been a
Little more circumspect and
Gone out more slowly. 
Four additional 
800's. Each in a time
Of 2:58. 
Realization.
Today was a springbok day
For me after all. 
Too much time away
From the track I so enjoy
Makes it hard to judge.
Long run. Track workouts. 
Different concentration.
Varying focus. 
Complementary 
In my long distance training. 
And throughout my life.
Focus can be good. 
But too much or too little
Each can cause trouble. 
A little focus
With diversification 
Works best in my world. 

Wednesday, August 5, 2015

What is a Progression Run--in Haiku

Progression runs are
Sometimes planned purposefully 
With a goal in mind. 
But at other times
A progression run begins 
When legs feel heavy. 
I start my running
Feeling like I'm a rhino
Lumbering along.
But as miles progress
I feel as though I'm transformed
Into a springbok. 

Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Marathon Training on Mid Summer Morning

5 Stanzas of Haiku

Meet at five fifteen. 
See lightning. Hear thunder. Run. 
Then the big rain starts. 
Keep going forward. 
Seven mile workout gets done. 
Despite the weather. 
Reminded me of
Running through streams in high school
Cross country races. 
Lauren felt stronger
Than she had in a long while
On a tempo run.  
Mission accomplished. 
With Freedoms Run marathon 
And Comrades ahead. 

Monday, August 3, 2015

Trust in a Training Partner

Trust in a Training Partner
Training partners
Have to put
A lot of trust
In each other.
Trust to wake up--
    in time.
Trust to do whatever else at home--
    in time.
Trust to leave the house--
    on time
Trust to arrive wherever you are meeting--
    on time
Trust to let me know when there is--
    a delay.
Trust to pick up the pace--
    if I have a hard stop time.
Trust to be conversational--
    when the run is the right pace.
Trust to respect the need for silence--
    if that is what the day calls for
Trust to listen--
    when I have a lot to share.
Trust to know when is the time to speed up--
    or slow down.
Trust to wait--
    if I need a pit stop.
Trust to wait--
    if I need to get some calories and am having a hard time
    with whatever I brought.
Trust to know which days--
    are for going all out.
Trust to know which other days--
    are for taking it easy.
And with time, trust becomes the sense
Of just knowing all these things
With barely a word
Needing to be said
While on the trail
Or on the roads
Running.