cool runnings

10.79 inches. Yes, that's right. We recieved 10.79 inches of rain this past week. Surprisingly, the street wasn't flooded and so after meditation practice, I took Tsuki the dog, my timer, a glass of water and my inhaler and went outside and ran.
Yes, you heard me right. I ran.

For the first time in 30 years, I've resumed running. I loved it when I was younger. In fact, back then, I ran up to six miles a day. Back in the 70's I even had dreams of Olympic gold. But then again I lived in a small, isolated community in the middle of nowhere. Whenever people asked me where Malta, Texas was I'd refer them to that scene in the first Star Wars film, where Luke Skywalker stood outside, gazing out at the desolate scenery, two suns sinking.






Add some trees and grass, and add a highway I'd say, remove one sun and there you have it. Malta, Texas, population 150 people and an odd number of klansmen and their coon dogs.

A girl has to have a dream. And mine was to join the ranks of Jim Thorpe, Babe Diedrickson and Jacky Joiner Kersey.

Didn't happen. Not that I didn't have the strength or the speed or the heart--I did--but it just didn't happen. Just like becoming Earnest Hemingway and travelling to Spain and France and sneaking into Cuba to see Hem's residence; it just didn't happen. I did, however, get published and without the suicidal tendencies.

I moved on to other things. The dream got shelved as so many young girl's dreams do, and was left forgotten.

Until last night when I took that old dream off the shelf, removed about thiry years worth of dust off of it and reexamined it.

It wasn't that I was running away from something when I was young. My step sister the psychologist would probably tell you that. But no, the simple truth was--and still is--is that I like to run. To feel the wind in your face, your hair blowing behind you, the steady pumping of legs, feet gliding over the pavement, the sensation of air whooshing through the lungs on a perfectly beautiful autumn day is something wonderous to experience. Even better when you have a running buddy like mine who ran happily along side me, her tongue hanging out, a big wolfy toothy grin as she picked up the pace. Akitas are such great dogs.

I didn't run for long. Just 20 minutes of running and walking, about 100 yards at each pace. I hit "the wall" after my third trip up the street, shocked at how out of shape my body was. I didn't experience that until I was in my 5th mile.

It is, after all, the first day since sometime in 1980 when I put on running shoes and actually intended to run, so it shouldn't have been a complete surprise. I am, also, toting significantly more baggage than I did back then as well. regardless, I am not discouraged. In fact, I'm looking forward to my next scheduled run.

Last night, I went through some websites and found one I love, as well as a training tracker to keep up with my activity.

Am I sore? Oh hell yeah, but it's not excruciating. It's rather pleasant in fact. After all, you can't put a vintage body like mine up on blocks for two years and expect it to run like it did when it was brand new. And since I still feel mentally 19, its hard for me not to run it as hard as I'd like. I feel so inspired.

http://www.coolrunning.com/engine/2/2_3/181.shtml

http://training.active.com/ActiveTrainer/helpdefault.do?account=free&mkt_glabel=default

It's gonna be a great autumn.

6 am, samarai waking and practice
Heart Treasure
Paleo Diet 2 pgs
7 am practice
7:30 surymanaskar 3 and 20 minute run/walk/cooldown/stretch
8 breakfast almonds, walnuts, strawberries and grapes
am blogging


ll practice
reading Heart of Compassion
lunch:
chicken lettuce wrap
review book readings and note taking
Housework.

3 pm walking meditation and 30 minutes of Earth Series yoga. If not too sore
work on beading project. Im making a stap for an amulet bag

7pm practice
dinner
Hamburger steak small salad and steamed veggies.
Read Path to Enlightenmen
Reading Like Water for Chocolate
hang out time (Love my Britcoms)

11 pm sleep yoga, power questions and light's out.