Lightening

One, two, three, four…steps, reps, seconds, heartbeats, minutes, quarter hours, half hours, hours, quarter days, half days, days, weeks, months is all a continuum no matter what we are doing.

In three minutes how many arrows may be fired?

In two minutes how many hurdles may be jumped, how many yards on a track covered, how punches and kicks delivered on the bag?

In 90 seconds how many lunges, crunches, and pushups can be done?

In thirty seconds how many times can you vertical throw, catch-squat, then vertical throw a soft medicine ball?

Short intervals are lightening bolts in our training lives. The difference from lightening: we can harness this training energy. Our bodies are like the Earth and the training we do is the lightening feeding into us.

The movements, momentum, and good form matter…the pace you intuitively know is what you need to progress, i.e. to come back again tomorrow and train again.

It’s a beautiful freedom to have and use, so gratitude inspiring each day.

Forested Crag Short Hike

at the craggy hilltop the view through the trees to the great blue beyond

name that track?

Punching-in at an anonymous steep forest off-trail hike…lost in time and space for a short while, found prints, and a blue haven at the top. A windy, bracing hill walk. Memorable.

Spring Rain Paints the Sky and Spring Training Calls

Spring Training

After sifting the manuscript for my upcoming book release, I felt as if I had sifted tons of sand. I picked out mossy twigs, broken bark pieces, and rocks from what seemed like ages of writing washed up from the tossed ocean of my mind, memory and experience.

There were also broken toy pieces buried in the sand; notions or ideas I had played with before that were too automatic, too obsolete, and poorly developed to include. I could not stare at them for too long, humbled by the fact that I had not finished constructing them in the past.

That work had to be done. In delaying publication to find and discard these ideas suffering from arrested development, it took the prospect of another person examining the manuscript one more time for me to cast aside some of these self-interested ideas. To my proofreader I am most grateful.

Soon, finally, I will have news of the final title, and where the book can be found.

I am grateful that Spring training is here.

Raindrops in Fall, Running Down Trails

Joy in running on a multi-dimensional training day…

On an interval run this morning, I took the time to enjoy Fall. The cloud over me started with drizzle droplets, making full raindrop by mid run. The tip-tap-tip on the giant elms’ leaves turned to pip-pap-zip, coasting on cattail leaves and spattering across the lake.

Fast intervals took relief from the cool-surround of 55 Fahrenheit.

The natural dance all around asks, ‘why not a second training evolution later?’ Strength conditioning to balance out and fit into the weekend schedule at a level I can tailor to my people priorities.

I’m thankful for the gift of reasonable health that I can do this. So fundamental a gift is this, I feel indebted. It’s a gratitude quietly urging action to aid others who may need it. This just happens. It’s no ideology. The hues of joy are imbued with the properties of sharing goodness. Such joy is available in a consistent training life.

The tie-in inspiration flows out to multiple dimensions of this shared life with people. Training does more for us than words can describe. It isn’t only about fitness. That is one of the welcome by-products. Life is more wondrous than we expected.