One of THOSE Runs

RUNNING...

July 1, 2013

Today's Weather:

Today I ran 10 miles.   It was one of those.......holy crap this air is thicker than molasses...it kind of feels like I am plodding through cement...my Garmin must be broken because there is no way I could be running that slowly...actually, it does feel like I'm running pretty slowly...I wonder if I'm coming down with something because I'm feeling a little feverish...I really want to stop right now...I'm sweating so much that my "no-slip" earphones are slipping...I don't think I have ever been thirstier than I am right this second...wow, I hope I don't look as bad as that guy does...sweet Pete, I am only at mile 5...oh come on, it has rained every day since last Thursday and the sun is coming out now...really??...right now?...dammit, the mosquitos are out in full force...I am seriously considering shaving my head when I get home...wow, the smell of manure has got to be at an all time high...what the hell was I thinking when I headed out today...I really should have gone inside and ran on the treadmill...maybe if I turn up the volume on my music I will stop thinking about how brutal this is...

 --->insert long moment of silence & lots of heavy breathing here <--- 

...okay, Rebecca, let's go...one foot, then the other, come on....you are almost done...wow, this last mile is taking FOREVER........kind of runs.  It was easily one of my top 10 hardest (both mentally and physically) runs of all time.  And, yet, once it was over, I thought to myself, as only a crazy runner would....man, that run kind of sucked but I am definitely a stronger and better runner for having gotten it done..and I feel pretty freakin' badass, too.

BOOYAH!

...AND MUSIC

Listen to this:

Pretty Boy - Young Galaxy  

As We Run

RUNNING...

"As we run, we become." 

~ Amby Burfoot

Yesterday, I dug up the above quote on About.com.  Picture, if you will, the heavens opening, the bright light shining down from above and the boom of the 'Hallelujah' chorus playing in the background.  That was the kind of moment I had.  This quote really sums it all up for me.  It's so simple.  So true.  So perfect.  It made me want to high-five someone...anyone.  I was by myself, so there was no high-five.  Okay, I might have put a fist in the air and thrown out a "YES".   Who better than Amby Burfoot; someone who has lived it, seen it, and talked about it (and continues to do all of those things), to put into words something that often feels difficult to explain but at the same time makes total sense.  And really, you don't have to be a runner to appreciate this quote.  Because whatever it is that you do, that you love, that is what you become.  For me, it's running.  As I run, I become...

happy

healthy

strong

ready

calm
excited
giddy

reflective

pensive

hungry

powerful

fearless

in touch

out of touch

a rock star
a warrior
better

ME  

As we run, we become. Period.  Many thanks to Mr. Burfoot for wrapping it up so nicely.  

...AND MUSIC

Listen to this:
Silver Lining - Guards  

Replay Wednesday

What's Replay Wednesday, you ask?  It's a day dedicated to music, so to speak.  It's a day where you take your album of choice and play it all the way through.  And then you play it again.  Okay in truth, I was trying to think of a clever twist on "hump day" that was related to music.  This was the best I could do.  But seriously, why not?  Take an album that you have recently purchased or that you haven't listened to in a really long time or an album that you 'like' but don't 'love' (because this one deserves another shot) and listen to each song…in order…no skipping.  Then listen again.  I realize we're all busy and we likely can't take the time to sit down and listen to an entire album start to finish twice.  But that's the beauty of this particular exercise.  Perhaps you start by playing it in the car and then listen again while you are out on a run.  Personally, I believe that our appreciation for music/songs/artists varies based on where and when we hear them, who we are with, what mood we are in, etc.  I'll venture to guess that the album you pick is going to sound totally different if you're listening in your car then it will when you listen to it while you run.  Let me break it down for you.  Let's say you're driving your kids to camp and you're running late and your youngest one is telling you she doesn't want to go (sweet), so you're a wee bit stressed out.  True, it's hard to focus on the music in this scenario, but it's a nice distraction so you've still got it on.  Then you play the same music while you are out running, which you are doing to help you unwind from the stress you were just dealing with.  That music is going to have a whole new sound and meaning for you in this second scenario, right?  My good friend CJZ recently discovered Lord Huron's album "Lonesome Dreams".  At the moment, every day is Replay Wednesday for her.  Okay, she's slightly obsessed.  But, she told me, each time she listens to the album she hears something new and different and then likes it even more, which makes her want to listen to it again.  I get it.  It's the sign of a good album.  Of an album that tells a story.  Of an album that inspires you.  Of an album that's worth replaying.  So go listen.  Then listen again.  

My Replay Wednesday albums: 

Crystal Fighters - Cave Rave

AND

Rolling Stones - Tattoo You

What's yours?  

A Place to Love to Run: A Top 10 List

RUNNING...

Miles 1-3: Sheep grazing in Katama

My family gets together sporadically throughout the year, mainly for holidays; and we often meet at my parents house on Martha's Vineyard in MA.  Every summer, we have the good fortune of spending a couple weeks or so at the house with everyone; grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins, dogs, etc; which is, as my 8 year old tells me, "the best ever".  Yes, we are insanely lucky.  I love running in all of the local races that the various towns across the island offer throughout the year.  There are a ton of them, they're always fun and they are usually held to support a local cause or organization.  It's a win-win.  Back in November, I provided some of the many reasons that it is so great to race on the island of Martha's Vineyard.  In so many words, there is a magical, carefree, 'love thy neighbor' quality to the island that everyone, locals and tourists alike, seems to both understand and respect.  Today, I ran my first long run on the island since last summer.  Once again, I was reminded why I love, not only racing, but simply running here.  The scenery alone is reason enough to head out.  But there are a lot of other good reasons.  Here's what I cam up with:

TOP 10 REASONS TO GO RUNNING ON MARTHA'S VINEYARD

1. Vehicles of any size and/or type including landscaping & construction trucks, buses and tractors, will move to the complete opposite side of the street when they drive by, giving you more space then you could possibly need to stay on the road and feel safe.

2. Anyone who passes you on the road (other runners, bikers, walkers, etc.) will: 
(a) smile (b) wave (c) say "hello" or (d) do all of the above.  It's usually (d).

3. If you run anything over 4 miles, you will likely run through multiple climates including, but not limited to, chilly, foggy, misty, breezy, sunny or hot.  Strange but oddly cool.

4. There is at least a 1:3 farm to mile ratio; meaning 1 farm for every 3 miles you run.  The animals, the produce and the pure awesomeness of the farms themselves are such fantastic distractions.

Miles 4 & 5: The Farm Institute, Edgartown, MA

5. The air smells like salt, manure and/or fried food at any given point along the route.  This may sound disgusting to some, but I love it.  It reminds me that I'm here.

6. It is not the least bit odd to stop and chat with a family that has small kids because they look nice and their kids might want to hang out with your own kids at some point.  
7. No matter what you are wearing (or not wearing), how slow you are going or what you look like; it doesn't matter because no one cares; which is incredibly refreshing.

8. Cars that pass you and honk are doing so because they know you or they're being friendly and simply want to say "hi"...not because you are in their way.

9. The island, as a whole, is slightly askew.  Everything is a bit off; a little crooked...perfectly imperfect.  You're never 100% sure where you're going or where you might end up and it doesn't matter because you'll figure it out eventually.

10. When you get home, you're tired and you're typically coated in dirt, salt or maybe even some animal crap, and still, you can't wait to lace up and head out again the next day.

Mile 13: Katama General Store
(Also, the end of my run. Note the iced coffee on the porch)

I realize it's not possible for everyone to hop on a ferry and head out to Martha's Vineyard to go for a run.  That said, I hope you all have a place that gives you as many reasons, if not more, to hit the road.  A place where you truly love to run.  Running can be  hard. A place like this makes it easier.  I love that.

...AND MUSIC

Listen to this:

You & I - Crystal Fighters