Sometimes our occupations and families have the potential to inhibit us from running. I can assure that will only occur if you let it. Dedication pursued with passion has virtually no natural enemies. It is like a powerful creature grazing in the wilds, gently consuming the plants and shrubs that sustain its very life. These creatures are compelled to graze through millenniums of DNA programing. They are only manipulated into eating otherwise through the greed of man to turn them into a food commodity and view them as nothing more than pounds of flesh on the open market. Similarly, getting sidetracked with running can only occur when we allow ourselves to be manipulated by the false pretense of time and the self imposed panics that we do not have enough hours in the day or the week. It's a great myth really, one I struggled with over the summer when my running slacked off from the normally intense regimen I put my mind, spirit and body through on my daily runs. I am on day 19 of a running streak and very back on track. I have committed to a cause and tied it to my spirit. Once that occurs I am usually unstoppable. It works for me so I pursue that avenue of exploration for my running. We have choices, lots of them. Cows, pigs chickens and the rest HAD choices of sorts, until they were delegated to slavery for the mere amusement of the human palate. You see where this is going. I eat "Plant Based" and in doing so can say that I do not support the free will of animals to be raised for nothing more than mere flesh. As I run here I always see some sort of animal along the winding roads of this Volcanic Wonder know as St. John. These animals, although one day will be slaughtered for their flesh, at least get to live out their lives grazing and roaming and staying true to their DNA. When we as humans are given so many choices, especially in this country, we always seem to think they are entitled, when in fact they must be earned.
If your occupation and family require a lot of your time, as most people's do, then it is simply an intense regimented approach that you will have to give yourself, no matter what, 30-90 minutes a day to do what you know is good for your overall being. Running is the Holy Grail my friends. I use to literally question the sanity of people on St. John running these hills in mid day heat just 6 years ago. Why would anyone want to do that I pondered. After my first 8 Tuff Miles Road Race here I became a runner. Two months later in Chicago at a 10 miler I became a road racer. 5 plus years later, at 55, my mid life crisis has rewarded me on a multitude of levels. Time is not your enemy here, but the lack of managing it properly is. You are merely asking yourself for approximately 5% of your days time. Five Percent!!! Think very carefully and methodically about that. Lots of talk in the media these days about One Percent and 99%. Lots! So put it in perspective. Get up an hour earlier and counter balance that with going to bed an hour earlier. It's a simple wash. I will absolutely guarantee you that your life and thought process and sense of over all well being will soar after an early morning run. I could care less how fast you go. 15 minute miles or 6 minute miles are all still a mile. Repeat.... 15 minute miles or 6 minute miles are all still a mile. A lot of us value our occupation immensely, so much in fact it becomes a priority in our lives. Something that important to us should and needs to be enjoyed and reveled in and when immersed in should be rewarding. Running provides that sense; it instills purpose into your thoughts and before you know it you are enjoying your occupation to its fullest.
Occupation and Occupy, these are the thoughts that run through this runner's mind on these early morning scurries in the humidity on the hills here. I have worked my whole life to try to retire early, 60-70 hour weeks year after year, and the utter greed on wall street and around the world has greatly diminished the accounts I have set up for myself to live off of. I retired at 54 and in doing so rearranged some frivolous material fantasies from my being and replaced them with a practice approach to Life and spending. I drive a 13 year old car as an example. I am only asking for accountability in both the financial worlds on Wall Street and beyond and the banking systems that hold their clients as monetary prisoners. I am very Pro Capitalism, I only ask for fairness to employees and their families who works for companies who supply us with the products that drive a Free Market Economy. Free does not mean anything goes as some political pundits and CEO's want. Free means an inherent right to earn a living and prosper, but never and under no circumstance at the expense and livelihood of others no matter what Color, Race, Gender, Sexual Orientation, or Creed they may be. Free means the right to pursue your dreams and goals, all the while respecting the Earth's limited capacity to supply us with resources.
I have been waiting quite literally and emphatically my ENTIRE adult life for the youth of this country and beyond to stand up for what they believe in and not have to fear a NYPD police officer beating them with a baton or spraying mace into their eyes. I have been waiting for the people of all nations to stand in solidarity amongst ourselves and return the decision making process back to the people and take it out of the hands of the multinational corporations and their vile and malicious lobbyists that do the bidding for corporations that pay ZERO tax in this country. I commend this generation for using the Smart Phones and Social Networking Websites for something other than posturing and video games. There has not been a movement as widespread as this ever and it is going to rival what occurred for civil rights and ending the Vietnam War in the 60's and 70's. If you believe in the faintest notion that what the Occupy Wall Street movement is doing then find a way to lend a helping hand. There is lots to be done behind the scenes and fundraising is one of them if you do not want to Occupy the front lines.
We are at the crossroads on so many levels that it is starting to get scary what the societies of this World are going to look like in 50 - 100 years. Now is the time; this is the moment and you are a vital player in shaping this world and the way in which future generations will have to live. Running is not much different than any of this. It takes only a little time and the results are mammoth. It is spurred on by an overwhelming urge at times to change things and you will thank your mirror and world for making you look and feel better after you affirm your commitment. Are you the 99% in pursuit of 5% of your days time to better yourself and the world? Rhetorical question. Go out and run and make your voices heard in your local community and by doing so you will have given yourself and this world the ultimate gift.
Be Well and Run Free
Wednesday, October 19, 2011
Sunday, March 6, 2011
ACHIEVEMENT
As I ran through the infamous crossroads in Coral Bay last week and within 1/10 of a mile from the finish line and on my way to completing my 5th consecutive 8 Tuff Miles Road Race I could not help but feel an overwhelming sense of achievement for myself and all the other runners who passed this otherwise sleepy intersection on the east side of this volcanic wonder we have all come to know as St. John. The Crossroads are many in life and have to be dealt with in a host of ways in order to maintain a sense of balance and well being. Learning how to run this race properly to maximize your full potential is much trickier than other road races. We ascend 1400 vertical feet in the first 5.5 miles and peak at 999 feet and the temperatures are usually in the low 80's with typically high tropical humidity. I personally will lose 5 pounds minimal on this run in training and a little more when I race it. There are 12 water stations and it is one of the best organized races I have ever run. We must then run back down to sea level and if you are not trained properly your Quads will hurt for days on end. Down hill running is not as easy as it appears to be, especially if you want to gain speed on your decent. This years field was as diverse as ever and it simply amazes me how many kids, my 9 year old son included, his second one, run or walk this race. They really bring a special element to the field, right along side the Elite runners who burn up Centerline Road.
This year some old business had to be attended to. The amazing Zuber/Lilly rivalry was back on and in full swing after a hiatus last year from the previous 3 years, when 6 time course champion Jeremy Zuber did not attend the race and was living off Island, and Court Lilly found himself facing even stiffer competition in Thomas Chorney who last year not only won the race but took 3:09 minutes off of Zubers previous course record of 49:35 set in 2009. All eyes were on Jeremy, hometown hero and all around nice guy as the runners lined up this year. Ironically this year Chorny was unable to attend. That however did not deter the resolve of one Cristoher Reis who not only won this years race but beat Chorny's course record by 26 seconds bringing it down to an amazing 46:00 flat and shaving 56 seconds off of his 2010 time that awarded him second place last year even with beating Zubers course record by 2:39 minutes ! Court Lilly finished in second place this year and it was the first time he beat his rival Zuber who finished 3rd. Congratulations Chris, that was some bar setting this year and food for thought for next years event. Last years #3 runner was not present due to an injury and quite arguably the future Dark Horse of this event to watch out for in the coming years. Brian "Wookie" Shonenbarger was missed also and at 26 and just coming off a 2:30 Marathon Victory looming at 6'4" and legs to his shoulders could very well be this races champion one day. He is also part of the "Cincy Posse" led up by the amazing Brad Dunlevy, an accomplished runner himself and 5 time competitor here in the 8TM who is responsible for the emergence of this running posse coming to St. John for the last 5 years, and taking 7 of the top 10 places in the field this year. His Love affair with one Jack Daniels seems to only enhance his running prowess as he finished 9th overall this year! Thank you Brad for keeping us locals "On our toes" and for not bringing any "Cincy Posse" runners down to St. John in my age group!!
Local runner Ruth Ann David did her magic once again and was the overall female winner with a time of 57:39, winning the race 3 out of the last 4 years as she was noticeably absent from last years race. 11 year old running prodigy Evan "Lil Pre" Jones ran an amazing 1:02:13 this year and is inching closer and closer to the "One Hour Club". He took another 4 minutes off of last years time and I use to try to use him as a pacer in our group "Tune up" runs here on St. John. Not in the last 2-3 years however as he is well out of sight in the first few minutes of these runs. He will undoubtedly become a top 10 finisher in the next few years and will become the youngest member ever of the "One Hour Club" either next year or the following. He has a slew of College Scholarship $$$ set aside as he wins his age group every year. 8TM donates $4600 in College Scholarships every year to the winners of the 3 age groups, both male and female in the under 18 categories. I have donated to that fund on several different occasions. Anyone wanting to help with the Scholarships can contact Race director Peter Alter at the 8TM website. Evan and 40 other kids 12 and under finished this incredibly grueling course. By the way, after the race all the kids are playing and running around and exerting tons of energy while the adults feel like they just got hit with a sledge hammer! 82 year old Yelma Pullen and two 5 year olds, Zach Edwards and Arjuna Morris also rounded out the finishers at this years 15th anniversary Run.
My personal run this year was more than I could have hoped for. Us runner are a very funny and ofttimes a whiny bunch and tend to complain about our times and training and our injuries and analyze it all WAY too much! Guilty as charged, as I felt under trained and did not do the Speedwork that is required to make us faster runners. I am often a LSD runner and just like to go out and enjoy myself and LSD will do that for me almost every time. I also realize I am getting older, but something deep down inside me keeps telling me I have not peaked yet with my times and I was made aware of that as I had a much better time than I anticipated, although not a PR (personal Record) it more than met my expectations for the day and I finished in the top 100 for the 4th year in a row and also placed in the top 3 in my age group for the 4th year in a row. Having run the race now back to back with my son is also very special. He ran the last 2 years and both years after I finished I went back up the mountain to meet him and finish the race with him. I was called a "Showoff" at least a dozen times out loud by other races as went back up to meet him but I will take the jokes and a few serious harangues any day to have that experiences with him. Next Year I will Don a large Camera and take Pictures on the way back up and I can be called a Paparazzi instead of a showoff, the lessor of two evils or not? This race that I did on a whim 5 years ago to challenge my self turned me into a year round full time runner the moment I crossed the finish line and I have been running an average of 5 days a week ever since. It has been transformational in my life to say the least.
What propels 1000 people to register and several hundred more to volunteer every year is really what the race is all about. Yes, I made a lot of times and rivalry's and placement here but the true nature of this unique sporting event is laid out within the realm of the community and the support so selflessly given to each years event. Achievement can not always be measured and it surely cannot always be seen in the everyday activities of all the participants and volunteers who make Race Day here so very special. It is the mixture of toil and the love of Karma Yoga that people practice either consciously or not. It is the sleepless nights long before the race that the Race committee must endure and it is the culmination of souls who share a Love for the community and the sport of running itself. The work for next years race has already begun in the physical sense and in the metaphysical sense. People are already talking about next year with great zeal and Peter Alter, the race director is making plans as you read this to insure you not only enjoy the run but walk away from it with a sense of awe and respect, respect not only for the event itself, but for yourself for participating on the many levels it take to pull this off every year. The next time you see a runner moving their body across the roads or trails remember how much it takes for that individual to enjoy a positive experience on any given race day anywhere in the world. It may takes a village to raise a child and but it also takes achievement to complete the journey, one that is much longer than 8.38 miles. Be Well All and if you are a runner, Run Free!
This year some old business had to be attended to. The amazing Zuber/Lilly rivalry was back on and in full swing after a hiatus last year from the previous 3 years, when 6 time course champion Jeremy Zuber did not attend the race and was living off Island, and Court Lilly found himself facing even stiffer competition in Thomas Chorney who last year not only won the race but took 3:09 minutes off of Zubers previous course record of 49:35 set in 2009. All eyes were on Jeremy, hometown hero and all around nice guy as the runners lined up this year. Ironically this year Chorny was unable to attend. That however did not deter the resolve of one Cristoher Reis who not only won this years race but beat Chorny's course record by 26 seconds bringing it down to an amazing 46:00 flat and shaving 56 seconds off of his 2010 time that awarded him second place last year even with beating Zubers course record by 2:39 minutes ! Court Lilly finished in second place this year and it was the first time he beat his rival Zuber who finished 3rd. Congratulations Chris, that was some bar setting this year and food for thought for next years event. Last years #3 runner was not present due to an injury and quite arguably the future Dark Horse of this event to watch out for in the coming years. Brian "Wookie" Shonenbarger was missed also and at 26 and just coming off a 2:30 Marathon Victory looming at 6'4" and legs to his shoulders could very well be this races champion one day. He is also part of the "Cincy Posse" led up by the amazing Brad Dunlevy, an accomplished runner himself and 5 time competitor here in the 8TM who is responsible for the emergence of this running posse coming to St. John for the last 5 years, and taking 7 of the top 10 places in the field this year. His Love affair with one Jack Daniels seems to only enhance his running prowess as he finished 9th overall this year! Thank you Brad for keeping us locals "On our toes" and for not bringing any "Cincy Posse" runners down to St. John in my age group!!
Local runner Ruth Ann David did her magic once again and was the overall female winner with a time of 57:39, winning the race 3 out of the last 4 years as she was noticeably absent from last years race. 11 year old running prodigy Evan "Lil Pre" Jones ran an amazing 1:02:13 this year and is inching closer and closer to the "One Hour Club". He took another 4 minutes off of last years time and I use to try to use him as a pacer in our group "Tune up" runs here on St. John. Not in the last 2-3 years however as he is well out of sight in the first few minutes of these runs. He will undoubtedly become a top 10 finisher in the next few years and will become the youngest member ever of the "One Hour Club" either next year or the following. He has a slew of College Scholarship $$$ set aside as he wins his age group every year. 8TM donates $4600 in College Scholarships every year to the winners of the 3 age groups, both male and female in the under 18 categories. I have donated to that fund on several different occasions. Anyone wanting to help with the Scholarships can contact Race director Peter Alter at the 8TM website. Evan and 40 other kids 12 and under finished this incredibly grueling course. By the way, after the race all the kids are playing and running around and exerting tons of energy while the adults feel like they just got hit with a sledge hammer! 82 year old Yelma Pullen and two 5 year olds, Zach Edwards and Arjuna Morris also rounded out the finishers at this years 15th anniversary Run.
My personal run this year was more than I could have hoped for. Us runner are a very funny and ofttimes a whiny bunch and tend to complain about our times and training and our injuries and analyze it all WAY too much! Guilty as charged, as I felt under trained and did not do the Speedwork that is required to make us faster runners. I am often a LSD runner and just like to go out and enjoy myself and LSD will do that for me almost every time. I also realize I am getting older, but something deep down inside me keeps telling me I have not peaked yet with my times and I was made aware of that as I had a much better time than I anticipated, although not a PR (personal Record) it more than met my expectations for the day and I finished in the top 100 for the 4th year in a row and also placed in the top 3 in my age group for the 4th year in a row. Having run the race now back to back with my son is also very special. He ran the last 2 years and both years after I finished I went back up the mountain to meet him and finish the race with him. I was called a "Showoff" at least a dozen times out loud by other races as went back up to meet him but I will take the jokes and a few serious harangues any day to have that experiences with him. Next Year I will Don a large Camera and take Pictures on the way back up and I can be called a Paparazzi instead of a showoff, the lessor of two evils or not? This race that I did on a whim 5 years ago to challenge my self turned me into a year round full time runner the moment I crossed the finish line and I have been running an average of 5 days a week ever since. It has been transformational in my life to say the least.
What propels 1000 people to register and several hundred more to volunteer every year is really what the race is all about. Yes, I made a lot of times and rivalry's and placement here but the true nature of this unique sporting event is laid out within the realm of the community and the support so selflessly given to each years event. Achievement can not always be measured and it surely cannot always be seen in the everyday activities of all the participants and volunteers who make Race Day here so very special. It is the mixture of toil and the love of Karma Yoga that people practice either consciously or not. It is the sleepless nights long before the race that the Race committee must endure and it is the culmination of souls who share a Love for the community and the sport of running itself. The work for next years race has already begun in the physical sense and in the metaphysical sense. People are already talking about next year with great zeal and Peter Alter, the race director is making plans as you read this to insure you not only enjoy the run but walk away from it with a sense of awe and respect, respect not only for the event itself, but for yourself for participating on the many levels it take to pull this off every year. The next time you see a runner moving their body across the roads or trails remember how much it takes for that individual to enjoy a positive experience on any given race day anywhere in the world. It may takes a village to raise a child and but it also takes achievement to complete the journey, one that is much longer than 8.38 miles. Be Well All and if you are a runner, Run Free!
Tuesday, February 22, 2011
TRYING
It's local race time again, the moment that rolls around once a year and starts to consume you. The nervousness and excitement blend and a feeling overcomes you that reaches further at times than you may like. We have control over many aspects of our lives, but other facets find us whether we are looking or open to them or not. Running this morning was no different in that respect. This will be my 5th consecutive 8 Tuff Miles Road Race on this Volcanic Wonder of St. John and the hills I traverse daily remind me of the splendor and sacrifice we all make to live here. Island life is the great trade off, for the better for most of course, but at times can most certainty be trying.
So what is so trying or better yet what are we trying to do. I am trying to stay in the top 3 in my age group like I have the last 3 years while simultaneously trying to stay focused on a plant based lifestyle. I have immense passion for both, passion being the cornerstone of success no doubt in all we do, and must work very hard to make both a reality. You see as a runner I am slowing down, for whatever reason... and there may be many, and it bothers me. Who wants to run slower races? Not many of us I can assure you of that. As a plant based eater It is troublesome at times to stay focused here as our food choices are 1/100th of what is available in the states, again the great trade off. I breath fresh air and swim in crystal clear warm tropical waters year round and I run through a national park that rivals any around the world, hands down! A running friend once said "You high Five Easter Rock, right?". Well I have every time since hearing that. Easter Rock is this amazing Rock that is 30 ft. high perched along the North shore Road and a stomping ground for my runs. There are times when I am running North Shore that I simply can not believe where I live and how utterly perfect Nature is. The flawed human cascading along the hills while observing the perfection in the grander scheme of life. The human mind soaring and opening and realizing that his species will most likely not survive due to out of control corporate and political systems that have become the status quo and have over taken the thinking and beliefs systems of the last few generations to the point that the insanity of how we really live becomes socially acceptable to the point of utter absurdity. Easter Rock always reminds me of this and keeps me grounded. I am guilty as charged, I drive a car and use products that pull resources from the earth that could be better served in other ways or simply left in the earth to begin with. I struggle with the modern day human lifestyle and run to put it in perspective and obtain clarity and understanding at this juncture of my life. Running for health and fitness have long become second fiddle to why I go out on the roads and trails as often as I do. What small and subtle changes can I make to do my part in shifting my thinking and ultimately my impact on the planet. Am I really who I truly want to be? Kid Rock said "Only God Knows Why" but my "God" is nature itself. I owe her ALL that I am as she withers due to our selfishness so too do I, as I lose my muse and the strengths upon which I draw.
The race this Saturday will be uncertain for me until I cross the finish line and upon doing so I will have accomplished something extraordinary in the sense of achievement. You can call it a mid-life crisis or just plain old reality setting in, but when I started running and racing in the 50th year of my life I had no idea how powerful it would be for me and provide the meditative time to reflect on life itself while the endorphins and blood pumps wildly through my body. In that altered state lies the answers to what I seek and come Saturday I promise you and myself that I will be leaving 5 plus pounds of sweat on the tarmac and I will run a "Pure Guts" race and if anyone is going to beat me, and there will be many, they will also have to leave their sweat and guts out on the road too. Saturday is not a spiritual training run, It is the 8 Tuff Miles, it was my very first road race at 50 years of age and the one the turned me into a "Runner" and morphed me into a competitive racer in the months that followed. So when you see me on the roads on my daily runs please note that even though I am a Godless Atheist, I am communing with what I know to be my source of energy and power, this Earth itself, and that in the end, we all have a choice to make as where our own version of God, religion or faith will leads us. Me, I am just a "Runner" and I always seem to be led to the North Shore. Be Well and Run Free.
So what is so trying or better yet what are we trying to do. I am trying to stay in the top 3 in my age group like I have the last 3 years while simultaneously trying to stay focused on a plant based lifestyle. I have immense passion for both, passion being the cornerstone of success no doubt in all we do, and must work very hard to make both a reality. You see as a runner I am slowing down, for whatever reason... and there may be many, and it bothers me. Who wants to run slower races? Not many of us I can assure you of that. As a plant based eater It is troublesome at times to stay focused here as our food choices are 1/100th of what is available in the states, again the great trade off. I breath fresh air and swim in crystal clear warm tropical waters year round and I run through a national park that rivals any around the world, hands down! A running friend once said "You high Five Easter Rock, right?". Well I have every time since hearing that. Easter Rock is this amazing Rock that is 30 ft. high perched along the North shore Road and a stomping ground for my runs. There are times when I am running North Shore that I simply can not believe where I live and how utterly perfect Nature is. The flawed human cascading along the hills while observing the perfection in the grander scheme of life. The human mind soaring and opening and realizing that his species will most likely not survive due to out of control corporate and political systems that have become the status quo and have over taken the thinking and beliefs systems of the last few generations to the point that the insanity of how we really live becomes socially acceptable to the point of utter absurdity. Easter Rock always reminds me of this and keeps me grounded. I am guilty as charged, I drive a car and use products that pull resources from the earth that could be better served in other ways or simply left in the earth to begin with. I struggle with the modern day human lifestyle and run to put it in perspective and obtain clarity and understanding at this juncture of my life. Running for health and fitness have long become second fiddle to why I go out on the roads and trails as often as I do. What small and subtle changes can I make to do my part in shifting my thinking and ultimately my impact on the planet. Am I really who I truly want to be? Kid Rock said "Only God Knows Why" but my "God" is nature itself. I owe her ALL that I am as she withers due to our selfishness so too do I, as I lose my muse and the strengths upon which I draw.
The race this Saturday will be uncertain for me until I cross the finish line and upon doing so I will have accomplished something extraordinary in the sense of achievement. You can call it a mid-life crisis or just plain old reality setting in, but when I started running and racing in the 50th year of my life I had no idea how powerful it would be for me and provide the meditative time to reflect on life itself while the endorphins and blood pumps wildly through my body. In that altered state lies the answers to what I seek and come Saturday I promise you and myself that I will be leaving 5 plus pounds of sweat on the tarmac and I will run a "Pure Guts" race and if anyone is going to beat me, and there will be many, they will also have to leave their sweat and guts out on the road too. Saturday is not a spiritual training run, It is the 8 Tuff Miles, it was my very first road race at 50 years of age and the one the turned me into a "Runner" and morphed me into a competitive racer in the months that followed. So when you see me on the roads on my daily runs please note that even though I am a Godless Atheist, I am communing with what I know to be my source of energy and power, this Earth itself, and that in the end, we all have a choice to make as where our own version of God, religion or faith will leads us. Me, I am just a "Runner" and I always seem to be led to the North Shore. Be Well and Run Free.
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