INSPIRATION

It comes in many forms, sometimes in the least expected arena, other times it is so in your face that it is literally impossible to ever forget. It forges the foundation for completion for many. It has a power unseen yet a force that beckons.  As I traverse these hills and trails here I am always in awe of the accomplishments of others in regards to running and life in general.  I ask myself how do they do that?  I am quickly answered. That is the most amazing thing I have learned to love about running. The answers that flow as easily as my legs that propel me. They do it because they have simply decided that to not do it would be selling themselves and sometimes others short. I have run for many reasons, including family members, other athletes, and the age old adage that in order to improve anything in life it takes work, hard work, hill work and trail runs, elevation that scare many and humidity that fights you the entire way. I run for the love of nature and the inspiration that a cascading ravine or flowering tree can provide. I am inspired, believe it or not, by the utter stupidity of the human race to think we can ever defy nature. As I run through the National Park here daily I am always reminded how insignificant we really are as a race and often think about what my surroundings will look like when we are gone, because we will be gone. Evolution of the species is something that will eventually take our roll out of the equation for sharing this earth. And since we do such an utterly disgraceful job in sharing it with other species our time will be shortened and our marks of civilizations will be forgotten. How dare us to hold this "Superiority Complex" over other living things, and by doing so it filters into our beings and politics and religions until we ask a "God" to do things for us at the expense of others. You see, there is balance in ALL things, I see it so clearly when I am running here, the beauty of an Island Paradise, that when the balance is upset we all pay and suffer and our time here as a species is thus shortened. Inspiration to overcome this idea that I am better than my Muslim or Gay peers, to use an example, simple undermines our ability to utilize the earth as a true home. When you disturb the balance of one, all suffer. "God Blesses America" at the expense of other races and cultures and for that there is zero redemption on the ecological and spiritual scales, both tipping way to far to one side.

As the oil slowly creeps towards the shore line we are reminded of the upset in the balance of nature. Lust for the power that drives this laptop, or the car that I drive has given way to the worst oil disaster on record. Funny that we have survived tens of thousands of years without the oil, but now we are addicted, and in doing so once again have upset the Eco system and hence shortened our time as a species here. With the passing of my Brother 2 months ago I have used the term "All things must pass" on a number of occasions and must do so again. We are our own worse enemy, not terrorism, not flooding, not counter cultural thought, not oil spills, not political dissent, and surely not  "unamerican" thoughts. No we are doomed because we have the worst disease any society can manifest, as most disease is self inflicted, that being "Superiority Complex" and as this cancerous form of thought permeates society, we are reduced to a constant state of sorrow and turmoil. We have a handful of generations to reverse this horrid plague or we will soon be gone for good. Laws were made to be broken, but solemn truths are embedded in the nature and survival mechanisms of our DNA.  Either we peel the onion now or say goodbye.

The nature of a run is just that, nature. Running in literally programmed into our DNA, and by doing such we can connect with our ancients and understand and respect nature in general and in its purest form. When we run we are stripped down to primal forms and forces of nature, communing and accepting our surroundings for what they are, not what we want them to be. Wow, what a concept, accepting things as they are. A simple truth as far as nature goes but oh so hard to follow for a society that is out of control trying to change the rest of the world, yet ignoring our own short comings. A familiar human battle that each of us toil over for sure, but when governments start to oppress at the expense of others we take a few more years off out time here. Be it 2012, as the doomsayers say or 3150, it doesn't really matter, because the way in which we are killing ourselves is so avoidable, yet so far out of reach. Do we have inspiration to take back our earth from the corporations and politicians? Of course we do, but it remains to be seen if that alone is enough. As the dominant life form here we have a responsibility to all the other species and our selves to become better stewards of Planet Earth. I am going to run once again in the morning and in doing so I will be reminded of what future generations will be missing as we slowly destroy our fragile ecosystem. I will also be reminded that renewal is also Natures way,  so it is up to us. A simple choice starts the process, then action must follow. Little things do matter, as they set examples and are sometimes influential on others.

I am following a fellow runner who is running from Amsterdam to Barcelona, the equivalent of 50 marathons in 56 days. He is my human inspiration for the next few months and beyond of course. My spiritual inspiration lays in the ancient rock formations and ravines I will traverse in the morning as my legs drive me across this ancient volcanic island that was here long before man arrived and will be here long after we are gone. Be Well

RENEWAL

Recomposing our strengths and stamina as runners after we have lapsed is one of the harder aspects of this sport for me. It seems that March gives me the most difficulties, partly due to the busiest time of the year here on St. John, but also due to circumstances at times that are completely out of my control. I ran 5 times this week, my norm, for the first time since the 8 Tuff Miles race on Feb 27th. 5 times a week is my standard and it defines and sets the approval factor in my running. When I stray to less than that I start to question myself as to commitment and resolve. It's the proving ground for me that sets my self defined standard of excellence and approval. It renews me when I have strayed and it sets the course to begin to push myself to the next level. Every runner need structure and a schedule to adhere to in order to stay focused. When we set a benchmark for our own caliber of talent we then begin to achive the desired results and beyond.

I have dealt with 2 serious issues this month thus far, neither specifically running related, but nonetheless troublesome to my running. One involved the well being of my Son and his school and classmates and the other the unexpected death of my Brother. Both pulled hard at me of course and both were powerful enough to propel me off course, a runners nightmare! I ran a 10K last summer where I was heading for a sub 45 minute run, an elusive goal for a 53 year old of my talent, and missed it by 7 seconds because I went physically slightly off course during the run and it cost me the sub 45 minute run. Being pulled from our center usually always results in a compromised outcome. It seems to drain something out of me that at times is difficult to recapture. The renewal, when it does occur is a splendid feeling and is most welcomed. It is at times slow to return, but we must never give up nor can we let it interfere with the fact that we are runners. "I am a runner" and in this simple phrase I define in myself and to the world that nothing will ever come between me and the roads and trails, nothing!  When I am flaying I always know that I will rebound, always, but I am never quite sure when. Life cruelest moments are often right around the corner and they elude no one. They are unbiased and often overwhelming. They can make or break us on many levels and they are at times as unforgiving as Cat 5 hurricane or the heart attack my Brother died of last week. It is paramount to me as a runner to simply run through them and stay the course until the seas subside. Next week I feel confident I will also log 5 days of running, possible even 6, and I will then know I have broken out of my mental funk and the renewal has taken full hold and the course will be set to achieve some personal best racing times this summer and beyond.

Renewal is like water at the oasis in the desert after a long trek or better yet the water at the end of a hard run 10K race where you do not even want to slow or deal with water stops. Renewal restores the Guts that is essential to a runners passion and the fodder that fuels the journey. Renewal is life's redemption and answers the age old question of "Why" and it always gives us the knowledge that "This Too Shall Pass" As I write this I want to go on another run today, perhaps at sunset, even though I ran this morning. This feeling is what makes me know that these temporary setbacks are just that, and Life in it's infinite beauty and cruelty will test anyone's resolve and make us stronger as we carry the experiences and pass them along to our children. It is my greatest hope that I can pass some knowledge onto my children to make their lives and the lives of others a little better. It is a work in progress of course and the renewal always helps me along the way. Thanx and Be Well.

MAN IN THE MIRROR

What has your running done for you lately? If like me you run for solace, then the runs will produce clarity and structure. We tend to self evaluate out there on the roads and trails, searching and at the same time evolving a little. Running is unlike any other physical activity I have ever done. It stands above the others because of my approach to it. On my runs I find myself looking way beyond the concept of who I think I am. It has been often said that Man(as in mankind) is 3 things. Who he thinks he is, what others think he is, and who he really is.

Much has been said the past few weeks about the Man in the Mirror. Tragic brilliance, the yin yang of all things. To truly celebrate one's life do we have to let go of the shortcomings or things even darker or just plain wrong. I have pondered the MJ question and on my run yesterday it was all I could think about. My 8 year old son is the only reason I am still living on St. John, and as I saw and listened to Paris Jackson speak about her feelings for her father I am reminded how fragile Life is and how I mask my feelings so often. Men don't cry so I am told, but millions did yesterday, not so much for Michael, but for the overwhelming feeling that the loss of any parent or child for whatever reason is one of Life's cruelest moments. One that can never be explained to make sense to the rational mind. At times I feel as fragile as that 11 year old girl, who will never have the comfort of her father again and has been dealt the lowest blow life can dish out. As an adult I may or may not have a higher understanding of these things, but to a child it should never have to happen yet it does daily. Some kids never get over such a tragedy. The JFK-JFK Jr. saga comes to mind. Why? I surely will never know and although I think about it, I do not want to pursue the answer in definitive terms because I believe there is not an answer that I will accept.

Looking in the mirror can be a tough process if you are looking for answers to why you are who you are. I can tell you that running will make your reflection an image you may be aspiring to. Running will unleash thoughts and ideas in the recesses of your mind. It will make you question the core of who you think you are. I don't run to enter these realms, they just happen. Whatever chemical reactions occurring in the brain on distance runs is the life force of evaluating the man in the mirror. I have demonized him for his bad choices and embraced him for the good ones. So I say if you want to make the world a better place then Run. You may just find that your running will allow you to stand in front of that mirror a little bit longer and just smile!

A Tradgic Run

Running never quite offers up the same ambiance. So many factors at play to adjust the desired result. Better we just flow along and see where it takes us than be disappointed when the result strays from our expectation.

One never knows when it strikes, at times as foreign to us as a Summers day on Lakeshore Drive in January. A run such as this is etched into our hearts as we feel the pain of another and wonder what order, if any, life's random assaults have. Moving one's body briskly along these hills when consumed with the grief of another, and one's own, is trying and troublesome, and offers up the excuse to slow down or simply quit. Tragedy slowly creeps like the ever prevalent misfortune that begot a family member of mine over the New Years weekend.

The overwhelming feeling and urge to stop the run is all encompassing and must be dealt with in the same manner as the grief facing my loved one. To continue on is the only logical option, but so shrouded is that line of reasoning it calls into question ones resolve. So we are tested. We are dealt a hand that can go either way. If the choice seems so simple then why do we struggle so? Simply said, we are mere flesh and bone, not the great warriors our ego leads us to believe. We must dig so deep within ourselves to convene our vigor that we seem to drain the very force we are relying on right out of us. And at that moment when we want to give up completely, when we feel we can not run another stride, not take another breath, not bear the burden of yet another one of life's insidious jokes, it is in that instant that we often see clarity and find the strength to continue on. Tragedy will call into question ones frivolous life. It will show you who you really are and what you are truly made of. So the legs keep moving and the arms continue pumping and the heart and lungs persist in striving and the will to sustain is carried on.

Trials and tribulations are often the cornerstones of great progress. We must not let anything slow us to the pace of submission. Great runners know this and use it to make themselves stronger. We are only as good as we allow ourselves to be. We simply must never stop!