August 29, 2016 SAY, HEY, GOOD LOOKIN'--WHAT YA GOT COOKIN' ?

Okay folks, I need to level with you. I know I confessed to having one genetic "flaw" last month--directionality deficiency--but I actually have another troubling defect. I'm sort of embarrassed to share it with you but.......I have a WANDERING EYE. SSSH....don't tell anyone, but I love looking, okay, admiring, but not drooling.... at good looking men. I am pretty sure it started back with the Elvis movies that were on every Saturday afternoon when I was an impressionable young girl. Next it was Sean Connery as James Bond--Paul Newman--Robert Redford--Warren Beatty--Sam Elliott and the list goes on and on and on and on and...........you get the point.Why am I telling you this and what does it have to do with running??? BECAUSE THERE ARE REALLY GOOD LOOKING RUNNERS OUT THERE!!! Just thought you'd like to know. The wandering eye is an obstacle I have had to deal with because it  can cause several problems when running--crink in the neck, running into poles or people, daydreaming-- which contributes to falling.......just  to name a few. How do I know?? WELL, take a wild guess. One good thing about my disability is that it is actually quite helpful when reading books. I can imagine any male character to be one of a thousand different men. Good therapy for the wandering eye. Speaking of wandering eyes, the eyes in Optometrist T. J. Eckleburg's imposing billboard seem to meander over the characters as they move back and forth through the Valley of Ashes in F. Scott Fitzgerald's novel The Great Gatsby.
When I originally  read The Great Gatsby  (way back when) I pictured Gatsby as Sean Connery from James Bond. Gatsby is an attractive, rich, ladies man (of questionable wealth) in love with the beautiful but married Daisy Buchanan. Five years earlier, the two had had a love affair, but when Gatsby was called to serve his country overseas, Daisy found herself another man.  Daisy, only interested in money, marries a pompous bully named Ted Buchanan. There is no love lost between the two as his affairs seem a normal part of life.  After his military service, Gatsby makes millions and buys an estate in Long Island across the sound from Daisy's East Neck home. There, he throws lavish parties to see and impress her and hopefully rekindle their affair. Gatsby believes he is in love with Daisy but it is difficult to understand why because she has no redeeming qualities. In fact, all of the  characters including Gatsby are shallow and devoid of any genuine feelings. Fitzgerald's novel is a cautionary tale about love, power, greed, lust and materialism set in 1925's Jazz Age. I don't want to tell you anymore about this fabulous gem except that I love the ending and it is well worth the 180 pages--a 4 mile run only because the writing is fabulous and descriptive but you have to expect that from arguably one of the best American writers who ever lived.

DISCLAIMER--I AM REALLY HAPPILY MARRIED TO A VERY GOOD LOOKING MAN--IT'S NOT ME--IT'S THE EYE--BUT, I'M ONLY ADMIRING--REALLY!!

August 26, 2016 IT'S ALL ABOUT THE BASS-NOT!

Runners come in all shapes and sizes. When I first started racing, I would try to find a few runners in the pack that I was going to beat based solely on their shape and size.-- I'd say to myself, "Hey, she has short legs--I'm gonna kick her butt in the race"--BIG MISTAKE. Runners are also young and old and it isn't any wiser to size up your competition based on age either--BELIEVE ME, AGE IS IRRELEVANT!! I have been beat by tall and short runners, skinny and overweight runners--- ten-year old and seventy-year old runners too. It hurts the ego sometimes but it's all part of the mystery of running--IT'S ALL GOOD. Some of my greatest competition in races have become great friends over the years. We have a great respect for each other because what we do is hard--we understand each other in a unique way.  I have also learned many lessons from my more experienced  running friends--they inspire me to be better than I am. It is easy to make friends with runners because--we share common goals--AND AGE IS ONLY A NUMBER ON  THE ROAD.
I read a great story  a few years ago about friendship that I think about often called The Orphan Train. The Orphan Train by Christina Baker Kline is a great story about the unexpected friendship between a teenager named Molly and Vivian, an elderly widow, who lives in Maine. The story is told in alternating perspectives, revealing what has happened to the main characters in a fluid prose that is difficult to put down. On  the surface, these two women seem to have nothing in common, but as they get to know each other,  they quickly learn that they share much more than they ever thought possible. I have to admit that when the book first came out I was not very interested. Sometimes I can be a BOOK SNOB --I kind of rolled my eyes--another book about the orphan train--SORRY.   I finally gave in and read it after several people recommended it and I am glad I did. This is a wonderful story about  loneliness, heartache, adaptation and finally the gift of  second chances. While reading the book, I felt a real connection to the characters because I could relate to their hardships. I have lived many of them in some way myself, and feel fortunate for my second chance. This lovely little gem is only about 280 pages --a mere 5k--about a friendship you will never forget. So hop on the train and enjoy the ride.

August 23, 2016 BAREFOOTIN'

I love clothes and shoes--especially athletic wear. Whenever running gets to be a grind, I treat myself to a new funky-colored outfit--It's a wonderful motivator. A great running bra is a huge plus too--lately I'm loving the bralette because the extra band cuts down on chafe!! Now sneakers are a whole other ball game. A good, quality pair of running sneakers costs  about $120. OUCH-- and I have to buy them every 4-6 months depending on my mileage. They are as necessary as breathing though, so I just bite the bullet and do it. I do, however, envy those runners out there who run barefoot--they must have a lot of money in the bank.  There are a couple of barefoot runners in my area who have been running for years. I don't know how they do it--rocks, glass, sand, pebbles--OUCH! Luckily for them,  though, they don't feel a thing. Their feet must be like worn leather, made to absorb the bumps in the road--or they have to be just numb from the ankles down. I don't know which it is, but they are admirable much like the Tarahumara Indian runners in Christopher McDougall's National Bestseller, Born to Run-- A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. 

McDougall is an award-winning journalist and  runner-- overburdened with injuries. He  decides-- on a whim-- to go to Mexico to find the Tarahumara tribe-- world-class distance runners-- to learn their "running secrets." He ends up in the Copper Canyons--a frightening, unforgiving place. There, he meets the Tarahumara tribe who literally run hundreds of miles-- without rest or food-- while tracking their next meal or racing an ultra marathoner--THEY LOVE  RUNNING! The Tarahumara tribe is well-known to the ultra marathon community because they are good competition--Hence, Copper Canyons is home to a grueling 50 mile race over savage terrain. While learning about the tribe, McDougall meets several very interesting ultra marathon characters--with unorthodox ways of getting ready for the race. They are fun, quirky people who love a challenge that most would never attempt. MacDougall decides to train and run the 50 miler too and learns some really valuable lessons along the way--including-- runners need to find joy in running--and --it shouldn't  be a--no pain no gain--mentality. He also questions whether our fancy, expensive running sneakers are more harmful than helpful as the Tarahumara do not own running sneakers let alone the latest gear. They simply run.   This book is a great, fun, interesting page-turner of 280 pages--about 4 easy miles--that you won't want to put down. I personally found it an INSPIRING read--hope you do too.

August 23, 2016 NAKED RUNNING--FROM THE ANKLES DOWN

I love clothes and shoes--especially athletic wear. Whenever running gets to be a grind, I treat myself to a new funky-colored outfit--It's a wonderful motivator. A great running bra is a huge plus too--lately I'm loving the bralette because the extra band cuts down on chafe!! Now sneakers are a whole other ball game. A good, quality pair of running sneakers costs  about $120. OUCH-- and I have to buy them every 4-6 months depending on my mileage. They are as necessary as breathing though, so I just bite the bullet and do it. I do, however, envy those runners out there who run barefoot--they must have a lot of money in the bank.  There are a couple of barefoot runners in my area who have been running for years. I don't know how they do it--rocks, glass, sand, pebbles--OUCH! Luckily for them,  though, they don't feel a thing. Their feet must be like worn leather, made to absorb the bumps in the road--or they have to be just numb from the ankles down. I don't know which it is, but they are admirable much like the Tarahumara Indian runners in Christopher McDougall's National Bestseller, Born to Run-- A Hidden Tribe, Superathletes, and the Greatest Race the World Has Never Seen. 
McDougall is an award-winning journalist and  runner-- overburdened with injuries. He  decides-- on a whim-- to go to Mexico to find the Tarahumara tribe-- world-class distance runners-- to learn their "running secrets." He ends up in the Copper Canyons--a frightening, unforgiving place. There, he meets the Tarahumara tribe who literally run hundreds of miles-- without rest or food-- while tracking their next meal or racing an ultra marathoner--THEY LOVE  RUNNING! The Tarahumara tribe is well-known to the ultra marathon community because they are good competition--Hence, Copper Canyons is home to a grueling 50 mile race over savage terrain. While learning about the tribe, McDougall meets several very interesting ultra marathon characters--with unorthodox ways of getting ready for the race. They are fun, quirky people who love a challenge that most would never attempt. MacDougall decides to train and run the 50 miler too and learns some really valuable lessons along the way--including-- runners need to find joy in running--and --it shouldn't  be a--no pain no gain--mentality. He also questions whether our fancy, expensive running sneakers are more harmful than helpful as the Tarahumara do not own running sneakers let alone the latest gear. They simply run.   This book is a great, fun, interesting page-turner of 280 pages--about 4 easy miles--that you won't want to put down. I personally found it an INSPIRING read--hope you do too.

August 20, 2016 STILL CRAZY AFTER ALL THESE YEARS

CRAZY. That's a word my comrades and I  hear quite often --what are you girls doing out here in this heat, you're crazy--or--why would you get up and run so early--you're crazy.  We get a lot of head shaking and cautionary warnings too--make sure you drink enough water--or--where's your hat-sunscreen-sunglasses---a shake of the head--then--YOU'RE CRAZY. If getting up on most mornings by 7:30 to be out running by 8:00 in all kinds of weather--like the mailman--is crazy--than I should be put in the looney bin--if just for a little of the R & R.  I get it--BUT I also believe EVERYONE is a little off kilter in someway. Being an authority on crazy, I want you to know that most of the people I know are a little kooky--BUT one person's crazy is another person's sanity, especially, in my case. Take running for instance, if I didn't run-I would probably be even madder than a hatter.  Running helps me stay--just barely, mind you-- on the other side of crazy. Running keeps me grounded, helps me to try to remember to live in the moment and appreciate each day. Yes, it is really hot out there, but I am so lucky that I get to run in the heat-- and sweat a lot-- each and every day--I must be crazy as a bedbug.
Anyways, I absolutely love books with oddball--quirky--half crazy characters, so it is difficult for me to even choose one-- I am thinking a Wally Lamb book though. Lamb is a writer from Norwich, Connecticut, who actually taught at NFA and UCONN for years before his writing career blossomed. I love all of his books, but one character I will never forget is Dolores Price from his bestselling book, She's Come Undone. This wonderful story is told in first person from the perspective of Dolores as it is the story of her life from age 4 until about 40. It is set in many locales around New England beginning in 1956. Life is a struggle for Dolores as she is  forced to grow up quickly. Her father has walked out, her mother has had a nervous breakdown and Dolores is forced to live with her grandmother in Rhode Island. She has NO self-esteem and spends her days eating chips and mallomars while drinking soda and watching hours of television.  As an obese young woman, life only gets harder for Dolores, who tries to go to college and fails and ultimately thinks about taking her own life.  The great part of the story is that Dolores--does find a way to turn it around. Her journey through the ups and downs in life is one you will never forget. She is a funny, interesting character who learns the hard way that life is worth living. This great read is about 450 pages long, about a 6 mile run. At times you will be laughing, then crying, and finally rooting for Dolores as her roller coaster ride through life takes all kinds of kooky turns. It is worth the read!

AUGUST 18, 2016 PROTECT YOURSELF

Because I run in the same neighborhoods over and over, I have become a de facto sentinel--an unofficial member of the neighborhood watch. I know the comings and goings of the neighborhood--which license plates belong in which driveway--where the dogs live--who has kids-who is painting their house or needs to paint their house--who takes care of their lawn and who needs to hire a lawn service--EVEN--who needs help in the decorating department. EVERYTHING-- down to the recycling bin--which tells a whole other story.

 Don't get me wrong, I don't stop and look in them or anything, but they're out there--like everything else--kind of like information on the internet AND there are people out there, everyday,  shopping in recycling bins--hopefully ONLY looking for cans--SORRY--that's just my paranoia getting the best of me again--but I often wonder what the recycling bin shoppers think of MY recycling bin--filled with empty beer cans, bottles and other questionable things--HONESTLY--they're not mine--well not most of them.............Getting back to the job-- I didn't apply for it, it just happened over time.  I can't help but notice things, especially, in the summer when I run through several neighborhoods almost every day. Good thing I'm going back to work soon and can get a REAL life! Anyways.......I just finished reading a book last week about a man who REALLY believes he is the neighborhood police entitled A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman.   Ove, the main character in the story, is a cranky, lonely old man. He dislikes most people and rubs others the wrong way with his callous remarks. He is a strict rule follower who patrols his Swedish neighborhood each morning looking for wrongdoers. Underneath his bitter exterior though is a kind-hearted, sad man who wants to end his life because he can not get over the death of his wife. When a new family moves into his neighborhood--a quirky, free-spirited lot--Ove's world is turned upside down. They crack through his shell and teach Ove how to live again. This is a great, funny, heartfelt story of about 360 pages. It is an easy read, about a 4 miles run, that will have you shaking your head, laughing and shedding a few tears. Enjoy!!

August 15, 2016 WHAT IN DAMNATION IS AN OUTLIER???

While out running over the weekend, to get my mind off the scorching conditions, I started to think about elite runners. FYI-on the totem pole of running, I am at the bottom covered in the dirt they use to keep it from falling over--but anyways-- while I was "shlepping" through my five mile run at a 9:30 pace--Almaz Ayana of Ethiopia ran the 10,000 meter (6.2 miles) in 29:17.45. --- UNDER A 5 MINUTE MILE--setting  a world record! IN CASE I HAVE CONFUSED YOU--a "shlepper" is a Yiddish word--my grandfather always called me a shlepper when I was a kid and told me it meant lazy---anyhow--sorry to digress. And just yesterday, Jamaica's Usain Bolt won his third straight 100 meter title with a 9.81 second sprint--setting another world record. TOTALLY AMAZING--again while I BARELY schlepped through my 4.2 mile run in  the blazing heat--even walking the last half mile home........... So I had to ask myself, What do these amazing runners have that I don't?  TO BEGIN WITH-- genetics, youth, training experts AND I am sure the list goes on and on. BUT WHAT MAKES THEM THE BEST? This question led me to the book OUTLIERS-The story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell. SORRY TO DIGRESS AGAIN--but the word outliers is a strange word which means, "Those people whose achievements fall outside normal experience." In his book, Gladwell seeks to understand why some people succeed while others never reach their potential. It is divided into chapters where Gladwell examines why Asians excel in math, Canadians are better at hockey,  why brilliance doesn't guarantee  success, and even why Jewish lawyers are so successful in New York City. Gladwell believes there are many variables to success--- birthplace, birth order, birth year, family, culture, generation, opportunity.  I especially enjoyed the chapter on the"ten-thousand-hour rule." In this chapter,  Gladwell looks at the Beatles, Bill Gates, Bill Joy, Mozart  and even hockey greats and measures them against this rule. This is a fascinating read at 336 pages, a lazy 4.2 mile run, but it is filled with interesting ideas that will give you a whole new perspective on what it takes to be successful--it's more complex than you think!