September 5, 2016 RAINDROPS ARE FALLING ON MY HEAD

 Now that I'm back at work, I no longer have the luxury of running every morning----which drives me crazy. I schedule my running week much like people schedule a doctor's appointment,--hence--the reason I ran in the pouring rain on Thursday. Don't get me wrong--I actually don't mind running in the rain THIS time of year. It is refreshing after working all day even though --I REALLY HATE RUNNING AFTER WORK. Anyways, back to the rain. This time of year, the rain feels wonderful--that might sound weird but it's true. YOU SHOULD REALLY TRY IT SOMETIME. That's the great thing about running.  It affords me the opportunity to stand in the rain--navigate giant puddles--and just get soaking wet. It is great fun and makes me feel like a kid again-- temporarily. Running on a rainy day when it's cold outside-- is another story--IT'S AWFUL. I have run two half-marathons in torrential rain and wind in the cold. IT IS NO FUN. The trails were flooded, it was muddy, dangerously slippery and CROWDED--by the end I was shivering and frozen from head to toe. Those are the runs that make me think of hurricanes, tornadoes and other disasters. I have read many books about disasters--I don't know why--must have been in my disaster phase as a reader. One that really stands out in my mind is David McCullough's book The Johnstown Flood because it was a disaster that could have been easily avoided.

First of all, you should know that McCullough is an incredible writer, historian and lecturer.  He has won two Pulitzer Prizes, a National Book Award and the Presidential  Medal of Freedom. In this book,  McCullough tells of one of the most horrific events in our nation's history. Fifteen miles above Johnstown, Pennsylvania, in 1879,  an elite mountain resort was built. The resort was owned by Andrew Carnegie, Henry Frick,  Andrew Mellon and other tycoons from the time period. It was called The South Fork Fishing Club. The club housed beautiful cottages around a  man-made lake held back by the South Fork Dam--originally constructed with much controversy in the 1840's. As new owners of the dam, the club neglected to replace sluice pipes, they lowered the top of the dam, and even set up fish screens over the spillway---a recipe for disaster.  On Memorial Day 1889, a huge storm caused the lake to rise and water eventually poured over the top of the dam. It then gave way and raced 15 miles down the mountain destroying everything in its path. Of the 27,000 people who lived in Johnstown, 2200 were killed. The National Guard was called in to keep order--Clara Barton and the Red Cross spent 5 months helping the townspeople--who lost EVERYTHING --EVEN WORSE THE CLUB NEVER TOOK ANY RESPONSIBILITY.  This is a real page turner of about 300 pages--a mere 4 mile run--about a dismal time in history. Sadly, the more I learn about history though, the more I realize that things haven't changed very much. As a society, we should be learning from the mistakes of the past, so that we can make the world a better place for future generations. Right?

September 1, 2016 YOU'RE MY OBSESSION

I absolutely love books and have been known to say on many occasions that I love books more than most people---NOT ALL--MOST.  Since I am such a fanatic for the written word--it is easy to understand that I also relish talking about writers, books and the characters that reside in my brain. Thankfully, my running buddies tolerate  my sometimes over the top passion for books--on long runs they even let me   hold "unofficial book clubs" where we talk about books, writers and I get to do my favorite thing --introduce new books.  I am kind of like a "book pusher." It's too bad I  can't get a cut for every book  I "sell" to my friends. Seriously though, if I could find a way to make a decent living at it--I  would PUSH books to the masses. I guess the next best thing to being a pusher of books is to work in --or my dream--OWN A BOOKSTORE. I often daydream about my bookstore--a table for Classics--Pulitzer prize winners--up and coming writers--bucket list books--author spotlights--and on and on and on and............OH YEAH--don't forget the coffee, cat and comfy couches too. I would get to do my favorite thing all day--TALK ABOUT BOOKS. My obsession with books has led me to love books about other book lovers--DOESN'T THAT SOUND WEIRD. The Readers of Broken Wheel Recommend by Katarina Bivald--about this very subject.
Anyways,  I just finished reading
The main character, a young Swedish woman named Sara Lindquist, is a down and out book-loving oddball with a pen pal in Broken Wheel, Iowa. Sara and her pen pal, Amy,  share books via mail, and write letters to each other about book recommendations.  After Sara loses her job, Amy invites her to Iowa to spend the summer. Against her parents advice, Sara hops on an airplane and finds herself in Broken Wheel--ALONE-- as her pen pal has died--and the funeral guests are leaving Amy's house upon Sara's arrival. The town of Broken Wheel is exactly what it sounds like--a dying town with closed up storefronts--almost a ghost town. Bivald does an excellent job  capturing small town life and the quirky characters who inhabit the dying town. I am sure the characters in her story inhabit small towns across America--they are interesting, funny people dedicated to their broken town. Her descriptions will  almost make you  want to go to Iowa. Anyways, the townsfolk encourage Sara to stay for the summer in Amy's house free of charge. Sara tries to recompense  this skeleton of a community for their kindness by opening a bookstore to share her love of books. I really enjoyed this 400 pager. It is an easy read--about a 5 mile run--that will make you want to go to Iowa. See you at the airport.

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!