Does being fat help barefoot transition?

I bring up the question because it's something that I was thinking about . . .

As I've posted before, when I first started running I was in motion control shoes and I was experiencing horrible shin splints.  The only reason I kept running was because I had already signed up for a training program at my local YMCA for the Salinas Valley Half Marathon.  I enjoyed the program and we got plenty of advice on training, injury prevention and treatment.  I liked it enough that I signed up again earlier this year to get more out of it.

But by the time the training program started, I already had several months running a couple times a week in minimalist shoes (Merrell Trail Gloves and New Balance Minimus Trail) and still building my comfort level of no heel shoes.

Now as to the question:  Does being a fat person help to transition into barefoot form easier than being skinny or not as fat?

I would argue with a vehement YES!

First of all, the fat person needs to have the willingness to do something in the first place.  In my case I had two choices:
    Suffer a life of meds, depression, increasing weight 'cause of depression.


    Fat Bastard: "I eat because I'm unhappy. I'm unhappy because I eat. It's a vicious cycle."
   
And slowly spiral into my own stinkin' grave unless I dive because of some coronary!
        OR
    Get off my fat ass and DO somethin'!

 I can't remember what he did, but I hope I don't get that funky looking waddle on my chin!

Once willpower has been assessed and the feeling is positive, what next?

I chose running.  I'll tell you, it was a bitch-and-a-half!  The motion control shoes weren't helping me aquire this Love-Of-Running I'd heard so much about.  I got lucky and heard about Born To Run by Christopher McDougall on I think the Runners World forums or something.

That just spiked my curiosity and picked up the book.  Wow.  What a revelation.

The thing is, not a one of these people who had begun minimal or barefoot running were in my shoes . . . fat.  Most of the runners were runners already with injuries or curious about this movement.  Others had no choice like Michael Sandler who would not take no as an answer!  I'm not saying my condition was anything like Mr. Sandlers'.  Mine was preventable from the beginning and I chose to let myself go.  My struggle now is to start at the bottom of the hill and bust my ass back up it.

So when I began running, I started out ok.  Then it got painful.  I went through so many different styles and fit of motion control shoes because the shoe people at the sports shoe store didn't know any different.  They were truly helpful, except for me.  I stuck with the last shoes I got from them because they did help some, but I was still working hard to prevent the worst of the pain with exercises and stretches.  Even taping!

With Born To Run, I started looking into barefoot form.  I got some chintzy flattish, still cushioned shoes and began running again.  It was several months after my abysmal half-marathon and I hadn't done any running since then.  So I started out slow using the training calendar I had used for the Y.  A couple of months later, the Merrell TG's were released and I attempted a run in them.  By that point I was running about two miles twice a week.  So I went out for my two mile run thinking I was ready for it.

I got a quarter mile into the run before turning back.

My calves were a bit sore the next day, but not as bad as I'd read other people saying they could be.  They felt like I had a good hard work out.  Being the lazy bastard that I am, I suspect by cutting my run short because I started feeling my calves saved me from the excruciating pain a lot of more experienced runners feel when doing TMTS (too much too soon).  Of course being fat helped in that department.

Being fat forced me to take it slow.  There's a psychological and an obvious physical barrier preventing me from pushing WAY TOO FAR.  Don't get me wrong, I'm still pushing.  Just not as much as a conventional runner would.  I'm still slowly increasing distance and speed.  Taking Caballo Blanco's tips of first working on smooth, then easy to get fast, I'm still working on smooth.

I can get a sub 9 mile on a track.  But you're only getting a mile.  If I'm feeling good.  I can probably do better than that now and get a lot closer to 8.  I'm doing much better now than I did before the SVHM.  I can probably get pretty close to a two hour finish.  My feet don't get as exhausted now than they did before.  But it's taken me a YEAR to get this far.  And I still have a lot of improvement to work on.

I'd like to get to two hundred pounds by January and I truly believe I'm going to do it.  It's only another 30 pounds away.  I dropped 20 in about 5 weeks.  I have about two months to make it work.  I know the holidays won't make it easy, but I have a lot of opportunities to run while waiting for the daughter to get out of whatever event she's at.  I want to be able to run 5 miles three times a week.  And I'm gonna enjoy every mile of it!

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check. especially this longish post.  run smiley :)

Loaded evening!

Yesterday I had started out the day with a pretty good idea of what would be happening in the evening after work:

 - get out of work
 - head over to Toro Park for my run
 - cool down after run and pick up godson from practice
 - drop off godson and head over to store for Halloween stuff
 - get home, eat, catch up on 2nd episode of Terra Nove and 3rd episode of New Girl
 - shower, sleep

Uh, not quite.

 - get a call at work from cuz
  - cuz working overnight
   - need a bit of help
    - need sleep and kids need attending to, please
    - OK!
 - get out of work later than usual, 5:30
 - rush to Toro Park (moving violations involved)
 - get to park with enough time for a 20 minute run
 - no time to cool down
 - rush godson to car, head to cuz's house quickly but lawfully (kid in car)
 - get a call from cuz
  - DRAMA
   - daughters' recent ex shows up attempting to make amends with rose in hand
   - he came by bus, she's had no time to sleep
    - she's gonna be a zombie-like at work cause she has to take ex back home
    - daughter still needs ride to Confirmation class at 7pm
 - get to cuz's house, she hands me a check for daughter's Yosemite retreat
  - forgot cash for my promised half
 - head to bank with daughter, pull out cash
 - arrive at church 5 minutes late (apparently no biggie)
 - look for retreat organizer
  - can't interupt his class, but secretary is available (woo hoo)
 - hand over cash
  - where's permission slip (sonova!)
  - call cuz, no slip available
  - ask secretary if she has a spare
  - takes 10 minutes to locate
 - begin filling out slip
  - need insurance info (crap!)
 - inform secretary I'll be back
  - secretary informs me she splits at 8:15 on the dot!  (moving violations time)
 - arrive at cuz's house.
  - not there yet!
 - finally arrives handing me insurance info
 - fill out info and head out the door
 - get to the church (again with violations involved) and find secretary with 5 minutes to spare
  - she was packing up!
 - hand her permission slip and cash
 - get my receipt, thank her and head out to wait for the daughter
 - daughter's class doesn't let out til almost 8:30!
 - finally get her in car and wait for ALL the other parents to give up room to leave parking lot
  - have a nice conversation about ex and she's still on the fence
   - I remind her that I never liked her ex.
    - she's now on my side of the fence :)
 - take her to the cuz, say my goodbyes
 - go to indoor mall (blagh!)
 - go to Hot Topic (blargh!)
  - only have white powder make-up. still need white grease make-up
 - head over across the street to strip mall Party City
  - line out the freakin' door!
   - fortunately, line is for morons buying expensive one-time costumes
 - pick up grease paint, pencils and other doodads for costume ($12)
  - DONE
 - forgot other items for daily grooming
 - head back across the street to indoor mall
 - go to Bath & Body Works for awesome shaving cream (C.O. Bigelow aka Proraso rebrand)
 - starving
  - go to Panda Express (bad but oh so good)
  - grab kung pao chicken bowl with steamed rice
 - finally head home

I should'a had some water, but I said screw it.  I grabbed a Ruination, plopped down with my Panda and chopsticks. Grabbed the remote and VOD'ed Terra Nova and New Girl.

I was nodding off by the end of New Girl.  It was the wedding episode and fuckin' hilarious!  And it don't hurt Zooey is smokin hot and cute in the show.

Terra Nova was pretty cool with the tiny pteradactyls and all. I went to bed without a shower.  I pulled the sheets this morning after my shower and shave so don't worry.

So it was a pretty hectic evening.  I'm gonna have a little training session with the make-up tonight to iron out what I want to do.  I'm thinkin a zombie skull.  I'll even post a pic so you'll have at least SOME idea of who's posting up all this garbage.

I'm still debating a run tonight and right now I'm thinkin' I might.  A pretty good chance . . .

GD

p.s.
too lazy too check. especially on this one . . . run smiley :)

My "Long" run . . . blagh!

Yesterday I posted that I had planned on running my old 4 mile trail.  I did and I did okay.  It just was a bit harder than I expected . . .

After the last couple of weeks of running the trail inside Toro Park to the Howling Windmill, I was finally getting comfortable and fast.  I was doing good time there.  I thought running the old residential trail would be a bit easier.  It kinda was, but not as easy as I hoped for.

As usual I started out a bit stiff.  The ankle was a bit of a bother and the funky leg was buggin as well, just not as much as last week . . . so I guess it's on the mend.  The problem for me was that I never really was able to completely relax.  What I used to do was that I'd run about half a mile which would take me about four and half minutes.  Then I'd walk about a minute and I'd be able to run comfortably and relaxed.  I haven't been doing that on the Howling Windmill trail because it'd be hard to get started again.  It's much more hilly and it's easier for me just to go.  So I thought I'd give that a try.

I should'a stopped.

I ran all the way to my usual turn-around for my shorter residential run, no stops.  I seriously considered turning back to just make it another 2.68 mile day.  But it'd bug me if I didn't do this, I had already told someone I was gonna run 4 miles. 

By the way, great motivation tool.  Tell people you're gonna do something and it makes you keep yourself in check . . . if you're honest with yourself first.

I walked about a minute and said "Screw it!  Let's do this Bitch!"  So off I went . . .

I had to stop one more time to that turn-around.  I actually kinda like the last quarter mile of this run.  There is this really rocky, gravelly path that leads to the bridge and it feels real good, what with my Bikila LS's.  It helps to wake me up and concentrate on my footing. 

Oh, speaking of which . . . I did press down on my big toe during the run.  And my ankle doesn't hurt as much as it did.  I'm also not as stiff.  I'm gonna continue this even when walking.  It seems to be helping.

By the time I got to the bridge, I was exhausted.  I walked up the hill (cause . . . there's a hill) and took in the view.  It was dusk and everything had that eerie look to it that also made everything look beautiful.  I guess it was the endorphins finally kicking in, but I was ready for round two!

I was still kinda stiff, but I felt a bit more relaxed.  When I got to the parking lot where I had initially stopped there was a hottie with a black lab mutt.  Nice.  I'd seen her before and she usually kicks my ass on this run.  I start out before her and she always beats me back to the start.  Teasing me with dat ass!

Another GREAT motivational tool.  Find something to run down!

Anyway, she saw me running from the copse of trees.  It looked like she had just arrived there and she immediately took off before I got to where she was.  Now what typically happens is that she begins to pull away and dat ass teases me until I can't keep going and have to stop.

NOT TODAY!  WOO HOO!

This time I was within 20 paces of her and I enjoyed that view up until the last half-mile where she had to stop and walk.  I passed by and smiled and waved to her as I did.  She just looked at me dumbfounded as I went by.

Boy! Did that feel good!

I made the run in more time than I wanted, about 43 minutes.  But if I keep up with this and don't get discouraged, I feel I can only get better.

I'm going for another run tonight.  It'll most likely be the Howling Windmill run cause I have to pick up my godson from practice.  Which is cool.  I think it's actually helping now, instead of hurting.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check.  and REALLY run smiley >:)

'Nuther no-run-weekend . . .

Whelp, I did it again.  Or more like I didn't again.  I had planned to go running Yesterday morning on a 5-miler, but didn't.  Too lazy in this case, too.

What did I do?  Glad you asked:  Saturday, my brother was the cook at my moms restaurant so that meant me getting there early to help my mom de-stress.  I was there til closing then went home.  I had wanted to go to Great America with my cuz and the kids, but I didn't get enough lead-time to ask someone to cover for me.

I may be able to do something about that this coming weekend, though.  Apparently Great America only has the Haunted Halloween attraction available from 7 to midnight, Friday thru Sunday.  My cuz had taken the kids Saturday morning thinking that they would be there all day and enjoy the park until closing.

They did.

Unfortunately, they close the park at 5:30 and re-open again at 7 for the Haunted Halloween portion of the night.  In other words if you wanna stay, you gotta pay.  Again.

How fucked up is that?!

In this case my cuz didn't put up much of a stink about it because she'd been up all night.  Her company will be heading out to Yuma next month and they're in preparations for the move.  She's been going in a 3am and staying for her 8 hours.  So she was pretty tired when she took the kids to the park.  She had tried to nap in the car, but it was a freakin' hot day!  So they left at the end of the day and she crashed out.

Sunday is FOOTBALL!  In our case, pee-wee football for my godson.  In short, they lost again.  Temperatures were high, so were the tempers.  A lot of kids were snapping under the heat and pressure.  One kid in particular was actually mouthing off to the ref, then his coach.  My guess is he'll be suspended from the next game.  A very entertaining day to say the least.

Yes.  I. Am. A. Jerk.  :)

Everybody likes a bit of drama.  Especially at the expense of little ones.  Why do we like scaring little kids during Halloween?  Cause it's fun!

Today after work I'll be heading out to the old Toro residential trail for a 4-miler.  I may try to push for the 5, but at the two mile marker it starts going uphill.  Steeply!  So coming back should be a bit easier.  It IS downhill.  I think I'll just do the 4 and attempt to run it with only a couple of stops.  No metronome since that seems to make it a bit easier right now.

Also I'll be following a tip I got from Tuck of Yelling Stop who in turn got the tip from Lee Saxby and will concentrate on pressing my big toe down on each step. 

Lee Saxby as you may or may not know is one of the preeminent gurus on Barefoot Form.  He trained as a Pose Coach with Nicholas Romanov, who developed Pose Running.  If you're not convinced about the validity of barefoot style running, try running on ice.  Mr. Romanov did it and looked badass!

Lee Saxby also seems to be the voice of VIVOBAREFOOT.  There are several videos available on their website on training.  GREAT VIDS!  Check'em out.  VIVOBAREFOOT has a developed a coaching program in which right now there seems to be some debate about whether it's really necessary seeing as how barefoot running is supposed to be natural and we should immediately do it correctly.  To quote John Pinnette, "I say nay, nay"!

I, for one, wish there was someone local who could have mentored and helped me transition quicker and less painfully than I did.  I'm not saying my form is perfect, but I believe I pretty much have it down.  But I guess that's a plus . . . ?  I stuck it out and continued stumbling until I wasn't stubbing my toes any more.  Not that I was stubbin' toes or anything . . . much.  I read as much as I could and took what advice was out there in the barefoot world and adapted it to what I needed.

I still haven't gone barefoot so I can't change my name yet to Barefoot GD.  Soon maybe, but not yet.

GD

p.s.
too lazy.  run smiley :)

Ankle Pain . . . and stuff

This last week has been a bit of a bother.  I've had this sharp pain in my ankle when I twist it to the inside.  I can prevent the pain by relaxing the foot and just exerting pressure only when I need my foot to hold me.  So now I have to focus on staying completely relaxed throughout the run so as to not cause any discomfort to EITHER leg.  Remember, the other leg has the pain on the back of it.

But this is weird: when I get to the turn-around point in my run, most of the pain is gone.  I usually rest a couple of minutes (because it's uphill all the fucking way) before heading back to the start of the run.  After a minute or so into the run, I just run.  I let my mind go and kinda daydream for the next 10 or so minutes.  By the time I reach the end and I'm stretching,  I realize that the last bit was really fun!  I'm wishing I could have gone further.  The only reason I don't is because I've gotta pick up my godson from his practice.

But I have a long run planned for this weekend, Sunday morning hopefully.  I'd go tonight, but I'll be leaving work a bit late . . . and I'm a bit concerned about mountain lions.  They've been spotted on 68 on the Monterey side, but those bastards have a wide home range.  Gotta get me neck knife, or sword.

The daughter has a homecoming game tonight.  I'm not sure what here involvement is with that because she isn't part of the JV or Varsity cheer squad.  All I know is that she'll be going to the dance after the game.  I'm picking her up after cause her mom will likely still be crashed out.  She has work reallllly early.  Like at 3am early.  She said she'll probably try to make it in earlier cause she's taking the kids to Great America.  Formerly Paramount's, now Six Flags.  I wish I could join them, but I have to head over to the restaurant tomorrow afternoon.  If I'd had a bit more time, I could've planned it out better and had someone cover me.  Now I'll be stuck with my brother as the cook and I'll have to play the mediator with the customers who show up.  My brother sucks as the cook.

He can cook!  But he's just so  . . . sloooowwwwww.

I'm gonna need a beer after that.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check.  run smiley :)

Haven't lost . . . haven't gained either!

So, I've been off the 4HB for a while now.  I know I should be on it.  I've been floatin' under 230 lbs since I stopped.  I think what has been helping me keep in line is the running.  Though it can be uncomfortable early in the run, I begin getting into it by the last half.

One of the things that 4HB tells you to do is stick with the same meal for the week.  My problem arose when I really stuck to that idea throughout my experience with it.  Don't get me wrong.  I'm usually happy when I have something to eat for lunch and I don't have to drive out somewhere.  The closest place to grab something is 10 to 15 minutes away.  Or I can grab something from the lunch truck . . . IF I can find it!

Naw, I'll be back on and with a better meal plan in a month.  Why in a month?  Cause that's when the cuz leaves and I begin watching the daughter at her place.  Easier to control myself without all the junk usually found around me at MY pad where my adult siblings usually keep junk around to satisfy their junk food habit either because of lack of self control or, as in the case of my brother, the ganj . . .  And he wonders why I don't partake of the weed.

Tried it once . . . nearly died.  I burnt the shit outta my esophagus while inhaling.  Nobody told the n00b how to inhale.

And I really have no interest in trying it after considering most eeeevery stoner I know.  Not a pretty picture.  Besides, I want to be a better role model for the daughter and my godson.  I'll keep my vices to expensive beers, ales, and other alcoholic beverages.  Why expensive?  If I can't afford it, I can't buy it.  Therefore I savor every sip.

Damn.  Now I want a beer.

So what is my beverage of choice?  For a while now, I've been diggin' IPA's.  Specifically Stones Ruination.  Now, here's the deal.  I'm allergic to something in IPA's and to a lesser degree, other beers.  I don't know what it is, but I always get stuffed up and begin sneezing.  But I LOVE the flavor so much, I don't give a shit!  Which is another reason why I can control my "genetic disposition" to alcoholism.  That's another topic for another day.  Suffice to say, most of my family members are functional addicts to one thing or another.  Either chemical or emotional.  Pick something, and I can find someone.

I see signs of those traits in the daughter and godson and I'm gonna fight my hardest to make sure they don't let those demons control them!

Wow.  Talk about a tangent.

The point of this post was to give you (whomever is reading this) and update as to how I'm progressing.  The weight issue is on the back burner for about a month.  The running is progressing nice and slow.  I'm going to try going for a long run on Sunday.  I believe I should be more comfortable now with the long run.  It'll probably be only 6 miles with plenty of walking somewhere in there.  But it's only one day a week and it shouldn't be too bad.  I'll be bringing some water with me, because I think that's what was hurting me on my previous long runs before the SVHM.  Maybe a handful of sunflower seeds at the halfway point for a bit of energy.  It shouldn't take me more than hour.  I think I can do an hour.  I hope.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check. run smiley :)

I've got a question . . .

. . .  not that anybody really reads this, but here goes:

Everything I read, running related, says that when you have a pain not an ache, you should stop and assess.  Here's MY thing though, I have a pain that only hurts when I'm running wrong.  When I'm relaxed, it's just a background ache that I can deal with.  At the end of the run, I'm relaxed enough that when there are hairy parts of the trail, I easily adapt to the terrain and nothing is aching or hurting.  So, should I stop running for a while til the ache completely dissipates or just continue and listen to my body and focus on form?

Until I hear otherwise, I'm gonna continue with the run.  I feel that my form can only get better and that these issues I have are my body telling how to improve.  If I had to rely on running for survival, I'd have to keep going and adapt.  I'm adapting.

And I feel that the pain is going away . . . slowly.  So I gotta be doing something right.  Right?

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check. run smiley :)

Dear Diary . . .

 . . . not really.

Anyway, so I went for the run last night.  Ooof, was it hard.  I guess I didn't fuel up well or this weekend was just too long.

For some reason my left ankle hurts like a moe foe.  And only when make a turn to the right.  It hurts above the inside ankle joint, directly under that protruding part of the ankle.  It doesn't feel like a bone injury.  More like a tendon or a muscle . . . I don't know.  As long as I go relaxed and exert no force with that foot, it doesn't bother me much.  I mean I can apply pressure to it, it's just limited to certain movements that hurt.  Weird.

I did my usual 4 minute warm-up run, walked a minute and began the run.  Because of the unevenness of the trail, I've had to use the metronome.  If I don't, I find myself stepping too fast or too slow.  A lot of ups and downs.  I can almost run without it, but I need to get more comfortable with the trail.

As I was running though, I came up all ninja-like upon two ladies yammering it up, walking up the trail.  I didn't mean to sneak up on them, but when I did get to them I did the courtesy "on-your-left" call.  One said "OH!" which made the other lady turn around and exclaim as well then she saw me and let out one hell of a scream which made the first lady scream just as loud.  Nearly blew my ears out.  As I was passing by I apologized, but I don't think they heard me, they were laughing so hard.  They were explaining to each other why they screamed.  Funniest shit ever.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check.  run smiley :)

Dear Diary . . .

. . . wouldn't it be weird if I did start out every entry that way?  Because, sometimes, that's what it feels like.

Well, according to DailyMile, I haven't gone for a run for FIVE DAYS!  But that's just wrong!  If I went for a run on the 13th and today is the 17th, I've only missed 4 days.  And today won't count if I get a chance to go for a run tonight.  So 3 days in between without running.  So THERE DailyMile!

Bastard.

This weekend has been once heck of an up-and-down, roller-coaster weekend!  Friday after work, I went to help out at my moms restaurant.  Originally the plan for after helping my mom was to take the daughter, her bf and two of her other friends to corn maze of Swank Farms out in Hollister  We'd gone a couple of weeks back and I enjoyed it, what with the treasure hunt and all.  This time, we were to go at night when they do the whole haunted maze thing.  People hiding and scaring ya.  They also have a haunted house.

I was just a taxi . . .

That was cool though.  I was tired and I could take a nap in the car.  When I was out of the restaurant, I called the daughter, but most of her friends wouldn't be able to join us (i.e. the bf couldn't go).  We'd postpone it for Saturday.  Saturday was gonna be BUSY . . .

Saturday involved a catholic retreat.  In this case, it involved kids and sponsors (godparents) involved in Confirmation to go to this retreat and get to know each other.  Now . . . for me, this was a surreal event. 

I grew up in a catholic home.  My family primarily spoke spanish when I was younger and as I grew older, english.  I was born and raised in Salinas on the east side, so I had peers with similar upbringing.  In other words, I grew up in a conservative home.  Which is a rant I can go on as to how I don't understand how hispanic households being conservative are brainwashed into be liberal Democrats!  MORONS!  Sorry.  Like I said, another rant for another time.  So, being from a conservative household with certain catholic expectations, this retreat was a bit of a culture shock for me.

I grew up with the whole idea of church being a somber event.  You learn from it and try to ingrain it in your daily life as best as you can.  Any church related events outside of the actual church, like  catechism, was also a conservative.  Maybe a bit less restrained, but conservative none-the-less.

Saturdays event . . . whoa.  The event leader is a lawyer with a shit-ton of energy wich he then osmotically infuses the into the surrounding teens who are already Monster'ed or Red Bulled out as well.  Oh, and how does he then award said teens break out of their shells?  With $5 Starbucks cards!  He had 40 of them!

Now you may think  I had a negative experience with this event.  I'll admit, I started out with a VERY pessimistic viewpoint of this retreat.  From the wild-eyed look of David (the Leader-Organizer), I thought this was a gonna be a bible-thumpin' Christ-Saves-US kind of happening.  It wasn't.  I mean, it was, but it actually was a good experience.  I've never seen the daughter this involved with any kind of activity.  She was getting to know new people and she has a hard time with that.  I was very proud of her and I am extremely grateful to David.

He shared a very personal experience, of which I will not talk about.  It is not my story to tell.  If his story is true, of which I do have some reservations about, he has gone through hell and come out a survivor.  I can understand his complete dedication to kids and his hope that they understand that they are never alone.

I believe in God.  But my viewpoint on religion is toxic.  I will not share that opinion with the daughter.  I will only support her in any way I can.  We go to church on Sundays and then after, have breakfast somewhere at which we discuss the lesson for the day and how we have incorporated it in our lives in the past or will in the future.  She should not be jaded.  Ever . . .

GD

p.s.
lazy, didn't check . . . run smiley :)

TPHM run was etter

The Toro Park Howling Windmill run was kinda relaxing . . . in a I'm gonna die, but that's ok kind of way.  It being a slight, steady incline to the HW is a bitch-and-a-half!  But I was able to make it with only one stop there.  Kind of a big accomplishment for me..

I'm still not doing it in the time I'd like, but I guess that'll come with time and dedication.  Back when I was running in my clunky Saucony Progrid Omni 8's, I was running the trail in a faster time . . . but I was also in excruciating pain afterwards. Real bad shin splints that I was never able to fix.  No amount of exercises and or wraps helped . . . ever.

Building up to this practice of barefoot form has helped in making running enjoyable and something to look forward to.  I used to go farther in the clunkers.  But I'd be paying for it after with the shin splints.  I've mentioned it in an older previous post about the process I went through before I stayed with the Saucony's.  The running store I went to is a GREAT STORE (Fleet Feet Monterey).  I must've gone back about five times in a month trying to get fitted properly until I just said screw it and stuck with my last choice because they did help alleviate a bit of pain, not much but enough to continue my training for my first half-marathon.

In the last couple of month, I think they've begun getting on board about minimalist/barefoot form.  They had a guest speaker who was a former professional athlete and chiropractor who had an epiphany once.  Dr. Waddell had some really knarley feet, let me tell ya.  But he showed us some older picture of his feet and they were much worse!  He's been barefooting (truly barefoot) for a couple of years and in that time, his multiple foot issues have slowly minimized if not gone away.  Pretty remarkable coming from someone who should've known this from the get-go considering he's a chiropractor.  But that's only because of the way he was taught, and he also drank the shoe industries kool-aid.  I did notice that he did take longer steps than was recommended and being the nosy jerk that I am . . .

I spoke with him briefly and I mentioned some things that might help him improve even faster.  I know I've mentioned the metronome (set at 180 bpm) here on my blog, but there's also the jump rope exercises that help with your tempo as well.  I took that tip from the Pose people when I first began this adventure.  I've recently seen it mentioned in either BRU, MGBG or even the Runner's World Barefoot forum.  It's the whole idea of getting you used to lifting your feet as soon as you put them down.  The more you use your muscles and tendons efficiently, the easier running is supposed to be.  Quick, short steps as opposed to long loping strides.  The long strides may cause more injuries because of a bunch of . . . I don't know. I don't wanna start talking outta my ass without thinking about this more.  There's a bunch of info on the interwebs that can give you all the proper data.

Anyway, he did take say that he remembered reading about that and that he has done his best to take the quick steps.  And his pace wasn't too far off, but I don't know what he thought of this fat bastard trying to teach him how to run.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check and run smiley :)

Runnin' in the park

It's been a while since my last post.  If anyone cares, I'm sorry.

Anyway . . .

In the last week I've logged in about 4 days of running.  Nothing during the weekend.  I'm so ashamed . . .

Last Tuesday and Wednesday I ran the usual Toro Park Estates route for a bit over 5 miles.  Then nothing.  I had planned to run Saturday morning, but I just could get up.  The change in weather really screwed me up.  It went from nice, warm and dry to muggy . . . blegh. 

Thursday involved going to watch the Salinas High Cowboys Frosh football game against the Hollister Haybalers.  The daughter cheered and the boys beat the 'Balers.  It was a pretty good game!

Friday night again was another football night in which the daughter had to be there to support her cheer-mates in JV and Varsity.  JV beat the 'Balers, Varsity . . . not so much.  Considering the size of Hollister, the pool of kids to choose from should have made this a win for the Cowboys.  But that's just me sayin'.

There was a bit of drama in the ranks of the frosh Cowboys cheer squad, also.  Apparently one of the young ladies had a sleep-over for all the frosh cheerleaders.  Of the sixteen young ladies who were invited, ten went.  The young lady who invited the squad had some beef with another classmate and she asked her squad to participate in some vandalism which involved some toilet paper in trees and such. 

The main conspirator and one other took things a bit too far, though.  Of what the details are, I'm not too sure.  I've heard it involved a very nasty note to the mother of the beefee and maybe some condoms and feminine napkins, possibly used.

To make matters even more interesting, there were parents involved in transportation of the delinquents to said home!  They're having charges brought against them.

Of the participants in the squad, the main two are getting kicked off the cheer team and will not be able to participate in any team sports for two years.  The others have been suspended from any extra-curricular activities, including cheering, for two weeks.

The daughter, thankfully, was not involved in the vandalism.  Her mother is very strict and she obviously wants to keep her kids on the straight and narrow.  The daughter let sink in what might've happened had she been allowed to go to the sleep-over.

But even though she was in no way involved, she and the other cheerleaders have all been harrassed at school.  There was a 5th Quarter dance after the game on Friday, but what was left of the frosh cheer squad was warned against going by the cheer coaches because of implied threats from the young lady her friends who had been victimized by the delinquent cheerleaders.

Ok . . . that's enough of the gossip portion.

Monday and yesterday I changed up the running routine.  I decided to have another crack at my old running trail inside Toro Park.  I usually start at the gates and run all the way to the Howling Windmill.  After mapping it out, it almost the same distance as the Toro Estates run if not a tad short of it.

Monday, it was really muggy.  When I got to the trail at about 6pm, there was a bit of mist.  Halfway to the HW, it begain to drizzle.  By the time I got to the HW, it turned into light rain.  I was struggling horribly to run it completely.  I stopped twice up to the HW and once more on the way back for no more than about a minute each stop.

It.

Hurt.

But for some godforsaken reason, I really enjoyed the shit out of it!  I still don't get it.  I went again yesterday and it was just muggy, and really fucken difficult.  But again, I got a real kick out of it!  I guess I'm turning into a bit of a masochist.

Ladies, I need a dom in my life  >:D

Run smiley friends!

GD

p.s.
 didn't check.  too lazy.

Not much this week . . .

I had that run on Monday of last week  . . . and then another one Saturday.

Saturdays run, I turned off my timer and just went with it.  What I've been doing for a couple of months is setting the timer of my watch for a minute and then go for 3 or 4 minute runs with a 1 minute walking rest and start up again.  I was getting bored with that and it seemed to be getting harder to just run (though I did have several good runs).

I started up my chronograph and did my usual half-mile warm-up run and 1 minute walk to get the body loose.  I always feel the initial run helps, like I'm breaking up the rust from the joints and muscle fibers.  I've NEVER started comfortably.  Then I just went . . . and didn't stop for the whole mile and change until I hit the fence.  And even then I went past it to the mile-and-a-half marker so I could do a full 3 miles.

I did my timed 1 minute walk and started up again.

I just let my body go and my mind ratcheted up.  I started thinking of a bunch of stuff, like what we could do to help my moms restaurant pick up more business.  I went through a few ideas which I noted when I got back to the car.  I was thinking about taking the daughter and my godson to Swank Farms to check out the maize maze (Maniac Maze) . . .

. . . The next thing I know, I'm back at my car.  I do remember smiling and saying hello to other trail runners/walkers and a bit of discomfort along the way, but I just relaxed what was buggin' me and continued on my way.  I tried a new stretch called the Asian squat and BOY, did that feel good!

If you've ever seen it, it doesn't look like much.  You'll find pictures on the web easily just by searching for "Asian Squat ".  Your feet are about shoulder-width apart and then you squat.  Your goal is to get your heels down on the ground.  You may need something to hold on to.  Being that I'm round, I still consider myself fairly flexible.  I can touch my toes without bending my knees.  I can even pull them up and get a good grip on my toes!  The Asian squat isn't easy, but only because I'm not used to it.  I'm not as comfortable as the guys you see in those pictures, but I'm round.  Because it feels so good, I'll be doing this stretch from now on.

There's also another stretch that's Asian related.  The Seiza, which you may have seen martial artists use when sitting on their practice mats or any number of movies with martial artists sitting.  Below are images and an excerpt from Fighting Arts.com. Clicking through will take you to the full article.  It's a good read and informative:

The principles of traditional seiza are simple. Upon sitting, the left leg is bent and moved behind, the toes of the left foot maintaining contact with the floor as the shin in lowered, the right leg being forward and bent. As your buttocks sink the right leg is likewise pulled back -- both feet now being supported by the toes. Only then are the toes allowed to move backward so the instep lies flat, the feet pointed in an a angle (they can be kept apart or the big toe of each foot can touch). The hands are then positioned across the thighs.

That may be more info than you need, but it'll give you general idea of what do for that. 

The Seiza hurts.  But I guess it helps ankle mobility and flexibility which is a plus for a "barefoot" runner.  But it fucken HURTS!  I guess it's because I have all this extra padding on me, you know . . . cause I'm round.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check

There is more reason in your body . . .

. . . than in your best wisdom.
                                      -Friedrich Nietzsche

Isn't that the take-away of the whole barefoot idea?  More on that in a bit, but first let's discuss:

I know it's not what Nietzsche had in mind when that was written, but I'm not the only one who may have taken those words out of context.  I found that quote from another blog (Glydle) discussing a research paper written about that gut-feeling.  The gut-feeling in this case though is actually how your gut actually can make you feel about life in general.  The short of it is that the scientist had fed some mice some probiotics and that made them feel less stress in stressful situations than the control group of mice that weren't given the probiotics.  Read her blog, it's a bit more detailed and informative.  She also happens to be a beginner barefooter.  She's going all out, completely nekkid (foot that is).

Going back to that idea of what you take in, can make your feelings come out . . .

From my personal experience, I completely agree with it!  Before I started this whole bettering-myself quest, I ate horribly and didn't do anything to make my body the temple it was intended to be.  I reacted horribly, though many of my friends would say otherwise.  That was just my outward self.  I can remain physically calm in really bad situations.  But inside I'm like, WTF!!  Oh Shit!!! FML, it's OVER!!!!!

Then I'd get over it and try to resolve whatever needed to resolved.  Now I'm like, WTF, and get down to business.  I don't think many people have noticed the difference in outward behavior, but I believe I'm more productive in the stress department.  I have to be.  The people I work with have a tendency of overreacting at the smallest bit of stress.  They can be like the cliched headless chicken.  I've learned to be firefighter.  When shit is blowing up and burning down, I'm the ghostbuster because I'm the one who's called.  Fires start up everywhere all the time 'cause that's just the way it is where I work.  Most are preventable and are.

I can stroll in the fire and think about it calmly because of the changes I've accustomed myself to over the last several years.  I'm eating SO much healthier.  I'm actually getting more excercise than the FDA recommends (or whoever recommends health stuff).  I think 150 minutes of brisk walking or 75 minutes of jogging/running minimum a week.  Plus a couple days of full body workouts.  Check the link, it has the details.  But I'm doing more than that a week (at least the aerobic part).  I've still gotta include the full body part of the RDA for exercise.

The point is, the eatin' and the movin' are helping with stress levels.  And even before I included the movin', I was eatin' better.  And I immediately noticed my sleep improved which in turn reduced my stress levels.  I was now an effective firefighter.  Cool.

Now with the movin' and the gut-feelin' combined, life has been SO much better.  I'm more of a people person now and involved with my godson and the daughter more.

I'm not a religious person, but I am a spiritual person.  Thank God for givin' us the brains to do what must be done when He slaps the shit out of us to make us see what we fucked up on.  No disrepect to the Lord, it's just the way I feel and gotta love Him for making those alarm systems our body's have.  But again, the alarm systems are no good if no one's home.

Which applies to the quote in this post.  As Nietzsche stated, our body tells us when things are wrong most of the time.  Our feet are on our body.  It's covered in alarms.  They tell us when shit's going down . . . or when we stepped in shit.

Same diff. 

The point is we react to what our feet are telling us is wrong.  It's veeeery difficult not listen to our feet.  Though I've not gone nekkid yet, I do feel I'm getting closer to that point.  I'm really getting a kick outta my Bikila LS VFF's and Speed VFF's.  I'm looking forward to getting a pair of the Merrell Road Glove next spring if not sooner.  But once I've worked out all the kinks, I'll go nekkid!

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check

I did NOTHING!

Well, at least as far as keeping good healthy habits.

I had planned to run Saturday morning after dropping my godson off to practice, which also happened to be picture day for the team.  That running idea was thrown out the window.  I had to hang around with the other "parents" to find out how the logistics of getting a bunch of wired pee-wee football players organized enough and still enough for pictures . . .

Fun.

I could have gone after dropping him off at home, but I had told my mom that I was going to head to the restaurant by noon.  I headed home and was walking up the driveway when I heard someone playing my new XBox 360.  I thought it was my nephew.  He's supposed to ask before touching it. 

It was my brother.

He was supposed to be at the restaurant cooking!  The regular cook and my brother have been trading off Saturdays.  Apparently he was still sick and my mom wasn't feeling too hot, either.

So . . . no restaurant.  I should go running . . . maybe later.  I have the day off.  Let's get something to eat.

I went to Costco.  I bought a pepperoni slice and a hot dog with an iced tea.  Yum.  But bad.  I headed to my car, sat back opened my book and ate while I read.  For hours.  I've been reading a book series by David Wellington, the Vampire series.  Great horror and suspense!  As I was reading, I wanted an ice cream from Costco, too.  NO!

So I went to Starbucks and picked up a grande Java Chip frap.  So good and soooo bad.  And continued reading for several hours more.  Then I went to Wendy's and picked up a couple of 99 cent chicken sandwiches.

I haven't binged like this in MONTHS.  I was so wired when I got home, I ended up reading until after 2am. 

Then Sunday morning came.  I washed my car and went to pick up the daughter.  She had community hours to do for the football game my godson would be playing at later in the afternoon.  I didn't run again that morning, but again figured I'd run after the game.

Nope. Didn't happen.

I had a hot dog there then later a tri-tip sammich.  The sammich was awesome!  So I was a bit lazy when I got home and didn't run.  I cleaned up and prepared laundry for the next day.

I am running tonight for sure.  I feel as if I possibly gained several pounds.  I've gotta run.

I'll report back . . .

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check

Runnin' and a progress report . . . kinda 09/23/2011

Last nights run was a bit more difficult than the previous night.  I'm beginning to see the wisdom of early morning runs.

I think I may begin those soon . . . ish.

I decided to step on the scale expecting to see an increase in mass.  I've not been following the 4HB as I should be.  Too many things on the table and not enough time to make sure I'm doing things right.  But I noticed I've just stalled.  No decrease in weight, but no increase either.  I've been keeping as close to the low-carb idea as possible when eating out, so that combined with the running has helped me stay borderline.

I'm going to have to find time this weekend to plan out my meal for the week.  I like my breakfast of lentils, eggs and spinach.  But lunch always is a problem.  I think I've gotta change the beans.  I've been using black beans and they take too long to cook right.  And the taste isn't too bad, but I just can't seem to get them tasting consistently good.  Sometimes they come out great and other times . . . .

I'll figure something out.  Once the stuff is cooked and packed, it's no biggie.  But I've got to get it cooked and packed sometime during the weekend because I don't have time during the week.  And my weekends are FULL!  I may just cook the stuff while I'm at my moms restaurant.  I've got the equipment and the time.  Duh!

Sometimes I'm just a moron . . .

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check stuff

Just noticed . . .

So, I went for my run last night before picking up my godson from practice.  I obligate myself to pick him up to motivate me to go run . . .

But that's not what I noticed.  This morning I got up, jumped in the shower and drove in to work.  And I realized that I didn't have the usual foot and leg aches I have first thing in the morning.  Usually there is a lot of grunting and groaning when placing any weight on my feet.  It goes away after about a minute and I'm fine.

Not this morning . . . or yesterday if I recall correctly.  The only thing I can think of that may have helped is I took all that time off from running.  Maybe I need that time for things to knit together and get stronger.  Another thing, I also changed something last night in my run.  Because of the continuing leg/hamstring issue, I forced myself to relax my legs.  By doing that, I just focused on pulling my feet up from the ground.

Notice I didn't say "pulling my knees up".

As I've read at Maple Grove Barefoot Guy an at Barefoot Running University, being relaxed will greatly improve your comfort.  I've forgotten that in the last month or so.  I've been so focused on the ache as I run that I've not gone through what I SHOULD be doing.  I've just been using my metronome and focusing on the footfalls.

What I did and shoulda' been doing is focusing on using the metronome to focus on the foot-LIFTS!

And focusing on pulling the foot towards the butt!

So, I had relaxed legs and was pulling my feet up towards the glutes (I tried to use ass, but it looked too coarse) and the ache was somewhat there, but it wasn't as bad as my previous run on Monday.  I'm not limping around today and the ache is very minimal.

I'll be running tonight and see if this bit of good fortune continues.  Hopefully it isn't just a fluke of the day or weather playing a part.  But I'm feeling comfortable today and I think I may have done something right again.

Oh, and check out those two links.  Go through their archived stuff.  They have great advice and anecdotes.  I've been following them for almost a year now.  Both are ultra-runners and they've worked out most of their kinks in their barefoot running.  And yes, they've both run ultras completely barefoot.  And on trails, no less!

I don't plan on doing any ultras, but I do plan on running completely naked . . . feet that is.  You don't need to picture a short fat dude nekkid.

oops, too late  >:)

GD

p.s.

too lazy to grammar check

First after four days

Well I had my first run after those four days of doing nothing! And to make matters worse, I've not been keeping up with 4HB.  For shame!

I've been off the wagon since the weekend, and I'm still off it.  I've got to do something so my life at home doesn't interfere with health life . . . if that makes any sense.  I shouldn't be separating the two, but that's just the way it goes.

One reason for not being on the wagon is because Monday night at midnight, I picked up my new Gears Of War 3 Limited Edition XBox 360!  Yeah.  I'm Ubernerd.  I'm 38 and I still play video games.  And then people wonder why I have not girlfriend.  I'm almost the stereotypical fat nerd.  And when I wear my cool Warby Parker glasses (think Buddy Holly), I really start pushing it.  But where I separate myself from that stereotype is I'm not much into junk food and I really do enjoy running.  And running in my Vibram Five-Fingers!

When I jump off the wagon, I try to stick with healthy junk food.  If I go get a burger, no sauce. Tacos? Meat and veggies please, and no hard shell.  I attempt at the healthy.

As far as this last run, it was getting painful.  And it wasn't the foot.  The foot's been fine.  It's the leg now and it's still that weird hamstring thing.  It's going away quicker though.  Not as annoying.  A run, a quick massage and it's relieved though not gone.

It doesn't feel so bad today and I'm expecting to go for my run tonight, looking forward to it actually.

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check

Getting TOO lazy . . .

So I haven't run in two frickin' days!  Too much crap on the table to clear off for it.

Life sucks!

Not really, it can just be a little frustrating.  My mom owns a restaurant and my brother and sister are a tad nuts.  My brother works there now, but it took him a while to finally come to grips that he's an ADULT and he has to begin contributing to society in a POSITIVE way.  He drives my mom and the cook nuts with his temper tantrums, but he's slooooowly learning that he can't be acting that way at a place of employment.

My sister is another matter.  Her moods swing from manic to nuts.  We've tried to get her to help out at the restaurant, and she does ok, but then something happens and it's not a good idea to have her around my mom.  You how to two poles (as in polarity) work in electricity right?  They repel each other.  But in their case it's like two nuclear powered poles.

I'm not sayin' my moms nuts . . .

I'm just not sayin'.

Anyway . . . I have to play the buffer all the time.  When my mom breaks down because of either my sibs or something she misconstrued from my dad, I gotta be there to be shoulder so she can vent.  I've been doing this for YEARS.  As you may guess, this have left me emotionally jaded . . . stunted . . . whatever!

So when the daughter asked me to be her sponsor for Confirmation, I was left speechless and emotionally jarred.

The daughter had her orientation for Confirmation last Tuesday.  Her mom went with her and I went to pick up my godson from practice after my run since I was in the area.  It gave her time to clear her plate more comfortably and I really like helping her.  She does what she can for her kids as a single mother and sometimes she has to be at opposite ends of town at the same time.  I'm just glad I happen to be at one end of town to pick up my godson.  It also gives me a reason go run those days.

After picking him up we went to get something to eat at Subway.  He grabbed a foot-long which he wolfed down in a matter of minutes. I got one of their new salads, the turkey/avocado thing.  I grabbed it with the works and it was 4HB friendly.  Tasty!  My cousin was still at the orientation with the daughter and I had to pick up a couple of cases of chicken for my mom, so off I went.

After I dropped off the chicken, my godson and I headed back to his home.  We waited outside a few minutes before my cousin and the daughter showed up.  We went inside and they started talking about how long the orientation was and how well developed the program was and what they were looking forward to and then the daughter mentioned how they were asked to find someone they could trust to be their sponsor for their confirmation.  And I'm like "wow" and "cool".  But she was looking at me sheepishly with shit-eating grin.

I'm a bit dense.

Her face dropped and then I got it. D'oh!  I went to her and gave her a huge hug and apologized that I didn't get it right away and said I'd be happy to be her sponsor.  My cousin was smiling while the daughter began talking about ALL the events that were going to happen, the trips to Yosemite and Disneyland . . .

And all I could think to say after that was I'd better start saving up.  I don't know if the daughter caught it, but I think my cousin did.

A bit of a faux-pas.

The daughter had a football game to cheer last night and my mom needed help at the restaurant.  One of her dogs was ill and she wanted me to get out of work early to help.  I've got work and bosses and I don't think telling them my mommy needs me will give me a "get-outta-work-early" card.  I tried to finish up in good time, but it didn't happen and I didnt leave until around 5pm.  My mom was already back at the restaurant, but she still wanted a bit of help.  I stuck around til 6:30 and then went to the daughters game.

Have I mentioned that my mom doesn't like the daughter or her mom.  Yeah, some of the most important people in my life cannot see each other.  My cousin and the daughter love my mom, but my mom is jealous of them and has not spoken to them in several years.  She thinks my cousin is taking advantage of me when migrates to Yuma and leaves the daughter with me.  I think of it as a break from the insanity of my life.  There is alway a fire to put out and I. Am. Burnt. OUT!

I look forward to that and the schedule will not be as crazy this year.  She's not in her cheer/dance crew this year and cheerleading is not as hectic with the schedules.  It'll still be a full plate, but it's a plate that's a bit more manageable than years past.  I'm looking forward to it.

I'll be running tonight and hopefully there'll be no fires to put out.  I'm still figuring out this emotional issue I have, but at least I can say I'm happy someone put that kind of trust in me.  I guess my cousin would fall in that as well, she does ask me to take care of her daughter for several months.  She knows my vices are relatively harmless and are along the same as hers (food and beer), so I guess she feels confident that I'll do my best to support her and her daughter in this.  I can actually say I'm happy about this. 

It's not just a getaway from the craziness of my usual stuff, I think I need this.  I think I need someone to need me in this way.  I do feel like a dad to my godson and the daughter.  I wish I could do more for them and only them.

My mom has had her life . . . I want mine.

GD

p.s.
lazy, but run smiley!

I didn't run much the last week.  I think my last run for the previous week was last Wedneday.  I didn't even go this weekend.

I've had this nagging ache along my leg.  Like a thin section of my calf, hamstring and glute.  I think it's all tied to the PF of my right foot.  So I decided to begin concentrating on trying to fix it.

A while back I bought a foot massager and sprint stick.  The foot massager is a therapy device called the Foot Log.  It was supposed to assist in fixing Plantar Fasciitis and other foot issues.

It's a great little tool.  I think it works a bit better than a frozen can of peas, though having a cold can on your foot can feel good when it aches!

The other item is something I refer to as a sprint stick.  But the one I have is by Pro-Tec Athletics and they call it a Roller Massager.

That's not me by the way.  I'm not there yet.  But that is the stick I use and it feels GREAT!  That think will work out knots like you wouldn't believe.  I still have one knot in my calf it still hasn't been able to get rid of completely, but it has helped reduce it.  I should ice after, but I never do and I think that may be contributing to the long rehab.

It's pretty much a wooden dowel with a plastic floating tube with foam to allow it to roll freely.  The grips are cushioned to allow "trigger point release".  Trust me, it works great!

I still have a bit of a twinge and I think what I need to get is a foam roller next.  One of those body rollers.  I'd post a pic of one but there are a ton of them and I'm not sure what kind to get yet.  And they have a wide range of prices.  I may just make something out of pvc, foam and duct tape.  I may have some laying around at work somewhere, too.

Anyway . . . so get back on the trail Monday.  After four days of nothing, I was itchin' to go.  Unfortunately I started out too fast and in the last mile back, I was almost gassed out.  But I was able to push through and finish strong enough.  I ended up finishing in better time than I have in a long time, which would have been weird if I hadn't taken all that time off.  After the run, my leg started up again and when I got home I got to work on it with the tools.  It helped and I was able to sleep comfortably that night.

Yesterday I went for a run again and my knee began buggin' me, but it went away after my half mile warmup.  I walked for a minute and began the stronger run.  I made it out to the parking lot with only one stop in between.  Pretty good, I thought.  Usually on the way back, I have a problem keeping up the same pace, but I had focused on keeping it steady and somewhat effortless.  I was breathing a little hard, but was able to catch my breath fairly easily at each of the two one minutes walks I usually make.  I cut my time even further than yesterday.

I hope I can keep this up.  Even with the nagging, I'm still enjoying the running.  I'll be taking care of the daughter in a couple more months.  And I'm kinda excited about it!

I'm usually out by the Toro park area for my run and so I told my cousin that I could pick up my godson from his pee-wee football practice when I'm done.  I get to walk a bit and stretch out the legs before he's finished.  My cousin was running late because she was at church with the daughter.

The daughter is starting catechism again for her confirmation and she and her mom had an orientation meeting regarding that last night.  She was asked to find a sponsor she can trust.  She asked me!  I was dumbfounded.  It took me by surprise and I probably didn't express my feelings about it well and may have left her a bit disappointed by my reaction.  I'm going to remedy that tonight.  It's been on my mind all day and I really am excited and happy that she chose me.

I'm not quite sure what the sponsor is obligated to do, but whatever I can do to make sure that girl becomes a better, stronger person . . . I'm there for her.

GD

p.s.
run smiley and no, too lazy to check . . .

Still not runnin'

I still haven't gone running. I guess things like this occur to everyone every once in a while. Shit happens and your plans go on the wayside. I hope to run tomorrow morning. Hopefully it happens.

p.s.
too lazy to check.

Bloggin' from my iPhone

I probably won't be using this much unless I'm posting pictures. I'll definitely use this more once they've got landscape orientation working!

Two days! Ugh!

So, for the last two days I've not taken a single jump.  What do I mean?  Well for a "run" to be called a "run", both feet must leave the earth while maintaining forward momentum.  In other words, a jump.

I know. 

Semantics. 

Whatever . . . the point is I've not gone running for the last couple of days.  I'd made a promise to my cousin that I'd go and support the daughter who was cheering at her first real football game.  It was a great game, if you happen to be the opposing teams fan.  The daughters' school was the visiting team and they got clobbered, 20-0.  The home team was making good passes and were great at defending the QB and their receivers.


The poor visiting teams' QB would make great passes, but there was no one to defend the receivers.  It appeared as if they were focusing on protecting the QB.  Nobody touched the QB.  The receivers were getting pasted.  Every once in a while though, you could see the potential of the team.  Something would happen when everything clicked for the team.  They saw openings and were able to defend the line and stop the home team from going further.  Or the QB would see something before a play and make a play change and the whole team would explode and scream forward for a first down.

I hate to say it, but I actually enjoyed watching high school football.

The daughters' cheer team were still having trouble with a couple of their cheers.  But that's why they are the the frosh cheerleaders.  They'll get better as the season goes and they'll soon be nailing those cheers!  They must've been working hard on them though, because there were only a couple of hiccups.  Also I'm proud to say that the daughter was calling the cheers!  She must be making an impression with the coaches.  She's a tiny thing but she's been cheering for years!  And she's been on a national champion team twice and one of those wins just this last year.

Boy!  I feel like her daddy gushing about her like this but she's a studious student, sharp as a tack extremely respectful of her mom.  My cousin is strict with her, but spoils her rotten sometimes.  The daughter knows her mom does the best she can for both her and my godson.

I could keep going, but I've gotta stop or I'll be emotional all day.  I live vicariously through my cousin and I try to be there for her and her kids as much as I can.  She has no one else who has the time and I'll be there until she doesn't want or need me there anymore.

I do plan on having a run tonight.  I'm feeling good physically.  I still have that funky twinge all along the right leg, so I'm gonna focus on relaxing on tonight's run.  I'll post up how it went tomorrow if not tonight.

GD

p.s.
too lazy for grammar check

My time management suks!

Yesterday I had planned to run right after I got out of work.  But a new game came out, so I was going to pick it up before going for my run.

I left work around 5:15.  I got to the mall about 20 minutes later.  I left the mall at 5:55 because the employee I'd pre-ordered my game from (Dead Island, btw) had gotten confused when she placed the order.  I had put some money down for a new Gears Of War 3 XBox 360 that doesn't come out until September 20th, but Dead Island was going to be for my PS3.  She's placed the order the 360 . . .

So it took another employee some time to work with the register so I could get my PS3 version of Dead Island.

When I got to my car I began heading over to the Toro Estates for my run.  After my run I was supposed to pick up my godson from his pee-wee football practice, but I got a restaurant emergency call from my mom saying she needed napkins.  I got to Smart and Final and was heading inside when she called again saying she needed 20 bunches of cilantro for salsa. 

Smart and Final doesn't carry cilantro . . . and it was 6:20.

I picked up the napkins and dropped them off at the restaurant then headed over to Save Mart.  I looked at the clock, 6:30 . . . I wasn't going to be able to make my run.  I was just gonna make it to pick up my godson.  He gets let out of practice at 7pm.  I got the cilantro, dropped it off and drove to Toro Park where he has his practice.  On my way there I got another restaurant emergency call from my mom.  She needed shrimp.  I wasn't going to be able to pick up the shrimp in time for when she needed it.

Oh well.


Just as I got to the park, my cousin called and she told me that the coaches had let the kids out early from practice and that my godson was scared that I'd forgotten him.  I told her to let him know I was just outside the gates of park and walking to the practice field.  He spotted me and showed me a huge grin.


We got in the car and we talked about practice and how the boys had made some game involving fruit, desserts and sodas.  It's like the paper flower game we played as kids where chose a number or a color . . . but instead of what type of life you were gonna live, you got kicked in the nads.


I got to the the cousins house hugged the daughter and the cuz and let her know that I'd be able to pick him up the next day.  I told her that I'd be running there, because she felt bad that I went outta my way to pick him up.  I told her that I had planned to run, but a bunch of other things got in the way.


I don't foresee any other "emergencies", we should be well stocked.  I am SO looking forward to tonights run.  I've not been able to sleep well the last couple of nights.  I've been eating horribly and I've gotta burn off these carbs my body has begun to take in again.  I can't wait to get back to 4HB!  Too many CARBS!!!  ARGGGHHH!


GD


p.s.
too lazy to check!

Yes, I do sometimes listen to Glenn Beck.

So this morning, I was driving in to work and listening to Glenn Beck.  He wasn't on today though and he had a substitute.

According to the guy, the reason he works Labor Day is because it's his mini-protest to Labor Day.  He started talking about the history of it and said it's actually a holiday for socialism and unions.

Then he started in on illegal imigration.

Now I'm not really political or anything, but I think I finally have a solid opinion on the illegal imigration debate.  He sort of backed up the idea when he started talking about how Labor Day is a bunch of hooey.  I won't get into it too much, but when if you think about his protest to socialism and unions, I think you'll understand.

Here's my stand on illegal imigration, though.  Being a man of science and still having faith in God, I understand the idea of evolution.  The whole Darwinian concept.  You know, survival of the fittest?  There are millions of Americans all over the US who are looking for work.  A lot of them are real honest hard working people.

But I live in Salinas and of Mexican decent.  I'm gonna tell you the truth as I see it.

FOB's (Fresh Over the Border or Fresh Off the Boat), whether legal or illegal, are the hardest working SOB's you'll EVER meet.  The bust tremendous ass to get the better things for their families and provide for their futures.  They have come to work and they spend money in OUR country.  Yes, they may send some to whatever homeland they come from but the majority of it is spent HERE.

Many have forged documents to allow them to work in the states.  Many are paying into taxes because it's getting pulled out of their paychecks.  Many cannot file taxes because of forged documents so our government is free to keep those excess taxes.

I know I'm missing some more, but those are the main points.  But here is the problem I see.  It's the majority of first generation offspring. I'm including those children who were brought over when they were young enough to become Americanized.

The problem of illegal immigration is not the FOB's.  It's their children.  We see our parents busting their ass in labor oriented jobs.  We tell ourselves there is no way in hell we're are going to break our backs like our parents.  So that leaves a couple of choices.

Choice one, which took me a while to realize, is busting your ass in school.  Learn to use the system to educate yourself and become a productive, respected taxpaying member of society.  Like many of the first generation, I was floating around unsure of what my life was going to be like career-wise.  I puttered around, working menial jobs.  Don't get me wrong, it was a respectable JOB.  But I wasn't furthering myself whatsoever.  I finally got my shit together and earned my AAS, which allowed me to promote in the company I still work for.

Choice two, which is where I really see the problem: Learn to use the system so you get paid to do SHIT!

I have many family members and associates (cannot call them friends and can't distance myself from family, unfortunately) who have taken this route.  The women get preggers and stay single which allows them to draw benefits from the state.  If the baby-daddy is working, they get that money as well and pay for their cell phone which is glued to their head while they are smoking the government sponsored 2 packs a day and maybe even drinking the government sponsored beer.  Oh!  And then when the 1st or the 15th comes around, they have their government sponsored girls-night-out!

The guys work the system another way:  They'll work some type of labor job and get "hurt".  Their back is then shot for the rest of their lives.  Or so it seems because they never go back to work but they still continue to draw disability benefits which keeps them healthy enough to walk around and pick up the monster cooler full of Bud Light and carne asada with one arm while the other has the charcoal briquets.

Fortunately, at least from my experience, there are more of the first generation who have made the first choice.  They have made their parents proud.  One example is a friend who I am very proud to have in my life.  He and his family came to the states illegally when he was about 7 years old.  He struggled in school all the way to high school.  He busted his ass and eventually graduated with the top of his class with AP courses under his belt.

He worked the system to get a higher education.  He went to the local community college and aced his courses and earned his associates degree.  He then applied for citizenship.  While waiting for the whole process of citizenship, he applied and got accepted into UC Berkeley.  He graduated with his Bachelors degree and shortly after became a citizen of the United States of America.

Why can't we all be like him.  I wish I had the dedication he has.  I've worked hard, but I discovered it relatively late in my career.  Why couldn't my eyes have been opened earlier in life.  I don't know.

Illegal immigration.  Hmm.  If more illegals are like my friend, let them come.  We need those kind of people in our country.  They are here to make our society BETTER.  They don't want to drag it down.  They too live in neighborhoods and they want it to thrive.  They make friends with neighbors and look out for one another.

Let them come, the bad seeds will sort themselves out.

Our country first allowed immigrants no questions asked.  Then things changed in the late 1800's. . .  I'm not too sure.  But there were restrictions imposed and people had to change their given name to something more pronounceable to the a American tongue.  But many people thrived at the opportunity for a future.

Instead of bitching about the immigrants, maybe those that are bitching should bust their ass and take back those jobs the immigrants are accused of taking.  Work harder, do it better!

But nobody will. 

At least where I live in the Salad Bowl of the world, there are immigrants working the fields and from what I've seen it's mostly of the Mexican and South American variety of immigrants.  Philipino no longer work the fields much.  They've been given the opportunity to better themselves and I see a LOT of them working in the medical field.  I think down south near the Bakersfield area, you do have them working the orchards and vines.

I'm pretty sure there are some white people still out there working the fields, orchards and vines.  But I can bet you they won't be young.  They'll be of the old-school who believed any job to have is a good job.  Back when I lived on the east side of Salinas, a lot of our neighbors were white.  Most of them used to work the fields when they were younger.  But they made sure their children worked hard and did well in school so that they wouldn't have to do what they did and break their backs.

Sound familiar.

I know this is long-winded and tl;dr, but I felt I had to get this off my chest.  I know I don't have any readers but I always hope someone will accidentally find this blog and be bored enough to read it.

If you happen to be one of them, post a comment.  Agree, disagree . . . it's an opinion and right now the law is the law.  Illegal immigrants are illegal.  I'm going to write the governor and express my opinion on this.  America can't have it both ways.  Complain about the workforce that is doing the job nobody else wants to do.

I know that sounds like a cop-out, but let me ask this:
Given the choice between the unemployment line or working the fields, how many of your friends would choose working the fields?

GD

p.s.
too lazy to check

I'm not really competitive! I swear!

Yesterday afternoon, during lunch, I had a ton of coffee. I was wired throughout the rest of the day. I needed to burn off the buzz so I went for a run.

My aspiring firefighter cousin has been needing to get back in shape for a while now and had asked if he could join me.  I don't like running with him because he likes being the "coach" and annoys the crap outta me when he tries to push me to keep going if/when I stop for a breather.  He's always been the meat-head, you know?  Even though he's hellishly sharp!  You don't pass the California Firefighter exams by being fit but dumb as a rock.  He busted his ass for that accomplishment and he may be working with North County Fire soon as a volunteer.

Anyway . . . back to what happened yesterday:

Yesterday was the first time EVER that he could not keep up. He's always been able to push passed pain and exhaustion.  He started out good, then fell behind. He'd catch up when I'd stop for a minute.  He likes working out with others.  He needs the motivation he gets from other like minded meat-heads.  You know the type, the guy that is spotting you calling you a pussy because you can't get that last rep up.

Since he likes to get "motivated" by someone pushing him I told him, "I don't need to say anything.  Just that THIS fat boy is in FRONT of you".

I KNOW that caught in his craw! I've never been able to keep the kind of pace he has for himself.  I want to call myself a runner, but I'm not there yet.  I recently found out I have some weird deformed kind of competitive nature about myself.  I want to make sure he never catches up.  But in my mind, I'm not competing against him.

I'm competing against my self.

GD

p.s.
to lazy to ckeck garmmar