Welcome!

January 7th, 2012

Who knows why life is the way it is.  Great people have pondered that question and haven’t come to any real conclusions.

“What’s it all for?” “Why aren’t things fair?” “Why was I put here?” “Why do bad things happen to good people?”

The closest answers seem to come with advice such as, “Happiness comes from within” and “Love is what it’s all for.”

I’d love to hear comments about this.

August 26, 2011

We know how to help ourselves the best.

The other day I knew I had to do something. I had to fill myself back up because I felt emotionally drained. Decided to go the nature preserve my daughters and I used enjoy.  The preserve is for birds, and is protected by the DEC and local bird lovers.

Upon walking through the woods hearing nothing, nothing except an occasional bird and a babbling stream, a load lifted from my shoulders.  I didn’t even know it was there. Then, I noticed that I kept letting out deep breaths, ones I didn’t know I’d been holding. The large body of water on the side of the woods combined with the mountainous background, ducks swimming, bugs buzzing, and the scent of nature “fixed” me, filled me back up.  By the time I left, I felt like I could face the world again. My perspectives lined up the way they were supposed to be. Mother Nature did this.  She applied balm to life’s wounds and replaced my reserves.

We need to help ourselves when our soul is “sick,” “empty,” or what-ever you want to call it. Often we know how. We just need to be a friend to ourselves as we are to others and it doesn’t need to be complicated.

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Do you run for and in spite of life?

Do you run for the pure pleasure of it and not so much for competition? Have you wanted a place to talk with other like-minded runners, but every runner’s site seems to be mostly about competition? If so, then this is the place for you.

I have been running for about 16 years and have searched for places and publications for the regular runner. Everything I’ve found is mainly about competition. Well, not all of us runners run strictly for competition. Some of us run for the pure pleasure and health that running provides. We run for life, we run in spite of our busy time-demanding lives. Running is for us. It makes us better people to be around. We feel better physically and mentally. Running is personal – a gift we give to ourselves.

Have a comment? Something you would like to share about running? Please do. This place for you, the everyday runner who runs for life and in spite of it.

The aim of this Blog is to support and inform beginning runners and also those who want to stay fit and enjoy running, but don’t have the time or desire to train for long distance, or competition.

* In time, I hope to write about these topics: (input, comments, your own tips welcome)

• safety tips
• why running is for your life, what improvements running makes physically & mentally
• how to work around life getting in the way
• why keep a journal (sample journal pages)
• addressing family issues
• book reviews

Today’s Book is featured at Amazon:

Complete Book of Women’s Running by Dagny Scott Barrios

From Booklist

Don’t confuse this book with The Complete Book of Running for Women (1999) by former Runner’s World managing editor Claire Kowalchik. Now Runner’s World has produced its own very comparable guide, written by Scott, running expert and editor in chief of Women Outside magazine. Kowalchik’s book has more helpful charts, such as a body-mass index, and a more thorough nutrition section; but both share very similar content, covering the basic nuts and bolts, such as training, racing, proper nutrition, pregnancy, weight loss, and safety. The layout of this title is easier to read, and the use of photos to demonstrate stretching techniques and exercise drills sets it apart. Topical sidebars include “Smart Tips”: for instance, after a marathon, drink fluids, get into warm clothes, ease sore muscles with cold water, and don’t run for a few weeks. Loyal Runner’s World readers will turn to this source for practical, expert advice for women runners at all levels. Brenda Barrera

Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved –This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

 Product Description

Now with a fresh design and thoroughly updated information, this nuts-and-bolts guide is designed specifically to address the unique challenges and rewards the sport presents to the fastest growing segment of the market–women runners

More than 10 million women across the country now identify themselves as regular runners. In response to the dramatic increase in the number of women in the sport, Dagny Scott Barrios and the experts at Runner’s World have created this singular guide–now updated with 25 percent new material–where women will discover how to:

• train for any race, from a 5K to a marathon
• eat nutritiously and for maximum energy
• lose weight permanently
• deal with self-consciousness and body image
• run during pregnancy and through menopause
• choose the best clothes and accessories
• run anywhere safely
• prevent and treat injuries, especially those that women are most likely to encounter

With clear photographs, running sidebars, and testimonials from women runners of all ages and abilities, this comprehensive resource provides the most current practical advice available anywhere for women runners of all levels.

Stinging Nettle Tea, Another Life Helper

Good health comes not only from working your body.  Good health comes from what we also put inside our bodies.  Good food makes a difference.  Good food comes often from the produce section in the grocery store, but it also comes from our yards, from fields, and forests.  Many call certain plants herbs, yet they are also terrific food.  Many carry multiple minerals and vitamins.  One of my favorite natural plants carries a lot of minerals, stinging nettles.

Yes, they sting.  After they’re cooked however, they don’t.  The trick is cutting them into pieces small enough to fit into a pot full of water.  Gloves.  Use them to cut stinging nettles from outdoors and to cut them into smaller pieces for your pot.

Here is a link to helpful information:  http://www.ehow.com/how_2363833_make-fresh-nettle-tea.html

Today I stumbled upon a huge growth of stinging nettle.  Nature must have heard my need because there they were.  Standing tall and wavying in the breeze as if to say, “here we are, Chris.”  I found them, or rather they found me while visiting friends.  Of course I asked for permission.  Most people are glad to get rid of them because they don’t know what a natural gem these green biters are.  After explaining why I wanted the plant and what they do, my friend provided me with gloves and a bag.  Nice guy, huh? I promised to return later with a pitcher of tea for their refrigerator.

Stinging nettle is also called the spring tonic of choice because long ago people used the green plant to restore many of the minerals and nutrients they lost during the winter.

To learn more:  http://www.wildmanstevebrill.com/Plants.Folder/Nettle.html

Life Changes

March 30th, 2011

What a hectic last year-and-a half.  I recently went through highly life changing events this past year and it took much from me emotionally.  I didn’t run as much as I wanted for numerous reasons, working more was one.  Found myself fending for myself financially.  Empty nest and divorce were others.   I knew running more would help my head, but making a living had to come first.  Besides, my schedule changed constantly. 

My schedule has settled some and vitality has reappeared in part.  As you can guess, I ache for regularly scheduled runs.  

As I thought about how much life can change in such a short amount of time while running yesterday, I realized not everything does.  Some things stay the same and those are the things I hold dear, like running. 

A friend asked me the other day how long I’ve run.

“Fifteen years,” I answered. 

“How do you do it,” she asked.  “Especially the way life is?”

“I run for,” I began.  “And in spite of life.

Stiff and Sore

March 5, 2009

Well, I did feel the run on the road.  For three days afterwards my leg muscles were stiff and sore.  The only way to cure that is to run outdoors more, but the weather took a change for the worse, the temperatures fell back around 0 degrees.  Although my muscles didn’t hurt running on the treadmill this week, I have to admit my stamina took a little beating.  Could it be from the run outdoors? Come on weather, warm up and stay there.

Running Helps More Than Your Body

Life has been quite stressful these past couple of months in a different way than with college. My personal life has wrenched my soul. Running, even on that dumb treadmill, has been a true friend. This friend aides my mind and pulls it back together. Running sets my soul free, loosens the binding cutting into my spirit. Funny how running does this, miraculous really. I am so thankful. At times, while pumping my legs and breathing life, the pain in my soul surges forth in a pitch sprouting tears I didn’t know lingered deep within.

I can’t wait until I can run out-doors again. That is probably only a few weeks away. The temperature climbs slowly, but it is climbing and soon the meter will reach my magic number, 40 degrees.

Running helps the soul, the mind, sets it free, applies balm. This physical act does more than aide the body. Running is the greatest friend, doctor, fix ever!

My Take

Running for and in Spite of Life

Have you considered running, but don’t have enough time and/or no wish to compete? You don’t have to run for competition or log in over twenty miles a week to be considered a runner. The benefits that come from this activity are too numerous to pass up because you lead a busy life. Run for physical and mental fitness. Run for life. A few miles is all it takes to reap huge rewards. Training for competition requires a lot of time and if you’re busy, like most people, life gets in the way. Jesslyn Cummings, in her piece entitled, Benefits for Running, in The Running Guide, reports that casual and those running for exercise “are by far the largest group of runners in the world” (2007). In a world that is performance-based, we often feel that we must strive to be the best, to compete. It is no wonder many of us don’t start things or hang in there. We’re afraid to lose and that we won’t measure up. We need to remember the miracle of running is to start and then to finish. Runners value running because it helps them mentally, physically, and offers hard, but necessary lessons. The most meaningful achievements come from self-imposed struggles.

I am a mom who fits running around family, work, and college (I’m a returning adult student). In short, I’ve had to fit running around life. This hasn’t been easy. If I ran for competition or for high mileage, I would have stopped running all together. There would not have been enough time. Family needs come first. Some years I’ve managed to run more than others. It depended upon what went on in my life. There were times, however, when I thought about giving it up. Life’s demands, as well as harsh winters, seemed to be against me. I’m glad I hung in there and didn’t pressure myself for perfection. When I started to hold myself to a high standard, I reminded myself that running is for my physical and mental health.

The mental benefits of running are numerous and personally surprising. Look for these benefits that pop up and include confidence and character building: a feeling of empowerment and freedom, an improved attitude, a place where stress is released. Running releases endorphins in the body that naturally cause euphoria (runner’s high). Runners also report feeling more focused and determined in all areas of their lives. In addition, recent studies suggest that exercise may improve sleep. An analysis by Youngstedt found that even a single bout of exercise improved sleep. The physical benefits of running include weight loss, improved cardiovascular health, improved bone health and better coordination. It also reduces the risk of disease, stroke, breast cancer, osteoporosis, diabetes, hypertension and heart attacks. Running even maintains the elasticity of arteries. This activity improves general health, raises HDL (or “good”) cholesterol, reduces the risk of blood clots, your lung capacity, and finally, running fights aging (Cummings).

In today’s world, where far too many children are sedentary. Running offers one more important benefit. Children often imitate their parents. Even if they don’t end up becoming runners, they are likely to be active. By setting an example, our children, more often than not, will be active too. Active children almost never have to worry about obesity, and tend to have more self-confidence. They also don’t have as much nervous energy.

As runners, we become better people. Through running I’ve learned to hang in there longer when the going gets tough. I’ve learned that if I do, I can succeed. This mentality filters into everything I do. Running tests me, takes me through harsh difficulties, yet I get through it. A teacher from high-school said it best years ago, “If you haven’t suffered, you’re not worth a damn.”

Check with your doctor first before starting, and then begin slowly. Think of it in terms of levels, like a stairway. Once you’ve made it to the first step, then take another, and so. You can’t expect you’ll be at the top step when you first start out. Don’t do that. You’re setting yourself up for failure. Be nice. Run a little, and then walk a little. Gradually increase running time and lesson your walk time. If life gets in the way, it’s okay. Deal with what ever pops up. Running three days is a good goal, but if your child needs you, or Aunt Martha decides to stay for a few days, don’t give up. If you can run only two days that week, plan to go back to running three the following week. Set goals for yourself, but be realistic and kind to yourself. Remember, you’re running for life and in spite of it.

Biography

Cummings, Jesslyn. “Benefits of Running.” Emory Healthcare. 3 July 2007. www.georgiamarathon.com.

“The Many Benefits of Running.” The Runner’s Guide. 3 July 2007. www.therunnersguide.com.

Youngerstedt, Shawn D., PhD. “Does Exercise Truly Enhance Sleep?” The Physician and Sportsmedicine Vol. 25 – No. 10 Oct. 1997. www.physsportsmed.com.