Another Week

Looks like running has been in the tank for sometime, mileage is at an all time low, and if Boodini wasn't on her weight fitness program since her Vet visit that 12 miles would be zero for me. There has always been hills and valleys in our horizon, but now even lifestyles are changing. At first it was just a phase, or because of real deal responsibilities, and when everything is added and compounded, well it's tank time. Work continues to be out of control, so there is no letting up there, it will take energy and will and suck it right out of you. It's not a question of age, because it spite of the rage, we feel pretty chummy. There is a marathon for me at the end of the week, and it will be another grin and bear it to the finish. Providing there are no thunderstorms, where Boodini will be gnashing her teeth, and I just don't crater and not show up, it will provide a chance to sweat and redeem something of what is left. But this isn't the only thing to living. Because amidst the in betweens of what used to be and what is there is always another week ahead, and greatly daring to just take what you have and realize that many don't even have that much.

The Other Side

With the dread of the the annual veterinarian visit, and going through the repeated antics with this ordeal it's great to be done. The shots were administered, blood and fluid samples taken, and now the only hope is that everything is in range and we don't have to return. This year I am sure we payed for a new machine for the clinic and the excuse is always "well Boodini is older and there are more things in different parts of her body that can go wrong"? If it was up to her she would be happy to have nothing to do with any of it! That was Good Friday alright. Holy Saturday with her nub turned downward it was obvious she was sore and leave her best alone, cause the girl does get grumpy. Easter had that resurrected side to it cause her nub was up and the cats were in sight. Boodini probably figured chances were slim I would be taking her back to the Doc, so things were a bit more chipper. So now we concentrate on losing a few of those added pounds, diet and exercise is our mantra and that ought to take us all the way to Pentecost.

How Holy Week

If you are one that made a few changes to your routine over the last six weeks leading up to the end of this week, Easter Sunday, you can start heading to the barn for your sacrifice is in the bag. In a few days you can return to whatever it was you left alone for your intentions and good reason. For me, all my hopes of sinning less obviously was a big letdown, and no matter the good intentions things have just about played out the same. However, staying the course and running the race in hopes of some victors crown would also be a laugh at best. Still taking all things in stride it is best no matter to continue with the small things and even smaller steps. Being still above the ground there is always today to keep moving forward, doing your best and forgetting the rest. Maybe if there was a Easter egg hunt to go to it would seem a bit more exciting, but it is always what we make of it.

Test Ride

So yesterday I finally got the chance to run in two new shoes. For the first loop of Bull Creek I had the Hoka Rapa Nui which is a narrower fit compared to its cousin the Evo. Using Hoka shoes has been a huge learning curve because for me the sizing seems to be all over the page. Even with the Evo which fit fine I had issues with the toe box grinding away my toes. Nonetheless the Rapa has  a much firmer feel and doesn't project the usual cushy feel that the Bondi or the Evo have. Maybe after a few more uses they will break in and feel more flexible. They are light and have a 5mm drop, and I am not aware what all that means, but I will use that comment for the next pair I tried on the finishing loop. I switched over to the Altra Olympus and immediately my first thought was I am wearing a moccasin. The feel was a definite change, the toe box is wider, I could feel the cushion, the drop was the same 5mm, but they felt far more flexible, and felt broken in with the first push. I really enjoyed the run in these shoes. I have the Lone Peak but haven't run many miles in them, and not in a race because I wasn't confident I was familiar with the zero drop philosophy. Yes both shoes are going to used in races in the future, but I think in this test the Altra won hands down!

The Great Boodini World Tour Cancelled

I purposely stayed later this morning from going into work, testing to check out my BiLocational techniques. But when the phone rang and it was the technician I was scheduled to work with and he asked where I was, and I replied, "I'm in the shop" and he said, "No you are not, cause I'm standing outside the shop and the light is off and no one is home???". That's when I knew I was at home and not at work at the same time. When I got to work, I called home, and she answered, " How's it going at work today?", and I told her,"I'm in the garage", and she said  "No your not! I'm in the garage loading some clothes to wash, and I don't see your happy ass cause your on the phone with me from work!!!". Things were not shaping up, and I had no control. You have to be able to switch it on and off to make this work if your in show biz. Well Boodini, hell she was ready. She has plenty of costumes and hats and can do her agility tricks and herding techniques, so when I told her it was a no go she was obviously very disappointed. Well it's back to the same old ten two and four around here in Mudville. We had our moment of bliss and it is just quickly erased before you even know it was there.

Transcendental

I have finally reached samadhi, nirvana, Boodini and I will probably be headed on a world tour now. The Great Boodini traveling show it shall be called. Earlier today I was contacted and told that I had finished the 50K this past weekend, which I almost yelled back, No I did not! But your name is on the finish results  he said. I told him I was at home as stated, in a previous post, that Boodini turned hostile and I stayed back to play referee, and did nothing. But I think I have the power of BiLocation. I stayed at home and at the same time in another place I ran the ultra. It is impossible to explain, but now it is true. Maybe even some of the other runners will say" Yes he was running alongside us", hence World Tour. It is not something I can recall, and have no memory of this happening, but nonetheless, the memory does play tricks on us all. I am pondering what next event I shall run while never leaving the confines of my home?

Goalie

It is obvious that if there is a carrot in front of a horse's snout it will try and eat it. So it isn't too terribly amazing, that if there is a desired result at the end of the tunnel, and this is tried and true, you will set out to accomplish getting the hell out of darkness and into the light. If I use the formula prescribed of establishing X amount of miles a week to run, and note the progress, it becomes a job that needs to be done. Boodini works well when there is a task at hand, and will only see that task versus some evil behavior. We are very much alike in this aspect. However, there also must be some quality versus quantity involved. But in the meanwhile, it is good to know that the path to success can be achieved by being resolute to a plan. Without it nothing gets done. It would have been nice to be a freak flag waving hippie and doing what the hell one wants, because everything is cool, but you would end up blitzed on good ideas, and no concrete results done. Now go make a goal, get a hair cut and a shave, quit looking at life through the wrong end of the telescope, and get a ticket on the train back to reality.