Accentuate the positive. That's a phrase that keeps coming into my head these days. It's been an interesting and sometimes challenging couple of weeks for me. As I tend to be pretty open and honest - what's the point of being anything, but, I do like to use this blog to share and sometimes reflect on changes in my life. And as always, find some correlations or takeaways that are relevant to Teens Run Westchester.
Well, let's start with my - what I'm starting to call - my personal running journey. Before, it just used to be my running. But now that I'm in the place of having to rediscover what works and what doesn't, I consider myself on a new journey that may just encompass my entire life. As I've explained to a few people in my life who don't really understand why I haven't just taken up biking, I've been (what I like to call) alternatively inspired by some folks. I won't name any names because it's totally unimportant. What I will say is that my aim is to never be that person who you see and when you talk about running says "oh, I used to do that but then on and on (knees, feet etc) happened. Or that are constantly complaining about it. I know I've said it before but it does bother me to look at some old posts and see my whining about this or that. I've decided I'm taking the personal journey and long view approach. I'm trying many things and thinking of myself as a lifelong runner that may be "stopped at port" or going slow around the harbor for a bit. I have no idea whatsoever why I'm using these marine type of metaphors. But whatever.
Point being, accentuate the positive. Over the last four days, I've run ever other day for slightly increasing distances. Nothing super long but just good solid runs of 40 than 45 minutes. Being in Canada, hard to say whether I have to do more adjusting the cold or my newer style of running. Speaking of which, my focus has been on running with the Chi Running technique that I worked on with my instructor. And interestingly, every time I go out, I go out with the practiced mindset of form over speed - and oddly, my speed while never a big bragging point, has picked up and been respectable.
The other thing that's been intriguing is how much you notice things when you, well, want to notice them. My instructor had pointed out that I didn't do much with my arms. So, as a result, I've been really focused on using more of an arm swing as I run. At the same time, I've been equally focused on an upright posture which allows for energy flow, less front of foot running and a more natural mid foot strike. Bottom line, I've felt better towards the ends of these runs than even starting. Really cool. Not a negative but I've also been advised to "lose the Newtons", shoes I'm sure I've written about due to my devotion to them over the last three years. While I will continue to pledge my respect and admiration for having supported me through my last 8 marathons and 10 halfs (or something like that), I do recognize that I've formed a dependence on them. Being out yesterday on a somewhat minimalist but sill well cushioned pair of Asic Gel-lyte 33 felt distinctively different- but very good by the end. Oh well, fire sale on my many pair of Newtons - get ready ebay community!
So, parallels? Well, I - or I should say my wife and I have embarked on yet another step along a journey - that being our move to Toronto. This weekend, we moved into a great place in an area called Summerhill in Toronto. Adjustments here too? Plenty but exciting and forward moving ones. It's always amazing - and kind of a special and good uncomfortable - when you need to get used to a new home, city and neighborhood (yep, all at once!). Sometimes, its the simplicity of where you store your socks, the place you get coffee and -- even where you do your running. And certainly the weather when you do that running! But it's an exciting adventure and that's certainly the way to look at it. No doubt, your socks may not all fit in the space, the coffee place will be closed that second time you go there (gotta get those hours down!) and you'll freeze your hands off because you didn't wear warm enough gloves (happened Saturday) but it's all an exciting part of starting over and moving forward.
Lesson - easy. Like I said, look at the positives and keep the negatives to your sleeping moments. In other words, why bother. And don't be afraid of changes and the bumps and stumbles along the way. So many others have said this better and with more grace but it really is a cool journey when you can learn to appreciate the bumps and stumbles along the way. It makes getting up that much more fun!
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