“Hey dude
Where are you?
Needing more posts on your site??!!
Sitting in office each day needing my weekly inspirational boost!
Keep up the good work and hope alls working out health wise….”
Paul, hope this post lifts your spirits from the Monday morning blues without the boss spotting your office-time distraction. Read your mail while still tucked under two duvet’s on Thursday morning while emotionally numbed by another exhibit of whiteness. Your mail’s challenge was all I could think of as my dread switched to awe spirited by natures mastery.
I’d been out for an hour twenty rain threatening run on Tuesday evening and a snowflake-hailing mountain bike ride on Wednesday morning that was cut short at an hour twenty for fear of loosing my right foot to the devils of ice. Sense of humour finally called it breaking point on Wednesday night as I swivelled on my heal after five minutes of teeth chattering hate. Meaning that your mail was totally untimely – it was me needing inspiration.
(Not the Thursday run, but this morning had another light dusting.)
My homestay kicked me out the door on an overcrowded stomach of muesli and two supposed organic free range eggs which had been enjoyed on the premise that I’d not be bothered to train – which I wasnt. But the clouds had opened to blue skies and the guilt was heavy and she was running, so I gave in and put one fuming foot in front of the other tormented one.
A few strides through the snow following the steps of a runner who’d decided to get out before us!? Get out and feel alive, meet the challenge of the day, breathe it and own it. And here I was still shamefully hissing at my run, which is essence is paid for…
We ran into the thick of the trees as fairy dust (watched Tinkerbell with Ella last week) caked my jacket as the breeze lightened the branches. My senses seemed to intensify and soon I could not suppress my frustration any more than Tinkerbell could change being a Tinker fairy. Crisp air, not a soul in sight beside Gia, Piper (the Burmese mountain dog) and the plodding self. Snow still packed onto the Donner summit in a long shot vista. Special stuff I reckoned, special enough to get Paul off to a day-dreaming start.
(My garminconnect upload off the 310XT. – Had to do a few strides)
Although the 89 highway seems close, we’re elevated on that red-route and seriously lost to being a part of wildlife. On turning, which was when the snowpack was too much for my Puma’s, I sat down on my haunches, facing the small stream pouring crystal energy off the sides of age old boulders. I sat and I was moved. I sat and felt a long way from home. I sat and felt at home.
Piper kicked from my left across the road and into the wet grassy meadow to my right with intent contradicting her fatigue – on the chase. I mindlessly prepared an encouraging holler when Gia went from running pose to motionless prey in an instant; in less time than it took whisper “bear”. Shit me. My brave encouragement to Piper turned to my sprinting game face. I was ready to jump Gia’s shoulders. But then thanks to the fairy godmother of the squirel I murdered the bear was as cowardly and had run vertically up a giant pine tree and now hugged it liked it was mother meets child which made me relax the 160mm rotor eyes I had going. WTF.
If I had been hibernating for the winter and saw a skinny white boy from Africa in my neck of the woods, I’d have a go. Not the calming thoughts you want to have. Seriously Paul. Not the recommended play. But what does a skinny white boy from Africa know about bears?
The resulting adrenaline was enough to provoke me through the first five strides, and from there its all downhill home to ten. Running in the silence my internal critics, in the silence that follows snow, running thinking what Paul would give to be by my side, running humbled and shamed and motivated and determined to get to the coffee I missed by being rushed, I felt privileged.
I kept thinking of my life, in contrast to your office, and mate, I appreciate you keeping me honest. Its not been all smooth, it never will be, and tasted some downs over the past two months that were new to the brash tongue, but its still the dream and I best never forget that much.
Have a fine week – thanks again for the mail. [Just so you know - spring showed up on Saturday morning!]
