110-116 Down, 229 To Go!

OK, BEST cool down song EVER… even though it’s about loneliness, I love using this song to stretch and recover a bit. If you don’t know their music, you should really really check it out. Gipsy Kings. Pasajero is their best album (in my opinion).

Back to the running…

It’s been about a week since I last posted and I kind of feel bad about that. It’s not that I think there are readers out there pining for my next edition, but I think I should probably stick to my commitments a little bit better…

HAHAHHAHAHAHAHAHA

I mean, COME ON! I run EVERY friggin’ DAY! I’ve made such a stellar habit out of running each day that my friends bring it up when making plans (ie “well, you could run before we meet up” or “can you run a bit later so we can hang out and talk for a bit?”), I laugh in the face of doomsday clouds and hangovers, the employees of Blockbuster and Tesco enquire about my progress, and feeling lazy now means I’ve run under 2 miles that day! Not too shabby…

BUT…

Complacency will only allow my progress to stutter to a halt. Will Rogers once said, “Even if you’re on the right track you’ll get run over if you just sit there.” I believe you can make any action a habit and I’m pretty sure most people would agree with me. My newest is running everyday, while my Mom kisses her debit card after getting out cash (so she doesn’t forget it in the machine) and my loveably neurotic flatmate kisses her dog 6 times before leaving the house (not an especially useful habit to anyone else, but her and Baloo!). So, I’ve achieved one new and positive habit… time for  some more!

• Eating more healthily (meaning eating less processes crap and more fruit and veg)
• Thinking kindly of those around me, with less judgement and more compassion
• Cleaning/organizing at least one drawer/box/area everday… this will become packing soon
• Vacuuming once/week
• Having 2-3 hard training days/week (BOSTON!!!)
• Emailing or calling one family member or friend everyday

Now, that is a small list for some and a large one for others. For me (who is really the one who actually needs to do these things… wouldn’t your list be pretty different?), these items are NOT habits. They are just little things I really wish I did more regularly. I mean, who doesn’t want to talk to friends and family more often?! It’s just the doing that’s the trouble… like those first few steps out the door.

Buddhism teaches of impermanence, which I’m pretty sure I have mentioned. It’s not a belief or a theory, but pretty much how it works. Think back over the last 5-10 years of your life. What about the past 15-20 (if you should be so lucky to have that much experience)? Much has changed. Nothing is quite the same as it was in probably any point of your history, right?! Even the relationships you are still a part of have grown or shrunk; have changed in some noticeable way. Our circumstances, our geological position on the planet, and our body is not the exact same as it was even an hour ago (and if you are still on your couch, maybe you should get up and move around a little. If for no other reason, then to make me right… I like being right.)

What’s my point? Ummm… wait a second… I swear I had one!

It’s this: Life keeps changing, so we should use each day to find someway to change with it. If it’s a long term goal (like qualifying for Boston) or just a little resolution for the moment (I’ll smile at the next person I see), there is always… ALWAYS some way to do what you want, to make yourself into who you want to be, to start working on making that action a habit that you can be proud of…

I’m no expert, but I’ve gotten the hang of this habit forming thing and am thinking I should make another before I lose my touch.

PS: Congrats to all of the runners of yesterday’s London Marathon! I enjoyed cheering you on and soaking up the inspiration. Even if you had to walk or didn’t cross the finish, remember you at least said Good Morning to the starting line… it’s at least a step in the right direction. Well done everyone!!

109 Down, 256 To Go!

New day… new goal!

No, I have not decided to forego the completion of 365 straight runs, but I HAVE come up with a longer term goal while running tonight that I’m initally very enthusiastic about…

Qualify for and run the Boston Marathon by my 35th birthday!

I just looked up the definition of “goal.” As you might imagine, there are several. My favorite was, “Dream with a deadline.” It’s from a business dictionary online and that kind of makes sense to me, since many in business would consider success their ultimate dream… and wouldn’t setting and reaching goals aid in that endeavor?

So back to Anya Goal #137.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s longest running annual marathon, which is being run for the 114th time today! What a great day to come up with my new personal challenge (I knew it was coming up, but was reminded by Bostonian Coach Caitlin that today was Patriot’s Day… the holiday on which the marathon is held)! This particular marathon is highly regarded among distance runners as a bit of an Everest, for it requires a qualifying time for entry. That time for my age group (which will remain my age group as long as I qualify and run Boston before Aug. 29, 2016) is 3 hours and 40 minutes… a mere 47 minutes faster than my marathon personal best (which doesn’t seem like much until you break it down to the 1 min 45 secs I’ll have to knock off PER MILE for 26 miles and 385 yards… no sweat!).

But, I love goals. I enjoy setting myself a task and working my little heart out until I achieve it. It’s fun for me. It’s motivation to push myself to get off my butt and having an end somehow justifies the means… because really, it’s mainly about the journey. If this blog hasn’t taught me at least that much, I’m not doing this correctly…

So, one of the first steps in achieving any goal… after setting the deadline to the dream and spending a few feverish minutes sketching out a plan of action… is to tell someone. Actually, it’s best to tell several someones. I’ve already gushed with excitement (not readily shared) about my idea to my sister, Coach Caitlin, my brother, and my flatmate Kelly. I think Baloo overheard, but he’s not into distance running… yet! My Mom will know almost as soon as this blog is published, as she is my best reader. My Father will then know within moments of her reading… ah, spread the word!  The best way to keep yourself honest is to move forward with the knowledge that more than just you will know if you fail. Hey, it works.

So, inclusion into the ranks of elite marathon runners – YES PLEASE! Therefore, multiyear training plan – GO!!

PS: Salmon baked covered in raw avocado with a light sprinkle of cumin and sea salt over brown rice… YUMMY!

108 Down, 257 To Go!

It’s always a great change of pace to not only run at a different venue, but to also add a partner! Today, I headed to the beautiful Trent Park with my great running buddy Caitlin. We covered a few miles and plenty of subjects as we enjoyed the sunshine along the trails.

Sometimes a little company and a new cardiovascular workout (my motor-mouth and lots of adventure on each of our horizons) makes getting out the door the best decision you made all day!

107 Down, 258 To Go!

You’ll have to excuse my rambling, but somewhere in the flow of today I become struck by an important issue.

Women’s rights.

Steve McCurry's image published in National Geographic.

Before you start to think that this will be a feminist rant, please read the following entry by one of my favorite bloggers, CJane. “I am not, it turns out.”

Men and women will never be equal. We are not meant to be, I believe. That in no way means that I buy into the 1950′s ideal of Father going off to work each morning with a peck on the cheek from Mother, who will care for their Norman Rockwell-esque brood all day and still have a piping hot meal on the table by 5pm. Um, no… not in the slightest.

I’m not sure I can ever explain what I am mean better than CJane did in that post. We are not equal because we will always be different. Physically and mentally women differ from men. It’s just the way it is. BUT that doesn’t mean that we should be paid less, be required to masculinize ourselves in order to be taken seriously, or be looked down upon for having the ambitions to have a successful career. I, as a woman in a profession historically considered to be men’s work, appreciate that the western world is starting to see to it that women are given equal opportunity (if not a generalized equality that I don’t believe can be obtained… see above).

I have been incredibly lucky to be surrounded by brave women with unimaginable strength. I could list each of the women in my family and tell you of the feats of courage they have exhibited to get them to where they are today, but I’ll save that for another day. The same could be done for my friends… Today, the issue that has had me near tears for the entire day is the treatment of women across the globe, where they are viewed more like livestock than the special creatures that they are. Each and every women is a gift that shouldn’t be discarded…

This morning, between about 5 and 9am when the jet lag was rearing its ugly head, I opened my computer and went to the BBC website. Now I know a lot of programs are shown in particular light and the magic of editing can get some producer’s political views spread across television sets nationwide, but a woman’s first hand account can’t so easily be dismissed. The wee hours of morning sent me on a journey from Eastern Congo to Afghanistan. These very different cultures are experiencing very different conflicts, but the themes of women’s rights (or lack thereof) were similar no matter the region. The horrors many women survive (if they are so lucky?) are all brutal attempts to suppress them, to stifle their unique womanhood, and to make them believe that they are the inferior sex.

We are not, in so very many ways, the inferior sex.

Please don’t misinterpret my meaning. I’m not a man-hater, who sees that the root of all evil is the bearer of a penis. I have been equally blessed with exceptional men in my life. American men in particular seem to appreciate femininity and womanly strength. I have never been made to feel worthless or had to fear for my life because of a man. I am now starting to realize how lucky I am…

I do have a problem with archaic notions of women as the weaker sex that just need a man to control them. I am not so naive to believe that every society that sees women in this light will change during my lifetime. Certain religions, countries, and communities will always treat women without respect and without a hint of compassion.

I can’t change that fact, but I can continue the cultivation of pride in being female that was begun however many generations ago by the Kajlich and Campana women before me. I can also see to it that my voice and opinion is heard.

*WHAT THIS HAS TO DO WITH RUNNING: Tonight’s run was the final straw which possessed me to write about my feelings. I was pondering the day’s events and my feelings about this morning’s viewing when I passed a selection of young women heading out for their Saturday night with a couple of lads leading the pack. These girls were scantily clad, only to be heavily covered by makeup. I wanted to stop them… this is what I felt like saying:

Girls, you may not know me and you may laugh at these words, for they come from a sweaty women in her running gear at 9pm on a Saturday night. I still feel the need to plea with you. Respect yourselves. Take care of yourselves and all the opportunities and privileges you don’t realize you have. Whatever you choose to wear, walk as tall as your 4″ heels can carry you and don’t let anyone make you feel cheap, less than amazing, or inferior. Don’t act because some guy tells you it’s what he wants, proceed as you only see fit. Do not give up your right to make choices for yourself and realize what a privilege it is to go out into the world without supervision and to speak your mind without fear of your legal system coming down on your back. Try to remember that not every woman in the world could do as you do tonight and you might want to consider how very very lucky you are each day.

And I also want to mention a few things to the men because everyone knows I can’t keep my mouth shut! Gentlemen, if you indeed deserve that address (I’m not cynical, I believe you all do… at least sometimes), realize how lucky you are to have women in your lives. You may scoff and taunt that we are actually the lucky ones, but don’t we already tell you that we indeed consider ourselves to be such? What you fail to see is that women are so pure and so optimistic by nature that we feel wealthy when awash in your love, even the bastards among you. What you often overlook is that we have love that brims over out of our eyeballs and we’ll give it to just about anyone. This is not because we are unintelligent or easily swindled into believing you are Prince Charming in the flesh, but because we believe that you deserve our love just by being human. Why can so many of you not return that courtesy? Why can’t you see that we’re never tough through and through, as you pretend to be. Be sweet and kind to the women in your life and you will always be cared for, you will never be without the warmth of a female heart. Women are often times more intelligent, more spectacularly creative, and better equipped to get the job done than you men are, but we at least don’t set out each day to prove that to you! Why must you try to fulfill your own fantasies of world domination by making a woman feel small? Try to work on that and you will be pleasantly surprised at the rewards.

The wind has left my sails and I’m suddenly very very tired (not jet lag related, I believe). I do not mean to upset anyone amongst you, my supporters. I only wish to empower myself to be a better person and to speak my mind. Men and women, we are not equal, but does that change the overall action required? I feel we need to work harder to either see the strength that lies within each of us or to try to better recognize that in others. The same should be done for love.

Maybe someday the women and men that are suffering needlessly will feel it from us.

What a difference a run can make…

104-106 Down, 259 To Go!

Somehow the days fly by and I don’t blog when I mean to… how is it that even the simplest of intentions slips by?

The last few runs have been great and all sorts of distances. Getting out the door wasn’t ever that big of a challenge, but the sunshine and laid back days (still suffering from severe jet lag somehow, but less intense than normal lectures seems to be helping) must have helped.

Today… run #107… it’s a toughie. Getting out of the door has been on the top of my list of things to procrastinate in doing. UGH! BUT the beauty of a daily task is that even when it’s 8:30 pm, you know it must be done! So here I go…

Here’s hoping the first steps are the hardest part of the run!

103 Down, 262 To Go!

In an effort to improve the frequency of my blogging…

I ran today. I took Baloo. It was short and fun and Baloo (even though it was a super short run) seemed kind of spent…

...and once again, he has gotten even BIGGER!

98-102 Down, 263 To Go!

*Post Disclaimer: I’m a cheese-ball, but it’s fun.

Over 100 runs and still at it! Song of the run…

It passed with mild excitement and only a few high fives (not the usual frenzy of knuckle bumps), but it was kind of perfect that way. A couple runs near Seattle, two outside Chicago, and today’s in North London and I couldn’t be more excited for the next 200+… and I’m totally being serious!

This challenge is young still, but it’s already been eye-opening, mind-bending, body-shaping, and incredibly empowering! So, now seems about the time to reflect on what 100 runs taught me. These are my own little lessons, but I thought maybe you’d like to hear ‘em:

• The hardest part is taking the first few steps. Once you have momentum, you get to let gravity help you keep going!
• Nothing beats the feeling of a hard-fought success. Whether it be by pushing forward a little bit faster or through that extra mile, it always pays in pride to push yourself a little (while allowing for recovery days of course)
• People in general come in all shapes, sizes, and attitude – just like the faction of us that call ourselves runners! Running in someone else’s shoes isn’t great for your feet, but it sure pays to smile and say hello… and maybe even invite them along for the journey. The kindest people are those that you’re kind to…
• Starting a day off with a little activity is like getting a bit of a head start out of the gate… you’re brighter, happier, and more prepared than the rest of the field (and so is your metabolism)!
• Running is like music… it always has its place in the day and if you allow yourself to relax and enjoy it, it may just remind you what living is all about (and it will sure as hell make your final push up a steep hill all the easier) BUT a little silence, like a bit of rest, is golden. By learning to savor both, you learn a little lesson in balance.
• Attitude is everything. A run can start anyway it likes, but your attitude and intentions will determine how it ends. Give yourself credit where it is due and realize that saying something is impossible makes it instantly unobtainable!
• The body is not as pliable or quickly recovering at 28 as it was at 18, BUT that doesn’t mean it can’t LEARN and IMPROVE through hard work and the right kind of treatment. Life is incredible short. Shouldn’t that be reason enough?

There is so much more, but of course my mind is clearest while I’m racing the wind and not right before bed. The beauty is that I get to do this again tomorrow… and maybe I’ll remember the rest then.

RUN ON FRIENDS!!!