Lazy days...

It's not a good thing to be feeling lazy right now!!!

I have been working out and running here and there this week. I could have put more time into running...I'll put more time into it this week! Tomorrow I hop on a damn plane and fly north! It got cold down this way...which is good because I almost forgot what 40 degrees was like! It is fucking COLD! HAHA! I love it-my body does not! I will be wearing many layers up north! I hope that I don't have a repeat of yesterday...all I could think about was eating! I'm starved for meat and haven't had any for days...
This cold weather is driving me to add more fat to my body-that's all I need-more weight-running and lifting have already caused me to gain weight-I add muscle way faster than I burn fat and with winter coming my body doesn't want to burn fat right now, it wants to keep it!

Anyway, about my past workouts. The only day that I remember is...Saturday afternoon [10.18] I lifted and then went on a 5 mile hike hoping to find some edible mushrooms-we didn't find many-it was mostly random unknown mushrooms. I ran Saturday night. It was fucking cold. It was down in the 40's I believe. I waited until late on purpose just to get an idea of what it was going to be like to be running in the cold. FUCK! I started off fast. I couldn't help but run fast, I told myself to slow down, but I wanted to run fast to warm up! My muscles were extremely tight, after a few minutes I finally slowed down. And then the fucking mucus build up that was lodged in my throat started to gag me! I needed water and I was only 1 damn mile into my run! I also ran without my iPod...I don't know if it was just because it was Saturday night or what but people driving by felt the need to fucking honk at me. It got annoying. I only did 3 miles and the cold made my muscles feel odd! They were on fire and had a weird sort of pain-that wasn't painful-just weird...anyway, I can't wait to run the Wisconsin trails in the cold cold cold! I'm going to do two runs today. They will equal 10 miles. I might just do two 5 mile runs or I might split it up some other way...then I'm going to workout...I need to pack right now though! (I'll see you tomorrow Evan!)

I just realized this is a long blog-I feel like typing!

More later.

Running ain't easy...yesterday's run...10.15...

...but I sure as hell love it! Running teaches you a lot about yourself. What you are capable of...what you're not but what you are willing to push yourself to do. It also makes you listen to your body! And in my case, and many others, ignore the body and keep pushing through the pain anyway!

It bothers me that we live in a society that makes it harder to do things that should be easy and natural...our bones-our bodies are weak because we are raised to do nothing worthwhile and to eat shit...it's sad that kids now are told to sit in front of the television and to play Nintendo games...and this Wii shit...um, that is not fucking exercise...go outdoors for a walk instead...have your children go outside for a walk with you...give them a healthier future...

Running is just another part of the rewilding/learning process...it's not always easy, it is fun-even when it isn't easy, it can hurt mentally and physically at times, but it is worth all the effort, and the adventures are fucking awesome! Like when you get stuck in the forest running and there is no light-the Sun at rest and the Moon now doing her job-but usually her shine can't penetrate the forest floor...you think you're still on the trail, your feet telling you different because the ground all of a sudden became softer, but you keep going anyway, and SLAM, you find yourself in a bush!!! It's exciting!

Anyway, yesterday I did a trail run. The old trail...I love this trail. Probably because it is an easier trail and I know it pretty well!!! With few hills at the very end that ramp things up a bit! I put in 6 miles and walked a little over 2 miles. I came across two Great Blues wading through the water looking for a meal. Also the buzz-chirp of the Kingfisher while he flew down the waters path! I always love that! He always keeps you alert!

Running through the forest is always the best! I did that run around noon. And it is still too warm down this way! Where the hell is the cold weather?! The north is hogging it up!

I lifted last night at midnight. It was good. Short, but not sweet! The workout really kicked my ass. It really had the sweat pouring off me like somebody came along and dumped a bottle of water over my head...sweat in the eyes=SUCK!

Alright, more later.

Eh...

I just got a great workout in. Only with weights though. Then cramps took over. I want to run but my body and stomach want a hot bath. I think I might give in to the hot bath. That would be two days in a row of not running...hmmm. Not good. I'm beat though. That workout kicked my ass and I should be drinking a lot of water considering the amount of sweat that just came out of me! I'm ready to sweat more in the tub-I like my water boiling!

Hopefully I'll make a good pacer!!! At least I have a big mouth...that should make up for any lack of running that I can't pull through with...

I'm glad that my Moon sickness came now and not a week later. Although this is the time that I need energy to get a week of good training in before I leave...whatever. Tomorrow is a new day, hopefully I'll have some energy...

Time for that hot bath and then some good sleep.

Also, this is not related to running at all, but my TV died today...it is gone. I'm so happy about this...I have been waiting for this moment for too long now and it has finally happened! YES!

Yesterday...10.12...

So I had this bright idea to travel over 90 minutes to run 10 miles...what a disaster!!! No need for details-I didn't run 10 miles...I ran 4-5 miles!

HAHA! It was a good adventure-full of weirdos and civil war battlefields! Eh, should have stuck to the original plan and went to hang with some waterfalls...next time...

More later.

10.10...

I ran late last night. I did 5 miles on a fucking track...BORING! I don't plan to ever do that again!

Yesterday...10.9...

I don't know how many miles I ran. I was in the woods for a very long time though! I'm going to say it was 6 miles but it could have been more. The hills really make a difference!!! They knocked me out yesterday!

I have to run 10 miles today but it is late in the day so I might have to do 10 miles tomorrow morning and 7 miles tonight...

I have no energy. I was out waaay too late last night...I'm really tired...

More later.

Last night 10.6...

I ran 6 miles last night. I did not eat enough yesterday, and I didn't drink enough water, so the run was exhausting instead of energizing. My lower legs and feet are tired and a bit sore today. I only have 3.5 miles to run today. I'm going to hit up the hellish trail I ran the other day-I will be running along the lake and Persimmon trees...I'm not complaining!

More later.

Oh, my! 10.3 and 10.5...

Friday I did 6.5 miles. What a great run! It was late and I ran down the highway through the country. Something about running from the city and the bright lights motivated me and gave me lots of energy. (Lil Jon screaming in my ear also had me stoked!)
Yes, I really enjoyed Friday's run. The feeling I got can't be put into words. It was so great that I danced-ran the last .5 miles!

And today. I found the perfect trail. Buckeye Trail! It was hell! HELL! My legs are going to be sore tomorrow. It has everything that I have been looking for in a trail. The dirt is pretty much sand-it was almost like running on the beach in spots. The rocks are abundant and loose from the many horses that tromp along (it is a horse trail.) The hills and the downhills are plenty and really made it a hard run! Perfect for training...
My breathing was heavy!!! It literally was one hill after the other on this trail and I had to be sure that I didn't slip or trip over rocks and roots when I descended. Oh yes, today was a great run. I will be seeing a lot of this trail over the next couple of weeks...
(I ran between 4-6 miles on this trail - I ran for 60 minutes. This trail doesn't have mile markers...so I'll have to wear my watch to keep track...)

And my meal was cooked over a fire tonight. It tasted great! Just what my body needed.

I feel good. More later.

Schedule for the next 3-4 weeks

3: d8, 10 mins jump rope, run 5 miles med.-1 mile easy = 6 miles total
4: d9, 10 mins jump rope, run 6 miles easy
5: d10-off, 5-8 miles easy (judge by leg)

6: d11, 10 mins jump rope, run 6 miles w/ 8 strides
7: d12, 10 mins jump rope, run 2.5 miles hard-1 mile easy = 3.5 miles total
8: d13-off, run-off
9: d14-off, 2 miles easy-6 miles med.-2 miles easy = 10 miles total
10: d15, 10 mins jump rope, run 5-7 miles easy (judge by leg)
11: d16, 10 mins jump rope, run 40 mins easy
12: d17-off, run 20 mins easy

13: d18, 10 mins jump rope, run 6 miles easy
14: d19, 10 mins jump rope, 3.5 miles hard-1 mile easy-2 miles hard = 6.5 miles total
15: d20-off, run-off
16: d21, 10 mins jump rope, run 7 miles med-2 miles easy = 9 miles total
17: d22, 10 mins jump rope, run 6 miles easy
18: d23-off, run 50 mins easy-15 mins hard
19: d24-off, run 5 miles easy

20: d25, 10 mins jump rope, run 10 miles slow
21: d26, run-off...AIRPORT MADNESS, YEA! (Evan, my plane better not crash!)
22: d27-off, run 3 miles easy-10 mins hard (or some other random mileage)
23: d28-off, run 7 miles med.-2 miles slow = 9 miles total (or some other random mileage)
24: run 5-6 miles easy (or some other random mileage)
25: Be Evan's "bitch" for the day aka "run" 10 miles up and down lots of hills...ahhh?!!! HAHA!
26: Rest or run random mileage

27: Rest or run random mileage
28: AIRPORT MADNESS AGAIN!
29: d29, 10 mins jump rope, run easy mileage
30: d30, 10 mins jump rope, run easy mileage

Foot races...

Just a few nights ago I was talking about Indigenous people and running with a friend (you Evan.)
Several days before having this conversation I started reading the book titled Wooden Leg. Which happens to be about Wooden Leg and his band, the Cheyenne. He was one of the warriors who fought Custer.

Anyway, I got up and started reading. And after much talking about hunts and feasts he goes on about the competitive sports that he and his people would take part in. The Sioux, when joined with his tribe, would take part in these events too:

"Competitive sports used to interest us. Horse races, foot races, wrestling matches, target shooting with guns or with arrows, tossing the arrows by hand, swimming, jumping and other like contests were entered upon. In the tribe such competition usually was between men representing the three warrior societies. These were the Elk warriors, the Crazy Dog warriors, and the Fox warriors. If any Sioux tribe or big band camped jointly with us the matches were between representative members of the two tribes. Bets were made on every kind of contest. The stakes were of guns, ammunition, bows and arrows, blankets, horses, robes, jewelry, shirts, leggings, moccasins, everything in the line of personal property. The betting always was on even terms. Articles were piled upon a blanket, matched articles in apposition to each other. The winners took all and shouted over the victory.

The Elk warriors, the society to which I belonged, had the best runners. Our speediest man on foot was named Apache. He was almost as tall as I was [Wooden Leg, in his old age, was measured at 6'2" - 235lbs. In his youth he may have been several inches taller.] and he was much heavier. He had remarkably big thighs. One time at a double camping with the Ogallalas on upper Powder river a foot race was arranged between the two tribal champions. The Ogallala fast man was tall and slender. His name was Black Legs. The distance they were to run was about a mile, I believe, although at that time we had no measurements for distance. Four friends of each man accompanied the two racers to the starting point. A revolver shot told them when to go. Near the finish the Sioux fell exhausted. Our man Apache was very tired, but he ran on to the end of the route. Of course, the Cheyennes took all the stakes, let out a chorus of cheers and fired their guns into the air.

"The Cheyenne medicine broke his legs," the Sioux said when their man collapsed.

The old Chief Little Wolf had been a great runner when he was a young man. The longer the distance the better it suited him. As the Cheyennes and the Ogallalas were traveling together in moving camp there was much bantering such as, "I think the Sioux can travel faster than the Cheyennes can," or, "It appears the Cheyennes must go a little more slowly in order not to run away from their friends the Sioux." Finally a young Sioux jokingly challenged Little Wolf to a foot race.

"How," assented Little Wolf, "I'll run with you."

The caravan was stopped and arrangements were made for the race. Little Wolf then was past fifty years of age, while his Sioux challenger was just entering young manhood. Nevertheless, the Cheyennes backed their chief heavily. A great pile of bets were placed upon the containing blankets. Four Cheyennes and four Sioux went with the two men to the agreed starting point, which must have been three or four miles away. At the crack of a revolver shot the race began. Up to the last mile the young Sioux kept well in the lead. Then he began to move more slowly. It appeared Little Wolf never changed his pace. So he closed up toward the leader. In the last part of the last mile he went ahead, still running at what appeared to be his same rate while the other man's speed continued to lessen. By a broad hundred yards Little Wolf won the contest. Many of the Sioux, even some who had lost bets, joined the Cheyennes in cheering for the old man."

!!! This section of the book made my morning!

More later.

Nice night for a run...10.1...

I went out for my run tonight-around 9:30PM. The weather is nice and cool right now. I was cold when I started my run.
The run was really nice and I feel refreshed right now. I ran 6 miles and walked 1 mile total as a warm-up and cool-down.

I made some awesome food tonight too. MMM! Yea!

More later.