The Excellent ALMOST Day

Great run today. I never vary from my trail runs, but today, well, my family is out of town and it was a crazy day filled with meetings and appointments. I ALMOST skipped my run, but I didn't.

Got home, leashed up the dog, threw on my Vibram Five Fingers and opened the door. It was 10pm when I walked outside. I ALMOST headed back in to just go to bed, but I didn't.

I ran the bike lane at the side of a 5 mile loop around my home. I live in a very quiet mountainous area with a star-filled sky. It ALMOST took my breath away. I tried teaching my kids about full moons, waxing and waning moons, etc... but they didn't get it. So I told them waxing and waning are ALMOST full moons. I looked up while running and enjoyed the stars and noticed it was an ALMOST full moon. I felt peace at my place in the universe as I continued to run.

My area is nestled around a mountainous golf course. With my trusty k-9 by my side we headed onto a very dark golf course. Here's why:

All day big clouds rolled through the Valley threatening to rain. It hasn't rained her in three months. At one point is ALMOST rained. I was thrilled, hoping it would pour, so I could hit the puddles and run through the rare mud bog. It didn't rain. So my excitement to run in water and mud ALMOST didn't happen until the golf course was being watered and I had endless wet grass and mud. It was an ALMOST turned MOST!

So, here I am. Home. Enjoying dinner - salmon salad. A perfect ending to an ALMOST day. Rest assured, there's nothing ALMOST about my dinner.

RYAN RUNS....11 in his Five Fingers

Ok, not Earth shattering here, but my goals for the week were:

1. Run 11 miles in my Vibram Five Finger Sprints (current Ryan record: 10 miles)
2. Run the 11 miles on trails only

Both goals were accomplished today at 4:45pm PST. As I crested the last hill on South Mountain and rounded for the parking lot I was filled with a Runner's High and my feet picked up their pace. I am conquering the harsh desert one step at a time. Ok, there were a couple of VERY rocky points I had to slow way down and navigate. At those rocky moments, I imagined I was running a trail series race in MN and I was wading through knee-deep water and mud. A man can dream! Instead, I was playing mountain goat on sandy trails and rocky slopes.

Next week: 12 miles! The feet are growing stronger. I'm nuts.

And to top it off, for the first time in four years living here, I was stung by a Scorpion in my own home watching the Travel Channel last night! Damn the scorpions!!!! It's a very intense bee sting. Well, actually, imagine someone taking a screw driver and jamming it into you. That's pretty much it.

Don't worry, I'll heal with no permanant damage. Everything about this place is harsh. I would love to hit some of the MN trails - used to do it all the time when on consulting gigs in a past life. I've run the Life Time Fitness Tri, and I've kayaked the Boundary Waters. In fact, I think I am partly from MN! Something about that place I really like.

I'm going to celebrate my epic run in my Vibrams and whine to someone who will listen about my scorpion sting. Life is a series of opposites, isn't it?

Peace out.

SIMPLIFY. EAT. RUN.

My last week of running was amazing. I am really feeling my endurance strengthing and my feet toughen up as I run trails in my Vibram Five Finger Sprints. I'm dying to get my hands on my new KSOs, but looks like I have to wait a few more weeks.

I've always run trails, but haven't done a lot of trail racing. I'm new to all that, but looking forward to it. It seems there aren't a lot of trail races in AZ, however, the high country will be holding a few things coming up this fall. As we head to triple digits here in Phoenix, the race season stops from June to September. Come fall Flagstaff has a series of nice trail runs. I'm excited about that as I have mountain biked all of the trails and they are the real deal - dense pine trees, mud, deep ravines, vistas, packed soft dirt, etc... So, yeah, I am pumped to put my KSOs to work next fall.

For now I hit the sandy trails on South Mountain and Squaw Peak area. I love the looks I get in my sprints and often start up a conversation on the benefits of running barefoot. It's been fun. I feel like I discovered something everyone should at least try.

Yesterday I ran five easy miles and did hill repeats. From there I meditated lakeside (yup, we have lakes albeit man-made) as the sun came up. It is so charging to take that time and prepare mentally for my day. I've stumbled on a rockin' website: http://www.zenhabits.net/. Check it out. As my life simplifies I have found this to provide daily inspiration. One of my favorites that I cemented to memory yesterday on the run was this:

BREAK FREE FROM THE CLOCK


This is an amazing article on ditching the clock. I have been working on this for some time and have found I now do not need an alarm clock, nor to care to hear that fingers-on-the-chalk-board sound to start my day. Seriously, what could be worse? I have found no issue with time-management. I have huge demands on my day, but my internal clock seems to keep track of things. Of course I wear a watch (haven't gone that far), but my focus now is more on interpersonal connection and listening and less on watching the clock. This has been a freeing process.


I've also begun working on my 100 Things list, trying to capture what 100 things I care to keep in my possession. I am working to be a minimalist in general, however, the concept of documenting this has been intriguing and let me tell you...it is an exercise. It is hard to eliminate and consider what is of most value or purpose in my life as far as material items go. I'm working on it, wrestling with it and have set a goal to have it finished by July 4th. July 4th will be my personal Independence Day from THINGS! Fireworks planned in all cities around the country! Anyway, check it out - it would be great to have others join in on the fun. 100 Things.

Dinner was amazing. Have to share!

Spinich Chicken Salad

Chicken cooked and shredded

Spinich, organic, washed and cleaned (love my Farmer's market for this)

Pine nuts lightly toasted in a pan on the cooktop

Goat Cheese or Feta

Strawberries, washed and sliced

Balsamic Vinegar

Pile on the spinich, throw chicken on, toss on strawberries, pine nuts, and cheese (crumbled) and then drizzle with the vinegar. AMAZING! For now, I love this salad. Add more, or swap out the chicken for something else? Any ideas?

Gotta get some rest - Sunrise run in a few hours. Nothing like cresting the mountain as the sun is coming up and watching it bring the Valley to life.