Another long silence since my last post. What can I say? I mean to write more often. In fact, I do write...nearly every day...but only in my head. Somehow, the time to transpose all those words to this blog never materializes. Hopefully, that will change once the Cabot Trail Relay is behind me.
The other reason I haven't written much lately is that I'm struggling with my running. I'm not sure why. The winter's dragging on (we had another snowfall last week!) and I've been busy with other things but I usually feel more energized about running once the weather warms up. This year, it seems I feel less and less motivated as race season approaches.
It may be that knowing I haven't trained as much as I usually do over the winter I'm anticipating a tough start to the season. Or maybe my age is catching up with me. Or maybe my doctor's right and I do need to start taking thyroid medication. I dunno. But it sucks to feel this way five weeks before the race. I'd hoped all the hill work I've been doing lately would make me feel strong and confident about tackling the "rolling hills" of Cape Breton but so far it doesn't seem to be have had that effect .
On the upside, I had a pretty good run today - a mellow 10k along the LaHave River and up the hill to the top of town - that almost made me think my running funk is over. Tomorrow will tell the tale when I head up the Conquerall Mills road for a hilly 20k run. Fingers crossed it feels easier than it did two weeks ago.
Today's run felt good partly because, at 10 degrees C, it finally seems as if spring has arrived and I love seeing the new growth everywhere. For the first time since last fall, I took a spin around the duck pond in town (pictured above) and along the trail leading from the river to Wile Carding Mill. The trail follows an abandoned rail bed where I spotted this small pine tree growing out of a rock. Isn't nature amazing? How hopeful do you need to be to put down roots and reach for the sky in such an inhospitable spot?
Speaking of hopeful, despite being so busy, I've decided it's time to learn how to use the acrylic paints Husband gave me as a birthday gift a couple of years ago. I had my first class on Wednesday night and really enjoyed it so am looking forward to the rest of the 10 week session. Here's a pic of my first painting "in progress" - a simple image my teacher said is designed to teach me the basics of applying the paint using different brush strokes.
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I'll try to remember to post photos of whatever I complete but don't expect much. Piccasso, I ain't.
In other creative news, I've almost finished the wool vest I'm knitting for Husband.
I spent a good part of yesterday picking up the 366 stitches needed to make the button band. Because I'm out of practice, it was frustrating and tedious, to say the least, but I got 'er done and I'm more or less happy with how it turned out. All that's left is to sew up the side seams and attach the buttons - which I plan to do l after my long run tomorrow.
Once again, I seem to have lost my way with this post. I'd planned to offer some deep philosophical reflections on all the things I'm thankful for when I run - like that little pine tree and the couple who live in the yellow house by the river who wave cheerfully when I run by - but I guess I'm too pooped. So how about a few inspirational quotes instead?
The passing moment is all that we can be sure of; it is only common sense to extract its utmost value from it... W. Somerset Maugham
Slow down and enjoy life. It's not only the scenery you miss by going too fast - you also miss the sense of where you are going and why. Eddie Cantor
How we spend our days is of course how we spend our lives. Anne Dillard
I run because if I didn’t, I’d be sluggish and glum and spend too much time on the couch. I run to breathe the fresh air. I run to explore. I run to escape the ordinary. I run…to savor the trip along the way. Life becomes a little more vibrant, a little more intense. I like that. Dean KarnazesHappy running and writing, friends.
I regularly lose my way while doing blog posts. With any luck my readers think that it lends a sense of piquancy to the whole affair, but then again it probably leads to the proliferation of dust bunnies. Chocolate!
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Sucks about the running. I've been feeling that this year, and I don't know why. Sort of a sluggish heaviness in my legs. I've been hoping once I can get some regular runs in nice weather my legs will wake up and do the happy dance.
Running or not, Janice - you have been busy. Knitting, painting - and, don't forget that drain called The Day Job :) BTW - I love the painting, the sky looks incredibly real! Maybe running takes a back seat this year while you search out, develop and/or enjoy the other activities that do take the free time you have - those activities that stretch your comfort level and your 'peacefulness' (if you know what I mean).
ReplyDeleteAs for the blog - I'll come and read whenever you get around to writing. Great to see you this past weekend. Hope you had an relaxing time in the country and a fabulous long run on Sunday!!