I like to think that something is changing in me... that I'm actually developing this running "habit" that I'm yearning to have.  That it can move away from the hopeful habits (meditation, accordion playing, painting) and into the actual habits category.  I won't go into the latter though.


Getting back into the groove after my NOLA trip and subsequent 1.5 week laryngitis/lung coughing fest was not as hard as I thought it would be.  I went out three times last week, including twice on beautiful trails in town.  This past weekend B and I drove up to Cincinnati for a whirlwind birthday party for B's 4 year old nephew, so Fri-Sun were a wash.  But Monday I hit the pavement and hit my first benchmark --- 3.1 miles, a true 5k -- without stopping.

And I did it again today.  3.35 miles. Now, my time is so slow that I'm not even going to post.  I know I could do better, because unlike in the past, my lungs weren't what slowed me down, it was my leg muscles.  

One of the things I love is how running actually helps me slow down.  I count cats, look at the plants, say hi to the dog walkers, scope out bumper stickers... like the one above!  I saw this on a car in my neighborhood, with North Carolina plates.  

There are a lot of Vermonters here.  I spend some time in every run thinking about why I care, why I'm going to fundraise.  The running is good for me -- nothing like guilt and peer pressure to get me to do something.  But the fundraising is because I actually believe that the "impossible" is happening in Vermont... that people are steadily claiming their power and voice there and instituting REAL changes.  Don't get me started on North Carolina!

I went for my first run in a while - too long but I've been recovering from a cold with a lingering cough that made running a no-go.  I can't be a slacker though, with Exercise Your Rights

Asheville in the spring is amazing.  It's perfect outside right now.  In the 70s, sunny, birds a'singing, flowers a'blooming.  A runner's dream.  

Since I plan on doing a trail run in the fall, I decided to check out a trail 20 minutes from my apartment at the Bent Creek Experimental Forest. 

Aaaah, trail running.  This is the good stuff.  I spent about a half hour jogging around the area and orienting myself.  I saw a few mountain bikers and two walkers -- that was all in the human category.  Otherwise, lots of birds, a few bugs, and lots of interesting plants.  

I just read there's a 6 mile loop from the trailhead and with any luck I can figure out how to follow that the next time I head out.  And for the hot summer days, there's also a lake for swimming.  

Too good to be true?  Oh well, there's the whole running part.  It's easier than when I started, but I still have a looooong way to go to get to 13.1 miles. 

On that note, TWICE this week I've seen 13.1 bumper stickers.  A little "get moving" message from the universe to me.  

One of the greatest obstacles to developing a running habit is my travel schedule.  I made a last minute decision to drive 12+ hours last week to visit Erin and Hannah in New Orleans.  I even packed my running gear. 

Did I run?  Nope.

Oy.  I've gotta step this running thing up if I'm actually going to survive a half marathon.  That's 10.5 more miles than I can run now.  If anyone reads this, what has helped you stay disciplined?  How do you squeeze in runs when you're in an unfamiliar place?

I'm energized to start up again.  I went out today and plan on heading out tomorrow. 

Miles: 1.85
Time: 25 minutes
Cats spotted: Only one.  With a giant black splotch covering its nose.

Insights:  Being outside, jogging, is good for me.  I enjoy it when I'm out. 

Extra insights:  All that driving and listening to esoteric lectures that Brandon shared with me really drilled in the interconnectedness of all our struggles.  All of my work -- five different clients at this point -- all the inequity and injustice they are fighting all ties to the same root causes.  Political power and money controlled by a select few.  Manufactured consent -- our lives our designed to reinforce this power structure.  We need band aids but we also need to reclaim our lives as our own, our governments as ours, and our humanity as shared.