The essence of running and of life 村上春樹

"People sometimes sneer at those who run every day, claiming they'll go to any length to live longer. But I don't think that's the reason most people run. Most runners run not because they want to live longer, but because they want to live life to the fullest. Exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that's the essence of running, and a metaphor for life- and for me, for writing as well." -- Haruki Murakami, from "What I talk about when I talk about running"


I've been in a mental eddy lately. The main thing that keeps me going is exercising. Of course I want to be in better shape, but Haruki has written the essence of my fitness aspirations, as well as the essence of my entire way of life. It explains:

Why I'm living in Germany (and NZ and Portland...), why I've tried so many different relationships, why I travel anywhere once, why I read as if my life depended on it (on any topic, though give up if a book bores me), why I try to spread my energy around, why I'm open to new experiences and ideas (even those things I thought I'd never do), why I try to see the positive in everything (even robbings) and move on, why I did my doctorate (you just keep going to school and they keep giving you degrees), why I wouldn't sleep if I didn't have to, why I live like I do... all to live in the fullest way possible.

I've dug out my old SLR camera and decided that it's going to be my camera now. Strangely, there were photos I took the day I finished the Auckland marathon on the SD card, as well as some of my old journal, my friend Ursula on her birthday and my feet. Random shots. It reminded me of how I like the art of photography for more than just documenting trips.

My brain is swirling with ideas, day and night. Each morning I wake up wondering where I went the night before. I guess I will try to enjoy this odd time in my life. Soon my sister will be here and we will be caught up in the Sara and Carrie show, which is always a good time.


Watching a wacked film (though filmed in Portland, so was heartwarming):
"What the bleep do we know?"

Training plan

I've finally decided I would commit to a plan. Ok so it might have been helpful to do this earlier on, but... I am sort of a half-assed planner. I plan, but I like flying by the seat of my pants.

It goes something like this:
Mon: spinning class, stretching
Tues: med paced run, stretching
Wed: spinning class, stretching
Thur: long run (aka death night), stretching
Fri: weights, yoga, stretching
Sat: army training
Sun: weights, yoga, stretching
(Rest can be any of the days that I feel like I've done enough. But I like going to the gym, so...)

I've decided if I'm working for the army, I want to qualify with 100s on my fitness test for my sex and age group. That means 2 miles in 15:54, which I almost did today (I included three minutes of slower running as a warm-up, so didn't quite make the mark.) 76 sit-ups, which I SUCK AT, and 45 push-ups, which I will think will be doable fairly soon. The sit-ups and push-ups have to be done in two minutes. I have a lot of work to do.

They're having this weigh-in weight loss challenge through our clinic which starts next week and ends June 14th. Everyone seems to be signed up, so I figured I should join the club. Then all the girls will go to spinning with me! By the way, getting in shape post-30, sucks the big one!! :) But I keep trying.

I'm also sick of winter. I want to run outside. I woke up this morning and seriously wondered what that white stuff was still doing outside my window. Go away, snow!