Forget what you're seeing visually, related to this here blog presentation. It was randomly changed after years of neglect. And so, here we are again. Don't even know that I approve.
In this rough country no one survives with bad teeth.
From Jim Harrison's "Cow Meditation" in his book In Search of Small Gods. Truly a gift. And true enough. Cracked teeth etch the mind with doubt and fatigue, sinking spirit and health.
Read by chance this lovely blog.
After years of trail running, thus the meditations of previous posts, I still do. Trail run. Gingerly, with broken pieces of body, spirit and mind. Always mending, one hopes. Eternally.
Let's end with more Jim. Again Small Gods, from the opening poem "I Believe."
I believe in steep steep drop-offs, the thunderstorm across the lake
in 1949, cold winds, empty swimming pools,
the overgrown path to the creek, raw garlic,
use tires, taverns, saloons, bars, gallons of red wine . . .
The rattler escaping the cold hose,
the fluttering unknown gods that I nearly see
from the left corner of my blind eye, struggling
to stay alive in a world that grinds them underfoot.
Sunday, January 27, 2013
Wednesday, March 21, 2007
Silent Posting
Much of March now gone. Spring. Suddenly. I've been carrying on this blog in my head. Writing lines here and there. The pain of logging on and blogging down.
Spring reared up last week, temperatures climbing near 70 degrees, so I went, finally, for a trail run. After the trails were pretty much too slick with ice. Icy patches were everywhere. And sometimes my foot went into muck up to me ankles. A very tough run. Then the next day we got a foot of snow, with a bit of wintry mix thrown in so that the snow was thick with an ice crust. Fun.
So, I've been doing a bit of road work. And thinking, should I do this 30k this Saturday. My oh my how my brain is spinning. I'm actually physically frightened to do this thing. It's a big psychological hurdle for me because it will be the longest distance I have ever run. Training runs, trail runs included. Mmmmm. I guess I don't fancy myself a distance runner just yet. I know I can do a 10k, a 15k, and even a half marathon. But a 30k? Shimmy shake.
My mind is holding this event up as some right of passage. Either I do it and come through okay. Or. I. What? Break down, fall down, fail to finish, chicken out.
Next weekend is the drive up to Chicago to visit my brother. The longing for road and road trip. Maybe a glance at Lima, Ohio, place of early years, memories.
Things Seen:
Much of March now gone. Spring. Suddenly. I've been carrying on this blog in my head. Writing lines here and there. The pain of logging on and blogging down.
Spring reared up last week, temperatures climbing near 70 degrees, so I went, finally, for a trail run. After the trails were pretty much too slick with ice. Icy patches were everywhere. And sometimes my foot went into muck up to me ankles. A very tough run. Then the next day we got a foot of snow, with a bit of wintry mix thrown in so that the snow was thick with an ice crust. Fun.
So, I've been doing a bit of road work. And thinking, should I do this 30k this Saturday. My oh my how my brain is spinning. I'm actually physically frightened to do this thing. It's a big psychological hurdle for me because it will be the longest distance I have ever run. Training runs, trail runs included. Mmmmm. I guess I don't fancy myself a distance runner just yet. I know I can do a 10k, a 15k, and even a half marathon. But a 30k? Shimmy shake.
My mind is holding this event up as some right of passage. Either I do it and come through okay. Or. I. What? Break down, fall down, fail to finish, chicken out.
Next weekend is the drive up to Chicago to visit my brother. The longing for road and road trip. Maybe a glance at Lima, Ohio, place of early years, memories.
Things Seen:
- hawk gliding on a morning thermal down to our backyard woods, then being chased away by a cawing crow
- Squirrel skittering down from a maple tree in the morning, sniffing around, then climbing back up to a small broken branch and sunning itself, hunkering down with its claws holding tightly, eyes growing heavy, heavy, then closing--then a wake up chirp and a cat-like pause and stretch on the climb down
- two-man crew working to clear a home site on a hill, yellow Cats clawing at rocky ground, the whine of a chainsaw biting into a stout mature tree, which shook, cracked and toppled with huge bounce
Friday, March 02, 2007
The Surging
Morning of rain, open skies, a pouring. And then steamy fog drifts in from the hills. Near noon it's clearing, a dappling of sun coming through wintry gray sky. So I run the Johnsontown Road route which is near four miles up a nice brooklined road that deadends at a circular cul-de-sac where the Harriman hiking trails start. A nice quick run. One that's perfect for a surge and speed work.
Later in the day the skies clear and sun shines bright through bare trees and on the far hills. Temps climb near 50 and suddenly spring arrives. Squirrels clamber about mouths full of leaves or bark strips, readying their spring rut nests.
Heavy rotation of late: NIN freaky leaked release of Year Zero.
Morning of rain, open skies, a pouring. And then steamy fog drifts in from the hills. Near noon it's clearing, a dappling of sun coming through wintry gray sky. So I run the Johnsontown Road route which is near four miles up a nice brooklined road that deadends at a circular cul-de-sac where the Harriman hiking trails start. A nice quick run. One that's perfect for a surge and speed work.
Later in the day the skies clear and sun shines bright through bare trees and on the far hills. Temps climb near 50 and suddenly spring arrives. Squirrels clamber about mouths full of leaves or bark strips, readying their spring rut nests.
Heavy rotation of late: NIN freaky leaked release of Year Zero.
Wednesday, February 28, 2007
Last Snow, Last Day of Month
Snowshoed in the woods yesterday, walking, running some. Got momentarily lost, an exhilarating feeling. Found numerous deer beds. Deer tracks. Settled on a log after making a dry seat with mossy bark and read a bit of Jim Harrison's True North. An amazing novel, from my perspective.
A central theme:
Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bing forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."
Last day of February today. The year passes. Days go by.
Snowshoed in the woods yesterday, walking, running some. Got momentarily lost, an exhilarating feeling. Found numerous deer beds. Deer tracks. Settled on a log after making a dry seat with mossy bark and read a bit of Jim Harrison's True North. An amazing novel, from my perspective.
A central theme:
Jesus said, "If you bring forth what is within you, what you bring forth will save you. If you do not bing forth what is within you, what you do not bring forth will destroy you."
--The Gnostic Gospels
Last day of February today. The year passes. Days go by.
Sunday, February 18, 2007
Deer Trails
Off in the woods today on snowshoes. Slap slap. I'd perhaps rather some nice Kahtoola running crampons. But at least I've got the snowshoes. Followed deer tracks mostly, a fun thing for me, as I find deer like to weave through and around the beaten track. Also, all these other bitty animal tracks crisscross deer tracks. Saw a large chevron of geese honking and flying I'm not sure where. Maybe a hundred, with a smaller, higher chevron following.
Saw a gaggle of wild turkeys running from far off sounds of ATVs out hot-rodding on the frozen lake.
A nice day. Sunday out in the silent snow.
Off in the woods today on snowshoes. Slap slap. I'd perhaps rather some nice Kahtoola running crampons. But at least I've got the snowshoes. Followed deer tracks mostly, a fun thing for me, as I find deer like to weave through and around the beaten track. Also, all these other bitty animal tracks crisscross deer tracks. Saw a large chevron of geese honking and flying I'm not sure where. Maybe a hundred, with a smaller, higher chevron following.
Saw a gaggle of wild turkeys running from far off sounds of ATVs out hot-rodding on the frozen lake.
A nice day. Sunday out in the silent snow.
Wednesday, February 14, 2007
Snow Day
Ah, weeks since me last post, though I've been thinking that I really should post something. It got cold here, finally, and then last night, snow. Today is snowy icy sort of wintry mix. Delicious.
Yesterday started this trail run thing where I'm attempting some 30 second acceleration intervals. It means going over some of the same paths as I don't want to get too far out into the rocky terrain or hills or just plain too far out. We'll see. I crave flat ground sometimes and don't necessarily want to run on the road.
Looking over some blogging of ultra runners and am amazed at the amount of distance they do. Ah, the joy. Wish there were more ultras near these parts. Must investigate further. Found this quote from someone's comments:
Speed is sex. Distance is love.
Ah, weeks since me last post, though I've been thinking that I really should post something. It got cold here, finally, and then last night, snow. Today is snowy icy sort of wintry mix. Delicious.
Yesterday started this trail run thing where I'm attempting some 30 second acceleration intervals. It means going over some of the same paths as I don't want to get too far out into the rocky terrain or hills or just plain too far out. We'll see. I crave flat ground sometimes and don't necessarily want to run on the road.
Looking over some blogging of ultra runners and am amazed at the amount of distance they do. Ah, the joy. Wish there were more ultras near these parts. Must investigate further. Found this quote from someone's comments:
Speed is sex. Distance is love.
Friday, February 02, 2007
Snow Fall Down
So February brings the first real snow fall of the season this evening. Coming down soft and wintry mix wet.
Did get out today on a run up to Pine Lake in southern Harriman. I'm never sure how far these trails are as I've no high tech gadgets to measure distance, altitude, etc. Maybe seven miles. Tough run though, high stepping rocks. Love my new Sportiva Rajas. Got'em on sale at Campmor.
Had to bag the MA cleanse after three days. The citric acid did a scrubbing on my gums and I sure don't need receding gum lines at my age. No thanks. I love food too much anyways. Though I did enjoy the sense of well-being and lightness that a watery diet brings. Lots and lots of water the last few days after ending the MA. Just drank it down and had no real appetite. Now I'm sitting here with a bitty belly after binging. Yum. I love food.
So February brings the first real snow fall of the season this evening. Coming down soft and wintry mix wet.
Did get out today on a run up to Pine Lake in southern Harriman. I'm never sure how far these trails are as I've no high tech gadgets to measure distance, altitude, etc. Maybe seven miles. Tough run though, high stepping rocks. Love my new Sportiva Rajas. Got'em on sale at Campmor.
Had to bag the MA cleanse after three days. The citric acid did a scrubbing on my gums and I sure don't need receding gum lines at my age. No thanks. I love food too much anyways. Though I did enjoy the sense of well-being and lightness that a watery diet brings. Lots and lots of water the last few days after ending the MA. Just drank it down and had no real appetite. Now I'm sitting here with a bitty belly after binging. Yum. I love food.
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