Pies fríos, amigo?
Posted: April 26, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, desire, exercise, family, fitness, friends, gluten free, health, hipster, hope, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, Musing, nature, NFL draft, paleo, passion, pilates, running, thoughts, walking, weekend, whole foods, WOD, yoga 9 CommentsWe are addicted to our thoughts. We cannot change anything if we cannot change our thinking-
“Damn! The marathon I signed up for last October is this *bleepin* Sunday!!!”
You remember the evening well, like it was yesterday. The focus on the positives of running a marathon were many: free sweat wicking tee, beer tent passes, the chance to buy a new running outfit. However, as the marathon date started to loom ominously on the horizon, the positive thoughts you once shared with others, quickly turned into negative thoughts that you shard with no one.
Even when doubts become overwhelming, when the call to starting line is announced,it feels painfully hard to back out:
“What will my friends think? I quit, I’m a chump, a loser? I bought new shoes and a sweet running skirt, I picked up the race packet last night. We have reservations for pizza and beer after.”
What does it mean to have cold feet, anyways? Is it a small, nagging feeling that a huge mistake is being made or is about to be made, or an internal scream that yells, “Hey stop already! It’s not too late!” How serious does the event need to be on order to be “serious enough” to listen to the doubts, weigh them as more important than the embarrassment of not showing up, the risk of potential injury due to the lack of training and preparation, and back out of the marathon at the last-minute?
It’s one thing to have last-minute doubts about running a marathon you thoughtfully planned, trained dutifully for, back in October; it’s something else altogether to have doubts because you failed to train, you are injury prone and your sense of pride out weighs any other mitigating factors. Cute running outfit not matching included as well!
Notes:
Purpose of the post today? That the doubts we all experience before a big event should be taken seriously and not buried with “pride” and “status“. Now is the time for reflection and honesty. Because on Monday … Feel free to expose the painful, underlying reality about your torturous marathon experience in a blog post.
Take care and be well this weekend.
¿verdad?
Posted: April 24, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, balance, blogging, Comfort, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, harmony, joy, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, Stillness, thoughts, walking, whole foods, yoga 6 CommentsHabit is the intersection of knowledge (what to do), skill (how to do), and desire (want to do)-
It seems that in today’s world we have the freedom to pick and choose form a potpourri basket of interests …
“Check it out! I’m like totally doing this 30 day paleo, meditation, yoga, power walking, green smoothie, smiling at strangers, whole body cleanse thing! Just read about this push up challenge and hill sprint interval thing as well!”
Why do we choose to pursue a wide variety of “things” simultaneously and figure out how to do these “things” in a way and on a level that is average at best?
“My friend and I had a great workout at the box yesterday! 5 rounds of: 15 push ups – 15 jumping jacks – 15 sit ups – 15 walls balls and a 400m run. I still need to work on my push ups though, three years now and they are still pretty sloppy.”
Whatever happened to developing a deep knowledge base, knowing information (not stored on a gadget) and total devotion to the pursuit of mastery in a single field?
“I forget what my split times are in the pool but I’m thinking if I can work on my transition more it should make up for my poor swimming performance … Maybe?!?”
Are we afraid as a society to endure the intense work, discipline and willingness it takes to master a selected discipline? Are we afraid to embrace the risk needed to walk away from merely being “average” in the name of becoming extraordinary at one?
“It’s the same during every century ride: Chum it up with the guys for the first few miles, then I ride alone for the remainder of the time, lost in my thoughts, worried about “something”? I suppose it’s the 8am yoga class tomorrow and the 5k at noon?!?”
…
Yearn for the sense of intensity, focus and intrinsic reward that comes from the single-minded quest to master a particular body of knowledge: Yoga, mediation, martial arts, relationship(s), life etc. Radiate the pure energy and passionate spirit that comes not only from having attained mastery, but from simply being in the process of mastery. The secret Dear Reader lies here in the process of seeking mastery, this is where we find awareness, comfort, stillness, joy, harmony and balance.
Notes:
Do you, deep down inside, feel satisfied knowing that you are merely pretty decent at a bunch of “things”, but not exceptional at any?
Pensamientos?
My Moment
Posted: April 22, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, blogging, crossfit, Earth Day, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, jogging, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, meditation, minimalism, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, running, simplicity, strength, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 6 CommentsLife is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans-
Often at times we focus primarily on our bodies, the results or the lack there of is: We often neglect our mind.
We have often spoke about one way to relax your body and mind: Consistent meditation practice. A quiet mind is a powerful mind, especially so during the last few miles of a local race or a few extra push ups before you leave the gym. Extraneous thoughts that amass during the day will reduce our focus. When we can calm our minds through meditation? The body becomes free, energized and your true ability lies at your fingertips.
Feel free to insert your chosen mediation practice within the quotes: “…”
Learning how to sit quietly, without actually “doing” anything other than focusing on your breath is vitally important. Learn to appreciate the “present moment,” because it will after all … vanish in a few seconds.
Notes:
An expanding awareness of our strengths (quiet, focused mind) and vulnerabilities (neglecting our bodies and ignoring pain) helps each of us to endure difficult times with more equanimity. It becomes a pleasure to stand your ground during tricky situations with a calm mind, not out of stubborn pride. Pride breaks each of us over time.
Happy Earth Day and please be well today!
Salute Your Solution
Posted: April 19, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Awareness, blogging, Boston, Boston Marathon, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, freshly pressed, gluten free, growth, happiness, health, hipster, jogging, kettlebell, kindness, Knowledge, life, love, lululemon, marathon, Meaning, meditation, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, Pleasure, purpose, running, trail running, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 10 CommentsWhat is a friend? A single soul dwelling in two bodies-
The great discovery in life as we age (age not to be confused with mature …) is how much better, more fulfilling life becomes.
We spend much of our youth searching for “something” in the clouds of insecurity, trying to figure out exactly how to live. As turbulent time passes we gather slowly, more about our aims and preferences. Comparing ourselves to others diminishes, we know where our heart lies and our flight path is marked moving forward.
The search for meaning carries on throughout our entire life, although as we age, the deeper spiritual questions we have become more urgent and become more clear to us. The daily petty concerns that surround us are recede to their rightful place – unnoticed and forgotten. The wide-ranging emotions all of us have experienced this week, awakens our spiritual domain and delicately shows us what really matters in life.
The radiance we witness in the “older folk” comes from smiling and being more alive. We stop hurrying to every fleeting meeting we have scheduled, slowing down we develop attentiveness that adds an entire new flavour, richness to our daily experiences.
Capacitación para qué?
Posted: April 17, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, Boston Marathon, crossfit, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, kindness, life, love, lululemon, marathon, motivation, musings, natural, paleo, passion, personal training, perspective, pilates, recovery, rest, running, trail running, Training, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 11 CommentsYesterday is history, tomorrow is a mystery, today is a gift of God, which is why we call it the present-
Clumsily in these trying times, we move forward … Love – Hope – Faith
** I have been wanting to share the following story with you for some time now. A whimsical story filled with love, a dude and unbridled hatred of following pedantic training plans. **
“Dude, the Leadville Trail Marathon is just around the corner in June. Are you ready training wise, mentally prepared?”
The conversation that followed only lasted at tops – Two minutes. This dude is the type of person that runs for pureness, to smile and what he told me was his love of being immersed in nature. The type of runner who takes his shoes off and runs 13 miles for the “pure enjoyment of being outside“. Training plans, schedules, blah … Are a hindrance to him. Three miles on Monday. Six on Thursday, taper off before you cycle and load nutritionally or whatever that means.
I paused, listened deeply to the passion resonating in his voice and thought:
The very characteristics that define “this dude” who can handle the adversity of just showing up to a marathon without any training what so ever are the very same characteristics that will define who we are as individuals: Happy, healthy and smiling through life.
Stop and take notice, that’s what I did. A simple conversation with a close friend turned my attention to what I (we) have faith in, who you love, what you love, and your dreams for the future.
Notes:
The important lesson this morning (personally speaking from the story above), take the time to acknowledge with gratitude all the good things you have in your life. Trivial, bloated training plans not being one of them!
CultFit 