Gravel (U)pdate
Posted: August 25, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: biking, blogging, compassion, cycling, freshly pressed, friends, Gravel Riding, Gravel Worlds, happiness, health, hope, kindness, life, Lincoln, love, lululemon, musings, natural, nature, nebraska, Omaha, passion, recovery, trail running, walking, WOD, writting 21 CommentsI felt my lungs inflate with the onrush of scenery—air, mountains, trees, people. I thought, “This is what it is to be happy”-
Mountains?!? Who said anything about mountains? Especially here in good ole’ flat Nebraska.
Is having to explain what you love to others tearing away the fabric of your happiness – your being, like enjoying a leisurely 150+ gravel bike ride around Lincoln, Nebraska? Or a quaint 100k Trail Run through Breckenridge, Colorado? Or even meditating and walking?
Often we are asked to explain the reasoning for our choices, let’s be fully open with one another this morning shall we: It’s easier to blog and talk about our decisions at a logical and snarky level, “Why do you like cycling on Gravel Roads?” I enjoy being outdoors in a non competitive environment, enjoying the company of other folks that are there for very similar reasons…
There’s a catch to throwing out the “easy – polished” answer. Doing so, over and over every time we meet like-minded folks erodes our ability to formulate a decision based on “emotion” or a “gut feeling.” These emotions are rather hard to put into words and to explain to someone looking at you in the eye, wondering why you look like a damn mess, covered head to toe with dirt, sweat, snot dripping out your nose and a ridiculously shaped tan line (cyclists know what these look like).
“I like ultra distance gravel rides because they connect and ground me to the earth, they make me feel whole. They allow me to tune into myself, listening attentively, no distractions, just myself – on my single speed bike, chugging along.”
Enjoy the pics folks as this ride was one of only a few where I carry a phone, let alone a camera thing!
Notes:
One of the main undercurrents that keeps this CultFit machine moving along is that we often ruin our enjoyment of the simple pleasures in our lives due to the fact we try to rationalize, at every turn, why we like doing what we do or we want to prove to ourselves why our decisions are correct and superior to others.
The only “thing” that matter folks? Is that we like “whatever” because we like it, period.
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!
Everybody Pass Me By
Posted: April 5, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, crossfit, Envy, exercise, free range, gluten free, Greed, Guilt, happiness, Hatred, health, hipster, hope, Jealously, jogging, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, lust, marathon, meditation, motivation, natural, paleo, perspective, pilates, pride, recovery, running, Shame, trail running, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 4 CommentsHow many things one should disregard in order to act-
Preface: The post that follows evolved from a discussion between some dude and a highly motivated yoga fashionista/passionate runner …
We see it everywhere: More and more well-intentioned, active people who use “data” to solve the “problems” in their life. More specifically: Using the endless amounts of data we collect from our gadgets to help us run, bike, swim and supposedly live a better more fulfilling life.
Here are a few ideas that have been lost in the space-time continuum, hidden under the centre couch cushion … let me flip it over for you.
“My lap times are abysmal! I need to shave off at least ten seconds a lap to compete in my next triathlon!”
Look at the “problems” you face not as problems but as challenges. Difficult experiences and situations in life can be excellent opportunities for growth, exploring new possibilities. Most importantly perhaps, do not run (swim) away from your problems. It’s impossible to run away, analyze downloaded data and grow simultaneously.
“I’m supposed to get 35-40 miles in per week to maintain my training schedule for my first ultra-marathon this September … ”
Be gentle, take care and be kind to yourself. As humans, parents, lovers, friends and somewhere way down the list: Athletes .. we always have something that needs a little work, some tweaks here and there and improvements to be made. The process of becoming who we want to be, starts with acceptance of who we are, right now.
“Racing in this new age group is rather intimidating. It’s like my 9am yoga class.”
By focusing on the right attitude for “life” and paying little attention to differences? We are afforded the ability to carry over lessons we learn within everyday life. Completely accepting of the fact that differences exist between all of us and these differences always will. If we continue to stay focused on what divides us instead of what unites us? Our ego will inflate in such a way that our thoughts will change from being positive to being negative.
Notes:
Data can be really useful to us, there’s no doubt about it. Although I passionately feel that if we fail to address and discuss: Envy, Shame, Guilt, Pride, Lust, Hatred, and Greed … These emotions lead to a negative emotional state, one that provides little gain, much like the data we use to comfort our soul.
Be well this weekend.
Fuera de Peligro
Posted: March 1, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: Dreams, exercise, fitness, free range, Freshly Pressed is Overrated, friends, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, motivation, natural, nebraska, Omaha, paleo, passion, pilates, play, playing, recovery, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 12 CommentsLast night I dreamt that somebody loved me. No hope, no harm; just another false alarm-
We made it this far into the week in one piece, congrats- job well done! No worry about tips about this or that today, so I decided to share a story with you instead. Pull up a chair, sit still, in comfort. Chill … Dark chocolate and a fresh cup of Earl Grey will make this tale so much more tolerable.
Two vibrant young kids were playing in sandbox not too long ago, I’m guessing they had to be around the age of 9 maybe 10. Pails, shovels matchbox cars the whole shebang. Spoiler Alert: A disagreement turns into a proper ruckus! You know the deal; building tension, pushing and finally one of the kids runs away screaming, “That’s not fair! You totally suck – dude!”
If you took the under of the kids playing again in +/- 10 minutes? You would be correct! In no time at all they were back in the sandbox doing what little dudes do best … Making a proper mess.
So what exactly happened here?
“These little dudes choose happiness over righteousness.”
Each one of us can save ourselves from so much unnecessary suffering, if we simply acted more like kids, playing with matchbox cars in a sandbox. Stepping aside from anger, pain and a bruised ego takes courage and humility. Our constant need to be “right” … All the time, keeps us from walking back, smiling and playing.
Notes:
Dropped actions, walking away … Do not heal, staying silent in anger only adds to the pain. Words heal, a smile, a gentle touch. A wise man once said “Remember the Alamo” … Today I ask of you “Remember the sandbox!”
Never Give
Posted: February 14, 2013 Filed under: Random Workout | Tags: blogging, exercise, fitness, free range, gluten free, happiness, health, hipster, hope, intensity, kettlebell, life, love, lululemon, madness, marathon, motivation, natural, paleo, passion, pilates, recovery, running, trail running, Valentine's Day, Walk, walking, whole foods, WOD, yoga 8 Comments… all the heart, for love
Will hardly seem worth thinking of
To passionate women if it seem
Certain, and they never dream
That it fades out from kiss to kiss;
For everything that’s lovely is
But a brief, dreamy, kind delight.
O Never give the heart outright,
For they, for all smooth lips can say,
Have given their hearts up to the play.
And who could play it well enough
If deaf and dumb and blind with love?
He that made this knows all the cost,
For he gave all his heart and lost.
W.B. Yeats In the Seven Woods
Notes:
Be well today.
CultFit 