dreaming over the ocean

so, not only did I sign up for Mooseman yesterday, today I decided "okay. take this whole ridiculously long races hobby to a reasonable cause." Today I signed up for "Team in Training." I am going to spend the next 5 months raising money for the leukemia and lymphoma society. I am going to be running a 1/2 Marathon in the end of june (as long as i reach my goal of 7000$). I am running, because a classmate and friend (the one i went skiing with recently!) brought it up, as her dad has Leukemia. she thought it might be a good idea, and it just got rolling. so... here is my pitch, and I will make it lots of times! don't hesitate. I need you to donate 5$. or 100$. or 500$. whatever you can. click here to donate to Team in Training!

So, all of a sudden it has creeped up on me... (is creeped a word!?!?) that, on sunday, I am running a 1/2 marathon. it will be the second time that I have done a 1/2 in my life. the first one, was a mostly downhill run from the valley above the dead sea, to the lowest place on earth, for the Dead Sea Marathon in April 2007. Yeppers, the feet were burning by the end, and there were camels on the side of the road. yes, indeed, i travelled to Jordan (with one of my best friends, Zach), and ran a 1/2 marathon. It was amazing. this is at the carb loading party, and then at the pool post race :) I went for a (approx 10km) run today.  I think the wind was blowing about 10 million km an hour, and it felt impossible to run. but, not only that, but my legs felt like bricks (the first 3km, my feet couldn't stop clumping on the pavement), and  they are sore (from what?!).  so ,the run turned into a walk-run.  mentally, that helped.  but strange.  i don't quite understand how one day,...

so, yesterday, i did this run in the dark. and, it was fantastic. the funniest bit about it was when i was in stanley park, approaching lost lagoon, and all of a sudden, i see some white stripes coming towards me. alas, it was not the somewhat well known band, but rather a multitude of skunks. and, im saying, not one or two. i think i spotted at least 6 of the critters. let's just say that my pace picked up a bit at that point. 'cause, i wouldn't have been able to go home on the bus. and, if i even made it home, i doubt Erika (my roommate) would have let me in the house. that is right. i would have had to sleep in the garage, or in the jeep that is not being used. i would have been homeless. the run was serene. the run contained vancouver night time lights of downtown, and a slit of a moon over the water. the run went by swans on lost lagoon. the run felt strong. the run was not mentally exhausting. the run went by lovers in the park, reminding me of how wonde...

So, this video is pretty neat.  I watched it on Simon Whitfield's blog.  i love reading other athlete's blogs.  cause, it is soooo inspirational.  it is neat to read about people doing the things that they love to do.  but, winning the ironman world championships?!!?  now that  is a great feat.  and, i love how he sounds so non-chalant about it.   for the last couple days, i have had a hard time getting out of bed, and to make myself have a productive day. all i want to do is lay under the covers all day long.   something is just wearing a little thin on me these days.  my motivation. inspiration. drive . is at quite a low right now.   i want to run this 1/2 marathon.  not for any reason, but to give myself a sense of accomplishment this fall.  running is so hard for me.  out of the three bits of a tri, it is the one i enjoy the least.  i just think that when you have to carry 174 lbs of weight by yourself, it is hard.  and, for some reason, i find it more boring than the othe...

this is in West Virginia. the place that was created for autumn. Not my picture though. Someone once told me that God created seasons to remind us of life. and, to remind us that in order for new life to occur, death must happen. and, as awful as that sounds, it rang true to me today. I rode my bike through the roads of Vancouver, and noticed how much the season is changing. the air is cold. the trees are yellow and red and purple. it is raining more often. and, it is dark early. and, often, people get sad when the fall comes, because it means that the grey winter is on its way. but, i thought about the leaves, and how they have to die, in order for the new life to happen in the spring. those days when the trees turn pink with cherry blossoms, and then green. and, i gotta admit. i like the fall. i like how it is so crisp, and fresh. but, a different fresh than spring. i think that my life is finally feeling.... well. i am not 100% sure of how to explain it. maybe finally i am startin...

so, yesterday, I had a day that completely played on my emotions, apparently. But, I didn't realize it until today. It seemed like a fairly regular sunday, going out for my weekly coffee with friend's at the best coffee shop in Vancouver, Cafe artigiano, and then proceeding to church. I then decided to go back downtown, to go see the Finale of Umoja, the south african musical. I finished off the night, by going for a "long run" in my effort to train for my marathon. coffee. church. downtown eastside (DTES). africa. run. my weekly ritual. my secret refuge. a place that i should/could/want to be closer to. my passion. the desire for my body. everytime i pass through the DTES (where my church happens to be located), or when i bike through, or when i take the bus through, there leaves a sense of longing. I look and i see drug addicts, and shit on the street, and poverty, and comradery, and mental illness, and some sense of need. i dont know what the DTES needs. ...