Island communication

Isn't the human body amazing how it recovers so quickly, even at my age?!

I felt so much looser on this morning's run and was a lot faster. Yesterday it really was a plod as my legs were stiff and achy.

I know they suggest you have a rest day after an especially long run or a fast speed or interval session, but I reckon my gentle mile a day works as well as a rest day with the added advantage that it allows me to give my sore legs a gentle warming up.

The next stage towards my 13.1 miles doesn't seem quite so bad now.

I had a really enjoyable day yesterday interviewing a couple of people and being interviewed, which was all being filmed, on the subject of wellness.

I learned quite a lot about caveman wellness, health wealth, toxic gotchas, and the five love languages.

The other thing I thought on my run this morning, is that although I'm highly trained in the art of listening, it's so much easier really listening to someone with whom you don't have an emotional attachment because it's all about them.

As soon as you listen to a partner, child, family member or work colleague, what you hear becomes about you, even if it's not, and that's harder to listen to.

I liked the metaphor about communicating on each other's "island" and leaving your own "stuff" on your own island.

I learn something new every day!

The enemy of the present

A very gentle, extremely soggy mile and a bit this morning, slightly earlier than usual.

We are getting ready for filming that is gong to be going on all day at our house, starting at 8.00 this morning.

Whilst gaily splashing through puddles this morning, I was thinking how the pile of unorganised papers all over my desk reflected the thought processes in my head over the last few days.

Clutter, both of the physical and mental variety, is the absolute enemy of being able to live in the present.

I fail to notice the amazing sights, sounds and feelings that are all around me when my brain or my physical environment are littered with rubbish.

When I'm on holiday or taking a walk in beautiful countryside, is the fact that I'm able to notice and enjoy things so much more because it is a better day? Or is it because by moving myself to nature I have cleared visible clutter and the clutter of things that I should be doing away from my consciousness.

My intention is to notice, enjoy and be in awe of all that is around me today.

Half marathon wobbles

Tough this morning as I racked up 8.75 miles at an average pace of 9:28 minutes per mile. It was hard work.

Another 4.35 miles to add until I'm up to the half marathon distance, and six weeks to go from today.

I need to be able to comfortably run the half marathon at 10:30 pace. Sounds relatively easy but building and being comfortable with the half marathon distance is going to be the key.

Sitting here now feeling quite tired, but a few gentle one-milers over the next few days should hopefully see me ready to up the ante.

Gulp!

Time to build

A quick one this morning because there's stuff to do, and tomorrow I need to go out for a longer run.

I have impulsively volunteered to be a pacer for the Tunbridge Wells Half Marathon.

I'm only pacing the 2 hour 20 minute runners, which is 25 or 30 minutes slower than my normal half marathon time.

But then again the last time I ran a half marathon was four years ago, AND I haven't run more than five and a half miles for over fourteen months.

I think I need to build up a bit of mileage between now and six weeks tomorrow.

Running & Michelangelo

Splashing through the puddles this morning I had a real sense of wellbeing.

I really enjoyed leading the four mile group last night with the beginner & intermediate running group that I was helping.

There's something about running, chatting to people and the feeling that you're helping someone that I find a really rewarding mix.

I also enjoy my running on my own. I couldn't only run with others, otherwise I wouldn't get my new ideas time.

Anyway, on this morning's run my mind drifted and fell upon Michelangelo's philosophy that the job of the sculptor is to free the forms that are already inside the stone.

It sounds a bit heavy for early in the morning I know, but I felt that was a great analogy for how I feel about my life.

I have an idea of the statue that I'm trying to release, and that already exists, and I'm chipping away at the excess stone and things are gradually taking shape. And there are also some intricacies within, that I'm discovering as I remove more pieces.

Anyway, on to more down to earth things.

Now what's for breakfast?