Acting Class

i think i may take an acting class.  Not to learn the how of acting, I think I act everyday in my life, but to learn how to turn it on and off.

Setting Goals

So I read somewhere that settings goals for yourself will motivate you and help you to focus on projects, or other aspects of life throughout the year.  Then I got a fortune cookie that said almost the same thing only days later.  So since the fortune cookie said so, I'm going to do it.  I'm going to set goals for 2012 and achieve them.

I had a discussion already with friend about the goals I jotted down and what I thought I would want to achieve this year.  I think I may want to rethink what I want to do.  Here was my initial list:

1. Run a 50 mile race and finish
2. Cycle a 100 mile race and finish
3. Get a hunting license

I don't necessarily think those are bad goals, and I know I can achieve them, but I think I might be going in the wrong direction with my decisions.  After taking more time to ponder what the list should be, I've come up with this outline for myself:

1.  No more than 10 goals, I think 5 would be best
2.  Some should be individual goals, others should be family goals, and at least one should involve friends
3.  Be sure the goals have specific outcomes, not like "eat healthier", but more like "don't buy beer for the house on a weekday".
4.   Take into consideration work and personal life balance as not to add stress, take too much time away from family, but be fun and fruitful.

So, looking back at my first list.  Running 50 miles takes a lot of training.  I would have to dedicate many, many hours a week for the next 6-8 months to build up the endurance for this kind of event.  This would be stressful on the body, on my personal time, and family time.  But i don't have to remove running from the list, maybe a more likable goal that would be to run 3 three new trails.  They don't even have to be official races, just running new trails and exploring is what I really love about trail running.

Next is the cycling goal.  This I will probably keep.  I have a couple friends that I regularly cycle with, and we do a charity ride every year that offers a 100 mile loop.  So why don't I get them motivated to ride it with me?  I think I will.

The third item was a hunting license.  I think I would only modify this one to include a reward of some sort.  Something like get license, then go on a hunt with a local guide.

Alright, time to put some goals together (before 2012 is over!) and stick to it:

1. Run 3 new trails
2. Cycle a 100 mile ride
3. Get my hunting license
4. Work on my writing projects
    a. Add quality posts to the blog regularly
    b. Finish editing my children's book
5. I'll just leave this one open for now

Feast and Famine, Vegan and Carnivore?

I just read this article.  Don Matesz was a "Paleo" follower for 15 or so years, but has gone against that to follow a more Eastern philosophy when it comes to mind, body, and nutrition. I read many "paleo" style blogs, and I really enjoy his blog to gather a different perspective.  I have been following this blog here for a while now, this article is linked to another one of his blogs.

Article link: Study: Meat-free diet quickly improves mood of omnivores



My thoughts?  I don't know that I fully agree with a vegetarian diet, but maybe a meat-all-the-time diet isn't right either.  I used to be a "Paleo Diet" believer, but have slightly changed my view after personal experimentation, and reading through many other points of view.  I have found that eating the best quality food I can provide for my family is the best for me.  Currently I eat meat, or animal products, almost every meal (sans morning breakfast, which I rarely eat) and vegetables.  No beans and almost no grains, except occasionally bread, noodles, and rice.  But I do enjoy thinking of how my hunter-gatherer ancestors would have lived their day-to-day lives from a nutritional perspective. 

I often think about hunting and fishing as means for food as opposed to my readily available 24/7 sources such as restaurants, grocery stores, and my deep freeze full of meat.  How would it work in reality if I had to hunt/fish to support myself and family...I'd get skunked all the time!!!  I'm likely to catch one legally eatable fish per self-guided trip about half the time, and I don't know how to hunt (yet!).  But I can always walk through the woods and find a vegan meal on the ground and in the trees through weeds, fruit, and seeds.

So should I model my diet after a feast and famine approach to eating, while mixing days of pure vegan-ism with that of an insatiable carnivore?  Maybe this is something to consider when planning my meals.  We didn't always get 100% or our vitamins, minerals, protein, or carbohydrate intakes every single day, and sometimes we probably got way more than 100% of one of those categories...so why are we so worried about it now (I'm talking to you super supplement taker!)?

I think I'll try it.  I'll eat like a grazing raw vegan one day, 18-24 hour fast the next day, and end it with a intense workout to simulate a hard hunt.  Then destroy a couple double-thick cut chops, bowl of slow cooked greens, and a big ol' baked potato.  The next couple days eat like normal, reducing the animal products and increasing the vegan choices, rinse and repeat!

Will I be happier on my vegan days, or clouded by hunger pangs?  Will my hard workouts improve or feel better?  Is this even a plan that is sustainable for any amount of time?  Guess I'll have to try it and see.

anya runs barefoot!

been a while since i created a post, but i have a new found motivation. my daughter loves to run barefoot with me to the mailbox, she's the best!!

croom fools run

man it was hot

i was originally going to pace a fellow bfr'er to finish his first 50 miler, but the heat took him down.  after a 1.5 hour drive, this wasn't lookin to be my day to run...

but just then, a fellow mtn biker i've ridden with rolled through the start finish line, in vff's no less!!   he was getting ready to start his final 15 mile lap, and i went along for the ride (ummm, run...)

the way to the first sag was a breeze, and had some beautiful scenery along the trail.

the next leg was brutal, it was the longest stretch between sags, and it was also the hottest point of the day, with lots of direct sun on the trail.   between the two of us, i went through 22ozs of water, and my partner, almost 60ozs! (and we still had a couple miles to go!)

luckily the volunteers at the next sag were prepared with a cooler full of ice water for our heads and bodies, lots of snacks and drinks

the pb&j sandwich i got from the sag sat in my belly like a brick for the rest of the run, i wanted releif bad, almost to the point of sticking my finger down my throat to remove the vile thing, but i didn't want to start a chain reaction, so i suffered through it

with only a few miles to go, my running partner took off.  i couldn't keep up, and i found out why as i walked/ran the rest of the course.  after the last sag, there is a nice section of fairly flat terrain, then it turns into brutal hills.  since he knew this, and he wanted to finish under 10 hours, he bolted through the flats so he could walk the hills if necessary.  the strategy worked, he finished in the 9:50's, congrats derrick!

derrick lookin good early in the last lap

i couldn't keep up with him through the last part, just wasn't prepped for 10 min/miles after running almost 12 with him.  i finished 15 miles of awesome trail out at croom, and had a great time doing it.  next time i'll be rockin' my nathan hydro pack!

merrell barefoot trail glove review from r&r

check it out, new review and give away from r&r:

http://www.runningandrambling.com/2011/04/merrell-barefoot-trail-glove-review-and.html

win a pair of minimus shoes!

check out running and rambling's newest review and a chance to win some sweet looking trail shoes:

http://www.runningandrambling.com/2011/02/new-balance-minimus-trail-review-and.html