More Minerals than a Mountain

Do you ever listen to those drug commercials on TV and hear all the side affects? It's enough to make you woozy. I just read "Natural Cures They Don't Want You To Know About" that blows the lid off the prescription drug industry. What a scam the FDA has going at the expense of the American public. What they don't want you to know is there is a natural cure for every disease from cancer to diabetes to high blood pressure. You name the disease and if it's not too far along there's a way to treat it with herbs, vitamins, minerals and a million other things.

Here's a partial list of what I'm taking: Calcium Magnesium & Zinc, Vitamin C, Flax Seed Oil, ground Cinnamon, Chromium Picolinate, B-12/Folic Acid/B-6, Coral Calcium, Vitamin E, Ginseng, pumpkin seeds and dried apricots. Believe me this stuff is not cheap or covered by my medical plan but it's worth it. My blood sugar and pressure readings have been excellent.

With just 5 days to go to the marathon I had an easy 4-mile run. It was really beautiful out today. There wasn't a cloud in the blue sky, the leaves were in full fall colors and it was almost 50 degrees. Yes, autumn arrives late here but it does happen. I wonder if all these supplements will give me an added boost in the marathon. There's over $300,000 in total prize money. Look out Kenyans!

It's Getting Closer

I can't believe the marathon is so close. I'm ready to get it on now and get it over with, sometimes everything aches when I get up from the couch after sitting for a while and other times, like during a 6-mile run today I'm just zipping along without a care in the world.

  Ch. 8's going to show the entire race live, so I'll tape it. I don't know if they'll stay on the air long enough to see me finish.   

 My blood sugar's been really wacky lately 181 this morning (way too high) but only 91 tonight (that's kinda low but I'll take it). I'm looking into some natural cures after reading a best-selling book "Natural Cures They Don't Want You to Know About." I checked out the website naturalcures.com and ordered a few things. It's worth a try.

  Well it's time to taper off both this journal entry and the running until Sunday. 

Well Wishers

With less than a week to go to the Marathon many local ladies have been wishing me well lately. In yoga class today, Cypresse knew I was "in training" for next week's LV Marathon. I'm a regular at her Sunday morning class but next week I'll be stumbling across the finish line sometime during the 10-11:30am class. Cypresse said that she and the class would send out some positive energy to help me across the finish.

Kerstin Lindquist, weekend anchor on Ch. 3 news answered my email today when she wrote:

 You are not kidding!!! Freezing out there. I went for a run after work and I felt like I was running against a wall.  Just like the Marathon last year.  Im so excited for you for this years marathon. Maria Silva is running (ill be working)  Be well, and rest this week!!! Get in some yoga and visualize a great run.
Have fun!
Kerstin

Another Long Run

 Why does it feel so cold out there today? My outdoor thermometer read 57 at 7am so I thought I would be warm enough wearing shorts & T at LV Track Club run at Sunset Park. But when I got there I was freezing. My fingers are still half-numb. Must have been the wind and the wind-chill factor. It seems funny to talk about but I bet the 57 was a feels like 39-42 degrees.

 Other than that the run went well except for running a ways past the 1st turnaround and turning a 5k into about a 6k run. It looked like I took 2nd in my division and I know I was 30th overall out of probably less than 100 runners. Oh well, I needed the extra distance Dec. 4 is the LV Marathon. I've got two 20 mile runs in recently so I'm as ready as I'll ever be.

Cats want to go out. I tell them it's too cold. Finally I open the door so they go out on balcony. But I close the sliding glass door. Less than a minute later they're both pawing at the glass wanting to get in. Wuss cats.

 

Alternative Thanksgiving

The only football I watched today was Jason Elam's OT field goal to help the Broncos beat the Cowboys 24-21. And I saw some of the Macy's Day Parade. That was as close as I came today to a traditional Thanksgiving.

It was nice to have the day off but I didn't feel like the "normal" Thanksgiving's Day Feast. So after chilling with the cats in the morning I headed off to Red Rock Canyon to explore a new trail. This time it was the Keystone Thrust. Located at MM6 on the scenic loop, it was another busy day at Red Rock with all the parking areas overflowing. The Keystone Thrust is a difficult 5-mile hike. Recemmonded hike time: 5  hrs. I did it in 1:45 and I was taking my time. There were some beautiful vistas and lots of trees in the higher elevation.

That worked up an appettite and fortunately I had stopped by the Veggie Cafe last night for some tasty selections. Their special veggie burger and a veggie pizza. All live plants organic and delicious.

The cats were glad to have me home at night and we watched a Shania Twain video.  See pics 2 & 3.

  

Here goes another IM'd journal entry. It's the only way to make this work. Capped last day of 5-day break with a 2hr and 10min run along new River Mtns loop trail. I jogged about 13-14 miles. That's the last long run before marathon. Maybe a 10. That's it. Total miles for 5-day break: 39.
Alas, no way to attach photos or other frills in this format. I'll have to put together photo album of today's trail run.
Back to the Grind Tuesday. Don't look for new journal entry till Thursday.

This might be new journal format if AOL can't fix problem. Here goes with an IM to journal.
A quick recap since the last entry.
Thursday: Liz Phair at House of Blues. Great show but only 70min. Liz signed autograph for me. 90 min run at Sunset Park.
Friday: Eye exam. Perfect 20-20, Sweet Tomatoes, Yoga class w/Kim & music.
Saturday: 10k run 49:44 (2nd in age group), yoga class at Red Rock with Cheryl. Miami-GT game. UM lost.
Sunday: Yoga class w/Cypresse, 45 min trail run, Bills got killed by Chargers.

im test to add entry
looks like i can add text only via im

Great 8

It's amazing how easy an eight-mile run can feel a few days after running 20. Today was a great 8 miles in perfect conditions. Temps were about 75, skies were blue with a few clouds for decorations and the wind was mild at most. No lingering effects whatsoever from last week's long, long run.

Which is good because I have a big 10k in the middle of my upcoming 5-day weekend. That's right. I'm off Thursday through Monday. Originally I was going to San Diego to see the Bills play the Chargers. I could have got a ticket 2 months ago but when I called my cousin Scott in LA he said he could get me a ticket. Well it's 5 days to game day and I still haven't heard from Scott but I really don't care. I'm just as happy to spend the time relaxing at home with the cats, practicing yoga and meditation and getting ready for the marathon. That's what makes me happy. But if he calls I might still go, but not before I race the 10k on Saturday.

The mountain flows, the river sits. Zen saying

 

3 Weeks to Go

Just three weeks to go to the LV Marathon.

Two things got back on track today: My running and the Buffalo Bills. Feeling ready to run after a day of rest following Friday's 20-miler, I hit the trail for a recovery run to Sunset Park. Everything felt as good as could be expected for a 48-yr old long-distance runner. The Bills were also back in the saddle today with a 14-3 win over the Chiefs to end a 2-game losing streak. At 4-5 the Bills are only one game out of first in the AFC East.

After the run I went immediately to yoga class with Cypresse on the west side. Who else gets in yoga and a run before 10am? It was a good class, as usual, and I really got a deep stretch on my running muscles.

But the biggest highlight today was Dad secured a ticket to fly here to help support me in the marathon. Now there's no turning back. Three weeks to go. 

Honor Thy Body

In yoga they say, "Honor Your Body." Today I demolished mine running 20 miles. They say what doesn't kill you will make you stronger, well just call me Superman.

Starting in Jean, I ran 10 miles toward LV and 10 back. First I had to "seed" the course with various Powerade and water bottles. And I took with me a new product called "Blocks." It's like Power Gel but it's more like Gummy Bears in texture. I took 3 at MM8 and another 3 at 17 and they really seemed to help. Going out I had a tailwind and hit the 1/2 way mark in 1:40. But coming back it was almost all uphill and into the wind. I finished the 20 in 3:41. That's 15 minutes faster than my last effort. I'll take it. People in the parking area must have thought I was drunk or injured because I could barely walk when I finished I was so stiff. I saw something troubling as I was finishing. A young blonde girl in her 20s, a little rough around the edges, was walking with a backpack to Las Vegas. There's nothing on that highway for 20 miles. I know. I asked how far she was going as I was just hanging on to finish. She ignored me and looked the other way. I could have given her a ride but it was probably for the best. I wonder if she knew she was off on a 7-hour walk?

Because I ran 20 miles Lewis & Clark posthumously granted me a dram of beer which I accepted. 

Day of a lot of Little Things

Between a morning blood sugar rating of 154 and an evening tally of 110, the highlight of the day had to be Cypresse's evening yoga class. I didn't find it that difficult because I didn't run 12 miles before class like I did last week. I took today off so I'd be rested for Friday's 20-mile jaunt.

By not running today I had free time to: Clean up after new hot water tank replacement, vacuum, clean kitty litter boxes (all 3 of them the little pissers), pay bills, donate to charities (Defenders of Wildlife, St. Joseph's School Indian School and the Sierra Club), donate merchandise to the Goodwill (Five pairs of slacks and 5 belts that I'd undergrown and an inflatable boat that I no longer use because it leaks), I registered for the Nov. 19 Turkey Trot, bought Christmas gifts for my two favorite yoga teachers (Zen stuff), filled 3 prescription orders (diabetes, hypertension and foot stuff), got a veggie burger at BK and read some of the new Archie McNally book while drinking green tea w/soy milk.

At yoga class Cypresse told me she was going to spend Thanksgiving hiking with her family on the White Rock Canyon trail I suggested. She too has a problem with eating dead birds, gluttony and having only one day to feel gratitude (it should be everyday). That reminds me I gotta put my White Rock Canyon photos together in email photo format. Maybe after Friday's 20 miler.

 

Great Joy

It's hard to imagine who experienced the greatest joy on November 7th. William Clark, in 1805, when he first set eyes on the Pacific Ocean, or,  me in 2005 when I got my new hot water heater hooked up. We had both gone through great adversity and had faced the unknown. Clark, with his co-captain Meriwether Lewis, had crossed a continent looking for a water passage to the Pacific Ocean. I had gone weeks with an old leaking water heater and against the advice of many installed a new one with my friend and co-worker Mike Dindia (he did most of the work).

When I got home from work tonight I had hot water and the new 30-gallon tank was properly hooked up and not leaking. My greatest fear through the whole ordeal today was would I be able to get a run in. But when Mike needed to get some parts for the connections I took the opporotunity to get a quality 59-minute run around Sunset Park. What a deal. But the best deal was the $300 Mike saved me on the excessive installation fee. Thanks Mike.

Clark's Nov. 7, 1805 journal entry,  "Great joy in camp. We are in view of the ocean, this great Pacific Ocean which we have been so long anxious to see, and the roaring or noise made by the waves breaking on the rocky shores (as I suppose) may be heard distinctly."

Weekend at Red Rock

There's no doubt that I was the only one in Sunday's yoga class that had run and biked the scenic loop the previous day, but that was my triathlon at Red Rock this weekend. On Saturday, I locked my bike at the fee station and drove down to the end of the scenic loop. There I began my 15-mile journey. Running the 13-mile loop did not seem that difficult, I'm in shape and fit for a marathon and I knew I would have the luxury of riding my bike the last 2 miles. It was a beautiful sunny warm day, about 60 degrees. The only negative factor was the traffic. I've never seen so many cars and motorcycles racing around the loop and the parking lots were all overflowing. But I got the run in with no ill effects and declared myself ready for the marathon 4 weeks from today.

The yoga Sunday was much easier. We car pooled to Sandstone Quarry (see photo) hiked toward Turtlehead Peak where we found a secluded area to practice. It was very peaceful, relaxing and enlightening.

Now if I can just get my hot water heater replaced.

Eating with the Animals

Today was the day I had to settle my losing baseball bet to Lynda. The White Sox beat the Red Sox so I had to buy lunch. We went to the Flamingo where former Hilton boss Cyril Burger wrote us a comp to the buffet.

While waiting for Cyril to return from lunch to give us a free lunch (some sacrifice losing a bet and getting a comp), we toured the grounds of Bugsy's former hotel and saw Pink Flamingos and African Pelicans. When we were seated in the buffet we had a front row seat to see even more creatures. Ducks, fish and swans paraded by us while we dined on a delicious buffet. I was sure the 4 desserts would send me into diabetic hell, but after yoga class my blood sugar was only 84. I'll never figure that out.

Yoga class was great tonight with Kim and live music. On the drive out there was a beautiful crescent moon and the planet Venus. Did you see it? Venus is so luminous it can be seen with the naked eye after sunset. Keep looking up.

 

Back on the Map

On Nov. 3, 1805, Lewis & Clark spotted a known landmark on the Columbia River -- Mt. Hood. It had been mapped by an American sea captain eight years earlier. Clark wrote:

"A mountain which we suppose to be Mt. Hood is S. 85 E., about 47 miles distant from the mouth of Quicksand River. This mountain is covered with snow and in the range of mountains which we have passed through and is of a conical form, but rugged. After taking dinner at the mouth of this river, we proceeded on."

I proceeded on a 12-mile run on the new trail at Equestrian Park. I was the only runner/hiker/biker on the course. The trail goes for 30 miles. That leaves more for later.

That effort left me a little tired for Cypresse's yoga classes. Some poses that I normally have no difficulty with were nearly impossible. But the good news is the bs was down to 135 this morning and 119 after class so I guess I'm back on the right path.

 

Rooster Rock

Two hundred years ago today the Lewis & Clark Expedition was nearing the Pacific Ocean. They camped near Rooster Rock on the Columbia River near today's Portland, Ore. Dad & I visited this site in June 2003. That was 28 months ago ironically that's the same length of the L&C round trip.

This was the first place I really felt a connection with the Corp of Discovery looking out on the Columbia River (see 2nd photo at left) and imagining Lewis & Clark paddling their canoes toward the ocean 200 yrs ago.

Back in 2005, my blood sugar has been a little high lately but I think the Halloween witches and goblins are to blame for that. I'm having my quarterly blood test tomorrow and I don't think the results are going to be that great, but you gotta take the bitter with the sweet.

No race on the slate this weekend but I think I'm going to check out the new trail at Equestrian Park.