Blah, Blah, Blah

Can't think of anything earth shattering to say today. Of course I ran (only about 3.5 miles but at a brisk pace) and the blood sugar was so perfect (109) that's the example that's used on meters and in BB King's commercial.

It's been a stressful last 2 days at work. Thank God, I'm off the next 2 days so I can concentrate on running and yoga. We're short handed and busier than ever during football season. I wish a hurricane would blow away the Hilton.

 

"Wild beasts and birds are by right not the property of people alive today, but the property of unborn generations, whose belongings we have no right to squander...A grove of redwoods or sequoias should be kept just as we keep a great and beautiful cathedral."
                                                                           -- Theodore Roosevelt, President

Born to Run

Started the day with an 8-mile run and finished with a candlelight yoga session.

Yesterday the blood sugar was a little high (147). So today I passed on the deadly pastries the Hilton puts out and would you believe it was only 81. That may be low but it makes sense. I burned a lot of carbs and didn't replace them all. That's easy to fix. Injest carbs. Problem solved.

I got an email response from Nina tonight in reference to our meeting at a yoga class Friday night and my inquiry about her charity event. She writes:

Hi Ham:
That was an interesting one for sure... but I always enjoy Yoga.  Thanks
for saying hi.. hope you enjoyed yourself as well.

Ticket sales are going quite well for the big charity event.  There are
still concert tickets available, but the VIP portion of the event is
sold out.

See you there!

Nina Radetich

Well that makes my day!

Starting the Day at Sunset Park

Don't worry. I have a never ending supply of photos from Sunset Park. Today I explored some new trails as I ran for 105 minutes (about 11 miles). I knew I needed a long run with the marathon less than three months away. I'd like to get one or two 15-mile runs in this month, a couple of 18s in October and two 20s in November to be ready for the race.

Everytime I start to think by blood sugar is invincible I'm reminded I'm a diabetic. After logging all those miles today I thought I could indugle in a big bran muffin and another one of those gooey decadent pastries the Hilton puts out for free to fatten up its workers. Well today they got me. My blood sugar soared up to 147 two hours after indulging so I'm reminded no matter how much I run I have to watch what I eat.

In sports news today, the Miami Hurricanes found much more resistance than Hurricane Katrina found last week as they were upset by Florida State 10-7 and Jerry Rice, the greatest receiver in NFL history called it a career.

 

Two Months complete

Today marks two full dry months completed as I march in my 435-day L&C Abstinence Reenactment. How's it going? Well, I'd say I'm in the best shape of my life. My weight's always somewhere in the 150s, both my blood sugar and pressure are significantly improved and most important -- my race times are getting faster everytime out of the chute. Three months from today is the Las Vegas Marathon and I'm going to be very ready for that 26.2-mile adventure.

Who knew that following the lead of a couple of early 19th Century explorers who ran out of grog halfway across the continent would have such a positive effect on me in 2005. Today I expected my bs number to be through the roof after having 2 pieces of rye bread, a big bran muffin and a decadent strawberry pastry with a salad for dinner. But after my evening yoga session it was only 106! And I didn't even run today!

Now a quote from my favorite Vietnamese Buddhist Monk Thich Nhat Hanh:

"I long to accomplish a great noble task, but it is my chief duty to accomplish small tasks as if they were great and noble. We have to learn to live happier in the present moment, to touch the peace and joy that are available now."

 

Getting Faster Every Race

This Lewis & Clark Abstinence Reenactment nonsense is beginning to reap some benefits. Faster race times for one.

In today's Million to One 5k run I finished in 24:04. That's a 7:44 pace per mile. A year ago my 5k race times were over 9 minutes a mile. Today's effort was good for 36th overall out of a field of 98. Not bad. But in my 45-49 age group, it was only good for 5th. There's some fast old men out there.

After the race I struck up a conversation with Lindsey Sheer. Lindsey was just ahead of me finishing in 23:30. She was 2nd in her 25-29 age group. Lindsey is running 18 miles Sunday as she trains for the NYC Marathon. I noticed she was carrying an entire set of keys for the race. I suggested she take only one key. Now I might never be able to catch her. I told her about the 12-mile Grand Circle Trail at Red Rock and she said she'd like to join me out there someday. Just doing my job as local trail navigator. Whether it's the Lewis & Clark or scenic running trails I'll always be there to lead the way.

 

Local Celebrity in Yoga Class

Run. Yoga. Those two elements always make up a good day and today was a great day. Nothing special about the run. Just a local run on a dirt trail. But the yoga class, now that was something really special.

Friday nights on the west side Kim Culp teaches a candlelight class with live music. Tonight's class had a sitar player. How perfect for yoga. It was great to visit with Kim before class. I hadn't seen Kim for a few months. Then she was trying to teach with a broken foot. That was before her doctor put her in a cast and told her to rest. But since then Kim has healed in a big way. She's performing in Jubilee at Bally's and training for the LV Marathon. What a coincidence! So am I. Training for the marathon that is.

That was enough for a great day but to top it off I thought I noticed a familiar face in the back of the class. It was Ch. 3 news anchor Nina Radetich! I know Nina. We've exchanged email but this was the first time we met. Nina's a cyclist and a runner but I didn't know she did yoga too! What a small world. Kim and Nina made my night!

Oh there was one more thing... When I got home I saw Venus and Jupiter. 

 Venus and Jupiter -- the two brightest planets appeared  right next to each other at twilight in the west southwest sky. Venus is roughly 106 million miles from Earth, while Jupiter is 575 million miles away. Look tonight after dark and maybe you'll see them too. How's that for a day of star gazing?

What's Another Day?

Thursday Sept. 1, 2005

After further review of the Lewis & Clark journals I realized I underestimated my abstinence reenactment by one day. It was Sept. 14, 1806, not the 13th as I earlier believed. So now the total dry spell is 435 days. So, 13 more days -- plus another full year to go. You're invited to the party Sept. 14, 2006. 

That may be a sacrifice for me but nothing like New Orleans and Mississippi residents are going through. This story keeps getting worse every day. What are the refugees doing with their pets? I couldn't leave my cats behind. I'm not attached to my possesions or material things, but the cats, I'd have to take them with me.

I had a great 9-mile run this morning and my yoga teacher Cypresse called me to discuss her September yoga schedule. Life is good here.