Running Xan

Bootcamp...complete

2011-02-17T10:12:00.000-08:00

And now I have a boxing club membership. Why box you ask? AMAZING cross training. And check this clip: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZtMm0swu5i8

Beautifully done. If you don't box, you will want to.

I begin "official" marathon training again this weekend. Wish me luck!

Week 1 of Bootcamp...done

2011-01-21T16:27:00.000-08:00

So, long time no talk. That's ok - who reads these things anyway? My guess is that they may be glanced at retroactively.

So, to sum up the last few weeks: half marathon distance done. Body....ouch.

Aches and pains galore.

So, to make future long distances less compromising, I resolved to just focus on cutting body fat and increasing flexibility. Next SF marathon training round begins at the end of March. So....this has come in the form of a boxing bootcamp - located conveniently right down the street from where I work. So, my life this past week (which was oddly enjoyable):

4:45am: Up
5:02: Leave apartment
5:11: Catch the 22 bus to 22nd and 3rd street
5:37: Arrive 3rd Street boxing gym
6: Tear my body apart by means of instruction by an angry Irish boxing man
7:30: Hobble to work
5:30pm: Home or gym for hot tub and yoga/stretching
9pm: Lights out.

Rinse (sometimes) and repeat.

My body is feeling sore yet really good. This is a 4 week program. See you next week.

-X

Half Me Baby

2010-12-17T08:07:00.000-08:00

So....

13.1 miles Sunday. Who's coming with me?!?

(crickets....crickets playing violins....crickets drinking beer...crickets being crickets)

So my right foot is sore, I am not technically in the best condition to run this far, but I am doing it! I may walk the last couple miles, but in my least eloquent statement on this blog thus far...who gives a shit?

I'll be back Monday with an update and the status of my survival.

-X

From Here to There

2010-12-01T16:14:00.000-08:00

I wonder frequently why I am pursuing an endurance achievement of this sort.

Simple answer? Not really - its continuing to change. Partially, its pride: not many people do it. Not many people even want to, and most think it makes me crazy. That idea makes me chuckle.

But in the end, its all about a competition with myself. Period.

Every day we fight these little internal battles. The game of tennis. And I think for the most part I know how I should act in certain situations to achieve results. But as a human being - I make excuses and I get lazy. But something about this running, seeing the goal through to the end, and having the resolve to achieve it makes me feel good. And I know it is steeling me to future challenges that I will face.

I am glad that I no longer have a team that I have to depend on as I always did in basketball. Egos abound and internal politics make things messy. When I am out there running - its just me.

Life is not always so simple, I know. But I suppose I am beginning to crave things that are completely up to my own personal will and not dependent on anyone else.

Patience Young Padawan

2010-11-18T13:40:00.001-08:00

Hello all,

So in short, my body has caught up with itself. The stress of the move, though totally worth it, has set me back a bit. I am not on pace currently with my anticipated training schedule unfortunately. Let me explain:

I can run 5 miles no sweat. In fact, I plan to do it this afternoon.
But I am supposed to be doing 16 this Saturday, and in a phrase: that ain't gonna happen.

Because of a past strained achilles and now strained hammy - I have to back off. Every time I feel healthy, I get overly excited, push too hard with either:

1) pace (e.g. a "6 minute mile?" dont mind if i do...)

or as with my first injury:

2) distance (e.g. run 10 miles, then walk another 5 before recovery because, oh shit, i just sold my car since I am moving to San Francisco). So that cycle ends now.

So what is one to do?

Short answer: Patience. Persevere.

Life is full of little lessons if you listen- and slowing down when I am excited about something has been mine most recently. Its not about knowing your limits per se - I think positively and always bigger than where I currently am; its about working at the limits in which you currently find yourself - and then pushing just that little bit more you haven't before. Such is how progress is made.

I'll be running a half marathon this December. Mark my words. Even if it takes me 3 hours.

-x

The Long Awaited, Much Anticipated, Very Duly Researched through Trial & Error: Playlist

2010-11-03T10:44:00.001-07:00

What keeps you going when you are down in the mouth? When you're glum, blue, sad? When you just shat your pants, are dehydrated, and still have 7.35 miles to go?

Music.

Well, thats my answer. No big surprise probably after all the hype I put around it. So without further bullshit and attempts at witticism: here are the top 25 as of right now. These are attempted to be in order of most likely to pump me up (and in some cases just provide a steady zen-calm), but after song 7, its about all even.

1) Do the Evolution - Pearl Jam
2) Gravel Pit - Wu Tang Clan
3) Got the Life - Korn
4) Model - Balanescu Quartet
5) White Tooth Man - Iron & Wine
6) Wolf Like Me - TV on the Radio
7) Bad Romance - Lady Gaga
8) Bad Influence - Pink
9) Go With the Flow - Queens of the Stone Age
10) Volcanoe - Damien Rice
11) St. Louis Blues - The Mills Brothers
12) When I Get Low, I get High - The Loose Marbles
13) Bombs over Baghdad - Outkast
14) Coo Coo Bird - The Be Good Tanyas
15) Lux Aeterna - Clint Mansell
16) California Waiting - Kings of Leon
17) Don't Drink The Water - Dave Matthews Band
18) Poker Face - Lady Gaga
19) Close to Me - The Cure
20) One Song Glory - from the musical Rent
21) Chop Suey - System of a Down
22) Belated Promise Ring - Iron & Wine
23) Sigh No More - Mumford & Sons
24) Maps - Yeah Yeah Yeahs
25) Sober - Pink

Recs are more than welcome!

Running & The Rhythm

2010-09-09T10:17:00.000-07:00

So its been a while since I posted one of these. Didn't quite stick by the timeline. And work starts officially in 12 minutes. Oi! The things we do.

So in short, what have I learned?

Running long distances is hard.

The things it does to your body is pretty cool.

But dont deprive your colon of oxygen ;o I will let you figure that one out. Long distance runners have a serious history of poop pants. Doctors call it exercise-induced ischemic colitis. But for our purposes lets call it the tao of poo.

Everyone poops.

Anyway. This running requires major upkeep - which during my move I did my best to provide it. But because of stress, lack of rest, and generally pushing my body to its limits - I now have a seriously strained left calf - as in going on a week and a half.

The fact that I walk home 4 miles from work every day doesn't help either :/

Regardless, as my friend J Rob would say, listen to your body. You are in it for the long haul.

And so am I. I am resting and being patient. But staying in cardio shape with swimming. If all goes well I will be right on track for the short mileage of 6 (who ever thought I would think 6 straight miles is short?!?) next week.

Will keep you guys posted!!!

much love,

x

Running, The Circle, & The Cycle of Yes

2010-08-27T14:57:00.000-07:00

I recently (as in approximately 96 hours ago) found out that I was officially & newly employed in San Francisco. What a ride the last week has been. In short, it showed what a book called "The Circle" by Laura Day, really means when it is manifested in real life. Interested? Read on.

We make these choices that affect us day in and day out - especially in our attitudes. And I know that running among many other things is exactly in the same realm.

Let me splain:

Identify core value (aka where your goals, dreams, desires emanate from), identify a goal (no matter how big), make an action plan, decide to take action, take action....RESULT. And continue the cycle in steps until you reach the ultimate goal if necessary. Rinse & Repeat. And again, etc. Simple right?

Crybabies would say that this could be as simple as cooking oatmeal, however, I think that is the beauty of this process. I got a new job in San Francisco through the same series of action, result, action, result, action. And in less than two months - all because of identifying my want, having an action plan, deciding I was brave enough to see the result out to the end - I am on my merry way.

Or as Laura Day would call it: the cycle of yes. And in my experience, this cycle is a muscle you have to flex - and you will begin to recognize 'the flow', almost instinctually. It is really a fascinating concept.

So whats the hard part? Identifying and ACCEPTING your wants, your dreams, your desires (which I could write an entire other entry about and probably will once I can relate it to running). For some, including myself, this can be a daunting proposition. It meant leaving LA and a familiarity of the acting industry for the relative unknown of San Francisco. But I know its right. And I was no longer afraid of the result.

So, um, Xan, this is a blog about running right? Ok, this analogy will actually lead into the running part so here we go:

Make no mistake, there will be events and people that block the flow and will bring you into their "cycle" or agendas. Maybe they are tests to see if you can stay in harmony with yourself.

But those that are inflexible and unresponsive to your goals and needs: pay these people no mind. Its hard, but if you have identified a core value, come hell or high water, you are fucking going there lest you sacrifice yourself. So there is that.

This happened to me in a small way just this past Saturday. I am in the middle of a 3 mile run. My father calls. We talk a lot now since this change. But I have made the mistake of inviting distraction on my run or "flow" by taking my phone along for the ride. And sure enough he calls. And sure enough, I answer because I know he is more nervous for me than I am for me. Thats the parents' lot in life I suppose.

So we chat a bit while I am running. Which they say you should be able to do at the correct "pace" for long distances. But then he begins to ask me questions I cannot give my focus to and I begin to get angry. Very angry. I ask him politely if we can talk later, the entrepreneur in him keeps talking, because hey, thats what you do sometimes to keep people on the phone. I snap. Politely. He was fucking up my flow, what did you expect? Sigh. It must be hard being a father.

So I learned a few things that day: dont have complex conversations while running, one. But most importantly, if you have a goal - dont let people take you out of your flow. If they are important to you, just point with a sign, sometimes loudly at the flow you have created and say: 'can I get back to you please?'

I have found, there are those that will come into your life, but if you cant find the harmony of your two goals being able to coexist in the same space - someone will come out the winner, and the other the loser. Its inevitable. So cheers to finding harmony. I believe that happiness in running and in life depends on it.

So go get it! Happiness and the cycle of yes that is.

Life Running So Far

2010-08-22T14:49:00.000-07:00

So,

I wont get into the details of my training log, and the other somewhat hohum details of marathon training, because I dont really have any key and/or entertaining insights on them just yet. But I will share a few things that sparked my interest this past week:

1) Food.

I fucking love food gone wild. Wild being those meals that dont come through a fast food line or normally in an average restaurant period. It all just has this starchy taste that my palate says "well I could have told you that was coming" kind of thing.

So food, good, varied, well seasoned, well paired with a nicely accompanied above average wine, beer, and/or cocktail suits me every day of the week come judgement whether at home or out and about.

Now that I got that out of the way, the issue now is, my body is DEMANDING dalkdjafoweiajweoijaf**&##$%@!!!!!!!whowwowwow. food.

Let me explaing briefly: I get to work 9 am after a morning run. I decide not to eat because I normally dont eat for a 3 or 4 hours after a workout, even when I was training for bball seriously. And I am pissed off. I mean, everything annoying is 10x more annoying and I want to make reasons to be mad kind of crazy talk. Then I ate - a nice yet humble salad of spinach, chicken breast, hummus,boiled egg, and black pepper. I feel all nice and better. Road Rage avoided. Gunning down fellow employees avoided. Life can now continue. I embelish , but I think you can make the connection here.

This is the closest I will ever feel to a woman being pregnant, I know that now. God bless you women for the miracle yet roller coaster ride of carrying a child to term.

2) I like running outside.

I didn't realize how much of a difference that made in "training" until now. Before now, running was just something I had to do every morning before practice to have endurance to play a college level sport. But now, I want to. I crave. And most any outdoor route beats the treadmill any day of the week.

3) Yoga

Is probably the best gift a runner can give themself. Take your pick of style, I dont care. It may be the best all around fitness regimen period. And for those of you who say 'its too expensive', know this:

-You can go to studio's "pay what you can night", at least 1x weekly. Most major studios have this, if not on a daily basis.

-You can get most any well known's teacher's DVD on half.com and learn what style fits your personality.

-If you have a place to live, you have your own studio. If you cant lay down the length of your body you are either reading this from New York City and I'm envious (just go to a public park whiner - you live in one of the greatest cities in the world) or you just haven't considered how to make it work.

-So do it. Please. For yourself.

Thats all I got for today. And in the vein of my yoga rant...Namaste.

The Whys and Such

2010-08-19T10:57:00.000-07:00

So,

Those of you who are bothering to find out why I am doing this. Here is why:

I used to be in shape. Great shape. I took a few years off (approximately 2004-2007). I have spent the last 3 years losing 60 pounds by means of the elliptical, swimming and lindy hopping. And now, I've realized out of losing patience, its time to lose the other 30 lbs I'd like to lose and look like a well carved marble house again. I'm vain, I somewhat accept that. Thats one reason.

Two: I am a glutton for punishment. So there that is. When it comes to exercise, at least when its not yoga (but it depends on the yoga I am up for that day I suppose), I have found that I enjoy nothing better than the workout that nearly makes me vomit....or makes me vomit. Like I did this morning. If that sounds crazy to you, I dont think I can explain it. If it doesn't sound crazy, you should join me for my mid-week run.

Three: I am going to be running a fucking marathon! How cool is that? Once again, if the idea of running several hundred miles to prepare for one race doesn't quite excite you, well, go do pilates. I like pilates. Just not every day.

Four: I am going to run a motherfucking marathon!

Five: I like to test my limits while my body is rather still pliable. If you arent one of my early twenty something friends, some of you may have noticed that your health is like a rubber band. It can be bent at your will. But the thing is, this rubber band gets brittle and less flexible as you age. So, lets keep it flexible and in good condition. My unborn children depend on me not dying of a heart attack at age 40, and I'd like my back, legs, and the like to be in good enough shape to toss them around the room when they're born until they are big enough to toss me around.

Six: Do you really need another reason? Ok. I have found that I love home-brewed beer, courtesty of Jerl Leutz, and this gives me an excuse to help brew and drink a sizable amount of this and then burn it off all in the name of carbohydrates. No preservatives=no bloating. Go Jerl.

Seven: And I will end here, because I like this number. I want to like what I see in the mirror. Did I mention I was vain? What I mean actually is this: I want to look that guy in the eye, and say "You know what? We have accomplished something. You haven't done something this physically and mentally challenging in a while. Good job buddy. Good for us both."

I'll be here every week. At least until I finish my first one. Shoot me any messages if you want to know specifics about how you too can do this awesome type of athletic event, and I will do my darndest to answer. Cutting remarks, as always, are welcome too.

P.S....

I forgot to mention in my first posting:

in my obsession with the #7, that I worked/volunteered at the finish line of the 2010 San Francisco Marathon. What an experience! Courtesy of awesome friend and PR extraordinaire Lyz Luke. In short, one moment among many great ones in particular let me know I HAD to do this. Will blog on that topic later.