A Prescribed Burning and the Ipod Void



OK, so I was siked about going to the trails yesterday to get a quick run in.  I dressed in the car on the way, just to make sure I had a few more minutes on the trail, since I had a 7:00pm appointment that I had to make.  I don't think anybody noticed....:)  Anyway, in these two years of running I have become a Garmin (my sport swatch) and an Ipod addict....Like, I don't feel like I will have a good run if I can't check my heart rate, pace and listen to some tunes.....So, I found out quickly that I was going to run with neither or not run.  I decided that I might be enough company for myself and headed out on the 4 mile path at Country Lane in Palos. 
Fortunately enough my quiet run and personal time with listening to my heavy breathing and my thoughts without distraction, did not disappoint.  As I approached the 1 mile marker, I noticed the smell of burning trees.  Sure enough in a few feet, several dead trees where being burned.  I also noticed several signs that indicated that this was a "Prescribed Burning." I figured quickly that this would be my running lesson for the day and started focusing in on why I might need  a prescribed burning in my life. 

Prescribed burns are used most frequently to maintain and restore native grasslands. Prescribed burning can recycle nutrients tied up in old plant growth, control many woody plants and herbaceous weeds, improve poor quality forage, increase plant growth, reduce the risk of large wildfires, and improve certain wildlife habitat. To achieve the above benefits, fire must be used under very specific conditions, using very specific techniques. Sargent, M.S and Carter, K.S., ed. 1999. Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide.  Michigan United Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. 297pp.
 How often do we miss the forest because the trees of life have become too big?  I would have missed an opportunity to recognize that even good things need to be let go of in order for the best things in life to grow.  My ipod would not have taught me that.  What needs to be recycled in you? What needs to be restored?  Don't you want your "life plants" to grow?  Prescribed burnings only work, as written above if they are done under specific conditions and using specific techniques.  It makes a difference whom you are accountable to in life.  They just might burn you in the wrong place!  Nuff said! (Post your comments below as to what needs a prescribed burn in your life, whether its emotional, physical, spiritual or relational.)

I am hours away from my "BIG CHOP!" I am nervous, but anxious to be liberated.  I can't wait to post pics or video.  I am headed out to do sprint intervals today.  Somewhere in my hurry up, wait, hurry up wait of a schedule, I will find the time!  You make time for what you really want to do!  Shamrock in 10 DAYS!

"Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things"

CS Lewis

Until the Springbok writes again....

Nirvana....4a, Sprint Intervals and Construction Hats

Helloooooo!

I have had such a busy few weeks, but I did not want to allow another one to go by without checking in. My Shamrock race training is going fairly well. I have unfortunately missed a few crucial training days, due to work, family or teaching commitments, but none the less, I feel pretty confident about the upcoming run. I have learned to listen to when my body says, its time to rest and when it's time to speed up. I refused to accept unnecessary injuries, because I won't to listen to her! Listen to the pain, folks! It means something..... Nirvana#1 (BTW...The Chicago Shamrock closes this weekend!)

 

I recently came to the conclusion that the "Big Chop" is in my near future. Why stay in bondage to this transitioning hair? (Clarification: Big Chop-to cut off all of the existing relaxed or permed hair and be satisfied with the natural stuff that is left. Transitioning- the period of time that a person moves from permed or relaxed hair to all natural hair.) FREEDOM!.......Nirvana#2

So, now I have also discovered or at least I think, I have 4A natural hair. I am a newbie to all of this so I didn't realize there was a natural hair scale. Wow! Times have truly changed. Nappy used to be negative and ugly to many. I think the days of hearing "good hair" are almost over or a least behind us. Amen somebody!

  My sprint intervals are pretty exciting for me these days! I am averaging approximately 7:30 min per mile splits for my 0.25 mile, of which I have to complete 6 to 10 during speed sessions. I'll take em! So Tina A. Swain, I might be closer to your challenge than I thought!.....Black Girls Run!....and can run fast!....Nirvana#3

And lastly, I had one more inspiring moment, listening just today to a podcast about a wonderful book by Dr. West Stafford of Compassion International called, Just One Minute......Basically, you never want to miss even a minute of an opportunity to impact the life of a child. When you are with them, put on your construction hats because they are always an opportunity at work!...Nirvana#4

........Until the  4A Springbok writes again!

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

Graham Greene

"Shamrock, here I come!"

OK, so today is the official start of my 8 week training schedule for Bank of America's Shamrock Shuffle If you want to run this one, you better sign up quick, it sells out fast. http://www.shamrockshuffle.com/cms400min/ I am doing Hal Higdon's 8 week advanced program. You ought to check the guy out. He has been running for years and posts appropriate training schedules for any type of runner. http://www.halhigdon.com/
Anyway, I had to switch the program today and I ran a 24 min tempo run at the park while my little one was in gymnastics. I would have gone longer, but I couldn't see in front of me and could my husband yelling at me in my head. I felt pretty good for my first official run. We will see how the rest of the week pans out.....My official chip times for the Shamrock in 2010 and 2011 were 50:24 and 44:42. What do you think I should shoot for this year?

Let's see, I am reading a good book called Rebirth and Rejoice written by a good friend of mine, Tina Swain Rebirth and-Rejoice. One of the key points I took away from it today was, how often I walk or run around without my full armor of protection on. In any arena if there is provided protective gear available for you to use and you don't use it, what does that make you?.....You fill in the blank! Currently my hair is standing straight up in the air! I guess the infamous bun will have to do for my birthday. Wow, a year older and I still don't have a good hair plan! Happy Birthday to me!

Your talk talks and your walk talks, the key is to let your walk talk louder than your talk!

-Pastor James Ford

Running In The Elements

Ok,
So I ran today in the snow. While it was a short run and a slow one, I can honestly say that it was one of the best runs I've had. The snow was falling, I had to run primarily in the street, through slush and defend my feet from the elements. Thank God for gortex! 3m 34:38 11:33 pace avg bpm 162. I know, nothing but....".SLOW! However, the reason I am reporting that this was a good run is because, I did it for me! I was able to have a full conversation with my spirit and my God! No, I am not crazy! I've heard other runners speak of it as a spiritual experience, but I don't think I've experienced many of them myself. Oh yeah, my hair is in a tight secure bun at the nape of my neck and as a result,I have a headache!! I miss my running buddies......

The 5 senses were given to us as gifts to help us enjoy this world and help us to be alerted of harm. They were never intended to govern the spirit man -C. Dollar

OK soooooo.......I feel like I need to apologize!

Hello,
I hate starting something and not finishing it!  The break is over from blogging.  I ran my last race in Orland Hills before Thanksgiving 2011.  25:51 5K, 8:19 pace....I'll take it!
Needless to say, since then I have been partying like a rock star....indulging in the fat of the land.  I enjoyed my holidays, but now it is back to work.  In fact, this year's motto is.....DO WORK! Put it in so you can get it out

2012 RUNNING GOALS:

• Sub 2 half....8:24 pace
• 8:30 pace for Solider Field Ten
• Do a half some place other than Illinois
• Sub 25 min 5K
• Run the Shamrock really fast! :)

I ran with my buddies on Saturday (1/7/12) and I felt like the old fat lady, slowing everybody down!  :) I'll get it together....

If you can forgive the person you were, accept the person you are and believe in the person you will become you are headed for joy, so celebrate your life

Barbara Jones

I'M BACK...A Buddie I Forgot and One I've Fallen Out With!

OK, so yes, get all of your jokes out, your laughs, etc.  Yes, he finally beat me!  I have been enduring all that I deserve about the huge upset that took place on June 12, 2011.  Marc clocked in at an amazing 1:57:51 for the North Shore Half-Marathon.    I don't think I was as challenged by him beating me as I was about him running a sub two half.  How did it do that?  I guess fast don't lie! :)

Enough about him, I had a pretty rough race, I felt fatigued, dehydrated and just out of breathe for the whole race.  I ran sub 9 minute miles until about the 5.5 mile marker (with Marc) and then I just decided I needed to finish as best I could.  I actually didn't feel my tendinitis until about mile 9. I finished in 2:04 and some change.

I really didn't run much last week, I got new shoes which I am afraid of because the salesperson took me down from full motion control to stability.  I am now in a Brooks Adrenaline GTS 11.....we shall see...I did a couple of short runs in them without compliant and I finally got a Nuu Muu!  If I could ever find my friend again, (Running,) maybe I'd wear it!  I did do six miles at the trails with my running crew, however I felt like I was in a wind tunnel with all the wind going in the opposite direction of me.  The buddie I forgot last post, Daisy (the NEET guy's albino boxer,) felt just like I did during the run....she laid down and refused to go anymore in the middle of the trail!  That's what I am talking about.  Well, I'll give myself another week of weight training and cross-training and see if my running buddie wants to check in with me like old times!  Oh yeah, this pony tail is getting old, plus I think my hair is breaking off, gotta look for a new do! Until the Springbok finds a new running hair do or at least starts running again on a regular........

Pre-Race Rituals...

OK, its 10:10 pm and I really should be in bed, but as always the excitement and nervousness that a race generates for me has me wide awake!  You'd think I was really doing something, like winning part of the $10,000 pot that is available to the runners in the top categories...Instead I am only running against me.  I AM MY BEST COMPETITOR! 

Well, since I am full of energy, I thought I'd share the laundry list of things I do to prepare for a race.  No I don't believe in superstitions, however, I have not veered from these practices this year and so far, I have taken 6 minutes off my previous time in every race I've run and completed.  (BTW, that's big in the race world!:)  Also, the ponytail is hanging in there.  It just might work.  OK, let's see.... (in no particular order)

• Drink half my body weight in H2O two days and one day prior to the race...Gotta stay hydrated (believe me, my body knows when it has enough water, and when it doesn't.  During those times I feel like quitting every mile)
• Full body yoga stretch, throughout the week, but specifically the day before in the sauna at the gym (at least 20 minutes or more if I can stand the heat.)
• Create my Ipod play list for the race
• Eat a high-carb meal (tonight was pasta and shrimp with tomato basil sauce...yum-yum,) garlic bread and salad
• A total coffee cleanse (won't give all the gory details...inbox me if you want to know the real deal!)
• Shave, shave and shave.....(Somehow I think this makes me faster, doesn't Mike Phelps do that? :)
• Prepare my travel bag and any injury equipment (tonight I am preparing my K-T tape for my tendinitis
• Check my garmin and my Ipod and charge them if need be
• Set the coffee pot...(Gotta get 16oz. of Joe in 30 minutes prior to race)
• Try to get in bed in a decent hour (never works!)

Well, that's it I think...oh and now...BLOG...BLOG...BLOG!  Keep me and hubby in your prayers!.....Until the Springbok races again!