A work in progress

Thursday, April 07, 2011

That is what I am and what I plan to be until I take my last breath.

I can change. I will change. I am the artist/sculptor trying to create something worth sharing from this mind and body I am blessed with.


Here are some quotes about change.

Change alone is eternal, perpetual, immortal.
- Arthur Schopenhauer

***
Change is inevitable - except from a vending machine.
- Robert C. Gallagher

***
Change is such hard work.
- Billy Crystal

***
If we don't change, we don't grow. If we don't grow, we aren't really living.
- Gail Sheehy

***
If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, change your attitude. Don't complain.
- Maya Angelou

Have a Sparky day!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

ERIN1128 4/8/2011 4:40PM

Love the Billy Crystal quote - I can just hear him saying it. Thanks for sharing! Report Inappropriate Comment

KBEHUNE 4/7/2011 10:54AM

The quotes are great! Report Inappropriate Comment

DJS-DEBBIE 4/7/2011 10:36AM

I love these quotes. Change is my mantra for the upcoming year. Report Inappropriate Comment

When I was a child I couldn't walk.

Sunday, April 03, 2011

I have no memory of life before first grade but I have been told that as a yong child I could not walk a block without great pain. I do remember being taken to clinics at a very young age. And having something done to my feet during one visit. And getting too many samples of my blood taken.


By first grade, I was walking about a half mile to school without pain and all I was then diagnosed with was severely flat feet. I was given exercises, such as picking up a pencil with my toes and walking heel to toe in a straight line, to do twice a day. I did them twice a day for eight years and for extra credit I would sometimes walk a mile or more on a railroad rail. I didn't drink IPA's back then but if anyone ever asked me to walk a straight line, I could sure do it!


As I drink my morning cups of coffee, I find myself wondering why I am finding it so hard to do the stretches twice a day that the physical therapist told me to do for my piriformis when I had no trouble doing exercises twice a day for my feet for eight years as a child.


Did I have more time available then? Was it because I wanted to be healthy for the rest of my life then and now possibly rest on my laurels, if not a pain free buttocks? I know I will never run as fast as I used to (I consider my 10 mile time of 58:48 as my best race) but I know I may be able to run farther than ever (I'm considering a 62 mile trail run next Fall, never went beyond 50 to date). Is it because the stretches hurt and the exercises didn't? Since this coffee is not providing any answers, I think I'll go stretch.


Before I move away from the keyboard, I feel compelled to mention that as a result of those eight childhood years of twice daily exercises, when I was 18 I no longer had flat feet. And I learned that having flat feet would have excluded me from being drafted into the military. How unfortunate and ironic it would have been if those exercises led to my being sent to Vietnam with potentially fatal consequences?

Fortunately, I was never drafted.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BOBBYD31 4/4/2011 8:48PM

great story ray. i think sometime we get in that rut of life and don't want to change at least that is the way for me especially when it comes to stretching. you are an amazing man wish i would have got a chance to meet you last weekend Report Inappropriate Comment

JOPAPGH 4/4/2011 11:59AM

Good philosophical question that I also do not have an answer to. After SF RightFoot this time last year I was diligent with my stretching, warm up and cool down laps. As my runs got longer and my time got faster the stretches and warm up and cool downs disappeared. What appeared was SF LeftFoot this spring. Hope I learn for this and keep the stretching, strengthening and warm up/cool downs longterm. Comment edited on: 4/4/2011 6:49:44 PM Report Inappropriate Comment

HICALGAL 4/4/2011 12:53AM

funny as a young child, we don't set limitations and the world is ours for the taking. is it because we knew something back then that we've forgotten over the years? glad things turned out well with ur feet and that u were never drafted or sent to vietnam. Comment edited on: 4/4/2011 12:54:32 AM Report Inappropriate Comment

SEABREEZE63 4/3/2011 4:03PM

Another well-written blog! I know for a fact that I have changed a bit or more since I was 8 years old. Report Inappropriate Comment

HEALTHIERKEN 4/3/2011 10:04AM

Very thought-provoking blog, IPA-RAY. It never ceases to amaze me what our bodies can do to repair themselves, given the appropriate encouragement and support. Thanks for sharing these thoughts. Report Inappropriate Comment

TEDDYBABE 4/3/2011 10:02AM

Yes, isn't it amazing how our life unfolds. Great story, you continue to be inspirational. Thanks for sharing. Report Inappropriate Comment

Today's 4 P run: Precipitation, Police, Poetry & a Pun

Saturday, April 02, 2011

Started today's run in the rain and immediately found myself singing a song to the tune of Gene Kelly's Singing in the Rain:

I'm running in the rain,
Just running in the rain!
And Oh!, what a feeling
I'm happy again!

If I had had an umbrella, I would have started twirling it and dancing.



Shortly into the run, a car went speeding by. On a park road with many walkers and runners around! As soon as I thought to myself that I wished a cop would catch the jerk and give him a ticket, I saw that the next car on the road was a cop and he stopped the speeder and gave him a ticket.


Then a poem occurred to me.

Sparkpeople
is my church
without a steeple

Coaches all nice
give sound advice
And with my Spark teams
I'll fulfill my dreams.

Finally, on my drive home, a truck pulled in front of me with a bumper sticker that said: Stool Bus. It was a sewer/sewage cleaner business truck. A pun, giving me the 4th P.


Have a Sparky day!

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

TEDDYBABE 4/2/2011 11:05AM

Oh how fun! No time for boredom here! And to think if you had stayed home on the "couch" you would have missed all this "P" excitement. Fun blog! Thanks! Report Inappropriate Comment

DJS-DEBBIE 4/2/2011 10:21AM

Where did you run today? Report Inappropriate Comment

Tall bold, no room, please.

Friday, April 01, 2011

Many Sparkers will recognize that lingo. It means that this morning I ordered a small, black bold coffee from Starbucks.


But to me it also means one more small victory on my renewed journey to under-180-land and improved fitness. On the trolley ride to work this morning, this guy was telling me that getting a slice of banana nut bread or a blueberry scone with my coffee would be a Spark victory because what I really wanted was a French donut from Dunkin Donuts (much worse than the bread) or a muffin from Au Bon Pain (worse than the scone).

But then this guy told me that I had already had something for breakfast and that I needed to focus on the long term, long time happiness I would get from staying on track rather than the short moment of pleasure I would get from a baked good. So there was no baked good for me this morning.



And I left my beer mug on the pub wall yesterday and just had one 12 ounce bottle of beer, a copper ale which is lower in calories than an IPA, after my physical therapy session last evening.

By the end of June, I plan not to have a battling angel and devil on my mind. Instead I plan to have Mr. Bluebird on my shoulder as I plan to be singing:

Zip-a-dee-doo-dah! Zip-a-dee-ay!
Wonderful feeling!
Feeling this way!

as I run along pain (and 15 pounds) free.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

JENBUTTARS 4/1/2011 10:00AM

well done! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLCRC 4/1/2011 9:57AM

Congrats on the right small choices. They do add up! My workplace had a meeting to celebrate our recent growth and to push the employee wellness program this morning... then they handed out chocolate.... Arghhhh. Report Inappropriate Comment

RENLA6991 4/1/2011 9:26AM

Great job making smart choices, Ray! Report Inappropriate Comment

BILLALEX70 4/1/2011 8:42AM

Git r done! Report Inappropriate Comment

GETSTRONGRRR 4/1/2011 8:31AM

Good on you brother... smart move. Next time try a Grande Americano! Report Inappropriate Comment

JEM0622 4/1/2011 8:01AM

I've come to prefer a bold coffee in the last few months. If I want coffee (not sugar, not milk, not additives) then that's what I should order. I don't mind it straight up. Report Inappropriate Comment

Not this time!

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

I REALLY wanted to go out for some beer last night. There is no beer or bourbon in the house (and won't be for a while) so to get some I would have to go out. A bar that I like is just two thirds of a mile away, a short drive. Or I could be a good Sparker and walk there! JASW! Just A Short Walk. Last week, I'd have gone but instead of the beer Emoticon, I thought of these:


And told myself: Not this time! Instead of going out for some beer, I ate an apple (tasty and filling at least) and looked at some more Blogs from this past weekend's Just A Short Run. The Blogs left me with three questions:


1. How did Bill get an official time minutes slower than what was on the clock in his finish line picture? His Garmin time should be slower as he certainly did not start with his toes on the Start line and even then it would be the same, not slower.

2. Could SparkPeople have possibly found 2 better representatives than Coach Nancy and Coach Nicole to have at the event? No way!

3. How lucky am I to have found SparkPeople? Very!

I'm not running in the Pittsburgh Marathon or the half marathon. I will probably be a volunteer. But I will be looking to meet more Sparkers that weekend.


p.s. I think I know the answer to the first question too but it still doesn't make sense to me.

  

  Member Comments About This Blog Post:

BILLALEX70 3/30/2011 7:03PM

#1 finally makes sense! Bobby sent me a photo and there's another TIMER on the ground for the 30K people. It clearly shows the time and the case is closed! Report Inappropriate Comment

IONA72 3/30/2011 5:05PM

I love Pittsburgh wish I could be there. :( Report Inappropriate Comment

LAURIE5658 3/30/2011 9:34AM

I wish I would have had a chance to meet you!!! There is always next year, right?? Report Inappropriate Comment

SEABREEZE63 3/30/2011 8:52AM

I agree - the Coaches are so awesome! Report Inappropriate Comment

DEEJ4FITNESS 3/30/2011 8:52AM

Great choice for "this time" Ray !! :) and interesting point you made in ?? #1. I just went & checked (didn't upload my Garmin info till yesterday & hadn't noticed), my Garmin which I started as I crossed START & stopped just after I crossed FINISH also reads just over 30 secs faster than my official. Hmmmm..... not sure how that happened. What a wonderful time we all had doing this one together! Already looking forward to next year when even more Sparkers join the act!! Thanks for your blog :) we are blessed indeed! ~Deej Report Inappropriate Comment

LYNNANN43 3/30/2011 8:36AM

Excellent questions, Ray! Pittsburgh Marathon is to be my first HM. I do hope to see you there!!! Report Inappropriate Comment

CAROLCRC 3/30/2011 8:06AM

Must be contagious - I ate out and actually stayed under my calories by turning down wine with dinner... sigh... Report Inappropriate Comment

DJS-DEBBIE 3/30/2011 7:46AM

Number 1 does seem strange! I totally agree with you on #2 - Coach Nancy and Coach Nicole are the best! We are all very lucky to have found SP and each other. Report Inappropriate Comment

BRIAN36 3/30/2011 7:33AM

If you get to volunteer at the marathon, let me know which stop and I'll keep my eyes peeled for you. I plan to wear my spark patch. And I was wondering about your question #1 myself. Seems odd. Report Inappropriate Comment