What a Day! What a Great Day!

Good morning.


My old worn brown leather chair faces east. The smell of coffee permeates the dimly lit room as the sun slowly rises. The frost covered roofs in the houserizon begin to glimmer with each passing minute. As the roofs warm, steam begins to rise. The sky brightening is inspiring as clouds are scarce or hiding for a change. I glimpse just a sliver of the rising orb and a smile fills the room.

I had an interesting day yesterday. I took my bike to Get a Grip Cycles to have it professionally fitted, to me. This was a very detailed three hour process. Measurements were taken and angles determined. Computers were used to figure out a multitude of variables. I would say that the process was very worthwhile. I was impressed by how careful and precise my fitter was. I look forward to riding in my new riding position. I may get on the lakefront path today.
My run yesterday was fantastic. Boston Bound called for 7 easy miles but I decided to tour my usual 8 mile route. When the run started I never thought it would develope into what the run became. In the first two miles I thought I was running faster than the Garmin was showing. Then I thought maybe it is just a slow day. I just ran by feel. After the first two miles things started to change as I speed east past Wrigley Field.
I am not sure why this happened, but, I let my body do what it wanted to do and that was run fast. So, I went with it and cruised along at an exceptional pace. I weaved around early evening commuters and avoided cars. Running around 5:00 pm is like running in an obsticle course. I have to say that if I could have been less obstructed during this run I would have done it in less than one hour. I just had fun running and I did not get tired, breathing was easy. This was one of those runs where I could have just kept going. Lots of fun!!
Split Time Distance Elevation Gain Elevation Loss Avg Speed Max Speed Avg HR Max HR Steps Calories
1 0:08:51 1 46 151 8:51 6:22 122 151 0 75
2 0:08:17 1 95 75 8:17 5:14 128 136 0 89
3 0:07:57 1 207 312 7:57 4:13 131 137 0 83
4 0:06:44 1 164 135 6:44 5:20 146 154 0 81
5 0:06:50 1 138 49 6:50 4:17 147 161 0 83
6 0:07:34 1 23 62 7:34 5:44 147 159 0 86
7 0:07:09 1 69 59 7:09 5:15 153 159 0 89
8 0:07:06 1 10 69 7:06 6:10 158 161 0 90
9 0:00:02 0.01 0 -- 4:49 6:41 160 160 0 0
Summary 1:00:34 8.01 751 915 7:33 4:13 140 161 0 676

Born To Run:
" Okay, man, lesson one. Get right behind me. He started to jog, more slowly this time, and I tried to copy everything he did. My arms floated until my hands were rib-high; my stride chopped down to pitty-pat steps; my back straightened so much I could almost hear the vertebrae creaking. Don't fight the trail, Caballo called back over his shoulder. Take what it gives you. If you have a choice between one step or two between rocks, take three. Caballo has spent so many years navigating the trails, he's even nicknamed the stones beneath his feet: some are ayudantes, the helpers which let you spring forward with power; others are tricksters, which look like ayudantes but roll treacherously at takeoff; and some are chingoncitos, little bastards just dying to lay you out.
Lesson two, Caballo called. Think easy, light, smooth and fast. You start with easy, because if that's all you get, that's not so bad. Then work on light. Make it effortless, like you don't give a shit how high the hill is or how far you've got to go. When you've practiced that so long that you forget you're practicing, you work on making it smooooth. You won't have to worry about the last one---you get those three, and you'll be fast."

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" Beyond the very extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own, sources of strength never taxed at all because we never push through the obstruction."

* It takes courage to push yourself to places that you have never been before... to test your limits... to break through barriers. And the day came when the risk it took to remain tight inside the bud was more painful than the risk it took to blossom.” - Anais Nin