Dopey Readiness Update

Find your balance

This week marks the Build phase of my Dopey Training. Figured since I've been a bit slack during the Base Phase I thought I'd test myself and see where I am in my fitness. 

I am happy to say I have successfully completed my first 4 back-to-back runs! WOOHOO!!!

Day One: 5K (3.1 miles)
Done! I love short runs as these are my body weight training sessions. I like to call them my 5K Crazy Runs. They consist of a 1 mile warm up, followed by a 1 mile body weight calisthenics every quarter mile, finish with a 1 mile cool down. I get to kill two birds with one stone (HIIT + Cardio)

Day Two: 10K (6.2 miles)
Done! Nice and easy negative split. I surprised myself as I didn't intend on doing it as a speed run. But the mood struck me and I answered.

Day Three: 12.8K (8 miles)
Done...but it was ugly. Guess the first two days took it's toll on me. But I got it done. 

Day Four: 22.5K (14 miles)
Done...now this one was interesting.  I intended on running 16 miles but I detoured from the Road Run to Trail Run and Bridge Repeats. So in my mind, with effort, I completed the 16 miles. It was exhausting and my legs were grateful when I was done.

Overall, I'm pretty happy with my progress. With 4 back-to-back runs, I was able to complete 31.3 miles and still have a smile on my face. My run nutrition and hydration are spot on. My daily eating habits are getting better. I'm getting the right amount of rest. But most importantly, I'm finding my balance.

At this stage, I'm feeling confident I am on the right track. I have some strength, endurance, and flexibility work to complete but with time on my side, I know I can achieve my goal. After all there are still 129 days to go.

Leave the Music at Home or Not

Today, a friend posted a "neat little read" about the Health Benefits of Music. In essence, the article states that music has the power to change our mood and can even help us concentrate.

"If we find ourselves UN-Motivated to workout, all we need to do is pop our mp3 players into our ears and get moving"

Listening to music can help motivate you.

Her goal was to provide us with some tips and tricks to help motivate us to stay active and get our workouts done.


On Friday, another friend sent an email informing us about this weekend's bike ride with some very specific rules to follow:

The first line read...

"Bring your water bottles, food, cash, ID and a heart rate monitor. Leave mp3/music players at home."

It's the Law!

  
He even posting the Florida Law

Headsets (see Section 316.304, F.S.)

A bicyclist may not wear a headset, headphone, or other listening device other than a hearing aid when riding. Wearing a headset blocks out important audio clues needed to detect the presence of other traffic. 

See more at: http://floridabicycle.org/bicycle-traffic-law/#

Synchronicity or mere coincidences? 

 According to Carl Jung, such events are not mere coincidences, but synchronicity or meaningful coincidences. ‘Synchronicity,' said Jung, ‘is the coming together of inner and outer events in a way that cannot be explained by cause and effect and that is meaningful to the observer.'

For the past two years, I've been guided by an unseen force. Synchronous events that have kept me on my path toward self awareness; my path toward happiness. The challenge is that I often get lost or turned around on my path by conflicting messages. I end up seeking many things believing they will bring me to that emotional state I desire. I may get the "things' but the not "feeling" that I want.  However, when I take time to evaluate the directions and priorities of these messages I get a better understanding of my thoughts and beliefs that affect my happiness.
  
So what does this all mean? 

If I were to see two messages about music as mere coincidences then they wouldn't mean much to me. 

But if I were to slow down and reflect upon their message, their meaning would become clear. And maybe that is why they appeared in my life. They are so amazing, and seem so unbelievable, they grabbed my attention. 

Allow me to go back to Carl Jung for a moment. He went on to say that synchronicity is more likely to occur when one is in a state of heightened emotional and mental awareness. Personally, I enjoy being in a state of awareness with my surroundings. It may be overstimulating but I've learned to steer clear of obvious stressors. Being aware lets me see a whole new world and interpret the world in a way that enriches my understanding of it and myself. Synchronicity not only teaches me, but provides me some level of certainty that my feelings and ideas are true, or at least pointing me in the direction I need to go. 

As for the meaning of my seemingly random run-in with music messages, I think it did have meaning for me. I was struck by my friends message of the health benefits to music. Certainly working out to music has its benefits. I will openly admit - I used to workout with music. It can help push your body harder, faster or get you to that 'finish line'. 

But it also has it's drawbacks. Like my cycling friend posted in his email, working out with blaring music can create dangerous situations, making you less attuned to your environment. As a matter of fact, for safety reasons, most races request you leave your headphones behind, and some ban them entirely. 

There was a message in there for me just beneath the surface. These opposing stories alerted me to my own sense of motivation, arousing my need to hear the music within.

Happiness is created through Self Awareness. 

Self Awareness is the path to Self Mastery. 

Self Mastery is the way to Happiness. 

A Message in the Fields

Amazing run this morning. I set out to complete a seven mile road run and found myself detouring into the fields. Mother Nature was calling my name and I listened. 

Rejoice...your soul is alive!

As I entered the fields I found myself surrounded by clear skies, red winged blackbirds, dragon flies, hawks, morning doves, bees, butterflies, and other wild creatures all singing their own songs. I was in heaven! 

The dirt roads were still soaked from the rain storm two nights before. Now you know how much I love me some gooey dirt so I jumped in with both feet! Water plus dirt plus sand plus gravel plus rocks makes for a good old fashion mud run!  

 By the time I reached the end of the first field, I had to make a choice; cross the canal to get to the other fields or head back. I stopped and looked at the tall grass staring me in the face. My fear-mind tried to take control...What if there were snakes hiding somewhere in that mess? I immediately understood what was happening and told myself to STOP! Live in the NOW and enjoy the run. So off I went into the tall grass. I could feel the coolness of the wet blades running into my shoes; cleansing my feet each step of the way. 

As I reached the next field I thought to myself, what a glorious day for a run! I am so blessed to live so close to the fields. Thank you God for showing me the way. I continued my run.

After a few more miles I heard a whisper - What do you see?

I looked around and saw some tall sugar cane stalks and a tilled field.

The whisper came again - What do you see?

This time I stopped, looked again then closed my eyes. I took a deep breath and heard the whisper come a third time...What do you see?

I took another deep breath then the words came; "Till your fields so my dreams may grow."

Find your center...keep your rhythm

For the rest of the run I thought about the message and before I knew it I found myself saying these words over and over again. 

Till your fields so My dreams may grow.
Nourish My seeds deep into your soul.
Embody this belief with all your might.
And you will harvest the fruits of My Light.

The message from this morning's run was loud and clear. But what surprised me was the second message I received while writing this blog.

During this morning's run I was also being asked...

Do you know you own song? 
Do you know your own rhythm? 
Do you know what is allowing you to be your healthiest, happiest, and most radiant self?

So once again, I slowed down, closed my eyes and began to look deep within...

Sunrise to sunset follows the rhythm of the earth around the sun. Spring turning into Summer followed by Fall then Winter is the rhythm of the passage of time. The beat of the red wing blackbirds wing follows a natural rhythm of flight. The honey bees life cycle follows the rhythm of it's social structure. Rain falling on the earth follows the rhythm of the water cycle.The hawk's strong observational skills follows the rhythm of the hunt. They are all accomplished by following a rhythm. Break the rhythm and the natural flow is disrupted.

Like the fields that have turned summer harvest into fall tilling, I too find myself in a period of change. 

So what is my rhythm?

During today's run I stopped to listen to the message. What I found was I felt three interlaced rhythms all at once: my heartbeat, my breath, and the cadence of the run as I moved through the field. Each one was distinct, but layered on top of the other. It was one of those experiences that as soon as you realized you are having it, it's gone. But the effects of that brief moment are forever engrained deep within my soul - standing strong like the sugar cane stalk. 

Today's lesson was mindful.

We all have our own inner rhythm and I keep being reminded that whenever I listen to it my life flows easy.   All I need is right inside me. It always has been. All the wisdom, clarity I am searching for is in my heart's center. 

Essentially, the stillness I find when I run comes from listening to the Divine Light inside of me. All I have to do is listen and believe!

To quote one of my all time favorite authors Marianne Williams in "Return to Love" 

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us.

We ask ourselves, Who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? 

You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.

It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. 

As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others."

Ultimately, the message is clear, we are all magnificent and beautiful human beings and it's time to live from this place. 

Listen to your inner voice and honor your soul. You have the wisdom inside of you. 

Remember. Listen. And Love.