Polit [icks]

I hate the political game and I really hate it during an election year. Everyone has their own opinions and i have found if your views are different than others then you are “wrong” and ” a bad person “

No matter who is elected the country will still be screwed up. The politicians have no real concept of the American life. Their campaigns alone cost several million dollars.

From now until November it will be constant mudslinging about how much better they are and how their “plans” will “help America”

I wish there were no political parties. I wish money wasnt an issue in the campaign. I wish everyone was on an equal plane but that isn’t going to happen.

USA: Land of the Free where money makes the rulers.

The Wonder Years…

So today I started watching The Wonder Years on Netflix. I remember when I was a kid and would sit on the floor watching that show.

My life as a kid was good as I remember. Bike riding, tree climbing, collecting baseball cards, going on vacation all over the west with my grandparents all are fond memories I have.

It’s weird kind of for me to think back to those times and realize my parents were close to my current age now.

I know that things happen and times have certainly changed but I think things were better then. No Internet. No immediate information just living. Now it seems like everything takes priority over something else.

Form? What form

I run a lot while running I watch other people. I have named a few of them.

the shadow boxer
They run but with their arms failing like they are in a fight.

the drunken runner
They zig zag back and forth all around the trail. One side to the other and never in a straight line.

kid on board
A parent has one of those roller strollers and they push the kid while running.

roadblock
They aren’t even runners. They are a group of two or more walkers that walk side by side blocking the trail. When you squeeze by them they often make a comment like “excuse me”. These groups slow traffic.

run walkers
Most runners do this so it’s not a big deal. They run for awhile and either stop and stretch or slow to catch their breath but will start running again.

the train

Their  arms move with their legs. They typically keep the same speed and are annoyed by the above runners.

Watching the people is part of the fun. I am sure I am guilty of many of these I just don’t notice. With the help of endorphins, music and nice scenery it makes running all the more fun.

Take one, take another

Last week I went to my neurologist to get my prescriptions refilled. It’s a pain when you don’t need to go but I have to get my prescriptions.

Nothing was different symptom wise. We did change my dosage though. I was taking 500 mg of keppra three times a day, 20 mg of baclophin three times and .5 mg of clonazapam three times a day. We changed the keppra to 750 two times a day, the baclophin from a 10mg pill to a 20 and take clonazapam the same dosage but four times a day.

So far it’s made me feel more balanced..like I could tell when my medicine was wearing off and now it seems more steady.

So far so good I guess.

One mans trash…

I live near both the recycling dumpster and the trash. People who have no need for still useable goods set them out in front of the dumpster. When I take my dog out sometimes I see big boxed tvs, tons of bed frames and the like. Sadly, the only things I have rescued were a new recycling container and two sets of Christmas lights.

When I do see big plastic containers empty in the top of the trash I am more than willing to take it out and toss it in the recycling one.

Every little bit helps…

Thirty Days

I watch NetFlix from time to time and have watched a few episodes of the show “30 Days”. It puts people in situations they aren’t accustomed to for 30 days. Last night I watched 30 days in a wheelchair.

You can find it on Netflix or it broken up into pieces on YouTube.

I have found all the episodes that I have watched to be real and I really enjoyed this one.

You can read more about this here:

http://planetgreen.discovery.com/tv/30-days/a-former-nfl-star-struggles-with-30-days-of-life-in-a-wheelchair.html

 

Thirteen point one

I don’t like races. I like running by myself as opposed to running with literally tens of thousands of runners. Races always start too early in the morning also. But I do like doing them if I know a lot of people running the race and it benefits a good cause.

Sunday I am doing the Livestrong. It starts pretty close to me and is on roads that I am familiar with so I am doing it. My understanding is that it’s just an extended cap 10k. Anyway, I know a lot of people doing it and it benefits a good cause so I’m in.

The last race I did in November I think I put too much pressure on myself which resulted in a not as good performance. I was trying to run to other peoples expectations. This time I am not intentionally tapering. I am just treating Sunday as my long run for the week.

Since there has been virtually no winter this year I’ve been able to run when I want and keep up a decent amount of miles a week…usually between 20 and 30 on three or four runs a week.

It’s sad though since I am a distance runner that after this race there are only two races coming up that I may do and both are less than this distance.

The next long race isn’t until next fall. If the Mayans are infact right I would like to have at least one more race under my belt before 12/12.

Anyway, that’s it.

Asleep At The Wheel

Ok, so its no secret I am about equal rights especially for those with disabilities but it seems like we are facing an uphill battle. The battle isn’t among the government or corporations its people’s misconceptions among those with disabilities.

Not a day goes by when I see someone I have never met and they talk down to me…like I don’t understand what they are saying or speak English…or in extreme cases they think I am deaf and start signing to me.

I usually ignore them and likely never see them again.

I’m not saying this to feel bad for me. Its just frustrating.

Its just peoples misconceptions that further add onto the disabled stigma. I wonder if the non disabled community treated us like Stephen Hawkins would it be reverse roles?

 

Are You Good Enough?

I think the word ‘good’ is the most overused and misinterpreted word in the dictionary.  People say they are ‘good’ people but what is a ‘good’ person? I know what good food verses bad food is though.

So if we go by that if you taste good, are in the right price range and fill you up you are a ‘good’ person. But  if you are out of your price range, leaves a bad taste in your mouth and leaves you wanting more food your a ‘bad’ person?

I know there is a difference between good verses bad people but not much. People do things to seem ‘good’ and while it is generally a good gesture and can help people out I think more often than not its for some motive.

I think it would be easier to be thought of as a ‘bad’ person rather than a ‘good’ one because you wouldn’t really need to worry about other peoples perceptions of you.

Really we are all bad people.  Just some people know what to put on to make them taste good.

_______________

I would like to blog more often but I like to have a decent idea that I can come up with (unless I am rambling about running) and once I get the idea I like to have it written in my head before I type it. So thats why the delay.

About me, nothing much still running and doing a little this and a little of that. My hair is long and it gets in my eyes which bothers me when I run. That’s it.

Pleasure Spiked with Pain

Since the SA race my running has been sporadic at best and while I can still run ten miles on any given day my running has become more ‘painful’ as of late.

While I was training for the SA the weather was warm and I was running four times a week (7 –  10 miles each time). Currently it is cooler generally speaking. I may go when it is warm outside but the average temperature for the day is much cooler. The cooler weather affects my muscles making them tighter than usual.

I have found that after four miles or so (or when I break a sweat) my muscles are loose. The key for me to run effectively in the ‘cold’ is to be aware and to stop early on and stretch.

In an effort to get back into race shape for my next race I am going to do shorter runs while stretching before and or after the run.

Early on in December,my goal was to get my weekly runs in addition to a long run of  20 miles. Considering there is only a few days left in December I don’t see it happening. Its okay. I could do 20 miles if I really wanted to but what would that get me? My next race is over a month away and to peak this soon is no good.

I am going to focus on getting back on a running routine this week and then I should be back on track to do what I want to do. I just have to be careful not to push myself too hard and make sure my muscles are loose.

I did 10 miles a week ago so the miles isn’t the problem. I don’t even really have a ‘problem’ its just keeping myself in good condition. So tomorrow I’ll do 4 or 5 miles and Thursday or Friday I’ll go 7 or 10.