Tag: go vegan

you’re crazy

“As much as I try to stay stoic and live my life for me, according to my own code of ethics and moral compass, there are people around who still seem to concern themselves with what I’m doing and how I’m doing it…”

Not to put too fine of a point on it, but every good decision I’ve ever made in my life has been the subject of some scrutiny, whereas the more questionable decisions I’ve made have never been brought up… Weird, right?

My first, second, and third juice fasts back in 2014: You’re crazy
Weighing and measuring everything I eat: You’re crazy
My obese self doing a couch-to-5k program: You’re crazy
Losing 166 lbs: You’re crazy
Going vegan: You’re crazy
Training for a triathlon: You’re crazy
Training for half marathon: You’re crazy
Taking my writing and art more seriously into my 40s: You’re crazy

As much as I try to stay stoic and live my life for me, according to my own code of ethics and moral compass, there are people around who still seem to concern themselves with what I’m doing and how I’m doing it – but in truth I’m learning that if those people on the periphery think I’m crazy, then one of two things is true:
1) I actually am crazy
2) The proclamation that I’m crazy should be taken as affirmation.
… perhaps both.

I know I shouldn’t let these things bother me, but I also know that’s not always as easy to do as it is to say. Sometimes the critics sneak one past the goalie, and I have to acknowledge it and move past it. Ignoring it just means I’ll have to face it later, but I’d rather address it and properly dismiss that kind of criticism.

Now, I don’t mean to self-aggrandize, and I am not aiming to be melodramatic, either. That list of crazy stuff I’ve done is (a) not complete, and (b) not a list of things that happened overnight. It took years for me to get where I am and it’s going to take the rest of my life for me to get where I am going – but we need to live here & now, in this moment. That means I need to do what’s best for me today, and if taking action like that is so uncommon that it needs to be labelled ‘crazy…‘

… then I’ll take crazy any day of the week.

On a deeper level, I believe we label what we can’t understand, and that those labels become limitations. Using the aforementioned scenario as an example, some people have labeled my lifestyle as ‘crazy’ and thus have provided themselves with an excuse to never try it. They don’t have to understand it because they have filed it away under ‘do not attempt.’ I do a pretty good job of not letting things like this eat away at me, because I truly love where I’m at, and if someone chooses to take issue with what I’m doing, it’s their issue to resolve. Suppressing myself is disrespectful because we honor each other by offering the best of ourselves.

Chances are pretty good that if you’ve stumbled across this blog and this resonates with you, then you’re going through some changes and adaptations as well – so I’ll take opportunity to say that so long as you’re making yourself better and you’re not hurting anyone: you’re not crazy. You’re awesome.

Training this week has been really great. We’re a month out from race day and I’m feeling really strong and really prosperous. Prosperity has been a big word in our house as of late, so I’m not taking that one lightly.

Training in the river valley trails is pure magic. The hills and terrain have been their own challenge, and I believe it’s preparing me for this largely flat-land, paved race and giving me the edge and the confidence I need to make a solid go of it. I’m excited to rise to this challenge and I’m excited that there will still be a few months of solid outdoor running weather after this challenge is met. I’m making plans to stay in a state of progress beyond this half-marathon.

My band Confusionaires plays at the Taste Of Edmonton festival on Monday night. If you’re in the Edmonton area, aim to be there by 8:30pm. It’s free to attend.

in the long run

Endurance training, Eagles lyrics, and b-grade running jokes aside, I’ve done more than just a little contemplation about the series of events that got me here. I’ve said before that every event in life has brought you up to this moment, and I believe that, but I also believe that we have a bit of selective memory when it comes to certain events. When you’re “in the thick of it” it can be hard to be objective – and that’s true of everything from running to arguing over who’s turn it is to do the dishes.

I genuinely try to live in the moment, and to fully immerse myself in what I’m doing and experiencing as it happens – I believe this is part of what makes me a proficient performer, and it’s why I want to spend as much time in nature as possible. When your surroundings are important, you tend to make those surroundings the best they can be, and join them as often as possible.

Even though personal reflection is; by definition, NOT living in the moment, I find myself doing that often as well. Like many of us, I’ve blocked out a lot of memories from my younger years that I’m certain are painful, and I think about people in a more positive or negative light than they may deserve. What I know definitively is that the path here has been a difficult one. There have been many mornings spent staring angrily at the scale, questioning my methods, analyzing and overanalyzing, dietary changes, early morning workouts, genuine sadness and self loathing and frustration, moodiness. I’ve spoken to people I love dearly in ways I would never tolerate from anyone, and as much as I owe more apologies than I’ve ever given out, I can say that I am exactly where I am supposed to be right now.

I’ve said so before, but running is very contemplative for me, and if you’re a runner then you can probably relate. I solve all my problems on the trail, either solo or by bouncing them off my girlfriend & running partner. She does the same, but she’s quick to just stop and say “look around us… look what we’re doing… this is prosperity.” I will always defer to that take. It will always be a valid interruption in my self analysis.

Where am I right now? Objectively?
A little pudgy for my liking (though, you might not even notice), I’ve got some grey hair, and some loose skin… and I’m stronger and more immersed in my family, my art, and my fitness regimen than ever before… and I know how to resolve a lil’ pudge.

I’m in the moment and I love it here… even if I don’t always like it.
If ever I need to understand what it is to be in the moment, I look at my dog. He’ll do some of the most frustrating things ever, like pick up a chicken carcass out of the bushes and hold on for dear life. It’ll take me 10 minutes to wrestle it away from him and as soon as it’s gone, he’s back to being my best friend. If I could learn how to drop my emotional baggage as fast as him, I’d really have something to write about. When I say he’s my karmic instructor, I’m not joking.

Take this post as an encouragement in your life to stop & smell the roses (to exhaust an already tired cliche). It takes less time than you think, and will enhance your life in immeasurable ways.

Training this week has been tough, but I’m tougher. I am handling the long runs well and really rising to the challenge – the trick for me is getting out the door at the right time so that my morning stays successful. The program adjustments I’ve made have helped a lot, and so far I’ve been on top of it and I don’t aim to slip-up, but 4:30am wake-ups can be a tough go.

The biggest obstacle this week was getting a little too much beautiful weather, which knocked me around a little on Monday morning… but I will take it and enjoy it. And… I will (over)do it again.

My trusty girlfriend and running partner works a job that is not always conducive to early morning runs, but she makes it happen whenever she can and I always appreciate the company and perspective. Running solo is not better or worse – just different, and when I run the Edmonton Half Marathon next month, I’ll be doing it solo (in the physical sense) so maybe this is good conditioning.

… all a matter of perspective, I suppose.

inflammation and running

“Certainly fueling the body to recover more efficiently should also be part of ‘staying out of our own way’ and fortunately enough there are a great number of fruits and vegetables that are synonymous with recovery.”

I’m a runner; and if you knew me 5 years ago when I could barely run to the end of the block without hacking and wheezing, then you understand why to this day it’s a bit shocking to hear my own voice refer to me as such.

The benefits running has brought into my life are numerous, and in conversation, I’ve observed a great number of people have talked about the toll running takes on their knees and ankles. This (and I’ll preface this by stating that I am well aware of the role my perception plays in this statement, AND I know that ever situation is neutral until it’s viewed through the lens of personal opinion), is heartbreaking.

Not to discount the notion that; yes, running is classified as a ‘high impact‘ activity. I’ve been an obese runner in my brief history in the sport, and I am well aware of the perils of repetitive motion injuries – but what if the repetitive motion that was really inhibiting someone’s ability to run or take part in games that involve running had more to do with recovery than it did with motion. We all know that rest is an important part of fitness, and that the body’s ability to recover involves ‘staying out of our own way’ to a certain degree.

What about nutrition, though?

Certainly fueling the body to recover more efficiently should also be part of ‘staying out of our own way’ and fortunately enough there are a great number of fruits and vegetables that are synonymous with recovery. Vitamin D, C, B12, B6 A, E, Magnesium, Zinc, Potassium (to name a few) are all readily available in a number of plant foods, along with the required fiber and carbohydrates that are the body’s preferred fuel source – but what if would happen if someone was overdoing it on protein?

Save for some of the side effects that any heavy lifter can tell you about, namely repugnant flatulence, I’ll try to get a little more specific – so please forgive the science talk as I try to break this down into everyday English, but: protein the the umbrella term we’ve given to the 9 essential amino acids that the human body doesn’t produce (there are another 11 that we do produce, and thus are ‘non-essential’). Now, amino acids are ACIDS, and acid is synonymous with inflammation, and that is true of plant-based sources, as well. The fundamental differences include the presence of fiber in plant-based protein sources allows for better digestion and utilization, and plant sources are lower in branch-chain amino acids which are harder to break down. Animal protein sources are also further up the food chain, meaning that consuming them means consuming the often questionable means by which the animals were raised (i.e. hormones, antibiotics, et al.)

Digestive function is something I know a little less about, but it’s true – a sudden increase in protein makes for a sudden increase in gas, and it doesn’t matter whether it’s a plant or animal source.

Now, I’m not here to make you go vegan, as much as I’d love to see that happen. The merits of this are felt in people who subscribe to a number of diets that are more plant-centric than meat-centric including the Mediterranean diet, vegetarian diet, pescatarian diet, and other ways of eating that make plant-based sources the main event. If this has piqued your curiosity, but has not satisfied it, I’ve included a very informative and scientifically backed video:

‘Enough protein’ is an ongoing conversation between vegans and non-vegans that I don’t feel compelled to get into since this blog post is already long enough by my standards, but I’m sure I can touch on that in the future. Sufficed to say that “getting enough protein” is a priority, to be certain… but what is “enough protein” exactly? Maybe I’ll dig in on that in an upcoming post.

Training this week has seen it’s upticks in challenge, physically. The last few Thursdays, specifically, have incorporated more speed in the focus, which is a departure from the loads of ZONE 2 training I’ve been doing, and continue to do. I feel truly blessed to be able to participate in this sport and in my environment though. This is a true measure of prosperity and I aim to take in every ounce of it that I can in the moment – in real time.

Beyond that is some scheduling conflict and recovery time that needed to be addressed, so I’ve shuffled the training days a little bit. We’re spreading the long runs further apart and moving the shorter & faster runs as well, partly in an effort to keep things flowing optimally, and since my girlfriend does most of the running with me AND works evenings, we’re keeping that in mind.

Race day is getting closer and I am getting excited for my first real solo athlete event ever.

Complaint Recovery

“By design, I’ve regained control of my attention, and thereby my attitude under the belief that mood follows action.”

Since reclaiming my mental acuity and attention from the grip of social media and international news (as talked about in last week’s blog post); a valiant effort and an ongoing temptation still a struggle to renege on, I’ve become keenly aware of how my conduct has changed on the day-to-day.

I’m sure nobody has noticed besides me, but slowing the flow of stress-educing knowledge has ultimately resulted in talking less about such knowledge. I still engage in conversations about current events, but my contributions are lesser in quantity and more in quality. This might be as a result of the slower flow of info, or possibly because I have more time to develop opinions and put them in my own words, but there’s something else that I am doing less:

Complaining.

It’s intentional, and again, it’s likely that people don’t notice, but I feel that my brain has reclaimed my thought process, and is having an easier time organizing my responses in advance of my mouth spitting them out. By design, I’ve regained control of my attention, and thereby my attitude under the belief that ‘mood follows action.’ I’ve limited my exposure to online media, and thereby limited my choices of news sources. The result of fewer choices is more intentional decisions and less option paralysis.

Of course this is all pretty vague, but it is that way by design. If any of this resonates with you, then it probably brings about a specific element in your life you’d like to have a better handle on. For me; in this case, it’s social media (though that’s just the example, this approach has permeated varying aspects of my thinking), but for you it could be anything.

Training this week has been good. These sessions are getting long, and the recent dump of snow has certainly made the commute to & from the gym a little slower despite the use of 4-wheel drive. Alas, it won’t be long until we’re running & biking outdoors, and back in Edmonton’s river valley as frequently as possible. I’m working on the next video, collecting some b-roll footage (though we got in a lil’ trouble for filming at the gym recently). It should be out later in the month.