Florida is jacked up.

I ran last night with tights, pants,long sleeve & jacket the temps in the high 30's and the night before it was in the low 60's & I ran in a t-shirt & shorts. In a 24 hrs period there was this much discrepancy.

Either way 60's are nice To run in.

Listened to kLaNk's broken. Made think of being broken. Will write more on this when I have time.

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all the Christmas lights

I ran very late Sunday night. It was actually really early Monday morning at midnight. It was also cold, but my marathon training can't wait.

I like running at night in general but especially during this season because of all the xmas lights. I'm a child like that. Bright lights fascinate & distract me.

It was another cold run. Maybe in the 40's. Only 2 miles but it was late and cold. I know these two milers will soon give way to 3.5 miles which will give way to 5 milers and soon I'll be running 50 miles a week. That's probably for 2012. I will hit 1000 miles in 2011 though. Maybe more. 2011 is the year of resurrected running goals and being able to attain them.

What are your running goals this year?

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Around the 'hood in 4 miles

Started last night's run in the upper 40's with Prong's Rude Awakening to get the blood pumping. This temp is much more manageable than running with a wind chill of 27 or whatever it was Monday night. If you run 2 loops around my 'hood you get 4 miles. I don't know what my time was... this is not something I spend much TimE worrying about. that is odd for a runner. Most of us live and die by the numbers. I do,but only one number... the distance one. I set goals for myself for the year and know what it takes to reach the goal on a weekly basis ad then go for that. However, with my new challenge of running a marathon I have decided to run several races to get me in race-ready mode. With the running of races comes the need to be aware of my times. Most likely starting in the first of the year I will start timing myself again. Tracking not just distance but time too.

I hope that we can challenge forward in our running goals. Will you help challenge me?

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A little homegrown congregating

Last nite I had the ocassion to spend time with a buddy of mine at Maude's a local coffee shop Ronda & I used to frequent. I hadn't been there in years, so this was my first time since we moved back. We were gonna meet at Starbucks, but they were closing.

Nick was amazed and enthralled at my streetfighter in the making. Mainly because it either looks like it rolled off the set of Mad Max or outta a junk yard (depending on the light!). Not everyone sees my vision and is able to understand my art. He was able to appreciate, though.

As we often do when we congregate, we spoke of theology, God, church and many things that just aren't right with the world. I must confess, with each congregating, I enjoythe tines more and more. It was cold as we reclined outside. I would have liked a little warmer weather. It would have made the reclining and the motorcycle ride a little warmer. Who am I to complain?

Coffee was good, the congregating better. Nick is a well thought out and versed man. Also rough around the edges, like myself. I appreciate immensely the type of Christianity he bring to the table. The type I imagine is very much like Christ.

It's 40 minutes past when I was supposed to start working. I must go. I bid you adieu.


-- Eli

Life Lessons in Coldness

In July of 2006 I acquired my Harley. Shortly there after, we went down to one car and the bike. I think it was due to money. That sounds right. We didn't have any and we sold my old CB400 and a Cherokee for money leaving us with our Pontiac Vibe and the Harley. At the time I was workig as a case worker for DCF and I had a meeting in Starke, about 30 minutes away. By the time of this meeting it was now winter. By Labor Day I had sold both vehicles so it was sometime in the winter after that.

As I left the house to go to the meeting it was 44 degrees. I bundled up with gloves, jacket and scarf wrapped around my face. I was fine until I made it out of town. Then I realized that 44 degree weather + 70 mph = impossible to breathe. I literally thought I was going to suffocate while driving the motorcycle. I pulled over and readjusted the scarf. It helped. I learned that morning that when riding a motorycle in cold weather, especially with an open face helmet, breathing is no longer automatic. Every breath is a hard-earned victory in the battle to stay alive.

Fast forward 3 years and I was leaving to go to work this morning on my GSXR and it was 37 degrees. I put on my coveralls, gloves, armings (like a legging but for the arm), my balaclava (works tons better than a scarf) and my full face helmet. As I exited the aprtment complex I was reminded that breathing is no longer a privilege under these circumstances, but a hard-earned victory in the battle to stay alive.


-- Eli