Leaning

To feel the weight of
sudden fingers -

Pressed against our distance.

As if our yearning were a
solid wall of sorrow.

That gave way to constant
leaning.

If only for an instant.

~
We long only for that which is part of us- a shared remembering of what once was whole and then in a single thought of separation imagined a point of leaving off another. Yet this same longing is thr thread against imagination and draws close our wounded selves once more in oneness. Long for me and again we become a self remembered...and in my reach reach for you - I remember our together.

Training log and rambling on about shoes again

Todays workout -
1. overhead press - 1x4@95lbs 1x5@85lbs
2. Jerk set -@20kgs 5:00 40 reps (9,9,9,7,60
3. Straight arm frog stand -5x20 count
4. Tucked front lever -3 sets
5. Run - trail 2.25 (NB Minimus)

~
Nothing but easy running for the remainder of week and then hope for the best at Seneca (50k). I will be pacing my wife and the goal is to conserve energy for the finish and this may mean a bit longer on my feet - so lots of rest and a bit easier on the weights and kettlebellls.

Ran in the New Balannce Minimus and the jury is still out (they're a hsarp looking shoe though!). At this point I don't know if I can see myself doing a 50k in them but after a few more miles of training in them...maybe. I'm thinking I'll opt for the Merrells this weekend or possibly the NB 101. The issue with the Minimus is that they don't feel as "lockdown" as the Merrells (of course nothing does compared to the VFF) and I can feel the potential for some rubbing on the back heels, although that concern did lessen doing the run. There's is definitely a bit less protection underneath than the Merrells and that might not be such a bad thing on some trails and in some circumstances. I was also concerned about the lack of heel to toe drop (4mm heel to toe) but once running it really didn't seem much of an issue. i am looking forwrd to running the trails some more with them and it will soon be warm enough for the Treks to come out again. It's a great time to be alive and wearing minimalistic shoes!

Final Gift - a note on my mom

And after all, perhaps the final
gift is tenderness.
The faith to love on the
edge of broken parts.
Faith...when all we have is
no clear end,
only the ache of uncertainty.
And still we
reach
towards the jagged edge that's
sure to cut and we bleed
our touch in a tender
offering of
hope,
despair, and maybe something
more we can't name,
but know in silent
moments.
Perhaps the final gift is not
blood...but our
ability to
bleed and bleed
some
more when all we wish for is
dried away and still we
bleed more.
Perhaps the final gift is
this, these blood
soaked tears....when it's all we
have to offer.


~
On a very raw day - I wrote this for my mother during her long battle with Alzheimer's. The amazing thing is that 7+ years with with this disease and she never stopped caring, she never stopped loving and she never stopped teaching. Her final gift to me was teaching me the art of patients and compassion. I was an imperfect student.
But I had the greatest teacher in the world.

I love you mom.

Dean Karnazes (Training) - Regis and Kelly's: Run Across America (Feb.2...

Great story - I love Dean and think he's an inspiration, nice guy and terrific runner. I use the pushup circuit he talks about here daily (different versions) and his blog introduced me to Michael Arnstein whose dietary concepts changed my life (He's the Frutarian and bad ass runner.
And that brings me to my point - Dean can do better on his diet.
Yes you need calories on a run like that but quality calories count more and the amount of fat and animal protein he'll consume will limit him in the end. Please don't misunderstand - I wish Dean the best and all the luck in the world for a long time to come. That's why I think it's imperative for him to address some fairly large gaps in his diet (yeah I know - it seems to work for him. I know Dean is pretty strict on his training deit and only consmes junk during actual events to get in the massive amount of calories he needs. But there's a better way - especially with the support he'll have along the way and it will set a better example for the youth (of all ages) of America.
And of course the anser is...FRUIT.
High calories.
Easily comsumed.
And immediate energy.
Not to mention cruelty and animal free.

In any case - GOOD LUCK DEAN!

Training for 02/27/11

Short workout after race and now to focus on taper and recovery for Seneca next week.

Sunday

Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon – 13.16
Pushup circuit -20/10/10/10 (Hindu/reg/close/pike)
Pullups/close grip chins – 8/6
Leg circuit -20/20/20 (squat/alternating lunge/jump squat)
Straight arm frog stand – 3 sets
Semi tucked front lever -3 sets
Swings- @24kgs 1x25

~
Felt great after race - better than going in. I'll run up to Wednesday this week and keep the lifting relatively light. But other than that - business as usual.

Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon race review and shoe talk

Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon is in the books - and it's a great, fun, low key event! The race has the feel and friendliness that one would find at most ultras and not so often at competitive races of lesser distance. Maybe it's the southern hospitality. The trail itself is a converted rail to trail rounte and is out and back with pretty, forrested scenery. No hills but the ususal gravel and uneven pavement found on converted rail tracks.
Since we have a 50k next week the main goal was have to have fun and I wanted to pace my wife to a half-marathon PR (since it was so flat) which she made by 6 minutes! Her time was 2:24:54 and she sprinted it out to beat me at the finish. Oh well, at lease I got a t-shirt and a medal (both of which have trains on them linking me with my hobo spiritual heritage).

I ran in these -

my new Merrell Trail Gloves and it was a good pick. The shoes performed well and have just a bit mre thickness that the Vibrams I had thought about to make a difference in comfort with all the gravel. Of course I saw the NB Minimus yesterday and now have to get a paitr to try - so the shoe journey continues.
The race was put on by the Fredericksburg Area Running Club and they're a class act and run a great show. If the opportunity to run in any of their evnts (hint 50k in August) comes around hope right in!

Thanks for reading.

Swept Aside

And then at once I am
The wind,
Having swept aside
Illusion’s form –
And joined my spirit to the
Breeze.

~
In our undoing we become the essence of the
world and participate in the fashion of
our desired union with it all.

Peace,
Eric

Training Log and feeling kinda blah

5.54 on the trail and a decent workout - a little more sore than I would have thought and that should make for a tougher race than I had planned tomorrow but the main focus is on next week so however it unfolds I'll be happy with it.
Here's todays workout -
Saturday

Run – trail 5.54 (Merrell Trail Gloves)
Overhead press – 1x5@90lbs 1x5@80lbs
One arm long cycle -@24kgs 5:00 43 reps (switch whenever)
Pushup circuit – 20/10/10/10 (reg/close/semi planche/wide)
Pullups/close grip chins – 1x8/1x5
Tuck planche – 5 sets
Tucked front lever -3 sets
Straight arm frog stand – 3 sets

~
I'll foam roll again later and take a hot epsom salt bath tonight along with an early bedtime. 2:30 and under I'll be satisfied although a sub two hour half is in the near future.

Trail legs

Five miles on the trails today - great to be out but definitely don't have my trail legs. The Merrell Trail Gloves felt great for their first real run on the trails - a bit more protective (especially the toes from rocks and roots)but still maintaining the lightness of a (very) minimilistic shoe. More happy with the shoes than I am with legs that wore them. Dahlgren half tomorrow and Seneca next week and a bit of nerves kicking in.
Stay tuned!

Short answer -Being Vegan just makes you better than must people (thanks John!)

How big is your...

Salad

God is...

Winds blow
Unseen –
Yet every leaf knows the
Taste of their caress.

I have no doubt of
Your embrace.


~
God is not unseen, unfelt nor unknown - God is - and more
said beyond this become lines drawn from thought and ego with its wish of self to be known in separation from its source. And so these lines of thought and ego form illusions of the mind - and we call this God and cast our blame and guilt and judgement in a prayful lament and wonder why we go unheard. Winds blow unseen - but there is faith in the sway of every branch and fallen leaf. Feel the breeze and know the kiss of God, feel the breath pass warm against your lips and know the taste of God, listen - and God sings in countless voices, watch and God passes in the turn of season, the flight of birds and the mirror of our eyes.
God is...

Training - 02/25/11

Two days out from Dahlgren Trail Half Marathon and a week out from Seneca Creek 50k. These will be my first races of the year and first since Baltimore City Marathon last October. No real expectations but I'm hoping they'll set the tone for some upcoming races further in the year - mainly thinking of the next two weeks as traiing runs and a chance to help my wife get through her second ultra.
So here's the training for the day -

Friday

Overhead press – 1x5@85lbs 1x5@75lbs
Snatch set - @20kgs 5:00 30/30 (switch at 2:30)
Curls -@75lbs 2x5
Tuck planche – 5 sets
Tuck front lever – 3x20 count
Straight arm frog stand – 3 sets

~
Pushups later and maybe pullups.

Setting Brilliant

Almost
Gone –
And still your form lingers
Against the faded day.
Setting brilliant in my mind.


~
and yet the sun sinks to the rising of morning to eyes half a
world away. We are not always privy to the ways of magic - but have
faith the sun rises.
Eve from half a world away.

Peace,
Eric

Born to Run

Here I am with Christopher McDougall author of Born to Run. This was taken after the Conestoga 10 mile trail run (Lancaster0 and is billed as arguably the toughest 10 mile race on the East Coast. Having run it twice now - I won't argue. It's tough - but they give you a really cool t-shirt afterwards so it's well worth the run. (By the way the back of the sirt has a race elevation profile and it's bound to impress!)
Chris was a super nice guy and very low key and approachable - and he loves running. Even a causual after race talk is full of excitment and enthusiasm for the topic.
Since I was a kid I have run for some reason or another - mostly for sport specific training. Chrsitophers inspired me to be a runner. Someone who wakes up in the morning eager for motion and and the sound of your heart against your chest and feet across the trail. Two years later and this joy and enthusiasm has not abated - even slightly. Curiously though Born to Run has not so much inspired me to race. I'm actually rather ambivalent towards races in general - not that I don't enjoy them - I do (mostly) but I get as much (if not more) joy from my solo long runs as I do a race. It's the RUN that's joy producing and if you can do it with a few close friends - so much the better.
Now if I could only get my friends to give me a t-shirt after my long runs - I'd never race again.

Todays training and some thoughts

Relatively ice free on the bike paths today - so I was able to stretch my legs out a bit and get off the treadmill. Really hoping we've seen the ;ast of the ice and snow for the year and more so - hoping the trails will be ice free for this weekends half -marathon in Fredricksburgh and next weekends Seneca Creek 50k. After that it's time to start searching for an April event. I feel in shape for 50ks right now and with a little effort could be 50 mile ready soon after. And that's my goal - to be race ready (maybe not Racing reaady - there's a difference) for anything from a half-marathon to 50 miles. I'm getting there!
Here's todays workout -

Thursday

Overhead press – 1x5@80lbs 1x5@70lbs
Jerk set -@20kgs 5:00 40 reps (9,9,9,5,8)
Tuck planche – 6 sets
Tucked front lever -3 sets
Run – 7.40 bike path (Merrell Trail Glove)

~
Pushups and pullups later.
Peace!

Does God Have A Hero?

When you close
your eyes
and see God
within,
You are Gods Hero.

When you open your eyes
and see God in everyone,
You are Gods Hero.

When you let anger pass you by,
with a smile
upon your lips,
You are Gods Hero.

When you hold love
in your heart
and peace within
your mind,
You are Gods Hero.

When you behold
the beauty of a
flower
and feel the kinship
with all living things,
You are Gods Hero.

When you look at somone
who is different,
and see only how you are alike,
You are Gods Hero.

When you feel more joy
in helping another,
than you do
in your own personal gain,
You are truly Gods Hero.

When you here
the true name of God
in every mans religion,
You are a Hero to God.

When you can hear
the silent voice of God
in the wind,
the birds,
or even the
roar of a crowd,
You will hear God
calling You a Hero.

When you take time everyday,
for silent communion
with God,
She listens and You are Gods Hero.

When you can see
beyond appearences
and have the wisdom
to see Gods truth
that we are all truly One,
Again,you are Gods Hero.

When you have compassion
and love for
All,
even those with whom
you may disagree,
You are a Hero to all mankind and to God.

When you know
that forgiveness is blessed
and forgive all,
No matter how large or small
that trespass against you,
You will be Gods Hero.

When you give love to all,
holding none back,
you will know love
for yourself,
for God,
And you will be Her Hero.

When you demonstrate patiance
with others
and see Divine Good
in everyone and every event,
You will have learned to see God everywhere,
and you will be Her Hero.

When you trust in God
with all your heart,
Knowing that the Universe
is formed from Love,
your trust will pay off
with love,abundance,joy,
And the knowledge
That you are Gods Hero.

When your desire to know God
is so great
that in desperation
you finally give up searching for Her
where She never has been found,
You will find Her
where She has always been,
Watching,
Waiting,
Within,
Ready to welcome
Her Hero Home.

Copyright ©EricPaulMcCarty


This poem was the inspiration and central focus for my first book - Does God Have a Hero: Meditations on Compassionate Living. The poem and essays that followed were truly gifted to me in a unique fashion - I asked for them. These were instructions for me on how to live the life that I wished for. I all too often fall short of the standards written here - but I try.

poem

each thought a
passing -
and you...the stillness
that remains

Please visit....

My friend Ana's site.
She is a uniquelytalented artist/poet and a beautiful person.
Enjoy!

http://www.etsy.com/people/YsMo

Tuck planche on floor

This is the next step in my Planche progression - so far - if I count fast I might make a second. This young man has excellent form and it's what I'm shoting for.

Treadmill thoughts and todays training

It's hard to run with spirit on a treadmill - but not impossible. As a matter of fact the sheer restrictions of the treadmill can force you into a state of concentration and intrspection. Meditation gives you structure in order to delve within to a deeper pool of true self. A treadmill can serve a similiar function both mentally (spiritualy) and physicaly. In a sense it's actually the blending of the mental and physical that prodces the "Zen like" effect - there is an elimination of distractions (if you keep the headphones off!) that forces the focus on the internal. Of course this doesn't in any degree suntract from the spiritual and mental aspects of the trail or road - but as a tool the are some (often) unexplored benifits of the treadmill,

Anyway - todays workout (so far)

Overhead press – 1x5@75lbs 1x5@65lbs
Long cycle -@20kgs 5:00 27 reps
Tuck planche – 5 sets
Straight arm frog stand -3 sets
Front lever – 3 sets
L-sits – 3 sets
Run – treadmill 6.31 (60mins)

Pushups and pullups later.

The tucked planche by the way is a non-happening event so far.
But I'm trying.

Plants People, Plants

Vegans (and the rest of you) need to eat Plants.
Fresh plants, frozen plant, cooked plants, raw plants.
Plants.
Get it?
A vegetarian diet should be the simplest diet in the world.
How do you like your plants served?
Eat 'em that way.
Be clever.
Be creative.
Google.
The issue is that we attempt to repleace our addiction to processed food with more processed food. Only with a shiney new "Vegan.Vegetarian" label. A healthy diet calls to eat real food - as Micheal Pollan states - if is contans more than five items it isn't food. Or we over complicate our menues in an attempt to stave off boredom or a false belief that we need to proper food combine for a higher nutrional profile. Again - eat plants, lots of them in high numbers and varities. They'll combine on their own and boredom will fall to the wayside of renewed tast and discovery of textures forgotten on the process tongue.
Try this:
Breakfast - fruit (smoothie or salad or mono meal of one type.
Lunch - more fruit or large green salad with additonal vegetables of choice, small serving of nuts or legumes on top.
Dinner - (three course meal!)fruit (or smoothie) wait a bit to digest, large green salad. Again wait a bit for proper digestion, and a large (really large!!!) serving of steamed vegetables and legumes served over grain of whole grain of choice.
All plants.
Nothing processed.
And you can be as creative as your imaginaton allows with this format. It's a basic template - build on it and allow it to grow and expand with your needs and creativity.
But eat plants.

Forgiveness

Some thoughts on forgiveness - it's demanding...and effortless. It's the parodox of spirit/ego contained within. According to A Course in Miracles "only love is real" and all else is an illusion. Spirit/Love(God) is the truth of our existence and so the parodox itself is an illusion - and of course this is why forgiveness places such a high demand on us -we approach it and respond to it from the ego. Yet once realized that only spirit forgives in truth (reality)there is a letting go of self, thought and effort at once. We don't so much forgive as come home to Spirit where transgrssion are viewed as a product of the ego. So the effort and demands are only a fight of the ego against the call of Love.
And as St. Paul has stated - Love never faileth

Training Log and some thoughts

Overhead press -1x5@70lbs 1x5@60lbs
Snatch set -@20kg 4:00 25/25
Curl -@60lbs 2x12
Straight arm frog stand -5 sets (worked up to 70 count)
Tucked front lever -3 sets
Run – treadmill (snow) 4.20 (Vibram Bikila)
Pushup circuit – 20/10/10/10 (reg/close/semi planche/reg)


That's the workout for today!
Might do more pushups and maybe another run - but I doubt it as I'm beginning my taper for Seneca on the 5th. The weather has me down though. After my mothers death I have been anxious to get back on the trail and just give myself to nature and motion. Hasn't worked out that way of late (I think I made the trail twice in the last month or so) and even the bike paths will be a little dicey due to ice the next day or so. It's been a tough winter (emotionally) and I'm ready for spring.

On the brighter side the addition of some treadmill training and more time on the road hnd bike paths have helped me gain some spped that I was in great (and still) in need of - as well as beginning to get some more time in under the bells. Lots of arm work through the winter so I am sure to win the "best arms at an ultra" award should they ever decide to award such a thing. If not - at least my water bottle should feel lighter.

Moderation Sucks

"Everything in moderation"
Right?
Wrong!
This phrase becomes a mantra repeated for the sole sake of keeping us commited to our addictions. Moderation kills and in the intern keeps us enslaved to a moderate (or worse) existence. Excellence by any means does not come through moderation. Thomas Edison did not do "a little" inventing. Albert Einstein was not a "moderate" thinker. And you can bet that those who acheive excellence in health (not to be confused with sport performance or cosmetic appearence)engage in moderate comspumption of fruit and vegetables. Above all - moderation in diet is asking of ourslves to compromise our ethics, our compassion and our concern for the world. The torture of animals is not ok in moderation. Not even a little. A little global warming still sucks. In order for us to comsume meat (and dairy) we must first all agree to forget from where our food comes from and the means in which it came to our plate. Or worse - we joke about it, or shrug it off as an acceptable means for health and well being. Sometimes we even deny that (certain) animals have the ability to suffer. How sad. But maybe if we think about this in moderation we will work up the personal courage to do something to bring about change? Didn't Gandhi urge us to be the moderate change we wish to see? The Tao Te Jing states that the journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step. Isn't that moderation? A single step? No - it is a giant leap towards a thousand mile journey towards enlightenment. Take it.

Training Log and shoe talk

Today's workout -
1. Overhead press -1x5@65lbs 1x5@55lbs
2. Jerk set -@(2)20kgs 5:00 40 reps (8rpm)
3. Straight arm frog stand - 5 sets (worked up to 53 count)
4. Tucked front lever - 3 sets
5. Swings -@28kgs 10/15
6. Run - road 3.21 (Vibram Bikila)

~
Pushups and pullups later.

Speaking of Bilila's (see above)these shoes were named after Abebe Bikila the great Ethiopean marathoner who won Gold in Rome 1960 and again in Tokyo 1964. He was the first black African to win a Gold medal and most famously ran the marathon barefoot (as he had trained) through the streets of Rome en route to winning. He was also the first to win back to back Gold Medals in the marathon. Great man and a great shoe dedicated to him.
I love running in Vibram and the Bikila is a great road (barefoot) shoe. I ran the Baltimore marathon in mine and have every intention of running another as well. Maybe even in the same shoe - they're tough lasting! The Trek and Trek Sport are also great shoes with the Trek being Vibrams dedicated trail shoe. Yes I have them amd yes they're made from kangaroo, It was a tough call for me to make and maybe I caved on principle (sold out for shoes)- I don't know and don't know if I would get them again - as much as I love the shoe. I guess we'll see and I hope they last a good long while.
I've also been running the trails in the new Merrell Trail Gloveand New Balance 101s. Love the NB but the (my) jury is still out on the Trail Gloves. They are barefoot inspired (zero drop)but I'm not sure I have the sizing right and I think Merrell dropped the ball a bit by not offering more information on sizing before they were released. I'll write more as I run more in them and I might even run my next 50k in them.

Poem from Elizabeth Allen

I started my day today reading a beautiful poem my dear friend Elizabeth wrote as a tribute to my mother who has recently passed away. I am truly blessed to have such a wonderful, caring friend. Thank you Elizabeth - I love you!

Bitter Sweet





The bitter sweet of life --



Birth and Death.



Pleasure and Pain



The pains of labor and birth,

bringing forth the Joy of life.



Two sides of the same coin.



There would be no bitter with out the sweet.



The joy of your in my life,



Creates the pain and suffering



From your loss, missing you,



You, one I Love -- so dear



Mother -- Father

Son -- Daughter

Brother -- Sister

My Love -- My friend



How I miss you --



The pain of watching your suffering --



days, weeks, months and years.



The bitter sweet of your passing --



release --



from the physical -- emotional



from Earthly pain and suffering



Form darkness into light

prison to freedom.



Moving onward --



Memories



of happiness and sweet healthy times,



day's weeks, months and years with you.



Glad to see your suffering end,



Glad to see your suffering end,



Yet sad -- missing you -- here.



Even though a part of you was already gone



Now -- mourning the loss of the time



without you really here ... your suffering,



The bitter ... reluctantly accepted



as the sweet was so cherished



There couldn't be ... the sweet,



without the bitter.







Dedicated to Eric and his mother -- and all who have lost or witnessed the suffering of a loved one.



(copywrite Elizabeth Allen)

Stuff

For those who are struggling with giving up dairy a great substitute in cooked dishes, sauces, or over pasta (I don't eat pasta - but I don't judge) Nutritional Yeast Flakes (I use Kal product) is not only a wonderful flavor addition (lends a cheese like flavor and melted texture) but is a great source of B vitamins and if you get it fortified it's also high in B12 which some Vegans may be lacking in their diets. This brings up another point - get your B12 levels checked. Even non-Vegans often have trouble with absorbtion and it can be easily addressed and some pretty severe issues can be prevented. Having said that - I've never had mine checked. But I will next physical. I owe my DR. $83.44 so I won't see her until she's paid in full. I just keep forgetting.
So this post has served the useful purpose of (hopefully0 turning someone on to a great product (Nutrional Yeast - remember?) and reminding me to get my B12 levelas check. And something else too...oh... pay my Dr.
On the topic of diet I just want to add that I'm 90% Raw (100% Vegan) - one cooked meal a day (lightly satueed vegtables, small serving of grain, and cooked lentils of another legume.) Summer time I may cut out the cooked altogther (again). I can't begin to tell you what the dietary changes have done for my recovery and running performance. Amazing really. And the freedom I feel from having removed myself from a chain of cruelty is immense. This was the most important issue for me and the health,recovery, performance benifits are just really incredible bonuses.

Ok - so I ramble.

Remain me next post to talk about shoes.
Oh...and to pay my Dr.

(Note - vegetables are sauteed in water or Vegan vegetable broth. I consume no oil)

New Beginnings...

for me and my blog.
So here you'll find my workouts, poetry, eassys, recipes and thoughts. I hold opinions loosely. Or I try to. Physically and emotionally I'm not the same person I was even a week ago let alone years before - so why shouldn't my opinions expand and old ones be released? We're not bound by what we create but only to what we hold on to. I seldom regret the things I have open heartedly let go of - yet I cannot measure the suffering I have created in my life by refusing to let go of a thing whose time has come to leave.
So lets begin our beginning (assuming you're with me so far) with my workout for today -
Run -6.30 trail (Merrell Trail Glove)
Getups - 2x3@16kg
Pushup circuit -10/10/10 (pike feet elevated/pike/regular)
Pullups/Close grip chin - 1x7/5
Swings (two arm)@24kg 10/15/20/25
Straight arm frog stand - 5 sets
Tucked front lever -3 sets

Foam roller/joint mobility to get the ball rolling and some floor (pushup flow) to end the day.
I'm finishinhg the week with 62.57 miles with two races on the horizon- half marathon (trail) next Sunday and the Senecca Creek 50k the week after. Feeling pretty good!