Running Barefoot

Barefoot running inspires visions of running on the beach in the hard packed sand, wind in the hair, ocean waves pounding, perhaps a big ass smile shining and radiant like the sun. Barechested men (and women yeah!) going full throttle or at an easy comfortable pace totally lost in the moment almost like they're in some movie on an island somewhere.

The first time I consciously noted a barefoot runner was in Cambridge, MA a year or so ago. She was a typical runner type physicue sort of girl with long blond curly hair in a pony-tail I think, cute, I remember that. I passed her along the Charles River and wondered how long she'd been experimenting with that form of running. Kenyans grow up running barefoot so I understood the benefits, it seems to promote much greater muscular strength in the feet.

There are over 100 muscles in the foot, 26 bones, and 33 joints. This is a great place to recruit new volunteers to help you run better and faster if you get tired of working your quads, hams, calves, core, and your spiffy new running shoes aren't giving the mojo you really desire. I saw a few guys running barefoot perhaps six months later as I was on a group run in Brookline, MA and again marveled at the clean, pure, almost perfection of running without shoes. This was an ideal that I might never experience.

I am one of the 20-30% of individuals who do not have proper arches and thus require adequate support to correct how my feet land (pronate) as I walk or run. I have realized that my overpronation which causes my feet to fan out in more of a duck like pattern poses some hazards to my running career which I hope to continue the remainder of my life. With this in mind I decided to try some barefoot running to try and teach my feet to make some changes. Change is good right?

Barefoot running on the beach sounded exciting, but I've had experience in sand and am not a big fan. I decided to take the experiment indoors to my health club and treadmill. Oh, and I despise treadmills, they are my sworn enemy and although they birthed my passion for running I long ago scorned them for the joy of outdoor running.

I returned to the treadmill only as a test of the barefeet. I started out rather slow about 1-2 min slower than my easy pace and just stared at my feet to make sure they were landing properly without the support of a shoe and orthotic. I felt pretty comfortable after a few minutes so I steadily upped the speed to a much faster racing pace and then ran for 3/4 of a mile before slowing it back down to a walk. I'm glad I stopped then because I felt the tips of my toes eagerly preparing to graduate from being slightly irritated to full on blisters. Otherwise I felt great but I think I did work the muscles pretty well because a day later as I neared my apartment my right foot started hurting and today is still sore. I think it's a good sore though, sort of like when you weight train or do lunges. Next time I run barefoot I'll get some special "shoe gloves" they make which look funny because they're just like gloves for your feet complete with toe/fingers.

Oh and if you're interested I found a few links on Barefoot running or Barefooting as it's known:

barefootrunner.com,
barefootrunner.org,

Resilience in the face of Annihilation - "If this is happiness, then yes I am very happy"

Does this title suggest some glimmer of hope? Perhaps offer a warm opportunity to better something or someone?

I'm taking a cue from the film I watched last night and will guarantee you none of those things :-)

Last night I joined a local film club to watch Megalopolis, a new documentary which explores the dehumanizing effects that cities and modern society have on human beings.

I'd be foolish to suggest this movie will change your life or offer some new reflections you haven't considered of your fellow creatures but I will offer a few observations which probably won't be misinterpreted as being filched from the marketing brochure.

The film left a thick layer of malaise on everyone who remained for the full 2 hours and probably even those who left well before the final scenes. I found no compelling reason to watch or share this film with anyone in the future as I typically want to see something that fits one or more of a few requirements:

a) entertaining (pure unadulterated/titilatting/stupid/intellectual/or otherwise)
b) educational (I learn something new vs. seeing what I already know)
c)uplifting (offers hope for a better future or a completely fabricated ending that fits only in the dreamlike non-reality state one inhabits during a movie.)

This film is bleak, you can almost smell the sickeningly rancid noxious fumes of human depravity, fear, and feel your skin crawl with the ridiculousness of the behavior documented. The story is not one of hope but rather despair and resignation. There are many rather compelling images of modern life, glistening sparkling skyskrapers, billboards with happiness smiles and other good emotions repackaged and beckoning all to consume, the ivory tower life as seen from afar and often viewed by the audience through the small fragmented lens of the characters. There are also some humorous english translations in the subtitles as well as interesting observations from a linguistic perspective. In one particular scene we witnes an affluent Chinese couple riding along in a convertible Mercedes in downtown Shenzen. The man offers this phrase to his partner and to the camera. "If this is happiness....then yes I am very happy" I hope this is mildly entertaining as you consider the logical fallacy of this statement. The sentence proves nothing or perhaps everything. Perhaps it's quite true. After all if what he is experiencing is happiness and he's fully immersed as he appears then he truly is happy. I can only wonder the comments of the other characters as they toil, endure, and suffer. "If this is misery, then I am truly...."

The film does offer a stark contrast to western media in their portrayal of Muslim Madrasahs and Islamic veil traditions. Yes, you and I are most likely aware of this disparity and filter that we receive here in the Western World. It was illuminating nonetheless to see boys as young as 6 years old from the US going to Pakistan to study the Koran without the distraction of our society.

Here's a few nuggets, if I can call them that. Perhaps I should call them bits of coal:

If you ever completely lose all worldly possessions you may find yourself in despair at how to survive. Even in the largest filthiest most inhospitable cities such as Karachi, Shenzen, Tokyo, Los Angeles, Sao Paolo, and others one might still have real means however dim of survival. I saw a family of 10 sorting through garbage to feed the entire family. They work daily nonstop from 6 AM to 10 PM and live in the stench and filth of rubbish. This is their existence, the father laments he knows no other way to support everyone.

I witnessed women recounting their exploitation and those of others, a man who left his family to live on the street and knows no one, he is not a mentally challenged fellow, he's just weary of his former life. Young asian women dramatically altering their appearance in a group called "Angeleek" and engaging in a seeming ridiculous outfit and makeup that appeared almost like a warrior paint of black and white so as to prompt intrigue and perhaps fear from others.

Tales of mass suicide, oppression, prostitution, crimes of all sort. Stories from the streets of LA and an interesting observation that LAPD is also a gang and by far the most highly organized and capitilized of them all.

Although the film offered no call to action and left me with no desire to smile I somehow found a peaceful reflection in our resilience as humans we find a way to survive most situations whether by design or accident. I made my way home later that evening first by walking (in the wrong direction) and then by sheer coincidence happened upon a bus route that would bring me much much closer to home. I took a seat on the bus and soon found myself back in familiar and safe surroundings.

No dreams of Karachi, Tokyo, or Shenzen last night as I think the extents of my travels were brief and soon interrupted by the garbage trucks carting away the refuse.

Cold water swims Hot coffee runs

A few days ago I tried my first experience swimming in the balmy 60 degree water at Aquatic Park here in the city. I've been told that now is the warmer season to try open water swimming so I was curious to see how my body would adapt to the temperature. A very helpful woman at a local swimming program swim-art.comgave me some really great advice for first time cold water swimming. Her feedback was to only spend 30 minutes my first time out, take a hot shower afterwards, oh and that I’ll be hooked.

I figured the best way to experience Aquatic Park would be to make use of one of the local swimming club facilities as a guest. This would give me a chance to potentially meet other swimmers and also a place to change, store my things, and shower/warm up afterwards. There are two clubs located at the park: Dolphin Club and South End Rowing Club both share the park and offer access on alternate days of the week.

I chose the Dolphin Club for a few very compelling reasons: a) I heard they have more club rules and hey I like rules, b) they have a cooler name, c) it was the first club I researched online and I like the familiarity. All good reasons if only subjective.

Upon entering the club facilities I was immediately aware of the grand, historical, almost reverential tone of the building. I had the blended feeling of entering a house of worship or summer camp facility during off hours. The building is over 130 years old with hard wood floors, large very acoustical rooms, and I saw no one as I placed my guest visitor fee in a drop box and read the notices posted. I made my way up the stairs to the locker room and changed quickly, then proceeded outside to try the water.

The small patch of beach for entering and exiting the water is bordered on both sides by two piers and on this day was relatively empty. I saw only two people in the area, one man was sunning himself in a chair on the deck and another sat legs crossed in the sand. As I walked down to the water I started to wonder just how very cold and just how long it would take to get used to the temperature.

My feet entered the water slowly, the icy prickliness quickly traveled up my entire body, this was going to be cold. I'm picturing what it would feel like to immerse myself in a cold bowl of milk and cereal. Did I say milk and cereal? Let’s try milk, cereal, and frozen fruit. This is really cold! I move slowly and deliberately wading further in, starting to feel the cold surrounding me and wondering if I can last a full 10 minutes much less 30.

I finally am into the water at chest and then neck level as I start to swim. It feels surprisingly refreshing now that I'm completely submerged. I guess cold water swimming is like many intangible things we experience. We fear, we have anxiety, then we plunge, and soon we get used to it. I feel my heart beating and am looking around, nervous not sure if I'm allowed to swim straight ahead or if I am supposed to turn and swim out into the park area or if it even matters. Those darn rules I heard about, I secretly hope I am perhaps shunning a few rules since I am not really a member and can feign ignorance. I lied when I said I like rules, they’re highly overrated. There are few swimmers around so no guide to figure these things. I decide to just swim to the left towards the park and buoys using some basic common sense to dictate my direction.

Swimming in the open water feels very liberating. I'm being conscious of my stroke patterns and how well I'm moving along and try to build some speed intervals with rest breaks to get used to the workout. I'm smiling to myself as I picture what a few swims each week might net me in upper body conditioning and definition. I can feel a lot of muscles being recruited which normally might prefer their more casual lifestyle. They’ll save most of their thoughts for post swim feedback I’m quite sure.

Swimming in this water is giving me a fresh perspective on the Bay area. I can already tell I'll spend more time in the water as I appreciate the arresting views of the Bay. I can see Angel Island, Alcatraz, Tiburon, Sausalito, Marin Headlands, the Golden Gate Bridge, barges, piers, boats, people on the beach, people in the water, there are hundreds of spotty clouds in the clear blue sky. I’m almost overwhelmed by the sensory overload.

As for other reasons to further my swimming exploration, I feel the Type-A runner surfacing in me even here in the water. He is already calculating how long it will take me to build up the experience, skills, and endurance to undertake a Golden Gate Bridge swim or similar venture. I observe another experienced swimmer gracefully cutting through the water like a knife and try to appreciate how his stroke differs so that I can emulate.

After 27 minutes of laps and rest in the water I start swimming back towards shore, eager to warm up and reflect on the experience. I towel off in the sun, shivering and quickly bound up the stairs to the sauna for more warmth.

Twenty minutes in the sauna helps out but not tremendously, I am still quite cold and shivering and I leave the club in search of sunshine and coffee. I enter a Starbucks a block away and emerge with a big Venti drip coffee and hopes of regaining my proper core temperature. As I walk uphill on Hyde street I am still very much cold and not sure what to do.

I have my itunes playing…my coffee in hand… and I am wearing my running gear. What’s a fellow to do? I have over an hour before my track session at Kezar. A mantra I've heard before and love states “When in doubt, run uphill.” So I start running up Hyde Street, coffee cup in hand. This is a steep incline in some places probably 30-45% grade.

It feels great to warm up and my legs aren't even complaining yet. The coffee running at first seemed ridiculous but going uphill keeps my cup fairly even and nets almost no spillage. I am smiling and laughing nonetheless at the ridiculous image this must pose for people passing by, in the trolley, in a car, and walking.

Fully warmed up by the time I crest the top of Hyde Street I resume a fast walk and return to neighborhood exploration curious mode. There are quite a few great restaurants in the Russian Hill and Nob hill neighborhood. On one particular block I see several wine bars and find a great restaurant called Luella.I stop to view their menu which has a great Prixe Fixe offering, and I walk inside to feel the good energy as I exchange pleasantries with the hostess and take a business card.

Moving on down Hyde Street I alternate running and walking and as he sun sharply descends, I turn right onto Fell Street to venture through the Panhandle to Track workout.

impermanence

She utters the word Impermanence... A word that should prompt some sense of our temporary nature and life. I hear this as my friend drives us along the coast towards Santa Cruz for some surfing.

I am enjoying the surreal experience of riding along the ragged Pacific Coast, listening to Arabic and Hindu music as mixed by DJ Cheb I Sabbah, and contemplating our sometimes brief exchanges with other beings. She has a strong awareness that is comforting and compelling, it fits well with my disposition and we converse on this notion and that of afterlife, soul contracts, learning, growing, and communication styles.

It seems from the impermanence reference that much of our discomfort in life is in expecting things to remain a certain way when they do indeed change, people come into and out of our lives in a series of paces, durations, and depth. I favor long deep relationships and thus feel discomfort in this notion of brief encounters. This seems to manifest especially in San Francisco where people come for a short time or longer but where relationships sometimes have a less adhesive nature.

While we delve into deep topics her dog contently sleeps on the rear seat. So preciously unaware or unconcerned about such things and perfectly content being in the present state of rest. Would that we were dogs...

We make our way to the beach and confront a sea full of floating kelp, low flat waves, and a large number of other surfers. Paddling through kelp as I'm instructed is fairly easy, once you let go of the unpleasantness and allow the kelp to naturally glide off of you. This is easier said than done as the instinctive visceral response is one of disgust and perhaps fear, what lurks inside or beneath this pile of kelp? Water, and nothing more. Gliding through the kelp fighting my natural response proves helpful and liberating. I watch the others catch wave after wave as I continue to practice my paddling and maneuvering. As the afternoon progresses I try to catch a few waves with marginal success but encouraged nonetheless. We leave the beach for another day and visit some friends nearby for a BBQ.

After walking her dog and humorously debating what to do with the baggie of dog poo. We join the BBQ and have a brief visit. I meet some more people from the Santa Cruz and Bay Area and sample some refreshing figs, cheese, and crackers. My mom calls me and I spend time catching up with her. After an hour or so, we leave the party and head back to the city.

Dusk is settling, and it puts a peaceful stillness on the road and inserts more silent pauses into our conversation. This is comfortable quiet not anxious or awkward. I feel the silence and appreciate the spots of nothing between the words, phrases, and questions.
As we part ways I realize it's been an entire day and an enjoyable one. I bid her goodnight and step into my apartment for a few quiet hours before sleep.

temporal

Today marks a return after a week or so absence from this rather new blog.

Observations:

The city of San Francisco survives an air strike, the world continues in a financial chaos, the US election remains, we remain, cold water can be appreciated for more than quenching physical thirst, and perhaps a few hundred more events and thoughts which may not make their way here but remain or surfaced briefly.

No real danger was posed to the city this past week save some loud and unexpected noise overhead as the Blue Angels
http://www.blueangels.navy.mil/index.htm practiced their aeronautical maneuverings for the upcoming airshow here in town.

Being a newcomer I had been warned of this annual event but the continued presence was slightly distracting, amusing, and on occasion alarming. With the ever ongoing wars and conflicts around the globe, these sounds can sometimes be alarming despite our understanding of what we've been told.

So no airstrikes in reality just an occasional lapse of reason on my part and perhaps my neighbors in the city and surrounding bay area.

Financial chaos is everpresent but notable only in it's place as a cycle. I'm not going to ruminate on the conversations I've overheard in the supermarket, with friends, on the phone with family members and person on the street sort of reflections except to say I believe whatever comes of what may be the largest correction ever or since the depression one positive outcome will be a reset button on our expectations of what we need for basic subsistence. Perhaps this cycle comes at an opportune time to accelerate the Slow Food movement http://www.slowfoodusa.org/, http://www.slowfood.com/ and those of Voluntary Simplicity http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Simple_living In any event, it marks an occasion to consider less and perhaps evaluate alternatives to the commerce we employ and endure daily. Bartering, trading, alternative ways of coexisting seem far out until severe events such as what we have been facing arrive. Then suddenly, it doesn't seem so farfetched to consider a local exchange program which fosters stronger community where artisans, professionals, farmers, tradesmen, consider how to offer their services, skills, or products to each other as a cooperative exchange.

Cold water is not my preferred choice for drinking, swimming, or bathing. I trust most people disagree on the first but may agree that cold swims and showers or baths are not for the faint of heart.

On a recent walk up through Lands End at the northern tip of San Francisco last week I found a great spot to observe the sunset with views of the Golden Gate bridge, the Marin Headlands, and a small piece of Lands End and China Beach. I was probably 500 - 800 feet above the crashing waves and could hear nothing save the wind and was very at peace and content to sit there viewing things in slow motion. Signs I passed moments earlier indicated the strong currents of the water and mortal danger for swimmers or would be rock-perchers. "People have been swept from these rocks and drowned" I wondered first how they made their way down the cliff, and secondly just how close they made themselves to the large waves along the ragged coastline. As I sat there believing the dangers and appreciating the solitude, I heard laughter and cheers carried in the wind from somewhere. I turned around, and then looked down at the shore line and saw nothing. Then almost imperceptible, in the water, I saw small colorful figures, almost blending into the water, there were swimmers in these dangerous (and very cold) waters. And they were having a great time! I watched them moving along to circle a buoy and then turn around and head back towards China Beach. This marked a place in my mind, I too would soon brave the cold water and consider such joy. I looked online a few days later and found a few local swimming clubs which practice open water swimming and will be dipping my toes into the Aquatic Park nearby very soon.

Much more this past week fails to surface at the moment, but more even still perhaps in the week to come.

totem animals, and perpendicular perspectives on dating vs jobs

Do you have a totem animal?

I used to think I wanted to be a wolf or coyote, because they look cool? Yeah,but also because they're sort of independent, lean, strong, and I had thisnotion that they were always heading somewhere sort of in constant motion. ThenI realized that they actually do travel in packs and got a bit bored with thatidea.If I were cornered now I'd go with Black Bear, not because I think I am onemyself but because I think they're cute, I mean look at this..adorable. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Image:Black_bear_large.jpg

They're also strong enough to fight off anything that comes around andgenerally not very agressive. Oh, and I love fish and salmon and occasionallong naps. I think I can walk better on my hind legs than most bears I've seen so I mighthave a few advantages but then again I'm not sure I could climb a tree or scalea rocky hill quite as fast. I was surprised to learn black bears can reachspeeds of 30mph. Not too shabby.

Apart from animal musings, I am very pleased to see some momentum on the jobsearch. I've been slowly gaining momentum however hesitantly since relocatingand after a few marginally interesting leads that thankfully expired I have afew hopefuls that I am entertaining. This fostered some thought on the parallels or perpendicular intersection of jobs searching and seeking that other special someone.

Tell me your thoughts on this one....Yes, I know I'm the 500th moron to make this ridiculous analogy.Job searches seem a lot like dating which is why I propose an alternative view to demonstrate Why they're not at all the same.

1. You don't normally blush, smile, or find yourself giggling at anything therecruiter, contact, hiring manager or other or interviewer tosses at you.That said, if you're not at all into her/him, I mean, the job you may frown, cough, avoid the question or come up with a lame response to diplomatically avoid saying "I think we're not a good fit"

2. Although prior dating experience is assumed we don't offer a formal CV orResume listing photos, our experience, skills, length of employment andaccomplishments with our prior relationships. Hmm... but we do wonder about ournew object of interest. Has she/he dated someone more successful, attractive,etc in the past or am I the best yet. Of course you're the best, keep thinkingthat and you might last long enough to get a promotion.I wonder if match, fastcupid, nerve, eharmony or any of the other sites will adopt a dating resume format with references, yikes, and do we really want to know all the particulars when we first meet someone.

3. Finding a new job usually happens while still employed. Finding or searchinga new partner while seriously involved with someone invites a whole host of complications and is pretty much a sucky thing to do.

4. When you're unemployed, if you left your prior employer on good terms and involuntarily you may be eligible for some unemployment compensation. Although leaving a relationship on good terms (voluntarily or otherwise) may provide an option for some great ex-nookie, isn't that some of the best? It's not a guarantee, and you will probably remain unemployed/unattached for longer.


5. Being single is pretty liberating. Being unemployed, while also liberating just doesn't have the same wow factor after a while.I'm feeling pretty liberated this morning, good luck in your searches job, lifestyle, or otherwise.

Originally posted at 10:44 AM 10/02/2008

a campfire and a can of beans

9:17 AM and the sun has fully bathed our large and expansive country while the coffee still warms and inspires me to consider what notions to provide you this first day of October.
I am not a revisionist, that's an important measure to put out there since I fear this posting will be rather common and not at all interesting. Will I keep my word or delete and edit judiciously later on? You can decide if you believe me when you do or don't see this posting change over time :-) Oh, and yes, I do believe in emoticons they have little souls like all of us and need to manifest on occasion to sparkle and smile in our linear words.

Writing has always been something I enjoy. It's a cathartic, engaging, exciting, and very exploratory session with oneself and sometimes with others. I am presently considering alternate careers including writing and it has been challenging to consider what I might offer the world or a potential client. As part of that exploration, I'm subjecting my words to this limited forum online for you humble (or not so) readers in hopes that my creativity grows and sort of bootstraps into something more substantial in time.

In late August I moved across the country from East to West (is there any other path?) and have thoroughly enjoyed my short time here in Northern California. It feels wonderfully like home, I love the smells of the eucalyptus tree, the ocean, the ever present bakeries, the crisp mornings and evenings and seemingly everpresent sense of opportunity in the air.

As for the vibe, the culture here seems much more open and receptive to new ideas or those more fringe related which marries well with my own disposition. In full disclosure I'm rather whitebread in appearance but can have some pretty interesting laughs triggered by the invisible randomness that most people don't see. I liken it to the little boy still trapped inside, well he's not really trapped because he comes out to play often and has an enormous appetite when he's been outside all day.

Yesterday I met a girl for coffee who has been here five years or so and still doesn't have a sense of place. While I hope she soon finds something to anchor her or makes her way back home, I think much of what she might be missing is the connection to environments -those human and those more feral. We all need that sense of grounding and its been a pursuit of mine for some time now. I feel very much at home here in California and look forward to putting some roots into the coastal soil and enjoying the new atmosphere and watching many suns set over the horizon as we spin off into new evenings and opportunities.
She and I also contemplated the differences between east and west mentalities and the one that resonates the most is the kindess here and seemingly lowered guard to what most of us call 'agendas' I do expect as humans most of us have some reason behind most of our actions this could be called an agenda but what I believe we were discussing is the constant need to receive some larger benefit for spending our energy, time, or other finite resources on another person or pursuit.


In the past few years, I've found some Buddhist thoughts rather comforting especially the notions of mindfulness and having no expectations. I'm not ready to embrace no expectations but do believe my scale of requirements for happiness and contentment are perhaps a bit more worn and nicely polished at this point. Hopefully I can get it down to the essentials to quote one of my favorite musicians Tom Waits:

"There's a lot of things in this world that you're gonna have no use for.And when you get blue, and you've lost all your dreams,there's nothing like a campfire and a can o' beans" -T.Waits "Lucky Day"

Thanks for reading this hope you stick around for later more interesting observations. I'm off to unleash the boy so he can find something in the unfolding day, beans, campfires or just a few smiles. Originally posted at 9:16 AM 10/01/2008