What Is John Lutz THINKING?!?

A Quick note before I get into today’s post: It was a super exciting time for me last year when I decided to launch this blog. I had some good content and a bit of time to create more. Then, I started what I thought was just another post about my training experiences: When the Training run becomes the longest run. Well, it’s become the longest post. Between that, holidays and sort of ‘off-season’ of running, I got a bit bogged down. Anyhow, I will try to create some regular additions as I embark on the next training cycle. Today I’m going to write about Cadence. Cadence   In a previous post I mention that I never learned to run. Realizing that, and attempting to finish distance runs I have a new interest in my own technique. I have wanted to get some video as I know video analysis can be quite eye opening. In the meantime I am trying to focus on the principles I call NOBLE running form, and Cadence. Generally I am trying to move efficiently, knowing each efficient st...

NOT DIRECTIONS TO CPR! The Rescue After 3 hours on the road, I was probably a bit dazed. Not to mention, there weren’t any traffic lights or intersections on the open road. I guess I can’t blame Zak for getting nervous. “What are you DOING?!? Either stop or GO MAN! GO! DRIVE!” “What? Oh, CRAP!” As I find the accelerator, and weave past the oncoming car, I realize that in front of a city bus, in the middle of a 4 lane intersection is definitively NOT the time to hesitate. I also realize I don’t like being told how to drive “Man, there were feet to spare. I don’t want to wreck my ride either Bro!” That’s how I defend my ego against bad driving. At least from having to admit it. Living in the mountains, it seems counterintuitive that we’d be travelling toward a city for our climb. I suppose people in the city appreciate natural beauty too, and you can’t relocate nature’s wonders! Now that we’re in the neighborhood, it’s time to find a place to rest our heads. Eve...

Life in a ski town / Death of Winter  I live in a land of paradoxes. It is a land of high alpine semi-arid wetlands. The population here is equally extreme. Hyper athletes who are ultra-lazy at times. Parents at my child’s preschool/after school program just got the third reminder: Don’t park in the crosswalk. They are going to start ticketing (because the extra 20’ walk is a pain). These are folks who will only do the hardest work, for the least pay. Others do almost no work, for 6-7 figures. A photo from January, after last year's season was also delayed. (Carl Marcus) I wake this morning to the coldest day of ‘winter’ so far. Low single digits, nearly zero degrees (F) down by the river. This is the result of our last weather system. A wind front, followed by flurries and cold. This too is our problem, and surely someone else’s fault. This year we blame a baby girl. La ni ñ a spells warmer, and (usually) dryer weather for our part of the world. Indeed, in the de...

This is a reply to @tferriss about his podcast with Stuart Brand . For ME, the best segment was starting about 1h 5min, when you’re talking about experience. I have a degree in engineering, and have been ‘logically’ oriented for much of my life. Recently I have felt unfulfilled, and have been going through a process of self-discovery (with a Therapist, using methods developed by John Gottman). This is intended to allow my ‘true Self’ to guide my life (I have realized I’m overrun with logic). Through this, my realization has been: To be a better human, I must BE more Human. Humans are illogical, and we have certain senses about things. I read a quote yesterday, before I listened to the podcast (Meditations for Women Who Do Too Much Anne Wilson Schaef) :   A POWER GREATER THAN OURSELVES “It is not primarily abstract ideas which affect our spirituality, that is, our experience of and with God.” –Sandra M. Schneiders We cannot approach God or the process of the univ...

Ride His lungs were on fire. Sweat was beading on his brow, and dripping from his nose. The drops flew sideways away from him, from the striking force of the wind. As the gusts came, they buffeted his frame, causing him to brace against it. He adjusted his grip on his board, without it he was 'without his paddle.' Thank God for the bootpack, he had no energy for post-holing. With a rhythmic gait he plods onward and upward. Not looking back. As he turns his gaze upward he sees another thousand vertical feet standing stoically before him. Neither the man, nor the terrain will waver. He plods on. Small steps make seemingly little progress, but the steps kicked by others before him are more easily used than to kick his own. He speeds up his pace, pushing his cardiovascular system a little further. It's not for lack of conditioning that his lungs hurt, but the thin dry air at this altitude. He recalls that it's been some time since he's hiked up here. The thick ...

What if you’re not ALWAYS motivated??? I just read this: Amelia Boone ‏ Verified account   @ameliaboone FollowingFollowing @ameliaboone More I currently run 5 days a week. I still get giddy every night before bed knowing that I get to run the next morning, and I hope to never lose that feeling.  #gratitude Within the replies, of course, were folks who shared the feeling, or wished they could. Injury is a common theme, and an issue for me currently. I am also intrigued by the fact that Amelia, and some of her followers were (like myself) not runners in the traditional sense. I enjoy the peaks, the sights and terrain. The bulk of work required to make safe and easy passage to extreme and incredible landscapes? Let’s just say it’s not always easy. Anyone who has trained for a marathon or an ultra can identify with bad weather, early mornings. Full schedules and kids only further complicate things. Herein lies part of my paradox: The busier I a...

THE MOUNTAIN                 Waking early is a Mountaineer's friend in General. Just not this mountaineer. 7 AM is considered early enough for this trip. The skies are clear and dry for the fall season, and exploration and discovery are the goals of the day. For years I've lived in the shadow of these mountains, and though I've been to the top of a few, certainly no substantial number. The peaks of Colorado are numerous, many are well over thirteen thousand feet above sea level. Many are not, though the mountains that steal the limelight are always the '14ers,' or, peaks taller than 14,000 ft. above sea level.      No such peak is on today's list. There are 14ers nearby, I've even climbed a couple. There's also many more difficult peaks lost in the shadows below their summits. This day will start with a quick bite at home, some pre-hydration, and a bit of smoke. Geared up in long underwear under short clothes...