Skill and gifting–Not IN but ON

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Photography is a skill I have--and I love it when I have a subject like this Laura Bugharrini pot in Mata Ortiz. So am I willing to work ON my skill--not just IN it?

Photography is a skill I have–and I love it when I have a subject like this Laura Bugharrini pot in Mata Ortiz. So am I willing to work ON my skill–not just IN it?

I am a designed being. Nothing could be more obvious.

I am gifted–and that is a developing reality.

But here is the question: as I use these precious moments I have, how do I invest the time? If I spend all my time working with my gifts that is good. But will I take the time as a higher (be it less demanding) priority to work ON my skills and gifting. Or will I get so busy working IN my gifting that I get stale and loose my passionate and creative edge.

Whooo! This is fun to run (I mean live all out) in alignment with what I am good at. And it is even more rewarding as I get older. But only if I am GROWING older…and that means getting better at what I excel at.

So here is what happened: yesterday my son Luke Hensleigh called me with a WordPress.org question. I knew what he needed, knew how to solve the issues he had, knew the wordpress dashboard in my head–you get the idea. See, I knew all of this because I have taken the time to work ON my skill of writing and photography and creativity–not just IN it.

Here is how to do this:

  1. Get it that you are created/designed/ put here with a purpose.
  2. Understand your gifting/strengths/ areas of curiosity. (Good essay on passion and curiosity at  NeedLessGiveMore.com)
  3. Make a list of the above and ask someone close to you to give some honing and feedback on the list.
  4. Plan each day to grow in one of your gift/skill areas–something concrete to be better at that area. This is working ON your gift, not just IN it
  5. Repeat this list all you life–remind yourself “I am a designed purposeful being, I have these gifts, I LOVE it, I will grow today in this way…

So when I was running all summer getting ready for this 50 miler, it was all about working ON. The when I showed up there in Steamboat, it was all about IN.

I loved both parts.

 

Born to Run and the Running Shoe HooRah

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Run Rabbit Run

Getting laced up with those Brooks Adreneline at 5:30a in Steamboat.

Born to Run

When this bestseller came out I called Chris McDougall and we visited for 15 minutes or so. I was working in Copper Canyon, Mexico, home land of the Raramuri Indians who are the subject of his book. They run in little flat sandals and are referred to as barefoot runners. As soon as the book hit the New York Times list, I was unable to reach the author. Since then I have only received very indirect communication from him in the form of criticism of our Raramuri Running Project designed to help the runners and their communities.

Are running shoes bad for your feet?

As I prepared for this 50 miler, I tried various running shoes and tweaked my gait a bit. I was trying to learn–and also was dealing with a pesky right Achilles. My sore Achilles was the result of something–was it overtraining, or improper shoes, or my stride? Actually I never figured it out. My achilles hurt the day I ran the 50 miler–but not exactly when I ran. More on that later.

In the process of working with the aching Achilles I picked up a few pointers/helps that were interesting and of great value on race day:

  1. I started wearing Brooks Adreneline shoes–wore two pair of them on race day. My friends Mike and Jed at Body N Sole in Savoy, Illinois put me in them and I am very grateful. They are a low cost, good support, lightweight, breathable, easy to use shoe and they got me there.
  2. Rachel Hills, a woman who does pilates, yoga, and fitness training in Champaign taught me how to stand and walk. She also got me to using a stretch that works the hamstrings, calves and lower back- excellent.
  3. I began to learn that patience is a key part of ultramarathon training. I paid attention to Bryon Powell and the excellent resource “Relentless Forward Progress“. Great resource for any one training for a 50 miler or 100 miler.

Ring That Bell: Finishers Need It.

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At mile 27.4, I took in some calories, electrolyte, changed top, switched shoes and headed for the finish–right on schedule.

I carry around this little race bell in my old truck and every once in awhile I get it out and clang it. But since Run Rabbit Run–the 50 miler I ran two weeks ago– it is hard to ring that bell without being transported back to Colorado and to the third third of that grueling course.

I was making my way from Long Lake (mile 36) up the rocky, forested trail to Mt Werner ( mile 44) as the sun was making its sinking movement in the west over that big ridge. I was beyond spent–I was wasted on the way IN over this stretch and here I was over 8 hrs later wheezing my way along the up and down, rolling path at over 10,000 ft. Everything in me was a conflict of stop and never stop.

There were two twenty somethings in front of me and I pass them. I pass some guy who wans to visit about the positives and negatives of Hoka shoes. I said little as I brushed by. I pass this couple who were supporting each other as the darkness creeps in on all of us.

I ignored my watch, knowing that for the first time all day I was late and it was getting risky that I could hit my target time. And for the first time all day, that target time (14 hrs so as to set the mark for 64 year olds) took second place. The higher priority became to finish strong. Its a life identity that I have: I am a finisher.

So then it seems like every small ridge ahead is the last one and I am loosing it. It becomes really hard to even get my breath. So I run, walk, run, walk, run–hurry, hurry, hurry. And I am beyond exhausted.

Then out of nowhere, I hear a sound–not the wind in the pines, not another runner’s footsteps, not my own rhythmic breath I have been pushing out since 6am.

It is a bell. Like a race bell. Like the race bell I have in my truck. And I can hear it in the distance faintly. Like 2-4 miles away kind of faintly –but I can hear it.

And it just keeps ringing-clang, clang, clang, clang.

At first I can’t tell the direction that sound comes from. But then I know that that bell means the last aid station at Mt Werner is really there. And its all downhill from there. And I know it is a road–not a trail– from there down. And I know they have water and soup and electrolyte–and I need all of this desperately.

And I know son Wilson will meet me just below there some 2.5 miles. And I know we will run together all the way the last 4 miles to the finish in the dark–he will help me.

And then I know that we will run across that little Burgess Creek and along that walkway at the base of the Steamboat lifts and I will get that hug and mug and see my wife and I will finish.

I know all of this simply by hearing that little bell sound wafting along here and there in the trees.

And that bell clanging helps me get my head together to direct my body to do what it seems it cannot do–run hard and finish strong.

Someone is ringing a bell for an old guy, who no one (including her) has ever heard of. Who is 7 hours behind the lead runners. Who hurts all over. Who is struggling to keep moving–hardly even a runner at this point.

Who is a finisher.

And so 25 minutes later, as I fight my way up that last rise to Mt Werner, I see this volunteer, standing on a rock 30 meters above the trail, ringing this bell and shouting “You’re gonna make it!”

And I did–thanks in large part to that bell and its ringer.

I finished strong.

So–get up on a rock and ring that bell people!

 

This Is Not Really a Race

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With my old man running buddies at Gifford Illinois, summer, 2014.

With my “old man” running buddies at Gifford Illinois, summer, 2014. We ran this 5K together as well as others in the Champaign Urbana area over the past few months. I appreciate these guys and have learned from them.

Running for Chickens at Run Rabbit Run sounds like a lot of running. And the term race has been used by people who are encouraging me in this venture..as in “Have a good race”. Or “Its amazing that you will run a 50 mile race”. This morning a strong supporter emailed “I’m getting excited for the race. Because you’re doing it, because chickens will be raised…”

I deeply appreciate the affirmations, contributions, and confidence that friends and family have expressed. And I am going to “run” all out this Saturday, finish strong, and raise a ton of money for this Copper Canyon Chicken Project

But this 50 miler will not be a “race” for me–I’m not competing with anyone. I have never run an ultramarathon–I have never even run a marathon. So I am just going all out to do my best. My target is to run the thing in 14 hours…and to finish well.

Now I use the word “run”, but I would not say my participation will even be a run….all the way…I will have to walk some uphill, rocky areas. And certainly not a race as I have said. I am here to do my best, not to compete with others. It will take pacing, relaxing, all out exertion, some walking, and a big push in the “third third” to get to the end strong.

And I will.

Actually, considering this course outside my Steamboat window right now (it is 4:45 am and I am up and getting ready to go out and jog a bit of the course), and the 64.95 year old body that I inhabit right now) here is the reality: my physical movement this Saturday at the 8th annual Run Rabbit Run will more accurately be a “get out to the middle and then back to the finish fast any way I can with every bit of energy I can find” kind of experience. After running and walking almost all of this rocky, muddy, up and down track the last few days, I understand with clarity the name of Bryon Powell’s book on ultra running, “Relentless Forward Progress“.

But I am going for it.

So I will walk a some. Yes walk. And I expect there to be others like me who will pace themselves (especially in the first 6.2 miles which is straight up and at several of the rocky, muddy areas) in order to make it to the end strong and in good time.

And while the young bucks who win this thing will meet me before I get to halfway, I will be in the company of quite a number of other runners (sorry, I mean runner/walkers) who, while crazy enough to try this run, at least realize that the altitude, rough terrain, etc. will eat our lunch if we fight it.

So we will relax and go hard.

I am going to have some real fun–and raise some money for the Copper Canyon Chicken Project at the same time.

And I will get there to the end strong.

Long slow joy.

 

100,000 Steps… The best day of my life!

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The trails at Run Rabbit Run in Steamboat.

The trails at Run Rabbit Run in Steamboat.

Run Rabbit Run comes in just four days and I am looking at 100,000 steps up and down the Rockies–more or less. The run is 50 miles from the base of the lifts at Steamboat out along the divide trails to the top of Rabbit Ears Peak and back.

I have been on the trails the last few days and actually I look forward to race day.

One key for the race was given me by a little Latino girl one afternoon when I was training in Champaign. I was plugging up and down our little sled hill moaning in my heart about the heat and humidity.

This little girl came bursting out of our “Prairie Farm” petting zoo and began skipping up and down sled hill with glee. Her last time flying down the hill, she screamed, “Mama, this is the best day of my life!”

It was one of those God moments for me.

And right there I affirmed “This is the best day of my life!” and had a great workout.

This Saturday will be the best day of my life–all 100,000 steps of it!

Running for Chickens is 5 Days Away

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Run Rabbit Run is just 5 days away and I am now in Steamboat getting acclimatized. I spent 5 days up at Dumont campground running that end of the course near Rabbit Ears Peak. It was sobering as the course is up and down, muddy and rocky. We just don’t have terrain like this in Central Illinois and the altitude is also a big change. One other factor is that I am dealing with allergies to something here–just have not felt well.

Here is the link to contribute to the Copper Canyon Chicken Project as I run.

Anyway I got here to town and checked into a condo at The West and took off for the course. I headed up the runs–it is 3000 ft  up to the top of the ski runs to the first aid station at Mt Werner. I ran into a couple of newly weds on the way up and took it easy for the first half up to the top of the gondola. Then on the upper half I went for it. I ventured beyond Mt Werner a bit toward Long Lake (so now I have been on all but about 5 miles of the course).

My conclusion is that it will take me almost 2 hours to get through that first aid station–or it should take me that long. what I mean is that I need to cool it at the beginning if I hope to cover the last 18-20 miles strong.

Just for fun I timed myself coming down the 6.2 miles–and I did it in a little over one hour. Now I am sure I cannot do this at the end of the 50 miles–but I am confident I can get down it fairly quickly.

I am getting much more realistic about this course and now hope to finish in 14 hrs.

Run Rabbit Run

At the top of the gondola with my new friends from Dallas yesterday.

How to lose weight

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When this pic was taken down in Oaxaca last year, I was carrying around 25 lbs all day and all night every day...why?

When this pic was taken down in Oaxaca last year, I was carrying around 25 lbs all day and all night every day…why?

No one is asking me for dietary info.

No one ever called me fat

But in the last 2 months I have lost 25 lbs and I do not expect to gain it back.

I was doing this because I don’t want to carry a 25 lb hunk of fat around that 50 mile course in Colorado. Actually I do not want to carry it for one moment of the rest of my life.

It amazed me to look at a standard BMI chart and see I was overweight. Amazing thing is that I have lost 25lbs and I am still in the normal range. I could lose 25 more and still be in the normal range!

I regularly bump shoulders with people who are carrying 20, 50, 100 or more pounds around every day, 24/7/365. What a waste of energy and a good life.

So here is my advice:

  • Eat less- like one of everything at at least 1/2 or less of what you normally eat
  • Eat nothing after 6p- nothing
  • Have your biggest meal at noon- eat big and healthy
  • Drink water
  • One alcohol drink per day
  • Run or bike or do something really rigorous for at least one hour per day–at least six days per week

Remember: its not about the exercise; its about the eating.

And if you want to live a bit longer and enjoy the last 20 years, eat good food–green, lean, no sugar, way less fat, way less carb/starch.

 

Memories seep from my veins…

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A lot of what this journey is about is getting past–no running WAY beyond what I ended up with at about age 40. I was a mess. Depressed, not being the husband to one of the greatest women on the planet. Missing my kids coming and going. And letting weak, maladjusted people torque my life into neutral.

It was not until I quit–in 2008–that I began to get ahold of the core things that all along I thought I believed. And this run–this is about letting all of it seep out and getting ahold of and flowing with joy.

Its been a long time.

In the meantime–a lot of life is like a stone cold hotel room–and faith or trust is about receiving and creating and giving joy when all seems empty.

I am alive. I can run. The sun shines and things grow. Joel.

Reality is–I am the light of the world. So I am here to have and ooze joy.