Major Set Back.

I will not be running through nature for a while.  I was leaving the house like I do several times everyday when I heard a pop sound from my leg just as my ankle rolled and I fell to the ground. Of course I landed on the concrete.  I am lucky nothing was broken but several tendons and ligaments have been strained. I will now be sporting an boot for at least 10 days.   I have my first race in 14 days and the next one in 21.   

I have been using meditation all day to help with the pain and depression from the reality of loosing money and not being able to compete.   Hopefully, meditation will also help me get through my homework tomorrow before we leave on vacation.  

Stay Healthy my Friends

Trying to smile

Kristie

Loving Kindness unit 4

1. I was very relaxed during the Loving-Kindness exercise, although after a few minutes my mind would wonder on to other aspects of the focus person.  I would try to remember what I was to be focusing on about that person but to no avail.  I just stayed with that person until the next set of directions was given.  I would say it was difficult only because I was either too relaxed or too tired to stay focused. With practice this would be a good exercise for others.
2. “Mental workout” is similar to a physical workout; however, you are diving deeper into your inner self without any external movements.  A person has a better calmness about them that others can witness and can help the user maintain a healthier wellbeing.  By continued training the user will be in more touch with themselves and the world around them. Bringing peace to themselves and the others around them as well.  I implement them every time I am driving.  It bothers me how bad a lot of people drive.  I take in a deep cleansing breath focus on a calmer me and let go of the irritation so my pulse does not race and my temper in under control.   Since I am a professional driver and drive over 300 miles a week I am getting really good at using this mental workout to keep me calmer.

Smiles and Stay Calm
Kristie

Crime of the Century Meditation Exercise.

1. Reflecting on my own personal well being I would give myself a 9 for my physical well being because I am happy with my being inside and out.   I like how I look, I like how I feel and I like what I have to do to maintain my body.  Running and P90X have transformed my exterior and my diet has transformed my insides.  I have only obtained a 10 on a few occasions that were very special and all aspects of mind-body and spirit were in sync.  My Spiritual well being I would give an 8 for I am most calm when literally running through nature.   I have to work on times when I am not submersed in nature where I often lose my spiritual focus.  Psychologically I am at a 7 because I have found that when I choose to look for the positive in every situation I am at the most ease.   I do let some things bother me more then I should and in hindsight I can find the positive but in the heat of the moment I loose the calm. 
2. My goals are where they need to be with exception of psychologically where I need to let the heat of the moment pass by me while I am calm.   I need to choose to not react immediately rather wait until my mind is clear to respond.
3. The activities I can implement to help maintain my goal is continued running and exercise.  Practice daily to let go of the small stuff and wait before responding.  Take in that deep breath to clear my frustrations and find the positive.
4. As for the relaxation exercises I had the same experience as last week.   I was very comfortable and relaxed.  Following the cues focusing on the light and where it was radiating from.   I don’t recall getting to the third light.   I was out.  I feel so much better from this exercise then I would have a nap so I am guessing my subconscious took over for me and my conscious mind went to its happy place because I did not dream like I would have if I fell asleep.   I did rewind and try to listen to it again but I had the same thing happen.  I think I will do these exercises on evening when I do not fall right to sleep and maybe I will awaken feeling even more refreshed. 

Journey On... Relaxation exercise...

Okay, so I finally got the link to work and settled on the the couch, head phones in place and pillows adjusted to be completely at peace.    I was listening to the wonderful background chimes, I am not sure it was really music, and following what I was told to do, almost.   My lower back has been bothering me so instead of sending the blood to my arms I thought well lets see if I can send it to the pain in my back.   It WORKED!  I was so relaxed and enjoying the pain being absent I literally fell asleep.  I do not know how long the exercise was or what I missed once I was focused on the pain in my back being gone.  I am slowly feeling the ache returning I think this is due to the fact I am not longer focusing on getting the blood to flow there.   This will be a nightly ritual I think and hopefully I can get a better nights sleep!

Welcome!

I am new to blogging.  Check that off the bucket list I have yet to create!  A few things I will be adding to that list, when I get around to it, will be another half marathon, a full marathon, many 5K's with a sprinkling of 10K's.   Hence I will be running through nature!  Thanks for checking out my blog!

4th of July Red, White, Boom results

My PR for the 5 mile race in Minneapolis, MN
54:11