Destination: Who cares?

I am currently chipping through Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance.  I read this last year, and it was an interesting read.  I am finding the second go around more enjoyable, I am less confused knowing the direction the author is going.  After finishing this the first time, I was a little bewildered on how this related to an inquiry of values at all.  It certainly did not turn me into a motorcycle mechanic; that is for sure.  But reading this the second time is comforting, and I have much more understanding.  

As I fly home on a rain day, I plan on taking the kids out camping.  A day isn’t much time to get to the mountains, especially when tenting with two little kids on a forecasted rainy day.  The trick is making the destination the excuse, and making the car trip, camp set up, and packing the holiday. Using all the senses, sight, smell, feel, hear.  It may not be on the back of a motorcycle, but it will do.

So under high anticipation, I have loaded the last of the gear, all the kids, and the computer is getting turned off. 

Here are my numbers

Most of you know I am working out town for the last few months.  You may have forgotten what I look like.  Well here is the bitter truth of my numbers.  Go easy on me, I know I haven’t been easy on myself:

Pushups:25,200

Situps: 25,200.  This was due to this last week push because I was really behind on these.  I find situps less convenient to do anywhere.  At least they are caught up to now.

Nunchuk Form: 352 repetitions I included practice minutes as well. Three minutes per logged repetition.

Kempo Form:  151 repetitions – Ouch!

Sparring minutes: 380 minutes – zero in the last 3 months.  Most everything was logged in sparring class prior to my depart.

1609 kilometers: 847km – running, walking, a bit of cycling.

1000 acts of kindness: 720.  My favorite- told a teenager outside the 7-11 that smoking will affect his health.  I don’t think he saw this as an act of kindness though.  A close second was moving a displaced vole off the worksite.  Probably not an act of kindness for the farmer however!

Mend a relationship: Complete.

Maintain a public journal:  So far so good.

Maintain an online presence:  This needs work.

Learn to lion dance:  Not complete

Compete in Tiger Challenge:  Present for the wee hours of the morning at the Pandamonium event.  I think this qualifies as a public performance as well, but not sure.

Public Four board break:  Not complete

Personal goals: Swim front crawl five lengths of the pool (without water wings or pool noodle)- Not complete

Complete 2 chosen readings: Complete

Pass grade ten level test in Spanish: Incomplete, and not going well to be honest.

Finish illustration of tiger in the grass: Incomplete

Complete a website and raise money for charity death race: Complete

Run a leg in the death race:  Complete

No Quitting:  Absolutely not.  No matter how dismal the numbers are looking.

Thanks to those that have been offering so much of themselves to help the rest of us strugglers.  I keep tabs on every team members blog and this has been a real positive.  When I am at home (which I can count the days on one hand), I am at the Kwoon.  When I am not working, doing paperwork, eating or sleeping, I am putting towards my requirements.  I have found the last three months, extremely hard to get the time.

Post Death Run

First off thanks to everyone on there best wishes for the death race run this year.  It was most encouraging to hear your support.

Thanks also to Ms. Csillag, Sifu Regier, Sihing Regier for making the event AWESOME!  Couldn't ask for a better group of people to tackle the task.  Everyone gave it their all as true martial artists and it really showed.  Also to Mr. Regier and Mr. Regier (Jr's) you guys did spectacular!

Also thanks to Mr. Csillag and Ms. Krebs for the organization and mega support out there!  It was very much appreciated.

"Be Impressive".  That was the slogan pasted on the death race T-shirt this year.  What did that exactly mean?  This was a loaded slogan.  Prior to the race I took this slogan and felt it's meaning to show every spectator and fellow racer an effort that is worthy of a Silent River Student.  That was good!  This is perfect! Run when others are walking, breath properly when others are gasping, show compassion to struggling runners.

But, when the reality hits halfway up the mountain, and you like every other runner is gasping for air, walking alongside everyone else, and casually step over that piece of garbage like hundreds before you, "Be impressive" tends to lose it's luster.

This Death Race is like life compressed into 24 hours!  Dehydration, physical exhaustion, hunger, chemical imbalance, and a diet of concocted performance liquids and energy bars just makes the time warp to the "I don't give a $#%# phase faster.

Aha!  That is what "Be impressive" means. A life commitment to the extraordinary.  Not just going through the motions when things are easy.  The fella that runs solo and finishes 125km in 13 hours is less impressive than 71 year old "Dag" who did not make it past leg three, because Dag is not blessed with youth, yet he overcomes greater odds because of his commitment to being extraordinary.

Now that I wrote that, you would think that I adhere by it, however it is a great deal easier to say than it is to follow.  Looking back on the race, "Be Impressive" soon forced me to answer the question.  Did I impress myself during the run this year.  Well strictly looking at the numbers, no.  I did however show progression in other forms that I am proud of.  I thought about the well being of the team and did not rush down technical trails where Sketchy and Dodgy (right and left knee respectively) could end the teams effort for a finish.  I overcame countless battles of mind and body and ran where five years ago I would have walked.  While my training was an abomination this year, and physically I was disappointed in myself for the lack of commitment to putting more time on the trails, I have progressed in mindset.  My focus was very strong through the race and I was pleased with that.

So with that, I guess I am pleased in certain aspects with my progression, but certainly realize there is work to be made.  With any luck I will be blessed with many more years of Kung Fu and death racing; ever searching for a life that is "impressive".

Live From Grande Cache

Well we as of yesterday we have arrived in Grande Cache for the Death Race.  Four of the team runners are Silent River Kung Fu students, and two Silent River Kung Fu young fellers are also running in the youth 5km solo on Sunday.

Here it is.  Sihing Regier will start off on the first leg tomorrow at 8am.  The start will be initiated with a army howitzer cannon.  She will battle hoards at the start line and fight through some swamps and hills to get us out to a good start (GO ALANA!!).  At leg two I will take over from her and end up finishing leg two back in town.  Here I will exchange with Ms. Csillag who is tackling leg three.  She will be faced with a couple stream crossings and run along a very scenic valley, in which she will have to make really good time in order to beat a time cut-off for the exchange at leg four (GO SHARIDA!!).  She will exchange with Sifu Regier who has the daunting task of running up and down Mount Hammel.  This is a gruelling 37km with a crazy elevation change (GO DARCY!!).  He will exchange with a new recruit to the team, Matt Denney who will brave the woods in the dark, cross the Sulphur river at hells gate via river boat and run into Sunday morning to the finish line (GO MATT!!).  There is a rough breakdown of the plan for this weekend.  Most importantly it has already been a wonderful start to the weekend.

On Sunday, Mr. Regier, and younger Mr.Regier will be running the youth race solo.  This includes a challenging 5km burn with a mud pit near the end.  Can’t wait to see them show their youthful skill!  (GO KAYDEN and GO BRANDON!).  You both have a very big cheering section.

On another note, Dag, a runner who is renowned for having run the race solo since its beginning strolled across the parking lot today, so he is here once more.  Talk about dedication this man has.  He doesn’t finish every year, but just about.  Chances are, if you keep up with Dag, you are likely to finish just fine.  Oh by the way, Dag is 71 years old this year.