Uphill idealist

When I was little my Mom often read me story of the Little Red Caboose. The main concept of the story is that the small red train car feels overlooked and unloved as he's always coming in last. However, by the end of this story, the red caboose has an opportunity to save the day, and see's that his actions had always been appreciated. There is nothing 'little' about being the Little Red Caboose. Earlier this morning, I had some time and a personal experience being a 'caboose' by assisting with a 5K race for the agency my husband works. At the end of each race, there is usually a sag wagon or truck to follow the last group of walkers and runners to assure all make it back to the finish line safely. This year, I was asked to be the 'last walker' in the 5k to assure that all were present and accounted for at the end of the race. While I was walking with Owen, my grandson, we took in the beautiful fall day, chatted with the runners and wa...

Pick up the phone and call Scotland Yard - I have a mystery for Sherlock Holmes! My mystery was not a crime - but it was one of a nutritional and physical matter. Last year due to repeated foot injuries, there came a time that I had to lay off the running habit that I'd established over a five year period. I'd gone from thinking I could never run a mile, to running a 5k and not thinking twice about running 2-3 miles 6 days a week. Progress had been made - and I didn't want to loose the ground I'd worked so hard to gain. I'd never say that I was the "hare" kind of runner, but loosing my "tortoise" daily run was a difficult loss. However, the injuries meant I'd have to rest from running. Unfortunately, that six months of  PT and rest led to me gaining the twenty pounds I'd lost from running over the last five years. The mystery continues... In response to the weight gain, I consulted a nutritionist, logged my calories and af...

I've been running and jogging for about five years and my husband is currently in the process of learning to run with the help of the online resource, Couch to 5k. This is the same program I used four years ago. What's interesting about our running is that we are not what some might think as prime candidates for the sport. We are sturdy folks. However, running has proved to be a help for both of us to reach healthier fitness goals. If it helped us in this way, why couldn't help others too? Here's a photo of me finishing my first 5k August of 2008: Summer 2009 I heard the founder of Back on my feet speak to over 30,000 youth at the ELCA Youth Gathering in New Orleans . Anne Mahlum took action on an idea to using running as a practical tool to fight homelessness and addiction and it's now become her life's work. First Covenant Church , Zion Covenant , and First Lutheran of Jamestown (where I work) have a combined mission called, First House . It's a home f...

Image found at Thomas Jefferson Journal. The sound of my feet slapon the blacktop. The padding, panting, and leash jingling of my dog add to the rhythm. Deep breaths followed by thankful exhales, help me press on in this tempo of activity. The sky is hazy, the air is thick with humidity. Sweat is already running down my back and face. This isn't going to be easy. The crickets boldly sing providing the song's base, the morning dove croons her pretty solo for variety, and the frogs bellow a backbeat to cheer me on. I suppose I didn't need my ipod after all. Feet slapping, arms swinging, lungs working and heart pounding. It's time to take this show on the road. T.L. Eastman 2011'

I love and hate to go shopping for new running shoes. When you try things on in the store, its not always a sure bet what works there will work out on the road. Will the heel slip, will the arch support where it needs to support, and will they make me rather large size 10's not look like clown feet? Sometimes I've had a simple time finding what I've needed, sometimes the shoes I love only last three months and I have to try to find them on sale as they can be costly, but one thing is for sure - I need GOOD shoes to get out there and hit the trail every day. I love this quote from the poem "Sweet Darkness" by David Whyte... "Sometimes it takes darkness and the sweet confinement of your aloneness to learn anything or anyone that does not bring you alive is too small for you." I think this poem is as true in shoes as it is in all of life. We can require the space of solitude to often really figure things out. We need to think on what fits in life and what d...

On this last "official" day of winter, Aggie and I are very happy to say farewell to cold winter mornings, layers and layers of winter gear, yak tracks and icy roads for our early morning treks. We are also happy to greet the now tangible signs of spring: temps above the 30 degree mark prior to 7am, did I mention no more icy roads, and this lovely bunch of crocus that sprung up along my walk this week. Can I dare say it - I think spring is finally here! I've made it through my first running sometimes walking western NY winter. In April it will be two years since I started this process and journey of almost always daily exercise and jogging. It has been possible for me to get our the door with the help of my canine trainer coming to wake me up each day. Who would have thought that getting a dog from the Humane Society would be part of the key to becoming more active? Now where did Aggie hide my shoes?

Image from Best Weight Loss Now . Darkness surrounds, but the jingling sound of the leash calls us to greet the street with our feet. Your feet are bare and mine are tied up snugly in my sneakers. You don't wear a coat, except the one you were born with - but I wear layers of clothing. Tank top, long-sleeved running shirt, over-sized hoodie, track pants, skull cap and hobo gloves. It seems too cold today, even for October. Step by step my body warms up, you happily prance by my side. You are sniffing here and there as your tail wags almost in tempo with our moving feet and the song on my Ipod. Our breath hangs in the air as the darkness begins to lift. I take the top layer hoodie off as you rest for a moment. Tying to hoodie around my waist, we head up the big hill and you graciously stay with me, even though my pace slows a little. You are asking me lead. You need me to be the leader. As we reach the top of the hill, I look back and see the sky erupting in colors of cotton candy b...

Image from makefive.com Track pants. Check Comfy t-shirt. Check Running socks - very important - Check. Warm as toast hoodie. Check Faithful Green Windbreaker. Check Mis-matched gloves. Check. Asics Gel 1120 with insoles. Check. Ipod. Check. Headphones. Nope. Darn. Progress is sometimes reflected in our willingness to hang in there, even when we don't feel 100% prepared. Progress is carrying through with the action, even when the conditions are not always ideal. Progress is going for the first outdoor jog of the season, in 40 degree weather (ugh!), warming up with a walking lap, and running the next 20 minutes without having to walk, catching your breath for a few minutes, and being able to run the next entire long lap till the end of the run. Wow. Last Spring when I started this effort to get moving I could only run 2 minutes and walk 1 and run 2 minutes and walk one; over and over again for 30 minutes. Progress is good. Progress, even in this small way, knowing that I'm not ...