I had trained over the past 2 weeks for the WWWP5K, with the intention of it being my first FULL barefoot 5k… but then fate struck, and I ended up kayaking at LEAST 5k instead (barefoot, mind you, who needs shoes when kayaking anyways??)
I have to say that the time out on the lake with a few good people was much needed. Job transitions are stressful in this economy. Relationships are no laughing matter either. I need to get settled in one before I can have the other, true story.
One thing I attempted was a small scale trash pick up around the edge of the lake. While cruising along looking for deer and keeping an eye out for low branches I grabbed up some of the trash that would normally be inaccessible. The Oak Hollow Lake in High Point is even worse off, so I think I will make that one of my goals this summer, to go out on the that lake and do a trash sweep. I wonder about all the people that go walking and running to burn calories. Why don’t we walk around and pick up garbage or put time into making out communities more attractive? Why not volunteer to do manual labor instead of running on a treadmill to get some activity in our lives? I just think we need a higher purpose than smaller waistlines. I just think physical activity can be put to a purpose if we have the right mindset!
I think the WWWP5K was an AMAZING idea. It gets people to connect with one another and all come together around the world to work towards one small goal that unites us all. I hope to see more of that type of thing in the future. Especially with all the tools we have available on the net. Between FB, twitter, WP and all the photo sharing sites we can come together through the mighty # to connect and the internet becomes a lonely place no longer. All I can really say is… I’m excited about the ways we are able to connect with one another. # on twitter is genius and I hope to see it’s powers integrated into other forms of social networking. Oooh and… note to self: wear sunscreen next time.
WWWP5K
This is a little demo I threw together in Photoshop for my students. I may do another one. Not sure how I feel about this one. But I figured I would post it.
I’ve been training to barefoot run lately and went on my first barefoot hike through the woods the other weekend when it got warm enough. I created this piece as sort of an homage to bare-footers and to Ethiopia’s Abebe Bikila, who won an Olympic marathon while running barefoot. He was also the first black African to win a gold medal and opened the doors for a lot of other African athletes and champion runners.
I have to give a photo credit – the barefoot runner shown here is actually Colin from Fifth Ape – check out his blog – it’s amazing.
You are the Machine - Abebe Bikila
Well since we only have less than than 2 years until the inevitable zombie apocalypse in 2012… I figure now is as good a time as ever to make the best use of my time and set some serious goals for this year.
I set some fitness goals for myself when I was taken back at how quickly I was able to whip myself back into physical shape doing 9round, which is MMA and kickboxing circuit training. I’ve been the chubby kid with little enthusiasm for physical activity since about 3rd grade, so the fact that with just a few months of training several times a week I’m almost to a point where I can run a mile is a big big deal to me. Taking control of myself physically and training has given me a passion and energy I’ve never had in life. I’ve started training to run barefoot as soon as it warms up (for now using my pair of Vibrams). The goal for this year is to actually start running multiple miles continuously and time tracking. My main fitness goal is to take my body fat % down and increase my upper body strength to that point where I can do pull-ups. Then I can begin to do some fitness regimens that are more in the line of the MovNat style of fitness, evolutionary minded training, and parkour. Doing my running on ATV trails near my house strengthens my leg muscles in a way that pavement could never ever do. I’ve also seemed to do a good job of rehabilitating the knee that I injured in middle school. I’m also strengthening my lungs so I no longer need my inhaler NEARLY as much as I used to. Learning how to control bronchial spasms while working out is a big thing. I can’t quite run without my trusty albuterol, yet.
Ultimately all this has effected my mindset, trained me on how to manage my physical and mental responses, and given me something to focus on while I didn’t have a full time job. For now, I’ll only be working about 30 hours a week so this leaves me time to continue pursing my fitness goals. And meanwhile, I spend my down time keeping up with internet trends, coding, doing a tid bit of freelance design, and researching a few things I’ve been itching to learn (like mySQL and Italian). My main goal career wise is just to stay on the path I am on and actually make good use of my Graphic Design degree as best I can.
Well perhaps that’s all I can say for now. Na Zdorovie! Here’s hoping we all progress and grow as a world to become more socially and environmentally aware beings and more compassionate in our relationships with each other.
