Of Interest
August 2012
Dear Reader,
So it has come to my attention that I
like a lot of things. Most likely you can
relate. Of the many interests I have
there is actually a whole week dedicated to one of them. That's right, I am
talking about shark week. The discovery channel dedicates one week every
year to these amazing creations. I'm not an advocate of sitting on the couch
and eating cheesy puffs normally, this week is the exception. At least I like to
think so. I usually only see a couple of shows despite me wanting to veg out on the couch for the entire weekend. Us laboratory techs should get the week off. Nevertheless, I still have
promoted it for the past 5 or longer years and will continue to do so. This
year, along with the past previous, it has been my tradition to watch the
movie Jaws sometime during the week. This year I didn't have anyone over,
except Cadence. But as you can see from the picture at the bottom of this
post... he doesn't appreciate it as much as I do.
It's amazing all that we don't know. We may feel like we have learned
everything we possibly could know about a particular subject, place, or
person. Undoubtably we will always find out more. It's good to refresh are
minds on our previous knowledge that we have come to know. This way we dont
forget what we learned and get it forever burned into our brains. So until next year, swim safely
everyone and may the rest of summer be a great learning experience for you all.
-Barton-
"Don't look where you don't want to go."

Change is great. I was recently asked if I like the hot weather we have been getting. I like it for a little but also like the cold for a little. Variety is the spice of life as the saying goes. In contrast to change, routine can be very comforting. It is something you know, something familiar. Being primarily a mountian biker I dont shy away from the road on occasions. Every once in a while I like to go to the north part of the island. I usually ride my fixed gear bike or put slicks on my 26 inch mountain bike and hit the road. I recently went following the usual road route to what has become my first rest stop, a bagel place. Its not even a particular good bagel place but it has that comfort factor of a familiar place. Its ironic that this 'comfort' bagel place was once new and different. Thats why its important to switch it up once in a while and do something different. You never know what new things you will discover.

-Barton-

-always searching for a new and exciting path-

May 2012

Greenbelt 2012

It never rains it pours, with the occasional thunder and lightning storm thrown in. Every year since 2009 in may I run the 25K Greenbelt trail run and it has raining every year since. I've been doing it for three years now and it always has rained. Knowing this I am actually looking forward to it. It's a mud fest and I always seem to come out bleeding for one reason or another. The year I hit the tree being the worst. Wait, no the worst was when I sprained my ankle. Then there was the time when they ran out of beer at the post race party... Yeah that one is probably the worst. There have been a lot of worsts to say the least. So why if I always get hurt am I doing it again and looking forward to it? Simple, because I can and always love a challenge.

Greenbelt trail stats
5/1/2009 - wet & drizzly - 25K = 2:45.35
5/8/2010 - wet & drizzly (injury) - 25K = 3:06.37
5/7/2011 - 25K = 3:03.29
5/12/2012 - 25K = 2:58.10

I would love to beat my time but I really just love running, especially in the woods surrounded by nature. Peace, contentment, mixed with exhilaration all rolled into one is the best way to describe it for me.
Besides the peace,contentment and exhilaration there is also a sense of adventure and purpose (purpose being to survive) every year. Every year runners get lost in the networks of trails dispute having the trail blazes mark the way. The rainy, muddy conditions don't help in staying on the rocky and gnarled path. Trying to watch where your stepping and where you have to go for over three hours can be a challenge. A challenge that I look forward to every year. I call it, "taming the owl." The owl being a metaphor for a seemingly elusive challenge that you did not think you could do at first, but just train and do it anyway. One step at a time is how we live life and also during a foot race. I've written about this before but I'm sure it's good to repeat things for emphasis. I still remember how new and exciting my first time running. And training for this race was. I still get the same feeling every year. To follow is my post race report and result.
And finished! The day started out with cadence my cat jumping on me to wake my butt up. I Went through the usual routine of eating, 7-11 coffee, all the pre race stuff. I was not in the mood to race today. It seems every time I take ibuprofen pm's before bed I always wake up feeling like crap. It's so easy to just not go but i know that once i get going I will get into the groove. I went to the back of the starting line as usual and got caught in the traditional bottle necking that occurs. Gotta remember to start in the front of the pack next time. The most interesting thing about today was the fact that the sun was shining, not even a drop of rain. This was the first time since I started this back in 2009 that it hasn't rained. Another thing that happened that was new was the fact that I didn't hurt myself. So no rain and no injury this was by far the worst green belt race to date, just kidding.

Some interesting things and observations I made include;

(1) peanut butter, jelly, and potato chips on white bread is the perfect food

(2) the older you are the better you do in this race

(3) Runners are still the most friendliest of people

(4) post race naps are the best things that were ever created

(5) watch out for runners with yellow shoes (especially if they are older)

The time on my watch was 2 hrs, 58 min, 07 secs. But it really is just being around nature that I truly enjoy not necessarily the competition. I still got beat by some of the older runners but the aid station food was amazing, it was a beautiful day, and the race turned out to be a complete success. Can't wait till next year.

april 2012

Maybe its the sound of the water drowning out all the other stresses your body and mind accumulate throughout the day. Or it could be the lack of oxygen after a really hard set, which leaves you gasping for air at the edge of the pool. It could also be the focus on when to breath so as to not be inhaling water which is not very fun. It seems that swimmingreally brings out the positive spirit inside myself and when you force yourself to go fast, for even the shortest distance, you are forced into having fun. The tired sense of accomplishment forces you to focus on the positive things. Theres so many negative things that can weigh us down and their always going to be there. Swimming forces yourself to focus on the positive, simple things such as breathing. Cause what is there to be negative about when your body is in motion in 'clean', revitilizing water. Sometimes it can be hard just to get to the pool. I've learned to tell myself that I'm a shark to get pumped up. Sounds silly but it works. A shark being a top predator oozes with confidence. Just by the way it swims it is easy to visualize the almost prideful motion of the sharks swimming. When you think your a shark, you are a shark, its a simple self-fulfilling prophecy that works.
When those negative thoughts come into your head, cause they will, you need to trick yourself sometimes to keep going. One great way is to break up the yardage into smaller parts. I like to give more effort at the 500 yard, and after every 500 yard I will start back at 100 yard in my head. So every 5th 100 I count back as if it is my first 100 yard. You still with me? Changing your speed helps you to want to keep going. Sounds weird but going faster will actually help you sometimes.Visualizing that the water is my enemy is a great motivator as well. It may not always be the smoothest or fastest way through the hydrogen and oxygen bonds but it sure fells good. except when the 60 and 70 year olds that have been doing it for years pass you cause you have no form, but thats another story.




-Washing away the stresses- Barton
Pic is from Ireland = Americano and lemon coconut muffin. Another way to reduce stress. :)

Love to write write to love

Write about what you love and love what you write. Most people have the ability to write and I feel it is very important not to let this ability go to waste. Like a olympic athlete in training for an event, if we dont keep up with our writing we could lose the skill that we have developed. By loving what we write we will be rewarded with expressing our thoughts on paper which if you never experienced the flow of writing, it is well worth the effort. I enjoy writing with ink rather then with the aid of a keyboard and computer. Or rather I should say the hinderance of it. Call me old school but its more personal and gratifing to write in that manner. The world has enough complications so ink and paper is a way to simplify things for the moment.
When I first started writing I was afraid that my grammer wasn't right and that everything I wrote would never amount to anything. I've learned to not take myself so seriously and just write for myself. I plan to improve and find ways to write things that are interesting and fun to read about. Maybe one day I'll write a book. If I ever get all my random thoughts in order.)

- I bet your more at peace since viewing the picture of Cadence sleeping. Not a bad idea.
-Barton going to bed-

I remember playing tug of war as a young boy and having the greatest fun. There usually was a give and take with both sides coming to a stand still since us youngsters were all previously matched. I have discovered that I will play this game mentally whenever I think about things too much. Solution... My goal is to stop thinking. I recently had this internal battle on the way to the pool. I kept coming up with excuses to just go home and sleep. Ideas like 'My neck is killing me, Im so tired, and it's too cold out' kept popping up in my brain. The last one didn't even make sense cause the pool is indoors. The thing I have learned to do is to not let these evil thoughts enter my head. When they do I immediately think about something else. It has been a while since I went swimming and I only did a little just to get my feet wet. I now remember the love I had for the sport and it has been to long. Water is always reguvinating and relaxing to me. Except when you haven't been in it for a while and your form is gone. I feel like I was hit in the back with a hammer... I'm gonna feel this tomorrow. But for now it feels good.
-still punching the water-
-Barton-

The Start of something good.

Being focused on doing one particular thing will bring about the greatest end goal. A great quote I've heard is, "When washing dishes, just wash dishes." Meaning that by focusing on washing the dishes and not anything else you will become absorbed in doing the dishes and wash them to your very best ability. By doing your very best in that seemingly monotomous, boring task of washing dishes you will be happy and satisfied. Whatever the task might be if you get absorbed and involved in that task the task will begin to matter. That being said its also important to switch your mind to the next task and not still have a dish washing mindset after all the dishes have been washed. Don't live in the past.

That being said, january tends to be a good month to start planning your goals for the year. Ill write my physical one on this blog to try and help keep me accountable and not back out of them. Some races that I have signed up for already include;

* Wilderness 101 MTB Race--July 28

* NYC Marathon-- November 4 ( Thats right. Finally got in it.)

Some personal goals include

* Swim 120 miles (which just happens to be approximately the length of Lake Champlain)

I encourage you all to write down some goals and tell others about them. It doesn't matter what type of goal it is. I also have a goal of finishing the painting I started along with a bunch of other goals. Don't worry if you cant accomplish them. Failure is a way to learn.
Dont keep dwelling on a matter. Think, Decide and forget. Think about the best course of action. Decide to follow through with the action, even if there may be a better way to do it, you will learn from your mistakes. Then Forget about it, just do it as the phrase goes. Don’t overthink it.

-Be the positive in a world of negativity and your world will be positive-