Today I find myself searching within and finding what I am doing wrong. I understand at the mental level we create the world we live in based upon our beliefs on what we are perceiving within life. A good video to watch concerning this is Dr. Bruce Lipton’s presentation on the “Biology of Belief”.  Yet, I am still struggling with the practice of this aspect of will power.

As a young athlete growing up I would watch many of my peers deal with pain, discomfort, and injuries and I would wonder why I didn’t encounter such issues.  I went even as far as to want to experience those things also.  Maybe because of some sort of attention seeking behavior.  Now in my folly, I wish I could have been wiser and not even considered such ludicrous thoughts.  I’ve been struggling with one injury after the other and I fully believe it has to do with my mindset.  With coMra-Therapy I heal rapidly and really haven’t stopped training in general – been doing lots of cross training in the form of swimming and the elliptical, but every time I get back on the track or do some run training my mind picks up on the worry that an injury could happen again in the areas already weakened by previous conditions.  And knowing that physically this is possible, I nonetheless should think more positively and just LET IT GO. 

I came across another blog here from Run to the Finish, which is by Amanda Brooks.  Reading through it and coming across the concept of Tension Myositis Syndrome (TMS), a condition coined by Dr. John Sarno, I reaffirmed what I already knew: I am creating these conditions with my mind since I am not in a place of balance.  Now I haven’t read his books, but I have read an assortment of other related topics and basically understand the negative approach I am taking by preconditioning myself to getting injured.

Six days a week my wife and I spend about an hour doing Tai chi joint loosening exercises, partner stretches, and yoga.  Last night we spoke about this and since lately she’s been working with affirmations she shared I should consider finding a few of my own and apply them in my life.  Personally speaking, I’ve been reluctant to try this.  Not because I don’t see the value in the technique, mainly since I prefer quietness of mind and a state where one opens them self up to nature and the sounds of life.  However, I’ve let the negative creep back in again and in this state-of-mind been caught up in a trap of my own making.  Hearing my wife share her perspective on what has worked for her and taking into account my laziness in actually applying my self to pay attention to life in the moment, I feel a bit more invigorated today.  Knowing that no goal is an end in itself as once achieved one feels just as empty as before and another crutch (read: goal) is placed in front to deny life of its merit, I will take these steps as another leg in my journey and be as impeccable as I presently am to embrace life right now.

That being said, today I woke up to this lovely breakfast made by Diana (my wife).  She made banana pancakes – made with an organic banana, its important to purchase organic for bananas as this fruit utilizes heavy pesticide use in its conventional form – with bacon and a fried egg.  We haven’t fully collected all the more sustainable forms of food we love and support, but we are working towards that level.  We used organic coconut oil, raw honey and pink Himalayan sea salt.  Just a few ways to improve the quality of your food without having to dig too deep into your pocket books.  Here is the result:

Raw honey and organic coconut oil on organic banana pancakes, egg and bacon. Himalayan sea salt for seasoning.

Now I did train today.  I know of only one way to face your fears and that is by putting yourself in the situation that you fear the most.  My runs were centered around starts and short distance sprints with some master runner friends of mine.

That’s me on the left with the white compression sleeves

We did work off the starting blocks (haven’t done this since high school) and our distances started at 20 meters to 60.  It was raced and done hard.  Throughout, my mind didn’t swing towards the calf strain that I’ve been feeling, until the end of the efforts.  There was no pain and the only thing holding me back was the cautious thoughts I was having.

One thing I am blessed to have is a coMra device.

I have a Delta pro medical device and knowing that, at least, this handles my physical energetic deficits allowing the strain to repair at that level all the while refocusing my attention to the positive aspects of my life.

And, as usual, we made it a family affair:

Much love to all you runners and adventurers out there…until next time.