http://4jdl.com/wp John's Words - looking for the best blend Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:12:06 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/08/04/soc-22/ http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/08/04/soc-22/#comments Tue, 04 Aug 2009 05:46:15 +0000 John http://4jdl.com/wp/?p=313

Been working out a lot and hard which

produced the best night of sleep I’ve had in a short while

as pleasant as it was, it wasn’t anything compared to that morning when

my older child stopped her colic-y period

and I slept thru the night- a full night of sleep after months

which reminds me the next time she asked what I’ve done for her lately, I might

pull that one out of the chest

but midnight runs in Central Park are so peaceful, alone

in my discipline, without anyone (almost) to observe my breathlessness at

the tail ends of sprints and the click click click

of my yellow stopwatch

even the raccoons were no where to be seen, they

took the rainy night off, I guess, but today

as I walked some plants back to their owners, the expression

“Too many brooms, and too few dustpans”

sprung forth in my mind, unaware if I parrot or coined

a new expression that describes a frustrating episode of my life

but somehow pleased to bring something new and creative out

of the darkness of limbo-land

a recent grad sues her college for her not finding a job after a 3 month search

seems too comical yet reveals the present unemployment frustrations,

yet digging just slightly past the surface the article

mentions her 2.7 GPA and solid attendance record and if that doesn’t cement

an attitude of entitlement- I’m not sure what does

maybe the publicity will land her a job, but watch out

at her next review…

yet something comes to mind from a late night infomercial

about unreasonable people…

but somehow that isn’t exemplified well in this case

still the thought lingers from that Buddha saying:

“you become what you do now”

numbers and codes come to mind to outline a running regimen

but some more spit and polish and testing is forthcomoing

just to say that it seems to fit me well.

]]> http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/08/04/soc-22/feed/ 0 http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/05/28/soc-17/ http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/05/28/soc-17/#comments Fri, 29 May 2009 04:33:31 +0000 John http://4jdl.com/wp/?p=282

I’m tired

that’s good since  I need to go to sleep soon

haven’t slept well in a few days

and its starting to show in my focus and dreamy days

but that fartlek tonight did the trick

not liquor or pills but miles

or rather 10 kilometers in Central Park in

a drizzle that started out slowly up Heartbreak hill

and passed a female cyclist who was doing some maneuver that

I didn’t quite understand in my gasps for air

as she looped around again and

I shot her a look of “what are you doing” and

just as she passed me, she didn’t provide any clues,

microexpressions, or any other form of leakage

and just as I was about to put her out of my mind I heard

a clatter behind me as she fell over…

I yelled back asking “Are you OK?” and she

said softly “I’m OK” in a tone that implied to me

that she hurt something else besides her tush and

she let out a sigh and then

remarked, “I guess that’s why I’m out practicing…”, and I said

“Yeah, whatever doesn’t kill you…?” but I was too far away as she

yelled over, “What?” as I repeated myself and said the longer version

this time she replied, “Yeah, that’s what my mother tells me.”, and

I was thinking, “Tough Mom”, and I bid her adieu as she was

standing now brushing off her tush and I was close enough to see she was indeed

alright enough for me to continue on my journey

of intermittent pain labeled ‘fartlek’

the drizzle continued as I passed the familiar parts heading south amazed

by the sight of my breath as I finished each leg of speedwork

and as I caught my invisible breath back I was able to notice the stray dog walker here and there

and tried to identify the type of bike that approached from the rear or

the kind of runner that was about to pass me whether

they were heavy or tall or short or male or female or expert or novice

which was enough of a distraction for me to get my heart rate back down

enough to sprint the next 400 meters or so as I

passed the Lake and came up the little hill to see the huge red billboard displaying

the time and temperature startled to hear

another runner breathing harder than me as she finished her speedwork

and she gave me the motivation to do another few sprints as I turned the corner near Columbus Circle and ran until the light

and circled back and raced back up the hill north

just as she completed her sprint south and

she passed me another time when I had to tease out a knot in my left foot against a pole

as she turned ahead of me and did this curious bounce up and down the curb as she passed me the last time for the night

I mentally thanked her for the spirited last three sprints and headed home.

]]> http://4jdl.com/wp/2009/05/28/soc-17/feed/ 0