Brewfest, My Candy and Motivations

Another night at Brewfest 2014.  The Utica Zoo hosts an annual Brewfest where customers pay $35.00 at the gate for food, beer tasting, and music from live bands.  It was super crowded this year. 

A good time for every one.

Except the animals. Can’t imagine what they thought of all the people and the loud music.

Although the lions didn’t seem to mind.  We stood watching them for 10 minutes and in that time, those lions must have each yawned about 30 times.  BOOORRING!

I’m not a fan of visiting the zoo.  I don’t like seeing animals in cages although at least I know they’re safe from natural predators.  Anyway – we had a good time, saw a lot of people we knew, enjoyed food from restaurants all over Utica, tasted quite a few different beers, and enjoyed the music.  Home by 8:45 pm like two responsible adults…. BOOORRING!  We never over do a good thing.

Now, my latest candy craze

Rainier cherries from Washington.  I love these no sugar added treats and have started buying them from Chukar Cherries.  Plump, juicy, sweet, and big.  The Rainiers are the best!

More Motivations – much needed after a night at Brewfest when I was looking at an early morning 18 mile run.  These all come direct to my email from Gibson’s Daily Running Quote.

THIS IS NOT ABOUT INSTANT GRATIFICATION

“My intensity and love for [the marathon] is a yearlong affair. This is not about instant gratification. You have to work hard for it, sweat for it, give up sleeping in on Sunday mornings, bear pain, and accept the mental challenge. And in spite of all that, there isn’t anyone I can think of who wouldn’t benefit from experiencing the thrill of a marathon. It is something you will talk about the rest of your life. I learned something about my own level of strength and courage that was extremely rewarding. It changed my life forever.”
-Lauren Fessenden, from First Marathons: Personal Encounters With the 26.2-Mile Monster by Gail Waesche Kislevitz

THE ONLY OPPONENT YOU HAVE TO BEAT IS YOURSELF

“For me, running is both exercise and a metaphor. Running day after day, piling up the races, bit by bit I raise the bar, and by clearing each level I elevate myself. At least that’s why I’ve put in the effort day after day: to raise my own level. I’m no great runner, by any means. I’m at an ordinary – or perhaps more like mediocre – level. But that’s not the point. The point is whether or not I improved over yesterday. In long-distance running the only opponent you have to beat is yourself, the way you used to be.”
-Haruki Murakami, What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

THE KEY TO FINDING TIME TO RUN

“Finding the time to run can oftentimes be the biggest challenge, particularly for those who are new to the sport. It seems the busiest people are able to accomplish so much yet still find the time to workout regularly. How do they do it?
It’s no secret. Where there’s a will, there’s a way! Because regular exercisers view health and wellness as one of the top priorities in their lives, something truly valued, they make the time to do it. Even if it means waking up to run at 5:00! The key to finding time to run is planning ahead. View that time as a non-negotiable appointment with yourself, something to be protected.
Recording all of your professional commitments and personal responsibilities/activities in an organizational planner on a weekly basis is a great way to identify available pockets of time that can be best used to run. Begin by entering in order of their importance those commitments for which you have no control of their time such as your work schedule, meetings, appointments, etc. Also include the time you shower, dress, commute, eat, and sleep.
Next, make a list of tasks and activities that don’t have to be done at a specific time or may vary week to week (shopping, laundry, etc.). These will be inserted into your planner after you’ve penned in the time slots when you will train. Keep in mind that the best time of the day to run is when you’re most likely to do it!”

-Art Liberman, The Everything Running Book: The Ultimate Guide to Injury-Free Running for Fitness and Competition

What is your motivation for this week?