One

One of the best things about a long run is that often along with the external effort comes a gift, at least one moment of enlightenment.

There are times in life when we all go through challenges of the dreaded kind. And just like the last miles of those epic bike rides, long runs, grueling races, as all begins to overwhelm, I think of what I often do to survive, focus on the moment, just the moment, one at a time.

In order to get my arms around something it is best to break it down into just one - one day, or one week, or one month, like one mile, in time - an eternity of time.

Only one

Just this one

“We are all one” – Mom

One word, one page, one poem, one prayer - Nas

“One love, one life, one need in the night” – Bono

“One singular sensation every little step he takes” – A Chorus Line

One Saturday morning, one runner, one sun shining down on one path, one foot in front of the other, one mile, then one more

One drop of sweat, rolling down one nose, one day, one moment, one life.

Just time

Shamrock'n Results

What a great Team. Our very own Jessie R came in first in her division of ladies 19 and under. Dan sailed in first with Dale seconds behind at right around the 7 minute mile mark. Becky came in first with the ladies at right under 8 and a half minute miles and Dr. Tracy C. ran her first half in an awesome 2:11. All of you did just a great job. Way to go Team Lucca!

Shamrock’n Half Marathon and Relay is this Sunday

Remember the time changes the night before so set your clocks before you go to bed or you will be late

Parking can be a nightmare if you do not arrive before 7:00 am. At that time all surrounding streets start to close so I would advise you look at the parking map and plan where you will park, what time you have to be there to park and all access roads to your parking area

If you want to make it easy, please be at Lucca by 7:00 am. We will carpool and leave right at 7:00 so PLEASE do not be late. Also make sure you have my phone number and Emily’s phone number and contact us if there are any problems. Also please call me when you arrive at Raley Field so that I can talk you to our meeting place if you have trouble finding it

Also, if you are going directly to Raley Field, please look for our Team Lucca signs located close to the start, as soon as you get there so we can all meet before. Seriously I will worry like crazy about whether you made it or not, if I don’t see you

Please wear your Team Lucca jerseys, don’t forget your number and your chip. There will be a support team, Kara, Sharon, Eric and myself who will gladly hold your phones, keys, any jackets or anything you don't want to carry while running

When you finish, you will walk through the finish corral to get your medal and then head up stairs into the stands. We will try and meet to the left of those stairs. Look for the Team Lucca signs after you finish. There are thousands of people finishing and watching and last year we had the hardest time finding everyone

Team Lucca cards are now available so please join us at Roxy after the race for 50% of your breakfast

Got it all? Hope so. Don't hesitate to call me with any questions.

The first race of the year. Exciting times. You will all do quite well. I'm sure of it.

http://www.shamrocknhalf.com/

Le Mistral

I have only one time ever in my whole life played a video game. It was called “frogger” and consisted of something like frogs quickly jumping from one log to the next. I got so excited and in that excitement was such a huge motherly embarrassment to my then little boys, that I have never played another.

I can’t say that I have ever even seen a game boy toy or a Nintendo and know absolutely nothing about Wii, except that you do it in front of a TV. When someone asked a year or so ago if I knew what guitar hero was, I told them the Edge from U2 was mine.

I grew up in the days of pinball machines. This afternoon on the bike trail I felt like, nothing less than a character in a modern day video game or the little ball that gets wildly knocked around every which way, like a zillion decades ago, in the local bowling alley pin ball machine. The wind situation on the trail is at times a little intense. At one point I am sailing along so fast and effortlessly that I look down and check my chain to see if my bike is in the big gear I think it is. Then no sooner do I get the idea to take advantage of the easy speed and do some sprints when a powerball gust of wind knocks me head on forcing an immediate opposite response where climbing the littlest hills feels like I am riding the last 10 kilometers of Mount Ventoux, a difficult windy and steep stage of the Tour de France.

And so the afternoon ride home goes.

On our trail you never know. One mile you can be hurried along by a tail wind, the next find yourself with quads on fire fighting through a strong head wind and then after riding a couple more encounter those somewhat balance challenging crazy cross winds. Or so I think. I am not a wind expert, nor am I a great cyclists. But I do ride every chance I get and through many different elements. On days like today I image myself a little pawn in the great big universe, a little video game character getting tossed this way and that, doing my best, determined to make my way home.

I figure I am so lucky to be able to ride. The wind just a microcosim of the rest of my life’s daily challenges. What do they say of this month anyway - “in like a lion, out like a lamb” ?

One can be hopeful. Spring is right around the corner.