Runaway runner

I have been working at Summit Chiropractic Studio for just over 2 years. We run. That's our thing. It's not our only thing but it's a large part of our routine. When I started, I was told that as a team, we go to conferences and part of that is a early morning run each day.

“Awesome!!!” was my first reaction. Having been an on and off again runner for a couple years I was excited to have something to help me with a consistent running schedule. (please see previous posts regarding my level of consistency and discipline). I did really well for a while and then....well just kinda went off the trail a little bit. Then got back on, then got lost. AGAIN. Starting to get I-can't-make-a-decision-related vertigo, I finally concluded that a back injury would solve all my problems and proceeded to hurt myself and delay any progress for almost 5 weeks. I loved running and I was getting pretty good at it, but back at the beginning again sucked!!

So out I went. And as I took a long drink of water from my 25$, Lululemon, lime-green water bottle sporting the phrase: I ♥ Running, I knew...

I HATE RUNNING!!

Seriously. It is not my sport. I enjoy going out occasionally, but it cannot be my daily exercise of choice. I realized that every time I spoke I used the words, I have to go running today, I should go for a run. There was a clear reason that I could not maintain a regular running schedule. Underneath it all – I hated it!

When it comes to fitness, I will do it if I love it. I can and will play tennis until the cows come home. (this is a true story- raised on a farm, I hit the ball against the house until - literally - the cows came home. Dad was thrilled with the dents I left in the siding and swiftly ended my rise to the pro-tennis leagues)

There are always things that I have to do but don't want to. It's just so much easier doing what I love. I like the gym, and recently getting back to it has made a huge difference how much I exercise, and how often. Running is something that I wish I wanted to do. I don't. And that's o.k.

I'm off to a conference tonight that starts with a 4 am run tomorrow. Will I run? Yep, but not because I have to. Because I know that I don't have to, and I get to go to the gym on Saturday!

Make sense?

A Dear Gym letter

Oh..... hi Gym. Wow, this is awkward. It's been a long time hasn't it. Oh really, that long eh? Well, I'm sure that I can find a million reasons for not being around but you look good. Strong and fit.

Me? well.... I've been busy, you know how it is. I thought of you the other day when the elevator was not working and I had to walk the 5 flights of stairs. I thought about napping between the fourth and fifth floors, but I made it.

Gym, I want you to know that I strongly dislike you and yet enjoy your company at the same time. We have a very serious love / hate relationship at this point. I have a good time when I'm with you but when you call, seriously...voice-mail!! I feel energized and refreshed after visiting with you, and yet there are things that we need to talk about. Like the other day when I spent an hour with your friend Emily, who teaches the step class. By Thursday the only thing that didn't hurt was my hair. Honestly Gym, I sneezed on Friday and I thought I was going to need medical attention. What is up with that?

As much as I try to blame you for where I'm at right now, I know that I have to own my fair share of the responsibility. If I had made more of an effort to maintain our friendship over these last few months, there would be none of this painful awkwardness we're experiencing. But I'm back Gym, and I know that we will get past it. We'll get to know each other again and eventually be the best of friends.

See you tomorrow Gym, and hey....thanks for being there.

Cara

Face-to-facebook

2000: “I will never have a cell phone, I think they're stupid. Ooooh look at me, I'm so important I need to be available to anyone all the time”.

2010: you can now reach me at my house, on my cell, through email, on facebook, either of my 2 blogs and as of 3 days ago...Twitter.

What is wrong with me? Do I really need to be so accessible at all times? And who am I to think that people are interested in what I have to say or what I had for lunch? Cara Symonds Reinelt had an awesome tuna sandwich today. (Although, if you are reading this it really was the best tuna sandwich and I thank you for your interest. Please feel free to leave a comment or ask for the recipe- they key is dill). Twitter, I'm not sure I understand fully, I signed up mostly to spy on celebrities. Mark pointed out that it's not actually spying if they put it out there for me to read, but Facebook, well.... In this busy world, where people are running out of time, it really is a handy tool to quickly check in with people. When I get home after work, the last thing I want to do is spend more time on the phone. So I fire up the FB and I am able to see how my friends and yes- my Mom spent their day.

My problem is remembering that this new social networking does NOT replace the real thing. My 96-year-old Grama asked if I forgot where she lived. Not gonna lie...that one stung. The art of speaking with real words is fading fast and nothing will replace that big bear hug from someone who just knew that you needed one that day. I enjoy interacting with the people that I love. Seeing their reactions to my stories, listening to theirs. However, where do I find the time for husband, work, gym, family, friends all in the same week. I don't even have kids yet!! I can't imagine what parents go through when you add in school, after-school, sleep-overs and birthday parties.

So, as I go forth into the world of mind blowing technology, I make a promise to myself.

I promise to:
-invite people over for dinner
-go out for dinner with people
-get together at least once a month with people
-go on trips with people
-play games with people

The connection is people. Personally. In person.

So go, have a great day, and and look for my personal facebook invite to the next dinner party.

Oh Canada

Where did this Canadian Patriotism come from? Why was the desire there to paint my face with a red maple leaf as I sat in my living room watching T.V? It was not an option for me to leave the house yesterday without donning some sort of red / white clothing combo. When I see the commercial with Michael J. Fox and other British Columbian celebrities, I turn to Mark and say, “I live here too!” (He's too polite to say anything, but I'm pretty sure he thinks I've lost my mind).

When I was younger, I wanted to move. And yes, to the States. They have Hawaii, California, and Disneyland. I saw myself driving around in my convertible jeep on my way to my fabulous job at Seaworld, where I was the best dolphin trainer in all the world. This was after having lunch with Tom Cruise.

I love the ocean. Ask around. Any water actually. I'm usually the first person in the lake in the summer- I believe the earliest I have ever gone in was May.

I love the sun. A day at the beach, for me, is wasted if I can't there by 9:30am. There's not much that can keep me inside on a beautiful summer day.

So, as a young teenager, why would I want to stick around the North Okanagan? Summers were great, sure, but learning to surf on Shuswap Lake? Did you know that if you take a scuba diving course in Salmon Arm the only thing you get to see in the lake is NOTHING??? It's black. Trust me.

Now as I look around, I LOVE Canada, British Columbia and the Okanagan. This is my home. This is where I met my handsome husband. This is where my friends are raising their beautiful children. My life is here.

If I had gone off to California, where would I be? It might have been great... or I might've ended up working the concession stand beside Space Mountain at Disneyland dressed as a giant churro. Who knows, but what good would it do me to think about the what if's or the what could have been's? If I did that I would never be able to appreciate where I am. Life is pretty good here in Kelowna, British Columbia, Canada and it's my job to remember that.

Congrats to all our wonderfully, talented Canadian Athletes!!