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A World On A String

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
50 is the new 40 you know...i know what you mean though,i just finished another climbing challenge,only 6000m this month...but 6 months ago i would have been thinking of that as an easy month...heck,i took most of last week off,only 63 miles which is less than half of my average...for me progress on the bike is measured in getting up the numerous loose rocky climbs...figuring out what i can actually ride the bike over...

Hills are where it's at. I really believe I could train for ultras...solely..by running up and down steep hills. I'm only running 8-10 milers right now. In those 8-10 miles 75% is going up and down hills....25% in the "flats" running from one hill to the next.....I feel like I cheated if I don't run my hills....and well..also...that's all I have. I don't have many true flats to run. It's all hill here.
 

unclefishstick

Fancy Janitor
ICMag Donor
Veteran
for sure going downhill on a mountain bike is loads of fun,but dragging yourself up the hills is where its at,and around here that means mastering loose and rocky stuff...i really need to spend more time riding with better riders...i almost always figure something out watching them...but the nature of my schedule means i ride when i feel like it...others have jobs and families and such to contend with..me,i get up,i pick a place to go,grab the most appropriate bike,and go....that is what this whole garden thing is about after all,grab a bike and go....
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
I know that it's generally accepted that after 40 yrs of age..the body starts to go through changes and doesn't hold or build muscle like it did when it was more youthful....


When I was 53 I took a job where the employees had built a short climbing wall and often gathered during off times to practice their moves. It wasn't much fun for me since I was out of shape for this. I started my normal routine for this situation of doing as many pull-ups as I could, every other day. In years before, my upper body strength would rapidly build to the point where I was wearing a divers weight belt while doing my pull-ups. But this time my strength never improved. At the end of a month of doing pull-ups my abilities hadn't changed. Realized that I'd hit my age where I could no longer add muscle mass to my already skinny frame.
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
...i really need to spend more time riding with better riders...i almost always figure something out watching them...


This! If you're one of the best in your circle... then it's time to look outside your circle. One can't help but progress if they're working with people more accomplished. Humble is good for you too.
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
....lifting the feet just enough to clear obstacles..and holding them tight into a narrow line. There is no jumping or bouncing from side to side...


This statement reminded me of classic nordic track skiing. Every motion you make should be linear, directing you forward with only enough downward push to get traction on the snow with skis and poles. There is no room or reason for any lateral body motion.
 

trichrider

Kiss My Ring
Veteran
....early eighties i got into rock climbing up at red rock canyon outside las vegas.
losing focus halfway up a pitch shutdown my ability to move, the weakness became a wave that washed away confidence...luckily i was on rope.

i blamed it on being out of shape and decided i would begin running to get heart and lungs back from the pack a day habit i had developed. so every morning i would head out on a dirt track along the base of sunrise mountain and run for some miles.

then one morning as i approached a wash i stepped wrong on a rock and twisted something in my back. that ended my running and my rock climbing.

years later i had fusion surgery to repair two discs and continued for years thereafter on opiates and diazapam.

those drugs were far more detrimental than the precedent for their use, and seemed to prolong and actually cause pain.

when things finally fell apart in vegas (2008) i lost my means of support and with that the great insurance my employment had provided, which meant that the drugs were no longer supplied....i had to quit them.

no more Demerol, methadone, and valium to right the ship. WTF am i to do?

coworker provided me with chronic to keep me from crying. puking, passing out. that was the only thing that kept me from taking a dirt nap .

it's been eight years since and my back is not the same issue. today i can move and work without too much pain. the pain i do have is mitigated by the excellent weed i have since devoted my attentions to.

this in my mind was as tough a trial as crossing the freeway blindfolded...and making it.
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
....early eighties i got into rock climbing up at red rock canyon outside las vegas.
losing focus halfway up a pitch shutdown my ability to move, the weakness became a wave that washed away confidence...luckily i was on rope.

i blamed it on being out of shape and decided i would begin running to get heart and lungs back from the pack a day habit i had developed. so every morning i would head out on a dirt track along the base of sunrise mountain and run for some miles.

then one morning as i approached a wash i stepped wrong on a rock and twisted something in my back. that ended my running and my rock climbing.

years later i had fusion surgery to repair two discs and continued for years thereafter on opiates and diazapam.

those drugs were far more detrimental than the precedent for their use, and seemed to prolong and actually cause pain.

when things finally fell apart in vegas (2008) i lost my means of support and with that the great insurance my employment had provided, which meant that the drugs were no longer supplied....i had to quit them.

no more Demerol, methadone, and valium to right the ship. WTF am i to do?

coworker provided me with chronic to keep me from crying. puking, passing out. that was the only thing that kept me from taking a dirt nap .

it's been eight years since and my back is not the same issue. today i can move and work without too much pain. the pain i do have is mitigated by the excellent weed i have since devoted my attentions to.

this in my mind was as tough a trial as crossing the freeway blindfolded...and making it.

That's brutal. I've been fortunate not to have become seriously racked up. I really don't know how either. A lot of people I know are at least somewhat immobile.

2 more dudes I went to high school with just died in the last few weeks. Heart attacks....and

a friend of my mine was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a little while ago..and now it has spread throughout his body. He's down to 120 pounds. It hit him fast. Very sad. His family is seriously torn apart. 42 yrs old

the "Jetty Crew" of local OB surfers...which my friend has been a part of..for over 20 yrs...painted his name in rasta colors on the north jetty....to honor him and his surfing. That's a big deal.

there is no rhyme or reason in this life. we go until we don't
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
This statement reminded me of classic nordic track skiing. Every motion you make should be linear, directing you forward with only enough downward push to get traction on the snow with skis and poles. There is no room or reason for any lateral body motion.

I think about skiing a lot when I'm climbing hills. Sometimes when I get towards the top of the hill...I double pole my way up the last 20 yards or so..going through the movements as if I had poles. Gives me some extra kick to the finish...and yeah...it kind of feels cool too.

For sure...if my muscles and everything else holds up..I like to keep it all in a straight line. The straighter the faster. But it's not easy maintaining the form..especially when going up and down rocky trails with all kinds of washes and obstacles. When I'm flowing though...it can be held

* ran with my PMSing wife this morning. ran her for 7.5 miles with several hard hills along he way. figured I'd wear her out of her hormonal foul mood. actually worked.
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
I think about skiing a lot when I'm climbing hills. Sometimes when I get towards the top of the hill...I double pole my way up the last 20 yards or so..going through the movements as if I had poles. Gives me some extra kick to the finish...and yeah...it kind of feels cool too.


Interesting, double poling without poles ... seems the momentum of your arm mass would be throwing back here. But that action is pushing your core mass forward of center.


For sure...if my muscles and everything else holds up..I like to keep it all in a straight line. The straighter the faster. But it's not easy maintaining the form..especially when going up and down rocky trails with all kinds of washes and obstacles. When I'm flowing though...it can be held

Yeah, my skiing analogy doesn't hold on steep terrain cause skis are slippery. You must work with the roll of the land. No climbing steep hills with your skis pointed straight up the fall line. Nordic skiers must turn to lateral motions and skate or herringbone to lessen the slope under each ski base. Seems you might hit deep eroded sections of trail, like a half-pipe, where you'd end up doing this to maintain traction.
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
Interesting, double poling without poles ... seems the momentum of your arm mass would be throwing back here. But that action is pushing your core mass forward of center.




Yeah, my skiing analogy doesn't hold on steep terrain cause skis are slippery. You must work with the roll of the land. No climbing steep hills with your skis pointed straight up the fall line. Nordic skiers must turn to lateral motions and skate or herringbone to lessen the slope under each ski base. Seems you might hit deep eroded sections of trail, like a half-pipe, where you'd end up doing this to maintain traction.

Since our conversation..I was going through the channels on my Apple TV set up...and came across some cross country skiing competition over in Finland. It was...I forget how long the course was..but they did 3 laps and there were about 85 racers (females)......

just awesome to watch. There are some things I can take from watching all the different forms:

1. kicking out from the ski in the back stroke. I've cross country skied before..and know that little kick flip cleans the ski and gives you a kick forward. I practiced that stroke while running yesterday...if for no other reason than...it adds a hamstring contraction and makes my knees bend/stretches the hip flexors more. It's difficult to maintain for any length of time.

2. I could buy some hiking poles. Some people use them (when allowed) in the races. You can get the retractable ones...but I always considered poles to be "not pure" to form...though that is being closed in the mind..as...I believe I have to look at all the angles to be well rounded. It would be different and fun.

yesterday I really simulated having poles while climbing. It's difficult to keep your arms high up where they need to be when poling without poles. It takes not only extra energy..but also...more concentration. Probably a lot easier actually having poles...because then I'd get that little moment of relief as I placed the poles and pulled myself over the balance point. It's amazing how much arm swing will give you forward momentum. I know that after long races...my arms are exhausted and sore.

3. yesterday I also practiced simulating the forward ski slide as I ran. That's difficult to do...and the terrain has to be smooth enough that I don't have to pull my knees up very high. It's more about extending the stride in a narrow motion...and doing that heel kick flip in the back portion of the stroke. It's not really feasible in actual form running...but it's good for mixing things up and practicing differently.

4. I imitated the styles of the skiers when I was climbing. Keeping my stride short and choppy (that's my standard anyway) with the heel kick flip....though I didn't duck walk anything. In my head I was picturing what I had watched on TV.....then hit the top...and double pole over the high point..into a longer stride going down the other side. Here it's about making a smooth transition from climbing to bombing down..without an obvious hitch.

That's the most important thing I'm attempting to master. The transitions. Like in surfing...skating...boarding...skiing...about anything...it's about making smooth transitions. That's where it starts looking effortless. When I can make perfect transitions...I'm flowing.

<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>



^ Transitions. I'm waiting on clones to take from this girl. This is that Jaundice f2 (Bogbubble X Chem DD) expression #2 (J2) self. I've been calling her J2s1...but I might start calling her "feel good" because I have a really good feeling about how she's going to flower out.

* the clones I took are taking a beating in these cold temps we've been having. Last night the timer I had hooked up to the heating mat..fucked up...and stopped turning on around mid night...so they were a little unhappy this morning. I switched timers 1st thing. 15 min on 15 min off. I don't usually use heating mats...don't normally need them..and I've had some disasters using them in the past. Must be careful...especially if using a dome.

Anyways...this J2s1 (feel good) is a beautiful plant...much like her mother. Since I've never had any luck with finding s1 plants to be better than their mothers...I'm trying to keep my excitement down..but, man...really nice plant. Love her coloring and growth habits. I am hopeful. As soon as I get the clones safe and sound into coco...she's going in the flower studio.

** I'm about as happy as I've ever been with my expression line ups. I feel almost complete. The only expressions I wish I still had are my old cut of Romulan (because it was unique and I never bred her) and the Highend f1 "sugar" cut that I used to run...but then again...no big deal. I'm doing really well with my finds....blessed and all. I have the funk and the sweet
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
Since our conversation..I was going through the channels on my Apple TV set up...and came across some cross country skiing competition over in Finland. It was...I forget how long the course was..but they did 3 laps and there were about 85 racers (females)......

just awesome to watch. There are some things I can take from watching all the different forms:

1. kicking out from the ski in the back stroke. I've cross country skied before..and know that little kick flip cleans the ski and gives you a kick forward. I practiced that stroke while running yesterday...if for no other reason than...it adds a hamstring contraction and makes my knees bend/stretches the hip flexors more. It's difficult to maintain for any length of time.

The "kick" in Nordic "Kiick And Glide" is a push down, collapsing the camber of the ski down so snow can bite into the pocket of ski wax underneath your foot and grip, ... and a push back against that grip to propel your body mass forward out over your front ski. The back ski going up is a follow through motion resulting from the back motion of the kick and as a result of having thrown the upper body mass forward over the glide ski. In the glide phase it's "Nose-Knees-Toes" ... looking down, all three should be in alignment to center your mass over that gliding ski.

Seems kicking your foot back and up into the air while running could be useful for muscle tone,... but since it's not pushing the body mass forward it would be wasted energy in a race.



2. I could buy some hiking poles. Some people use them (when allowed) in the races. You can get the retractable ones...but I always considered poles to be "not pure" to form...though that is being closed in the mind..as...I believe I have to look at all the angles to be well rounded. It would be different and fun.

yesterday I really simulated having poles while climbing. It's difficult to keep your arms high up where they need to be when poling without poles. It takes not only extra energy..but also...more concentration. Probably a lot easier actually having poles...because then I'd get that little moment of relief as I placed the poles and pulled myself over the balance point. It's amazing how much arm swing will give you forward momentum. I know that after long races...my arms are exhausted and sore.

Yeah, in serious running the whole body is synchronized; arms, legs, lungs. As a young man I had a friend who'd been a track star in high school. One evening while walking we decided to race to the end of the block. I was doing my best but he was pulling ahead of me. No matter how hard I tried I couldn't force my legs to move faster.... so I focused on swinging my arms faster, and the legs followed. Won the race.

Having poles is all about pushing against the ground or snow. So the skiing analogy can only go so far regarding running. But arm momentum is important. That's just how humans run. Leaping across a ditch you throw your arms forward to use that inertia. But you were pushing off against the ground in throwing the arms forward. Astronauts can use arm motions to move in weightlessness, but it is energy consuming and inefficient because they're not pushing against anything. All they can do is move around their center of gravity.



3. yesterday I also practiced simulating the forward ski slide as I ran. That's difficult to do...and the terrain has to be smooth enough that I don't have to pull my knees up very high. It's more about extending the stride in a narrow motion...and doing that heel kick flip in the back portion of the stroke. It's not really feasible in actual form running...but it's good for mixing things up and practicing differently.

Yeah, it's hard to practice ski glide when there's no glide. I'd practice standing in position over the glide foot to develop balance. But I don't think holding that glide position is of value in running.


4. I imitated the styles of the skiers when I was climbing. Keeping my stride short and choppy (that's my standard anyway) with the heel kick flip....though I didn't duck walk anything. In my head I was picturing what I had watched on TV.....then hit the top...and double pole over the high point..into a longer stride going down the other side. Here it's about making a smooth transition from climbing to bombing down..without an obvious hitch.

Those skiers have to really focus on not letting their skies slip backwards on hills. Not so much running on dry ground. But it also is the difference between moving the body horizontally along the surface as compared to lifting the body against gravity up a hill. Horizontal you can really stretch it out and allow your center of gravity to get out in front so that you're constantly falling forward and have to keep up with your feet to stay upright.

Can't do that as much going up a steep hill... you'd just fall face first into the hill. Gotta push up against gravity.


That's the most important thing I'm attempting to master. The transitions. Like in surfing...skating...boarding...skiing...about anything...it's about making smooth transitions. That's where it starts looking effortless. When I can make perfect transitions...I'm flowing.

There is a huge difference between running a short race and a long race. And you run the longest races. You are racing against yourself. To give up is a loss, to finish a win. What would make you stop is to lose all your reserves or injure yourself. And repetitive stress causes injury.

Going back to the wolverine, what you described is a smooth even balanced flow across all terrain. And this makes me think of Tai Chi.... always over one's center of balance, smooth motions emphasizing circular action, each action smoothly transitions into another. No leaning forward in a constant falling state ... always centered. No bobbing up and down in wasted motion ... center of gravity is constant. No exaggerated motions that can eventually stress ligaments .... all motions are conceived of as flowing smoothly in circles.... an arm isn't extended linearly, brought to a halt, and then returned linearly. Circles transitioning into circles. I think Tai Chi is the way to go the distance.
 

unclefishstick

Fancy Janitor
ICMag Donor
Veteran
with cycling being innately circular in nature i spend a lot of my road miles working on keeping a nice even effort throughout the entire rotation of the cranks...its much more difficult than you would think since of course theres certain "clock positions" that are much easier to apply power in...but crucial over long distance as it spreads the load across a second muscle group...plus i have been riding on all flat pedals with no cleat so now cheating on the pedal stroke...everything has to remain in harmony...and especially riding single speed...
 
way to go jericho champ...Always another event :)
Did my nr 24 marathon yesterday..cozy nuff on 3 hours and 57 min..its my 19 marathon this year ..hopefully i manage 4 more in december
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
Ugly Duckling

Ugly Duckling



^ Early Mox Trilogy #5 clones about to be transplanted. As vegging plants...this expression is not all that attractive. She branches out right from the start...and refuses to stand straight up and down without stakes. The bends in her main..make her seem..somewhat...snakelike....rubbery. She's easy to see in a population of plants.

In flower though...lots of flower sites..producing some really stanky ass buds.

* Worked for several hours in the veg studio yesterday. Transplanting and reorganizing the room. Knocked it out.

<>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>>

Training wise:

running 7-10 milers every day...sleeping on a yoga mat in front of the fireplace..stretching sessions in the evening and in the morning...push ups, pull ups, dips and riding the Indo (balance) board.

Drinking juices daily...lot of tea/coconut milk/maple syrup after/before runs....plant based diet. Every once in a while I eat a slice of pepperoni pizza or have a fish or shrimp burrito. I'll also have a mocha with a pastry every so often. Nothing in the house though..just foods I buy while out. With winter in...ice cream is out.

Made some hash...so wanding up hash before/after every training session. Blessed are the resins being heshed up. So clear and dumbfounding at the same time.

I'm running strong. Running a lot with my wife. We did 9 miles yesterday. Ran in front of her...stopping after a time to stretch and do push ups until she caught up. Used to be it took her a lot longer to catch up...but now...after 3yrs of trail time..she catches up usually within a few minutes. If she wanted.....she could be a really good distance runner. It's not her ambition though. She has no interest in running a race. She's happy doing what she does.

Sometimes I practice a race pace by running tandem with her. She'll get on my heels or I'll run behind her...pushing or pulling over the hills..getting a steady pace and keeping it. Her slower pace helps me concentrate on paces I need to go the longer distances. And...of course..by running tandem...I can keep her honest...make her push herself. She's tough...she took a fall yesterday..but was laughing. I did a face plant the day before..so we are even for the week. It's always strange suddenly finding yourself on the ground with grit in your teeth
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
Filler Plant

Filler Plant

Flaund = TFlux X Jaundice

Jaundice = Bogbubble X Chem DD

TFlux = Original Flo X Chem DD



^ Flaund #4. This is the last clone of #4...of Flaund for that matter. I kept no Flaund.

Maybe 2.5' tall...she had to be elevated on a 5 gal bucket to reach the vert bulbs. Not a good expression for vert growing...if you look..you can see that the fade is only on one side of the plant. Fade is on bulb side..

She ended up being dwarfed by the big 6' Plenty plant and Moxie plant...who were placed on her wings. In the end...she looked like a statute between two trees...as the Plenty and Moxie enveloped every open space around her...vines moving along the temple

The Flaunds split in two factions:

faction #1 : Flo dominant plants expressions 1 and 2

faction #2 : Indica looking bush expressions 3 and 4

* Giving the sun some time on the lands and airs....before getting out there again today. On a bit of trail binge...working stuff out. practice practice and more practice

was thinking of sacrifice. i'm sacrificing my body..literally..having to change my body..making it change. down from 160-165 lbs when I started in 2007..to around 140 lbs now. not just the weight either..but my shape is changing. My chest and shoulders have hollowed out more...no extra meat on them..so to speak. My core and hips/legs on the other hand...keeps growing thicker and more taunt. I can feel the transformations lately. I think partially due to me practicing new strides/forms....and partially due to running lots of miles over lots of hills.

it is necessary...at this level...to fully embrace the running lifestyle...because almost everything in my life revolves around it.

so now I'm this 5'7" skinny guy...thinking if I get much lighter...that I won't have to worry about levitating...I'll just blow away with the winds. Grasping to understand how to get more out of the powertrain...how to make it go faster for longer and longer...going down to these lighter weights...the shifting of strengths...maintaining the joints..where does it become detrimental...because somewhere there has to be a loss of overall power when becoming lighter. It's difficult to balance perhaps. I can't gain weight...I know that. Have to deal with and accept the weight applied...what I have to work with.
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
Another Day Slips

Another Day Slips

......bunches of days into this run binge. The runs and days have begun to mash into one continuous series of hills. I log in the miles, time, locations, and weather in my notebook. Been recording the runs for a few years in said..book. It's like this thread though..I don't make a habit of looking back. Maybe I prefer watching the pages get filled..I don't know.

I've started back into running up an old fuel break..that I had left alone all summer. I've showed pictures of it in the past...but to sum it up:

very long and steep hill with many false tops..and an overgrown hand trail that requires bolder climbing amongst sharp brush...and yucca

It's a fuel break cut..not a marked trail...which means...I have it all to myself. So...

I'm running back over there again today...and working up and down the steepest sections of the fuel break. Running off trail is a different game. It's way more technical....being that the routes are steeper...overgrown..and one must run off reactions and be able to pick lines on the fly. I fall more often when running off trail. Sometimes it's the unseen rocks...sometimes it's the brush grabbing out my feet..sometimes it's slippery decomposing granite pack...

thinking about starting to run off trail in blue jeans. Wear them as chaps through the brush. Leather gloves are smart too. I get tore up.

running through the brush is sporting. hard work outs

* This binge started after finding out how sick my friend had gotten...and seeing the jetty rock. I've got to keep charging harder than ever...there is so much further I want go. Got to do it while I can.
 

redlaser

Active member
Veteran
Hope your friend is at least comfortable, although that is small consolation for the situation at hand. I've lost friends and relatives but most went without much warning. Lost a brother and two close friends within two years, all were between 35-40 years old.

"Got to do it while I can."- words to live by. From about age 15-40 it seems like time doesn't end, from 40-50 you become more aware of it and once your past 50 it seems like time is speeded up by 30-50% or more.
 

Jericho Mile

Grinder
Veteran
Hope your friend is at least comfortable, although that is small consolation for the situation at hand. I've lost friends and relatives but most went without much warning. Lost a brother and two close friends within two years, all were between 35-40 years old.

"Got to do it while I can."- words to live by. From about age 15-40 it seems like time doesn't end, from 40-50 you become more aware of it and once your past 50 it seems like time is speeded up by 30-50% or more.

I notice time flying faster. Doesn't bother me. I just want to do what I want..as often as..I want. I want to go out on my feet. I'm training to stay upright..as long as...possible...I guess? I don't know. see how it turns out

* put in 7.42 miles (according to the GPS). Hit the fuel break..did some repeats...had some fun surfing down the break..and then ran an old communication line kept open...by god knows who..but probably the horse people...which is a few miles of pitchy and rolling..rocky to sandy hills. strewn everywhere...huge clusters of Yucca sword awaiting my slip...short steep climbs...long washy gradual downs...

then about a 1/2 mile of pavement.

Cruising...running smooth
 
25 marathon down , 20 this years...It was windy /storm so i got tired the last lap....An "old" guy on came up from behind ...I try to stick with him but he was tuff...he told me he had a race the day before and this was number 54 this year ..he was a lil tired to lmao awesome old peeps..he helped me to finish the last miles just off him being there...The most peeps i run with is old ..+ 55 and they been running 2 and 300 hundred marathon on a year...Theres the young David with an age of 20 he did 100 marathons on a year , Pia did 300 in age of 50 with disable kid at home , Rene just made hes number 705 marathon on 7 years ......They all up in the age beside David and they damn tuff..Deffenly enjoy it while one can and if we do we help ours self to be a lil older ...maybe not a promiss ..sometimes the creater gives a shit on age or life quality the creater just pick them out when he likes ..But run anyways i say ...One can be lucky to outrun him 4 some time
 

Crusader Rabbit

Active member
Veteran
Supposedly if you have maintained a decent muscle mass when you reach your mid fifties you'll be able to hang on to it if you keep at it. Just can't build new.

I think mixing up your routines helps slow down the passage of time. If everything you do today is the same as yesterday then what is there really to measure time's passage when you're functioning on remote control?
 
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