Inktober 2018

So how is Inktober treating everyone – now that we are officially halfway through?

I have been enjoying it. As always some real hits and then some misses, but the point is that I keep the pen and mind moving.

I did a self portrait series in August and I really enjoyed pushing myself and using all types of mediums and started using gouache for the first time and I really do love it – inspired of course by Roz Stendahl’s work. So I miss using different types of medium but maybe this break will bring back the force strong!

Some of the fun self portraits I did.

I am also enjoying taking a procreate course from France Van Stone at Sktchy as I upgraded my iPad and got an Apple Pencil.

For my birthday I am going to Sketchkon 2018 in Pasadena, CA and I am so stinking excited. I was hoping it would be a post divorce celebratory trip…but that does not seem to be the case…it drags on..but my spirits are good and I am ready.

I am looking forward to learning from teachers I really admire, including Ms Roz herself!

**********************************************************************************

In fitness and running news….

I have started back to Crossfit at Crossfit Everlasting so I am excited about that. I also picked my 50k race! The Dirty German 50k in Philadelphia, PA! May 11th, 2019. My coach at Crossfit Everlasting said he could build me a training plan…so lets do this!!!

I have finally become a student of the Run

So finally the time has come and I have actually started studying things like pace, splits and other assundries that my fancy watch affords me(you’re welcome for the instructional graphics). I have had this watch for some time but other than using it to check mileage, I really haven’t made the most of it. Now I pour over it to study…did I keep my pace steady?  Did I improve my pace since last week and more recently since I started trail running….WHERE THE F*** AM I??!! And how do I get home??

Down but not out!!!

I had a great vacation in the Outer Banks….got a couple of runs and a bike ride in. I had a 10k trail run this weekend. My first trail race ever and to say it did not go well is an understatement. I woke up Friday am, with the sniffles that developed into a full blown head cold by Saturday morning. I must say that the River Valley Ranch 10k trail run was an awesome course, I wish I had felt better to really enjoy it. I was sooo out of it the whole run. I was so slow that they rolled the finish mat up on me, so my time was not actually recorded and I think I am OK with that. It was a little discouraging and has me concerned for my upcoming marathon and 50k. I decided though to make the most of my time not able to run and came up with my training plan. So onward and upward to the next journey. I will press on!

My new running shoes…shhh don’t tell!

Last week I attended the Newton Natural Running Clinic at Charm City Run. I love my Vibram’s and have had great success in them. I own the Treks, KSOs and now the Bikilas but I haven’t had the courage to run on the trails in them, so I wanted a ‘natural’ running shoe that would protect my virgin trail feet from the miscellaneous rocks, roots, snakes and other unknowns! So I tried these on and they had me at vibrant orange! I have run 11 miles on the NCR trail and 3 1/2 miles at Double Rock Park and I gotta tell you I really like them. I am still convinced that minimalist running is the best thing for me, but I am a little chicken on the rocks and such. I have to tell you though along with my orange running shirts. I am ready for hunting season on the trails that’s for sure!

Shadow Boxing….

So a long time ago, I read The Artist’s Way, by Julia Cameron and I learned of the term ‘Shadow Artist’. What that means is that you tend to align and surround yourself with Artists – in their shadow. Maybe as a way to be involved with the arts or maybe as a way to feed the craving of your inner artist. My partner believes that I am and have been a shadow artist. I am an architect, but I have never been as much as a ‘DESIGNER’ as I have been a person interested in how to build it.

So now I have a new term for myself..it is a shadow athlete. I love and crave sports and somehow being involved. I was always the team manager, or I played for the year but really lacked the discipline and the commitment that showing up every DAY or playing when your hurt or sticking with it when you don’t feel like it requires. I have been reading, studying and watching about cycling, running, triathlons and now Ultra Running. I have done a couple of events, 2 marathons, 2 triathlons and random cycling events. The question is do I have what it takes to come out of my own dark shadows of discipline to truly make a go of it to sign up for some REAL challenging events that require all of me and my focus. Get away from reading about it and…well….just doing it?  I think this year the answer is YES! Stay tuned for the announced schedule and help me stick to it!

Getting thru and building new goals

So the new Year…a lot going on, so some changes are afoot. Not as a direct relation to RESOLUTIONS but as the evolution of time, my experiences in life and contemplative ways. I have been studying Buddhism and Meditating with a local Sangha …The Baltimore Dharma Group. A great group of people…http://web.mac.com/bdgzendo/BDG/HOME.html so maybe it is age, maybe it is practice but I have been more deliberate(in some ways) of contemplation and making very informed descisions and less on impulse. So contemplating some professional changes and opportunities.

On the sporting front been studying and training in Minimal Running Footwear and that is kind of banging. I am really enjoying running in my VFF’s.  It is really fun to experiment with as I prepare for the Half Marathon I am training for in March. It makes winter training fun and adventurous. I’ll let you know how it goes!