Michael debates the meaning of status updates and the many reasons for not going for a run.

October 16, 2010

A guy once told me that all the guys he ever ran with (including the Road2Ruin Runners Club) ever talk about is money and women (he used another word). I said sometimes we talk about politics. He said, “See what I mean.” I said, “I’ve got nothing to say.” He said, “That’s okay.” And now we have Facebook. See what I mean. And so it goes…

October 17, 2010

I’ve been trying to figure out how to post status updates on Facebook without posting status updates on Facebook directly. Twitter is not my way. This whole thing is becoming existential. I saw the name Shlomo Avineri today in an article in the New York Times; he’s an Israeli political scientist. Read him 40 years ago in Poli Sci, when that stuff mattered to me (read: when I thought it would help me get girls). He said the revolution would happen when everybody was middle class. See what I mean…status updates, middle class revolution, the whole thing is confusing the hell out out of me. It must be time for me to run. That or close the computer, lie on the couch and make like a writer.

It is time to put away Facebook things. I’m editing the pictures from yesterday’s wonderful photo experience at Bridgeway House in Eugene, Oregon, a place that specializes in programs for children diagnosed with autism in its many forms. Thank you to the staff; to Patricia Wigney, the founder and director; and to the students who made it possible in every way.

October 18, 2010

Made the decision not to run today. Made the same one yesterday. It’s the same decision as deciding to run because a runner decides whether or not to run everyday. Same decision process. Different results. If you are confused here, I can’t help you. You go through the same check list and come to a different answer. A skater or a bike rider would have a different check list, if you see what I mean.

Today? My reason is a migraine and grumpiness. Not really a good enough reason, but reason enough. I need to change the context, I think. What about this: run everyday, except some days when you don’t. Is this a change? The whole thing is tiring me out.

October 20, 2010

Ran on the track behind South Eugene High this morning at 5:30am. My “guys”, the running buddies, a later edition of the Road2Ruin Runners Club, wanted to go steady state for a mile or more — injuries and fitness are determining a slow, slow build-up in volume of mileage and tempo (that is, my injuries/fitness and old age). Whining and a bad attitude are making for a decision for me to go slow, take it easy, not get hurt, and live to run another day.

Photo Credit

“Facebook” msn.com

Michael thinks about heading home after a marathon in Victoria, BC. And then he thinks some more. 

October 12, 2010

It’s 4:40am PST. I’m already tired. Not sleeping. Is it the chocolate I ate from a 5 lb. brick or is it the Diet Coke (don’t ask!) or the relentless conversation in my head with people who are not there? Whatever. It is unlikely I will miss my 7:00am ferry and equally unlikely that I will stay awake during the crossing. The orcas will miss me watching them from the rail of the boat as we go east and they head south. I wonder if they slept last night.

October 13, 2010

Planned on leaving Victoria yesterday. Might not leave today. “Why come here?” “For the waters.” “Ah, but we are in the desert…” “I was misinformed.” “Ah, mais oui.” In other words, shit happens.

October 14, 2010

“Got the urge for goin'” Joni Mitchell said that. But I didn’t leave today. The geese are forming up in “chevron flight, laughing and racing on before the snow. Joni M also said that. I heard it a long time ago. Still with me. Coming daybreak, I’m leaving. Goin’ home.

October 15, 2010

Left quietly. Before dawn. No geese that I could see/hear. Gonna keep moving south. Things to do at home. Wood to hew, water to haul. Friends to see. Winter coming on.

Photo Credit

“Victoria, British Columbia © Michael Lebowitz . The LongRun Picture Company. All Rights Reserved.

Michael heads from Oregon up to Canada for a marathon in Victoria — and still manages to get some writing before daylight done.

October 8, 2010

Going on a road trip now. Heading up country to photograph the Good Life Victoria Marathon in Victoria. Victoria, British Columbia that is. Sliding out town. Gonna see the sunrise in some other place, wander round under a different night sky.

October 9, 2010

Up country. In Victoria. My friend here have a sprawling kind of house with three floors. They have put me up on the top floor in a two room “suite” with a queen-sized futon and a chair in one room, and a desk a chair and a skylight in the other. They told me it was the “atelier” suite. Sweet! Spent a gray early morning spent listening to Bill Evans, Freddie Hubbard and Scott Lafaro while writing before daylight. Talked to a friend far away.

And so it begins, another day in words and pictures. And maybe a run/walk on the beach.

October 9, 2010 (Later)

Shot photos all morning. Finished up in the afternoon and fell asleep. Yankees were up 6 to 1 when I woke up on the couch. Mets? Wait’ll next year. Marathon in the morning for the Joe Henderson Marathon Team (JHMT) and 14,000 of their closest friends. Me? I’m there…best of luck to all of you.

Canadian running legend Jacqueline Gareau, winner of the 1980 Boston Marathon, with Joe Henderson.

October 10, 2010 (Early Morning)

Marathon Day. Hard rain and lightning to the south. All you Good Life Victoria Marathon 2011 runners out there, cast an eye toward whatever powers you believe in and ask that there be an easy Oregon-inspired rain and no wind come 6:30am otherwise it will be one very long and miserable day. Meanwhile, layer up, lace up and light out. The day is waiting on your effort, waiting on your dreams. Good luck. Time for my coffee and toast and, sh*t, where the hell is that plastic thing I use to cover the camera and lens on a rainy day. Damn.

October 10, 2010 (Later)

It didn’t rain much. The wind blew but not to distraction. The JHMT ran all the way, finished inside the time restrictions, set personal records (PR’s), found some inner fortitude and grace under pressure, as did many of the other faithful who gathered here to see what there was to see on the day. Congratulations.

October 11, 2010

“They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.” [Isaiah 40.31] And so they did. A gazillion miles of inspiration and example — teachers and students, runners beyond numbering, all quietly legends in their own time — all seen on a sunny day at the finish line in Victoria BC.

In theory, there is no difference between theory and practice. In practice, there is a difference. Well, okay then.

Photo Credit

“Canadian running legend Jaqueline Gareau, winner of the 1980 Boston Marathon, with Joe Henderson” © 2010 Michael Lebowitz

A runner who knows the feeling of “oldandslow” thinks about artifacts that result from the process of creating.

October 2, 2010

Fell asleep at 6:00pm ( The Cardinal 21 – Ducks 3). Thought it was a late nap. Turns out, thus far, it may have been all there is for sleeping tonight.

I hate it when I watch the Ducks, and equally, I hate it when I miss the game. Saw a t-shirt that said something like, Having a Quack habit…Now, THAT’s ducked up.

October 3, 2010

Pictures and words come from the same place but where that is I do not know. The impulse to write something and/or pick up the camera is clear enough.

October 4, 2010

The artifact is the result of the process, whether it’s a run, a piece of writing or a photograph. Sometimes the artifact is pretty close to what was being thought at the moment — and sometimes it is miles away. Often I am trying to capture in whatever medium is at hand the feeling I have or had when I saw or thought something. Can’t do this very well most of the time but especially when my lifelong battle with migraines kicks in. Like yesterday. Canceled my run. Cancelled it today. It’s hard for me to write when I can’t run. Hell, it’s hard to write, period. Some people think migraines are caused by changes in atmosphere or altitude. Me? I’m going for changes in attitude and perspective, and maybe genetics or bad karma or lack of caffeine…whatever. Maybe I’ll do two longer runs tomorrow. Or not.

October 5, 2010

Long run…not so much. Track work, indeed. Stronger in the 200’s (metres, that is) than I have been. Good coffee, new website almost built…damn, that means I’m going to have to get back to writing something. I hate when I run out of distractions (oh wait, my iTunes library needs work :-).

October 6, 2010

Did some track work again. It makes this oldandslow runner feel like he used to feel in the way-back — hands on knees, gasping desperately for air, feeling like something of value had just been done. “Done, mofo. Been. DONE!” Right up until my hamstring tweaked and oldandslow was the way to get home.

The spot on the back of the scoreboard lights up the flag in the early morning mist.