The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life: What 35 Years of Running has Taught Me About Winning, Losing, Happiness, Humility, and the Human Heart was written by Amby Burfoot, one of the editors of Runner’s World magazine and winner of the 1968 Boston Marathon.

The book has 15 chapters named for the lesson they discuss, for example “Winning,” “Traditions,” “Listening,” and “Courage.”  These are interspersed with “insight” which are fun little sections covering things like quotes, books, music and people.

I think what astounded me was that a Boston-winning runner and I have so many lessons in common.  I could relate to most of the chapters and loved the stories, both about Burfoot and about other people.

This is also a reader-friendly book because each chapter is short and story-based, so you can read a chapter each night before bed, or you mow through large sections all at once.  Then you can go back and read any one chapter on its own if you feel the need to be reminded once in a while.

If you are looking to add to your running library, I highly recommend The Runner’s Guide to the Meaning of Life.

Remember the book All I Really Need to Know I learned in Kindergarten?

Even if you didn’t read it, maybe you remember all the spin-off posters and t-shirts that resulted from that book title – All I really need to know I learned from [my cat/my teddy bear/rednecks/whatever]…well here is my ever growing list of things I have learned from running:

• It’s not the destination, but the journey.
• It’s always better when there’s a crowd cheering you on.
• Porta-potties are your friend.
• There’s nothing wrong with stretching in public.
• You, too, can wear spandex.
• If you’re sweaty and you stink, you worked hard.
• Your own endorphins are the best high.
• You may not see the small day-to-day improvements, but if you’re consistent, you’ll suddenly notice how far you’ve come.
• Set goals, but remember that missing them is not fatal.
• One workout will not make or break you.
• Plan your own route.
• Carry money and a phone, you never know when you’ll need a lift.
• Always have a back up plan.
• It’s okay to brag a little.
• It’s not okay to gloat.
• “Faster” does not necessarily equal “better.”
• Nothing beats a high-five from an 8-year-old.
• Sometimes you just have to pee in the bushes.
• You can’t always hit your “A” goal, but you can sure try!
• It’s okay to run for fun.  In fact, if it isn’t fun, it is time to re-evaluate.
• Sometimes, all you need is a little encouragement.  Often, you can be that someone who offers it.
• It’s all about the bling!
• You have to work a lot harder to form good habits than bad ones, but it’s worth it.
• In the end, you’re only competing against yourself.

Summer is in full swing and with it comes fantastic fresh local produce.  Lately there has been abundance of eggplant, zucchini, garlic and tomatoes at the farmer’s market, and I am sure the onions are coming.  What better dish to use all of these together than Ratatouille?  There are tons of different recipes out there, but this one (thank you, MaryCatharine!) is my favourite:

Ratatouille

3 tbsp olive oil

2 red onions, chopped

3 cloves of garlic, chopped

1 eggplant, chopped

3 zucchinis, chopped

2 28oz cans of diced tomatoes, or 8 roma tomatoes blanched, peeled and chopped

1 tsp sea salt

1 tsp freshly ground pepper

1 tbsp herbs de Provence

1/2 c chicken or vegetable stock

In a large saucepan, heat olive oil over medium heat.  Add onions and garlic, and sauté until transparent, about 10-15 minutes.

Add the eggplant and zucchini, and cook for another 10-15 minutes, stirring occasionally.  Add the tomatoes, cook for another 10 minutes.  Add the stock, salt, pepper and herbs and stir.

Cover and simmer on low heat for at least an hour, or longer if you prefer, to allow the flavours to blend.

The wonderful thing about this recipe is that it doesn’t have to be exact.  Got 2 eggplants and 4 zucchini?  Great, throw them in!  I don’t think you can mess it up.  The only thing I wondered about when I got the recipe were the herbs de Provence – it turns out you can buy the complete blend in one bottle in the spice aisle.

This is a very versatile dish – you can serve as a side dish with a well-balanced meal, over pasta or rice, or as a main course with some of your favourite fresh bread from the market!  Not only that, you can freeze it in airtight containers for up to 6 months – a great way to continue to enjoy your local produce during the off season.

The 12th IAAF World Championships in Athletics in Berlin wrap up this Sunday.  What World Championship would be complete without a mascot?

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BWtOlg3K4Ec

When I showed up for a run with a new pair of socks the other day, my favourite running partner, Tanya, had a good laugh.  It wasn’t because they were bright fuchsia either – it was because they were right foot and left foot specific.  Unlike shoes which hold their shape, it is a little harder to tell them apart, so the manufacturer conveniently labelled the left sock “L” and the right sock (you guessed it!) “R”.
This is only funny because both Tanya and I both believe we have left-right confusion.   While I will admit I haven’t been able to find a study to prove this condition actually exists, there are plenty of surveys out there that estimate anywhere from 15-20% of the population experience this some or all of the time.

To those of you in the rest of the general population I’m sure that sounds crazy.  You learn quite young that your left hand makes the L, right?  I mean…correct?  I know this!  I know the hand with the wedding ring is my left, the hand I write with is my right; my passenger sits to my right in the car, and right is the direction I am allowed to turn on a red.  Yet somehow, when someone says to go left or right, or when I am giving directions, I really have to think about it before I make the turn or give the instruction.  (Does this happen to you?  Try this little test!)

Back when Tanya and I first started running together, we used to verbalize the turns.  An instruction of “Left here,” would invariably result in us banging into one another, followed by a “you said left!”  “that is left!”  “no it isn’t! It’s right!  Right? No…” “wait…what?”  This is only exacerbated as our brain cells go numb during a long run.

So when now we’ve developed a fool-proof system.  The person who mapped the route just points when we get to a turn.  This has multiple benefits – for example we don’t have to stop talking when it is time to turn, and we avoid that awkward banging into each other thing.

You’ll be glad to know that I get my lefts and rights…um…correct when given the time to think before reacting.  This means I get my socks (and shoes!) on the correct feet, so I can pass on Tanya’s suggestion of getting a sock-matching “L” and “R” tattooed on my feet!

Just for kicks I wore my Garmin Forerunner 201 GPS to mow the lawn (I know for a fact I am not the only person to ever do this!).  I hit start when I plugged it in, and didn’t stop it until I was completely finished.  The stats were pretty funny:

1.66km in 51:23, for an agonizing 30:59 min/km pace.

Now when you consider that I went around two trees, then back to get the cord around, take a water break, get around the shed and stop to shoo away a toad, that’s not so bad, is it?  I wonder how I’d do with a reel mower…

Another good reason to run!

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bQ6AfmfgqnM