Triathlon Sampler

Again I've switched gears: cycling to swimming to running. Maybe I should try a triathlon? That was my sister's input and I am liking that notion. I'm in an awesome phase of wanting to do things I previously hated, feared, or could care less about. For starters, I've committed myself to run in Bloomsday on May 3rd.

I haven't lost all interest in swimming, but the Christmas season turned the pools to ice (just kidding, I am not swimming outdoors). I have every intention of going hardcore back to swimming as my other cardio training because it feeds my motivation to run. My body and mind are still in the adaptation stages with my new goal. Running has always been a mental challenge I needed to overcome. I needed to learn to ignore the physical discomfort and struggles, and finally I am only beginning. That is why I'm running a 12k road race.
For all things active and outdoors I am in the land of opportunity. Moving here has inspired me to be active - especially outdoors. It's the norm to have sidewalks for running, see people bike to work or cross-country ski when conditions allow.
In such an unexpected way, I'm really loving life out here. Even without roots here, I missed being in Spokane during my Christmas vacation. It shocked me because I'd never felt that way towards any place (save my hometown of 20 years), and I've barely been here 5 months! But it's a blessing and treasure, and no matter where I'm at after June, I'll have loved this experience.



Recently I ate Romanian food at a potluck style cooking group. It was really delicious and I met someone from Florida there. It was nice to share a connection to Southern culture for a moment. We managed to agree on the definition of the word beach as well as celebrate the absence of large bugs, alligators, and venomous snakes (except rattlesnakes) in the area. Natives to this area refer to the beach as the sandy section at Lake Coeur D'Alene - that is to say that a body of water nestled by mountains with no salt, no waves, no undertow, no seaweed, no jellyfish is a beach. No kidding.
I've been meeting new people lately now that I'm finished applying to graduate school and mostly staying in town on the weekends. My off-days consist of errands, running, library outings, and knitting in coffee shops or bookstores. Somehow, in my jogging clothes, I manage to attract strangers to come over and start conversation. So even if it sounds creepy, it's not so much in a public place. Also, it brightens my day to meet new people quite frequently.
Big Al's
What images flicker when you hear that name in conjunction with a club? You should be thinking of Hope Floats. At least I did. My only reference to a country western club was watching Sandra Bullock dance with cowboys. Big Al's is much more colorful. I wanted to ride the mechanical bull, but didn't after noticing flashing cameras in the hands of many a random guy lining the pen. Most everyone had on tight jeans, not to be en vogue with skinny jeans of course. I had walked into another culture and was very entertained.



Now here is a brief lesson in local history: the white supremacy organization Aryan Nations was formed and headquartered in Hayden Lake, ID (45 minutes drive from my house) for nearly three decades until 2001. I always say everyone has their secret lives (credit to the fantastic Water Deep), but going to a place like Big Al's provoked questions of how many in the crowd upheld the same pro-segregation ideals. It hasn't even been a decade since this group held rallies and marches in downtown Coeur D'Alene and that blows my mind. I am ignorant of the happenings in different regions of the country - what morals, philosophies, beliefs, priorities, etc. dominate the different subcultures. I guess that's what makes traveling appealing to me - you never know who you could possibly meet or what you could learn.
I compare America's own running history of violent "terrorist" groups to extremist Islam terror groups. Both grow from the same seeds of hatred. Instead of focusing on fighting a group of a completely different culture, why not get to know the people around you. I believe the biggest way any person can affect change is through relationships.