Relax warm up/down 20:00 [1]
I have not much energy except in my head, which does some intracranial pounding. So I warm up and stretch carefully, hoping to get the stiff neck and back into a better shape.
Running 37:00 [3] 7.9 km (4:41 / km) +50m 4:32 / km
Running the "Again" loop. Feel already better. Tomorrow I have to set a three hour night-o course, so I take it easy. Should have gone today, tomorrow they predict lots of rain. I stop in the middle of the run for some martial arts practice.
Aikido 25:00 [2]
It is warm and pleasant. I do easy attacks, punching and hitting, plus a lot of breathing and stretching. It is a great spot down at Denning's Point, the Hudson River gently lapping on the shore, there is some wind and the night is bright. Nobody is bothered by the intense sounding out.
I find the center, get stronger and find a good presence. Great to see how bothering, unquieting, nasty, pesty and other unpractical things float away. Detachment. Focus on what is here. Warrior. The ground under my feet, the night and some precise attacks. As precise as they can be, since I am not in my best martial art shape anymore.
Both the stretching and the aikido practice make clear, that I need to work on my mental/physical connection. As I run back, I consider running another set of martial art movement. Stay relaxed, in the flow, allow things to happen instead of forcing them, instead of pushing and wanting.
I still feel the practice, three hours later. I changes the mind, it clarifies and throws out the white squirrels of doubting and whining. Tchonk, the edge of my hand chops the air and hits sharp and dry. Kjiaaaaia.