"The Barefoot Jurassic 10.24K Trail Run"

Everything you can imagine is real.

- Pablo Picasso

Fired up the "time machine" this morning, set the controls for about a 150 million years ago, fastened the seat belts, cranked up some Jimmy Buffet tunes, and held on tight for the white-knuckle ride through the time warp. We seemed to get there in hardly any time at all - Jimmy just barely got through the first verse of "Margaritaville"!

We exited our well-used PTTC (Personal Time Transition Craft), breathing in the ancient air, rich and moist with the pungent aroma of the forest floor and lush vegetation. Hmmm, was that movement in the underbrush? Have to be cautious...it's a locale known for Velociraptors. Did you know that velociraptor means "swift seizer". That means it can run waaay faster than we can and it has teeth that it's not afraid to use! And it has feathers?! Weird. Ah, we'll risk it. Throwing caution aside, with provisions in the day pack including some dates, some almonds, and water bottles filled with a mixture of water, lemon juice, agave syrup, and chia seeds (to sustain our middle-aged energy), we headed out for an adventure run - "The Barefoot Jurassic 10.24K".

Running in the rain forest invites the imagination to go just a little crazy - the giant slugs, the massive snakes (OK, so that's an exaggeration), the giant ferns (that's not), the soaring trees, and the exotic-sounding, melodious songs of the island birds. Imagination is understood as, "the mind's capacity to generate images of objects, states, or actions that have not been felt or experienced by the senses". As we ran the trail, barefoot steps virtually soundless on the soft, damp ground, it was easy, therefore, to imagine that we were alone in a primordial forest, visitors from an impossibly distant and future world.

Remember when we were children? Everything was possible and our imaginations were robust, vital, and full to overflowing with creative power. We could be whoever we wanted to be, go wherever we wanted to go. We could turn a large cardboard box into a clubhouse or a castle or a moon base. We could travel at warp speed to the future and "chill" with extra-terrestrials in distant galaxies. We could return to the past and hang out with Robin Hood and his posse, deep in magical, Sherwood Forest. It was great fun and at the end of the day we could go home for dinner and be happy and content with just being ourselves...with a pretty good chance of sleeping soundly through the night.

We're never too old to exercise our imaginations and from what I understand, the very act of doing just that helps to keep our brains youthful and resilient. Using our imaginations is a form of play, a true source of wholeness and health - good stuff for we seriously minded adults!

Ten point two four excellent, fun-filled kilometres, "The Barefoot Jurassic'. Gotta go...the time machine (and dinner) await.

Play more,

Duncan.

Image: Running in the Elder Cedar (S'ul-hween X'pey) Nature Reserve on Gabriola Island.

Bonek

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Bonek Persebaya Suporter

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Upin ipin , fried chicken

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Upin ipin play football

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Upin Ipin Geng

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Upin ipin gang

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tomb raider tomb

Some days, it all seems like so much "fluff"...

Those who may visit here now and again know that, for the most part, I write on matters related to sea kayaking or trail running, passions Joan and I have shared for many, many years. Yesterday, I wrote about a tomato - a tiny, green tomato. Perhaps to legitimize, or to give some significance (at least in my own mind) to whatever the subject matter happens to be, I usually try to layer into the posting some little "gem" of wisdom. I suppose that it is simply in the hope that when the right index finger clicks "Publish Post", there will be launched into the blogosphere something of at least some value to someone, somewhere.

Reflecting on paddling, or minimalist running, or even on a tiny green tomato provides, at times, a gentle catharsis from my "day job", a calling that I have found deeply meaningful for some thirty-four years now. My vocation as a parish minister is one which often invites me to enter into some of the most difficult moments of people's lives, as well as occasions of their greatest joys. The former, I have never found to be easy, but I have always considered it a privilege. In light of this, reflecting on activities such as running and paddling is good fun, but it's also good therapy.

Running has been, for many years, an activity that can always be counted on to restore balance and perspective. The increase in the heart rate is accompanied by a soothing release of new energy. The pleasant effort of side-stepping rocks and roots on the trail focuses the mind. The regular cadence, that governs the timing of the placement of each foot, reassures and comforts. On a good day, you feel nimble and wonder how you could ever be as old as the birthdate in your passport would suggest! On a different kind of day when you wonder if you're ever going to make it home...you make it home. However the run goes, you feel renewed and refreshed and thankful for the experience.

That's why I write about running. Paddling a kayak on the ocean does exactly the same thing. And that's why I write about kayaking. Writing about tomatoes? Well, I'm not sure about that except that yesterday, what I saw growing outside our window, touched me.

Today, two more of our soldiers, both medics, died in a distant and dangerous place. For us, as a family, that place is not so distant. The picture above was taken by our son, also deployed to this remote and unforgiving land, during what was for us as parents, the longest seven months of our lives. So very few people could understand what we were feeling. As an army chaplain, I have had a further deep and personal connection with it all. And so on the most difficult and painful of days, we always seemed to find respite on the trail or on the water. As I look at the little child in the image, however, I know that I really can't begin to understand the nature of human need and human suffering, and I am deeply humbled by that fact. I know also that I must never be indifferent to it all.

The world needs us to be filled with the kind of hopefulness and creative energy that only compassion and our willingness to value one another can sustain. If writing about running or paddling, or even tiny, green tomatoes in an upside-down garden, gives us moments in which to regain our strength and our resolve for this very purpose, then none of it is really "fluff".

Take good care.

Duncan.

An adrenaline rush...hey, it's our first!

It's our first! Oh no, I'm not talking about children, it's our first tomato! Yes, our very first tomato! It may not seem like that big a deal but if you had any idea how hard we've tried to grow tomatoes since moving to the Island, you'd completely understand our excitement when we made this discovery. To be honest, we had almost given up. But when a friend suggested we try an "upside down" tomato plant, on our above ground deck, we knew we needed to give it at least one more chance.

Here's some background. On and off, over the past seven years, we've tried to grow this herbaceous "fruit", one of our favourites and an item that is frequently enjoyed around here. Trouble is, we have "neighbours". And they've been, um, a bit of a problem. They have consistently eaten everything we've ever tried to grow.  Please don't misunderstand, we love these neighbours, each and every one. We wish them no ill will and, further, acknowledge that they were here long before we arrived on our one acre of island forest. I should add that they seem very comfortable with us. Very comfortable. They do not share, however, and have made this clear over the years, our "live and let live attitude" when it comes to our (attempted) garden. It would seem that what belongs to them, belongs to them. What (we feel) belongs to us, seems to belong to them as well. OK, so for the most part it's kind of cute but when it comes to our little tomato plants, I guess I was beginning to take it a little personally. The "neighbours" I'm referring to, of course, are the local deer, rabbits, racoons, bears, giant slugs...and yeah, you really have to love 'em all.

Anyway, when it was suggested that we try an upside-down garden, on our deck (one full floor above the ground!), we thought we might just have a chance at it. I will acknowledge here the expert nurture given to this plant, in a greenhouse, by a gardener extraordinaire, before it came into our actual possession. (Thank you J.) After several weeks of our careful watering and turning the plant daily to ensure equal sunshine was received by all four "quadrants", you can imagine our delight (heck, it was an adrenaline rush!) when we discovered, upon returning from the office late this afternoon, the first "fruit" of our labours. Yup, it's pretty darn exciting!

So today, sea kayaking, minimalist trail running, and other such topics of serious reflection must take a "back seat" to this most wondrous development - the first evidence of perhaps dozens of juicy, ripe, home-grown tomatoes later this summer.

Oh yes, no worries, I'll keep you posted!

Duncan.

PS Only seven more "sleeps" until Barefoot Ted's Luna minimalist Huarache running sandals get shipped.

skulls scary

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scary the maze

scary the maze