Forums » Support
admits its a concept hes not a huge fan o
-
I dread solo runs the way the average person hates tax time. NFL Jerseys Wholesale . The solitary nature of the run forces me to turn inward, and as a goal-oriented overachiever with a fear of failure, I hate the introspection that these runs cultivate.The thought of spending hours wrestling with my body, willing it to keep going, with no distractions and no community support makes me question my sanity. Ive tried all of the recommended tips and mental tricks, as well as fitness gadgets and apps to make solo running for long distances better.Only one thing has done the trick: virtual runs.I joined two virtual running groups on Facebook because of my love for Harry Potter --?Nerd Herd Running, with money going to the nonprofit Stupid Cancer, and the Hogwarts Running Club, who donates to a different organization every race. When I ran the Dementors Kiss 5K with the Hogwarts Running Club, we raised $45,000 for Miles for Cystic Fibrosis. I liked the idea that the money I spent fueling my running habit also had a larger purpose.Virtual races are runs of a predetermined length that can take place at any location of your choosing during a particular week. You pay the race registration fee and receive a runners bib in your email. Certain running groups require that you submit a proof of time, and after a couple of weeks, you receive a finishers medal.These races dont require travel, so theyre easier on the wallet. And best of all, there are no long lines at the porta-potty.For me, these runs are the perfect combination of nerd culture and running community. Running is one of those activities I never thought I would do. I abhorred physical exercise as a child. I was sedentary in my early 20s from a combination of depression and self-loathing. I wanted to be invisible.One phone call changed my life.It was my 27th birthday, and I needed serious convincing that I should live another year. My childhood friend Jillian called. Buried under the floral comforter in my bedroom, iPhone on speaker, I told her that I am not sure I wanted to continue living.She persuaded me to make a list of all the things I couldnt do, but that I dream of doing. On my list was a completing a marathon.Jill suggested we start small, with a princess-themed 5K. We registered, trained and finished the race together. From there we took on 10Ks and half-marathons and multiple-day challenges.Ive been running, off and on, ever since. Exercise is my version of Defense Against the Dark Arts.?I let my imagination loose on these runs.***Its 5 a.m. when my earbuds go in, and the fusion of sight and sound begins a seamless transition to the Harry Potter Universe. My mind fills in the gaps of my elaborate fantasy. Everyday sights and sounds, with their metronomic regularity, transform into rhythmic spectacle.My environment becomes animated -- lampposts change into floating candles, illuminating my path. The local YMCA, which towers above the rest of the landscape, morphs into the Hogwarts School for Witchcraft and Wizardry, strong dramatic architecture silhouetted against an enchanted navy sky.For the first half of my run, I evade the dark forces. Halfway through, my left heel is sore, and my right knee threatens to be uncooperative.I stop.Thats when the Dementors show up. In the Harry Potter Universe, theyre mystical figures shrouded in black gossamer cloth, and they thrive on despair. Their main purpose is to suck the happiness and good memories out of the people that they come across.In my mind theyre always hovering on the periphery, waiting time until I let my guard down. Doubt doesnt take long to blossom once its taken root -- I know that from near fatal bouts with depression. Those brushes with the spectral always left me listless and unmotivated, wracked with nightmares and harboring the belief that I was devoid of talent.I have to keep running. I make it past a large tree Ive dubbed the Whomping Willow before I was forced to stop again. Up ahead I see a Boggart, a shape-shifting creature that takes on the form of the thing you fear most.The resurrected corpse looks like me, but smells like betrayal -- wet, decaying flesh giving way due to neglect. Brain slightly atrophied, cloaked in anger, frustration and fear. She utters sharp, mean statements: I am not fast. I am not brave. I am a failure.My run has a new sense of urgency, to prove the other me wrong, to conquer the things that threaten to drown me if I ever give myself permission to think about them.I am the protagonist. I cant outrun this variant of myself. I have to face her. I surrender to the run; I stop obsessing about the time.I pull the terrible memories and places out of myself and leave them on the pavement. In this alternate universe, I could be gifted and hardworking, and villains were always vanquished, even though all enchantments come with a price. I dont have to be fast -- I just have to finish.Monsters, after all, can be defeated. I know I deserve to cultivate hope, to have peace. I understand it is my right to be happy. My creativity allows me to believe in the incredible, to not be limited by the bounds of my own experience. I know, at the end of all of this, that I can endure.Latria Graham is a writer, editor and cultural critic. She is currently living in South Carolina. Follow her @LGRaconteur Cheap NFL Jerseys China . The home side created most of the chances but struggled to break down Braunschweigs resilient defence, resulting in the Bundesligas 1,000th scoreless draw. Disocunt Football Jerseys . The formidable trio of Canadian receivers -- individually known as Chris Getzlaf, Rob Bagg and Andy Fantuz -- will share the field at Mosaic Stadium one more time on Sunday. http://www.cheapjerseys.webcam/ ;. Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. It might have come as a shock to fans but Gold Coast coach Rodney Eade says hes well advanced in his plans to replace Gary Ablett as the Suns captain.Ablett confirmed last week he was stepping down as the AFL clubs captain after an injury-plagued past two seasons.The 32-year-old had earlier requested a release from the club and missed the beginning of the Suns pre-season on a delayed honeymoon.Eade says Abletts intention to step down had been clear since the players end-of-season review in August.We sat down and had a chat at the end of August as part of his review ... he spoke to me then that hed like to step down, he said.Obviously he thought it was a good idea, not just for himself, but for the team.So weve had a good three months ... Ive done a lot of work internally and hopefully by Christmas well be able to announce something.Forward Tom Lynch and defender Steven May are the frontrunners to replace Ablett.Both led the team towards the end of last season with Ablett injured and Eade confirmed they were ahead of their teammates in the reckoning.The prospect of the pair being named co-captains has been mooted but Eade admits its a concept hes not a huge fan of.Im always one that hassnt been sold on the idea, to be honest, he said. Black China NFL Jerseys. .Maybe thats old school, but it has been successful at Sydney; GWS have got it at the moment. Its something thats been discussed and talked about internally.Eade on Monday unveiled former St Kilda, Sydney and Western Bulldogs forward Barry Hall as a specialist coach for the club.Hall, who was coached by Eade at the Swans and Bulldogs, will work with the clubs key position players such as Lynch and May on a part-time basis next season.He said having the opportunity to help the Suns talent achieve their potential is exciting but it wasnt being seen as a stepping stone into a more full-time coaching job in the future.These blokes (coaches) are mad, seriously, Hall said.I love the game. I love the specialist coaching part. I love working with young people, which probably shows my immaturity ... guiding them in places where I didnt get guided when I was a bit younger.Its a part I really enjoy and when you actually see them do something that youve told them to do, it gives you a little bit of a feeling. Wholesale Nike NFL Jerseys China NFL Gear Cheap NFL Jerseys Authentic Wholesale Jerseys 2018 Wholesale Black NFL Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap Jerseys Wholesale China Jerseys Wholesale China NFL Jerseys China Womens NFL Jerseys China Jerseys Cheap NFL Autographed Jerseys China NFL JerseysWhite NFL Jerseys Cheap Wholesale NFL T-shirts ' ' '