Rugged Maniac Tomorrow (Saturday)!

Well, it is almost here. I have been so engrossed in fighting Senate Bill 31 that I have neglected to open my race packet. Ryan tells me to strap in, so here I go.

Here is the first paragraph - this is going to be funny:

Congratulations! If you are receiving this e-mail, you are a confirmed registrant for the Rugged Maniac 5K - Greensboro, North Carolina! This race is going to be held on Saturday, April 9, 2011 at the Zoo City Motor Sports Park in Asheboro, North Carolina. We've just completed the course construction and we won't hold it against you if it reduces you to tears. 

Here is a part of the instructions:

• “Run like crazy and try not to die! Celebrate your glory!”

• Ummm… instruction 15. Obstacles

“This course is going to bury you!  It really is no joke. You may circumvent an obstacle that you feel is too difficult - however, if you do so, you are not eligible to win the race and qualify for a prize based on time.

“The fire obstacle WILL BE HAPPENING!”

If only I ran this race yesterday when we finished off Senate Bill 13 and I was pumped with adrenalin. I had more energy yesterday than I knew what to do with. Fire obstacle? – WHATEVER! would have been yesterday’s response. Today, though, a fire obstacle seems…l am not going to think about it anymore, other than it wouldn’t be part of the course if it was really dangerous.

• After the race sounds good from my geek food perspective – check this out!

Finish line fare will be flax-seed energy bars from Leo's Bakery (gluten-free)…

• Ok, Ryan can do the after race log rolling contest…he is amazing on his feet:

“And the ruggedness doesn’t stop after the race is over - afterwards, we offer some truly rugged amusements in our after-party area: a log rolling contest and a hammer tossing contest. “

So how has the training been going? For me great. I was stuck in Vibram/hurt ankle hell combined with running shoe achy knee heck. I have never had achy knees, but I worked my body out of running shoes thanks to the Vibrams, but the Vibrams obviously were not good for me either, so it was back to running shoes and achy knees because of an unaccustomed body. Now all my joints seem to be working fine. I will take some preemptive homeopathic Arnica before the race and quickly follow up with some after the race just to be sure the joints are fine.

Our new dog, Nelly, has been a great training partner. She always ups the pace on our three mile morning jaunts. Ryan came down with a lung sickness, so I have been taking Nelly on her morning outings for the last six days. Yesterday was the final test and I passed – running fluid and strong with no ankle or knee pain up and down some pretty big hills.

Ryan, on the other hand, has been down for the last six days because of his wacky lung sickness. Thank goodness for our Dr. of Oriental Medicine – his herbs quickly curbed it and saved me as well when I began to feel it. Ryan will go out with Nelly this morning and see how he does.

Overall, Ryan and I are stronger and fitter. We have both dropped some unneeded weight, and working out with Nelly is a big part of that.

We shall see what we shall see tomorrow. I do know one thing. I haven’t pushed myself physically in new ways since naturally giving birth to Colson. That is eight years of physical stagnation (actually five of those were physical decline if you have been reading my blog for awhile). I am glad that my body is moving so well. Now I just need to wrap my mind around mud, obstacles and fire.

Comments

[Ray Malecki, CCH(Cand)]

Hi Laura ! GOOD WORK ! ! ! !

And I agree completely, now would be a WONDERFUL time to move forward with Health Care Freedom. I just sent this letter to Senator Tillis. Please feel free to call or email if I can help.

Dear Senator Tillis,

Thank you for your important role in defeating North Carolina S31.

I live and work in Utah. But as an alternative health consultant, this issue is vitally important to me anywhere it appears in our country.

We need to legislate in the exact opposite direction of S31. Please consider laws which have been enacted in Mexico, California, Minnesota, and other states, regarding Health Care Freedom.

One crucial element of our American way of life, is Free Market. Monopoly has long been considered anathema to the preservation of our culture, living standards, and other freedoms we are blessed to enjoy. Nowhere has monopoly been more able to entrench itself in our country than in healthcare. And the result have been the same historically reliable devastations that have led intelligent observers and analysts of economies to eschew that practice.

Alternative health care practices work. The proof is that Americans now spend more of their out-of-pocket health care dollars on alternative practices than on established medicine. It might be argued that this is because insurance covers established practices. But it is not true that all medical bills are paid from insurance carrier funds, and one cannot trivialize the billions of dollars of discretionary spending by which consumers vote for alternative care.

It also is argued that Americans must be protected from unqualified practitioners. I say that Americans are not stupid. And one very clear price of freedom is the mandate to take responsibility for ones actions. Farmers, for example, should be permitted to sell raw milk, but the law must require that it is clearly labelled, so that the consumer is responsible to make their own informed decision. The same applies to health care. Health Care Freedom legislation that has become law in other states requires customers to sign acknowledgement of having been shown documentation of the certified qualifications of the practitioner, if any, and also affirming awareness that the practitioner is not a doctor licensed or otherwise, is not permitted to diagnose or tell the customer what is wrong with their health, may not recommend or dispense any controlled substance, nor purport to cure. The customer is resonsible to make his or her own decision.

National medical expense figures would tumble. Our national level of health and general well-being would rise substantially; astoundingly, in my opinion. The pharmaceutical and related industries would not be pleased. Of course these are the same parties now in control of the monopoly.

Again, thank you for acting in the best interests of all your constituents.

Ray Malecki
Phone: (801) 580-7134
Email: rjm@xmission.com