What’s happened to my blog?

It’s funny, when I started this thing it felt like I would never run out of stuff to write about. I had all these stories and opinions that were dying to spill out onto the internet for people to read. I’m not sure, but I think that it may be a winter/summer thing because as we moved into Spring and now Summer the well kind of dried up. I’ve been so busy this summer that I haven’t had time or energy to worry too much about the blog. And I am hesitant to make a travel log because I just don’t think it would be all that interesting to anyone buy me. That being said, I’ll give a general overview of what this summer has been like:

Awesome.

Barring a foot injury that has kept me from running over the last several weeks (it’s pushed me into swimming, actually), this has been the best summer of all time. Fortunately, the injury hasn’t kept me from waterskiing, sailing, biking, or barbequing. With the imminent end of my life of carefree fun at hand, I’ve made a serious effort to do as much as I possibly can over the last several months. It’s gotten to the point where the bishop’s wife asks me, “What was it this week?” every Sunday at church.

Part of what has made this summer great was the running. During the winter, I had my doubts about whether or not a marathon in April was a good idea because my training schedule kept me from skiing. I’ve discovered, however, that starting off the summer in marathon shape has made everything else more fun. I could pick up at any time and take off on a long run, hike, or bike ride without worrying about how long or difficult it would be. I’ll definitely do another marathon someday.

This aforementioned ‘death of the fun life’ is dramatically worded, but in a way it’s accurate. I won’t have time to do a lot of the things I enjoy doing. However, I have every intention of logging in some great running time as soon as my foot heals—running is likely to be the only thing that will keep me sane. Also, let it be known that I am nervous for school and I get more and more nervous as it gets closer. I hope I can hack it. And this is not a false modesty or anything like that. It’s been over a year since I last took a test or memorized anything. Hopefully the transition to school-mode won’t take too long.

Everyone I talk to who is in medical school has a different opinion about it. There are those who love it and those who hate it. It’s discouraging/intimidating when I talk to a second or third year student who tells me to go into dentistry. I usually try to end the conversation as quickly as possible and never speak to these people again. If you are toward the end of doing something hard, don’t ever look back at the people who are starting and tell them to quit because it’s hard. Even if you hate it.

Anyway, I digress. The point is: this has been the best summer of all time, even though I haven’t written much about it here. I hope your summer has been sweet too.

Cliché

Every blog I've ever looked at has some article (post) titled "neglected," complete with an apology, an excuse, and a resolve to do better. I make no apologies, no excuses, and no resolves; but I would like to acknowledge that this blog has been neglected. And to state that I hope that the neglect isn't permanent and that dwarn.blogspot.com doesn't just fade off into the millions of abandoned blogs on the world wide web. I may be slow and uninspired, but I'm no quitter.

White Rim Trail--Canyonlands National Park

Boatable

I like making up words. Especially if the meaning of the new word can be easily deduced. Here’s one of my favorite Daveisms:

boatable
adjective
1. being able to have fun on a boat, used specifically in describing a girl
a. willing to be the first one to jump in, no matter how cold the water
b. wanting to try waterskiing/wakeboarding even if she hasn’t ever attempted it before
c. being not whiney in nature
d. enjoying the company of other people on a boat
e. appreciating of the setting of the lake/mountains/canyons where boating takes place

I guess I didn’t make up the word—it has a real definition that has to do with water that can be navigated by a boat, but I’m pretty sure I invented the definition I mentioned above. Boatable is on my list of requirements that make a girl datable. And I feel like it’s not asking too much because it’s not about being a good skier or wakeboarder so much as it is attitude. It doesn’t matter if a girl was raised on a lake or if she’s never set foot on a boat before. In fact, there are few things that are more attractive than a girl who wipes out 10 times trying to get up on a water ski for the first time and wants to keep trying.

running

I never know how to respond when people ask, ‘Are you a runner?’ Historically I’ve always said, ‘ummmm, I don’t know…’ To me, the line is blurry between when I can go from running to being a runner. Last week, someone asked me if I was a runner and, for the first time ever, I felt okay about saying ‘yes.’

Part of the reason I was never sure about whether or not I should consider myself a runner is because I’ve been injury prone. If it wasn’t shin splints it was plantar fasciitis, if not a broken leg then achilles tendonitis. I’ve had just about everything under the sun when it comes to my feet and running. And I’ve tried orthotics, wide shoes, motion control, and several different shoe brands, all of which led me to the conclusion that I just had bad feet. With all these setbacks, it was tough to ever be consistent. Aside from the injuries, I felt like although I always ran I never really enjoyed it. The feeling after a good run is amazing—everyone loves it, but I never enjoyed the actual run. Then I read “Born to Run” and everything changed. First, I changed my method from a heel-to-toe approach to landing on the balls of my feet and using my calves to absorb the shock. I began to run lighter on my feet, with my weight forward. It felt like flying. Over the course of two weeks I doubled my mileage and increased my speed. And I started loving it. I must have looked like a total nut-job (probably still do) running around with a huge smile on my face. Two weeks later I was signed up for the Salt Lake Marathon, and I was stoked. My mileage went up and up and it became more difficult but no less fun. And now that the marathon is over, I still love it. I feel like a Saturday isn’t complete if it doesn’t include a run of at least 9 miles. And I can carry on a conversation (or a monologue) about running and how much I love it for at least an hour. Now when people ask if I’m a runner I say ‘yes.’ And I feel ok about it. Not because I think that I’m any good at it, but because it’s what I like to do.

I love it when people are surprised to find out that I never listen to music when I run. I like explaining how the rhythm of my feet and my breathing and my pulse are enough to listen to. And how I feel bad for the people who use an iPod because they are missing out on part of the experience. I enjoy trying to explain how it feels to finish with five miles and feel so good that you want to do another ten. When I was on vacation in St. George a few weeks ago, my favorite activity (behind spending time with my family, of course) was an 11-mile run behind the bluff by myself one morning. I even took a picture:

If any of this post is interesting to you, pick up “Born to Run,” by Christopher McDougle. If I’ve bored you to tears with all this I’m sorry. What can I say—I’m a runner.

By the way, isn't St. George the best?

Wasatch back!

I got invited this week to run the Wasatch Back this year. It reminded me of this clip of my friend, Wags, running it last year.

Sometimes I wonder...

Do Mexicans think “Nacho Libre” is funny?

What does it mean to “move your hips like, yeah?”

When Hollywood runs out of remakes and sequels will they start remaking sequels?

Speaking of sequels, when/why did they stop making ‘Land Before Time’ movies?

What’s with grown-ups wanting to be on the facebook?

When/how/why did Steve Martin become unfunny?

When not at work, what does the world’s fastest hot dog eater do?

Twitter? Seriously?

Questions?