This is just a little nugget of knowledge that won't relate to everyone but I thought I'd share in case there's someone out there that might be experiencing a similar story-line as me.  
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Every year it seems I go through the same cycle of living a intensely healthy active lifestyle, feeling invincible and then ultimately  getting sick.  As I'm suffering from yet another respiratory infection today I've decided to step back and examine this. What am I missing? Is there some superfood out there that I'm not already adding to my smoothies that promises to boost my immune system? Is there another breathing technique that I'm not already making time out of my day to practice like the Wim Hof Method or Tummo? Is a plant-based diet not the best diet for me? Is there a stretch, a yoga move I need to know about. Sign me up!

From researching this it turns out the answer for me is pretty simple. I'm over-training and in turn weakening my immune system. I've noticed a pattern to this yearly cycle to where every year there will be a time period that I'm running farther and faster than ever and I get so excited about it I really start challenging my body to handle way beyond the work load it's use to and then.. sniff sniff cough cough.. I'm sick. Running can and will strengthen your immune system but overdoing it will drastically have the opposite effect.

Interesting enough there might be a way to combat this. Taking 3/4 of a tablespoon of nutritional yeast after excessive bouts of exercise has shown to increase the bodies white blood cell count and help preserve immune function. Even though the body sees the yeast as a foreign substance and triggers the immune system there is no unwanted inflammatory response to it. Amazingly enough, studies have shown an anti-inflammatory response. Nutritional Yeast by the way taste great on anything you want to give a cheesy flavor to.. soup, salads, pizza, nachos, etc..  

After I'm up and running again I will for sure be incorporating this into my post workout meals in the future... and maybe take it a little easier when I feel like putting that cape and tights on again. 

I love running. I realize how strange this statement sounds to some people. When making it, I tend to get the same kind of question from non runners asking, how I could love something that causes me so much pain and discomfort. I had a friend once tell me, “I hate running. If you see me running down the street, throw a blanket over me because I must be on fire!” It can be somewhat of a challenge to express the love for running to someone with this sort of attitude and fear of spontaneous human combustion. But today, I’m digging deep and feel a need to express it. I do not expect every non runner to read this and make a bee-line for the nearest Nike outlet but, maybe just a better understanding of why we “crazy people” do this “crazy” thing.

 I started running as a teenager out of overwhelming frustration and stress (oh those wonder years). Confused about how to deal with my then situation I pulled a Forest Gump and bolted out of the house and started running down the street… and kept running. Totally unplanned, wearing blue jeans, and no water. Forget complex carbohydrates, I had pure teenage angst fueling this run. In the end I think I only made it to the other side of the next town but it was great because I was so damn exhausted to even think about all those things that were gnawing at my brain at the time.

Gradually my runs became less spontaneous and more planned and deliberate. What started out as a way to exhaust myself from thinking had become a way to think more clearly. A running meditation if you will. No music, in tune with my surrounding, listening to the rhythm of my footsteps, awareness of my breathing, I feel like there is a real art to it and is very similar to traditional meditation in some ways.
Besides the physically fit advantages, I feel running has helped me on life’s journey and has personally shown me a path leading to better and brighter days. I’m more confident and can step out of my comfort zone more easily because of it. When I’m on those hot and sweaty long runs I kind of feel like I’m being purified and I’m recreating a better me. American Philosopher William James was quoted saying, "Beyond the extreme of fatigue and distress, we may find amounts of ease and power we never dreamed ourselves to own". 
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I don’t know if running is for everybody but it works for me. I you feel like you want to give it a go, give your body some time to adapt and you might surprise yourself by suddenly subscribing to Runner’s World Magazine. Unfortunately “Most people don’t run far enough of their first wind to discover they have a second” WJ.

Women were not allowed to run the Boston Marathon in 1967. Kathrine Switzer dodged that rule, and became the first woman to finish despite organizers trying to stop her. I can only assume she signed up as a man in order to get an official bib number.

20:40  5K  Turkey Trot. This is a shot at the finish line. Look at all those young bucks BEHIND me! Fortunately in this pic, you can't see the 8 year old girl in front of me. That totally would have ruined my triumphant pic. ;)

And yes, those are socks on my hands. I refuse to spend $40 on a pair of running gloves. No, that is not underwear on my head. I did spend the money for proper hat.

On my run today I noticed something in the snow. It took a few more paces for it to registrar what I just saw. I stumbled upon (and almost ran through it) a wildlife murder scene if you will. I suddenly felt myself flashing back to TV series like CSI and Dexter. I was staring at it (in my mind, investigating) and imagining what took place here. "What's the blood telling you Dexter?" It's telling me a poor little birdy flew to the ground, hopped a few paces to the west when suddenly in one fluid motion, a big bad ass hawk came swooping down in a crushing blow,  snatching it in it's talons and flying off to enjoy lunch. Minus the gross bodily fluids and violent act that took place here, the impression of the wings in the snow surprisingly looks very elegant. The sun seem to be highlighting that part of it, making this photo dark in subject but wildly beautiful.