Suspicions

Yep, being in love is tricky.

Running and I had fallen into a comfortable routine when out of nowhere I started having suspicions. This is a tricky time in a relationship, you have determined that you are in love, but is it reciprocated? If you start thinking about it, you start questioning, if you start questioning you start having suspicions and suspicions are never good.

I was traveling to an area that was hot & humid, not my typical running climate, but like I said, my relationship with Running is different this time (see blogs "Back From a Break-up" & "Are You Jealous?"). So I saddled up and went on a date with Running as soon as I arrived.

Out on the open road amongst the lush green forests, I felt good, solid in our relationship and even giddy with how well it was going. Running and I really had started over with a clean slate. The rolling hills and blooming flowers only confirmed how wonderful our relationship was and my iPod shuffled to Sade.

The following day I couldn't make my date with Running and had to cancel, it hurt me to do so, but I had family responsibilities. While my family supports my relationship with Running, they can sometimes feel neglected due to the amount of time Running takes up.  The only problem is I had to cancel our date the day after that too.

Running always seems fine when you cancel, takes it in stride. But by the 3rd day, I knew I had pushed it. My date on that 3rd day after 2 days off made aches and pains I hadn't felt in a long time resurface. It wasn't bad, but it was a definite sign...Running was pissed at me. I tried to reason away the missed dates, but Running stays silent, waiting till you are vulnerable to kick you in the knee...or hip...or foot. Even the bunny rabbits that played so cutely on the side of the road, stopped and came toward me, poised as if to attack, little rabid bunnies who obviously took Running's side. I yelled "You don't know everything! Don't judge me you little bunny rabbits!", I could see my relationship with Running was reaching that tricky love stage. I started to have suspicions. I started to wonder if in a blink of an eye, we would be back to that place that drove us to break-up before. I could see I looked totally nuts yelling at animals.

Suspicions are what drive a wedge deep into a relationship, they require you to believe your thoughts rather than facts. Running showed me at that moment, the moment where I almost kicked a little bunny rabbit, that this suspicion was an old thought from the way we use to be. The fact was, this was a great run and the aches subsided. I realized my fear about our relationship and the ideas about how I thought it should, would or could go were going to cause damage to our new found love.

I felt a huge shift as I realized that letting go of the suspicions and allowing myself to enjoy what this is now is the only way to be in a relationship.

Now the problem is, I don't think Running likes my best friend Wine as much as I do.

*Today's blog is brought to you by our Rosé of Dolcetto, because you have to have a great chilled wine to suffer in great heat and humidity.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.vivacwinery.com

Back From a Break-up

Returning to running after a long break, no matter what the reason, is like bumping into your ex unexpectedly. At first there is a flush of excitement, a bit of confusion in your body. You try to process all the information your body and brain are fighting to tell you. Your brain says 'hey we can handle this' while your body says 'oh hell no!'.

As you start your 1st run back on the track (or road, or sidewalk or treadmill) there is a surge of that old familiar feeling, a feeling your body recognizes without hesitation just like when you see an ex that you loved, you sense that familiarity. Your brain seizes the opportunity to tell you fast quipped lies 'Look a fresh start! We can be friends! Things are different!'. But the truth is, you can never really be friends with running...or an ex.

A few minutes into this new found "friendship", you are sucker punched with memories. Memories of why you had to break-up. Those old wounds suddenly feel fresh as your knee squeals and your hamstring sears red hot with a cramp. Ya, you know what I'm talking about, same with an ex that fills the awkward silence with backhanded compliments and inappropriate innuendo. You suddenly realize...running...running is a jerk.

It's ok though. Things ARE different, you are different, and you will be every single damn time you take a break and start over. This seems to surprise me every time. Why can't it be 'running with benefits', an easy going, no strings attached, just having fun kind of a relationship that can be picked up or forgotten about any time one wants?

I have to admit, I don't know who I will be in this new relationship with running. Will I cower to its demands as I have in the past, letting it bully me? Or will I be strong and take control? I am currently being seduced and you really can't tell anything about where a relationship will end up when you are in the thrills of seduction.

*This post is brought to you by our red wine blend Diavolo, because all break-ups feel like the devil.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery family!
www.VivacWinery.com

Died and Gone to Heaven

"Fueled by Vivác" became a very literal term as we took 16 wine enthusiasts on a float trip down the Rio Chama. Combine Vivác Winery, Lambert's Taos and New Mexico River Adventures for a trip of a life time. To call this trip "incredible" is an understatement that you will only be able to fully comprehend after you experience it yourself.

This 3 day trip was the epitome of Gucci Camping. We had the expertise of the New Mexico River Adventures' guides waiting on us hand and foot. They shared history of the area, pointed out wild life and navigated the waters all while being charming entertainers. Chef Ky of Lambert's Taos fame made exquisite 3 course meals nightly featuring local greens, herbs and meats. Each dish paired breathtakingly well with all of our wines; the duck in a chipotle apricot glaze with the Divino red wine blend was a particular stand out. These intimate dinners set on the banks of the Rio Chama with stunning views featured wine maker talks, chef tidbits and more fun than you can imagine... cue the "Fueled by Vivác" reference. The white table cloths glowed in the candle light as magnificent course after course was served.

The Rio Chama is accessible by river only making it a jewel to behold, somehow still untouched by the outside world. Dramatic cliff walls dropped down to the water's edge and teamed with life. Unfortunately there were several snake encounters which rocked me to the depth of my core. Even considering the skin crawling experience of almost peeing on a snake, I'm hard pressed to come up with a negative for this trip.

New Mexico River Adventures asked us to join them on this brilliant gourmet raft trip a few years ago and it has since become a highly sought after experience, selling out and garnering a waiting list. People come from all over the country to this river in New Mexico to feed their love of the outdoors and their craving for exceptional food and wine. We are honored to be a part of this annual trip and to host the wine maker dinners each evening.

I have to say, I personally love doing wine maker dinners because it is one of the few times we pull the wine makers out of the winery and vineyard, dust them off and let them be adored. I love that people appreciate all the passion and hard work Jesse and Chris put into making each of their wines. I love seeing people truly understand the artistry in each glass as they listen to the wine makers describe a wine much the way they would describe a child, in loving detail. Our wine makers are a bit shy about all this attention however, which is why this trip offers the perfect setting. Wine enthusiasts get to spend 3 days rafting, camping, eating and laughing with the wine makers, it moves past the theoretical into honest friendship. Each evening, our new friends are treated to the secrets that are behind the beautiful wines Jesse and Chris make and the charming personalities of the men themselves. They truly are talented and I'm not just saying that because I'm married to one of them.

This annual trip with Vivác Winery is the Saturday/ Sunday/ Monday of the Memorial Day weekend. Please contact New Mexico River Adventures to make your reservations. www.newmexicoriveradventures.com/ 

oh and no...I didn't run at all while on this trip.

-Cheers from the Vivác Winery Family!
www.vivacwinery.com