Friends and Trophies

Day 5
Weather: Low 70's
Distance: 3.1 miles
Week Total: 18.1 miles
Type: 5K XC Race
Pace: 7:30 per mile

I had a great morning, running in the Charlestown Founders Day 5K in Charlestown State Park. The weather was perfect, 4 other members of SICR ran and as always I had a great time hanging out before and after the race.

Three SICR runners took home trophies. Alicia took home a 2nd place finish in her age group, Frank and Jina both took home 3rd place trophies and door prizes.

It was great to have Chris finally get to join us for a race. GREAT JOB to everyone and a special "Thanks" to Tammy who didn't run this morning, but came out with the kids to cheer for Frank and the rest of us.

While the competitor in me will always have a bad taste in my mouth when I come up short of a prize or goal, the real trophies are my friends.

Days 3 & 4 + Commentary

Day 3
Weather: Inside
Distance: 3 miles
Week Total: 15 miles
Type: Treadmill
Pace: 8:00 per mile


Cross training. 3 miles on tread mill then strength training with weights in Gym.

Day 4
Weather: 75 Humid
Distance: 5 miles
Week Total: 20 miles
Type: Slow Easy
Pace: 10:00 per mile

This morning was not fun. The groin pull was painful this morning. I don't think playing softball last night helped it much. Starting out it hurt just to walk, but after the first mile it became bearable. Well I have my excuse if I don't do well at the Charlestown Founder's Day 5K on Saturday. Travel will necessitate me taking off on Friday, which I had planned to do anyway, and hopefully I'll heal up.

As I mentioned before, slow runs = time to think. This morning I found myself thinking about something I heard on the radio last night.

The topic was Fitness and Health. They were discussing the fact that Fitness and Exercise are not the same thing. You can become Fit through exercise, but Fitness incorporates much more. They made the point that there are Fit people, who live healthy lives, and their only exercise is their daily activities and work.

The discussion revolved around the fact that Fitness has more to do with what we put into our systems and the choices we make, not just how hard we work out.

During this morning's run I started applying this to other areas, and in particular Christian life and life in general. Why do we find ourselves in the predicaments we are in? Is it because of our own choices? Are our relationships healthy, or crumbling? Do we feed our mind healthy information or trash?

As I pondered the question I seemed to recall scripture in which Paul makes reference, in one of his letters, that we should guard our minds and not let it be corrupted with worldly thoughts, but that we should turn every thought to God. I couldn't find the exact passage, so if my recollection is correct, and you know the passage, let us know.

My point is this, like our physiques, once our minds are polluted, or our relationships are allowed to weaken, or any aspect of our life is allowed to "get out of shape", it is much harder to get it back into shape than it is simply start with and maintain a healthy (fill in the blank).

Our dietitian is God. Look to him for your "food for thought guidelines".

It's not easy. Our human nature leads us to try to rationalize our decisions. "It's only one Whopper with Cheese, I'll cut back tomorrow." "It's OK to watch this program, I know I shouldn't really act that way." "I'm just looking, that never hurt anyone."

"What's fueling your body, your mind, your relationships?" That was the question I was asking myself in between grimaces this morning. I came to the realization that I need a little more exercise and more frequent appointments with the Dietitian.

See some of you on Saturday!

Day 2

Weather: 72 Humid
Distance: 6 miles
Week Total: 12 miles
Type: ? See below
Pace: 8:34 per mile

I definitely got too used to sleeping late while on vacation, getting up at 5:30 is rough.

This morning I tackled the big hill in my neighborhood right out of the gate. I decided my usual flat course was not going to help me on any hills I might face in a marathon.

I'm not quite sure how to classify this mornings run. First 2 miles were at 8:30/8:45 pace, middle 2 miles 7:30 pace, walked for .25 miles at 15:00 min pace, then finished balance of run at around 8:30 pace.

Humidity was bad, even at 6am, worse I've run in so far this year.

Day 1

Weather: Light Rain/mid 60s
Distance: 6 miles
Week Total: 6 miles
Type: Long Slow Run
Pace: 8:27 per mile

Day one is in the books. After most of a week off, it felt good, a little heavy in the legs, but overall not bad. I had a nagging groin pull that I thought had gone away, but apparently thrashing around in the lake with the family irritated it again. Hopefully I can run it out.

I also tried to go back to a pattern I had going awhile back. Morning runs followed by morning Bible reading while eating breakfast. My goal is to work my way through the New Testament.

Another goal I've set for myself is the conscious effort of thanking God for one blessing each morning at the start of my run. Less belly aching and more thanksgiving.

If you take a look at the forums on Runner's World's website you'll find that runners are a spiritual bunch. A lot of misguided folks looking for enlightenment, some agnostics, some atheist, etc., but a good number of professed Christians as well.

Let me encourage you to do a solo run without your MP3 player (or on a treadmill with no TV on), and just take the time to reflect on your relationships. Your relationship with God, your spouse, your family, your friends. See if you don't find yourself thinking about issues a little deeper, seeking out meaningful solutions instead of quick fixes, refocusing a little bit.

Now before you start tuning me out, I'm through, I'm just passing along an idea for you to try. Don't try it on a short run, or a hard run, but on your long slow runs when you've got time to think, give it a try, and let me know if it works for you.

Lunch is over, back to work!

Time to Get to Work

Well, vacation comes to an end. Tomorrow starts another work week. Also marks a return to the road after minimal running this week. I spent some time thinking about it today, and I'm going to try to use the blog to keep track of my training for fall marathon, and in the process let you see how I fair. I promise to try and keep it entertaining and of some use to anyone else looking to train for a race of any distance.

I have procrastinated too long and currently only 12 weeks out from the Air Force marathon that I had originally hoped to do, I will decide in the next two weeks whether or not I have enough base conditioning to accomplish this time frame or whether to stick with the Louisville Marathon in mid-October.

The alarm will be going off in about six hours, so I'm going to wrap this up. Tomorrow we'll find out how day one goes.

If you're curious about my vacation, I had a blast, with apologies to all, I've got the greatest crew in the world. If I ever win the lottery (helps if you buy a tix, dummy) I can't wait to spend more time hanging out with them. Nothing grand like Disney World this year, but we did manage to get in the Indy Zoo, Caribbean Cove Water Park (at our Hotel), Indy Children's Museum, Holiday World, one cruise on the Ohio River, a day on Patoka Lake, a night at the drive-in movie, eating out every night, a dent in the family van, and a little work on the family SUV (1988 Bronco)to ensure it would make it to Patoka and back.

That's about it, see you tomorrow.

Late Nights and Holiday World

Well, as I feared in my previous post, my night wound up later than anticipated. But it was because of my running, not a detriment to my running.

I couldn't sleep, so I turned on Sports Center and logged a 6 mile midnight run on the treadmill. Felt good...until I had to walk the hills and climb the stairs at Holiday World. Do I get to count it as a "hill work out"?

A side note: Holiday World continues to impress us. Yesterday's experience marked 3 straight years of having a blast, finding the park clean-we even saw their staff cleaning up single drops of melted ice cream and bird droppings on the sidewalks, and polite, friendly staff-perhaps we shouldn't write off the entire current batch of teenagers.

This week is further proof of how much God has blessed me. Despite having gone through Bible Studies which talk about how God gives us challenges, in order to help us grow, it is times like this week which drive it home.

Not surprisingly, during some recent struggles I felt very connected with God, I could sense his presence with me. Currently, things are running more smoothly, I know God is still there, my struggle is making sure that I don't loose focus on him. Yesterday at Holiday World, my 5 year old son was more than happy to leave Mom and Dad behind as he explored the water play area, until he bumped his head. Quickly he returned to my side, tears streaming, clutching my leg. Reassured he was OK and that I was still close by, he returned to his previous behavior, hardly heeding the warning to slow down.

Unfortunately, too often, this describes my relationship with God.

The Trouble with Vacation

Vacation finally arrived. Nothing elaborate, a trip to Indy to see the Zoo and then to the Children's Museum, next up is Holiday World tomorrow.
Only problem, how to fit in my running. We left early Monday, so running wasn't an option, managed 5K on the treadmill this morning at the hotel. Tomorrow we leave late enough that if I don't stay up too late tonight, I should be able to get in 5 or 6 miles. Truth is, not much in the way of motivation, I want to enjoy my vacation. Problem with that is that I have some weight loss goals (related to performance, not vanity, well ok, maybe I'd like to have a six pack ab for once in my life) and running is definitely needed this week to counter the late day peanuts and loaded up salad from Texas Roadhouse, the late night chicken sandwhich, and the bacon cheeseburger, sweet tater fries, and the remnants of my kids' french fries consumed today.
I made the decision after my long run on Saturday and confirmed it with my wife today. I'm going for another marathon in the fall. I'm thinking about the Air Force Marathon in Dayton, OH, mid-September. The Louisville Marathon is flatter and is an option in October, but I've got an itch to maybe do the Air Force and then the trail marathon in Bloomington, IN in early December. Decisions, decisions. Either way I'm going to at least do another one. I have a better base of miles going into this training, but I'll definitely need to get going as soon as this vacation week is over.
I'll keep you posted.

Tid Bits

Nothing profound today, as if any of my writings ever will be, just a couple of "tid bits".

First some news from the Southern Indiana Christian Runners front. A good friend of mine who was responsible for getting me started and hooked on running competed this week in San Antonio, Texas. He is the sole member of the SICR, West Virginia chapter and was competing at a 5k run/walk held in conjunction with the Southern Baptist Convention. He placed 6th overall with a time of 21:40, not a PR, but a great run anyhow, and though I'm not sure he'll admit it, he probably did enjoy out running a bunch of other pastors.

Saturday marked my first attempt at a long run of over 7 miles since competing in the KDF Mini. I logged a 9 mile run, holding a respectable pace and walking through my water breaks. I'm getting the urge again and I think it is time to start getting ready for my fall marathon, might as well start a little earlier this year, and thankfully I have a better base from which to start.

Speaking of water breaks, be sure to hydrate properly for your summer runs. I have a bad habit, from my winter time long runs, of hydrating as I go. In other words I head straight out the door and drink as I go from the bottles on my "fuel belt". I learned Saturday that I need to take a little time to get some fluids in me before I head out, as four 12 oz bottles of water just barely got me through the 9 miler, and I came in suffering some mild dehydration.

I am planning on running the Founder's Day Race in Charlestown, this will be the first 5K I've run since January, so I'm anxious to see if I can match my PR, since we will be running a cross country route. To save $5 on your entry fee, be sure to sign up before June 23.

Happy Father's Day!

Soap Box Session-Marriage

I had not planned on writing anything today. My morning run was uneventful and my day was filled with travel and work, but then I read the news online that Ruth Graham, wife of Billy Graham, had passed.
When I first saw the headline of her failing conditions last night, I accepted it with the same detached interest as I, like most Americans, do any other story. That changed this evening.
As I began reading the story, I was moved, yes I'll admit, to tears. To read of her devotion to her husband during his years of evangelism and travel. To hear that despite Billy being a Baptist minister, she maintained her own devotion to the Presbyterian denomination in which she was brought up. Impressed by the fact that while loving and supportive of her husband, she was also a woman who held firm to her own convictions, I thought of some other couples I know.
A quick look around at my friends, my acquaintances, and my co-workers, would reveal a number of marriages failed or failing. I'm no expert on relationships, I've botched my fair share, but the common denominator in the relationships I've seen fail is a notion that marriage means giving up who you are and what you want, to become the person that your spouse wants you to be.
From this misguided notion comes the following; 1) People leave a marriage to have more freedom to be their own person, 2) People spend so much time trying to be who they think their spouse wants them to be, they quit being the person their spouse fell in love with, 3) They trudge through life and relationships, never finding joy and satisfaction in a loving relationship.
When I finished reading the article, my eyes filled with tears as I realized that Billy Graham would now live out his days without his biggest supporter, his closest friend, and his trusted confident. I couldn't help but think of my own marriage, and the blessing from God that is my wife. I thought of how it would feel to face tomorrow without her? The sick feeling in the pit of my stomach warned me to not dwell on that question for too deeply or for too long.
I couldn't help but wonder, "What if my friends and aquaintances saw their marriages as a gift from God, not as an inconvenience?" "What if they recognized that to be a couple, doesn't mean giving up on your dreams or letting go of who you are, rather it is about supporting one another in the pursuit of those dreams?" "Don't they know that on somedays you walk your path, on other days you follow your spouse's, but that always you walk together and in doing so your journey is completed."

SICR Runners Compete Again

After days of anticipation the results from this past Saturday's Barnyard Dash were finally posted. Interestingly all of us that participated finished 6th in our age division. Best of all, I had a blast hanging out with the other group members who ran, and I was pleased with my race.
Pacers and Racers did an outstanding job putting this together. The atmosphere was really fun, more like a huge group run than a race. I think I'm a good judge of quality customer service, it has been a big part of just about every position/or job I've ever had. That being said, Pacers and Racers does it right, quality people, selling quality product, with quality information and service.
We all agreed, next year, we return, bring the kids for the kid's run and make it a day at the farm with our families.

When no one is around

Today I attempted to do speed work, something I read about, something I hear is key to improving my times, but something I just can't motivate myself to do consistantly.

Speed work comes in several forms and training methods. Intervals, Fartleks, Track Work Outs, Tempo Runs and who knows what else. To date, I've done intervals, which includes running a specified distance or time at a pre-determined pace, recovering for a period of of time or distance and so on and so on. I've done Tempo Runs, which is holding your pace some where between comfortable and race pace for a given distance or time, and this morning I'm guessing I did Fartleks. Based on the definitions I have read, Fartleks are periods of easy and hard running with little structure. They are intended to be fun and varied.

This morning I woke up late, realized I needed to squeeze in a quality run, and so after a warm up mile I started running at a sub 5K race pace for as long as I could hold it, then slowing my pace until I recovered my breathing and did it again. Distance goals were marked by telephone poles and street signs. If you're wondering, I didn't think they were fun.

During my run I realized that no one else would know if I slacked off, didn't run all the way to my preset goal or cut my run short. No one would even care, no one would suffer, and heck I could make up for it later. Then I realized that I had the same temptations in my life. Do I live the same way when no one is looking? Does God see the same person that I project to others?

In the end I pushed through my last hard run portion, being certain not to cheat myself by pulling up short of the stop sign that marked my finish. I finished with a easy pace for the last 1/2 mile reminding myself that pushing through when it gets hard and sticking to what I know I need to do is the only way I'm going to get better, in running or in life.

Up and Running (bad pun intended)

Here it is, my first venture into blogging and my step up onto the World Wide Soapbox.

What you can find here in the future:

• Commentary on my running and training as a novice runner and the thoughts that run through my head while I'm pounding pavement.
• Commentary on the continuing exploits of the Southern Indiana Christian Runners (SICR).
• My thoughts and opinions on the topics of faith, scripture, and living a Christian life.
• An occasional pearl of wisdom and insight. (Let's Hope)
• Lots of ramblings and other stuff.

So in the words of a song from one of my favorite Christmas time cartoons; to start this adventure I'll just..."Put one foot in front of the other..."