Monday, Monday.

"Every other day, every other day
Every other day of the week is fine, yeah
But whenever monday comes, but whenever monday comes
You can find me cryin all of the time"

Mamas and the Pappas

Ok, so this is the week you step up your game! You get off the sidelines and get on with living life! Yes, it's Monday, but you've gotta start somewhere. So, stop feeling sorry for yourself, quit saying "I Can't!", and get in the game.

Oh, and in case you're still clinging to excuses, or just down and bummed. Here's a little motivation lifted from the Faith First Blog...ok, actually, I'll just redirect you there, and don't you dare not watch the video...NOW! DROP AND GIVE ME 20!

http://faithfirstfitness.com/blog/

Race Report - Girl Scout's Summit Fall Fest 5K

Well I ran a 5K this morning. My primary motivation was that it was being held at the Summit Towne Center, and we do business there, so I went to run and to see how well our staff did prepping the property.

After a warm up run around the property, I felt a little tight, but pretty good. Starting out, I decided to position myself in the back half of the lead pack and find a pace I was comfortable with.

It's late, so I'll cut to the chase. I ran a 20:56, a 6:46 pace. Finished 21st overall and 1st in my age group. I'm happy with my time. A 1:26 off my flat course PR, but better than my most often repeated 5K time of 21:30.

The 1st place in age sound impressive until you check the stats and see that no other runner in my age bracket crossed the line before the 28 minute mark.

Rushed from the race to the soccer field to watch the twins play the second half of their last soccer game. (Ok, 3 yr olds don't really play the game, but they get to be like their big brother).

Pizza for lunch and then Jared played his last game of the fall season. I was proud. He got one shot on goal that deflected off of the goalie's head and then made a nice pass to earn an assist when his team mate scored.

Wrapped up the night with tickets to the Monster Jam monster truck event. We had a blast. I broke out the 35mm SLR and lenses and snapped 72 pics. Hope they come out. On my short list of things to buy with a few tax refund dollars is a digital SLR that we'll work with my lenses.

Oh well, it's late. Time to wind down and grab some ZZZZZZs.

Why do you exercise?

As promised, I'd like your feedback on this one, and if you get a chance, ask a friend to chime in as well.

Why do you workout? or Why not? What is your motivation, your reason, your excuse, etc.

Perhaps you'll inspire someone else or find motivation yourself. I don't have any restrictions on who can post, so those of you who don't want yourself found out, just comment anonymously.

To kick this off, here's mine, after much deliberation and thought.

I workout for 3 reasons and the order of importance varies on any given day. 1) My health. Heart related diseases have claimed 3 of 4 grandparents and afflicted my mom (stroke) and my dad (heart attacks and bypass surgery)and 2 of my dad's brothers. Genetics aren't on my side. 2) Vanity. I like the way I look being fit. 3) Challenge. I like pushing and testing myself.

So there you have, an honest look at why I work out and run. Are you willing to share why you do or don't? Don't worry, I won't write any posts based on the responses. I'm just curious what motivates others and thought it might be fun to share our reasons.

Something to Post..When Nothing to Post

Ok, I've not put anything up for several days, because not much of anything new happening and I hadn't been on line, except to get some directions, since Thursday of last week.

I'm in a rut with my workouts, and it isn't a bad thing, I've been turning in consistent workouts with 30 to 35 minutes of running (3.5 to 4 miles each time) and then hitting the weights.

Work is going to be hectic for several days while I work to put our budget numbers into the new company's format and proof my regional operating budget. Arrrgggghhhh! Now to decide, up super early to workout and work, or stay late each day.....??? Don't they know I've got fitness training and they're getting in the way!!!

Got my #'s back from the Doc today and was happy to see my cholesterol #'s and a healthy triglycerides level. Yes the eating habits (which need to improve some) and exercise are staving off genetics and hopefully adding a little longer run time before curtain call on this play we call life.

Enough wasting your time. Check out Scotty's blog (see side bar) for a great post. He writes seldom, but writes well. This balances out my meaningless babble and keeps blogdom balanced.
Also check out the Faith First Fitness Blog (again, see side bar) if you're looking for a simple word or excel workout log.

Lastly, my next post will be one that I want interaction on, so be prepared to comment. Don't worry, it won't be about politics.

Clean Bill of Health?

Had a physical today.

Got a thumbs up on the heart rate, blood pressure, and sounds eminating from within.

"Almost Hernia" was no longer an issue. I knew that already since I've been able to move laterally for some time now.

The rest is up to the lab.

Seems the exercise is working, but will have to wait on the blood work to be sure the cholesterol is where we want it to be.

Maybe, just maybe, the running and lifting and saying no to a lot of foods I like is worth it.

Well it depends on who we elect president....

Just kidding. See my poll in the side bar.

Take Care

James

When Politicians are Allowed to Play Economist

As Stocks Tumble; Seems Appropriate to Remember

Matthew 6:19-34 (New International Version)

Treasures in Heaven

19"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also.
22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light. 23But if your eyes are bad, your whole body will be full of darkness. If then the light within you is darkness, how great is that darkness!
24"No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.
Do Not Worry

25"Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?
28"And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Jock or Geek...Both!

Info from today's USA Today with credit to Nanci Hellmich

According to a study presented at the annual meeting of the Obesity Society
in Phoenix.

When researchers at the Medical College of Georgia studied and compared 49 normal-weight kids, age 8-11, both active and sedentary to their sedentary overweight peers they found...

Overweight kids scored lower on cognitive tests than normal-weight
kids.

Sedentary kids, whether over weight or normal weight, scored lower than
active kids.

So get those kids off the couch and away from the X-box and get them moving and playing.

As we worry about Wall Street and Wallets, Don't Forget!

A little inspiration for the day or the gym

Isaiah 40:30-31 (New International Version)
New International Version (NIV)

30 Even youths grow tired and weary,
and young men stumble and fall;

31 but those who hope in the LORD
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Also a quote from a Clint Eastwood movie character that might come in handy as a mantra when fatigue and pain set in.

"Endeavor to Persevere."

Can you name the movie?

Post #2 for the Day

A couple of shout outs!

Congrats to Daniel and Alicia (See blog link under "People I know..." in my side column) on the birth of Jake. Check out the proud big brother, Sam. Glad all went well and everyone is home and healthy.

If you've run a marathon, you know they doubts that creep up during taper week. Keep my friend and sometimes running partner Tammy in your thoughts this week. She heads to Chicago to run her first marathon this weekend.

Fatigue

My recent workouts have been more about conditioning that anything else. No specific race training, and in fact, very little running specific training.

I've done nearly every run for the past month on a treadmill, since it is easier to transition from there straight to the weights at the gym. In the last couple of weeks I've notice a lot of leg fatigue and discomfort. Perhaps iron deficiency???? So I've tried to eat a little red meat and get more consistent with remembering to take my multi-vitamin daily.

I've grown sloppy in my eating habits and it is showing up on the scales. I'm up about 7 lbs, and while I wish I could contribute it all to my increased weight training, I can't. So today I'm back to watching what I eat, cutting back (I hope) to no more than one diet soda per day and trying a supplement to get me through the food cravings. So far, so good.

As mentioned above, I've been feeling pretty lousy on my runs. I was planning to run a 5K at the Southern Baptist Seminary this past weekend, but then the coach of one of the softball teams I have been playing with called me to inform me that the tournament I had agreed to play in was this past weekend, not the weekend I had originally been told. So scratch the race and it was probably a good thing. My legs felt fatigued and achy all day on Saturday. That same feeling you get all over with the flu had taken up residence in my legs. The same on Sunday.

I decided to ignore the alarm this morning and to get another 1 1/2 hours of sleep/rest this morning, opting to workout on my lunch break. My legs still didn't feel great with the treadmill set at only a 8:34 pace, but my lifting felt good and I felt it was one of my most productive workouts yet.

Tomorrow I'll take my run out on the street before heading to the airport. Hopefully the legs feel better. I'm beginning to wonder if the treadmill has had some ill effects. Anyway, that's it from this end. I've got to get in shape for a 5K at a client's facility on the 25th. Dog and Pony show, but at least I get to race and perhaps I can get some fire back in my belly.

For now, I'm plodding along and trying to keep forward momentum......

Base Miles - part two

I left you with a question in my last post. I hope you took the time to think about it, and more importantly, that you were honest in your answer.

In our training and running we've all had days when it was the last thing we wanted to do. We didn't go to bed early enough the night before, we were sore from yesterday's workout, life reared its ugly head, the kids had soccer practice, etc., etc. Whatever the reason, we've all been there.

As I pointed out in my last post, maintaining a base can be the perfect cure. It gives you a purpose, "I've got to make sure I get in X miles!", it helps us maintain our conditioning when we either can not or are not in training for a specific event, and it gives us the launching pad from which to initiate a training regimen.

Life is much the same. It might be to broad a statement, but I'd be willing to bet that we have all had days when we didn't want to face the world, get out of bed, and/or deal with the challenges the day had in store. We've all been kicked when we were already down, dealt an unfair blow, and burdened with a load that we were sure was the largest in the history of the world and impossible for us to carry.

When those times come, it is our life's "base miles" upon which we are forced to lean. This "base" must allow us to maintain, sustain, and retrain.

To provide maintenance, our "base" must be solid and constant. It can not waiver or falter. It can not be weakened or altered by time. To provide sustenance, it must meet our needs, it has to be something upon which we can rely entirely. Finally, to retrain, it must provide the basis for continued strengthening and growth. When the pains and injuries pass, this "base" must provide a launching pad for the training that will help us overcome the next challenge.

Now, back to my earlier questions. After typing the question a few days ago, I pondered what might be some possible responses. While there may be more, there were three, apart from the one I want to present, that stood out to me; Physical Strength/Appearance, Intellect, and Religion.

If you are reading this blog, you likely have at least some passing interest in athletic conditioning. You may even have reached a very high level of fitness or degree of personal appearance and it is on these accomplishments upon which you rest, knowing full well that you can conquer life's challenges by either physically overcoming them, outlasting them, or by burying them beneath strenuous workouts and long runs. If this was your answer, let me ask you "What would you do if that physical ability and appearance were stripped away?" Would life still be worth living? With what would you justify your existence and purpose?

Psalm 31:10 (New International Version)
10 My life is consumed by anguish and my years by groaning; my strength fails because of my affliction, and my bones grow weak.

Another possible answer to my question is "Intellect". Perhaps you are proud of the knowledge you've attained, you might even have this as your fall back "base" in the event that your physical attributes fail, but do you really have all the answers? Can you explain away everything that happens with a scientific principal or assign it to fate or luck? Perhaps to date you've been able to, but when that question comes, the one that exceeds your wisdom and defies your logic, what then? If you can not wrap life up into a nice neat package of cause and effect, point and counterpoint, what then?

Proverbs 3:5 (New International Version)
5 Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding;

The third answer in my list is "Religion". Whoa! Wait a second James. Didn't the heading of this blog say you were a Christian? How are you going to attack religion?. Simple. I am a Christian because of who I place my hope, my salvation, and my faith in, not because I follow a specific doctrine, set of rules, or complete the necessary religious rituals. With that out of the way, let me, since it is my blog, continue.

Religious practices have been a source of comfort and strength since the beginning of time, but do they provide maintenance, sustenance, and finally the basis for growth? Let me offer my opinion. Are they maintainable? Remember, I stated that to provide maintenance your "base" had to be solid and constant. So, if your "base" is based upon a specific religion, ask yourself, "Have my religion's rituals changed over time?" "Does my religion have a core belief upon which everything else is based, or is it subject to interpretation?" Pick at it a little bit, figure out for yourself, "Is my religion constant and unchanging?"

Sustenance. Quick question here. "Does my religion ("base")sustain me, or is it incumbent upon me to sustain it?" If you can't participate in the necessary rituals and ceremonies, are you still guaranteed a spot in the afterlife? When you are down and out, what aspect of your practices and ceremonies give you comfort? Will they or do they work in every circumstance? What if you are unable to perform them or utter them?

Retrain. Does your "base" provide an opportunity to grow and to become stronger? In what ways do you improve as you progress in your knowledge? Does that growth benefit others, or simply yourself, and as you improve, what purpose does this growth serve?

Mark 7:6-8 (New International Version)
6He replied, "Isaiah was right when he prophesied about you hypocrites; as it is written: " 'These people honor me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me. 7They worship me in vain; their teachings are but rules taught by men.'8You have let go of the commands of God and are holding on to the traditions of men."

Now that we've covered these three possible answers, let me tell you what my answer is. The "base" of my life is Jesus Christ. Why? Because when the stuff hits the fan, he can and does, maintain me, sustain me, and retrains me.

Maintains
His love and the knowledge that he sacrificed his life for me means that when I face struggles and challenges I have a firm foundation upon which to rest. His love has never changed. It has remained constant throughout the ages. His message has never changed. To find salvation through Christ today is the same as when he walked the earth. Believe in him. Believe that he is the Son of God, and that he came and, despite being faultless, was crucified and died as atonement for the sins of the world. The message and the gift have not changed in 2000 years. This is summed up well in the song that states, "God's love never changes, His love never fails. When the world is shaken, I can put my faith in knowing that His love will never fail."

Psalm 100:5 (New International Version)
5 For the LORD is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

Sustains
The knowledge that Christ loves me and died for me gives me the strength and confidence to face each new challenge. When my intellect and my physical strength falter and fail, it is and will be this love that sustains me. There are too many things in this life that I don't and never will be able to make sense of, but knowing that God has a purpose and plan for each of us makes living on my worst days tolerable and on my best days exciting.

Psalm 3:5 (New International Version)
5 I lie down and sleep; I wake again, because the LORD sustains me.

Retrains
With Christ as my life's "base" I'm always ready to tackle the next challenge. Better yet, He serves as my coach and motivator. He serves not only as the launching pad for the best you can be, but also the way and the means by which to accomplish great things. He is always pushing, prodding, and even at times giving me a good swift kick in the rear to motivate me to improve. Believing in Christ means that you are never content with where you're at and who you are. By this I mean that you will be constantly drawn to be like Him, to be a more compassionate person, a better parent, a more devoted spouse, a more caring friend, and on and on. I won't lie to you. There will be hills to run, pain to endure, and times you'll question whether or not you can go on, but when you finish the particular event He was preparing you for, it's all worth it and you'll know that you are better and stronger than before.

1 Corinthians 9:24-26 (New International Version)
24Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize. Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air.

So think about it some more. What or who is your base? The choice is yours, but please, choose wisely!