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!