I'm taking off tomorrow a.m. for a week long Minnesota vacation. We go to the same place each year, so I'm already mapping out familiar roads in my mind for runs. I have to run 5 days by myself! Even a couple longer ones....that will be good for me. While I'm away, how about some comments to finish this phrase:
Interesting observations/mental notes along the running path...
1. It's hard to laugh and run. A few friends have given me some belly laughs along the path, and it's difficult to laugh hard and run at the same time.
2. I always develop the desire to go the bathroom around mile 4 or 5.
3. My shoes are starting to feel like they're wearing down. Might need to make a purchase in the next few weeks to break in some new ones.
4. When someone faster than me is running toward me and passing me, I tend to speed up for a little burst. A very little burst, mind you.
How about you?
Wednesday, July 29, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
Great run this morning!
It was great to see so many at Pfeifer Park this morning for the 14 miler. Don, we missed you. We hope you had a great time running with your buddies along the St. Croix River in MN. Sid, thanks for organizing and placing the water/gatorade this morning. Keith Sandvold did a great job giving some real practical tips for the Chicago marathon (which he has done 2 times). The tips that stuck in my mind:
1. Most people are right handed and will go right for water stops. So, go left...and go to the end because many runners stop toward the beginning of the water stop. You might find more liquid and find it faster if you go left and to the end of those stops.
2. At 1/2 marathon, you're still feeling pretty good so smile big for those pictures that get taken and sent to you by race photographers. You might not be looking quite as fresh at mile 26 when the photos are flashing. Keith has framed one of his 13 mile shots from the marathon. :)
1. Most people are right handed and will go right for water stops. So, go left...and go to the end because many runners stop toward the beginning of the water stop. You might find more liquid and find it faster if you go left and to the end of those stops.
2. At 1/2 marathon, you're still feeling pretty good so smile big for those pictures that get taken and sent to you by race photographers. You might not be looking quite as fresh at mile 26 when the photos are flashing. Keith has framed one of his 13 mile shots from the marathon. :)
Scripture/Commentary for 7/26 week
Biblical Training: Don't get cut in on.
Galatians 5:6-8 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
Commentary: Remember the verse above when someone pulls up at an intersection blocking the bike trail as you are running. The forces of sin and evil in this world seek to throw us off track. When "it" happens turn back to the One who calls you, obey the Truth, get back in stride and run on. Remember what counts.
Galatians 5:6-8 The only thing that counts is faith expressing itself through love. You were running a good race. Who cut in on you and kept you from obeying the truth? That kind of persuasion does not come from the one who calls you.
Commentary: Remember the verse above when someone pulls up at an intersection blocking the bike trail as you are running. The forces of sin and evil in this world seek to throw us off track. When "it" happens turn back to the One who calls you, obey the Truth, get back in stride and run on. Remember what counts.
Friday, July 24, 2009
light the world
A few quotes from The Hole in our Gospel:
"The gospel itself was born of God's vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world. Jesus called the reslting new world order the "kingdom of God" and said that it would become a reality through the lives and deeds of His followers. Jesus asked a great deal of those who followed Him. He expected much more from them than just believing He was God's Son. He challenged them to embrace radically different standards, to love their neighbors and their enemies, to forgive those who wronged them, to lift up the poor and downtrodden, to share what they had with those who had little, and to live lives of sacrifice. Then He likened their effect on the world around them to that which light has on darkness. Light dispels darkness; it reverses it. Likewise, truth dispels falsehood, and goodness reverses evil...
"When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God's character- His love, justice, and mercy- through our words, actions, and behavior. "We are...Christ's ambassadors," wrote the apostle Paul, "as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). God chose us to be His representatives. He called us to go out, to proclaim the "good news"- to BE the "good news"- and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option."
I love that "Iowans for Africa" is a team of dedicated ambassadors for Christ out to BE the "good news" and change the world! The money we raise for World Vision will give hope and opportunities to so many without either of these. All in the name and power of Christ. It's so good to be in this with you.
"The gospel itself was born of God's vision of a changed people, challenging and transforming the prevailing values and practices of our world. Jesus called the reslting new world order the "kingdom of God" and said that it would become a reality through the lives and deeds of His followers. Jesus asked a great deal of those who followed Him. He expected much more from them than just believing He was God's Son. He challenged them to embrace radically different standards, to love their neighbors and their enemies, to forgive those who wronged them, to lift up the poor and downtrodden, to share what they had with those who had little, and to live lives of sacrifice. Then He likened their effect on the world around them to that which light has on darkness. Light dispels darkness; it reverses it. Likewise, truth dispels falsehood, and goodness reverses evil...
"When we committed ourselves to following Christ, we also committed to living our lives in such a way that a watching world would catch a glimpse of God's character- His love, justice, and mercy- through our words, actions, and behavior. "We are...Christ's ambassadors," wrote the apostle Paul, "as though God were making his appeal through us" (2 Corinthians 5:20). God chose us to be His representatives. He called us to go out, to proclaim the "good news"- to BE the "good news"- and to change the world. Living out our faith privately was never meant to be an option."
I love that "Iowans for Africa" is a team of dedicated ambassadors for Christ out to BE the "good news" and change the world! The money we raise for World Vision will give hope and opportunities to so many without either of these. All in the name and power of Christ. It's so good to be in this with you.
Tuesday, July 21, 2009
group run tomorrow at 6 a.m.
If you want to run 7 miles in the morning with others, we meet at Shawn and Karla Chestnut's house, 114 E. 14th St. (1 block south of CF Rec Center) at 6 a.m. and run the loop in Pfeifer. Everyone's welcome!
As for Don's team update, the question you are to answer is the post below this one! To comment, you need to sign in at the top right of the computer. All you need is a username/password, and you'll be able to make a comment under the post by clicking on comments once you've signed in.
Thanks! You all are great. Hey, I had my first redwing blackbird attack this morning on my run. Swooped right in on my head from behind! You would have laughed had you seen me on out there in the middle of a gravel country road trying to fend off the flying devil. :0
As for Don's team update, the question you are to answer is the post below this one! To comment, you need to sign in at the top right of the computer. All you need is a username/password, and you'll be able to make a comment under the post by clicking on comments once you've signed in.
Thanks! You all are great. Hey, I had my first redwing blackbird attack this morning on my run. Swooped right in on my head from behind! You would have laughed had you seen me on out there in the middle of a gravel country road trying to fend off the flying devil. :0
Friday, July 17, 2009
What do you love about running and/or training with the I4A Team?
Okay, come on, let's see if we can get at least 25 things on this list.
What I love about running and/or training as a part of this Iowans For Africa Team:
1. I love when I get past about the first mile of each run...that seems to be a hard part of the run for me and there seems to be a "groove" that I need to get into each run.
2. I love the camaraderie that we're discovering as we run together and as teammates cheer one another on in this effort.
3. I love the unbelievable gift of beautiful weather that God has given us during these weeks of training.
Comment with your love list!
What I love about running and/or training as a part of this Iowans For Africa Team:
1. I love when I get past about the first mile of each run...that seems to be a hard part of the run for me and there seems to be a "groove" that I need to get into each run.
2. I love the camaraderie that we're discovering as we run together and as teammates cheer one another on in this effort.
3. I love the unbelievable gift of beautiful weather that God has given us during these weeks of training.
Comment with your love list!
changing things up
I've discovered that there are probably some good benefits for me to change things up a bit in my training. Yesterday, I decided not to run the normal 4 mile route from home in the early a.m. but to rather run at about 5 p.m. from church. This decision led me to a. some hills on Greenhill, b. a warmer sun than I'm used to, c. a little head wind. And to top it off, I decided to push myself to a bit of a faster pace. I had gotten into a groove where I was challenging myself distance-wise but not pace nor heart rate, etc.. So I ran the 4 miles at a little stretch for myself and came in huffing like a steam engine, taking about a minute and a half off of each mile.
I'm thinking I need to do a bit of this at least once a week in my training. I'm spoiled on Saturdays running in the cool shade of the morning, running the flat trails, being protected from much wind, running with friends.... It's good for me...though not exactly fun at this point...to train occasionally with some wind, sun, hills, and by myself. I think these things might all help prepare me for the big marathon day.
I'm thinking I need to do a bit of this at least once a week in my training. I'm spoiled on Saturdays running in the cool shade of the morning, running the flat trails, being protected from much wind, running with friends.... It's good for me...though not exactly fun at this point...to train occasionally with some wind, sun, hills, and by myself. I think these things might all help prepare me for the big marathon day.
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