Boston and grandkids.
Posted: April 26, 2013 Filed under: life, running | Tags: Boston, Boston Marathon, christian, dedication, fear, God, grace, learning, life, marathon, running, United States Leave a comment »
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I’m not looking forward to the day when I have to sit my grandkids down and explain to them the bad things that happened last week.
It will be hard to tell them that we used to live in a world where we hurt and killed each other because of anger or protest or because our religion dictated it.
It will be hard to tell them that the sport of running lost it’s innocence on a special day in Boston. A day when people gathered together to celebrate hard work and dedication. A day when we watched men and women demonstrate the triumph of the human spirit.
After I admit to them that I don’t know why people did that or what that sort of act accomplishes, I’ll share with them the beauty of how we responded as Americans, runners, Christians and as a community.
I’ll tell them that there were heroes who rushed people to safety and assisted the wounded and consoled the frightened and confused. There were runners who kept running to hospitals to give blood and how local Bostonians opened up their homes to those who were displaced.
I’ll tell them that there were millions who prayed for healing and safety and justice. And even though we didn’t understand why God allowed these things to happen, we believed none the less.
I’ll tell them how our nation gathered around Boston. How rivals became allies and how we became a single community. I’ll explain to them how we were glued to news outlets all week as authorities hunted the ones who did this and how we and Boston and the nation celebrated when it was all over.
I’ll be proud to tell them that attacks like these never stopped us. We may have been afraid but we didn’t let fear cripple us. We may bend and bleed but you can’t break the spirits of Americans, runners and Christians.
Finally, I’ll tell them that nobody is perfect. People do bad things. We do bad things. And neither us nor them are never to far gone to receive grace and mercy.
Things I think about while running. (March edition)
Posted: April 12, 2013 Filed under: running | Tags: athletes, exercise, learning, marathon, road racing, running, sports, training, weather 6 Comments »
(Photo credit: Wikipedia)
I often have deep thoughts while running. Here are a few that I had while running in March:
1. I should have wore sun screen.
2. The clouds are beautiful.
3. How fast do clouds move?
4. Where is that plane heading?
5. Could I leave a vapor trail on a humid day?
6. The skin on my head is burning.
7. My legs are burning.
8. How much do these shoes weigh?
9. Bricks.
10. This wind is ferocious.
11. I’m not very aerodynamic.
12. Hopefully the wind will be at my back soon.
13. Maybe it will be easier if I spread my arms out.
14. I might take flight.
15. Where was that plane heading?
What do you think about while running?
Five things I learned this week. 3.10.13
Posted: March 10, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: bible, christian, christianity, exercise, faith, learning, patience, running, seasons, spring forward, time change, weather Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. The first warm day of the year is amazing.
2. The first day after a time change is NOT amazing.
3. I love the feel of asphalt under my feet.
4. Patience is a virtue.
5. I’m glad The Bible is so popular on TV.
What did you learn this week?
Five things I learned this week. 3.3.13
Posted: March 3, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: birthdays, food, friends, learning, weather Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. I loathe long stretches of overcast days.
2. Tomorrow I will be a wise old sage.
3. My friends are the best friends.
4. My girlfriend rocks.
5. My favorite birthday meal is crab legs.
What did you learn this week?
Cresting the hill
Posted: March 1, 2013 Filed under: life | Tags: AARP, fear, forty, God, grace, growing older, learning, life, Obi-Wan Kenobi, star wars, story Leave a comment »
(Photo credit: lpirees)
So this is my last weekend in my thirties. My fortieth looms ominously just three days ahead and I’m not sure what to expect. Will there be a dramatic change? Will things suddenly stop working? Will I start moving slower and all hunched over? I wonder.
Will I get a letter in the mail on Monday from the AARP? Will I pay closer attention to those TV commercials with the old lady on the floor who can’t get up? Should I learn the intricate strategies of bingo? Not likely.
It’s just forty. It’s no big deal. Turning twenty didn’t bother me. Neither did turning thirty. So why should forty? I don’t fear it… I welcome it.
As I crest this hill, the one thing I look forward to is this new character type that I’m supposed to become. The wise old sage. To put it in Star Wars terms, I’m past the days of Luke Skywalker and Han Solo. Now I’m Obi Wan.
And in this day and age, don’t we need more Obi wan’s?
I’ve reached the age in life where I can refer to those younger than me as “Sport”, “Punk” and “Junior”. And I now have the freedom to scream at them to get off my lawn.
I’ve reached the age where I can own the silver in my hair and the wrinkles around my eyes. I don’t need a product to cover them up. They distinguish me. They let people know that I have a story to tell.
I’m thankful for my first thirty nine years. I thank God for making me who I am today, the lessons He taught me, the people He put around me and the future He has in store for me.
So as I crest the hill, I remember that I am a wily old veteran of life while still living it. I’ve been there and done that and am still doing it. There are new lessons to learn and more work to be done.
Forty is not the end.
It’s a new beginning.
Five things I learned this week. 2.24.12
Posted: February 24, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: Academy Award, cable, christianity, devotionals, learning, movies, oscars, spaghetti, taxes, worship Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. If there is a such thing as tax-dumb, then I’m tax-dumb.
2. Video devotionals are great.
3. Man can’t live on spaghetti alone.
4. Cable isn’t worth the price I pay for it.
5. I don’t know what movies are up for an Oscar this year.
What did you learn this week?
Five things I learned this week. 2.17.13
Posted: February 17, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: basketball, christian, God, hoops, learning, march madness, meteors, sports, valentines day, weather, wind Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. Valentines day is expensive.
2. Meteors are real.
3. God is powerful.
4. Not a big fan of college hoops but I’m ready for March madness.
5. I don’t like windchill.
What did you learn this week?
You’re a runner. You need an offseason.
Posted: February 8, 2013 Filed under: running | Tags: athletes, dedication, exercise, learning, marathon, motivation, road racing, running, Season (sports), seasons, sports, training Leave a comment »
A Job for Scarpetta or a Tired Runner? (Photo credit: tantonr)
I believe runners are gifted athletes. We may not be able to throw a ball 100 mph, tackle a 200 lb. running back or perform a double windmill slam dunk but runners are gifted. As gifted or more so than a professional athlete. Why? Because we are consistent.
As runners, our season never ends. There is always another race. Ours is a year round sport. There is a 5k every weekend and a half marathon every month. We are constantly running and this is what makes us pro’s. We’re consistent. We always show up. But should we have an offseason?
In my mind, there is an unofficial running season. It ranges from mid march to late November, occasionally stretching into December. Just like seasons in a professional sport, there has to be a time to slow down and to take our foot off of the proverbial pedal.
Here are three benefits of a running offseason:
Healing - Running is grueling and the pavement and trails show no mercy. Our joints take a beating when we are in training mode. And just like the pro’s, we sacrifice and play hurt. The offseason gives us a chance to lower the mileage and dial down the intensity. It gives our bodies a chance to heal and strengthen.
Longevity - Though we love our sport, it’s easy to burn out. Running year round can get old fast and the enthusiasm that we usually have can be hard to conjure up at times. As much as running is a physical sport, it’s also a mental and emotional sport. The offseason is our chance to get our hearts and minds right and to make the joy of running last longer.
It’s flexible - I hate running in the cold so my offseason is during the winter months. But your offseason can be anytime. Every other month? Every two months? The beauty of a running off season is that it doesn’t come with rules or timeframes. You can take it when you want.
You are a runner. A gifted and committed athlete. You love your sport and you pour everything into it. But it’s a good idea to ease off the accelerator from time to time. Enjoy your offseason.
Five things I learned this week. 1.20.13
Posted: January 20, 2013 Filed under: What I learned this week | Tags: athletes, atlanta, exercise, falcons, football, learning, life, motivation, rise up, running, sports, weather Leave a comment »Here are five things that I learned or was reminded of this week:
1. The truth will set you free.
2. I have a love/hate relationship with my treadmill.
3. There is huge difference between watching playoff football live as opposed to watching on TV.
4. I don’t like going 20 plus days without seeing the sun.
5. Underdogs are dangerous.
What did you learn this week?
