I wrote my last post this morning as a way of avoiding my run. I sat and read blogs. I found a few new running blogs that were cool. Then I finally faced myself and thought, “This is stupid. Stop procrastinating and at least stretch and go outside and try running a couple of steps.”
So I did … thirty minutes late … and it was close to perfect. The air was cooler than normal and from the first stride I felt strong and ran harder than I have lately. It was an altogether excellent run.
Arguing with myself about running is dumb.
Sunday, April 30, 2006
A sacred stretch
I couple of months ago Runners World had an article on yoga stretches for runners. So I tried it and I found that I felt more loose as I went out to run than when I stretched with traditional stretches. I really like the practice of Yoga for what it does in my head as much as what it does for my body.
I started mixing the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina with my stretching and it has been good. Lectio Divina is Latin for “sacred reading”… lectio – a reading or to read and divina – or divine (of God). The practice is where one reads the Scriptures until they “spoken to” and then meditate and pray based on that particular section. The yoga poses really help me to focus on the meditation and prayer portion of Lectio Divina.
Lately my legs have hurt in a couple of places and I think it is because I am not getting enough of a stretch in those muscles. I will have to go back to regular stretching to see if my pain works itself out. I won’t abandon the yoga. I think I will just do some traditional stretching afterwards.
I started mixing the spiritual practice of Lectio Divina with my stretching and it has been good. Lectio Divina is Latin for “sacred reading”… lectio – a reading or to read and divina – or divine (of God). The practice is where one reads the Scriptures until they “spoken to” and then meditate and pray based on that particular section. The yoga poses really help me to focus on the meditation and prayer portion of Lectio Divina.
Lately my legs have hurt in a couple of places and I think it is because I am not getting enough of a stretch in those muscles. I will have to go back to regular stretching to see if my pain works itself out. I won’t abandon the yoga. I think I will just do some traditional stretching afterwards.
Sunday, April 23, 2006
What's a flapjack?
I ran the Flapjack 5k this morning with Jakeb. The weather was a little warm and we had to run over a levee and a bridge twice. Jakeb did a good job and won 3rd place in his age group. I may have pushed him a bit too hard the 1st mile. Read his report here … link.
The pancakes were from McDonalds and they were good. Jakeb didn't know what a flapjack was. He assumed it was some kind of fish. He asked, "Why do they call this the flapjack 5k?"
"Because they feed us pancakes", I said.
Now he knows.
The pancakes were from McDonalds and they were good. Jakeb didn't know what a flapjack was. He assumed it was some kind of fish. He asked, "Why do they call this the flapjack 5k?"
"Because they feed us pancakes", I said.
Now he knows.
Thursday, April 20, 2006
Two with Jakeb
I ran two this morning with Jakeb. It was part of a semi-taper for this weekend’s Flapjack 5k. We ran the last mile between 8:15 and 8:30 pace. He is getting faster with very little training.
It’s really cool to run with my kid.
It’s really cool to run with my kid.
Tuesday, April 18, 2006
McDonald's pancake?
This weekend there are several local races. I cannot run on Sunday morning so the San Jacinto festival 5k is out. I think I will run the flapjack 5k in Freeport on Saturday morning. I’ve run this race once years ago but I don’t think it was part of Riverfest like it is this year.
The year I ran it, there were probably only 50 people or so and when we were finished a guy pulled up in his car with a bunch of pancakes from McDonalds. I was thinking they were going to make big, home made, fluffy pancakes… but we got McDonald’s pancakes. McDonalds pancakes will do, they are just disappointing when you are expecting more. That’s what is so great and disappointing (at the same time) about living in a relatively small town and running their relatively small races.
This year I have no expectations besides running a 5k, so whatever I get beyond the race will be a bonus. I see that the prizes include boiled shrimp for the male and female winners.
I am in no shape to run this race very fast. At my top speed I am not sure I could be called fast but I speak of fast in relative terms. I am pleased that I am in shape to run it at all, so I will run. Jakeb is going to run it too. He will probably beat me, but I hope not because I will never live it down. The day is coming when he will run me into the dirt, I just hope it is when he gets a little older.
The year I ran it, there were probably only 50 people or so and when we were finished a guy pulled up in his car with a bunch of pancakes from McDonalds. I was thinking they were going to make big, home made, fluffy pancakes… but we got McDonald’s pancakes. McDonalds pancakes will do, they are just disappointing when you are expecting more. That’s what is so great and disappointing (at the same time) about living in a relatively small town and running their relatively small races.
This year I have no expectations besides running a 5k, so whatever I get beyond the race will be a bonus. I see that the prizes include boiled shrimp for the male and female winners.
I am in no shape to run this race very fast. At my top speed I am not sure I could be called fast but I speak of fast in relative terms. I am pleased that I am in shape to run it at all, so I will run. Jakeb is going to run it too. He will probably beat me, but I hope not because I will never live it down. The day is coming when he will run me into the dirt, I just hope it is when he gets a little older.
Saturday, April 15, 2006
Sound bite Jesus
I am a pastor of a church. Not “the” pastor, but in everyday terms I guess you could call me an associate pastor. I haven’t always been in the ministry. For most of my adult life I had a “regular” job. I don’t spend much time talking about my faith on this blog because that is not what this blog is about, although my faith may come through some because my faith is part of who I am.
I said all that because I ran across a post by Jen at escapevelocity yesterday called “jesus is my homeboy”. Truthfully I liked it. I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, obviously, but that is okay.
Jen says, “If I were going to check out a religion, it wouldn’t be the one with the glossy commercial on Channel 12. But that’s just me.”
I am reading Brian McLaren’s book “The Secret Message of Jesus” (see my sidebar). By the title it sounds as if it could be a self-absorbed, esoteric, Christian secret society kind of book, but its not. I read this phrase from the book this morning and thought about Jen’s post:
Is it possible that the message of Jesus was less like an advertising slogan – obvious and loud – and more like a poem whose meaning only comes subtly and quietly to those who read slowly, think long and deeply, and refuse to give up.
I, like Jen, am not interested in a faith whose message can be reduced to a slick 30 second sound bite.
Happy Easter by the way ...
I said all that because I ran across a post by Jen at escapevelocity yesterday called “jesus is my homeboy”. Truthfully I liked it. I don’t necessarily agree with all of it, obviously, but that is okay.
Jen says, “If I were going to check out a religion, it wouldn’t be the one with the glossy commercial on Channel 12. But that’s just me.”
I am reading Brian McLaren’s book “The Secret Message of Jesus” (see my sidebar). By the title it sounds as if it could be a self-absorbed, esoteric, Christian secret society kind of book, but its not. I read this phrase from the book this morning and thought about Jen’s post:
Is it possible that the message of Jesus was less like an advertising slogan – obvious and loud – and more like a poem whose meaning only comes subtly and quietly to those who read slowly, think long and deeply, and refuse to give up.
I, like Jen, am not interested in a faith whose message can be reduced to a slick 30 second sound bite.
Happy Easter by the way ...
Thursday, April 13, 2006
Manic Moonlight
Shy on taking chances
High on giving up
Sliding down the mountain
Drowning in the mud
Gone or moving faster
Run or walking after
Some kind of fountain of truth
Or let's pretend it's tomorrow
And we borrowed
The life of a perfect spinning circus
In a manic moonlight
Wednesday, April 12, 2006
Frustrated
June 9, 2005 I was running with Jakeb and I stepped off of the curb and twisted my ankle bad. For some reason I have twisted my ankle quite a few times in my life and this time was probably 2nd worst.
I was off for 16 days and it was one of the most frustrating times in my running life. I had such a desire to run but my ankle would not cooperate. There were a couple of times I attempted a run on my messed up ankle and probably set myself back a couple of days.
Well I’m back in that same place. I want to run. I am jonesing for a run. I need my fix and yet my back will not cooperate. It drives me crazy to know what I want is just out of reach. Arrrrgh …
Was there a lesson I was supposed to learn when I sprained my ankle? And now for missing the point my penance is to go through a similar situation in the same way? I don’t think that’s the way life works but I am frustrated all the same. At least this time I can get on the bike.
Enough about not being able to run … I won’t post about my messed up back anymore. I will only say when it’s fixed.
I was off for 16 days and it was one of the most frustrating times in my running life. I had such a desire to run but my ankle would not cooperate. There were a couple of times I attempted a run on my messed up ankle and probably set myself back a couple of days.
Well I’m back in that same place. I want to run. I am jonesing for a run. I need my fix and yet my back will not cooperate. It drives me crazy to know what I want is just out of reach. Arrrrgh …
Was there a lesson I was supposed to learn when I sprained my ankle? And now for missing the point my penance is to go through a similar situation in the same way? I don’t think that’s the way life works but I am frustrated all the same. At least this time I can get on the bike.
Enough about not being able to run … I won’t post about my messed up back anymore. I will only say when it’s fixed.
Monday, April 10, 2006
Another day without running
I tried to run this morning and couldn’t. My back feels fine when I am just living life but when I try to run I have some pain. I probably could run through it but I am scared I will mess something up worse than it already is. I just need patience and things will be back to normal soon.
Since my back wouldn’t let me run a rode my bike. It was good to get my cardio out. Andrea and I are walking together later this morning and that will help me feel as if I did some exercise today.
I miss running. I think I will appreciate it more when I get back to it.
Since my back wouldn’t let me run a rode my bike. It was good to get my cardio out. Andrea and I are walking together later this morning and that will help me feel as if I did some exercise today.
I miss running. I think I will appreciate it more when I get back to it.
Sunday, April 09, 2006
More Gator Gallop stuff
Anna at the Gator Gallop. She is the one with her arms crossed (between #259 and #385) and not in a light blue GG shirt. EQ's daughter Ashton is to her left. Photo by Mrs. EQ (Donna)
Read Jakeb's race report here ...> link
Saturday, April 08, 2006
Gator Gallop race report
Anna ran the 600 meter kids run at the Gator Gallop this morning. She is a good runner. Then she got 3 hits and made some great defensive plays as pitcher in her tee-ball game.
Jakeb set a pr in the 5k with a 24:47. He’s ready to run again.
I watched.
EQ was there and seemed disappointed with his mile time. I didn’t talk to him after the 5k. You will have to check out his report. Jason was there too and cruised through a fast 5k. I thought he may catch Edwin but it didn't happen. It was incredibly windy day. I wish I could have run.
Jakeb set a pr in the 5k with a 24:47. He’s ready to run again.
I watched.
EQ was there and seemed disappointed with his mile time. I didn’t talk to him after the 5k. You will have to check out his report. Jason was there too and cruised through a fast 5k. I thought he may catch Edwin but it didn't happen. It was incredibly windy day. I wish I could have run.
Being a spectator stinks
Jakeb is running without me in the morning. He is running the Brazosport College Gator Gallop and I am not. My back is well enough that I was able to run yesterday morning but I am in no shape to run a race.
So I will watch a road race rather than participate in it. I think that will be a first. Sitting on the sidelines is not my gig. But I will be able to cheer Jakeb on, and that will make it worth it.
What a metaphor ... I don't want to be a person who sits around and watches life happen. I want to be the kind of person who assaluts life with everything in me. It is the only way to live.
Thursday, April 06, 2006
Nepal
I went to Houston and got a typhoid shot on Monday. On Tuesday our airline tickets were purchased. It looks like I am off to Nepal in May. The trip solidifies and it is no longer and idea but more a reality.
Our team consists of me and four other guys. We are going there on a mission trip and as part of the trip we will be hiking in the Annapurna region of the Himalayas. I am excited about what is ahead.
Here is a link to a web sight with pictures similar to what I will see while there...link
Tuesday, April 04, 2006
Oh ... my aching back.
On Saturday morning I decide to repair the garage door. One of the pulleys was worn out and the right side of the door would jam and knock the rollers out of their sleeves. I removed to old pulley and set out for Lowes to get a new one.
Before I left, I decided to check some rotting wood on the fascia board on the roof above our front door and see if it was a simple enough repair for me to get the supplies while I was out. As I started poking around I found that there was more water damage than I had imagined. In about 15 minutes I had torn off way more wood than I had intended.
What was going to be a short morning job (changing garage door parts) turning in to an all day carpentry project. I ended the day having repaired the rotten wood but I was sore and sun burnt.
This morning when I went out to feed the dogs I bent over to pick up the dog food and my back wrenched. My lower back hurts now and it will be a day or two before I run again.
It is good to know I finished a job around the house I had been dreading but it came at a high price.
Before I left, I decided to check some rotting wood on the fascia board on the roof above our front door and see if it was a simple enough repair for me to get the supplies while I was out. As I started poking around I found that there was more water damage than I had imagined. In about 15 minutes I had torn off way more wood than I had intended.
What was going to be a short morning job (changing garage door parts) turning in to an all day carpentry project. I ended the day having repaired the rotten wood but I was sore and sun burnt.
This morning when I went out to feed the dogs I bent over to pick up the dog food and my back wrenched. My lower back hurts now and it will be a day or two before I run again.
It is good to know I finished a job around the house I had been dreading but it came at a high price.
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