Mileage challenged

A good run tonight and only got back to the car with seconds to spare before the cars were loaded. Did 4-miles and the first two miles were paced around 8:20mpm, the return leg was driven by seeing the ferry WAY AHEAD of me that resulted in 7:53 and 7:48 minute miles, I think they call that a "negative split" which is a good thing I hear. I'm healthy, for which I'm grateful, but my miles are under goal due to limited time and schedules. I'm not getting the longer runs (7-8 miles) in mid-week and need to double up on the longer runs during the weekend in prep for the Snoqualmie Half in May – time to focus!

I continue to be so grateful for the blessings God brings into my life. God has proven himself to be so real and faithful to me and I see it afresh every day. I’ve been praying for increased patience and learning to surrender daily to God’s will – in that I see His patience and Grace. A real-time example was driving into the office, I was praying and surrendering the day to God, asking Him to give me the patience and boldness to meet whatever God allows me to participate in. As I’m praying I come over the Spokane St overpass and there was Seattle’s finest with a radar gun… no ticket, just a finger pointing down and the mouthed words “slow it down” – God’s grace (maybe God meant it bigger than just my car speed...?). I am learning that resting and waiting in God’s timing is a good place to be. My role is to keep moving, do all that I do to the best of my ability to honor God, and then be open to participate in God’s moving when He allows me to participate. Plenty of challenges at the office and in life overall but I know to whom I belong – the Living God!

SPRING, sprang, sprung!!

Spring is really here!  Regardless of what the calender says, it really is here - at least for today.  Ok, yes I admit I have spring fever.  What a beautiful day it was in Seattle and I capped it off with a great 4.75 mile run along the waterfront in low 50-degree, sunny conditions.  To cap it off, my pace reflected my spirit - quickened.  Did the run in 38 minutes which worked out to an average pace of 7:57mpm.  Glad to see I've still got the pace in me after the last few weeks where my average pace was in the 8:30 to 8:45 mpm range so as my son and I prepare for our 12-K in 3 weeks this run today was encouraging.

I have so much to be thankful for and on days like this it is like a magnifying glass - look up and see the beauty and goodness of God in all areas of your life.  I love the chapters in Genesis about Abraham - if you read them through you see where good things happend for him when "he lifted up his eyes".  Hebrews 12:2 encourages us to "fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfector of our faith" and when we do, God has good things for us to see and experience.  I am grateful to God for His faithfulness, forgiveness and grace.

Windy & wild

Wow - talk about an interesting run!  Tonight caught a short 4.5 mile run while waiting for the ferry.  What made it so interesting was the 40+ mph winds!  Puget Sound looked like a "tempest in a teapot" and the waves were crashing along the boardwalk, very fun.  Had the pleasure of chasing my hat twice and got a bit of ocean spray.  I guess all I can say is yeehaaa baby :) 

Also today went to see a foot Doc and my pain has now been officially diagnosed as plantar fasciatis - bummer.  That said I'm still getting mileage and it appears that the cause is tied to the incorrectly molded insert I ran on for a couple of months ago and is coupled with very tight calf muscles - yes I was reprimanded for not stretching.  So I keep on running and I'm glad it's not a "full blown" case.  I've got the green light to keep going but to stretch and wear the "boot" at night - so really not all bad.  Glad to be healthy

Weekend run

What a great weekend!  Saturday my daughter had a competitive jump rope tournament which my wife and I worked as part of the "parent team" - it was a fun event but I was glad to catch a quick break from the 12-hour day and hit the road for a quick 4.5 mile run.  Timing was perfect as I ran in the cool sunshine and enjoyed being out of the gymnasium for some fresh air and sunlight.  By the time I grabbed a quick shower and got back to the gym, the clouds had rolled in and the rain had started - made being inside the rest of the afternoon a lot more contented.  Today, after a great morning in church, my wife, daughter, son and I jumped on the ferry for Seattle.  My son and I ran and my wife and daughter walked the water front in a cool but sunny afternoon, it was great.  My son and I did 10-miles and we made it all the way from the ferry out to Fisherman's Terminal in Ballard, then turned around and made it back for the 4:40 ferry.  It was a great afternoon of running and conversation and the people watching in Seattle on winter sunny days is increadible - between the different people and their dogs, it was a very entertaining run but what I enjoyed most of all was the time with my son while we trained for our Half in May.  I am truly a blessed man in so many ways.

Running for fun

Had a great evening tonight up in the Green Lake area.  Road Runner held their first "1st Thursday Run" and it was great.  The rain cleared up and it was dry but chilly, all ok.  A small group turned out, I'm sure due to the weather, but it was a friendly group.  The run had various "stations" to hit during the 1-hour run and then they had a drawing for some great prizes - (New Balance shoes, fuel belts, sock packets, etc) I got skunked but then again I never win raffles so my expections were low.  That said, had a fun evening with some nice folks.  Next event will be the 1st Thursday on April - recommend it and I hope to run it again

Foot is feeling better and I managed to get 31-miles logged last week and then started this week off on Sunday with a 9.5 mile run.  It was one of those runs where I had a bit of everything, weather wise, during the run.  Started off in rain, climbed a couple of hills and had hail and snow, then back to rain and ended the last 1.5 miles with sunshine - you just gotta love the Pacific Northwest!

Long weekend running

Thanks to Mr Washington and Mr. Lincoln for having their birthdays - that gave me a 3-day weekend which I extended to 4-days.  The foot continues to feel better and I've finally dialed in the heal cushion and molded in-soles for my shoes - works great.  Saturday I did some miles on the treadmill, Sunday out on the road for 6-miles and then Monday decided to go long and see how that felt.  Got 11.5 miles done in the morning and afterwards the foot felt fine - I did "ice-massage" it with a frozen water bottle which does seem to make a big difference in recovery.  It was great to be out and not certain what route I was going to take or how long I would stay out.  Meandered up towards the North-end of the Island and then cut across to the West and just worked my way home - that is truly what I love about running; the freedom to go!!  The long run felt good and helped my mindset towards the April and May races I'm signed up for, especially the Half-marathon in May.  I'll keep pushing distance up slowly and then start focusing on pace to see if I can do a sub 1:45half which would be my goal

I've been reading Ephesians chapter 1 the last couple of weeks and have been blessed by what God is speaking to me through this book.  I've summarized the chapter as AAA (triple A) Adoption, Acceptance, and Authority.  I led communion at church on Sunday and used this as some of my thoughts in my talk.  I think one of the great reminders to me is the gift and empowerment God has given to us in the Holy Spirit.  Holy Spirit has been given to us as "a mark for those that believe in Christ Jesus.  A deposit guarantying our inheritance as son's and daughters of the living God" - that in itself is awesome but then we read a bit later in the chapter that the Holy Spirit is a power within us, the "same power that was exerted in raising Jesus from the dead" - don't know about you but that is REAL power and it resides in me!  Now comes the convicting question, do I live my life as someone who knows, accepts and applies that power - or do I know it's there but am content to let it sit or go untapped?  Personally, there is a lot more I can, and should, be doing for Christ through the power He has provided me - I need to more fully accept my adoption. 

It was a good weekend of time with my wife, time in the Word, and time on the road.  My God is so very good to me and I am grateful.

Back on track

Well, I haven't been bloggin much nor have I been running much as my miles YTD show.  The foot is getting better and I was able to catch a "dry" hour this weekend and hit the road - logged 8.5 miles on Sunday and the run felt good and even more important - little to no pain later that evening or the next morning.

This has been an interesting time for me - I've relied on running to not only stay healthy but to manage serious stress.  The injury came right before a highly stressful 3-week period when the examiners were coming into the bank and as the Senior Credit Officer a large pice of the exam falls on me and my team.  That's the background so when I say it was a bad time to not be able to run, it appeared to be a huge understatement.  As I mentally worked through that and prayed for healing it became very clear to me and God responded and said to me that running is great and is a gift He has given me that I enjoy but it is not a replacement for His peace and provision.  The verse came to me that it is "not by might, nor by strength, but by my Spirit says the Lord" and that during this stressful 3-week period it will be the peace of God's spirit that will get me through, not my own "stress management" through running.  God was faithful and true to His word - it was a stressful time but He provided a true peace as well as discernement and wisdom - God is so very good and faithful, all the time.

I did manage to get some treadmill runs of 3-5 miles in at various times as well as the occassional 5-miles on the High School track but weekly mileage dropped to 9-miles and only slowly crept up to the mid-to-high teens.  With the start of 8.5-miles on Sunday looking forward to getting into the mid-20's and then next week hitting back in the 30-miles plus.  To self motivate I've registered myself and my son in two races.  In April there is The Seahawks 12-K in Renton and then in May the Snoqualmie Half-Marathon.  The Half will be my son's final exam (you know us homeschooling parents) for PE credit.  Getting registered is a good motivator for us both and we're looking forward getting on track for successful runs.  Glad to be back in the routine.