Tomorrow it's time for another bike ride. I'm not a cyclist who wants to do running, I'm a runner who likes to do cycling.
Biking the 52-mile Virginia Capital Trail during Covid last year.
I have found that running involves a different motor skill set from cycling. And believe me, my legs know the difference. With cycling you work your quads differently and you're not blowing out your knee joints as much with the high gravitational knee force you get while running. Cycling, I'm told, is also great for weight loss and general conditioning.
As I have often said, I want to get to the starting line of my next marathon as fit, fresh, and healthy as possible. Especially for a newbie runner like me, cross-training (cycling, walking, hiking, swimming, etc.) is necessary to keep me from overtraining as a marathoner. I think it's great training to have one or two rides a week. If you're not totally dialed into the sport of running, why not consider cycling? I do both and I personally find that they complement each other nicely. Cycling is a great aerobic workout and you can get your heart rate up for long periods of time while not pushing into the red heart rate zone. It's also a way to build generally strong quads.
At 69 I am cycling better than ever thanks to the advice of Rob "the Bike Guy" in Wake Forest. Of course, I prefer running because you can do it almost anywhere with limited gear, it's super time efficient, and it works your cardiovascular system in a slightly different way than cycling. That said, having cycled for the past couple of years, I feel that my cardiovascular health has improved no end. In short, cycling without a doubt can make you a fitter and faster runner.
Onward and upward through the highs and lows we runners endure!
Today's run was a casual out and back at the local trail.
It was just me, the Lord, and this little guy.
Don't know why I'm lookin' so serious here.
I think it was during the time I was pondering the significance of the present imperatives in Rom. 12:2 (a passage I was studying this morning in my Bible time). Anyway, I am so thankful for my blessings and grateful that I can get outdoors and enjoy God's creation. So far I couldn't have asked for a better week.
Having spent the day on campus I am ready to engage in some YouTube viewing -- you know, surfing at Pipeline, or the finish line at the Hardrock 100 mile race out in Colorado. I love watching videos in the evening, especially when I'm tired and need some mindless entertainment. But I'm never happier than when I'm reading a book. Allow me to introduce you to one -- an old friend, if you will, that I met in college back in 1975.
Yes, this wasTHEtextbook I had for beginning Greek at Biola -- you know, the class I lasted a grand total of 3 weeks in before dropping. "Chase and Phillips" it was called by some students (and "that horrible textbook" by others). It was a Classical Greek textbook designed for one semester at Harvard but, since Biola wasn't exactly the Harvard of the West, students took two semesters to trudge through its verbose, garrulous, pedantic pages.
By chapter 2, you felt like somebody had smacked you over the head with a 2 by 4. Here you're introduced to Greek accents, which means you have the joy of learning terms that nobody can remember and nobody understands, terms such as oxytone, paroxytone, ultima, penult, antepenult, paroxytone, proparoxytone, perispomenon, and properispomenon. In that chapter the authors actually had the gall to write, "These terms, though formidable, will save much laborious periphrasis." Well, sirs, I'll tell you what else will save much laborious periphrasis. How about I just drop the class??!!
Dave Black is the exact opposite of a natural-born language learner. That's why I love this book. I love this book because it reminds me of how close I came to missing my calling in life. I almost changed my major from Bible to Christian Ed like everyone else who couldn't handle the rigors of proparoxytones and antepunults. But in what has got to be the irony of the century, yours truly -- ye olde drop-out Doofus, the language imbecile -- was hired to teach Greek from this very textbook exactly 2 years after he had dropped the class. Today I teach, not because I want to, but because I have to. It's what I am. I know of no other way to live. Despite my absolute lack of language acumen, I found myself on a career track that has brought me incredible joy and satisfaction in life. Today I can say the same thing about running. The heart and soul of running is fighting through adversities, pushing hard, and being determined. I haven't forgotten the triumph I felt when I finished my first marathon 5 years ago. Nor have I forgotten the absolute thrill of entering the classroom for the first time as a teacher in 1976. Chase and Phillips, I owe you everything. Because of you, my life changed. Your book helped me to hone my craft as a teacher. You taught me what to do and what to avoid doing in the classroom. You reminded me that Biolans were not Harvardites, and that they needed a textbook that was written for kids from Hawaii. (Hmm, didn't a kid from Hawaii eventually write that book?) Greek isn't all about suffering and pain and going hard and pushing through. If you're going to stick with it, it better be fun. It's impossible to be unhappy while digging into the Greek New Testament on your own.
Friend, if something is worth doing, then it's worth doing now. Don't wait for tomorrow. If there is a goal you want to achieve, start working toward it. How completely amazing is it that a 69-year old man should have come so close to missing what became his life's calling? It goes to show that your background doesn't have to be a limiting factor in going after your dreams.
When I told a friend of mine that I had done the run-swim-run in Virginia Beach last Saturday, he asked, "Did you finish?" I wanted to quit at least a hundred times. My finishing time was slower than most. But what I lack in talent I make up in tenacity and pure stubbornness. Whatever you're facing in life today, it's completely normal to feel bad. But whining and bellyaching won't help matters. Instead of complaining about how difficult life is, focus on what it's going to take to get you to the finish line.
Remember: It's not about perfection. It's about relentless forward progress. Just ask my buddies Chase and Phillips.
What did I learn by swimming in the open ocean last Saturday in Virginia Beach? The first and most important lesson: You have to stay relaxed and comfortable during your swim. Not being comfortable while you're breathing during a swim is probably the most self-defeating thing you can do during a competition. Then, be sure to blow bubbles out of your mouth as soon as your face enters the water after breathing. Don't hold your breath. Relax and have faith in your training and your stroke. Finally, find your pace. Once you have found it, you can turn it up a notch if you want to. But don't try and swim as fast as everyone else. Let them be them and you be you.
So how did I do? I have to admit that I started the swim leg of the race uptight. I was worried about the distance, about the current, and about the waves. I was also frazzled because I had never done an open water swim before in a race. It took me a while before I could relax to the point where I would exhale as soon as my face re-entered the water. My tendency was to look up to see where I was. But when I discovered that I could reliably follow the more experienced swimmers for direction control, I could relax. Finally, once I found my rhythm it was smooth sailing for the most part. I had heard that you should count from 1 to 10 repeatedly while swimming. I did this mental trick and it worked wonders. As long as I could keep counting to 10 I knew I would be okay. I didn't need to kick exceptionally hard because of the buoyancy of the salt water. I just remained focused on my breathing, taking consistent deep breaths in and out. 1 to 10. 1 to 10. 1 to 10.
One thing that helped me greatly was the presence of lifeguards on paddle boards along the course. Occasionally one would ask me how I was doing. Just knowing that help was nearby if needed was an incredible confidence booster. In the end, I simply concentrated on three things: A calm spirit, a regular inhaling and exhaling pattern, and a relaxed stroke. Pace didn't matter since I wasn't in the race to compete.
Swimming in the ocean is so NOT like swimming in a pool. I am told it gets easier with experience. I hope so.
In exactly one month -- August 19th to be exact -- the new fall semester begins on campus. Fellow teachers, God values the hard work you do every day. I once heard someone say that teaching is CRAZY:
C = Care for your students. Speak with your students. Listen to them. Let them know that you care. And for crying out loud, answer their emails promptly.
R = Real world examples that relate to your students' lives. Keep classes relevant. Understand the issues and pressures your students are facing.
A = Actual experiences in your life that relate to your topic.
Z = Zeal! Make your classes energetic and interesting. Add some vigor to your rigor.
Y = You. You make the difference in the classroom. Remember, Jesus said that we become just like our teachers (Luke 6:40).
I would add:
Be yourself. (Your best self, of course.)
Enjoy the ride.
Teaching is a wonderful calling. Education liberates us from the prison of ignorance. It finds its glory in sharing and serving. This is the kind of teacher I want to be. These are the kinds of students I want to raise up. This fall I'm teaching Greek 2 and Advanced Greek Grammar. If I teach well, I will create a household of grace filled with happy Jesus followers who love and serve him with their whole heart.
If we are to love each other like Jesus loves us, then we have to understand the little letter called 1 John. This book is all about fellowship -- sharing the burdens of life, making them easier for everyone to carry. "We must love one another," said Jesus. It's true. We really must.
Here Karen Jobes reminds us that the book of 1 John probably originated as a sermon the apostle gave to his congregation.
That would explain the lack of any mention of the author at the beginning. The focus is not on John, it's on Jesus, "the life-giving message." Can you imagine for a moment what it must have been like to have heard, IN PERSON, the apostle John himself as he spoke the opening words of this letter:
God's message of life was alive when the world began, and yet I myself have seen him with my own eyes and have listened to him speak with my own ears. I have touched him with my own hands -- this "Word of Life." He who is life from God has been shown to us apostles and we guarantee that we have seen him. I am speaking about Christ, who is eternal life. He was with the Father and then was revealed to us.
Let me repeat: we are telling you about what we ourselves have actually seen and heard, so that you may share the fellowship we have with the Father and with Jesus Christ his Son. And if you do as I say in this letter, you too will be full of joy, and so will we.
None of us is perfect, and we need each other desperately. Yes, we will fail each other. We will disappoint even those closest to us. We must look at our church family and see their value before their failures, must forgive and forgive and forgive. In this, we are merely demonstrating the mercy shown to us by Christ.
I can totally get it when people say they don't like to run, especially when you have to get up early in the morning. I mean, who wants to see sunrises like this one?
Of course, if you've ever been to Virginia Beach you recognize this as the one-and-only Neptune statue (aka Poseidon). He's supposed to be the god of the sea and the protector of those who venture out on her. Much good he did today.
As you know, I was in Virginia Beach to participate in the 22nd annual Allan Stone Memorial 5K and Run-Swim-Run. Allan Stone was a Navy Seal who was tragically killed during a training exercise. Today he was honored along with other Navy Seals who died in the line of duty. Officiating were these two Naval officers.
The one on the right, by the way, is a Navy Seal chaplain and was educated at Dallas Seminary -- and has taken classes at Southeastern! Before the races kicked off, we took a few moments to honor the dead. Here you can see family members -- spouses, parents, children -- of those we were remembering today.
The names of their loved ones were spoken aloud, along with the names of all the other Navy Seals who gave their final measure of devotion for country and home. I don't think I was the only one who got choked up while their names were being read. Then the Seal Parachute Team landed on the beach just as the singing of the National Anthem came to a conclusion. More teared-up eyes.
Before the race, the head of the Virginia Beach Volunteer Lifesaving Squad briefed the swimmers.
He made it sound like the swim would be a piece of cake and assured us that we'd be swimming with the current. Sadly, he was wrong on both accounts.
The races started with the Team Hoyt 5K. In case you don't recognize that name, Team Hoyt is named after Dick and his son Rick Hoyt. When Rick was born with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy, the doctors advised his parents to institutionalize him since they felt there was little to no hope of him ever leading a normal life. But Dick and Judy Hoyt had other plans. In 1977, Dick participated in a benefit run for an athlete who had been paralyzed in an accident. Dick pushed Rick in a wheelchair. Afterwards, Rick said to his father, "Dad, when I'm running, it feels like I'm not disabled." That was the beginning of a father-son racing career that topped 1,300 races, including 6 Iron Man competitions. You can read the story here.
Team Hoyt Virginia Beach carries on this beautiful tradition. Here was their race start. GO RUNNERS!!!
After that the non-swim 5K began.
A few minutes later the rest of us walked down to the water's edge to begin a 1K run on the beach, a 1K swim back to where we started, and then a 5K race. To be honest, I went into the race with a sense of fear and trepidation. I mean, swimming for over a half mile in the open ocean? Really? I was surprised by my feelings since I am normally a person who loves to push the boundaries of the possible. After all, wasn't I born and raised in Hawaii? Hadn't I been a life guard and swimming instructor in California? Hadn't I surfed all my life? True. But since 1998 I've lived in Nelson (landlocked) Virginia, and if I did do any competitive swimming it was in a pool. Furthermore, hadn't we been told that we'd be swimming with the current?
When the run on the shore began I held back, hoping to save my strength for the swim portion of the competition. Sure enough, when we back-of-the-packers entered the water, the current seemed to be with us. But about half way I noticed I was barely moving. So was everyone else. Eventually a life guard paddled up and told us that the current had switched directions. We were now swimming against a strong current. The only thing we could do was move closer to the shore where the current wasn't as strongly felt.
Once we did that, we were able to make slow but steady progress, even though now we had to do battle with the breakers. I repeated my mantra "Through perseverance even the snail reached the ark" over and over again, keeping my eyes firmly planted on old Mr. Neptune. An hour and 20 minutes later, I emerged from the water to begin my 5K run. I quickly got over my sea legs and was able to pound out the miles in a nice time. By the time I reached the finish line the awards ceremony had been going on for some time, which was fine with me as I guessed they weren't going to give out awards for last place finishers any way. Here I am before the race, "exuding" confidence. Like my halo?
One thing I know about myself is that I love new challenges. Today was such a day. Maybe I should have become a Navy Seal after all.
Mega kudos to Mike Wilson and his wife for putting on a fabulous, challenging, and memorable event. I noticed on their table that they had a Bible. It's difficult to find a better reason to run than such passages as Heb. 12:1-2 in the Holy Bible. And it seems so appropriate and fitting that a race should honor people for their courage and sacrifice -- biblical virtues for sure. The satisfaction that comes from a race like this one is deep and long-lasting, knowing that you pushed yourself way, way, way farther than you thought possible, and all for a good cause. These are the moments I will savor for the rest of my life.
When I was in seminary I made a bunch of mistakes. One of the worst had to do with Biblical Hebrew. There were two main teachers of Hebrew at Talbot at that time. One of them was Dr. Charles Feinberg. Yes, THE Charles Feinberg. He was a real expert in Hebrew but he rode his students hard, as in VERY hard. Getting an A in his class was unheard of. But you learned Hebrew. The other prof (whom we'll call Dr. G) was known on campus as a Pushover. You took him if you wanted an easy A. The problem was, you never learned Hebrew. Class time was spent listening to Dr. G. tell jokes.
So who to take?
I chose Dr. G. Big mistake. Yes, I got an A. But I learned no Hebrew. Even the tests were open book. Why did I make this huge mistake? Was it because I was on an academic scholarship that required straight A's from me? Or was it because I was a lazy beach bum from Hawaii who always took the easier road in life? Either way, the sad truth was that years later I had to teach myself how to read Biblical Hebrew. Happy to say I do read Hebrew quite a bit these days, though mostly in one of my three Hebrew New Testaments (shhh, don't tell anyone). I regret not taking Dr. Feinberg for Hebrew. Even then I knew I should have. The harder road was the better road by far.
I'm consistently awed at what the Lord did in my life while I was seminary despite my foolish choices. I learned my lesson from taking Dr. G. From then on, I had no interest in just getting by. It was mastery or nothing. Yes, there were incredibly difficult courses after that. But I was happy that I didn't give up. My seminary experience ended up being an inspiring, challenging, and rewarding adventure.
Just in the nick of time too. I had just run out of veggies and eggs.
2) These too came today. Hmm. Wonder what I should with them?
As with every language I've learned, the key is turning language learning from a boring subject into a pleasant activity you enjoy doing every day. I simply love learning languages. Don't you?
This baby served me well at Pipeline, Pupukea, Haleiwa, Ala Moana, and Diamond Head. Since I'll be in Virginia Beach this weekend I thought I'd take it along. Just checked the surf report for VB. You won't believe this, but currently the waves are breaking a whopping 10-12!!!
Oops. That's *inches.*😂
Oh well, Saturday's waves are going to get bigger, right? Surfers are eternal optimists!
Whew! Where has this month gone? Perseverance, folks, that's what life is all about. You have to be patient with yourself as you make your way through this world. I have only two weeks left to tie up all of my retirement decisions -- estate planning, investment planning, trusts and wills, etc. I am also faced with two publishing-related deadlines.
Can you relate to this topic of perseverance? The ability to remain calm and to keep plodding your way through life is truly a great gift to possess. How do you handle those moments when your whole life changes and you have to make decisions on the fly? How do you keep up with all you're tasked with in life? Like marathon training, life is an incredible journey, especially when you open up to the possibility of pain and the progress you will make with perseverance and patience over years and years of dedication to making your life count for the Lord.
Stay patient, folks. Perseverance is key. Consistency and patience will win the day. You need to train yourself to overcome the anxieties and doubts in your life. The only way to do that is by staying close to Jesus and "abiding in him."
I hope this blog helps to bring you some perspective on what it means to face the transitions of life while persevering through the ups and downs of life's milestones.
I can't believe I missed a day of blogging yesterday, but I was so busy that the day is just a blur. Life ever get that crazy for you? This morning I woke up planning to drive to the Blue Ridge Parkway and climb Sharp Top to see how my Lone Peaks 5s would work as hiking shoes, but the prediction for bad weather nixed that idea rather quickly. I don't mind rain but lightning and I just don't get along very well. But the Lord had even better plans. A day of perfection was kicked off with a fantastic run of 10 miles in Farmville which got me in the best possible frame of mind for the day.
It was also good training for this weekend's race in Virginia Beach, called the Allen Stone Braveheart Run-Swim-Run. It's named for a Navy Seal who died during training and the proceeds go to the Virginia Beach Volunteer Rescue Squad and the Navy Seal Foundation. The race is kinda like a triathlon, of which I have done 5.
But instead of a swim-bike-run, it's a run-swim-run. First you run 1K on the sand, then you enter the ocean and SWIM 1K back to where you started, where you then run a 5K along the famous Virginia Beach boardwalk. Haven't done this race yet? What is your problem? This picture is from their Facebook page.
Strapping young athletes, eh? I enlarged the photo hoping to see someone over 50. Nary a soul. But I have been training hard and I need to trust that. True, I have never swam (swum?) a half mile in open water before (with who knows how many waves and surfers to negotiate), but hey, nothing in life is meant to be easy. Running seems to be pushing me in many different ways than I am used to nowadays, and that's a good thing. But no, I will NOT be going into this race with a sense of confidence. Trepidation is a much better word. It is important to try new things in life or else you will just get stuck in a rut. I guess I'll just have to throw it into grandpa gear and push as hard as I can.
Continuing my series of reflections on my retirement (don't like that word but I'll use it here) and 44-year career, I'd like you to meet Howard Lyon.
Yearbook pic.
He was the head basketball coach at Biola when I arrived there in 1971. By the time I graduated from high school I had played tons of basketball and volleyball in the islands. I wanted to continue to be active in sports when I got to California and so I tried out for the basketball team. During that time, Biola was famous for its stellar varsity and junior varsity teams. Coach Lyon was the winningest coach the school had ever had. I began to realize it would be tough convincing him I belonged on the team. I was a much better surfer than I was a basketball player. But that didn't keep me from trying out. My plan was twofold: major in Biblical Studies, and play sports.
"But God ..."
You can probably already guess what happened. God had other plans for my life. I think he knew me well, even better than I knew myself. He knew my Type A personally. He knew I couldn't do anything unless I gave it 1,000 percent. And he knew I couldn't be BOTH a student AND an athlete. I needed to make a choice.
Actually, that choice was made for me when Coach Lyon announced that I hadn't made the team. Disappointed? At the time, yes. But looking back, I now see it was the best thing that could have happened to me. Paul said, "We are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus so that we can do the good things he planned for us long ago." In 1971, I was a diamond in the rough and God was the master jeweler. He began his work in my life -- shaping, cutting, grinding, and polishing until he had prepared me for the work he had called me to.
Friend, is he doing the same thing in your life? The grinding process is seldom a pleasant one. So we must be patient -- with God and with ourselves. Cutting and shaping take time. But God will complete the job.
My roommate and I in 1971. I am wearing my Rick Warren power aloha shirt.
P.S. I was able to use my basketball skills after all. For my "Christian Service Assignment" (required of all Biola students), I went to South Central Los Angeles every Saturday and played pickup basketball with the locals.
During "half time" I would share with them the love of Jesus. I'd give anything to find out where these guys are today and what they're doing.
Today was the day to put my Lone Peak 5s to the test. They've already shown me that they work on the trails. Duh. That's what they were designed for. But how would they work on asphalt and concrete? I bet you can't wait to hear. Do not even pretend you're not interested.
Up to Farmville we went. I ran the same old same old -- the crushed gravel trail from downtown FV to the bridge. But before I got to the bridge I made a detour on the River Road. Below, you can see the trail line on the top of the map.
It's the curvy one. Below it is the River Road. It's more of a straight shot back into town. And it's mostly asphalt except for a portion when you're just about back to the parking lot. You start out here.
As you can see, the road falls off precipitously after about 100 yards. Which means you have a long downhill section where you can let 'er rip. The next phase is a flat(ish) section.
This is followed by a long uphill.
Then under the trail you go.
One last section -- you have to cross the Appomattox -- and you are home free.
Here's where I parked.
And yes, Charley's Cafe is to die for. I think I've only eaten here once. Way too expensive for my tastes.
How did the shoes do? Perfect! You run thinking you've got a pair of socks on your feet with rubber soles under them. Painless. Effortless. Worriless. This means that two out of three boxes can be checked -- Trails? Check. Roads? Check!
Alas, there's a third check: Hiking? I will let you know. I have a long day scheduled for my office in Wake Forest tomorrow (working on our little "secret"), but if the weather holds out I plan to do some peakbagging in the Appalachians on Wednesday.
(Inspirational part of this post.)
I'll close by saying -- ad nauseum -- how much like therapy running is. Yes, all I did was sweat like a pig today (FYI: Pigs don't sweat). Yes, I needed a two hour nap afterwards to recover. But hey -- I am a standby kind of guy. When I find something I like I tend to stay with it. I think mixing pain and pleasure is a good thing, don't you? You learn that your past is only a description of where you've been, not a prescription for where you will be. And faith is what keeps you going.
This dude has not only run 130 ultramarathons (I've done only one), he's climbed the famed Seven Summits, each of them on his first try. This includes, yes, Everest. His book Running on Empty is one of the best sports bios I've ever read.
It recounts his run from California to New York, which meant he had to run the equivalent of two marathons plus a 10K every day for two months. Today, after getting in a *whopping* 5 miles on the track, I happened to stumble on Ulrich's "Ten Commandments of Endurance." I agree with them all -- except maybe for #2:
Be kind to yourself. "If you're running and need to walk a little bit, that's okay. Know that you have weaknesses just like anybody else."
That may be true for uber-Menschen who can run a gazillion ultras and climb the world's 7 tallest mountains on every continent, but the rest of us are, well, mortals. I'm not the only runner who's realized the benefits of sprinkling short minutes of walking in their running regimen. Today many successful marathon training programs follow a walk-run routine. There's nothing wrong with it. And it certainly is not a sign of weakness, at least in my humble opinion. Walk-run is the only way I can complete a marathon. Some have called this method the most important tool for lifetime running ( as opposed to running all out for a few years and then becoming permanently injured or burned out). It's so easy to do too much, too soon, too fast, and so on. It all boils down to 2 maxims for me right now:
Run as slowly as you need to in order to remain comfortable.
Take walk breaks as necessary.
I get the best of both worlds this way: I build endurance, and I avoid injury. It has gotten me through 16 marathons and 1 ultra so far. And it's definitely more enjoyable than trying to run the whole distance. I have found that walk breaks, when taken early and often enough, keep my muscles strong and resilient enough so that my legs can do more with strength and efficiency throughout the race.
So on the one hand, I agree with Mr. Ulrich when he says, "Be kind to yourself." Yes and amen. But as Jeff Galloway says, walk-running is what we were meant to do. The human body wasn't designed to run long distances without a break. But when you alternate walking and running, there's virtually no limit to the distance you can cover.
Just my .02. I know the marathon is supposed to be a grind and the ultimate challenge for most people. But runners need to know their own limitations. I know mine. Besides, we all have to start somewhere, right?
Here's a pro tip (I'm not a pro at anything, especially running, but I like the lingo) for any of you who struggle getting started with your run. Last Friday, when I ran 8 miles, I noticed that I was really struggling through the first 15 minutes of my run. I felt a bit deflated because I thought I should be able to move right into my stride. The older I get, the harder it is to run that first mile. After that, I seem to be good to go and I start to feel like a runner again. I think I know the reason: Starting your run is more a mental game than a physical one. Your mind has to convince itself that the run you are about to do is actually beneficial for your body and not deleterious. Here's what I've found. I've found that the first 15 minutes of a run definitely feel easier for me if I keep then super easy and slow -- as in jogging slower than I can walk. Then, when I increase my pace, everything is in sync and I begin to feel oh so much better. After that, I'm all good. This is called (I believe) a dynamic warm-up. Keep in mind, I'm a guy for whom at one time the first 15 minutes of his run were also the last 15 minutes of his run. Here's another interesting fact. The term "endorphin" comes from "endogenous morphine." Endorphins are produced when your hypothalamus and pituitary gland produce pain relief and a sense of well being. You can actually feel this happening to you when you run. Just another reason to push through those first 15 minutes.
The Germans have a saying:
"Every beginning is hard." No matter what you are undertaking in life, including learning how to read New Testament Greek, it will suck at first. There's nothing unusual about that. The goal is to not worry about it and just keeping going until you get it right. This picture was taken on July 25, 2015.
It was taken at one of my first 5K races. I never dreamed I would keep running races. But here's what happens. As many of you can attest, a 5K is merely an imbedded kernel that later blooms into a desire to run a 10K, then a 10 miler, then a half marathon, then a marathon, and then an ultramarathon and maybe even farther. Each race has a finish line, and as you cross that first one, somehow your confidence begins to grow and you begin to think, "Maybe I can cross other finish lines as well."
Friends, the key to happy running is to know what you're in for. Then, when the hard times come, you will be prepared for them. You will embrace the difficult and keep right on rolling.
I was in the saddle again today, my goal being to get in some hard sprint work at the Virginia Capital Trail. As you can see, I wasn't the only cyclist who thought they would bike today.
This is called Four Mile Creek Park. I have no idea why it's called "four" miles but it's a popular place for cyclists of all skill levels to park on a Saturday morning. That's good. I'd rather have the trail filled with people than empty (as it often is). Because I was hitting the trail pretty hard today, I stopped only once to take pics. This is the entrance to Evelynton.
And this is what the trail looks on either side of the entrance. Wow.
I was having to really push myself on all the uphills. This is not exactly a flat trail.
Eventually, I turned around at the 15 mile point.
It was a fantastic workout. As always, it was SO SO good to be outside -- and ACTIVE. I know of no other way to live. We runners/cyclists can't help being active, even if (like me) we're terrible at it. When you're done with a workout like today's, your body and mind have a comprehension of how hard they worked. But they also have a healthy notion of how much farther they have to go. We humans are capable of so much more than we admit to. Today was a day to share the trail with people who are willing to push past their limits and do something amazing. Activity is a GIFT and one I hope to enjoy for many years to come.
While I was running today at the local trail I thought about some little tips that I try and use in my own running that I'd like to share. These are just a few things that make running easier, at least for me, but probably also for you if you are a novice runner and are interested in doing a marathon. But first, take a look at this view I saw tonight.
Anyway ... a few tips:
1. Slow is always best because you will recover quicker while getting all the benefits of running.
2. Be sure to take frequent walk breaks. These will reduce your fatigue dramatically. Try to take a 1-2 minute walk break every 8 minutes on your long run.
3. Rest, rest, then rest some more! If you don't get enough rest, your muscles will continue to accumulate microtears until you experience injury.
4. The day before your long run should be a no-exercise day.
5. Cross training (biking, swimming, walking) is very important to let your running muscles recover.
6. The warmer and more humid it is, the slower you have to run.
7. Take walk breaks before you feel any fatigue. This will help you conserve energy and run with strength to the finish line.
I hope these tips will help make your running experience more fun and enjoyable!
I just finished what must have been one of the best suppers I've ever prepared for myself. Maybe I am in the wrong profession. I wrote down the menu feeling that so remarkable a gastronomic occasion was worth recording for posterity:
Jambon au miel.
Fromage cheddar blanc.
Pain frais asiago.
Pommes de terre dans sa peau.
L'eau du puits.
I ate slowly, savoring every mouthful. The honey-baked ham was spicy and delicious. It needed long draughts of water to wash it down. The cheese and the potato were my meal for the week and I consumed it steadily, without any diminishment of appetite. I was sorry to have to skip the cafè après le dîner but it wasn't offered. When all the food was gone I was as gorged as a Strasbourg goose. I would have gotten a picture of my plate but I was too absorbed in eating that I forgot to take one.
Right now, as I said the other day, I am working hard with a publisher to have Harry Sturz's classic book The Byzantine Text Type and New Testament Textual Criticism reprinted. We have asked for the rights from Harper-Collins and it's all in their hands. I don't ask you to do this very often, but if you could, would you perhaps pray for permission to be granted? I think every New Testament scholar, even those who disagree with Harry Sturz's position (and there are many of them), would agree that Sturz was a first-rate textual scholar whose views deserve to be heard. I'm hoping that patience will pay off in time.
Recently a colleague of mine at school asked me if I was looking for work. You know, like a change of career. That's completely out of the question. I can only do one thing in life, and that's teach and write. As you know, in a few weeks I'll be experiencing a career "swerve" (I do not use the word "retirement" any more; I hate the word; it is so NOT in the Bible). The swerve will mean teaching two instead of three classes so it's not that big of a change. So here I am, just a normal guy who is trying to be patient and grateful that I can do anything at all. People say you can do and be anything you want. I've said that to people umpteen times. You know me. I'm the first person to chase down dreams. And for the most part, God has granted me success. I'm proud of that fact -- that I didn't allow a low self-image to keep me from pursuing God's plan for my life with 100 percent dedication. I've been good at it and the job has been fulfilling, but a new phase is ahead of me and I generally do poorly with transitions in life.
Right now, the little things are the big things for me.
Hugging on grandkids.
Caring for the animals.
Cutting grass.
I also try to do a cheery thing for someone every day, whether that's sending an encouraging email/text or helping out a colleague or cleaning up the farm for our retreatants. It forces me to remember how blessed I am. The other day while I was running on the High Bridge Trail, I saw a teenage girl running. She was using a walker. Her legs were all shriveled up, and yet there she was, out running. The amount of people outside doing things and the people I've met on the trails have tripled since the Covid demon showed up. It brings both joy and gratitude.
We HAVE to look at the small things. One for me is my granddaughter who is graduating from high school next year. I've been able to share with her my own experience of how radical a change it was for me when I left home to begin college and how God's sufficiency was there through it all. I am constantly telling the people in my life to focus on what really matters (not that I'm an expert in this by any means). Yes, trips have been cancelled -- I would have flown to Dallas, New Jersey, and Hawaii last year -- but they will come back. I'll continue to write and teach and farm and blog and travel. I get up and enjoy coffee with the Lord each and every morning. There are still things to appreciate in life. And there is still work to do. You just have to decide to do them.
It was a magnificently clear day for running in southern Virginia.
A nice and easy out and back.
Managed almost 8 miles before getting back to my car.
Honestly, conditions were pretty brutal. The humidity was off the charts. The risk of overheating while running in humidity is higher because the body is working harder to cool itself off. Thankfully I had 20 oz. of water with me and I did just fine.
Just for fun -- here's a pic I took of the temp in Iraq after it had cooled down at night. At least it's a dry heat over there.
