Running - The Sacred Art:Preparing to Practice

Warren Kay's book on running is one of the best. I just finished reading it. An awesome book, so here is one of my favorite quotes from the book.

"This is my sacred space when I run alone, this is my ritual, this is my sanctuary! I find God here, waiting for me, matching my pace. As my breath gets less jagged and my stride settles in to my unique pattern of effort, I find inner stillness cradled in outer motion. Through the stillness I have found a great deal of peace. After of lifetime of panting, I finally caught my breath."

Throughout my life when things were troubling me or I was upset, running has been my prayer time. Getting up early in the morning as the sun is rising, I found God there in the silence as the sun broke the horizon and God's peace enveloped me. When life's problems presented no solutions for me, my run became that sacred place to share my thoughts and anxiety with God. Getting up after hours of setting at my desk for a late afternoon run on a warm summer day, often allowed my mind to drift to solutions that I couldn’t see early while trying so hard to solve the problem at hand. When the demands of others made me exhausted and I felt the emotional tank on empty, those quiet sunset runs provided a source of energy that allowed me to strengthen my hope in others.

So when Dr Kay talks about the run being “sanctuary” I understand. I understand that running is my movement towards God…more then any movement away from the problems of life.

Why go any further?

I finally bit the bullet and signed up for my first Ultra-Marathon? My wife who is one of my greatest supporters asked, "Why?" In her unspoken argument were words that I had often used to talk myself out of running an ultra-marathon in the past. But the question: "Why?" Summed it up.

"You're no spring chicken?" How many times has that thought stopped my hand in filling out the form? An ultra-marathon implies that it is a distance greater that the 26.2 miles. I have pushed my body through to the end on how many occasions now...like 20+. Most of the time, as much as I would like to flout my invincibility...I'm still very sore for several days afterwards...so why on God's green earth would I really want to try a distance that is further?

So why? Simply put, it is there and I have not choice but to face the challenge. Every day we face challenges that seem impossible to do, some times we face them, but more often than not we turn aside from the task and postpone or even avoid facing the challenge. For the past several years, I saw the ultra-marathon as a test that I had to face head on. But every time, I said next year, when I was in better shape, then I would do it. But this week…the realization that postponing the test was coming to an end. It was time to step forward and pick up the challenge.

God places challenges in our lives for one reason and one reason only to see us live life to the fullest. This 50K is a chance for me to live. To struggle through the valleys and over the hills that transforms the runner and more importantly the life. So now I’ll head out to do my training…and transform myself, inside and out.

Snow...What Snow?

I love the weather here. Last year we had nearly 66 inches of snow, a record for the Baltimore/Washington Area. This year with all the snow storms hitting in the south, west, east and north of us, I honestly believed we would be near those levels again. But oh no...we have barely moved over the 5 inch total mark. So why should that be a problem with me? Well because of last year record snow fall, I went out an purchased a treadmill.

My logic if you can call it that, tells me that had I not purchased the treadmill, we would be well up there with everyone else...but because of the treadmill setting in my house...God decided to keep the snow and ice away from us and give it to some poor sinner runner who didn't purchase a treadmill. Yea...you can say, I think God is in the treadmill business.

I truly believe that God has a sense of humor. That is why all my friends and family in the south are upset with the snow, after all they live in the south to escape winter's furry. All my friends in the north are upset with the tons of snow falling on their houses and the states are running out of money to move the snow off the streets. And my own son is upset that we aren't getting snow days here and he has to go to school. I just can't win, but I can run on my treadmill and think about all that snow coming down someplace else;) and just smile. After all, God makes the snow fall on the just and unjust.

National Marathon

Well, I'm signed up for the National Marathon. I ran the Half-Marathon this past year, but like in all these combined races with Half and Full Marathons...I'm always wishing I had done the full. So this coming year...I'm going after the Full Marathon. So now back to training.

Marine Corps Marathon 2010

My eldest daughter completed her first marathon. I helped her train and then paced her through the race. I was totally blown away. She ran a perfect marathon. Her first half and second half of the race was totally even. She never hit the wall and she managed to keep a sub 5 hour pace. After our 20 mile run back a few weeks ago, she shared that she wanted to finish under 5 hours...and she did. She ran a 4:55.

As we were headed out of Crystal City at about the 24 mile marker, I noticed that she was tearing up. Worried I asked her what was wrong. My fear was that she had finally hit the wall. But no, she responded. "I'm going to finish this in under 5 hours...I can't believe it."

The key to her success was Jeff Galloway's run/walk cycle. She nailed it.

Tomorrow...waiting for race day.

Here I am just hours away from my #1 daughter's first marathon and I feel more like its my first marathon instead. There are the typical questions...have we done the right training? Well we get to the right pace and hold that for the distance? How will we handle the wall?

If I was running this by myself, it would be like any marathon before. But this is her first marathon. And the questions...are there. I know the stuff she is made of. She will excel like with everything she has tried. That I have no doubt. But...she is still my daughter...and she has trusted me to help her get to the starting line. Now...the question is how will we get to the finish line. Knowing her...we will do well.

Baltimore Half Marathon

Sorry, I've not updated this. Busy week, but I did run the Baltimore Half this past Saturday. It was a nice race but not in the top ten list. The course was challenging. The first ten miles was tough and the last three miles were a runner's dream (all down hill with the wind at your back). I was a bit disappointed with my time. I was hoping to go sub 2 hours, but the headwind and the rolling hills in the first 10 miles took a lot out of me. Next up is the Marine Corp Marathon on the 31st. I'll be running with daughter #1. It will be her first...so I'm not looking to set a new personal best here but just to enjoy the day and the company.