Running Inspiration – Let Us Run With Perseverance The Race Marked Out For Us

Hannah finishing a race a few years ago.

Yesterday, I posted some tips for those who are thinking about running a longer race for the first time.

As I was processing this post, I was thinking about things that inspire me in my running and in my life.  For example, I’m inspired when I hear stories of people overcoming adversity to reach new heights.  I think that’s why I like movies like Radio, Remember the Titans, and The Blind Side.

I’m also inspired by scripture.  The scripture below is a great reminder to persevere and to keep the right focus.

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles.  And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith.  For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.  Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Hebrews 12:1-3

It is so easy to give up and to lose perspective when we face the challenges of life.  As with my tips yesterday, here are some tips that I have found helpful in keeping my eyes on the prize.

1)  Follow a plan.  God’s Word should be the center of the plan.  I have tried different methods for staying in God’s Word on my own, but I have found that existing plans are most helpful in keeping me on track.  Two plans or programs that I have used recently to help me are YouVersion.com and The Daily Audio Bible.

2)  Find some accountability.  Get plugged into a small group or even a one-on-one relationship where you can be challenged with the tough questions like:  ‘Have you spend time in God’s Word this week?’ and ‘Have you lived with integrity since we last met?’

3)  Cross train and rest.  There are some great resources out there to get the most out of your walk.  I use several Bible-based blogs and books to give me a deeper perspective.  Getting to church on a weekly basis is also important.  This is a chance to be fed and to worship on a larger, corporate level.  Also, take time to rest.  We live very busy lives.  We must take time to reflect and to rest.

4)  Practice.  Practice.  Practice.  Get out and live your life.  Make a concerted effort to go about your daily activities in a way that would honor God.

5)  Set goals but learn to be flexible with God’s direction.  I’m a huge goal oriented person.  Setting goals is a great way to keep focused.  But we also need to be alert to the movement of the Spirit.

6)  Have fun and a positive attitude.  God doesn’t promise that this life will be easy, but we have a choice to make.  We can have a poor attitude when it comes to life’s ups and downs, or we can choose to have a positive attitude.

It’s amazing how these things line up with the tips from yesterday.

So what inspires you in running and in life?  What other tips would you add to the list above?

I Am A Runner

Hannah at a Cross Country Meet in Fall 2010

Yesterday morning, I ran 4 miles on the Perkiomen Trail.  There wasn’t anything majorly significant about this early morning run.  I didn’t feel real fast; in fact, I felt kind of slow as I plodded along.

It was amusing to me that someone from my company called me yesterday afternoon to seek advice about running this year’s Philadelphia Rock ‘n’ Roll Half Marathon (it used to be called the Philadelphia Distance Run).  It just makes me laugh that people would look to me for advice about running.  I have run this race four or five times, but’s it’s been several years since I last ran it.  I’ve completed two marathons, and two or three Broad Street 10 Milers.  I can’t tell you how many 5Ks that I’ve run over the years.  Nonetheless, I don’t consider myself an expert.  I’m slow and bigger than most long distance runners (that’s a nice way to say that I carry a little more weight than most if not all decent distance runners).

So what did I tell him?

1)  Get into a training program.  Whether it’s a runner’s group at the YMCA or like Team in Training or it’s simply an on-line or written plan like one from Hal Higdon, I think these programs can help keep one focused on doing the right mileage and exercise and rest to prepare for a longer race.  I used a modified Hal Higdon plan when I prepared for both of my marathons.  As a numbers guy, I created spreadsheets to help track by progress through my training.  I tracked distance and time, and I tracked details about each of my runs and workouts about how I felt, where I ran, and what the weather was like.  It was amazing to watch my mileage build up from week to week.

2)  Get some accountability through a runner’s group or a friend who’s at your level.  I found a friend to train with for many of my shorter runs, and I asked several people to ride their bike alongside me for a few of my longer runs.  They carried my water and gel packs, but they also provided conversation to distract me when the mileage was getting the best of me.

3)  Cross train and rest.  These are important to build your strength and cardio capacity without overdoing it.  I liked to ride my bike as one of my cross training activities, and I would recommend swimming and lifting as great cross training activities.  I looked forward to my scheduled rest days.  These gave me a chance to recharge.  These are just as important as the exercise days.

4)  Practice hydration and fueling on your longer runs.  I ran with a belt with four water bottles.  I filled one or two of the bottles with an energy drink like Accelerade.  Practicing eating a gel shot or energy bar in the middle of your longer runs.  Find out what works for you and your stomach.  I learned that certain gel packs don’t work with my stomach.  It’s best to learn this lesson while training and not during your race.

5)  Set goals.  A first goal would be to make it through your training and to the starting line of the race.  Next, your goal should be to finish the race.  Then, you can start adding time related goals – overall finish time, negative splits, etc.  Finally, you might want to add a stretch goal that you can go after if you’re really feeling good.

6)  Have fun.  The running community is great – before, during, and after the race.  Talk to other runners.  Find out what works for them.  Ask them about their favorite races.  Cherish each moment.

For not being a running expert, I guess I have a lot to say.

Are you a runner?  What tips would you add to this list?

Guess Who I Am

This past week, I took a few days off from work to celebrate the start of our kids summer vacation and the end to a remarkable school year for both of them.  We took a couple of days to go camping at French Creek State Park.  It had been a few years since we have camped with just the four of us (plus the dog).  And we really had a great time – spending time together and making many new memories.

One of the memories that I will have of this trip was a game that Hannah and Isaac came up with around the campfire.  I’m guessing that they learned this game at one of their camping experiences last year.  I’m not sure of the exact name of the game, but I think it should be called “Guess Who I Am.”  In this game, the kids wrote down words that represented something on our camping trip.  These words word were then taped to our foreheads so we couldn’t see them.  Our goal was to ask questions in order to figure out what was on our paper.

It was hilarious to listen to the questions and answers as we went around the fire trying to guess who we were.  For the first round, I was a chair.  At one point, I became our newest dutch oven recipe – Hot Dog Pot Pie.  Needless to say, we had some great family time together.  My guess is that this will become a regular campfire game for our family.

Do you go camping?  What do your campfire activities look like?  What other things do you do to create family memories?

Book Review: Leadership is Dead – How Influence Is Reviving It

I recently finished reading Jeremie Kubicek’s new book, Leadership is Dead – How Influence Is Revising It, and I would definitely recommend this book to leaders who want to leave a legacy that out lives themselves.  Kubicek contrasts the leadership of those who are self-preserving and those who are self-fulfilling.  He outlines very clearly how a leader can have a much more positive and significant impact on others by giving themselves away to serve others.

It seems fairly basic, but these are concepts that every leader needs to hear again.  I know that I was challenged in my leadership at work, at church, and at home to be intentional and purposeful in serving others and providing positive influence.  I was also challenged with the fact that I need to make sure I’m plugging into people who can have a positive influence on me as a leader, husband, parent, friend, and Christ-follower.

Who is influencing you in a positive way?  Who are you investing in to be a positive influence?

Time For Some Kick Ball!

Last night, we hosted an impromptu game of kick ball on our front lawn with our neighbors.  I was inclined to do some yard work when I came out of the house after dinner, but I couldn’t resist the chance to get into the game that was starting to form with the neighborhood kids.  It was fun, and it was so nice to hang out with the neighbors and to play with the kids.

It seems like we’re always running in a million different directions, and we miss out on the basic fun and the relationships with those who live close to us.  It would have been easy for me to let this opportunity pass and to continue on with my original agenda.  After kickball, the adults chatted on our front porch while the kids played another game.  It was great to share about the end of the school year and our plans for the summer.

It seems so simple, but these are the times to hold onto.  Our kids grow up so fast.  I want to make the most of the times like this.

What games did you play in your neighborhood as a kid?

Humorous Story of a Small Group Leader

Last night, we hosted our family service group for a BBQ at our house.  Overall, the evening was great!  We enjoyed each others company.  We celebrated the birthday of one of our group members.  We talked about how God has made and gifted us just the way we are.  And we completed a small service project together.  Like I said, the evening was great, but it didn’t quite start out that way.

As the host family, we decided it would make sense for us to grill some chicken drumsticks, some hot dogs, and some hamburgers.  I had just finished the chicken and hot dogs when the first family pulled into our driveway.  So I proceeded to load up the grill with the hamburgers – all at once.  I quickly learned that this wasn’t such a great idea.  Within minutes my grill was in flames.  the grease from the burgers had ignited a nice little fire – or should I say nice big fire – in our grill.  I though for sure I was going to light our deck and house on fire.  Wouldn’t that be great?  I can see the headline now, “Small Group Leader Ignites A Firestorm” or “Leader Burns Down the House.”  Obviously, this isn’t the way I wanted the group to get started.  Thankfully, I was able to get the burgers off the grill and shut off the propane.  With the fire out, I was able to start over on the burgers at a more manageable pace.

As a small group leader (or leader in general), when have you been on the edge of disaster?  How did you recover?

Superpower

When I was a kid, I thought it would be so amazing to be able to fly.  I can remember running down the hallway of our house into the living room and jumping into the couch.  I believed that for a brief second I was actually flying.  Believe it or not, I’ve felt that feeling on the basketball court a few times (not recently).  It’s a feeling that you are floating through the air.  But it only lasts for a quick moment.  It doesn’t last.

As a kid, I also played with the idea of being invisible.  Perhaps, this superpower would be more amazing than flying.  You could walk into a room without anyone noticing.  I could sneak into the kitchen and get a bowl of ice cream, and I could eat it undetected – as long as nobody was in the kitchen when I came in to see the freezer open and close.

More recently, I’ve thought that it would be helpful if somehow I could be in multiple places at the same time.  Especially as our kids are involved in different activities, I would love to be at work, be at home, and be at the track meet or other activity all at the same time.  We often joke at the office that the cloning machine is broken.

But in reality, these superpowers remain out of reach.  It’s probably a good idea that we can’t do all these things.  My guess it that we would have a hard time using these powers selflessly.  I’m also guessing that possession of these superpowers would cause us to stray from God.  We would fail to realize the amazing power of our Creator.

 But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. 2 Corinthians 4:7

What superpower would you like to have?  How would this be useful?

Bringing Consistency To My Blog

I’ve been thinking a lot about my blog.  I’d like to get into a routine of writing 4-5 days per week.  I’m thinking that it would be helpful to have a regular schedule for my posts in order to reach this goal.  So here are some of my ideas.

One day could be a family/marriage/parenting focus.  This would be an opportunity to share the “stretch marks” that go into raising my kids, investing in my best friend, and taking our family through life.

One day could be could be a church/ministry/small group focus.  I’m still trying to figure out where I fit into this whole picture, but I know there’s a passion for helping people connect to each other and to God.  This focus would be an opportunity to share the “stretch marks” that hit these areas.

One day could be a guest post.  I value what others have to say about what is “stretching” them.  If you would be interested and willing to put your “stretch marks” out there for the world to see, please leave a comment below.  I’d love to get in touch with you.

One day could be a miscellaneous focus.  The areas above remain primary in my attention, but there are other things that get my brain moving – leadership, blogging, hobbies, personal discipline, and other stretching points.

So this is what’s been on my mind recently.  I’m realizing though that a commitment to blog more consistently will definitely require some thought and sacrifice – and some accountability perhaps.

Do you blog?  Why do you blog?  How regularly do you blog?  Do you have a game plan for blogging on a regular basis?  How has this worked for you?

Raising Kids to Work Together

Last night was a gorgeous evening in our area.  As a family, we took the opportunity after dinner to tend to some much-needed weeding in one of our flower beds.  This probably doesn’t sound all that glamorous or unusual as many of us have weeds to remove in our yards, our gardens, or our landscape.  The thing that stuck out to me in this hour-long adventure is the amazing ability to have fun and to get work done together as a family.  I’m not kidding when I tell you that this whole area was covered in weeds, so when we finished up for the evening it was satisfying to stand together and enjoy the visual fruits of our labor.

Honestly, it isn’t always easy to engage our kids in this type of activity.  They are typical kids.  They occasionally fuss and complain when we ask them to help out, but they are quick to lend a helping hand more often than not.  We (and I give a lot of credit to my wonderful wife) have tried to instill the value of working together and lending a helping hand into our children.  They are expected to take care of things like collecting the eggs, taking the dog out, sweeping the floor, emptying the dishwasher, and making dinner on occasion.  Setting these types of expectations at an early age has made it easier to get them to do bigger jobs like painting the basement floor, weeding the flower bed, cutting the grass, and working on installing the patio.

Our hope is that this will be a trait that goes with them as they continue to grow into adults.  We also hope it will be a trait that is passed down from generation to generation.  (We certainly have been blessed with great examples from our parents and grandparents.)

What do your kids do around the house to help out?  How have your kids responded to requests to help?  Leave a comment below, I’d love to hear your stories.

Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.  Proverbs 22:6

Zach’s Adventure

In a way, this is a first guest post by my son, Isaac.  Every year at his school, the 5th grade students are assigned a 1st grade buddy.  At the end of the year, the 5th graders get to write and publish a story for their buddy.  Isaac wrote the story below, and I asked him if I could share it here (I’ll tell you a little more at the end).

Once upon a time, there was a monkey named Zach.  He lived in a hut in the jungle.  One of his best friends was named Isaac.  They were always working together.  One day, there was a race for tree swinging.  When Zach didn’t enter, Isaac knew he had to do something.

When Isaac found out Zach was afraid of heights, he requested to Zach that he should go to the King of the Jungle.  So, Zach took a hike to the King.  The King sent Zach on a quest!  Zach has always loved quests.  The King gave Zach a map and sent him on his way.

First, Zach came to a long, old, creaky bridge.  Well, Zach was afraid of heights, so he decided to swim the river of bananas and soccer balls.  While we was swimming, he decided to eat a few bananas and kick a few soccer balls.  Zach finally got to the other side.

Next, Zach came up to two big doors.  He tried to open them, but of course, they were locked.  So, Zach had to go all the way across the river of bananas and soccer balls to retrieve the keys from the King.  Again, Zach had to go all the way back across the river and he got the big doors.  The keys worked!

Then, Zach came upon a pond of crayons.  There was a tree swing over it, but Zach was afraid of heights.  So, Zach swam through.  When Zach was in the middle, pieces of paper fell down from the sky.  When Zach looked on them, they were mystery pictures!  Zach decided to stop and do some mystery pictures.  After a while, Zach got to the other side.

Finally, Zach got to a cave.  When Zach looked real closely, he could see that the cave was made of ice cream!  He could even smell it.  Zach rushed inside and started eating away.  After an hour, Zach noticed a light and made a wish.  Suddenly, Zach had this feeling and started to climb a tree.

Zach was amazed.  His fear is over with.  Zach started to go home, so he swung across the pond of crayons, through the door and across the bridge over the river of bananas and soccer balls.  Then, Zach told his whole family about his experience.  Zach finally lived happily ever after.

I think my son has an incredible imagination, and I look forward to seeing where it takes him.  Isaac’s story hits home for us as Isaac deals with a couple of fairly significant fears himself.  Without going into detail, Isaac occasionally misses out on some fun activities, because he is too afraid.  I think we both wish it was an easy fix, but the reality shows that it’s not that simple.  I think Isaac’s story about going to the King for help is appropriate.  We often look for easy, quick fixes, and we sometimes think it’s as simple as just getting over it.  But many times, we need to bring our fears and worries to the King of kings.

Cast your cares on the LORD and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken. Psalm 55:22

Isaac thanks for sharing your story with me and with my readers.  May God continue to help you through this journey.  I love you!