A break from running

As obsessed as I have been with running, I have to take a break. I am on the vege of an overuse injury in my right knee, so I need to take about 10 days off. I am going to cross-train during this time to keep my cardio up. I have to change my perspective about this whole thing. I need to stop chasing mileage increases and work on building a solid base, which means injury free.

What a week for running

The weather has been beautiful here in the Springfield metro area and thus it has been great for running. On Thanksgiving I ran in the 12th annual Turkey Trot to benefit the Ozark's Food Harvest and the Developmental Center of the Ozarks.
They had a record 3300 participants and this time I received an official time of 25:42 which is a minute better than my race on Oct 14th . We had a nice Thanksgiving dinner at mom's and went to my house later that evening to watch the Chiefs game. We watched about 1 quarter then trekked off to Best Buy to wait in line for Black Friday. We were just as far back this year as we were last year at midnight (about 90th in line). Amazingly I was able to stay awake most of the night with the help of my two brothers Brent and Kirk. When 3 a.m. rolled around the Best Buy people came out and started throwing out t-shirts and told us to line up in a single file line. By the time the personal shoppers from BB came to us, most of what we wanted was sold out. I was checked out by 5 after 5 with a two mp3 players and a Samsung mini-dv camcorder that I got for 129.99. Came home at 6 and crashed because I was exhausted. Went to Silver Dollar City Friday night for the Christmas lights and other activities. The weather was so warm that many of the rides were still open and we partook. This morning I got up early and met some guys at Panera bread near MSU and ran 8 miles with them. It was the longest I had ever run without stopping. I'm feeling very encouraged by my progress. Here is hoping my knee stays healthy.

My first 5K...The Sunshine Run

We ventured out as a family this morning so I could participate in the St. John's Sunshine Run. This was my first 5k and I could hardly get to sleep last night. I don't know why I was so nervous but I was. The temperature at the start of the race was a balmy 35 degrees. I was wearing a compression shirt and the long sleeve event t-shirt and a pair of shorts. Considering this was my first race, I didn't really know what I was doing. They gave me a chiptimer that I was supposed to tie to my shoe to keep my time. I didn't know so I ran with it in my pocket. Thus I have no official race result. However, I know that I finished it at 26:46 which I will consider my PR (personal record) for this race. I finished strong and almost threw up after I crossed the finish line. I have to say that I loved every minute of the run and look forward to many more. After watching many kids their own age run this race the girls wanted to get into training right away.

The weather is beautiful...

Spent some time running this morning. Got my 5 miles in and it was a little more effortless than the previous runs of the week. I wonder if running first thing in the morning had anything to do with it, hmmmm.....I just finished reading the book of Acts and Paul's story seemed to jump off the pages. My big buddy Rob turned 35 today and has a blog regarding his paradigm shift. It is amazing to me how someone can keep a journal over all these years. I have journaled in the past and I love to go back and read what I had written, especially in regards to specific requests to God.

My latest run

I was able to run 5 miles yesterday afternoon. I have never been able to
run that far and I felt it last night in my back. I wasn't that sore
this morning but I imagine tomorrow I will really be feeling it.
Interesting thing about the run was how I felt during the fifth mile. I
felt better during the fifth mile than I did during the 3rd or 4th mile.
I could probably run farther if I didn't try to run so fast. I need to
work on my pace to increase my mileage.

That boy is a runnin fool

I wanted to blog my running for the last two days, soo I can look back someday and hopefully see where my running hobby started. I ran 4 miles yesterday evening and 4 miles this evening. Yesterday I ran in about 38 minutes, today it to took me 40 minutes. Chewing gum seems to be the biggest help to keeping my mouth moist. Also walking a minute after every mile is making a difference in my endurance.

The Heat backed off and I started back

to running again this week. Tuesday morning I ran almost 4 miles before I went to work. I read an article in Runner's World about when training you should run a mile then walk a minute. I found that this is a perfect technique for increasing your distance. This morning I ran 2.75 miles. I felt great after both runs. This thing is for life, I'm not going to become a great runner overnight so I have to be patient. I'm looking toward running my first 5k in the fall sometime.

It keeps you running...

Thinking of the old Doobie Brother's tune. "It keeps you running, yeah it keeps you running." Tonight at 8:30 p.m. I went for a run, instantly got a side stitch and gutted it out for the next 3.5 miles over 35 minutes. It was so humid, I wanted to quit. I knew that eventually it would be over. Without my music, I would be toast on a long run. I have to say that is the furthest that I can remember ever running, save my Army basic training runs. I will run again on Thursday night but hopefully a little earlier since I am having trouble getting to sleep now of course. My mind is wide awake. I am beginning to wind down. Good night sweet running prince :)

3 miles tonight

I logged 3 miles tonight on the trail behind our house. I ran it in 28:40 which is sort of slow, but I am starting somewhere. I wondered as I was running, where does endurance come from? Is it a by by-product of something inside of us of our own doing. Is it possible that God gives some people more endurance than others? I wondered that. I have always believed when it came to running that I wasn't born to run, because of my height and flat feet. I would just love to learn to run.

Running in more ways than one

I am tired of my spare tire, but I don't want to really stop eating so I need to exercise. Before my skiing accident I had been up to running 3 miles 3 days a week. I have finally got back into the groove and am running again. I ran today and I think I ran about 2.4 miles. My feet and ankles are hurting tonight but I am building up my endurance, which is a good thing. I am attempting to run one day, bike the next.

Work has been very exciting the last couple of days as I have been working in the psychiatric unit with the craziest of the crazy inmates. I find myself saying "man, that guy is a real nutcase" alot, then I chuckle and think that is what they are there for. God please continue to call the hearts of these men despite their evil acts and thoughts. Help me to be Your hands in this dark place for them, shine through me as You see fit.

This seems to be one of those days that in the past I would think because I hadn't spent much time reading the Bible or praying that God was angry with me. I am confident in the Lord's love for me and His desire to have my heart. I look forward to knowing Him deeper than I do now. I have a hunger for the things of Him. Truly my flesh wants to rule but I trust/have faith in God.
My eyes are heavy as I type, so I bid adeu.