Thankfulness Pt 1.

November has been the month of thankfulness. I have read and noted what people have been thankful for. So let me start this first of a few blogs about what and who I am thankful for. 

When was the last time you thanked God for everything in your life? I know we all have given thanks to God when something good happens in our life. But, what about the difficult times? It is hard to be thankful during those times isn't it? We may even think we have nothing to be thankful for. Today, we are facing unemployment, home foreclosures, economic craziness, political chaos and I could go on. Some of these problems have directly impacted many of you in small or maybe significant ways. But, when have you been thankful ALL the time?

When was the last time you thanked God for salvation. There is no way for us to thank God enough for that. What about this beautiful world that he made for us. There are countless things to be thankful for in each of our lives…stop and observe. God has a plan for our lives and it might require us to go through both good and bad. Both will shape us into the person God wants us to be. Are you willing to hold his hand as he guides you through each and every situation?

The most powerful way to give thanks to him is through Prayer. This is the one thing that Satan can’t touch…your personal time with God. Prayer time should always include a time of thanking God. Take time and be specific when you thank him. Don’t make it a quick thanks. It needs to be sincere. Becoming more thankful will help you build a closer relationship with him. You will develop an attitude of worship. The needs of those around you will become more evident. You will be open to telling others about God and what he has done for you. 

The #1 thing I am thankful for...GOD.

My #2 is on the way…

Marine Corp Marathon, Washington DC

(Right before the finish!)

My second MCM is in the books. What an experience! With Hurricane Sandy threatening the race with wind and rain, she managed to stay away from the DC area until we finished. The weather could not have been better. 50 degree’s, cloudy and just a few periods of stiff winds. We had two Osprey planes flyover to start the race. As many of you have read in previous blogs of my marathons I always include the funny costumes that people wear as they run. The MCM this year did not disappoint. I saw a Viking (Well we actually ran together for about 6 miles); he didn't know he was actually pacing me. We had people as bananas, saw Elvis (Yep he is still alive), saw a WWF girl (well she was dressed as one), saw an Incredible and many women in pink tutus. The race again did not disappoint on the Gatorade and Water stations, BUT the start has got to change. The MCM sounds the gun and we just start walking then run. We are all supposed to look for the time we want to finish by the big timing displays on the shoulder of the road before the race, but I wonder why they don’t do a better job at corralling us. For the Rock and Roll Marathons, we are corralled and then each corral starts 1½ mins apart for spacing. Much smoother and orderly. This is also a benefit for the runner, who wants to get into a rhythm early, not after 8 miles of zig zagging through the madness. I was again IMPRESSED with the Marines. From the stations to the finish line...the Marines were always yelling and supporting as we ran. I had three running friends (Brian, his wife Michele and Susan) come in town for the race and stay with us. Brian and Susan both ran the MCM too. It was great having them here for the race and Susan got stranded with the Hurricane and stayed with us an extra couple of days.  

Now to the race, I was up at 5 am to eat as I always. I had oatmeal and coffee. I made sure I had my energy gels (Jello type), music and headphones before we headed out. It took us about 10 mins to get to the metro stop. And just that quick we were headed to the MCM waiting area at the Pentagon. Once we arrived, I was to meet up with a friend of mine who was racing his first marathon, but with the madness of people I never found him. Brian, Susan and I headed to the start line (About a quarter of a mile walk).  First stop for me...yep the porta-john (pre-race ritual). The lines were so long and we were running out of time to get to the start, so Brian and I headed out to find a tree...LOL. Well we ended up finding some porta-johns that no one knew about, so we were able to take care of our business.

The race started at 7:55 am...well I think it did. The gun went off and I was still running to get to the 3:45 timing corral. I had no time to think of the race...walked right up and started walking to the start line. As it was last year, the first several miles were just WAY too crowded.

In the first 2 miles I encountered a steep hill incline, but I was most bothered by the crowded runner madness. I knew it was coming early in the race, so my strategy was to go slow and save the energy for later in the race. We encountered another hill at around mile 6-7 and again I kept with my strategy of going slow to save energy. The next 5 miles moved quickly and before I knew it I was at the half-way point, crossing in 1:59 knowing I started a few mins after the gun so I was on a good pace, but I felt my legs getting tired. All I could think was...crap I have 13 more miles to go, but I pushed through and actually felt myself getting stronger as the race moved into the later stages.

Miles 14-20 went rather smooth, I ran by the Washington Memorial, the Natural and American History Bldg’s and around by the Capital. Miles 21-25 seemed like a blur except the moment the 4:00 hr pace group passed me. I started thinking about the elusive Under 4 hour’s goal I set for myself. I remember thinking how upset I was (Well actually I was PISSED) that they were passing me. As I reached Mile 26 I was thinking of my strategy to climb that final Hill before the finish. You see this was no normal Hill climb...this was downright steep in a very short distance...Marines had to think of this last grueling turn. To my surprise my wife Tiffany popped out of the crowd and told me to “come on”, “come on”. She ran up ahead of me and snapped the photo you see at the top of this blog. It was great to have her at the finish! What a refreshing hug!!

As some of you might have read over Facebook, I ran this marathon in HONOR of Traci Bernicke Inman for being a survivor of breast cancer. She has been such an inspiration for so many women that it was the least I could for what she has done!

I had no PBs this go around. Overall 4:03, Half-way 1:59.

Forgiving Others

Not forgiving others is one of the tactics used by Satan to disrupt, distract and destroy us. It can be said that there is nothing more difficult to do in this life than to forgive others and ourselves of mistakes, errors, untruths, murder, violence and abuse.

Each of us was, is and will continue to be imperfect and will dork things up. We fall to the enemy’s snares and hurt people through ignorance and stubbornness. For anyone unwilling to forgive someone else, in reality are either unwilling to forgive themselves or feel they have nothing in their own life needing forgiveness. 

We can be so stubborn and selfish and want what we want when we want it and have no patience for those who slow us down, wanting to mentor us or heaven forbid improve us. We fight the idea of forgiving someone else. We expect someone who has wronged us to crawl on their knees to us begging before we even consider granting them forgiveness.

We are so quick to point out someone else’s dirtiness while not seeing the dirtiness of SELF. We are good at spotting the littlest thing that someone else does wrong without even looking in the mirror at our own transgressions. We believe those who commit sin must repent while making excuses and reasons why we don’t need to do the same.

Think about this…what if those dirty people come into our path to teach us a lesson? This lesson may be exactly what we need. Think of all the people you have encountered in your life. As you think back on the last time you saw a particular person; it may have been weeks ago, years ago, or a once in a lifetime encounter. The reason…this person served their purpose in your life. Bottom-line, each experience or encounter serves a specific purpose.

So if the encounter is a lesson, think about the people who have hurt you. Have you allowed yourself to forgive them? Or are you still holding the pain? Do you find yourself thinking of revenge, or worse still, acting out those thoughts? Who is holding you prisoner…you or them?

Forgiveness is about taking back control and not allowing negative emotions to rule. It also is about letting go of all those bad emotions that could be responsible for pinning down your relationships! Hanging on to resentment, hatred, or anger will ensure that these destructive feelings WILL spill over into your current life and stop you from enjoying positive, successful relationships.

It takes great humility, honesty, faith and LOVE to forgive someone. Imagine having the same forgiveness Jesus had on the cross when He said “Father forgive them for they know not what they do”.

Until we are willing to ditch our PRIDE or desire for revenge we will never be able to forgive others or accept forgiveness. Love demands us to get off the high cloud you think you are resting on and humbly bow before those who hurt you and say “I Forgive You”. Even if that forgiveness is rejected, we can have the faith to know we followed what God commands of us just as he did on the cross.

The Choice is Yours

USAF Marathon, Dayton OH

What an awesome USAF Marathon experience!! The weather at the start was a perfect 49 degrees. We had a B-2 Bomber flyover to start the race! If you have read my previous blogs on the marathons I have run I always include the funny costumes that people wear as they run. I only saw a few this race. A bumble bee...she really dressed the part. A ballerina...she dressed the part as well, just with running shoes...LOL. The race was well organized and the volunteers were outstanding! I am not just saying that because it was my services’ marathon. The water stations had plenty of water and Gatorade.

This race was also a bit unique as I traveled from Washington DC to Dayton Ohio on Friday for a Saturday race. I also had 3 other friends race as well. For two of them, it was their first marathon and for the other it was his third. I traveled with one of the guys and we arrived late in the afternoon Friday. The expo was excellent, a lot of vendors and spread-out. It was held at the Nutter Center (The basketball stadium for Wright-State University). After getting my BIB and some extras we headed to Fazzlios for our pasta dinner. After dinner it was hotel room bound to prepare. One of the guys (Josh) was not due to arrive in Dayton until 11pm so I picked up his BIB. Josh is an 18 yr old that is good friends with my son Hunter and was traveling from Oklahoma via a Greyhound bus…yep 30 hours in a bus! Hunter my son unfortunately could not make the run due to college commitments.

Now to the race, it started at 7:30 am. I was up at 5 am to eat as I always am. I had oatmeal, English muffin with Peanut Butter and pickle juice...my routine. I made sure I had my energy gels (Jello type), music and headphones before heading out. It took us about 20 mins to get to the base and park. Not too bad considering the amount of people. Again, let me say it was well organized. We had to walk for a bit to the starting line area. First stop for me...yep the porta-john (pre-race ritual). The four of us meet up again at the corral locations, took a picture and Josh and I headed for the 4 hr pace group. Right before the start we had a B-2 flyover...AWESOME!! Then the horn sounded and we were off. I really liked how the USAF split up the full and half-marathon runners. We started at 7:30 am and the half started at 8:30 am. This made the start much smoother and less crowded. Normally I have to run conservatively at the beginning with so many people around. This time I started out on the right stride.

In the first 2 miles I encountered a 300ft hill incline. I knew it was coming early in the race, so my strategy was to go slow and save the energy for later in the race. With the 2 miles behind me, I quickly got on pace. The next 7 miles moved quickly and before I knew it I was at Mile 10. Mile 10 took us through downtown Fairborn. It was good to see the downtown area again and everyone cheering us on. Back in the late 90’s we were stationed at Wright-Patterson AFB, so I was in familiar territory. One place I was specifically looking for and found was the Halloween store Foys. It is a popular store year round with famous Halloween props from Hollywood Motion Picture’s.

Soon enough we reached Mile 13...half-way home. I mentioned to Josh that we were making really good time and we both felt like we were in cruise-control! We crossed the half-way marker at 1:53. Mile 13-20 went quickly, keeping pace. At Mile 20 Josh had to slow down and walk but I kept going. I was very PROUD of him for keeping up through 20 miles. His personal best before this race was a 4:45 (He finished in 4:23). Then, at mile 22 it happened...I tried all day to go without having to stop at a porta john. Although making it to mile 22 without having to stop to relieve myself was good. I had never gone that far before mother natural called. It was a welcomed pit-stop LOL. Back on the race track I go. At mile 24 things started going downhill a bit for me. I felt my legs getting heavier and I actually walked for a bit. As I picked back up running, I noticed in front of me a woman wearing a pink shirt with “Running for Amy” on the back. As I ran up beside her I asked her about Amy and she said she had breast cancer. It reminded me of the 7 women I ran in honor of back in April 2012. What a horrible disease...CURE PLEASE!

As I reached the last 1000 meters, to my horror the 4:00 pacer had caught up with me UGH! She went by me like I was walking. I remember telling myself...COME ON, really!!?? Get it in gear and let’s push to the finish. If I finish in front of her or even close I will break the 4 hr mark (I came across the start line 1:10 after the official start). Well the mind says one thing but the legs and body said something completely different. Yes, the body let me finish so I should be happy with that right? LOL.

Two personal bests for me, Overall 4:00 and Half-Way point: 1:53.

Big shoutout to Jonathan Miller and Joe Deporter for completing their 1st Marathons! You guys did awesome! Congrats!

September 11, 2001….A Service Member Perspective

Where were you on that faithful morning? I was in the Deployment Control Center at Barksdale AFB in Louisiana. We had just kicked off one of our yearly military deployment exercises. We were rolling along and my transportation officer came into the control center and told me an airplane had hit one of the Twin Towers. My first reaction was…oh a “Little Cessna”; it might have been cloudy at the higher floors. Soon after he came back into the center and told me; Hey, we have two now! At that point we turned on the TV and saw what was happening. We were all in shock. I had all kinds of emotions running through my mind. I soon received a phone call from my Wing Commander (Big boss on the base) telling me he was on his way down to the Center to see me…we need to have a discussion. He arrived and of course we stopped the Exercise and went into a Real World situation. The base was in lockdown and we were monitoring everything. Then the call came in that the President was on his way….WOW!!  If the attacks were not enough, now the President was arriving. All of this before NOON--Thus changing my military career forever. We had an enemy that attacked us on the home land. Anger was at the top of the list for all of the military. We were all ready to get on a plane and come face to face with the enemy.   I could not call my wife immediately and once I could, the only thing I could tell her was I was safe and not sure when I would be home. Deployment was certainly a possibility. I remember thinking…am I ready? Imagine if you could only call and tell your spouse/significant other you were leaving for an undetermined amount of time? That is what happens with our Special Operations military members every day. They go into work each morning not sure if they will deploy or not. 

We all paused (or did we……that is a different blog posting) on September 11^th 2012 to remember the attacks. TV stations played the entire morning over again. Was that really necessary? Showing the Memorials and the respect I thought was the more honorable thing to do. During the day I reflected on changed lives. Not just the families that lost loved ones, but the military members that have been called to the fight the last 11 years. Those that went to Afghanistan and later Iraq who did not return or returned completely changed either mentally or physically. My family certainly changed. I was now a military member of a country at WAR. My family now had a father/son/nephew/grandson serving in a WAR. Now, let me take you to what my eyes have seen and my ears have heard these last 11 years.

As many of you know, one of my responsibilities is deploying forces to locations worldwide. I have seen my fair share of Airmen leaving for the fight through the years. I have processed them through deployment readiness lines, watched them step on the plane, turn and look at their family member (s). They stand tall and proud, but at the same time with a look of sadness. I then look out at the spouse and child they are leaving behind. Both have tears streaming down their face. I hear a faint “I Love You” shouted out for the family member to hear (Not knowing if it is the last time). The wife/husband who is now responsible for everything at home, their mate has left for months. The child in her/his arms waving with tears…DADDY or MOMMY is leaving. For the younger ones, they could not completely comprehend the situation. In the early stages of the deployments we were not sure how long they would be gone. Could be a couple of months or maybe a year, depending on what the requirement was. The celebration of the homecoming is a delight. I have seen over and over again men and women returning to open arms, smiles, tears of joy and children just running into their parents arms. That is the happy times.     

My first turn at deploying was in February of 2005. I was going to Afghanistan. My turn at the good bys. My turn to see the tears. My turn to stand tall. My turn to wave and blow the kiss. My turn to say “I Love You”.  I would do it again in April of 2007 (I had a month of combat training before going to Iraq) But, I do it proudly for our country. I have been blessed.

My Afghanistan deployment brought sights of joy and devastation. Joy was the times I would pack a C-17 full of Army soldiers, heading home from a year deployment. They were so excited to be able to see their families again. Some had been in Afghanistan multiple times already. Some had children that were going to kindergarten but had not enjoyed the embrace of their father or mother for 3 or less of those years. I saw the soldiers getting off the same C-17 for their year stay. Proud and standing tall, ready for what was ahead. Devastation was the sight of caskets with American Flag’s draped over them. In one incident we had an entire C-17 lined with them. You can now see what I saw. There was an honored and dignified ceremony as we lifted and walked them into the plane, gently placing them in place for their final flight home. We did this several times during my deployment just not to this number. They PROUDLY served and defended OUR FREEDOM.

My Iraq deployment brought again sights of joy and devastation. Joy was the hard work we were doing to repair and start new Electrical Grids that provided up to 8 hours of electricity for the Iraqi people, when they were getting much less. The establishment of Sewer Treatment Plants for cleaner water.  We provided huge supply routes to get supplies to many locations throughout the country. Devastation was the rocket attacks we were hit with both day and night. I heard them coming in and the crackle of the explosions. The day and night arrival of medical helicopters at the combat hospital on base….when they came in we knew what was arriving and when they left we knew what the cargo was going to be. Through it all we Stood Proud, knowing the good we were doing even though it was being portrayed in a different way through the media.

Yes, serving in the military is a sacrifice and I PROUDLY accept the way of life!

This is just a small snap shot through my eyes of the last 11 years. I could go on but I think you know what sacrifices and what the PROUD Men and Women of the Armed Forces have done and are currently doing for this great Nation.

Shall WE Never Forget! 

Finding Your Best Friend…..

Everyone wants to meet and make the right choice when choosing a spouse. When we are young we dream of that special someone, heck in middle school you think WOW this is her or him. But, the reality is if you don’t find that someone your marriage could be a real mess, but if you do…well consider it a blessing, you have found who your BEST FRIEND should be.

When couples first get married it seems like it will last a lifetime. You are totally committed, fully in love. Unfortunately, for 50% of all couples the happiness turns into sadness. What happened? In the beginning you easily overlooked each other’s faults…the GRASS was so GREEN. Now, the grass is getting brown and the ends are shriveling up. Couples begin to encounter the difficulties of this world. They have trouble paying bills, one loses a job, another develops likes and want’s they didn’t previously. People change individually over time. The commitment to stay together starts to diminish, unconditional love for one another starts to slide.

So how do you continue to build a strong marriage through these challenges….make your spouse you’re BEST FRIEND!!

Your spouse has been your partner and lover, but have they been your best friend? For those that have been married for any length of time, you know that marriage is hard work and sometimes harder than your day to day job. When you invest in your marriage you can build a deep friendship. When your spouse is your best friend I guarantee you will be happier and more satisfied with life. Best friends are faithful, trustworthy, understanding, loving, accepting, respectful, and supportive. They will work through the conflicts and pressures that this world has such an easy time creating.

Husbands, your wife needs to know she is loved. Unfortunately, there are aspects of love that husband’s completely overlook. Women need attention, feel important, knowing their opinion matters, romance and affection. I know what some guys are thinking: "Romance and sex; I'll meet that need." If that is your thinking, you're freakin clueless!

Remember that a wives opinion of romance and affection is much more than sex. It's how we treat her throughout the day. It's saying words like, "I love you" and "I am thinking of you." It's stopping and listening. It's remembering special days like anniversaries (even ones before you were married), birthdays, Mother’s Day and Valentine's Day. God's word says, "Husbands, love your wives."

Lastly, make God FIRST in your lives. Seek God's will through PRAYER and be willing to follow HIS lead in one of life's biggest decisions…finding and staying with your BEST FRIEND!

The choice is yours.

Gifts.....

Gifts...when you hear that word what is the first thing that comes to mind? Christmas? A birthday? Graduation? What if I was to tell you that the majority of Americans today classify themselves by the material things they have acquired from this world. True? When we ask ourselves what gifts (not material things) have we been given we conclude a lot of times that we have none. Sad isn’t it? We think if we have things like stature, intelligence, an excellent GPA, money, lucrative positions or beautiful external appearances that we have been given a “gift”.

Would it surprise you to know that you have a gift hiding right inside of you, yes as you read this blog there is a gift waiting. You might go an entire lifetime and not even realize that you have a gift. God has given each of us one or more gifts and placed it in you to complete the work he has assigned to you. God knows the fullness of the gifts, and how these intended gifts are to be expressed in a particular time and place to fulfill his greater will, plan, and purpose. He knows exactly what he has designated for you to be and do in a precise number of years and in specific locations, working with and through certain people for the accomplishment of particular tasks and purposes.

Just think you may have been given the gift of listening, asking questions, hearing, being agreeable, looking to God for all your guidance, discipleship, caring for others, loving others before yourself or even a prayer warrior. These are all inspiring gifts that help others as they go through this thing we call ”life” and ironically they have nothing to do with material things or outside appearances. Our job is to discover what that gift is and bring it to the surface, develop it and use it as God would want.

Today might just be the day you need to kneel and PRAY asking God to bring the gift he has given you to the surface. When you submit to him, you might just hear a small voice telling you the answer or the feeling of guidance in a certain direction. Sometimes God needs you to go to a mirror and reflect on what you are seeing…not the EXTERNAL but the INTERNAL. Stay planted and be ready as the answer may not be what you were expecting. God can be comical sometimes!
Let me close with this, the gift hidden in you right now is ready to bubble to the surface so desperately….it might be time to allow the eruption to happen and have that gift pour right out and show its Face! Think of the POTENTIAL generations of people you could affect…now that is a gift that keeps on giving….

The choice is yours.

Book Reviews for 6, 7 and 8...

If you have kept up with my running goals this year, I added a book reading goal as well, 12 books in 2012. To date 8 books are complete (I blogged about the first 5 earlier this year…check them out). So let me provide my overview and thoughts on books 6, 7 and 8. I started book 9 this morning…it is a book I was given from my military mentor.

The Case for Christ, by Lee Strobel
Lee Strobel takes you through a journey of investigations into the truth of Jesus Christ. He interviews thirteen well respected scholars from different specialties. His investigations spanned six hundred days and many hours. If you have ever asked yourself the following questions, this book will provide convincing proof, but FAITH is what it truly comes down to…Your relationship between the Father and YOU.

1. Can the biographies of Jesus be trusted?
2. Do the biographies of Jesus stand up to scrutiny?
3. Were Jesus’ biographies reliably preserved for us?
4. Is there credible evidence for Jesus outside his biographies?
5. Does archaeology confirm or contradict Jesus’ biographies?
6. Is the Jesus of history the same as the Jesus of faith?
7. Was Jesus really convinced that he was the Son of God?
8. Was Jesus crazy when he claimed to be the Son of God?
9. Did Jesus fulfill the attributes of God?
10. Did Jesus and Jesus alone match the identity of the Messiah?
11. Was Jesus’ death a sham and his resurrection a hoax?
12. Was Jesus’ body really absent from his tomb?
13. Was Jesus seen alive after his death on the cross?
14. Are there any supporting facts that point to the resurrection?

Radical, by David Platt
WOW!! One of the best books I have read on defining our purpose in this world. David is going to take you through his thoughts being a young mega church pastor. Then he will show you that discipleship is a responsibility and core ask from our Father. This goes for Men and Women. Throughout my reading, I have sent tidbits of this book to my 20 men I stay in touch with from Oklahoma, Virginia and here in DC. At the end of the book David challenges you to a 1 year experiment to (1) Pray for the entire world. (2) Read through the entire Word. (3) Sacrifice money for a specific purpose. (4) Spend time in another context. (5) Commit your life to a multiplying community. Big experiment but one that is truthfully life changing. This book will have you thinking about what you are truly doing each day…productive or wasting time?!

The Last Emperor of Ethiopia, by Ryszard Kapuscinski
As I prepare to go on my first Mission Trip to Ethiopia in August 2012, we were all asked to read up on the history and religious beliefs of Ethiopia. One of the men I am going with suggested this book. It captures the life of the last Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie. Haile reigned Ethiopia from 1930 until he was overthrown by the Army in 1974. This book takes you through the travels of a Poland foreign correspondent as he traveled throughout Ethiopia to seek out and interview Selassie’s servants and closest associates on how the Emperor had ruled and why he fell to the Army.

Well those are the reviews, each one with a unique perspective. I am now 4 books away from reaching my goal in 2012…I am thinking I will be surpassing that goal by a few.

Texting…impacting or time waster?

Texting has become such a huge part of our everyday life hasn’t it? Before technology advances you would have to write a letter on a piece of paper with a No.2 pencil. Then you put the letter in the mail and wait and wait and wait for a response, which in some cases never came. Today, it is instant. No waiting (Well unless your service is down), the person you messaged gets it at that same moment. What a wonderful invention…texting. Or is it?

Are we using texting for impacting others or just wasting our life away with non-impacting nonsense? According to many researchers and fact finding companies the total number of text messages sent globally tripled between 2007 and 2010, from an estimated 1.8 trillion to a staggering 6.1 trillion. In other words, close to 200,000 text messages are sent every second. The estimates for 2011 were 7 trillion messages. Young adults today between the age of 18 to 24 average 109 messages a day…yep that is a day!

So out of those trillion messages how many were really needed? How many of those made an impact on someone’s life?

This posting is rather short, but I want you to really think about how you use texting in your life and others. Are you using it to impact others or just wasting time?

The Choice is your’s…

TIME…when you hear that word what is the first thing that comes to mind.

TIME…when you hear that word what is the first thing that comes to mind. Need to look at your Iphone or watch on your wrist? Having thoughts of Time’s Square, TIME magazine or what time your favorite TV show(s) on? The list goes on. So what is time really? Are we so structured that time spent on meaningless things is taking complete control of our lives?

I think we need to go back to basics on TIME and reevaluate what our time SHOULD be consumed with. Let me give you a couple to consider.

NOW Time: This time is ever changing; it constantly refreshes itself like websites. We can get so caught up in this Time that nothing else seems to matter. We forget about the time from the past or the future. What is the now time going to affect; anything or everything? What if a friend needs you NOW…do you have the time?

Being “Rich” Time: People today spend so much of their time working to make more money so they can buy “Material” things. In Luke 12:15, Jesus said, "Watch out and guard yourself from all types of greed, because one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

Wasted Time: Oh yes! We have so much of this don’t we. Waiting at a doctor’s office for an appointment, stuck in traffic (Boy do I know this one being in DC…up to 3 hours a day sometimes), social events, surfing the internet. Think for a minute how much time you waste every day, you will be amazed.

Relationship Time: This is a big one and one that many of us miss…time for relationships. In today’s world it is so easy to have a shallow relationship with a friend or spouse (Believe me I have seen spouses that are shallow). We can ask the simple EASY stuff like their name, age, where they live, job, hobbies, but that isn’t REALLY knowing them. Time spent with someone is how you really get to know him or her…the TRUE person. You will know the REAL events happening in their lives. Face it we live in a world that is all about the “Fast”…fast food, fast cars, fast internet, fast running times (sorry had to add that with my hobby). We need to realize that we can’t have a “Fast” relationship with someone. Investment in others takes time.

Presence with Our Children Time: Our children consider our presence as a sign that we actually care about what they are doing. This does not mean your presence is busy on an Iphone, TEXTING (Hmmm), laptop or TV. Presence is focusing on their everyday lives, sitting down playing a game, school events, their hobbies, talking specifically about their day and providing feedback. Be genuine, this is the next GENERATION. Time goes quickly and they will soon be grown adults…blink…there just went a second you can’t get back.

Talking About Faith Time: Spiritual discussions don’t always come easy. These discussions will build strong relationships, not only with friends but with family. We all have anxiety about starting these conversations, but they can be simple, short and impromptu. It doesn’t have to be lengthy and certainly not forced. The foundation of Spiritual Leadership is talking about faith.

Bible Time: This is the most important book ever written. This one book has literally changed the world in which we live in today. With an open mind and heart READ it, you will continue turning the pages. Don’t read this book the same as you do other books though…you will miss so many hidden messages for your growth. I recommend starting in the Book of John, read it carefully and slow. It is amazing what you will learn about God and yourself. It is a game changer!

PRAYER Time: I have left the most significant time you can spend for last. Prayer gets you connected with God in ways you would never imagine. One-on-one prayer with him is never judged or silly. He listens to your every word and thought. This is your time to ask for strength, guidance, love, wisdom and to lift up others who are struggling or have specific requests. At some point, storms will come to everyone and prayer will get you through.

So what is important to you? What do you want your time to be consumed with? The things that really don’t matter or the things that will make an impact, change or love someone? Future GENERATIONS are depending on us to keep what is important IMPORTANT.

The choice is yours…..

Blind to Spot……

As we go through life are our relationships with others shortsighted? Are we only seeing what we want to see and not all that we should see? Have we become so judgmental and critical of others before stopping for a minute to look at ourselves? Are we so Blind to Spot?

When you first get into a vehicle one of the first things you think of is watching out for your Blind Spot. These are areas that you can’t see in your rear-view mirror. We have to turn our bodies either left or right to see if it is safe to make that turn or move into the other lane. So let’s take this example and use it in our own lives. At times we have things so close that they can’t be seen even with a rear-view mirror: arrogance, self-center, MY way of doing things or the classic “I am right you are wrong”. These are things that others recognize but we are Blind to Spot ourselves. You have probably run into someone like this, they tend to talk too much about whom else “themselves”. They live their lives in denial and wonder why they have very few friends. Those around them are scared to point this out. They have a Blind Spot and don’t even know it. Maybe in the past when their Blind Spot was brought to their attention they simply discarded it or became angry that someone would actually tell them what they need to work on. 

So how would one try to correct these Blind Spots…DRUM ROLL…answer…an accountability partner!

An accountability partner is a friend who you respect dearly, can trust to be honest with you and will point out your Blind Spot (s). In return, be open and receptive to this friend who has your best interest in mind. They are taking TIME (hint) and a keen interest in your life both spiritually and personally.  They are good listeners and give advice as needed. They will want to check on you either by phone or text message(s). They can be one of the best GUT checks you have in your life. They are ones that you can call to speak on your shortcomings and provide comfort, and confidentially, thus helping you change and grow. Let me say an accountability partner is NOT a counselor. A counselor is someone that you ask questions of and seek answers from. An accountability partner is someone that can ask you questions, and you are able to disclose the truth. I know for most this is a difficult thing to do. You will be allowing someone to get past the surface-level conversations.

Just think this ONE person could change the outcome of your spirituality, marriage, friendships, relationships with your son and daughter and most importantly GENERATIONS to come….WOW what an impact! So kneel and PRAY for God to bring you this friend or maybe that friend is already in your life you just are Blind to Spot.

The choice is yours….. 

Grass…..is it really GREENER on the other side

It always looks better, the other side of the grass that is. But in many cases it isn’t the grass itself; it is the neighbor's wife or husband for the ladies out there, a sports car that your friend just bought, friend’s fancy house, another job.

So many people today are just not happy with what they have or the situation they find themselves in. They think that the examples I gave above are the answers to all their problems or a better life awaits them. What they don't realize is, they already have perfect things in their lives, but they are blinded (hint on my future blog J). Sadly, it will take losing nearly everything in order for them to realize how much they will miss once they cross to the other side. We all take for granted that we have freedom, health, food at every corner, love, family and friendships. The reason we complain and feel inadequate about our current situations is because we are looking for that “perfect situation”. You are not going to find it! We see what others have and either get upset or feel it is unfair that the other person has something. We feel like life OWES us. Life doesn’t OWE us anything.

So what’s the solution you ask? It’s simple…stand firm on the grass you are currently on!

God created all of us with green grass…not greener than someone else. It is what we do with the grass we are currently standing on that matter’s. You need to water, aerate, fertilize, nurture, and mow the grass when it is necessary. See when you work the fields of grass you are currently standing on it will become greener than you ever imagined and soon that grass on the other side will dry up and turn brown and blow away with the wind.

Let me close by saying you need to kneel on that grass and PRAY for God to guide and protect you through the “storms” that you will encounter and you will see that God has provided all you need and the grass you are standing on will be wondrous and flourishing…paradise in your eyes!

The choice is yours…

45 Minutes with an Elite Runner…Dr. Mark Cucuzzella

Sunday was a special day in my running world. I drove to Shepherdstown, West Virginia to meet Dr. Mark Cucuzzella at his store Two Rivers Treads (www.trtreads.com). The drive was magnificent. The rolling hills of West Virginia were all green with old and new homes. I love this part of America and getting away from the city. Here there are no honking cars, drivers crossing four lanes of traffic to make an exit. I drove on a two lane road with the feel of being on a roller coaster as I navigated the winding road.  As I pulled into town and parked I noticed the town had old stores, shops with crafts and the walkways were still made of brick. Mark’s store is not that big, and if you don’t look closely you could walk right past it. The store itself gave you the feel of being in a home, two men greeted me and were most helpful. We started to talk about the different shoes and I gave them a bit of my background before Mark walked in with his two children.

Mark was so down to earth, greeting me with a smile. After a few minutes, we got right down to the heart of our meeting time...running tips. He had just returned from San Diego, so I was just thankful that he took time out of his schedule to see me. We started to chat and he gave me some tips for running better, his style of running and what it had done for him over the years. He had me do some drills right there in the store, even while other customers were browsing....another down to earth aspect of his store. After 45 minutes we had discussed everything I came for and with that he departed with his family. I then looked at several different types of shoes and finished by selecting the Merrell Master Barefoot.  As I departed the store for home I felt humbled that Mark would take time out of his busy schedule to meet with me personally…that is the type of guy he is.

Running Stats for the Month of June...knee recovery!

The month of June was all about recovery. As I blogged last month I developed a little surprise irritation in my right knee. After a doctor’s visit, custom fitting shoe appointment, reading many articles on running and REST, my right knee is much better. I have learned that stretching and strength training are critical in keeping your legs healthy and RUN ready.

With that said, it was time for a change in my running style and shoes. I have been inspired by last year’s USAF Marathon Winner and elite runner Dr. Mark Cucuzzella. He is an advocate for the minimalist shoe and his running style is spot on. Over the last several weeks I have been training and developing this new style of running and I have to say I am feeling better, less pain on my knees and generally do not feel winded after my runs. I am taking it slow here at the beginning to build my endurance. New shoes are in store this week as I move to a transitional shoe then minimalist.  

If you are interested to know about Mark’s philosophy on running etc., I have provided his information below:

Mark Cucuzzella MD FAAFP

Professor West Virginia University School of Medicine

Advocate for Healthier Running

Education Site: http://naturalrunningcenter.com

Store:  http://trtreads.org

Event Series http://www.freedomsrun.org

Blog:  http://runshepherd.com

store/race HQ 304-876-1100

Lastly, here are my numbers for June:

Ran: 1.64 miles

Biked: 11.32 miles

Walked: 16.91 miles

July here we come.......

Happy FATHERs Day…what is in a name?

Depending on the version of the bible you read FATHER is mentioned about 950+ times. Have you ever wondered why it is used so many times? What is truly in the name FATHER? As we all celebrated Father’s Day last Sunday I thought it fitting to write on that very subject. You see, I was the bad example and not deserving of the wife I have until I learned five core responsibilities that I will blog about. You have to open your mind to the truth and be willing to obey. The Father’s role is not an easy one by any means. So here we go…the five responsibilities.

First, he is a leader. Nowhere is it plainer than in the qualifications to be an overseer. 1 Timothy 1:2-5; Now the overseer is to be above reproach, faithful to his wife, temperate, self-controlled, respectable, hospitable, able to teach, not given to drunkenness, not violent but gentle, not quarrelsome, not a lover of money. He must manage his own family well and see that his children obey him, and he must do so in a manner worthy of full respect. (If anyone does not know how to manage his own family, how can he take care of God’s church?). Unfortunately, in today’s world, the father thinks he is the leader of the house, and mom may even let him believe it. In reality, she manages nearly everything! Father’s don’t even know what’s going on and sadly some don’t even care or even enjoy the arrangement. Let me wipe my hands of my responsibilities so I can enjoy ESPN, etc they say. The wife decides what the kids will and will not do. She is the disciplinarian. She checks all the homework, does the teacher conferences etc. Where is the Father? Is he the yelling figure in the background? Nice presence to have huh?  Fathers leading means providing for the family with food, clothing, shelter, medical care, instruction, discussions about the bible, worship and encouraging church involvement. I am in no way saying a Father should lead as a dictator, iron hand, making every decision and doing everything himself. He recognizes his wife’s abilities and encourages her to develop them and use them.

Second, he is a Spiritual leader. Far too often Father’s just don’t care about the spiritual things or are too scared to start and the mother takes the lead, leaving the kids with the impression that involvement in church is for the woman to do. Drop the PRIDE, stand up and become the spiritual leader of your home. Father’s should be in PRAYER over all their decisions.

Third, he is a good lover. He must love his wife with an unselfish, forgiving love, a love that transcends all love except for God himself. That means that after God your wife comes first in your life--before you, before your boss, before your friends, before your brother’s in Christ, even before your children. And those very children will be the beneficiaries of your faithfulness. Your love for their mom, openly expressed, will give them a sense of satisfaction and security that nothing else in this world can provide. So, Father’s, take your wife out for dinner periodically. Bring her something that says “I love you.” Spend time talking about the things that are burdening her. Be sensitive to her needs and live to meet those needs. If she’s had a frustrating day, cheerfully encourage her. Don’t mock her or argue in your kid’s presence.

Fourth, he is a disciplinarian. Fathers who rule by force and fear will produce angry rebellious or worse a child that feels unworthy and completely rejected. Good discipline begins with self-discipline, not with a loud mouth or a lot of muscle. Offering spirit-directed discipline is the way.

Fifth, he is a companion. I am not saying a PAL. Fathers have made fools of themselves palling around with their kids and trying to do everything they do, often to the embarrassment of the younger children. By companion I mean comrade, confidant, and friend.

A boy particularly needs to know his Father. His Father represents the man he will become--the husband he will be to his wife, the father he will be to his children, the provider he will be for his family, the leader he will be in his church. He needs an example to follow, a model to identify with, and a Father he can be proud of. Sons will repeat patterns set by their Fathers. That’s a scary thought, isn’t it?

Daughters too need to know their Fathers. A girl learns from her Father what men are like. He represents the husband she will one day marry, the Father of her children. So, become the kind of husband you want your daughter to marry. If Fathers deprive their daughter’s companionship, the resentment she feels will be transferred to other men.

So those are my five core responsibilities...

Lastly, let me name off a few of the greatest Father’s in the bible (My opinion of course):

Noah
Abraham

Isaac

Jacob

Saul

David

Job

Did I get your curiosity up…do some simple research on each of these Fathers, yes you will find faults but in history they are the biggest names of our time.

So Father’s I hope you enjoyed your day! Remember what a FATHER truly is.

The choice is yours!

Seasons Are Like Puzzles

Puzzles; we have at some point in our lives put one together, or tried and got angry and put the pieces back in the box and shelved it for later, sold it in a garage sale, or donated it to the Thrift Store, Goodwill or Salvation Army. They can be 10, 500, 5,000 pieces. Regardless of the size as you take them out of the box and look at them for the first time, you wonder how it will all fit together. I always jump in and find the corner pieces. As the pieces are spread out you start looking at the edges of each individual piece to see what will fit together. Soon, a picture develops, yes we see it on the front of the box, but imagine for a minute if you didn’t see the picture on the front of the box, nor had it at all. Would you be curious or frustrated?

Now, think of the pieces of this puzzle as events happening in the Seasons of your life. Seasons in this case are not the typical Spring, Summer, Fall and Winter. These are Season’s God has you go through in your life. We have all gone through them and yes there are more on the way. They can be long, short, stormy, calm, and yes even tranquil, it is all up to God. Each one, he develops in his unique way just like a puzzle. Imagine how many puzzle pieces he has to deal with each day? What if he has the same reaction we do with puzzles…he tried to put it together, but got angry and shelved it for later? Or worse donated it? If you sit back and think about it, it is scary. He will never do that, but I think you get the picture.

Our job is to realize he has put us in certain Season’s for a reason and when he is done putting the puzzle together the Season will be revealed. Realize too that he might start another puzzle before the previous one is complete. Have you ever had multiple puzzles going at once? He has billions! Do you have full FAITH and TRUST he knows what he is doing or are you going to try to put the puzzle together YOUR way? Be careful he might put you in a box and shelf you for later!

The choice is yours.

Running Stats for the Month of May...with a bit of a surprise!

Well the month of May brought a few let’s just say changes. May was supposed to be a quiet month, no planned races, and a normal route of afternoon runs. Well that all changed in the middle of the month. I developed a sore knee and was forced to rest it the last part of the month. I learned a few stretching exercises that truly helped my legs. I have started a strength training workout to develop my legs. This I hope will help during the Fall running season.

So here are the final numbers for May:

Ran: 10 miles

Biked: 17.81 miles

Walked: 32 miles

Not too bad considering.

Book Review of the 1st 5 Books I have read in 2012

If you have kept up with my running goals this year, I added a book reading goal as well, 12 books in 2012. To date 5 books are complete and I am currently reading 6 and 7 together. Those will be revealed at a later date, but let me provide my overview and thoughts on the 5 books I have completed thus far.

The Circle Maker, by Mark Batterson
One of the best books I have read on prayer EVER. It has transformed my thoughts and the way I pray. Mark’s main point in this book is to Dream Big, Pray Hard and Think Long. He highlights the legend of Honi the circle maker who prayer walked his way around a devastating drought in first century BC Israel until the rains came. Mark challenges you to Pray Through your situations. We all have prayed for certain things or situations in our lives, but have you stopped to say…did I pray more than once about it? Praying Through means to continuously pray until it is answered or in some (some would argue most) times they never are…which makes you think were they really prays for Godly outcomes or for your own selfishness? You need to look in the mirror for that answer. Mark’s other BIG action is to circle those prayers. He describes his time of circling the Capital in prayer. The main point is to circle your prayers and go back to them. A prayer journal will certainly help. I adopted one just because of this book and I have not looked back. It is amazing what you will discover about your prayers when you read through your journal. I could go on but then I would be cheating you out a good read. Go look it up…you won’t regret it!

In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day, by Mark Batterson
Another excellent read! I could go into details but I think Mark’s Lion Chaser’s Manifesto sums this book up nicely! Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don’t let what’s wrong with you keep you from worshiping what’s right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze new trails. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don’t try to be who you’re not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Don’t let fear dictate your decisions. Take a flying leap of faith. Chase the lion!

Wild Goose Chase, by Mark Batterson
As the title says, Mark talks about the Spirit of God being somewhat like a Wild Goose Chase. The prompting of the Holy Spirit will drive you to do things you would not normally do. Sometimes it makes sense and other times…well it just seems pointless, but don’t doubt God’s prompting; they are for very good reasons. He talks of us being in a cage, like a bird would be. See a cage is a SAFE place, you know your surroundings, things are routine, and you feel safe. Mark identifies six cages; cage of responsibility, cage of routine, cage of assumptions, cage of guilt, cage of failure and finally the cage of fear. Mark takes chasing the Goose to a whole different level and he shows you how life can become an adventure “when you chase the trackless, matchless Goose of heaven”. What a challenge! Are you up for it…get this book and find out how others have chosen to Chase the Goose instead of being hunkered in a cage!  

Primal, by Mark Batterson
Mark brings us back to the origins of Christianity in Primal. He starts you off by having you descend down to the depths of the underground as he called it to look for the lost soul of Christianity. This book asks you to look deep within yourself, do you truly believe the religion we call Christianity, or is it simply skin deep and simple. Do you want to get back to what Christianity was and should be in the deep depths of your soul? A lot of people today say “they believe”, but do they truly understand what those two words really mean? Heck some don’t even know why they believe in Christianity. Some even say ”Yep I am Christian”, but don’t know the first thing about actually living that way. Mark brings you back to you soul. He talks of the heart we all need to have. One example he used in the book was Blake Mycoskie, chief shoe giver at TOMS Shoes. This is awesome…for every pair of TOMS you buy you are giving a pair of shoes to a third world country child. Yep one for one deal!  How cool is that, giving back is what we all should be doing. Wouldn’t the world be such a peaceful place if we all did that? This book is a wonderful way to get back to what really matters, loving God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength.

And now I will move to my 5^th book. Recommended by my wife, it discusses the woman’s soul and their battles every day. MEN…you are not less of a man if you read a woman’s book…I learned from this book and was enlightened on some things that I had not realized about a woman. 
So here is the review…

Captivating, by John and Stasi Eldredge
Throughout this book both John and Stasi take turns telling you about the worries, thoughts, and actions of a woman. They go into more details but that is why you need to get this book…many secrets await you!! We also hear of the times women dress up to look like princesses, dream of meeting prince charming, but you will also hear about the troubles of growing up, being considered less worthy, being objects, it was during these times in the book that I had a hard time reading. MEN…let us remember that a woman was created by God himself. God left his masterpiece for last; she is the Master’s finishing touch. This was the beginning of the book, once you make it to the end both John and Stasi remind us of the most worthy and trusted people in the bible where women.  Do the names Mary, Ester, Rahab, Lydia, Nympha, Apphia, Priscilla, Junias ring a bell? Just think if any of these women said NO to the calling…where would we be today? Some of these names you would easily recognize, but others you would not. For those that you don’t leave Wikipedia alone and go look them up in the greatest book ever written…The Bible.

Well those are the 5 reviews, each one with a unique perspective on different areas of our lives, but areas that will shape not only your life but potentially generations after you!  Think about it!

How did the month of April turn out for running you ask?

Well here is a recap of the April Running Adventures!
Washington DC Cherry Blossom 10 Miler: It was a beautiful day and I ran in a very good time of 1:21. Nothing to compare it to, but if I do another 10 miler here is my standard to beat. 
Virginia 24-hour Ultra Marathon: What an experience! Very good cause!  I blogged about the experience already so take a look.

Finishing totals for April:

Ran: 73.75 miles

Biked: 11.07 miles

Not too bad of an April. The months of May-Aug will be quiet for scheduled races (none planned to HOT). I will be training for the Fall races to come, with planned races consisting of the USAF Marathon (Sept), Marine Corps Marathon (Oct) and the Norfolk Marathon (Nov) to finish the year off. I am hoping to finish one of those three in under 4 hrs.

My Experience As I Ran The 2010 OKC Marathon

I am posting this experience from the OKC Marathon in an effort to get all my post in the same location...enjoy this one written right after the marathon in 2010.

OKLAHOMA CITY MEMORIAL MARATHON 25 April 2010

After months of training and anticipation it is the morning of the marathon. I woke at 4 am. Keeping with the normal routine I made coffee and had a bowl of GO LEAN Crunch!! Good stuff!

I then decided to get on Facebook and check for messages and to update my status before departing for downtown OKC. Oh I had to squeeze in a game of Mafia Wars. At this point, I am getting more and more excited. My mother and Frank came in for the race as well as Tiffany’ step brother Jimmy and a friend so I had to wake everyone up. We then made it out the door a few minutes early. After a quick stop to pick up a friend of mine (Matt was running the marathon as well), we made it to the marathon at 5:30 am. After parking and walking in 40 degree weather (Oh and it is windy of course…..we are in Oklahoma no surprise there) we made our way to the corral area for the race. They then made an announcement for 168 seconds of silence to honor the victims of the Oklahoma City Bombing. Everyone stopped talking except wouldn’t you know a security guard, he was yelling out orders. We all told him to STOP TALKING. After walking around a bit to find the location for the start of the race, I met up with another friend from my Life Group (from Lifechurch.tv) named Marty. He is amazing! Oh I need to mention here that Marty and I were running in Honor of Sgt Ben Davis, USMC who perished in the bombing.

The time has come….4….3…..2….1 and we were off. My friend Matt (who runs much faster than me) took right off and waved goodbye to Marty and I. Go figure that my Garmin couldn’t find satellites until a second after I started the race, but none-the-less it found the satellite and I was set.

Marty and I started off on a feverish pace; the first mile was clocked at 9:09. That was about 1 minute faster than both of us wanted to pace at, but we both felt really good so we continued. Mile 2, 3, 4 and 5 were just about the same as we clocked at 9:39, 9:18, 9:01 and 9:07 respectfully. To be honest we were both extremely happy with the pace and the time. I was thinking the whole time that I could not maintain this pace, but to my surprise it continued and after 7 miles we were still clocking a 9:01 pace. At this point it was time for Marty to split off to finish the half-marathon. I continued straight, giving Marty a High-5 and good luck. Let me mention here that the crowds were so supportive and the water and Gatorade stations rocked throughout the entire marathon!

At this point I had just lost my pace partner so I thought I would probably start to slow down. To my surprise the pace continued. Miles 8, 9, 10, 11 were all clocked at 8:59, 9:16, 8:58 and 9:09. I was feeling AWESOME!! Oh during this time I had to stop for a quick bath room break or should I say a short porta potty break. Miles 12-16 were still at this fast pace and at this point I was thinking that the Wall I normally hit at Mile 16 was not going to come. During this part of the race we ran by Lake Hefner and with the wind in our faces…well that was a real treat! But it sure did feel good when I turned around and the wind was at my back….gliding along was wonderful. Miles 17-19 went without the wall and my mind was thinking “You Da Man!” No wall today baby. Boy was that all about to change!

Hello body and legs, welcome to mile 20. Yes I hit the wall and hit it hard. It was like I looked over and saw the flag with 20 MILES on it and my legs said “Yep we are done”. I was like really, come on I have made it to 20 miles and now you want to hit the wall…come on legs get it together. After four miles of back and forth arguments with my legs, Miles 20-24 were timed at 9:45, 10:13, 12:03, 11:26, and 11:17. Finally they gave in and I finished the race strong.

After finishing, it was time to give myself a treat. I hit the cookie, banana, bagel and water stations hard. Then I quickly found everyone to celebrate together.

Virginia 24-Hour Ultra Marathon Run

(Me, Susan, Lloyd, Kim, Brian, Kelly)

WOW!!  That is a good way to explain this run in one word. A 24-hour marathon is one of those unique runs…there was no set miles; it was more of how many miles you want to run in the 24-hour period. My friend Brian Burk introduced this run to me earlier this year. At first I was unsure if I wanted to tackle something like this, but as the weeks and days leading up to the event got closer, I started to warm to the idea. It was for a great cause --the American Cancer Society. My wife had a wonderful idea of running it for the breast cancer survivors she has had the honor of helping through the years and I thought what a wonderful way for me to give back to the women who have gone through the pain and suffering it has caused. A big shout out to Joyce Chapman, Pam Kloiber, Melissa Horton, Amy Carlin, Beverly Pitts and Kimberly Clemmens, running for you was an HONOR! I want to thank Debbie Wingard for making the shirt that I wore the first 30 miles or so. I had plenty of people recognize the shirt and say thanks for running the event in their honor. AND Yes it was pink and Yes this MAN wore it. I even found out right before the race that one of the women I was running with was a breast cancer survivor. CONGRATS to Brian Burk (Our Leader) 75 miles, Susan 52.5 miles, Lloyd 52.5 miles, Kim 52.5 milesand Kelly 52.5 miles,. We battled through the miles and everyone did awesome. I couldn’t have reached my 63.75 miles without your help and encouragement. The photo above was right before the race…we all looked so happy.

So let me provide some play by play.

First 11 miles: Went really well, we were all on a good steady pace. One of the things I really liked about this race was after finishing a lap (3.75 miles) you were able to rest at your base camp (that is what we called it). I was able to hydrate, eat snacks or get on Facebook and update my friends.

Mile 15: Stopped for a tire change. My shoes were feeling like they were pressuring my big toe so I switched to my older pair and it made a huge difference.

Mile 22.5: I made it to this point in 4 ½ hours. Good pace and I felt like I wasn’t rushing the race (I had to remind myself of the “The Tortoise and The Hare” many times). I took a 1 hour break for fuel. I had a huge baked potato with chicken (compliments of Michele Burk). After digesting and resting it was time to get back on the course. One thing to note here…do not just lie around for an hour. You need to stretch, move your feet etc. I made the mistake of just resting and drinking. Once I started running again, it was a bit painful, but after about a mile I was fine again.

Mile 30: Nothing really changing at this point in the race. I was happy to be over 30 miles. I felt good and hydrated but it was starting to get a bit warm. The high was forecasted to be 82 degrees and it was feeling that way.During this time I was thinking…so this is what it feels like to run further than a marathon…hmmm not to bad. I was still on a good pace.

Mile 37.5: Time for maintenance. New socks and shirt...this was new to me. For a marathon I run it without changing. In an Ultra it is all about taking care of yourselfand remaining the “Tortoise”.  It made a huge difference to have fresh socks on my feet. By this point in the race it was the hottest part of the day and I was sweating pretty good. Having a new shirt was just as refreshing as the sock change out.

Mile 45: I hit the rest hour…it was time to fuel again. Again, Michele came to the rescue and brought us Chick Fil-La. I ate quickly and stretched etc. Brian made it to base camp about 15 mins ahead of me, so instead of taking the hour I left base camp with only 45 mins of rest.

Mile 56.25: Well the Iphone died so I was not able to post my status to everyone on Facebook. But, things were still going rather good. I was pushing out 45-50 minute laps, and the pattern of walking and running was going good. Thinking back through the evening, I could have hydrated a bit more. With the temperature going down and the sun disappearing from the afternoon sky, I was not drinking as much as I should/could have.

Mile 60: I finished strong here, but could tell the body was getting a bit tired, not from the running but from the number of hours I had been awakeetc. Susan, Lloyd, Kim and Kelly were at base camp and where preparing to go out for their final lap. I decided it would be cool to see them finish so I went out with them. We walked the entire lap.

Mile 63.75: The end of the road…as I made it back to base camp, I could really tell I was getting tired. I set down and Susan offered me a Gatorade. Right before this I had gone to my car to get my Oklahoma Sooner hoodie for the remaining 3 laps. It had started to rain on us during the last lap, so I wanted to keep warm. After drinking a little I stood up and it hit me…the world was spinning. It was at this point, Susan thankfully advised me to lay down.

Well there is my little snap shot of my first Ultra Marathon. Amazing experience and I felt protected by God throughout. Praise goes to him for my strength and determination!

Updated Running Goals for 2012

So I thought I would sit down and look over my running goals I set back in March 2012.

1. Run 6 marathons: Well I have run 2 so far (I considered the recent ultra as 1 marathon…debating counting it as 2). I ran the Cherry blossom 10 miler in between the two.

2. Run 100 miles a month:

March: 56 miles.

April so far: 73.75 miles.

I am under my goals per month…I am thinking of reassessing the miles to a bit lower. We will see what I decide…you never know I might just jump into another Ultra Marathon.

3. Decrease my finish time each marathon.

Well I did 4:06 at the Rock and Roll DC Style, so we will see what the USAF Marathon in Sept brings. The recent Ultra Marathon will not count…totally different animal.

I will keep updating my running goals as the year progresses, but thus far I am happy with how the year is going.

Piercing Eyes

You wake up one day (or so you think) in a white room with no windows seated at a white desk. A door suddenly opens and a man appears. As he approaches,he is calm, does not speak, and clothed in a white robe. Scared and disoriented you look and see the visible holes in both his hands, scars from flogging across his neck and sides of his face, his forehead depicts deeply pressed thorns that look extremely painful. You quickly realize you are in the room with Jesus. It is just YOU and HIM! He sits directly across from you, still not speaking he looks directly at you with those piercing eyes; it is if he is seeing right through you. You begin to shake, sweat, tremble and have a hard time looking directly at him. After what seems like an eternity, he finally speaks…hello my son/daughter, today is judgment day. A series of questions come directly at you, he NEVER stops staring directly into your eyes, and he doesn’t need a notepad to look down to reference. Did you seek ME for a relationship? Did you come to ME for advice? Did you read what I left for you? Did you leave a legacy that others will know ME? Were you a spiritual leader? As he finishes, he pauses and waits. It is your turn, he has all the time you need, it is YOU and HIM, no distractions, no iphone, no ipad, no ESPN, no hiding behind someone, no calling a friend. Do you look directly into his piercing eyes or are you struggling to keep eye contact? Do you find yourself looking away as you answer? Or do you simply not have an answer? In the meantime, you are thinking in your mind…I wasn’t ready for this!! Let me go back!! I can make this right!! I was going to start doing these things!! Oh NO here I am!!

What a meeting huh? The wonderful news is you can start right now making things right, so when this meeting happens you can set at the desk staring directly into his piercing eyes and answer all his questions calmly with a firm YES.

The choice is yours.