Marathon Lessons . . . Hidden Potential

I was amazed at ALL the different ages, sizes, athletic inclinations and body shapes that were represented at the marathon!

As I began to look around, I confess that I looked at some folks - actually a lot of folks - and said how they can they do this? Maybe they're just watching? Say what?

And then later (or sometimes sooner!) I got passed by some of those same people!

I tend to look at Problems. The race helped me look at Potential.

God doesn't look at our problems. He looks at our potential.

Wow, what if we quit seeing problems with people around us and instead saw potential?? And then what if we told them about the potential we saw? And then what if we stood on the sidelines and cheered them as they used their potential?

I saw a lot of that going on in Austin. And I saw a lot of people with a lot of 'problems' fulfilling potential in incredible ways. Maybe you and I seeing the ability in those around us, are the answer to a lot of people running marathons . . .

Marathon Lessons . . . Be Encouraged!

You Never Know How Your Encouragement Helps Someone Take One More Step!

One of the really cool things about the marathon was the thousands of people on the sides cheering us the entire time - amazing! I don't think we ever went 100 yards without spectators yelling for us. (This pic not of me, just to see the crowds.)

People were yelling, 'Way to go!' 'You're doing awesome!' Near the end folks were yelling stuff like: 'Only 2 more miles, don't give up! Finish strong!'

Our names were on our bibs and some people would even yell our names. At one point some lady yells: 'Way to go John! I'm so proud of you, keep going hard!'

And then to pass my family on the side cheering and yelling for me was incredible. (Here I am passing my family and getting 'fives.')

And then some people just made you smile. One dad and three small kids each had a sign and as they stood together they said: 'Way To Go Mom!'

But the best was a lady who I saw up ahead of us at about the 11 mile mark whose sign said: 'You're Crazy!' My cousin and I were chuckling (I couldn't actually laugh at 11 miles!) And then as we got closer, it was Cindy's sister!! I was laughing then and her sign was so great that this picture was in Austin American Statesman on Monday morning!

I can't tell you how encouraging all those people were. I wonder how many people are able to run one more step because of that encouragement . . . go one more mile because they heard from people who believed in them.

It just reminded me of people all around me who need to be encouraged. Who need to be cheered on and told that they can do it! To be strong and courageous! That I am proud of them! I confess that I'm not very good at this. But I'm asking God to help me.

We are in a race. A marathon. It's hard. It's long. It's painful. But if we encourage each other we can go one more step. One more mile. One more day. And maybe even smile :)

Marathon Lessons . . . ONE ok, TWO better

Two ARE Better than One

The writer of Ecclesiastes talks about all these ways that two are better than one - to keep warm, to protect each other, to keep each other from falling . . .

I can tell you another one . . . to run a half-marathon. I was so blessed that my cousin decided to run with me instead of running the marathon. (This is a pic that Cindy snapped just before the finish line and that's him just inside me in the white).

I had done all my training by myself, but I don't know if I would have made it without him running alongside me - encouraging me and challenging me - but mostly just being beside me.

I have a pretty small family - 3 cousins total! And with the exception of one short season, we've never lived near each other or known each other well. So how cool it was that we got to spend over 3 hours together hanging out - just me and him. We hadn't done that in 20 years.

Life is a marathon. And how foolish when we try to it alone.

By ourselves, we will NOT reach our potential. It's just too big . . . and God designed us to need each other. . . He designed life to be done together.

AND not only that, but alone we will miss out on some huge blessings of great friendships.

What are you doing alone that you need to be doing with someone else?

Marathon Lessons . . . Training

I'm still amazed that the race has come and gone. (The pic to the right is just before the start . . . and NO I'm not in the front)

The process and the race itself was an incredible experience that left me with many great lessons. I want to share some of these in a few posts. Here's the first:

There's no Substitute for Training -
Peter said: "Prepare your minds for action . . ." (1 Peter 1:13)

When I first began my training the 3 & 4 mile runs were a grind. (A stinking grind!) Then as the distance was gradually lengthened and my body was pushed into shape, they became less of a grind.

Now, I can run 4-5 miles and it's not a big deal for my body or mentally. I can stay focused on other things - my sermon, a challenge I'm struggling with, my family.

BUT, once I hit 8 or 9 miles different pains start to surface - my knees, my hips, my breathing.
And without that training - that training of my mind as I train my body - I begin to focus on those problems. And then as I start focusing on my problems, I want to quit. I start thinking, 'This is stupid. This isn't worth it.' 'Why am I doing this?' And it becomes easy to give up.

But as I trained and pushed through the pain, I learned that I had to focus on what was ahead, on the race and not the pain.

So, true in our spiritual lives. If we don't train daily in God's Word. If we don't train daily by seeking to abide in Jesus. Then when the pain comes - and it will - we will be easily seduced into quitting.

Too many people treat God like a magic genie and just call on Him when the pain comes - like not training and just jumping in the marathon.
And then their disappointed when the pain doesn't go away.
God doesn't always take the pain away.

But when we abide (train) in Him, He teaches us that He is always with us. He teaches us how to focus on Him. He teaches us how to run through it. He prepares our mind for action.

[This is a pic Cindy snapped as I ran by at about 6 miles . . . notice that I'm going so fast that I'm kind of a blur! I'm pretty sure that the airspeed that I was generating even blinded that guy behind me!]

THUD! (That was a lion falling)

Wow, I made it! I praise God that I was able to chase down and tackle the 1/2 marathon lion today -- it was awesome! (You can actually check out my race results here . . . That's cool!)

I want to share more in a later about some of what I learned through this marathon experience (and some more pics) but as I'm about to drop from exhaustion into my bed (even though I'm still excited even after a loooong drive home from Austin), I just want to a praise God for some things about this weekend:

- I'm thankful for my family being able to be there with me - that just increased the 'special' level
- I'm thankful for my Dad being an awesome chauffeur and dropping us off two blocks from the start (Thanks Dad!)
- I'm thankful for an absolutely incredible day to run on (50 degrees & sunny at start!)
- I'm thankful for my cousin giving up running the marathon to run with and encourage me (Thanks John, I don't know if I would have made it without you)
- I'm thankful for all the folks on the side of the road who cheered for and encouraged me for 13.1 miles
- I'm thankful for ALL of you praying for me
- I'm thankful for Dino Roseland stepping in from the bullpen this morning to preach at Oso Creek (Harold Teel got stuck in Mexcio) and doing what I heard was a fantastic job!
- And I am so thankful to God for giving me the vision in my life to chase lions that may seem insignificant to others --- and the strength to see them fall!

May all of us live to hear many thuds!

12 hours . . .

12 hours till game time. We're at my Dad's in Austin. Emily is here with us and we've gotten to catch up some -- that makes it worth the trip!

Went down to the convention center this afternoon and picked up my bib and my chip (they use a computer chip tied onto your shoe to be sure you pass the mile markers . . . and pretty cool they will also text people and let them know your times immediately after you hit the 5 and 10 mile marks . . . so Cindy and the girls are signed up) --- there was a ton of people at the exhibit hall and all kinds of running and health businesses were expoing there wares.

Hooked up with my bro-in-law and cousin there and we made plans for in the morning. Made the mistake of driving the route . . . Tons of mountains (or hills) . . . we don't have hills in Corpus!

My Dad is taking me and we're picking up my cousin at 5:45am on the way to the start. Early. Now, I'm looking forward to a good nights sleep . . . and for the lion to fall!

Can't wait to hear about the awesome message that Harold Teel delivers in the moring at Oso Creek. I think that it's healthy for the body to hear different voices that are seeking God . . .

Count Down!

Less than 24 hours until the race begins! (Actually 23:35:20 per the AT&T Marathon site).
I'm excited and already have some of those pre-game butterflies (and that's a good thing!)

I still can't imagine what 13,000 people is going to look like at the starting line. I have this picture in my mind of the running of the bulls in Pamplona, Spain and that if I don't take off quickly I'll get trampled :)

The drive to Austin today and then best of all, Emily is meeting us there! So this evening we'll get to hang out with her and my Dad and his wife, and also see my brother and sister in law.

The forecast is showing beautiful race time weather - 50 degrees and sunny. It's on!

4 Days n' Counting!

Went on my last short jog today (about 2 1/2 miles) before the AT&T Half Marathon on Sunday!
And per the countdown on the front page of the marathon website it's 3:14:40:10 until the gun sounds.

I'll rest my body for the remainder of the week as I've been told to do (although it seems kind of counterintuitive to me to work so hard for months and then just quit the week of the race!).

Besides my morning cup of joe, I'm just drinking water this week to make sure I get plenty hydrated. I'm also trying to get to bed & up in the morning as I'll have to get up at about 4:30 Sunday morning to get there (12,500 runners, plus volunteers, fans and the US Olympic Committee that will be there to scout me for the 2012 team!) and be ready for the start.
And then on Saturday night I'm gonna eat early and load up on pasta.

My anticipation builds . . . The lion will fall!

Last Long Day . . . Countdown Begins!

Today I did my last long run before the AT&T Half-Marathon (in Austin) in 10 days!

Ran for the longest time yet (1:51:05) which was my goal. I didn't expect the heat though and it almost killed me (it's 80 degrees in February!)

This next week I'll gear it down and try to get my body ready . . . getting kind of nervous, but a good nervous!

10.5

Long running day yesterday. Ran 10.5 miles. I had hoped to get to 11 so I was a little disappointed. At about 7 miles serious knee & hip pains began and then at 10.5 the hip pain shot up and down my side so I thought it best to shut it down. Only 3 weeks till the race and I don't want to put that in jeopardy.
It slowed me down but I did run further and longer (1:47:30) than I ever have!

I know that God is teaching me a lot through this . . . much about perseverance. When I'm in the midst of the miles and pain (and most of the pain is normally just in my mind) I know that I can only go on one step at at time.

Cross Training

The last few months as I've been preparing for the Austin Half-marathon, my cousin and trainer, has had me 'cross-training.'

I run every other day. I do a 'maintenance run' one day (4-4.5 miles) then two days later I run 'intervals' (not my favorite . . . 40 minutes total . . . jog 10 minutes, then for the next 20 minutes alternate between 2 minutes sprinting and one minute jogging, then end with 10 minutes jogging). Two days later I do a maintenance run; then two days after that I do a 'long run', increasing a mile each week. Then I start over.

It was explained to me how all these workouts have their different purposes to prepare me (I won't go into the messy details).

I've been talking about having a vision of following Jesus in a multiplying way, and if that is going to happen there are many ways we 'cross train' in getting there.

There are many different 'spiritual practices' that help us to mature in different ways. To this point I've talked a lot about reading God's Truth because it is basic and vital.
But we also moved towards God by exercising spiritually in other ways. Here's a few of them:

- Times of reflection and prayer - we need this daily to not just read, but meditate and respond to God

- Journaling - for me it's an awesome way to express myself to God and to record what He is telling me

- Hanging out with other believers - don't think this is a 'spiritual practice'? Read Acts 2

- Fasting - Yeah, I know I hate not eating too! But I find peace in the midst of it. And don't put it in a box. Fasting is simply giving up something that we depend on so that we can focus deeper on God.

- Confession - not only does James say that it brings healing (James 5:16), but confession creates a covenant to follow God (I did a whole post on this, click here to check it out)

- Celebration - didn't know God was into that? The Bible says that all of heaven celebrates when one persons life is changed for eternity! When we celebrate Him it renews our heart!

- Giving - pay for person in line behind you at Whataburger and watch what it does to your desire to serve others.

This is just the beginning of the list! Don't limit your growth. Find new ways to seek God and take others with you.

Which of these would you expand on, or what have you found to help you grow more like Jesus, let us know?

1/2 Marathon Update

Had my toughest day yet running - 8.7 miles. Had equipment issues, water issues, wind issues, knee issues, heat issues . . . I wanted to quit after about 1.5 miles. I was due a tough day, it had been easy lately.
Yet, as hard as it was it feels good to have pressed on through it. The fruit doesn't grow on the mountain top, it grows in the valley.

Only 36 days, 10 hours until race time . . .

Chasing a Lion!

A couple of months ago I told you that one of the lions that I wanted to chase was running a marathon. Well I have officially moved towards that lion. I'm starting with a half-marathon and I'm now signed up to run the AT&T Austin Half-Marathon on February 17th!

For the past 3 weeks I've really picked up my training - thanks to the guidance of my cousin/trainer John Wilson, an avid tri-athlete and marathoner. Today I went over 6 miles for the first time and ran almost an hour (56 minutes). It's been a looooong time since I've run that long. Nearly half-way to 13.1!

What lions are you gonna chase this next year? Tell us about it . . . .