Running

You NEED a Snickers

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Those snicker commercials…”you’re not you when you’re hungry”…excellent. I use that line often. “You need a snickers.”

Recently I discovered I hadn’t been me. And I didn’t even realize it. 

Sometimes, for various reasons, we can let life get us away from what makes us us. Or what keeps us healthy, alert, moving forward.

For example, reading is something I NEED. Earlier this year I realized that I hadn’t been doing it at the level at which I need. In a sense, I was starving myself. When I realized it, the first thing I did was ask the why question. Answered that, then determined to get back to doing what I need. And I feel more like me. Hunger satisfied.

That’s one of a few things I need to be me. There are certainly universal things we all need. But there are needs/things that are unique to us individually. Do you know your things that make you you? God designed you to need those things. How do you make sure you get them? You’re more you when you have them. 

Self-starvation is just crazy. Know your needs. Be aggressive in getting them so you can be you.

Good News, Bad News, Good News

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Good News #1:  Goal Met

http://myevent.com/Runningforstorytellers

The link above is to a fundraising page created in support of a church in Detroit.  As you read the cover page on this site, you’ll read they’ve been in a campaign to raise $20,000 by Memorial Day.  Good News: they’ve reached their goal…two weeks ahead of schedule.  This was phase one of a year-end goal to raise $50,000.

grastonBad News #1:  Sidelined

My right calf has been giving me fits for almost two months.  I finally saw a doctor yesterday and running the race this Sunday is out of the question.  Nothing longterm, just have to work out some scar tissue through therapy (follow this link about graston technique) and rebuild.  But, that means the dollars donated for this cause and this race seem unresolved.  Nothing more frustrating to me than not being able to run a race that is paid and trained for with a goal of helping others attached.

Good News #2:  Transferable

It hit me that through the Race 13.1 series, they might have a transfer policy in place to allow you to move your registration from one race to another.  Sure enough, checked the website, and that was an option.  So Good News: I can train for another race this year without losing the registration, and not only should I be able to honor the intent of the funds already raised, now we can further assist Storytellers as they move into their next fundraising phase by raising more funds before my rescheduled race.  

Stay tuned to find out the rescheduling and how you can support this next phase for Storytellers.

 

Practice, Practice, Practice

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Tonight I was reminded of the importance of repeating fundamentals in any discipline to maintain the opportunity to be great, or at least to improve.

Most great accomplishments are the result of doing little things faithfully over a long time.

  • For a pianist, the little things include scales and arpeggios.
  • For a runner, the little things include hydrating and stretching.
  • For a journalist, the little things include listening and questioning.

You have disciplines, whether you see them as that or not. You may have the discipline of being a student, or being a mother, or being an employee, or being a dancer. When we stop to think about all areas of our lives, we maintain many disciplines. Sounds tiring. Hard to maintain.

So what keeps us honed, sharp, improving, growing? Not ignoring the fundamentals. Practice, practice, practice.

You want to be a faithful employee? Show up on time. Meet the deadline. Say thank you.

You want to be a faithful husband? Take your wife out on a date. Ask her what needs to be done around the house. Give her a kiss right now.

You want to be a faithful follower of Christ? Talk with God about other things besides your plate of food. Read His letter to you as often as you can. Talk with others about your faith in God.

We all desire to be great or at least moving in a forward direction. Remember the fundamentals of your discipline. Practice, practice, practice.