Running

Deeper, Stronger Love

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About this time last Saturday, I was sitting in the stands of Washington-Grizzly Stadium on the campus of the University of Montana in Missoula waiting for the Zootown Challenge 5k to start. Not too sure how the race would go due to fighting off altitude sickness the last 18 hours, I was anxious to get moving.

When they separated the competitors based on expected pace, I ended up standing by this guy, one of several competitors wearing the same shirt.

I asked, “Tell me about the shirt so many of you are wearing. Are you part of a team?”

“No,” he smiled. “We’re just all here to remember my brother, the guy on our shirts. He died last year. He ran this race the first two years it was put on, so we’re all here to honor him.”

“That’s really amazing. There are a lot of you. How many are there?”

“54. And he’s laughing right now. This is something I never do.”

We chuckled at that thought and ended the short chat with encouragement. Basically, no matter what, we’re going to get this done. The line started moving, and we eventually separated. I passed him once on the course with a nod to keep moving.

Nothing was said about how his brother died. A year later, that wasn’t important to share in a random conversation with a stranger. What was most clear was the brother left behind loved his lost brother and was doing things now because of what he saw and remembers. I’m guessing being in that stadium and running the course was a way for him to say, “I haven’t forgotten you. Odd to say, but I love you probably now more than ever.”

This was fresh in my mind as I had just read these words from Henri Nouwen’s book Life of the Beloved:

I am called to trust that life is a preparation for death as a final act of giving…If love is, indeed, stronger than death, then death has the potential to deepen and strengthen the bonds of love. It was only after Jesus had left his disciples that they were able to grasp what he truly meant to them. But isn’t that true for all who die in love? (Chapter 8, “Given”)

May your loves deepen and strengthen.

I-84 Beauty

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In an effort to model balance, here’s some beauty after having posted about lamenting yesterday.

It’s another running trip, this time to the Northwest. The adventure begins in Oregon with the drive from Portland to Pendleton. Having never been to this part of the country, the beauty is as advertised.

You don’t have to even get off I-84 to see it. It’s a pretty constant view of the Columbia River that divides Oregon and Washington. I wonder if Oregonians ever tire of it.

When I looked at the map to see what was accessible when you get off I-84, this is what you find.

About 20 miles east of Portland there is a stretch of exits that take you to several Falls like Shepperd’s. And apparently Oregonians don’t tire of them. They were out taking them in.

Bridal Veil was basically across the road from Shepperd’s giving a view of the river and Washington’s mountains. Fall isn’t in full artistry, but it’s on the way.

Running from Joppa

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Jonah 1:3 CEV
Instead, Jonah ran from the Lord. He went to the seaport of Joppa and found a ship that was going to Spain. So he paid his fare, then got on the ship and sailed away to escape.

Most 4:30AM runs don’t make me think of Old Testament prophets. This morning, I might as well have been boarding a boat bound for Spain.

Never mind the fact that a gradual heavier rain fell over the five miles. The connection was a familiar spirit that I’ve encountered many times over my 56 years. I’ve come to identify it as the Jonah Syndrome (JS). See if these three words sound symptomatic: frustrated, angry, and resentful.

The more I chatted and listened to myself, the more I realized I wasn’t the only one in the conversation. If I’m being honest, I told God I felt pretty justified in these emotions. He didn’t disagree; but he didn’t give freedom to let them be an excuse for any actions for the day.

That’s when I turned. Instead of getting cozy on the boat kidding myself that the approaching storm had nothing to do with me, I found myself running from Joppa, visualizing the rain symbolically washing away the potential actions produced by JS. The request became, “Replace these symptoms with patience, love, and purpose.”

Here’s what I know about Joppa-you have a choice: keep running to escape or reverse course. Thankfully, God welcomes pacing anyone running from Joppa.

Photo by Justin Aikin on Unsplash

Becomer’s Whispers

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‭Did something a few weeks ago that I haven’t done in a while. Went to an actual bookstore. It was for work, but how does a reader go in a bookstore and not make a personal purchase?

So on my running trip two weeks ago, one of the books made the trip. I’m 15 chapters in.

Chapter 14 is entitled “Whispers.” This paragraph starter got my attention:

There is a verse in Psalms that says, “God whispers to those who trust him.”

Made me want to look it up. Couldn’t find it. Then I checked the chapter notes.

Psalm 25:14, author’s paraphrase

I respect that.

Next I opened my Bible app to compare various translations of this verse. Here are three that come close to Sowers’ paraphrase:

  • Psalms 25:14 ERV‬
    [14] The Lord tells his secrets to his followers. He teaches them about his agreement.
  • ‭Psalms 25:14 TPT‬
    [14] There’s a private place reserved for the devoted lovers of Yahweh, where they sit near him and receive the revelation-secrets of his promises.
  • ‭Psalms 25:14 MSG‬
    [14] God-friendship is for God-worshipers; They are the ones he confides in.

Chapter 14 is in Part 4 of the book entitled “Becoming.” These verses’ images encourage me to be becoming.

A Good Name

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Left this morning for my first 2024 race trip. Checking off three states between Friday and Monday.

I pretty exclusively fly Southwest. And I want to give a shoutout to this guy.

Lead Flight Attendant,
Flight 4811 from MDW to TUL

From what I observed, a lunch conversation with him would be fun. He’s got a story or two, no doubt.

But my shoutout is due to his leading a flight in a way I’ve never witnessed. Here are six ways he did it.

  • It was his cabin. There was no question who was in charge.
  • He set the tone. There was no question about how any craziness would be addressed.
  • He cared more than usual. He asked and reasked passengers about their wants and needs unlike any flight attendant I recall.
  • He balanced firmness with laughter. Firmness first,  followed by plenty of relaxed engagement.
  • He led a unified crew. They followed his lead and appeared to respect and enjoy each other.
  • He was comfortable in his own skin doing things his way. He knew how he wanted things to go and enjoyed doing it.

It wasn’t appropriate as we deplaned, but I wanted to tell him employees like him give Southwest a good name. More importantly,  for all the people he’d say he represents, he gives all of them a good name.

Well done, Sir!

Burden Management

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I was thinking the other day about burdens. Sometimes we know about them; sometimes we’re unaware. More about that in a moment.

As I thought about this, I recalled one of the most memorable images I’ve witnessed while running a race. Believe it or not, it was a runner wearing an Eiffel Tower replica. No kidding.

Frenchman Michel Bach

According to a 2016 article, Mr. Bach has ran in over 200 races around the world. Occasionally he “dons the Eiffel Tower to stand out and embrace his Frenchness.” I don’t recall which race I ran where I saw him (seems like it was either New Orleans or Little Rock), but I was at a loss for words. I believe donning a patch or tattoo of the flag would suffice, but that’s just me.

There are seasons we are well aware of the burdens we have donned. They may have been our choice; they may have been chosen for us. We adjust. We manage. We embrace. When the season is over, we take our learnings and enjoy the lighter season ahead.

Then there are moments where we suddenly awaken to the reality we’ve been carrying a burden without any knowledge when we acquired it. Here’s one that I became aware of a few years ago: Ungrieved Loss. I tell you, that awareness lives out the phrase “knowing is half the battle.”

So how do we wake up to these burdens? I don’t have all the answers to that question, but here are some guesses.

  • Your last sad moment might be a start.
  • What causes your heart heaviness?
  • What’s something you obsess over that is out of your control?
  • What if you asked your closest friend what burdens they believe you carry?
  • Finally, name that thing you know needs to be drawn into the light.

You know, Michel might be on to something. It’s possible he dons a burden he’s aware of in order to bring to light one that’s in the dark. Extreme? Maybe. I’m guessing he lives a lighter life than the rest of us.

Here’s to the pursuit of better burden management, the known and the unknown.

Five Whys from Bridge A Life’s Superhero 5K

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Ran a 5k this morning at the 13th Bridge A Life Superhero Race. This was just my second time at this race, first since 2021 when the event included a 10k for their 10th Anniversary.

Each time I run a 5k I ask myself why. It’s certainly not as taxing as a full marathon, but it’s not my favorite distance. That’s for another post…maybe.

After being at the race for a second time, the answers why this 5k are many.

One: To share about our work at Samaritan Counseling. The tent was busy!

Two: To see what’s possible. Always with goals in mind, I had given myself four lofty goals this week. Managed to achieve one of them: Placed 2nd in Age Group. I’ll take it. (RACE ORGANIZERS: Thanks for including a child’s name on my bib. Thinking of them kept me moving in Mile 3.)

Three: To encourage other runners. Five coworkers also entered the race, and several community partner colleagues were on hand as well.

Four: To be inspired. The oldest male competitor, Bill Welch from Parrish, introduced himself at our tent. He said he enters a 5k every Saturday to support charity. He’s completed over 1,100 races. He’s 86. He took home 3rd place in his age group. Let’s just say it’s going to take over 1,000 races for me to catch Mr. Welch.

Five: To support Bridge A Life‘s vital work in Foster Care. This event brings awareness to the reality of children in out of home care in Manatee, Sarasota, and DeSoto Counties. This year, nearly 700 names were chalked at the start/finish line.

P.S. Great Job, Bridge A Life! I imagine you feel somewhat like I did at the finish line. 

Best Recent Running Gear Purchase

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Not all Facebook ads are worthless. Particularly if they have to do with running.

We know how it works. You do a search and suddenly ads appear for that and similar items. Apparently I did a search for running socks and started getting ads for toe socks. Somehow in 16 years of running I’d never seen them. Shoes, yes, but not socks. How is that possible?

Anyway, I thought, “Why not try them. If what they say is true, I’m in.”

Guess what? What they say is true.

The product detail for the item in this blog’s featured photo promises this:

The ankle toe socks provide individual compartments for each toe, allowing for better flexibility and movement of the toes. These men’s toe socks reduce friction, cutting down on the risk of blisters in outdoor activities such as walking, jogging, traveling, climbing, cycling, gym, and training…

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0C3HBVZWH?psc=1&ref=ppx_pop_dt_b_product_details

More and more, these are the socks I run in, particularly for long runs. My main testing ground was the 39-miles for the Four Corners Quad Keyah Series in December. My toes were and are grateful. 

As the product detail says, you don’t have to be a runner to give them a try. If you try them, reply and let us know what you think.

2024 just got better!

What Version of You are you living?

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Everything matures. Some with intention. Some by nature.

Two examples of intentional maturity: running shoes and cell phones.

This Saucony running shoe image is the Kinvara line. I have a pair of 13s. 15s are due out soon. They pump out a new version of shoes quite often. Some better. Some not.

We’ve seen the lines of cell phone consumers waiting to get their hands on the latest upgrade. They put it out. We’ve got to have it.

Humans certainly mature both by nature and intention. A simple google search reveals experts say we have anywhere from three to six stages in our developmental categories. Those categories include emotional, mental, social, physical, and spiritual maturity/development. In this moment, we are in various stages in each category. You could call that your 2024 version.

In the last 24 months, this topic has surfaced occasionally. Since it came up this week over coffee (and hot chocolate), I took a look at my journals to recall other thoughts and conversations how my friends and I categorize ourselves. 

One of those entries came as a result of this quote by Charles Taylor printed on the page of my Full Focus Journal: “We are in fact all acting, thinking, and feeling out of backgrounds and frameworks which we do not fully understand.” My journal entry was this:

I don’t know who Charles Taylor is, but this statement is very true. I’ve decided this about my adult life:

20s – full of myself (judging, complaining, criticizing)

30s – questioning just about everything

40s – settling down and finding balance

50s – listening at a whole new level

Some move through these things faster/better. The reality is we do the best on the journey we’ve been given. God’s grace meets each one of us in the moment, waits for us to see the light, declares, “You are mine. Always will be.”

12/29/21

A year later there’s an entry simply headed “5.0”. I remember that coming from separate conversations with two friends, one who said they viewed themselves as being in 2.0 mode. We looked at it differently; my view was by time to determine I’m in 5.0 mode. So I wrote a journal entry describing what 5.0 John could entail. Intention over nature.

I share this because one hope I have for myself and those I engage is that we live intentionally rather than by nature alone. I believe most of us share this hope. It’s on us to put action to that hope. 

Here’s to a hopeful and intentional 2024 version of us all.

Photo by Rod Long on Unsplash

Four Corners Quad Keyah Series Lesson #6

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As shared in the previous post, “Easy like Sunday morning” was not playing in my head on the drive back to Albuquerque. I had three things on my mind: Heat. Food. Fluids.

Well, there was a fourth thought going on. 

Lesson #6: If no one else cares how long you took to finish, let that be a sign. Caring trumps Competing.

As far back as I can remember I’ve been driven by achievement. Guess that explains why one of my top StrengthsFinder is Achiever. Setting goals and self discipline are second nature for me. Two balancing acts that come with that are competition and perfectionism.

This journey to run a race of any distance in all 50 states has certainly improved that balance. I can set goals all day, but there’s no guarantee of meeting them. And at the end of race day, I’m still learning it’s more about the journey than the finish time.

On Sunday in New Mexico, two runners illustrated this to me. We had been on these courses together for three days. We didn’t share names, but we shared encouraging words. And on the day they recognized I was struggling, they made sure to check in on me. Caring for a fellow runner was more important than competing against them.

On these long runs in unfamiliar places with complete strangers, you learn a lot about yourself and others. I’m grateful to be reminded over and over of the more important things. 

Personal achievement is one thing. Loving others and creating community is a better thing.