Running

Running Tuesdays: Introducing Monika

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Starting this next Tuesday, I’ll be posting content on running. And in order to cover it well, I’ve invited three running friends (Lorraine, Michael and Monika) to guest blog along with me. We’ll write about things like training routines, equipment choices, etc. We will each take a turn at addressing the same topic. Should be fun.

So by way of introduction, for the next few days you’ll read a quick bio of one of the four of us. Welcome to Running Tuesdays!

Guest Blogger Monika


1. How long have you been a runner? 
I started to jog in late 2009 and in 2010 I did my first 5 and 10K race. In Jan 2011 I did my first marathon so I think I have been a true runner since Jan 2011 

2. What is your average weekly mileage? 
During marathon training I get 50M in per week. Otherwise 35-40M per week 

3. What is your shoe brand preference? 

On. A shoe made in Switzerland – very light but still a good stability shoe for me 

4. What is your race age grouping? 40-45 

5. What is your favorite running accomplishment? 

I never believed that I was capable of qualifying for the Boston marathon. And in 3 month of very hard and consistent Cross Fit and run training I ran the race of my life. I ran 17min faster than I did at the Chicago marathon in October 2014. I qualified with a 3.38.28 ( I needed a 3.45.00 for Boston ) in September of 2015. 
Although I truly love every race finish line! I always get tears of joy! 

Running Tuesdays: Introducing Michael

/ johngregoryjr / Leave a comment

Starting this next Tuesday, I’ll be posting content on running. And in order to cover it well, I’ve invited three running friends (Lorraine, Michael and Monika) to guest blog along with me. We’ll write about things like training routines, equipment choices, etc. We will each take a turn at addressing the same topic. Should be fun.

So by way of introduction, for the next few days you’ll read a quick bio of one of the four of us. Welcome to Running Tuesdays!

Guest Blogger Michael


1. How long have you been a runner? 

Been running since 2010, so 6 years now.

2. What is your average weekly mileage? 

Not training for a race it would be 15 miles a week.

3. What is your shoe brand preference? 

I wear Asics and for the last 2 years its been the Cumulus model.

4. What is your race age grouping?

30 to 34 

5. What is your favorite running accomplishment? 

Completing the Goofy Challenge during the Walt Disney World Marathon Weekend in 2015 and I look forward to doing it again in 2017!

Laying It Down…AGAIN

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Just because you make one statement or decision of commitment doesn’t put you in autopilot for the rest of your life. You aren’t clear of ever having to restate or redecide you will follow through. For example, Brad Johnson wrote about this in his book on forgiveness. When Jesus said we should forgive 7×70, he was talking about more than just the surrendering of the spirit. He was also talking about understanding follow through is a process that might take a while. It’s very much understanding the discipline of daily carrying your cross.

  • Like a runner who has to continuously set the alarm clock for dark thirty
  • Or the husband who has to choose to listen attentively rather than hold the hand up because it’s 3rd and long
  • Or the nursing student who might have to try one last time to pass anatomy to move forward in the program

Laying it down the first time probably was a big deal. Maturing to the place where you know laying it down is an ongoing journey is a whole different level of big deal.

Chris Tomlin’s “Lay It Down” speaks into this subject very well:

With this heart open wide

From the depths from the heights

I will bring a sacrifice

With these hands lifted high

Hear my song, hear my cry

I will bring a sacrifice
I lay me down I’m not my own

I belong to you alone

Lay me down, lay me down

Hand on my heart this much is true

There’s no life apart from you

Lay me down, lay me down
Letting go of my pride

Giving up all my rights

Take this life and let it shine


It will be my joy to say Your will Your way always

4 Running/Life Seasonal Questions

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I’ve lived in Florida for 30 years, but I’ve only been a runner 9 of those years.  In the fall of 2007, I graduated from an occasional jogger to an intentional runner.  When the summer of 2008 came around, I encountered for the first time what it means to have to change gears because of the rise in humidity and heat.

A friend (occasional runner) brought this up today-how he’s challenged to run over a mile right now, having trouble breathing, etc.  Breaking News: Running in December is not the same as running in July!  After that conversation, it crossed my mind how the adjustments runners must make based on seasons is very applicable to seasons of life in general.  

  • Season of raising a young family
  • Season of transition (job changing, moving, retiring, empty nesting)
  • Season of busyness (school starting/ending, holidays, kid’s recreational activities)
  • Season of recovery (from surgery, from loss, from the other seasons)

With that in mind, here are some questions from a runner’s perspective that might help you get through your season of life. 

1.  How long might this season be?

This might sound trivial, possibly unnecessary. Think about it though. A woman knows roughly how long her pregnancy will be.  We all know how long winter lasts.  That knowledge, in some sense, gets us through that period of time.  So, to the best of your knowledge, determine how long your season might be.  Do some research on empty nesters.  Read about how long to expect your family to acclimate to a new city.  Step one, know the length of your season.

2.  What adjustments do you need on make?

One adjustment I’ve made in the past for the summer is to move indoors, train on the treadmill.  Another is to change my weekly routine-how many days I run and how long each run will be.  And every year it may look different.  Your adjustments might be changing your bedtime or when the alarm goes off.  Maybe using social media more or less.  Your whole routine of life may need assessing.  Not a problem.  If you’ll embrace it, you may find some exciting changes that you’ll wish you’d made long ago.

3.  What should your pace be?

Summer running pace is much slower.  You find that out the easy way or the hard way.  Making adjustments can also be easy or hard.  So pace yourself.  Don’t put too much pressure on finding your new norm too quickly.  Be gracious to yourself.  It’s a new season.  

4.  What are your short term goals?

Summer is not racing season.  Much like baseball players in the winter or football players in the spring, you should set some short term goals that keep you in shape for the “show.”  If survival is all you can manage, then shoot for it.  Most likely, you can do more than survive.  You might actually consider hiring a life coach to walk you through this season.  If you are pretty good at goal setting, then determine what you hope to achieve by the end of this season.

God brought you to this season.  You don’t have to dehydrate, heatstroke, or find yourself on the side of the road asking yourself how did you get there.  Stop right now and make yourself answer these questions.  This season will pass.  Get the most out of it.  Determine the length, make adjustments, set your pace, and reach for your goals.