I am a pastor and I run. I have found these two practices to be highly compatible. There are many reasons I am discovering for being a running minister. I have noticed it has had a very positive impact on my emotional well-being. When I run, I burn away a lot of the pressures and stresses that come with spiritual caregiving. I am starting to view church problems like those hills on a course that require a different approach to conquer instead of be conquered. So for that reason, running allows me to deal with negative energy in a way that does not deplete me.
But I also see a positive product of my running in the release of creativity thinking. This happened yesterday when I went on a 5k run. Honestly, I had to force myself to suit up and go but I'm glad I hit the pavement in the end. Here's where an idea spawned and grew to the point that I am anxiously looking forward to an upcoming event: Christmas Eve Candlelight Communion. Would those thoughts have surfaced minus running? I really doubt it.
I didn't experience a personal best time on the 5k route yesterday but it was still well worth it. And I'm learning that running is much more than breaking a record or logging a number of miles. Just seeing some of these hidden benefits of running as a beginner makes me eager to discover what other surprising realizations await me as I start a new year of striving to become a healthier and, hopefully, more productive individual on this planet.
Thursday, December 21, 2006
Monday, December 18, 2006
I Ran A Marathon!...It Took a Week
It took me a week to run a marathon, which is not going to be good enough for the Boston race. If I were to run the race next year I'd have to cross the stripe in under 3:30.00. Oh well, I'm not disheartened since I just pick up this passion over the past six months.
In fact, to me it's a big accomplishment to run 26 plus miles in one week. If some one would have told me a year ago that I was going to run an average of 4-5 miles a day each week, I would have been exhausted at the thought. This past Tuesday I ran a 7 miler and then on Saturday I went 6.
After I finished I asked myself if I could have gone an extra mile along the way. That is a significant shift in my thinking since this summer. Back then I was just wondering if I could run 3 miles non-stop or last 30 minutes with out dropping over. Yeah, a marathon race seems so far away until I begin to think how much my mental and physical makeup has changed in such a short time.
Before I can run a marathon, I, first, have to cultivate a marathon heart and mind. That may take awhile but I'm closer than I was when I first decided to make myself run.
In fact, to me it's a big accomplishment to run 26 plus miles in one week. If some one would have told me a year ago that I was going to run an average of 4-5 miles a day each week, I would have been exhausted at the thought. This past Tuesday I ran a 7 miler and then on Saturday I went 6.
After I finished I asked myself if I could have gone an extra mile along the way. That is a significant shift in my thinking since this summer. Back then I was just wondering if I could run 3 miles non-stop or last 30 minutes with out dropping over. Yeah, a marathon race seems so far away until I begin to think how much my mental and physical makeup has changed in such a short time.
Before I can run a marathon, I, first, have to cultivate a marathon heart and mind. That may take awhile but I'm closer than I was when I first decided to make myself run.
Friday, December 15, 2006
Questions From a Novice Runner
As a beginner, I have some questions that are typical yet important questions I suspect a lot of fledglings wonder. So here are some that whirling around in my head while I run:
- What is the right pace that pushes me but doesn't burn me out?
- Whenever pain occurs, when is it good to push through or ease up?
- How do I make sure I am setting realistic goals for running?
- What is the right way to run hills, conserve or attack?
- Why are there times I feel an energy surge later in a run?
- How do I become a more focused runner so I don't get sidetrack by minor distractions?
- How do I know when I am running too much in a week?
- How long can I really do this running thing in my life?
- Why do I now love running where I once barely tolerated it?
- How much running stuff do I really need to improve my performance?
Running 400 Meter Repeats
Yesterday I decided to do some work on the track. While it's fun to see if I can top my personal best on the 5k course everyday, I'm trying to look at the bigger picture, developing leg strength. As I find the aerobic side improving, I find that the strength side needs to catch up so I can push to a new level.
That's why I hit the track for my first venture into 400 m repeats. I had planned to do six but ended up with four instead. I was a bit apprehensive at first with this new challenge to my overall plan.
After a mile warm up I started in with the goal of running the laps in 1:45. Between each lap I did a 200 m cool down. The cool down before the final repeat seemed to be shorter than the previous three recoveries.
I was pleased to run in the 1:41-1:51 range on each lap. Out of that experience I gained some more confidence, even if I didn't go six repeats. I could feel the work in the calves afterward. It reminded me of the pinging noises you hear coming from under the carhood after you shut off an engine. Even this morning my muscels reminded me I pushed myself yesterday. I think I gained ground and came away believing I can do more and go faster.
Today I will try to resist the temptation to lace up and head for the track. I have to believe today's rest is an extension of yesterday's work.
That's why I hit the track for my first venture into 400 m repeats. I had planned to do six but ended up with four instead. I was a bit apprehensive at first with this new challenge to my overall plan.
After a mile warm up I started in with the goal of running the laps in 1:45. Between each lap I did a 200 m cool down. The cool down before the final repeat seemed to be shorter than the previous three recoveries.
I was pleased to run in the 1:41-1:51 range on each lap. Out of that experience I gained some more confidence, even if I didn't go six repeats. I could feel the work in the calves afterward. It reminded me of the pinging noises you hear coming from under the carhood after you shut off an engine. Even this morning my muscels reminded me I pushed myself yesterday. I think I gained ground and came away believing I can do more and go faster.
Today I will try to resist the temptation to lace up and head for the track. I have to believe today's rest is an extension of yesterday's work.
Thursday, December 14, 2006
What's Your Running Potential?
This year, I took up a new pursuit, running. Well actually it's old because I ran some 30 years ago on the high school cross country team at Robinson in San Juan Puerto Rico. What's new about it though is that I now enjoy it. In school I was only after The Varsity Letter. Now I'm 44 and have new incentives like healthiness, stress management and goal setting. I really started up this running thing this past fall and now I am sucked into this sport in a big way! I log my miles, record my times, read articles, watch movies and talk with any unsuspecting soul that may seem mildly interested.
My first goal is to run the local 5k race at our annual summer Catfish Festival in Shoals Indiana. When I started running the course this fall I clocked in at just a bit past 30 minutes. Sizing up the situation, I declared it feasible, with hard work to break into the 25 minute range by July 2007. Well, yesterday I finished with a personal best of 25:05. Not blazing speed but that is knocking on the door of my high school times. That makes me happy especially now that I'm about 30 pounds heavier!
But as I was entering the details of that run in my logbook I started asking this question, "What's my real running potential?" I have set a new goal for the Catfish run at 23:30 (a 95 second improvement on my pb). Is that doable? At one time that was laughable, now it's not. It's not beyond the realm of possibility. Yet now I wonder, can this aging body actually do better than that?
Here's why this sport has charmed me at this stage of life. I am truly learning that I can do a whole lot more than I thought possible. I have heard my wife and friends tell me stuff like that for some time and felt they were just trying to make me feel better. Now I am starting to believe that it was more than stabs at propping my confidence levels- that they really see potential I have not seen in myself.
As a 44 year old who has asked is the best behind or ahead, I have tended to belive the earlier. All that is changing as I lace up my shoes and head out the door to face the course that becomes the proving ground for a preferred future.
My first goal is to run the local 5k race at our annual summer Catfish Festival in Shoals Indiana. When I started running the course this fall I clocked in at just a bit past 30 minutes. Sizing up the situation, I declared it feasible, with hard work to break into the 25 minute range by July 2007. Well, yesterday I finished with a personal best of 25:05. Not blazing speed but that is knocking on the door of my high school times. That makes me happy especially now that I'm about 30 pounds heavier!
But as I was entering the details of that run in my logbook I started asking this question, "What's my real running potential?" I have set a new goal for the Catfish run at 23:30 (a 95 second improvement on my pb). Is that doable? At one time that was laughable, now it's not. It's not beyond the realm of possibility. Yet now I wonder, can this aging body actually do better than that?
Here's why this sport has charmed me at this stage of life. I am truly learning that I can do a whole lot more than I thought possible. I have heard my wife and friends tell me stuff like that for some time and felt they were just trying to make me feel better. Now I am starting to believe that it was more than stabs at propping my confidence levels- that they really see potential I have not seen in myself.
As a 44 year old who has asked is the best behind or ahead, I have tended to belive the earlier. All that is changing as I lace up my shoes and head out the door to face the course that becomes the proving ground for a preferred future.
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