FIVE DOWN

Right now I’m looking at my run schedule for the week. Get ready…
Mon- 6 miles Tues- 7 m Wed- 5m Thurs- 7m Fri- 5m Sat- 12m Sun- rest
Now if you count up that grand total you can see that those numbers total a whoppin’ 42 miles. WTF. One day of rest? WTF again.

This is the supposed training schedule for the Ragnar Relay… the race I’m running in October. There are thirteen weeks until then… will I be good to go? Probably so… but there’s a possibility for burnout which is probable considering they graciously give one whole day of rest per week. WTF again. No, I don’t follow the schedule completely… but for the most part I do.

Why do I run? Because I love it.

One thing. I detest running indoors.

Two things. Running brings me closer to God.

Three things. I love the outdoors. Being in nature is its own kind of church for me. It draws me in and brings me closer because I can see His beauty everywhere. The speaker is Him… whatever He chooses to share with me in that five or so miles. The music is all around (okay that sounds a little August Rush-like)… whether its what I hear or simply what I see… it’s in the beauty in mankind and in creation all around. These are the thoughts that swim throughout my mind… and perhaps that’s why I’m addicted.

Four things. There are times though that I feel I need to slow it down. Running distance doesn’t exactly provide a substantial amount of time to hang out after an 8-hour work day which could be detrimental to building relationships. That said because I have to wait until 8pm to start my run (Texas heat being in the 100s really is the one to blame for this). By the time I complete my run I’m either zonked and ready for bed or I do decide to meet up with friends and end up being zonked the following day at work and failing on other commitments in the meantime (other people or other projects).

Five things. Many people ask why I don’t paint more or draw more (basically use my God-given talent more than I do so). Hmm, big question mark. But I know the answer. Running provides an escape that I haven’t found in my artwork just yet. Yes, I paint. Yes, I draw. Yes, I’m creative… bur rarely do I feel successful in that.

Six things. I’m hard on myself. I used to think I was a perfectionist… and still am to a point. However this is where it flips. If I do create something that I actually like (very rare but does happen on occasion) then everything is good and my enthusiasm soars. But if I see that I’m not going to execute a design or thought of how I first envisioned it, then the project ends left unfinished and sitting in the same spot for weeks/months.

Seven things. Running gives me an amazing feeling every time (however hard, hot or grueling it may be). There’s a beginning and an end with not a lot of self-criticism. The only failure I feel when running is if I ever walk… but even then, I enjoy it because I’m taking in God’s creation.

SIGNED: I DON’T KNOW WHAT THAT REALLY SAYS BUT A FEW PEOPLE HAVE ASKED QUESTIONS ABOUT THIS OR THAT SO THAT’S JUST A BIT OF MY THOUGHTS IN A WAYWARD CLARIFICATION ON THOSE TOPICS.