Major Race-Finish Shout-Outs!

I mentioned in my long run post a couple back of my online running buddie's awesome race finishes 02/16/08. First off, Tim's incredible first half marathon finish at the Run the Reagan half marathon race in 1:55:46, which is amazing for a first time half. Way to go Tim! Here's a pic of him coming to the finish line in black and white in the pic below.

Then, there is the awesome first marathon finish of Marion who ran an official time of 4:09:45 in her inaugural marathon at the Myrtle Beach Marathon. That's an average pace of 9:32 minutes/mile for 26.2 miles! I can only hope to do nearly as well as her in my first marathon and will be grateful to simply finish! Amazing race, Mar! Here's a pic of Marion nearing the finish line of her marathon. I am so proud of you my running friend!

So much time and training went in to both of these individual's races and they are both such awesome stories of determination and dedication! Congratulations to both of you! Enjoy your well-deserved time of rest and revel in what you have just accomplished!

Good Luck Marion and Tim!

My online running "dotcomrades" (term as stolen, err, borrowed from Kooky on RA) from RunningAHEAD (RA) and fellow running bloggers, Marion and Tim, will be running two big races this weekend. Marion will be lacing up for her first marathon, the Myrtle Beach Marathon, which the gun will go off for bright and early Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. I wrote about what an inspiration she has been to me in my own running, and life, and her incredible weight loss road that she has paved for herself, not traveled, in a prior post here. She's a remarkable story of heart and fiery determination. If you have a moment, I encourage you to head over to her site, Shut it and Run, and leave her a note to wish her well in her race. As I said, she has been a huge inspiration to me and one of the driving factors the Lord put in my life to set a goal of running a marathon myself. It's been said that the marathon is simply the victory lap for all the exhaustive miles and training you run preparing for it. Mar, you've trained hard and well, my running friend... now go out and enjoy the whole experience of your victory lap!

Tim is an incredible story as well and only began running just a year ago in January and, at that, had only really started walking at that time. He has lost 80 pounds since, run numerous races, many of which were 5k's in which he has shattered his PR (personal record) in them time after time, and is now gearing up to run his first half-marathon, the Run the Reagan, down in the Atlanta-area of Georgia tomorrow. His story of determination to get himself healthier and the incredible strides he has made in doing so have been an inspiration to me as well. You can head over to his blog, 26.2 Quest, and cheer him on in as well.

There are some amazing people all around us, that do amazing things, under amazing circumstances and, these are just two of them. May the Lord bless you both in your races tomorrow, with peace of mind, strength, endurance, and physical health. You're both amazing individuals! I can't wait to hear about your races. Good luck and... have a BLAST!

Happy Birthday, Dad!

My Dad is my role model and hero. Always has been, even when I was a young and dumb, unruly punk. I know some of you are questioning whether any of that has actually changed. I hope the answer is yes. He is the gentle, quiet-strength-type. Never says a bad word about anybody. That is THE one quality that I have always admired about him the most. I have NEVER, and I honestly mean NEVER, heard him utter a negative word about anyone. I certainly can't come even CLOSE to boasting that. He has always been calm under pressure, smartly and wisely thinks things through before coming to any conclusions or decisions, and has the wisdom of Solomon, the patience of Job, and the heart of David.

He and my Mom have wintered down in southern Texas in the Rio Grande Valley, Alamo to be exact, since his retirement in 2000. They're having the time of their life with new friends they've made over the years down there, which I think I am probably more tickled for them than they are themselves.

I have a multitude of great memories of camping, fishing, and hunting trips from their sacrifices when my sister and I were younger. I have images of the Titan Mountains reflecting off the placid mirror-like waters of Jackson Lake at sunrise just after the morning mist has burned off seared in my mind, black bear in the Great Smokey Mountains, the repetitive view of the Lincoln Memorial from the highway we were trying to get off of to get to it to see it up close, my girls seeing Mickey Mouse for the first time at Disney World, my first taste of salt water from the Atlantic Ocean, the taste of freshly caught smelt, salmon, walleye, and perch after another great fish outing with the best fishing buddy ANYONE could ever have, and many have, and SO many more memories.

So, here's to you, Dad, on your birthday and every day! Thanks for all the great experiences and memories, and those yet to come. I admire, respect, and love you more than you'll ever know! Cheers!

Happy birthday!

Sadly, today also marks the one year anniversary of the death of Tammy's last living grandma, Grandma Lane, aka to us Gene, Gene, the Dancing Machine. We think of you often Grandma and, are happy you are resting and rejoicing in Heaven with Grandpa for eternity now. Have a shot and a beer for us with him. We miss you.

Last Sunday's Message - It's All from God

The picture at the right I took Saturday evening coming out of our church as I was leaving rehearsal around 5:45 p.m. The sunset was stunning on that brisk winter evening. I took it with my cell phone, but wish I'd had my camera. Actually, most of the pics you see on my blog have been taken by me, or taken (like stolen, as Lindsey would protest) by me. Hehehe.

I sang a tune called "Take Away" (links to the lyrics and synopsis of the song by the artist) by the band, Mainstay last Sunday during service. The message was essentially that everything we have has come from God and nothing here belongs to us, so we shouldn't get so attached to our "stuff", but rather focus on the good that we can do with it and to be content with what we have, avoiding the whole "keeping up with the Joneses" coveting that so many of us get wrapped up in, myself and family included at one time, and still at times.

It's not that "stuff" isn't ok to have, provided we are thankful for what we do have, are not focused on what we don't have, and are willing to give as we can to those not as fortunate as us. We are so much more blessed than the VAST majority of the world. Our team that just got back from Haiti on a short term mission trip to provide eye exams and eyeglasses to as many Haitians as we could will attest to this. The poverty there is indescribable and beyond anyone's comprehension reading this blog (or writing it) unless you have been there or to similarly poor countries or even areas of our own country for that matter. I know I often need these reminders of how fortunate I truly am.

So, the next time your looking at your neighbor's brand new, shiny, whatever it is, and you find yourself longing for it, or the bigger, better, faster, stronger version of the whatever it is... think of those that have no place to sleep tonight or nothing to eat tonight and be grateful for the blessings that you do have.

One final thought, one of my own actually, on this. When I first became a Christian, I would often contemplate the needs of people around the world, or in my own backyard, and I would get overwhelmed thinking, "Lord, what can I do? The needs are so great all around. Where do I focus my attention and limited resources because I can't help everywhere?" He gave me the answer in Galatians 6:10 which says, "Therefore, as we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers."

We need to keep our eyes, ears, and heart open to the opportunities to "do good to all people" and act on them when they arise. We can't help everyone, everywhere, all the time. None of us have those kind of resources... not even Oprah. But, we can fill the gas tank of a less fortunate family when they pull up to the pump next to us when we're getting gas and, are prompted to do so by something inside. We can be on the way back from a run along a boardwalk and overhear a conversation where a homeless man is in need of a pair of shoes, stop and take off our shoes, which are miraculously the same size the man needs, and give them to the man in need, as we are prompted to do so by something inside. We can give our no longer used eyeglasses to our church to send to Haiti along with a team of people to vision test, fit, and prescribe to impoverished individuals going blind that would continue to do so without them, as we are prompted to do so by something inside. Everyone feels these promptings inside to "do something" I believe and for me, I believe that prompting inside is the Spirit of Christ that dwells in my heart. I need to be in tune to that Spirit prompting me and act on it more often letting go of the "stuff" that I hang on too tightly to, because frankly, that family needed that tank of gas more than I did.

Well Done, Jennifer!

I just wanted to give a shout out to my RA (RunningAHEAD) running friend, Jennifer, from San Diego, CA, on her awesome performance in the Surf City Marathon she ran yesterday in very tough windy and rainy conditions along the Pacific Coast Highway that you can read about here on her blog. Great race report, Jennifer!

You're an inspiration to me Jennifer and thanks for all the encouragement and support you have given me here. I truly appreciate it and... you! Congratulations on an awesome race and... on to Boston! :-)

Now I can lace up my sheet metal studded homemade winter trainers and head out for my scheduled 4 miles on the newly iced-over southeast Michigan roads. The kids had another two hour school delay due to the weather so, as soon as they head off to school I will head out in the ice/slush for my run, then on to some inspections. Did that rodent see his shadow Saturday? Cause I am about DONE with winter weather! :-D

"I Love You"

This was the final message in Pastor Mark's series, "The World's Most Powerful Phrases" today in church. Did you know that everyone has a primary love language? This is the thing that speaks most into their life. According to Dr. Gary Chapman there are 5 categories of primary love languages:

1. Words of Affirmation (my number 1 or 2 love language)
2. Quality Time (Tammy's number 1 or 2 love language)
3. Receiving Gifts (on neither of our lists)
4. Acts of Service (high in Tammy's list as well)
5. Physical Touch (both my and Tammy's other number 1 or 2 love language)

Now, let me explain each just a bit. Words of affirmation is pretty self-explanatory, but essentially means that you are noticing things about someone else and affirming them. It's saying to them, "I believe in you."

Quality time, while appearing simple on the surface, requires that one give undivided attention to the person whom this speaks most highly to. This is something that I struggle with... I listen, but I don't hear. There is no multi-tasking when it comes to quality time, it is simply leaning into the other person and really hearing what they or their heart is saying to you.

Receiving gifts is just that simple. Some people feel valued by receiving gifts. The neat thing is, it doesn't have to be elaborate or expensive, just meaningful. It shows to the person that this is the evidence of your love for them.

Acts of service is pretty simplistic as well in that it is just that, doing something for someone. Even if it is against your nature (like cleaning the bathroom, doing the dishes, or doing the laundry), you do it for the other person non-begrudgingly (is that a word... any English majors out there?) as a display of love for someone.

Ahh, and last, but certainly not least, physical touch. I would have to think that this would be relatively high on most of the guys' lists of love languages, but here's the deal guys... it isn't just about sex. It's being emotionally connected through touch. It's physical displays of affection like a loving kiss on your wife's forehead, rubbing her shoulders as she's standing at the kitchen sink, holding her hand on a walk, kissing the nap of her neck, caressing her back, or stroking her hair. I would think if you are physically tender with your wife, and this speaks to her love language, that the more intimate l'amour may be around the corner as well. Nudge, nudge.

Pastor Mark pointed out that "the language of the listener is the only language that matters" in our relationships with people. You have to set aside the thoughts of your own primary love languages and "speak" the language that is most meaningful to the other person, even when it is not in your nature to do so.

He also said that people need to hear the words, "I love you." Your husband, wife, kids, family, and friends need to hear this from you. I have to honestly say, and I think my family would agree, that I am very good about this. Where I may stumble however, is in the second aspect of saying I love you in affirming it with my actions.

I don't always, ok I fail miserably and often, hear what Tammy or the girls are saying to me because I have my mind on a thousand other things at the time, or I don't spend the time that they would want to spend with me because I am too busy serving other interests or people. Shame on me. I have gotten better over the years, but I still have to work on loving through my actions and not just through my words. Which brings up a great verse from the Bible in 1 John 3:18 which says, "Dear children, let us stop just saying we love each other; let us really show it by our actions." Or, my favorite version of this verse from another Bible translation, which states the verse this way, "Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth."

Finally Pastor Mark concluded the message by reiterating that everyone close to us, spouse, children, family, dear friends, has a primary love language. It's our duty in loving them properly to find it and speak it to them. I've been blessed to discover what my wife and kids' primary love languages are, I just need to do a better job of speaking it to them.

Thanks for the great messages on "The World's Most Powerful Phrases" series these past several weeks, Pastor Mark. They certainly have spoken into my life.

An awesome resource for today's message, and one that Tammy and I both read together, is the book "The Five Love Languages", by Gary Chapman, PhD. It will work wonders in your relationships.

More Inspiration

In case the former post wasn't enough, I thought of Dick Hoyt and his son, Rick, who also developed cerebral palsy after birth. Dick, at the request of Rick, entered a benefit race sometime in the middle stages of his life. They have since gone on to run more than 600 races, including countless marathons and several Ironman Triathalons in which Dick swims 2.5 miles with Rick in tow in a boat, then bikes 110 miles with Rick is a special seat on the front of the bike, and then, Dick pushes Rick while running a marathon, 26.2 miles, to finish the triathalon. I first heard and saw the inspirational story of Team Hoyt at a "Promise Keepers" weekend in Columbus back in 2003. Truly an inspiration and the epitome of sacrificial love for a child. Please have a look at this.

Another Inspiration

I hocked this video from Tim's running blog. The video, the story of Ben Comen, a runner with cerebral palsy, is kinda long at just over 7 minutes, but worth watching. It makes me thankful, but then again, it made me cry for Cassy because even though Ben, the subject of the video, has his difficulties... he is at least able to run, for now. Cassy will never know the feeling like the exhausted dead-out sprint in the blustery cold on my snowy road that I finished my run with tonight. Be thankful. I know I am.

Another RA Inspiration

This is yet another of the inspirational people on RunningAHEAD.com (RA) and running friend, Marion. She's been leaving kind comments and words of encouragement on my blog here, which I appreciate a ton! She's also the one that pestered, err, encouraged me to get my own blog going. Created a monster now, didn't you Marion?!? Mar's an amazing story as well. Since April of 2005 she has lost like a gazillion pounds after embarking on her weight loss and fitness journey! Ok, that was a slight exaggeration. In reality, she has only lost 100+ pounds! That's like a whole person people! During the course of her 2 1/2 year weight loss odyssey she sustained an ankle fracture running in '06 and then a stress fracture early in '07, so swam every day to stay active, and after her recovery trained for and ran a half marathon (13.1 miles) in October in under two hours with the last 3.1 miles (5K) a full 2 minutes faster than my fastest 5K without having ran 10 miles preceeding the 3.1! Marion is now training for the Bi-Lo Marathon in Myrtle Beach (sounds a bit better than Toledo, OH) on February 16, 2008. She just ran an 18 mile training run today. Whew! You can track her training progress here http://www.shutitandrun.blogspot.com/ and leave her words of encouragement! On top of all her running and weight loss accomplishments, she is an awesome wife and mom to an adorable little girl and boy, knits, sews, designs skyscrapers, is a nuclear physicist, expert culinary chef, and accomplished juggler. Ok, so a couple of those are writer's embellishments, but she is very gifted and does a ton! Oh, and she has a couple cats and a pooch too. Marion you rock and have been an inspiration to me! Stay healthy!

Running Friends from RunningAHEAD.com

Much of the inspiration I had to even think about running this marathon, other than my oldest running daughter, Chelsea, friend, Dianna, fellow firefighter, Kathy, and those that can't like Cassy, has come from many fine folks who log and post on the above site. There are truly some amazing people on that site that never cease to inspire and encourage me. One of those is Sara, an awesome young woman and attorney from the St. Louis area who had already run a couple of half marathons. To tell you how special a person she is would be an understatement. Case in point, on November 11, 2007 (my birthday), Sara was scheduled to run The St. Louis Track Club & Special Olympics Half Marathon (HM). Her mom was bringing her cousin's 3 year old daughter at the time (I think she may be 4 now), Anna, who has severe spina-bifida and is paralyzed from the chest down, to the race to see Sara and do her own 1/2 Mile Youth Run as part of the race festivities that day. Sara's HM race started at 8:00 a.m. and the 1/2 Mile Youth Race, Anna's race, started at 8:45 a.m. While Sara is an awesome runner, there is no way she could finish a HM in 45 minutes to make it to Anna's race so she selflessly traded in her HM race bib for a 5K race bib, ran the 5K at 8:00 a.m., and then after running a 3.1 mile race, sprinted to the start of Anna's race to be there to "run" it with Anna. The first thing you have to realize is the countless hours of running that Sara had to do to train for the marathon. And, to set aside her goal of a more glamorous HM race that she had trained for to run a 5K so she could get to the start of Anna's race is simply the epitome of being unselfish.

Sara is now training for her first marathon, The St. Louis Marathon on April 6, 2008. True to her nature, she is not undertaking this race out of simple selfish ambition but has partnered with Team in Training and has committed herself to raising $2,500.00 through Team in Training to benefit The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and is running in honor of Ryan Brown, the son of her high school friends, who at 5 years of age, lost his battle to cancer on July 10, 2005. You can partner with Sara, as Tammy and I have, in pledging toward her race in meeting her Team in Training fundraising goal by clicking on her link here http://www.active.com/donate/tntgmo/saraholtsman. Even if you can't donate to her, I do encourage you to at least read her Team in Training site as it's an awesome story and her blog, Running Lawyer, to leave her encouraging words in her unselfish training toward her first marathon. Sara, you are an inspiration my running friend! May the Lord bless your efforts.