Following a Plan

Praying

Psalm 27:4 - "I ask only one thing from the Lord. This is what I want: Let me live in the Lords house all my life. Let me see the Lords beauty and look with my own eyes at his temple."

What does my heart desire most? Love. I want to feel loved by God (which I know he does), by my wife, kids, family and friends. When I leave this world to be with the Lord, I want people to remember me for who I was and what I did in life.

Today is a rather unique day because there is a big event taking place here in Houston called The Response. There is a lot of attention on it because the Governor of our State organized it. I prayed today that it would not be viewed as a political event. Of course the press makes it out to be that. As I have listened to some of it there has been no political messages. Instead it has focused so far on praying to our Lord for forgiveness of our sins. I think I mentioned last week that in our day and age we get way too wrapped in the false idols of the modern day. I am just as guilty as anybody else. So many times we concern ourselves with how much money we make, what kind of cars we drive and how big our house is. I admit it, I want nice things and everyday I have to fight what is more important? The Love of God or what I have on this earth.

The World is a tough place right now. There are a lot of economic problems. There are wars and millions of people are starving to death. I pray for my sons that they will be safe. It's scary but I know my Lord will watch over them and listen to their prayers. I know I'm kind of going on a tangent today but it just seems like things are so crazy right now. What keeps me at peace is in Matthew Chapter 6:

Matthew 6:33-34 - Seek first God's kingdom and what God wants. Then all your needs will be met as well. So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have its own worries. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Running
Week two was tough. Tempertures are hotter than last week. Running for 30 minutes feels like an hour. It's physically draining!! I know it's going to make me stronger a few months away but man it's hard to stay motivated but I have to follow the training plan if I am to be successful. I think I am making gains but because of the extreme heat it's hard to see the benefits. I read somewhere last week that God has a plan and a purpose for each of us. Everything happens for a reason, he is not going to waste our time. So I know he is testing me and making me stronger so I will be successful in 6 months.

The week in review
Sunday 6 miles in the morning with very humid tempetures. It was tough.
On Tuesday, I did track and the workout was 3 sets of 2 minutes hard, 1 minute easy, 1 minute hard, 30 seconds easy and then 30 seconds hard. I felt pretty good through this workout because it was fairly quick. On Wednesday, I visited my massage therapist. I am a huge believer in deep tissue massage, I compare it to a oil change. Everything is made fresh. On Thursday despite being sore, I ran 30 minutes at a tempo pace. This was the hardest run of the week because the temperture was 104. Today we did hill repeats, at the start of the workout it was 83, the first part felt pretty good and the hill workout went well, but going back to the start of the run was tough. I'm not looking forward to the 7 mile run tomorrow because I know the temps will test my physical strength again.

Gaining Strength

Praying


2 Thessalonians 2:16-17 - "May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father encourage you and strengthen you in everything good thing you do and say. God loved us and through his grace he us a good hope and encouragement that continues forever."

Wow, what an amazing verse. To me it says that God and his son Jesus strenghten and encourage us in all good things we do and say. But even when we fall short, and we all do, just know that you have eternal life and you will someday catch up. When you have this feeling pray for God's help because he will be there to help you through the tough times.

As it was said in Dueteronomy 31:8 - "The Lord himself will go before you. He will be with you, he will not leave you or forget you. Don't be afraid and don't worry."

We all experience fear at times, fear is good because if your not afraid than your not humble and being humble is so important in this day and age. There are so many people out there who all they do is boost about how they accomplished this, or how big their house is or how nice their car is. So what!! I tell my boys that if they work hard at something good things will come.
So fear is good, because once you conquer that fear you are a stronger person.

Remember this, God will always be bigger than the challanges in your life!!

Running
Week 1 of my training program is almost over. The tempertures so far have been pretty high. I can't remember the last time it was this hot. But, I believe that in the long run, training in these tempertures will pay off in the fall races and final preperation for my two goal runs.
Sunday I did about 5.5 miles on a fairly flat course. It was pretty humid out but I did ok. Tuesday nights are track workouts which can be especially difficult in 98 degree tempetures. I ended up doing 8x400 at my R-Pace which is a fairly quick pace for me. For the most part I averaged about 1:41 per 400. I was suprised with that result. On Thursday, I went to Memorial Park and did a loop which is about 3-miles. For mile 2, I picked up the pace and ran at Tempo pace which for now is about 9:00 per mile. My split for mile 2 was 8:50.
So far I think I'm doing better than normal. I'm going through the usual issues, tight muscles and some soreness but I'm trying to take care of that by stretching after every run and also with trips to my massage therapist and chiropractor.
Next week is going to be real interesting because I saw that tempertures are to be 100+ almost everyday. Oh well, it's all about faith and hard work..see you next week!

Here we GO!!

"The Lord says forget what happened before and don't think about the past. Look at the new thing I am going to do, it is already happening, don't you see it?" Isaih 43:18-19

It's important to forget the past, to forget about previous failures and things or people who hurt you. All you can really do is focus on the now. You can't change the past and you cannot worry about the future. I'm the kind person who really believes that if you do the work everyday that you will meet your goals, because that is God's plan for all of us. He wants good to happen for us.

"So don't worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will have it's own worries. Each day has enough troubles of it's own." Matthew 6:34

So I need to forget about the past and remember to look at NOW and its power. We miss the moment over and over because we are too focused on the barriers. One thought I read the other day said this, "Lord use my failures to help me make adjustments in my life that strenghen my faith."

And one thing I have to remember is that everything I do going forward I have to turn it over to God and use his power.
"You will not succeed by your own strength or by your own power, but by my spirit says the Lord All Powerful." Zechariah 4:6

Running
Day 1 of the training program. My plan for this year will be broken down into two phases. The first one will concentrate on getting my speed and endurance for a distance up to 13 miles. The test for that phase will be at the end of October. In previous years I have run my "A" race earlier in that month, but this year will be a little different.
Phase 2 will focus on training for the two marathons I am running in January and March. A lot of long mileage and the week workouts will be a little more intense. I plan on really sticking to the schedule this year because I am going to have to be stronger to accomplish this goal.
Right now it's really tough training because it is warm out. The main thing I hope to be able to do is control my diet better and really focus on staying hydrated on my workout days. Next week I would also like to try and get my physical assessment done at my company so I can begin mixing in some weight training.
It's all about getting stronger because towards the end of this adventure I'm going to need it.

New Season and New Challanges

July 2, 2011

"Trust the Lord with all your heart and don't depend on your own understanding. Remember the Lord in all you do and he will give you successes." Proverbs 3:5-7.

Well it's that time again to start the training season for 2011-2012. As the reading above states we can't have a relationship with God if we only trust him part time. We we trust God and open our hearts completly, he will make himself known to us in amazing ways.

"Those who know the Lord trust him, because he will not leave those who come to him." Psalm 9:10

This verse says it all. Part of knowing the Lord is reading the bible and praying everyday. I have figured out over the last 2 years that doing these things in the morning before I start my day, gives me a peace and confidence that NOTHING can get in my way when trying to accomplish something. My job going forward in a lot of ways is to spread this message to all my friends and family.

Running has been tough because we have had triple digit tempertures for the last two weeks. I'm a little out of shape but I know that will change over the next six weeks as I begin to prepare for 10 Miles for Texas in October. This is a big season for me as I am planning on running Houston in January and the 1st Annual Woodlands Marathon six weeks later. In order to accomplish this goal there are three things I would like to do in order to complete this successfully. First, I need to pay strict attention to my diet by eating more fruits and vegetables and protein. Second, I would like to incorporate some strength training on my off days and finally I really need to follow the training schedule more closely.

I think if I do all those things than I will complete this goal. Hopefully the other thing I will do is keep my blog up to date as well.

A New Beginning - June Week 1

"Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times. Share with Gods people who need help. Bring strangers in need into your homes."  Romans 12:12-13

It's a new season of running. My last big competition was in March when I ran the Texas Independence Relay, the total mileage was just over 18 miles. I did really well and helped the team out a bunch. After that I decided to dial it down some and focus on other things. I got the opportunity to watch my boys play baseball again. They did great!! I was one of the coaches on Davis's team and that was a real experience. It was awesome to see them improve over the 6 weeks of playing. I also tried to spend more time with the family and just be there for my wife Ginger.

Over the last couple of months I have also been more disciplined in my bible studies. Every morning I have tried to read the bible. Just recently I finished the book of Romans which has a ton of good versus.
This is a good one that I will carry with me throughout my training.

"If God is for us, no one can defeat us. He did not spare his own son, but gave him for us all. So with Jesus, God will surely give us all things." Romans 8:31-32

So over the last couple of months I have to realize even more that God will never leave me and that he will watch out for me.

I hope to do the marathon again this year but it will only be better. I came so close last year to having a great run. When I look back at it now, if I would have followed through on the training schedule I probably would have finished pretty well. On marathon day I'll be 47, I want to make a statement.

I started running hard again this week. My runs mainly consisted of short ones totaling 25 to 35 minutes. This morning I ran 5.5 miles. I probably won't start back on track until July. I want to establish my base before I jump back into that. I also want to eat and drink better. I will try and drink more fluids and take in the right balance of fruits and vegitables.

Finally I hope to record my adventures in here at least once a week. I hope people will read it, but if not that's ok to.

What's Next - February 13, 2010

"Faith means being sure of the things we hope for and knowing that something is real even if we do not see. Faith is the reason we remember great people who lived in the past. It is by faith we understand that the whole world was made by God's command so what we see was made by something that cannot be seen." Hebrews 11:1-3

"Without faith no one can please God. Anyone who comes to God must believe that he is real and that he rewards those who truly want to find him." Hebrews 11:6

I finally have the chance to update my report from the Houston Marathon. The reason I used the bible versus above for this posting is in the later stages of the race, my faith was truely tested. As you'll see below everything was going as planned until disaster struck.

Marathon Story
The weekend was awesome as it started out by celebrating my 46th birthday on Saturday and then getting to stay at the Hilton Americas. Friday night we went to Buca de Peppa for dinner. I had lasagna, salad and bread. All day Friday and Saturday I made sure and drank water (about 72-90 ounces each day, if not more). I felt pretty good going into Sunday.


On Saturday night after going out and eating a Chicken Sandwich, I sat down and made out my race plan. It was simple. Run the first 13 at a 10 minute pace, miles 13-20 at 9:30 to 9:45 pace, and depending on how felt 9:45 to 10 for the last six miles. I figured for the last six miles, I would probably be closer to a 10 minute pace. If I stuck to that plan my time would be around 4:10.

I also spoke to my sister Kellye, she was so excited for me. She reminded me of how proud she was of me. Most importantly she told me to not to forget about Dave, my father in-law who passed away in 2007. He had suffered with MS for over 30-years. My inspiration was so high. Now it was time to focus.

Sunday, I woke up at 5 AM, drank 16 ounces of Accelerade and ate a Snickers Marathon Bar. I dressed for warm weather which was shorts and short sleeve shirt. I started with the first wave.

So for the first mile as I planned I ran a 10:30, but on miles 2-3 I ran a 9:40 pace. When I first looked at my watch at those splits I was surprised and I told myself to slow it down or "your going to pay for it later on."

But, I couldn't slow down and my splits after that for miles 5 through 7 were 9:25 to 9:30, miles 6 through 12 the splits stayed between 9:10 to 9:25. The thing is, I did not feel like I was pushing it, it still felt like I was running slow. I came through the 10K at 1:01 and the halfway point at 2:06.

From 13 to 17 my pace picked up to between 9:00 to 9:20. Still did not feel like I was pushing it. I came through the 30K mark at 3:03. Which for me was ahead of my goal. But, right before 18, I felt a twinge in my left calve, uh-oh. But I figured that after I met my wife at 18 and picked up a new bottle of Accelerade, popped 4 electrolyte tablets and re-stocked my Gu..(I was using Kaboom Electrolyte Gels and the Accelerade Gels, which do not have the high sugar content that other gels have.) I would be ok.

Then it happened and the rest of the run would go down hill. At Mile 19, my left calve cramped up. I walked and jogged until 21, and then started to feel better. My pace at 19 was 14:09, but for miles 21, 22 and 23, I was able to run 10:30, 10:39 and 11:13. I figured that everything I had done at 18 was starting to kick in.

Up until this moment I wondered where God was. Why was he doing this me? I had trained so hard for this. All the long hours away from my family, the hot morning runs in 80 degree weather and the cold long 20 mile runs in a icy wonderland came to mind. I felt like he had abandened me.

But as usual I was wrong. God puts adversity onto us to make us stronger. So that is why he did this to me.

At mile 23, my prayers were answered. A friend of mine saw me and she knew I was in tough shape, but her words of encouragement helped me to carry on. It was at that moment that God told me what I needed to do. He was telling me not to give up and that my friend was there to pass on that message. It was amazing, and the tears flowed, I realized that God was truely amazing!! He would never leave me and the whole time he was right there with me.

At 24, my world came crashing down when my right calve locked up, from there on in I walked, skipped and jogged in to finish in 4:37:35.

I don't know why I cramped up. Some people have told me that I probably suffered from a Potassium shortage or maybe a lack of Sodium. I was hydrated, I drank at every stop. Water for the first 6 miles and after that water and Accelerade. I didn't take in Gu until 1:15 in to the race and after that it was every 35 to 40 minutes.

I do know this, as disappointed as I was with the results I walked away feeling proud of my effort. I had given it all I could give. Which is what God expects from us. And I the one verse from the bible still sticks with me.

"For God all things are possible." Matthew 19:26
What's Next
The first weekend in March I will participate in the Texas Independence Relay which is a 24-hour relay that goes from Gonzalez to Houston, Texas. I will be running with 11 other people, but most importantly it will be with one of runners from Woodlands Fit - Andy Sullman. Andy is an amazing story and before that weekend I will share it.
 
After that, I will run a few short races. Work on building my speed and endurance and prepare for the beginning of the Marathon training cycle which will start in July. I hope to run the Houston Marathon in 2011. It will be my 10th Houston and #14. Next year, I won't make the same mistakes.
 
Below are some pictures from that great day.
 
God is Great!!
 
 

 

It's Time for the Big Day

"I tell you the truth, if you have faith and do not doubt, you will be able to do what I did to this tree and even more. You will be able to say to this mountain, 'Go fall in the sea,' And if you have faith, it will happen. If you believe, you will get anything you ask for in prayer." Matthew 21-22

Praying
There is nothing like the power of faith and belief. Tomorrow will be a monumental test for me, but I know that through my faith and belief that God will fullfill my desires which is to finish the marathon. I have run 12 marathons and the last nine, before every one of them I was freaking out. I seemed so unsure if I could finish. But this year is different because for the first time ever I will have God running with me every step of the way. As it was said in Matthew 19:26
"for God all things are possible."
This applies to everything in life!! It says many times in the bible that this is true. All you have to do is ask. That is so amazing!! So I know that tomorrow will be a success, I have no doubt about it!!
Tomorrow I'm going to move the mountain.

As it was said in Romans 8:31 "If God is for us, no one can defeat us." I will not be defeated tomorrow!!


Kellye and Others
I learned tonight how different MS can affect different people. I spoke to Kellye tonight and I started to tell her what I was wearing tomorrow in the race and she stopped me. You see, she couldn't comprehend it and an hour later she would barely remember our conversation. Imagine if you couldn't remember conversations or movies or television shows that you had watched an hour ago.

Now with my father in-law Dave, I never saw those symptoms. It was more physical for him. Of course he lived with MS for 30+ years, and I never heard him mutter one time "why me?" Instead, he loved his family and lived like a true man. He was the kind of father/grandfather that I want to be. He was a mans-man.
I miss him and I will also be thinking about him tomorrow. When I finish I'm going to look up at the clear blue sky and say "this one was for you Dave."

Running
Well this is it. Tomorrow everything that I have worked for over the last 27 weeks will come together. I did it right this time. I feel pretty good both physically and mentally. I want to thank my wife  and kids for putting up with me. It's been tough for them because I've been gone a lot. I now understand why I only do a marathon a year if not less, it takes a lot of time to train for it.
As for my goals tomorrow, I want to try and run a 4:15, but that is really going to depend on how I feel late in the race. The weather is going to be perfect so maybe it will be perfect. I believe I can finish by 4:30 anything more and I'll be disppointed.
But it is a marathon and not everybody can do one. Every marathon for me tells a different story. The very first marathon I did was at 17. It was the Summit Marathon and went from Los Gatos to Soquel which is just south of Santa Cruz on the Northern California coast. It was 13 miles up, 4 miles flat and 9 miles down. The down hill was what did me in. But still I finished in 3:30.
The most memorable marathon for me was the 1997 Houston Marathon. It was 28 degrees out, with a windchill of -30 and raining. All I can say is I did it.
The marathon is a test. It lets us know how alive we are. It shows us that if you work hard at anything you can accomplish that goal.
I told my wife Ginger this morning that's the message I hope my sons will understand when they see me finish tomorrow.

Thanks be to God for all his Glory!! See you on the other side.