Lucky 13

Today my long run was 13 miles. Such a nice break after 20, 18, 20… and really… I need it. The pace however, was supposed to be faster than my long tempo run. =) That would put me at under 1:45 for total time, and my fastest half marathon race time is 1:41:25. My mile times were:

7:59
7:59
8:01
7:57
7:57
7:56
7:54
8:00
8:02
7:59
7:53
7:53

Total time: 1:44:21 7:58 pace, just a tad over 10 seconds slower than my race time.

It helped that this week I did not lock my keys in my Jeep. Last week, after the first 6.5 mile lap of the airport, I stopped at the Jeep to drink water, only to find I ran with the car key instead. WONDERFUL. I had to run 2.5-3 miles home to get the Jeep key before I could drink any water. For me… while I can run 10-12 miles without water without too much of a problem, that is too far if I am going to continue running. Anyway, today I had water at the 6.5 mile mark like I was supposed to, and it was a better experience.

I am approaching the one year anniversary of this Blog. It all started back on August 6th… just a short year ago. (Though it seems like a long time now) On August 8th last year I tried to run 3 miles in under 8 minutes per mile, and couldn’t. Now I can run 10 miles first, and still run the last three in under 8. =) My what a difference a year makes.

Running is an endeavor that takes a lot of patience, which is perfect for me. Patience has always been one of my strong points. The progress I have made over a year is pretty big… but it is has come slowly, and with a lot of hard work. I do miss some of my more leisurely runs, and I think really that is the way things are supposed to be. I am just killing myself now for this BQ thing… but thereafter I think maybe I will slide back into run for the sheer joy of it. My wife has asked me many times if I enjoy running. I always say I do… but she looks at me kind of strange when she sees me hobbling after a hard run. There is something magical about running though. It keeps me young and makes me feel like an old man at the same time.

Here is my ‘motivation song of the day’. It is my powersong on my IPod. I love the song because it embodies my BQ journey… and the lingering doubts I have about whether I can prevail… and how I should listening to the other voice… the voice that says… I can… I can redefine my impossible.


Voice of Truth by Casting Crowns

Oh,what I would do
To have the kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves
To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown
Where Jesus is,
And he's holding out his hand

But the waves are calling out my name
and they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
time and time again
"Boy, you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh, what I would do
to have the kind of strength it takes
To stand before a giant
with just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound
of a thousand warriors
shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out
my name and he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
time and time again
"Boy you'll never win,
you'll never win."

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
the voice of truth says "do not be afraid!"
and the voice of truth says "this is for my glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

but the stone was just the right size
to put the giant on the ground
and the waves they don't seem so high
from on top of them looking down
i will soar with the wings of eagles
when i stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
singing over me

But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says do not be afraid
And the voice of truth says this is for my glory
Out of all the voices calling out to me (calling out to me)
I will choose to listen and believe (I will choose to listen and believe)
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

I will listen and believe
I will listen and believe the voice of truth
I will listen and believe
'Causes Jesus you are the voice of truth
And I will listen to you.. oh you........