Did you stretch?

There is one thing that I insist on when training or coaching others and that is to stretch properly after your work out. Proper stretching can improve your recovery time, create greater flexibility, and also actually improve your abilities. The value of the stretch is well worth the time investment. 

The amazing thing is that even with a proper stretching routine one can still find themselves fighting through pains and pulls. Have you ever heard of the sciatic nerve? I think it may be what people mean when they say "you are getting on my last nerve." Well, even with a wonderful stretch yesterday that small little lower back nerve decided to make itself known. 

Most of last night and early this morning I could hardly move. Then I did what every man does complained enough until my wife looked it up. Oh yes - WebMD to the rescue. Then a few short searches and discovered some extra stretches. 

Then discovered that it was not a good idea to just sit around. Apparently the sciatic does not like you to be lazy. Amazingly the back did not hurt as bad while moving. In fact, the more I moved the more I stretched and the better it felt. It felt so good after a day of walking I came home and went for a recovery run. 

Yes, this is a story of a small issue that is easy to over come and quickly. It also made me think that the Lord Jesus likes for us to stretch too. He creates opportunities for us to stretch our faith. Remember the story of Peter and the other guys fishing? They saw this figure walking to them on the water. When He was close enough Peter wondering if it was Jesus made a faith stretching request. 

Matthew 14: 28-29

28 Then Peter called to him, “Lord, if it’s really you, tell me to come to you, 

walking on the water.”29 “Yes, come,” Jesus said.

So Peter went over the side of the boat and walked on the water toward Jesus.

Stretch your faith! 

Workout: Warm up (slow 800); Ballistic stretch (slow) 3 mile recovery run (actually not that slow) 

Long deep Stretch! 

Let's Get Back After It

Wow! The weather is perfect for getting the old body back in tip top shape. If you are like me the winter hiatus was a little brutal on regular work outs. Plus for me that included the short stint in middle school track coaching. But that tends to motivate me to get back after it.

Today was a wonderful morning to hit the track. And it is spring break so no time crunches in the future just core crunches. So the track was almost totally mine to get myself going. I had to remind myself to take time to warm up the muscles. Always a great idea to warm up.

Sometimes we get in a bit of a hurry and life just jumps in our way removing our desire or realization that we must warm up. It is in the warm up that we set a good practice for the work out and run. This reminds me of how many times in life we get too busy to warm up spiritually for the day. When we do this we rob ourselves of a great day of fresh availability to the Father. Which in turn really means we do not get the most out of our day.

How long has it been since you have held a fresh word from the Lord? Even a Word? Samuel recorded in his story this sad fact "...Now in those days messages from the Lord were very rare, and visions were quite uncommon." (1 Samuel 3:1). Samuel was able to get back after it. And so can we.

Today's Training Log: 800 warm up, ballistic dynamic stretch, 3 mile run, stadium steps x 2, core, stretch.