Speed Play

Some of you will read a new word today. It is as much fun to do as it is to say! Track training has taught me a Swedish word "Fartlek" it means speed play. It is a training routine a runner can do to vary speed during the workout. It helps to increase your speed and lower your times in distances. Today was built around Fartlek.

Here's the build up: ballistic warmups, sprint warm up, 10 x 400 fartleks, 20 x stadium steps, 10 x sprint hills, core work (went hard core today!), and stretch. The most fun today was the speed play. Reminded me of being a kid playing a game in the school yard trying to chase someone down. It felt good to try to run really fast for short bursts.

But I must confess that right now I am tried. My muscles are aching a little, knees are speaking or cussing at me in Swedish, and I need to recover some strength. It will come. We push out there knowing that our strength will come.  Reminds me of all those times that I try to do things in my own power and lack the strength to finish. All along my Father has had all the strength I needed if I would only rest in him, wait in him, allow him to renew me.

But those who wait on the LORD Shall renew their strength; They shall mount up with wings like eagles, They shall run and not be weary, They shall walk and not faint. Isaiah 40: 31.  

You can't get much done in life if you only work on the days when you feel good. 

Jerry West

 

Hit The Road - Jack!

What a morning! Humid, foggy, and cloudy. Today, I hit the road. Took the road less traveled, over hill
and over dale, and round the bend. Here's the avenue: Ballistic stretch and warm up then hit the road.  It is awesome running through town. When you take to foot and leave the driving to someone else you discover how "hilly" it is in our little hamlet. When I returned the log recorded 5 1/2 miles, not bad way to get a day started.

While on the roadways this morning it became clear that my senses had to be a little bit more sharp. There is not a lot of traffic around here, but there are a few vehicles. Most of the drivers are paying great attention to the road. But there are the occasional unintended distracted drivers. Like the fellow backing out of the driveway as I was running behind him. I'm sure he would not have wanted to hit me. Good thing my muscles allowed me to leap.

The thought this morning is that in our Christian journey we have to hit the road. But be careful out there. Let your senses be sharp, pay great attention, and stay focused on why you are out here. Remember Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour. 1 Peter 5:8.

Stay strong! Stay Focused! and Let's hit the road!

Make each day your masterpiece.
- John Wooden

Got to Start Where You Are

Great day! here's the run down: ballistic warmup, sprint warm up, ran 3 miles with weighted vest, rest, ran 2 miles without vest, walked half mile with a buddy, core, and stretch. Also got to pick on some cheer girls and a couple of ladies that really did work out hard! I love life, now.

Since this is my first week blogging about all this some may think that this is a normal workout week for old Coach N. Truth is that I have had to build up to this pace. In fact, my plans are to work even harder and build up to another level of training. Just a few months ago I was walking the distances not running. Little by little I keep starting where I am physically and pushing to where I want to be.

Today a good friend of mine named Brian, who has been walking, was at the track at the same time as me. He is doing great! He has built up a great pace. A couple of times he has mentioned that he might not could run with me, but he is moving that way. I saw him stretch out and run for a lap or two today. It's cool cause we are not comparing ourselves to one another we know where we are and push from there.

Reminds me a little of a man that Jesus healed. Actually, Jesus cast out a whole lot of demons from him. Talk about a radical cleansing! When Jesus was leaving that area the dude wanted to go with him. But Jesus said, "Go home to your friends, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you." (Mark 5:19). Yes, you read that right - go back to where you are start there and let them know all that Jesus has done for you.

Don't compare your results to someone else's. 

You can never be another person, you can only be a better version of yourself.

Reverse Direction

Whoa! Today was turned totally around, and it was cool. More on that in a minute. Here's the run down friends: ballistics warm up, 2 mile run, stairs jazzed up to 15 sets, surprised body with sprints, dash "burpies", and core to stretch. Also, got to chat with a cool dude about veggie juicing.

Now, here's for the reverse direction. Life happened today! Morning appointments, afternoon mentoring season, and planted the garden. I had planned on going to the track this afternoon but everything today started to take too long. As the time opened for me to head to run I found as many excuses as there are ants in my garden. In fact, I almost did not go at all.

The track kept calling and finally I surrendered. There came a point that the reverse of the day began to remind me of a great reverse of direction that we all called to in our life. This reversal calls us initially for our salvation. Then as life happens we find ourselves in need of more reversals. These make themselves available to us in times when we make the wrong choices in life. We have to humble our selves, stop making excuses and make the reversal back into a grace relationship with Jesus. I sure am glad this reversal keeps calling us.

Acts 17: 20 "Truly, these times of ignorance God overlooked, but now commands all men everywhere to repent,"

Revelation 2:5 "Remember therefore from where you have fallen; repent and do the first works, or else I will come to you quickly and remove your lampstand from its place--unless you repent."

The difference between who you ARE and who you WANT TO BE is the work you put in.