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. 

Checklist for Growing in Christ

In Rebuilding Your Broken World, Gordon MacDonald suggests twenty-six questions to help develop accountability and invite feedback. 

If we desire to grow, we should submit our selves to a spiritual mentor and answer these questions honestly. (I've highlighted the ones I like at this moment in time...it could be different tomorrow).

1. How is your relationship with God right now?
2. What have you read in the Bible in the past week?
3. What has God said to you in this reading?
4. Where do you find yourself resisting Him these days?
5. What specific things are you praying for in regard to yourself?
6. (Yeah this is missing in the original - so WELL it's 25 things to ask - Good Job Editor). 
7. What are the specific tasks facing you right now that you consider incomplete?
8. What habits intimidate you?
9. What have you read in the secular press this week?
10. What general reading are you doing?
11. What have you done to play?
12. How are you doing with your spouse? Kids?
13. If I were to ask your spouse about your state of mind, state of spirit, state of energy level, what would the response be?
14. Are you sensing spiritual attacks from the enemy right now?
15. If Satan were to try to invalidate you as a person or as a servant of the Lord, how might he do it?
16. What is the state of your sexual perspective? Tempted? Dealing with fantasies? Entertainment?
17. Where are you financially right now? (things under control? under anxiety? in great debt?)
18. Are there any unresolved conflicts in your circle of relationships right now?
19. When was the last time you spent time with a good friend of your own gender?
20. What kind of time have you spent with anyone who is a non-Christian this month?
21. What challenges do you think you're going to face in the coming week? Month?
22. What would you say are your fears at this present time?
23. Are you sleeping well?
24. What three things are you most thankful for?
25. Do you like yourself at this point in your pilgrimage?
26. What are your greatest confusions about your relationship with God?

Make the Most of your Time

How many times have I thought, "If I can just get my work out in, but I've got so much to do."? That is this week so far. We have a couple of football camps we are involved with this week and add to that church VBS. So too say that time is a premium is an understatement.

In days when you have a little time give it your all. You have to decide what is important. Some days you just have to wake up early. Some days you have to be satisfied with a short run knowing you got it in.  But it comes down to managing your priorities.

In our spiritual journey we have those days of pressure and schedule crunch too. Paul reminds us in Ephesians, "See then that you walk circumspectly, not as fools but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil." (5:15-16) Our spiritual walk is to be governed with wisdom in that we learn to take advantage of and control over our time. These days are evil and we must maintain our spiritual pursuits even more diligently than our physical ones.

Today: quick 2 miles, coached in football camps for younger boys, then middle schools.

Train Wreck Work Out

Every once in a while I will own this truth - some days are just train wrecks. You show up with great plans and you feel great. You have a good attitude and your close even match. Then you get going and it all falls apart. I mean the wheels fall off, the train wrecks, you crash and burn.

There can be a lot of reasons for the tough surprise. The heat, dehydration, lack of rest, or even lack of proper nutritional fuel. So, then you dig in a little deeper. Start trying to find the next level from where you are and crawl back out and around. You just simply keep moving. There is always more in us than we think.

Reminds me of the struggles we can encounter in our spiritual journey. It seems all is great then all of a sudden a spiritual train wreck, we get knocked for a loop. We don't give up or give in no we strain ahead toward the calling of Jesus in our lives.

"Not that I have already attained, or am already perfected; but I press on, that I may lay hold of that for which Christ Jesus has also laid of me."

Phil 3:12 

Today: warm up, dynamic stretch, 3 miles, train wreck.... attempt at 50/50 spirit shuffle drill x 3 = 2 miles, stretch.

Here's a shot of a few of the boys who worked so hard with me this summer - This is a proud Coach! Heart is so Full!

What attitude will you choose?

Some days we get up to get after it and have a thought that this is going to be a rough one. Isn't it amazing that more times than not we then go out and struggle. You see our attitudes have a lot to do with the impact of our work out. What is amazing to me is that we are actually in control of our own attitudes.

Today my attitude was actually good. I felt tired from adding some stuff to my schedule and little on the sore side. But my thoughts when I got up flew to how this is good day to stay loose and stay at it. The fun thing for me was that the fellows I was training also showed up with the same thoughts.

Guess what? We had a great day and actually had a little fun.

My favorite Scripture covering attitude is penned by Paul reminding us to have an attitude. But not any attitude but the attitude of Christ Jesus. This attitude is one of a servant. So as a follower of Jesus I have a choice to become in always and at all times a servant. With this attitude in place it is amazing how many time the Lord opens opportunities for us to serve people for Him.

"Make your own attitude that of Christ Jesus." 

Philippians 2:5 (HCSB) 

Today: warm up, dynamic stretch (started slow), ladder drills, 2 miles, flying 30's up a shady hillside x 10, long good stretch

Hooray for Hydration

One of my families favorite things to do is hydrate. We are sort of militant about it when you are around. If you don't believe me ask my mom how obnoxious we can be when you need to be filled with water. Hydration is essential before, during, and after any run.

My hydration plan is simple. I start the night before I run (so almost everyday). Drink a couple of cups of good ole H2O at night before bed. Then in the morning before you head out (about an hour) make sure you drink between 16-20 oz of water. On training days be sure to push some water and or diluted sports drink. Then after you are finished make sure you drink 20-30 oz of water. These amounts could vary for each person but this is my plan.

All this hydration talk reminds me that there are times our spiritual lives require a bit of hydration as well. We need to be refreshed with the Spirit of God. The Scripture reminds us to "Be filled with the Spirit..." Ephesians 5:18. I love this passage since it reminds me that we need fresh filling of the Spirit. We can become hydrated with the Spirit through spiritual exercise of sorts. Confessing sin, requesting the Spirit's presence, and total reliance on Him.

Hooray for Hydration! 

Today: Warm up, dynamic stretch, 3 miles, core work, long stretch,,,plus hydration.