The Uphill Battle

For a teacher, I personally believe New Year's Day to be one of the most depressing days of the year. The apex excitement of New Year's Eve behind me, the first day of January signals the end of the perpetual two week "party" and the beginning of preparation to return to the classroom where I will face the busiest, most demanding months of the school year.

It becomes a more ominous endeavor in light of attempting to train for a half marathon. Three rather easy five-mile runs behind me thus far, I've come to the realization that the pursuit may become much more challenging when my wake-up call goes from 10:30 A.M. to 5:30 A.M. and I face an entire day of work before I can hit the track.

Then again, perhaps the return to everyday life will actually benefit my training. I tend to have an inexplicable amount of energy left at the end of most days that usually needs to be burned off by some sort of physical activity. Also, running tends to be pretty cathartic for me after a chaotic, stressful day. I remember reading somewhere that we should try to engage in free-time hobbies that counter the demands of our daily jobs in order to promote balance. For example, those in "menial" labor positions should take part in activities that exercise mental processes, while those in more "intellectual" professions (ahem, that would be me) should find "mindless" endeavors.

Working out is a great opportunity to let my mind go relatively blank and emerge a clean slate. The question remains if my physical stamina is up for the extra miles and if my mind will keep itself "over matter", as they say.

On the emotional front, I am all for returning to normalcy. Yes, I'm going to curse myself for ever thinking this come Tuesday morning when that blasted alarm goes off...





My alarm clock, synonymous with evil

BUT, in the grand scheme of things, it is going to be for the best. I've seemingly regressed in the healing process over break. Or, maybe it will turn out to be just a more painful step forward--time will tell. Either way, all this time with my thoughts has not been the most pleasant and I'm so ready to invest myself back into the lives of others.

For some reason, the first months of this school year, I was really jaded and unhappy at my job. It was like it was in the way of my personal life and I was living for my nights and weekends. But, once things fell apart in the fall, I found my passion renewed for my job and the kids. It was a nice feeling, if only a distraction from all the "junk".

I haven't thought much about the students over break, (which is probably for the best. Teachers get extended breaks for a reason, people!) but I'm ready to pour into them again. They are people that, for the most part, are much worse off than I am even on my really bad days. I need their perspectives, their challenges, and the occasional times when they can make me laugh again. I hope they need me, too.

Happy New Year, everyone! May it be a blessed one.


The one who sat on the throne said, "Behold, I make all things new." Revelation 21:5

The Starting Line

After a Christmas weekend of stuffing my face with inordinate amounts of food, and way too much free time to wallow in self-pity about the state of things, I was more than ready to take my Asics on their maiden voyage at the Mundelein Rec Center track.

For the first time in about 10 years I made a point of stretching out my legs before the run. Like flossing, I've always found it to be an admittedly beneficial, but time-wasting endeavor; but, as Mr. Magical at Runner's Edge had reminded me, it was going to have to be a necessary part of my routine, if I hoped to stay on my feet and as pain-free as possible.

After the stretch, my first few laps around the track felt pretty good, save having to practically hold up my poorly-fitting athletic pants to keep them from falling off.

The issue resolved itself after several minutes, though, when my sweat helped to affix them to my body. (You are welcome for all the yummy mental images!)







After only the first seven or eight minutes, it was clear that I had stumbled upon a wonderful new discovery: REAL RUNNING SHOES THAT ALLOWED ME TO RUN!

Talk about true shock absorption: my Asics actually enabled me to move without feeling each and every one of the bones in my legs clanking together at the joints. This was a good start.

By the end of mile 1 (13 laps around the track), the endorphins were definitely releasing, and I felt myself breaking free from my self-defeating thoughts of the day. Not only were the shoes doing the job, but the day's music selection on my Zoom was proving a good one.

It's taken me a long time to convince myself to like contemporary Christian music. I never thought I'd be working out and rocking out to it. I had these songs on repeat once I got into the "runner's zone", and they worked wonders.

I ran the first 30 minutes easily, passing my typical breaking point without much effort. I felt so unencumbered and such a connection with the music that at one point I was on the verge of tears. Yes, crying while running--a tad melodramatic and awkward, perhaps. But, I couldn't help it; it was such a release!

Caught up in the moment, I lost track of time and certainly the number of laps I had run (Try keeping track of laps once you hit upwards of twenty! Not easy). I estimate it was somewhere around 45 minutes and 3.5 miles, though, when I called it quits--not because of knee pain, but simply tightening in my thighs from running a distance I wasn't used to. Maiden voyage: a success!

Waking up feeling great the next morning, I was uber excited to really put the New Shoes and myself to the test. Returning to the track, I set an impromptu goal of five miles, or 65 laps, in under an hour. I started out the first couple of miles feeling absolutely fantastic, full of nothing but positive self-talk. Five miles was going to be a cinch, so training for 13.1 would be a cakewalk.

Ehhh, not so fast. Just after mile 3, I hit a bump in the road.

Iliotibial Band Syndrome. Duh duh duuunnnn. When this guy gets aggravated (usually in my cursed right leg) during runs, I feel the pain along its entire length, from knee to hip. Usually it happens after running continuously on uneven surfaces outside, and it's gotten so bad in the past I can barely walk when it tightens up. I was forced around 3.5 miles, and then 4.5 miles to stop and stretch my leg, and thankfully that was enough to get me the rest of the way.

So, it was, about 50 minutes after I had began, I was victorious in meeting my very first running goal. It definitely wasn't easy and was a good reality check about just what kind of endurance is required to run a half-marathon, but it was also an amazing feat for someone who hasn't been able to run nearly half that distance much in recent years.

A day out from my "Chariots of Fire"-esque run and I'm feeling it something fierce in my joints. I don't intend on shooting for 13 miles, or even 8, any time soon. With all the time I've got before the "big day", I plan on building up very gradually so as not to burn out. "Slow and steady wins the race" isn't so apropos in this case, but you get the gist.

So, the dream is still alive, and onward I go!

Phil. 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.
ep.jpg

2011 was an equally epic and defining year for me. I fell in love for the first time and embarked upon a romantic journey that coincided with the seasons, leaving me heartbroken in the fall. True-to-form, here I am now, in a very wintry season of life (no thanks to the unhelpful illustration provided by current Chicago weather conditions).

Where's all the snow?

A Christian relationship requires dying to self the way we are called to in relationship to Christ (Galatians 2:20) and I aimed for that practice throughout the course of my relationship. Unfortunately, by no one's fault of anyone but myself, I let a little bit too much die in the way of my identity and self-image, and so I have been left feeling a bit sub-par in terms of my worth as a human being.

I don't remember exactly when or where the idea of running a half-marathon sprung into my mind, but I was set on the idea almost immediately. Amidst the slow healing process ,with the help of friends, my small group, prayer, and scripture reading, this pursuit seemed like a very tangible solution to move forward. It would be a physical challenge unlike any I've experienced before, necessitate a very structured, disciplined plan to follow, be a chance to improve my confidence and body image, and give me a good excuse to do more of something else I love in life--eat (heh heh). Moreover, my work outs (already a very regimented occurrence) are a time to detox mentally and emotionally, and reflect with a lot of clarity while the blood is flowing nice and strong to my brain. Not to mention the chance for some valuable prayer time and conversation with God. Prolonged runs several times a week would be a great way to continue this practice consistently.

There was no reason not to move forward with this life-changing resolution. I had the gym membership with access to a nice indoor track for the winter months; I had personal connections with previous marathon runners for training trips and schedules, and I had the motivation. Still, there was one thing standing in my way.

These...

Due to injuries, genetics, previous weight problems, and typical wear and tear, I can't remember the last time my knees didn't hurt when I ran. Now that I've hit my ripe, old, mid-twenties, it's become pretty pervasive. No matter the running surface the raw, grinding pain in the middle of my knee caps always kicks in after the first mile. It's been quite the frustration in my work outs when, barely winded and feeling ready to go the distance, my knees are always the ones to call it quits after mile two.

Before I even resolved to run a half-marathon, I had talked with other friends about the very possible culprit to my woes: the shoes.

I've been a big fan of Nike Shox for the past several years. I was first lured in by the concept of shock absorption technology for your run. That and, more importantly, the fact they just look really cool, have made them my work-out shoe of choice.

Tell me these things aren't cool lookin'!

Unfortunately, I learned the cold-hard reality about my beloved shoes, to the tune of "What?! You run in those things?! Are you NUTS?!" Apparently, the secret to my demise was the fact I was attempting to run in something about as supportive and efficient as wooden clogs. It was time to face facts: super-cool was going to have to lose out to super-effective if I wanted to continue my dream of running 13.1 miles straight.

That's where The Runner's Edge comes in. I'd known for years that the key to a good running shoe was getting professionally evaluated in a specialty store, and I decided to take the recommendation of a friend who'd been recently fitted at this Libertyville site.

I figured the guy helping me would just have me jump on a treadmill and watch me jog a few feet before slapping some ugly--but comfortable-- Saucony's on me, but the process ended up being much more intricate. The employee meticulously studied my stance as I stood on two feet, then one foot, then the other. By the time he had watched me walk across the store, he had his head in his hands, shouting "Challenge accepted!" Not comprehending what he could have possibly intuited from these simple movements, I was beginning to wonder if this was all a gimmick. That was until, without learning anything about me, he asked if I had injured my right leg before. The fall on my knee ice skating and severely sprained ankle in grade school (both of which he knew nothing about) had done some lasting damage which caused my right foot to slap and pronate (turn in) while running.

So, after watching me run up and down a side street in Libertyville several times with several different shoes, my personal expert and I decided on these bad boys.

Asics Gel-Evolution Motion Control

The best part--they're still pretty cool looking!

So, it's official: I'm a runner, a runner with a dead-serious goal of achieving a half-marathon by the Summer of 2012. I've been scoping out some options in the May-June time frame around Chicago and it's only a matter of time before I commit with the credit card. In the meantime, I invite you on the journey with me--a journey against the physical odds, and more importantly: a journey for the soul.

Isa 40:31 (NIV) But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.