Kevin's last Mantastic Monday

Pre-race thoughts...

I'm just sitting here thinking through my hope for this mornings 5k. What kind of time would I like to run, where would I like to place in my age group, what kind of effort do I want to put out there cause after all I do have a long run to do tomorrow. My sometimes overwhelming OCD requires my to have answers to those questions, to have a detailer map of pace and heart rate running through my head, but this morning those numbers and predictions have been shoved to the back. I'm running this morning with 10 other friends from my church, Genesis Community Church and I'm so excited to run with them. My first priority today is to enjoy my favorite thing with my favorite people.

No Facebook...Day One

Intro to Lent... from Resonate Church on Vimeo.

I fell off the treadmill....FAIL!

"I love sleep. My life has the tendency to fall apart when I'm awake, you know?"

-Ernest Hemingway

Yea, you read that right. I fell off of the treadmill this morning. When I ended up forcing myself out of bed and then leaving the house late I should have known that something bad was going to happen. I don't, at the moment, have the luxury of worrying about those things. By those, I mean the small irregularities that would normally drive an OCD runner like myself completely bonkers. Anyway, I chose to ignore any hints thrown at me by the hand of providence and continued on to the gym, after all today was free bagel day!

I'll get right to it. I was about a 1 1/2 miles into my run when I started to loosen up with a little help from my close friend Bon Jovi. With 'It's My Life' blasting into my ears I hit the button to increase the speed. I went from a 7:30 per mile pace to a 7:00 per mile pace. I felt good. I took a minute to shake to remainder of the night hours out of my arms. That's when it happened. I know what you're probably thinking, Will was staring at some chic when he busted his a**. Actually that's not correct. I spotted something on one of the t.v.'s that caught my eye. It was one of those videos where the skateboarders are trying to do crazy stuff and then falling to their deaths. Well I guess I got sucked in, you know the famous Will Wall t.v. stare. The next thing I remember I was bouncing off of the treadmill onto the floor. Granted I hit with enough force that the guy next to me crouched down and asked if I needed medical attention. Yes folks, major FAIL! To my credit though I did get back up and finish my run. 3 more miles in the books. Promise Land 50k here I come.

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I'm still alive...for now.

"I run so I do not lose the me I was yesterday and the me I might become tomorrow."

So, todays run went really well. It was after all my first solid run in over a month and my first run outside since November. Even the 7:20 pace didn't seem to take that big of a toll on me until I hit 2 1/2 miles. (that where I took my only walk break) All in all, it felt great to get outside and lace up the shoes. Now I just have to get consistent with my training. I'm shooting for the Conquer the Cove trail marathon here in Roanoke on the 5th of June. This will be the first trail marathon for Roanoke and I'm excited to give it a go, I just have to discipline myself to train. So here is goes. I've got 5 months to hit several goals. 1) Consistently hit a 7 min training pace, 2) lose at least 15 pounds, (I'm currently pushing 165, which is too far gone from the 140 I was when I was coaching cross country and track) 3) get to the gym 3 times a week for strength training.

I'll try to do better about blogging to so that I can at least have a record of this attempt good or bad. If I can get myself through this next 5 months and stick to my plan and survive I'd like to try and ultra in the fall just for kick. Why not?

Time to Begin Again

Ok, I'm about to head out for my first run in a month. I'm anxious to get out there but I'm not that anxious for all of the gasping for air that is going to be involved. But it has to be done, I'm not going to spend this year retreating into the couch of doom. So, here I go....I'll let ya know how it goes.

This Morning...

I awoke from my dreams with a resolute desire to move. There was a desire to test the limits of myself. How far until my will would give in? How fast until my heart could not keep up? How long until the loneliness drove me inside of myself? This morning as I arose from my bed the questions could not be left alone. No longer could I lay them on the nightstand and expect them to give in to my normal morning slothfulness. No, this morning they would be dealt with. This morning they would be answered.

Wearily I went through the motions, picking out the right clothes and lacing up the right shoes. I stumbled down the steps and scoured through my desk in search of my watch. 'Where is it, where is it?' I repeated aloud, as though someone was listening or caring about the conflict that was growing in my chest. Just as I began to contemplate justifying a trip back to the bed I saw the watch on the corner of the desk and cursed at it under my breath. 'Why this morning?' I mumbled to myself as I stepped out of the door.

In spite of the opposition that my body was giving to this unnamed thirst within my members, something happened as I started to move forward. I began to hear and to fall into the rhythm of my feet hitting the ground. Thump ...thump ....thump ....thump ....thump ...thump. I became aware of my body, aware of my legs, my arms. As the weariness of slept fell away and the sun rose in front of me, inexplicably, I became aware of myself. The questions of how far, how fast and how long began to come into view and as I saw it in the distance I entered into full pursuit.

This morning didn't end in answers. My sunrise quest did not end in success but rather in transformation. This morning I awoke a slothful, grumpy, monster. A creature I never meant to be, dreamed to be, or strove to grow into. This morning I answered the call of the great unnamed desire. This morning I moved foward. This morning I became a good animal. This morning I became a runner...and tomorrow I'll do it all over again.