TheRunningRev.Com

Slowest But Greatest 5K

Today I ran a 5k in about 29:34, it wasn't chip timed so the time isn't exact, it was the slowest I've ever run for a 5k. What made it the greatest 5k I've ever run was that I was running with daughter, it was our first race together and that made it very special.

I told her I'd give her $5 if she finished in under 30 minutes and needless to say her competitive nature had her push to the line and sneak in with about 20 seconds to spare. Way to go kid! Dad's very proud of you.

With about half a mile to go I told her it was decision time, cross the line holding dads hand or lose to him. To my great delight she decided on the hand holding option and we crossed the line together, I held her hand high and the small crowd cheered!

End of Year Summary

It was a good year...

3 5k races
1 Ten-mile race (Army)
1 Half-marathon (Virginia Beach)
2 Marathons (National and Richmond)

1414 miles run

Looking forward to 2008

Sole F-80

My wife and I just purchased a new treadmill. We went with the Sole F80 and we love it! It's going to make life a whole lot easier for our family, now we can run and watch the kids at the same time. Jenny can run when I have evening meetings (a common occurrence for pastors) and we can both run at the same time (one outside and one on the treadmill) freeing up more time for other family activities.

The treadmill itself is excellent, with a 3.0 hp motor it runs very quietly, the only noise is the belt running over the deck. It has a really solid feel to it and we look forward to many hours of enjoyable running on it.

Run To Finish Strong

It was cold and wet on Saturday morning as I headed out the door to run the Reindeer Run 5k. We had planned to run as a family but the foul weather persuaded everyone else to stay in bed as I headed out the door. I didn't win and I didn't lose, as usual I finished in about the top 20% of runners.

There weren't that many of us running the race and after the first 3k there was about a hundred yard gap between me and the person in front of me. There was one other person about ten yards behind me and then another gap of one hundred yards behind them.

With about half a mile to go I got a sense that there was going to be a race to the line between the two of us. I'd paced the race for this guy and felt like he was closing in on my shoulder just waiting to pounce. With about 300 yards to go I could hear his pace quicken and without turning round I kicked into another gear and kept my lead. With 75 yards to go it was an all out sprint for the finish, he never caught me.

As I crossed the finish line I turned round and we greeted one another. Neither of us had won the race but we both enjoyed the challenge of finishing strong and racing across the line.

The apostle Paul reminds us to strain, "toward what is ahead" and to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Run well and finish strong!

It was cold and wet on Saturday morning as I headed out the door to run the Reindeer Run 5k. We had planned to run as a family but the foul weather persuaded everyone else to stay in bed as I headed out the door. I didn't win and I didn't lose, as usual I finished in about the top 20% of runners.

There weren't that many of us running the race and after the first 3k there was about a hundred yard gap between me and the person in front of me. There was one other person about ten yards behind me and then another gap of one hundred yards behind them.

With about half a mile to go I got a sense that there was going to be a race to the line between the two of us. I'd paced the race for this guy and felt like he was closing in on my shoulder just waiting to pounce. With about 300 yards to go I could hear his pace quicken and without turning round I kicked into another gear and kept my lead. With 75 yards to go it was an all out sprint for the finish, he never caught me.

As I crossed the finish line I turned round and we greeted one another. Neither of us had won the race but we both enjoyed the challenge of finishing strong and racing across the line.

The apostle Paul reminds us to strain, "toward what is ahead" and to "press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called [us] heavenward in Christ Jesus."

Run well and finish strong!