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My Life on the Run: Review

I've just added Bart Yasso's new book "My Life on the Run" to my list of favorite books on running. This book grabbed and held my attention from cover to cover.

Whether you are a seasoned runner or an aspiring beginner this book is well worth the read. I found myself being  catapulted from moments of deep contemplation to gut level laughter within the course of a few sentences. Through this collection of stories Yasso takes us through the highs and lows of his life and the great joy of running (and biking). He offers salient advice for those who want to run better without making it sound like a "how to" section. Whether  you are a runner or simply a reader, I would encourage you to pick up this book of inspiration and enjoy it.

Eighteen Miles on Treadmill with U2

The air temperature was twenty degrees and the wind chill was three, it was the day for my long run, eighteen miles on the schedule. The thought of running outside in this weather was more than I could stand, but the thought of eighteen on the treadmill was surely drive me to the edge of sanity (many of my friends already question my sanity).

It was off to the treadmill. The good news was that I had a new DVD to watch, it was a U2 concert DVD that came as part of the special edition boxed set of the remastered Joshua Tree album. It was absolutely fabulous! Singing along to the U2 tunes from the mid-80's made me feel like I was in my late teens again and the time flew by. Before I knew it I had covered my eighteen miles none the worse for wear, invigorated for all that life has to offer me. I wasn't sure if the cost of the boxed set would be worth it, but I would highly recommend it to any fan of U2.

Of course, no matter how much I enjoy U2, I pray for good weather whenever my schedule calls me to  go long.

Coe and Ovett, a trip down memory lane

I've just finished reading "The Perfect Distance - Ovett and Coe: The Record Breaking Rivalry." It was journey down memory lane, as I read not only of their rivalry but also of Jeff Capes, Fatima Whitbread, Steve Cram, Dave Moorcroft, Daley Thompson and all the great British athletes of the early to mid 1980's. I remember watching the great duels of the 1980 Olympics in Moscow over 800 and 1500 metres. The amazement we felt when Ovett stole the 800 from Coe and people thought he would double up on the 1500 only to lose it to Coe.

Then came the 1984 Olympics in LA when Mary Decker and Zola Budd clashed in the 3,000 metres, Decker going to the ground and Budd,after being spiked, struggling to finish the race. But the great race was again the 1500 in which Coe would become the first person ever to successfully defend his gold over the 1500.

If you like great sports rivalries then this a book for you to read.

I had the privilege of seeing both Coe and Ovett run at Mary Peter's Track in Belfast. Indeed the international events at this track allowed me to see some of the world's greatest run. I've watched John Walker, Zola Budd, Tessa Sanderson, Jeff Capes, Fatima Whitbread and others all compete in person. It really is a delight to see the worlds best compete in person.

Racing through life

I've really enjoyed reading "Duel in the Sun." What a fantastic story about the two athletes, Alberto Salazar and Dick Beardsley, and their closely contested running of the 1982 Boston Marathon. It was a race to the finish, a real battle of mind and body and one that probably marked the end of both mens competitive running careers. Neither Salazar or Beardsley would ever be able to compete in quite the same way after the toll this race took on their bodies. The tough and gutsy Salazar would struggle with depression and exercise induced asthma and Beardsley, the quiet Minnesotan would fall into drug addiction.

Why do we run the race? For some it is to win at all costs and many have paid a high price for running at all costs including a ban from running for using performance enhancing drugs. Others just plod along at their own pace enjoying the moment and just hope to make it to the finish line. Others, like me, compete with themselves, we're never going to win but we can set a PR for the race. but a more important question is how do we run the race of life? How do we get to the finish line and finish well.

In the movie, Chariots of Fire, Eric Liddell is quoted as saying, "You came to see a race today. To see someone win. It happened to be me. But I want you to do more than just watch a race. I want you to take part in it. I want to compare faith to running in a race. It's hard. It requires concentration of will, energy of soul. You experience elation when the winner breaks the tape - especially if you've got a bet on it. But how long does that last? You go home. Maybe you're dinner's burnt. Maybe you haven't got a job. So who am I to say, "Believe, have faith," in the face of life's realities? I would like to give you something more permanent, but I can only point the way. I have no formula for winning the race. Everyone runs in her own way, or his own way. And where does the power come from, to see the race to its end? From within. Jesus said, "Behold, the Kingdom of God is within you. If with all your hearts, you truly seek me, you shall ever surely find me." If you commit yourself to the love of Christ, then that is how you run a straight race."

Yes, if we would commit to Christ then we will run the race of life well.