Tired Legs

My legs are writhing with pain tonight. I am coming to the conclusion of what has been 3 very good weeks of marathon training. I have run an 88 mile week, a 100 mile week, and tonight I sit at 61 with two days of training left. This last week of running has been in the midst of my return to school as a teacher/coach. It's amazing how much more energy you lose just standing up and teaching all day. At night, my legs seem to ache the most. Fatigue sets in about 8 p.m., and around 9:30 I am the equivalent of a zombie. In college, I would soak my aching legs after a hard running session in the school's ice bath. The water was always prepared and waiting for me at a comfy 50 degrees. Oh, what luxuries I had in college.

Tomorrow night is my CC team's first meet of the season. The majority of the boys have been working extremely hard, and I am anxious to see their progress. We lost several from last year's state qualifying team, but I am confident with persistent hard work and dedication we can return to the state meet in November. I am a little nervous about tomorrow night as it is my debut as the "head" coach.

Why I do it

In the past few days, I have rediscovered why I chose to become an educator. I have noticed that my words of encouragement (however minor I think they might be) produce smiles on the faces of the kids I coach. One kid grinned like a possum when I said he was the "runner of the week" for last week. Another (a kid that has been struggling with injuries) lifted his head, puffed out his chest and gave me a crooked smile when I expressed my joy over how well he ran tonight. One kid's mom shared with me how her son went home bragging about how I had told him that I was really counting on him this year.

Tonight, I re-learned that I have the ability to motivate and inspire kids. Our school has been to the state cross country meet 17 times since the late 8os. As we were preparing for our run tonight, I told four different boys to go into the gym and count the state banners hanging from the rafters. One for boys basketball, one for girls basketball, one for girls cross country and one for boys cross country. The first came back (boys bb) and said 16, the second came back with a count of 1 (girls bb), the third came back with 6 (girls cc) and the fourth kid came back and said "16 or 17". This made us all laugh because it almost ruined my point, and I think the kids knew it. The correct count was 17. I looked at all of them and said, "Sometimes you have to remind yourself why you are doing this. You are a part of a great tradition at Krum High School. You are doing this for #18."

Afterward we did a 5 mile run. It was quite possibly our best run of the past week and a half.

Thank you Stephanie for convincing me that there is power in positive thinking! Thank you Monica for sharing your stories about how the little things coaches say can have a great impact on you. Thank you mom and dad for allowing me the freedom to pursue my passions and instilling in me the deeply rooted values that make me an effective coach.

100 Mile Week

Finally, I made it to the end of the week with 100 miles in the training log. This is my first 100 mile effort since the summer of '06. Surprisingly, my legs felt really good today. I went to the track and did a track session this evening. 3 X 2MILE with 2 minutes joggin rest at 10:35, 10:32, 10:13. I was really pleased with this session considering the volume I put in last week and the ease in which I was able to run at 5:20/mile pace. I am feeling really good about my training at the moment and hope I can keep it up.

A Dog's Master

It's true what they say that a dog cannot serve two masters. Since adopting our border collie about a month ago I have learned this truth. Steph and I started talking about getting a dog several months ago. I was really excited about getting a dog, and I only had one request--a male dog. I thought that would help balance things out since we have a female cat named Grace (and the cat is definately Stephanie's). In my head I envisioned my dog gracefully running beside me. I could see us playing fetch for hours in the park. And, at the end of the day I just knew my dog would lazily crash at my feet as I relaxed in my recliner.

When we went to the Denton animal shelter we found the perfect little male border collie. We knew this was the dog for us, yet, we (no I) was shocked when the Vet called to inform us that our little pup was in actuality a little girl. This is where the problems began! Since bringing our dog Mercy home I have learned that this little pup had already given her full allegiance to Stephanie.

Let me give a few examples. 1.) Stephanie can say, "Mercy, Go potty." And the dog responds by trotting off to find the right spot to take a poo. I say, "Mercy, Go potty," and she responds with that puzzled stare when dogs tilt their heads to one side and they are trying to figure you out. 2.) Since day 1 with Mercy, Steph and I have both tried to get her to play fetch with us. We have tossed the ball only to see her sit and stare. Well, yesterday at lunch we had a breakthrough. Stephanie successfully got her to fetch a toy and return it several times. I was so excited to see this, I had to give it a try. I grabbed the toy, knelt down next to Mercy, threw the toy, and said "Mercy go get it." She tried to bite my leg instead. 3.) Last night, I thought I would redeem myself by taking Mercy for a little run down the street, so I put her leash on and headed out the door. We got to the edge of the drive way and Mercy screeched to a halt. I stood out in the street making noises, shouting for her, telling her to come, doing everything possible to get her to follow me. She wouldn't budge. Tonight as I was watching the Olympics, Stephanie walked out the door with a little black ball of fur leading the way. She came back to let me know that the two of them had made a successful trot down to the end of the street.

As I finish this post tonight, Mercy is lying on the kitchen floor asleep. I'm quite sure she is dreaming about frollicking through green pastures, jumping through the air to catch frisbees, and relaxing on the back porch--all of course at her master's side.

Feeling the Burn

In the last week and a half, I have put in some serious miles. Last week, I ran 88 miles. Then I ran my longest single run in over 2 years of 23 miles on Sunday. Today, I am definately feeling the burn in my legs. I ran 6 this afternoon but felt very sluggish. I am hoping I can regain some pep in my step tomorrow. As of today, I stand at 64 miles for the week and should easily get over 100 by Saturday. This is the most mileage I have put in since my college years. I am hoping this will prepare me well for an opportunity to win the Steamtown Marathon in October.

With all of the miles I have doing; however, I was humbled on Saturday while watching the Women's Olympic Marathon. According to an NBC report, China's #1 runner put in 750 miles a month to train for the Olympics. 750!! . . . . . . . . Let that soak in. ... . . . . . . . . . . . .That's about 190 miles a week! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 miles a day!. . . . . . . Crazy!

I have the poem below taped to my desk at school. As I begin a new school year, my goal is to be true to myself and not cheat "the man in the glass."

The Guy in the Glass

When you get what you want in your struggle for self,

And the world makes you King for a day,

Then go to the mirror and look at yourself,

And see what that guy has to say.

For it isn't your Father, or Mother, or Wife,

Whose judgment upon you must pass.

The feller whose verdict counts most in your life

Is the guy staring back from the glass.

He's the feller to please, never mind all the rest,

For he's with you clear up to the end,

And you've passed your most dangerous, difficult test

If the guy in the glass is your friend.

You may be like Jack Horner and "chisel" a plum,

And think you're a wonderful guy,

But the man in the glass says you're only a bum

If you can't look him straight in the eye.

You can fool the whole world down the pathway of years,

And get pats on the back as you pass,

But your final reward will be heartaches and tears

If you've cheated the guy in the glass.

by Dale Wimbrow, 1895-1954

Running VS. Coaching Running

The hardest lesson I have learned as a young coach is that some kids will never have the same passion or work ethic for the sport that I love. No matter how hard I try, I cannot seem to convince kids of the joy and benefits of running. While I find passion and excitement in my own running, I am starting to become frustrated as a distance coach. We had only 8 kids show up to our first cross country practice this evening. This is the worst turnout in the six years I've been at Krum. What's worse is that this is my first year at the helm. I am disheartened, but I know I have to do my best for the few kids that have made the committment to run. It will take great patience and wisdom to remain positive over the course of the season.

My Wife

Since getting married in March, many people have recently asked me, "So how is married life?" Well, I have to say that marriage is great!! Mostly because I am married to the most wonderful woman in the world. I got up early this morning to do a long run from Krum to a random gas station in Denton (some 20+ miles away). When I asked Stephanie if she would pick me and my running partner, Coach Willison, up when were finished she didn't even hesitate to say "sure". Steph has been awesome in supporting me in my running career. I cannot thank her enough for standing by me as I pursue my goals and encouraging me along the way.

I thought a little bit about what these first few months of my marriage have meant. It sounds funny, but the the past 5 months of marriage remind me of several things--my Grandpa's old recliner, my morning cup of coffee, a run on a cool crisp morning, and my mom's buffalo chip cookies.

Okay, let me explain. Pappy (my grandpa) gave me his old recliner when I graduated college because they no longer needed it. That recliner has been my favorite place to relax for over five years now; it is well worn and occasionally I can still smell remnants of my grandfather's scent. The living room would not be as comfortable without that chair.

One of my favorite things to do is sip a cup of coffee and read the newspaper at the breakfast table. I know that makes me seem really old, but I find it very relaxing. After finishing my morning coffee, I feel like I can conquer the world. Without it, I really struggle through the day.

Running is best when done on an early morning when the wind is calm, the air is crisp and the temp. is cool. It seems that some of my best runs have come in the early Fall and Spring months when the weather is nice. It's on these days that I feel like one of running's Elites. Without these days to look forward to, it would be difficult to maintain motivation in the grueling summer and winter months.

Oh boy, my mom's buffalo chip cookies!! She used to send me boxes of them in college. I'm not sure what all she puts in them but they are great. In college I waited for her to send them to me like I was awaiting a paycheck. The cookies were usually gone in a matter of days. Those cookies helped me get through the "homesick" period of my early college years.

All of these things help make my life a little sweeter, a bit more relaxing, and keep me smiling. Steph has sweetened my life more than any of the above. It is hard to remember what my life was like before we met, but I know I thank God every day that we found each other.

So, how is married life?. . . . . . . . . . . . . . Well, it's SWEET!

In My Mind. . . . . I am an Olympian

I had one of those moments on my run last night where everything just seemed to click. My intentions were to run an easy 6 miles (my second run of the day), but about 20 minutes into it I felt like I was gliding. I ran past the 3 mile turn-around point and just kept running. Some people describe this feeling as a "runner's high". I have never really liked that description because I don't think it does justice to the feeling that comes over you. It's a moment of clarity; a point where peace, beauty, art and spirituality intersect. These moments are often short-lived, but not this one. I ran like I was floating; there was no pain or stress; no worries.

I'm not sure what triggered it. Perhaps it was the welcomed cool in the air, the breeze holding my sweat at bay, or the Rolling Stones communicating to me You Can't Always Get What You Want through my IPOD. Maybe it was just that my legs felt fresh and my body was at equilibrium. Most likely, it was a combination of all of the above. I ran effortlessly. I was no longer excersizing or even running; I was simply existing. I felt as if I were a part of nature, like a leaf blowing in the breeze. I ended my run at 8.5 miles.

Still feeling great I went inside and turned on the t.v. to catch Michael Phelps swim the Olympic 200 meter free. I watched in amazement as he gracefully slithered through the water to capture gold for the U.S. You could see it on his face after he finished. He had felt it, he had one of those moments. It's passion for a sport that allows you to arrive at this state of athletic bliss. It's a combination of this passion, God-given talent, intelligence, and maybe a splash of good fortune that gives an athlete access into the world of elite sports. My run didn't take place in Beijing, it was on the country roads of Krum, TX. But on this night, I wasn't much different than Michael Phelps. For 8.5 miles, on a lonley road in a country town. . . . in my mind. . . . I was an Olympian.

The Wedding Banquet

In my study today, I read the Parable of the Wedding Banquet. Matthew 22:1-14. To paraphrase, the parable is about a a king who invites many people in his kingdom to his son's wedding. Many people refused his invitation, so the king sent his servants to the street corners to invite anyone that would come. It was at the street corners where the king found his wedding guests. Of those that came to the wedding banquet, there was a man that appeared without proper wedding attire, so the king had the man thrown out of the wedding. Verse 14 reads, "For many are invited, but few are chosen."

The footnote in my Bible helped me understand the meaning of this parable. It reads, "God invites 'many' to be part of his kingdom, but only a 'few' are chosen by him. This does not mean that God chooses arbitrarily. The invitation must be accepted, followed by appropriate conduct. Proper behavior is evidence of being chosen."

The last wedding I went to was my own. I remember how important it was to me that I looked my best. I had to have the closest possible shave, I put on a splash of cologne, my nose hairs were trimmed, my tux was clean and wrinkle free, my shoes had a glossy shine, and each of the hairs on my head were held in place by healthy dose of hair gel. Our wedding was beautiful and no one threatened to throw me out. I had the proper dress; I fit the part.

The Kingdom of Heaven is near, the wedding day is approaching, so today I am reminded that I need to do some grooming. My life, my behavior should indicate that I am an invited wedding guest, that I have been chosen to attend the greatest Heavenly banquet of all.

Running Vegas

This past week I was in Las Vegas for an annual golf/gambling retreat I take with some of my buddies. I'm not sure why I go because my golf game is very sub-par and analyzing the contents of my wallet would indicate that I'm even worse at gambling. The six days in the Nevada desert also took its toll on my running. We woke up very early each day and played golf in the morning, which left the afternoon hours available to attempt a run. Let's just say that running in temps of 105+ in the baking sun is not ideal training. I managed only 3 runs while away, a total of 28 miles in 6 days. I will say that my golf game improved quite a bit over the course of the trip, and we played some very nice but difficult golf courses.

With the 3 hour flight to Las Vegas and then back to Dallas, I managed to read a fantastic book, Blue Like Jazz. It is about one man's (Donald Miller's) understanding of Christian spirituality and his journey to find God. I identified with his struggles of selfishness, and admired his desire to love others more. I highly recommend the read, and I am considering reading some of the other works by this talented author. You can check his website out at http://www.donaldmillerwords.com/.

Finally, before leaving for Las Vegas, Steph and I rescued a 2 month old Border Collie mix from the Denton Shelter. She is a cutie that loves to play; we named her Mercy. Stephanie was stuck housetraining and taking care of Mercy, our cat Grace, and her parents' cat Oscar while I was gone to Vegas. I know it was probably hard on her--Have I mentioned how awesome my wife is?

Needless to say, I was happy to return to Krum and my beautiful wife last night. I ran an easy five this morning in a comfortable 85 degrees.