Runner's Log 6-02-05

Had quite a bit of fast-twitch muscle workout yesterday, and I felt it this morning when I woke up. Went with 50 minutes easy (6:25/mile pace). Ran down Hulen to the interstate and took the frontage roads up to Bryant Irvin and back. AKA "the Hooter's Run" by the Fort Worth Runner's Club because they can get a beer at hooters when the run is over on the weekends.

The run is a 2.5mile flat warm up stretch followed by a loop of steep rolling hills (and I do mean steep), and then the same flat stretch for a cool down. It's a great run and can have repetitions of the loop for about 9 miles of hills. Great one today. I was worried when I started. Felt like a slug. By the end of the run I was loosened up and doing much better.

A proper view of God

I touched on this with my youth group last night....a rather timely devotional. Goes along well with Hebrews 10 and 11.

Knowing, therefore, the terror of the Lord, we persuade men; but we are well known to God, and I also trust are well known in your consciences.
-- 2 CORINTHIANS 5:11


The fear of God is the greatest deterrent for sin (Exod. 20:20; Prov. 16:6). Those who perceive God as a benevolent and gentle grandfather will treat their sin superficially. They will worship halfheartedly. They will live life on their own terms rather than God's. But a reverent fear of holy God will dramatically affect the way a person lives. Even though Paul was an apostle of Jesus Christ, he feared God and knew that one day he would stand in judgment to give an account for everything he had done (2 Cor. 5:10). Our world does not applaud fearfulness. We teach our children to love God, but not to fear Him. We want to present a loving and non-threatening image of God to nonbelievers in the hope that Christianity will be more appealing to them. One of the great condemnations of our day may be that we have lost the fear of God. We promote Him as a "best friend" who saves us and "lives in our hearts," but we do not fear Him. It is true that we are God's adopted children and that we are fellow heirs, even friends, with Jesus (Rom. 8:16-17; John 15:14-15), but we are not His equals. He has forgiven us, but we are still His creatures. He is God, and we are not! If you find that you have become complacent with God's commands and have become comfortable in your sin, you are completely isolated from God's holiness. Take time to meditate upon the awesome holiness of God and allow the Holy Spirit to instill into your life a proper reverence for almighty God (Isa. 40:12-26). A deep sense of awe is essential to knowing God.
-Henry Blackaby

Trust in Christ Alone

I've been in this predicament many times in the last few years. Financially struggling, with bills in my hands that haven't been paid yet. But God has always worked it out for me. Many times he has used others in ways they weren't aware and that I wouldn't have expected, to help me through. I'm very thankful for this devotional reminder today.....
--Athos

Thus says the Lord: "Cursed is the man who trusts in man And makes flesh his strength, Whose heart departs from the Lord." -- JEREMIAH 17:5


The Israelites of Jeremiah's day believed they could trust in their army, the diplomacy of their king, and their foreign alliances to protect them from the powerful Babylonian empire. They gave lip service to their trust in God, but their actions showed where their faith really was: in their military and financial might. God spoke through Jeremiah to warn them that He would not bless those who trusted in anyone or anything instead of Him. Placing your ultimate trust in anything other than God is idolatry.

How can you know if your faith is not truly in God? Ask yourself these questions: Where do I turn when I experience a crisis? When I am hurting or afraid, to whom do I go? When I have a financial problem, whom do I want to tell first? Where do I seek comfort when I am under stress or discouraged? Could it be that you are saying you trust in God but your actions indicate otherwise?

God often uses other people as His method of providing for you. Be careful lest you inadvertently misdirect your faith toward His provision instead of toward the Provider. God may meet your need through your friends, but ultimately your trust must be in God.

The Israelites were so stubbornly committed to trusting in human strength instead of God that, even as the Babylonian army approached Jerusalem, they continued to desperately seek for a person, or a nation, or an army that could rescue them. They realized too late that they had neglected to trust in the only One who could deliver them. Don't make the same mistake as the Israelites. Go straight to the Lord when you have a need. He is the only One who can provide for you.

- Henry Blackaby

Runner's Log 5/31/05

7.7 miles in 45:12. Great tempo run! I've been off for the past 4 days. Yesterday was Memorial Day, and with the festivities, I didn't have time. Sundays I don't run. Saturday I had an am car wash and the rest of the day was packed with family stuff. Friday I was really struggling with Allergies. Thursday, I just forgot to post up the log.....sorry.

Anyway, I didn't want to push that hard today coming back out, but I didn't feel like just crawling for almost 8 miles either. So, I just hit a groove that felt comfortable and cruised. Imagine my surprise when I came through the 7.7 mile loop in 45:12! Over half of that is grass, just under half is concrete roads or sidewalks. There isn't much asphalt around here. I'd prefer that to the concrete. If I did the math right that's 5:52/mile average??? I think that's right....

Coach Lee, if you see this, tell me what you think! I'll officially be on the Runner's World marathon training plan as of next week....probably enhanced on the mileage just a bit as it only aims for around 50-60 miles a week and I need more mileage than that for a longer race, but we'll see.