Well, I just did something I
haven’t done in a real long time. I ran with some other people. I have turned into a lone runner over the
years because I like the time to think, pray, and listen to my I-Pod which I
usually listen to sermons or classic rock to take my mind off of running. But this past Friday was different. I was invited to run with Stacey and
Tom. In fact, I began feeling like I had
to run because Stacey sent me threatening texts about bailing out on them. There was a slight twinge of that when I woke
up and discovered that it was a rainy, drizzly Saturday morning. But I was determined to not let my runner
buddies down. So I showed up at the
Runner’s Spot by the running trail ready to go.
Now the nice thing about the local running trail is that it used to be
the train path through town. So this is
a nice, flat, safe and easy route to run.
But we only did a half mile on the bike path until we went off the path
and onto the country roads. Here is the
big difference: country roads have a lot of ups and downs! Oh the hills! And if
that isn’t difficult enough, Stacey would use psychological mind games by
saying things like “What goes down, must come up!” And without the I-pod blaring in my ears it
was all too easy to concentrate way to much mental energy in thinking about
what I was doing. And it is just not a
good thing to think too hard about running while you are running. A mental argument starts up where one voice
says, “You can do this!” while the other voice is saying, “Oh my gosh, look at
this freakin’ hill coming up? Why am I doing this?!? I’m gonna die!”
Now I know that I set some
goals in my previous blog but I am going to have to scale back a little
bit. I stated the importance of beating
Stacey. Well, now that I have run 10
miles with her I think I can say with humble assurance that I will not beat
her. Not even close. And Tom, being slightly older than me, I
think he too will be way ahead of me. No
hope in beating either one of them. So
here is my revised goal: Beat everyone from my church except Stacey and
Tom. So look out Dave, Scott, and the
others of Team Jake! I got you in my sights!
But more interesting things
have been happening from my runs. And
this is not through the other runners but from girls in my youth group! After running one day I received a text
message from one of my Junior High girls.
She commented on the fact that she saw what I was wearing when I was
running. Now I know that there is a lot
of funky clothing available for runners.
But I was only wearing a very normal pair of shorts and a loose white
t-shirt with a Superman print on the front of it. No big deal.
So I texted this teen back and questioned her comment. She told me Superman wasn’t working for
me!
And then when I was running
by the Whippy Dip I was lost in my I-pod but I did notice a group of girls who
were standing close to the sidewalk and when I ran past them there was the
sound of laughter. I wasn’t sure what
that was about and if it was directed at me so I just kept on going. But I spent a lot of mental energy convincing myself
that these random girls were not just laughing at me! Scary thing though is I really
think they were, and I can’t figure out why?!?
And if this wasn’t awkward
enough, I had another Senior High girl comment on my Facebook that she saw me
running the day after my run. And when I
entered into the conversation she said I run like a girl! RUN LIKE A GIRL?!?!?! What exactly is that?
Running is running! I did not realized
there was a “guy way” and a “girl way” of running. So I asked her to clarify what she
means. She said I run with my hands out
front like a prissy girl! At this point
she was excommunicated from the youth group and her eternal salvation seriously
questioned. I have no idea where she saw
me running so yes going down a hill I might be picking up speed and moving my
arms a little more than usual or if I am going up a hill I might be running
just fast enough to keep up with a snail.
But I can assure the world of one thing: I most certainly DO NOT run
like a girl!
What is this?!? A conspiracy
against the middle-age youth pastor!? I try to run a race for a great cause,
and to take control of my heath and my youth group beats me down! I will have NONE OF THIS! So I decided to buy a full body lycra suit to
run in. By doing this I completely erase
my identity! No one will recognize
me. They will just see the strange green
guy running by. And it just might have
enough weirdness factor that they will heed the warning to not make fun of
their youth pastor when ALL HE IS DOING IS TRYING TO STAY HEALTHY SO I CAN BE
YOUR YOUTH PASTOR FOR A VERY LONG TIME!
But NOOOOO! Mock my shirt. Laugh at me when I run past you. And worst of
all, just say that I run like a girl.
This comes from the reality TV junkie of our youth group! She used to be
an athlete but now has become and expert in reality TV programs!
So I just want to go on
record because I am feeling a little hurt! I am doing something for me for once. I have done a lot for my family and my youth
group but now I just want to achieve this one thing: run a half marathon! So if you want to give me some fashion tips on
runner apparel, then FINE! You want to
run 10 miles with me and see what your arms do when the rest of your body is
starting to convulse from the miles you’ve just ran?!? Come on! I dare you! Run with me! No more talk! Let’s see you spectators get off your chair of
judgment and join the team of running awesomeness!
Until next week.
Scott
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