A Sunday Morning Run

Today began early as I knew I was going to run, help clean up from the Baltimore County 4-H Fair, and walk around at ArtScape on a very hot day.  I had a good night's sleep, got to the trail just a minute or two late, and Joselyn was already there, and we began.

Starting from the Paper Mill parking lot, we went onto the trail and ran down to the zero mile marker and back--one mile at 8:29.  We had decided to head south to mile zero first because neither one of us could imagine running 19 miles (from the half mile mark to mile 10 and back) and then putting the last mile in at the end after running past where our cars were.

So we continued north and over the next four miles ran 7:50, 7:44, 7:54, and 7:58.  At that point we were averaging just about 8 min/mile which was what we had discussed beforehand.  As we continued along, we ran a couple more miles at 8:00 and 7:51 and 8:01.  Then we got to Monkton and stopped for a quick bathroom break.  We continued along with a 7:38 (hadn't stiffened up at the stop at all) and 7:46.   That brought us to the half way point at the 9.5 mile mark where we had been two weeks earlier on an 18 mile run (we had not gone down to mile 0 that day) and were at 7:55.  Not bad at all.  I thought I had seen 1:19:30 but the calculations with the data afterwards say 1:19:11.  Either way, not bad.  Not too fast at all.

We continued up to the 10 mile marker and Joselyn made sure to touch the marker when we got there.  I know I can count on one hand the number of times I have seen the 10 mile marker with a friend.  I've run the NCR Trail Marathon once, the two-person relay twice, and the NCR 20 Miler four times.  So, I've seen the marker in each of those cases, but I just don't go up that far with a training partner very often.  As we turned around and circled back to the 9.5 mile marker to complete mile 11, we ran a 7:56.  And for mile 12 we ran an 8:05.  That felt slow.  But that was keeping us right where we should be.

On the way back down we stopped at Monkton a second time--this time to refill water bottles.  Again, we didn't lose a stride.  mile 13 was 7:41.  Mile 14 was a slower 7:52.  But after that (we had a deliberate discussion about slowing down at the start of mile 14) we didn't look back.  We ran the last 6 in 7:31, 7:48, 7:29, 7:47, 7:28, and a strong finish with 7:20.  Total push at the end.  And any concerns I'd had about whether I could finish had been washed away as we came back to the start.

We were lucky to have been running on a shaded trail.  When we hit the bridge on the way back at about 0.7 miles from the finish, and there were no trees blocking the sun we realized just how hot it was.  Both of us were dripping with sweat (and had been for quite some time) but finally felt the heat entirely.

We were lucky to be greeted by Jack who heads up Team Persevere (they refer to the letter to the Hebrews).  We'd met him last summer and crossed paths a number of times.  He had a bunch of cold beverages (particularly Gatorade) and snacks.  We chatted for a bit and then headed out.

We had noticed a lot of runners on the way back.  Very few people on the way out.  But I suppose starting at 5:50-ish we wouldn't see a lot of other people.

And when I got in the car, I had a small bad of beef jerky.  It offered a great combination of salt and protein for my body.

Home and a quick shower and off for the rest of the day.

I do hope for some hillier miles as I head toward the very hilly marathon on October 10.  But not on a day with temps like today.  Looks to be a little cooler next week.  I'll keep my fingers crossed. 

Also--some notes of thanks.  I have to thank Sherry and the two younger boys for starting to clean up the cat show area without me (I arrived late because of the run) and my sister-in-law and oldest son for getting him where he needed to be since we have only two cars.  My running often happens with a little help from my friends. 

Looking at Today's Catholic Mass Reading as a Runner

Today's reading for those who attend a Catholic mass is Hebrews 12:1-4

Brothers and sisters:Since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to usand persevere in running the race that lies before uswhile keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus,the leader and perfecter of faith.For the sake of the joy that lay before himJesus endured the cross, despising its shame,and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God.Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.In your struggle against sin you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.

What caught my attention about today's reading was when it got to, "and persevere in running the race that lies before us." I don't often think of Jesus as running (a race or otherwise) and I realize that the part about running is for the sake of imagery and symbolism, but it is a wonderful image. Having faith in both the highest times and the lowest times is something that can cause some people to grow weary and lose heart (see near the end). Running a very long race is something during which a runner knows the joy that lays before him but also knows that he must endure. So, the images that are used here are definitely images to which I can relate as I try to strengthen (realizing I will never perfect) my faith. I also know that my races have been relatively easy ones (even my marathons in comparison with some people I know) and I have not had to work to the point of literally or symbolically shedding blood.

It is days like this when I try to break open the word and think about how it relates to me and how I can bring my experiences to what I read to help me understand how the wisdom of what I read fits into my life that I am amazed.

Hebrews 10:39

As I take on new responsibilities and prepare for my new position at the Business School, I find myself looking for inspiration and stability.  I suppose while I am excited about change, the goal of still having some rock of stability is a natural one to have.  In any case, I turn to my traditional spiritual outlet and look to the daily readings offered by the Catholic church as part of the mass to find some source of inspiration.  Today's mass readings include Hebrews 10:39,

We are not among those who draw back and perish, but among those who have faith and will possess life

And while St. Paul in his letter to the Hebrews was talking about this in the context of coming through trials and I am have not really come through trials recently, I do feel the need for strength and sustenance as I move ahead.  Words like this help me to focus and to realize that the lessons I need are not "new".  The lessons I need are lessons that have been around for thousands of years.  And as I grab the opportunities that life provides and need someone guidance, I have a source.  And as I go back to that spiritual well or guidance again and again, it will always be there and I will use it to help me in my efforts to (as the verse above says) "possess life".  

A Short Reflection on Sunday's Readings that I Missed

Sunday's readings in the Catholic church included Wis 7:7-11, Heb 4:12-13, and Mk 10:17-30. As I read over them and pondered them while running, the book of wisdom reading focuses on how prudence and the wisdom that often accompanies prudence can lead to great things in a way that nothing else does.  And where does wisdom come from?  Building on the foundation of what God has set as the path for men to follow.

The second reading makes two basic points.  We are never outside the domain of God and the word of God is all powerful.  All powerful in how it shapes our wisdom.  All powerful in its ability to lead us to good things.  All powerful in its ability to lead us to everlasting life.

And that last point is critical in the third reading.  After Jesus recites the commandments, he tells of giving up everything and following him.  Following his word.  It is the Gospel story about how it is easier for a camel to pass through they eye of a needle than for the rich to enter the kingdom of God.  The only way to everlasting life is by following the word of God.  That provides us with the keys to wisdom.

From a basic interpretation of how the elements fit together liturgically there was not much challenge to this one.  The challenge is to find the way to make it central to the way that I lead my life every day.  

Three Well Chosen Readings

Each Catholic wedding has the potential to be a unique experience.  At least among people I know, the bride and groom working with the priest who will celebrate the wedding mass have a chance to choose the readings.  A Catholic mass typically includes one reading from the Old Testament, one reading from the New Testament that is not part of the Gospel, and a Gospel reading.  Each couple has many reasons for choosing the readings they do.  Each couple is at a unique point in their lives in terms of their understanding of their faith and their understanding of themselves.  The choice of readings was guided by both for me and Sherry 20+ years ago when we planned our wedding.  We were just two people of an age we now refer to as "kids" (22 at the time we were married) who had attended mass regularly, had some exposure to what was called CCD at the time (Sherry having more than me), and had been involved in the campus ministry while in college.  At Jackie and Patrick's wedding (at a slightly later point in their lives with a different background in exposure to and working with their faith) the choices were clearly inspired by their understanding of themselves and their faith.  And, as I am clearly one who thinks about how the words I am hearing from the Bible relate to the current day (myself or, in this case, those whose wedding is being celebrated) I projected from the readings onto my own life experiences and the lives of the two beautiful individuals getting married.

The first reading was Micah 6:6-8

With what shall I come before the LORD,
and bow before God most high?
Shall I come before him with burnt offerings,
with calves a year old? 

Will the LORD be pleased with thousands of rams,
with myriad streams of oil?
Shall I give my firstborn for my crime,
the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? 

You have been told, O mortal, what is good,
and what the LORD requires of you:
Only to do justice and to love goodness,
and to walk humbly with your God.

I have never known Jackie and Patrick to be anything but humble.  Quiet--not necessarily.  Shy--definitely not.  But wonderful examples of humility before everyone and focused so much on the lives of others.  Giving not to be noticed but because it is right and it all comes from their hearts.

The second reading was from the letter to the Hebrews (12:1-3)

Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us 

while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame, and has taken his seat at the right of the throne of God. 

Consider how he endured such opposition from sinners, in order that you may not grow weary and lose heart.

As I heard this one, I looked around at the packed chapel on Loyola's campus (where Jackie and Patrick had met, gotten engaged, and were getting married) where they were surrounded by a cloud of witnesses as two people whose eyes are truly fixed on Jesus.  Running races (both figuratively and literally) is something they do a lot and endurance (whether the opposition of sinners as mentioned in the reading or, more, in a running race) is an important part of their lives.

Finally, the Gospel reading was Luke 24: 13-35, the story of the Road to Emmaus.  I won't copy and paste the whole thing (it is a long reading) but there is a link above.  It mentions that the disciples were walking a distance of seven miles when they came upon the person they did not recognize as Jesus at first.  In the reading, they ended up walking seven miles to Emmaus and seven miles back--14 miles or just over the distance of a half marathon.  Yes, my brain actually went to thinking about how it was like an "out and back" course that the two disciples ended up walking.  What else did I think about?  Jackie conducts many of the orientations for community members who want to be new participants in Back on My Feet.  I remember that she told us to try to remember to say hello to as many people as possible when out on our runs.  Just to be polite.  Just to try to brighten people's day.  Whether the person was homeless, outside a shelter of some sort, at a bus stop, or at Health Care for the Homeless.  There are many popular stories about how a person might come to meet Jesus or someone representative of the qualities of Jesus in a modern setting and overlook that person.  This is where I connected the story.  When we are out running with Back on My Feet, we never know who we will meet on the road.  We never know what type of difference we might make for the people we meet or what type of difference they may make for us.  We never know who might be able to demonstrate for us and share with us the grace of God.  In fact, we never know anywhere in our lives when we will come upon a sign from God or the second coming of Jesus himself.  Yet we should always be open to it.  And the disciples, once they realized that they had seen Jesus, did the second half of their "course" quickly and shared all the news when they returned.  Again, so closely similar to the experience of many runners who share stories about what they saw, who they experienced, and how they felt when they get back from a run.  And this relates to Jackie and Patrick not only because a half marathon distance is something with which they both are familiar but also because I know that they live their lives in a way that shows they are always open to receiving God's grace.  To welcoming a stranger.  To extending hospitality to a stranger.  To listening.  To relating.  And to sharing stories of the little things and most important things in life.

Their three readings were well chosen for them.  And their three readings served as a reminder for me. Of how incredible my two friends are.  And of the importance of living a life of humility, perseverance, and openness to the grace of God every day.