Growing up

Six days since I last wrote.  Last Monday I wrote and took a day of rest.  Since then I did 6 on the track (3x1600 at 7:05ish was the main workout), 5 easy, 8 easy, 4 easy, and 10.1 and 12 in Ocean City, Maryland.  That adds up to 45.1 since the last time I posted.  That puts me well outside St Louis.  At this point, I am on Missource Route 28 headed west (as almost always on this trip).  About 6 miles from where MO-28 intersects US-50. The town I am in is called Owensville.  Their Catholic church in town is Immaculate Conception.  It is interesting to me to see how often this name is used.  We have one in Baltimore.  Neither of the two Catholic churchs in Ocean City are named Immaculate Conception.  I passed two today on my run--St Luke and St Andrew.  I don't know if there is a third.  Immaculate conception makes me think of innocence.  And a lot of the past week has been about growing up.

Let's begin with a week ago.  The speaker at my oldest son's high school graduation began by singing the entire song Rainbow Connection from the Muppet Movie.  It was touching.  The speaker (who is not a professional singer) noted that it took a lot of guts to sing in front of a crowd of artists that inluded many music majors and numerous voice majors among that group.  He had many things to say about the rainbow theme, but one of the biggest was a quote from Maya Angelou to try to be the rainbow in someone else's cloud.

The speaker also talked about excellence.  At the Baltimore School for the Arts the students must strive for excellen in academics and art.  And if one looks at where they are going and what they will be majoring in for college, it is clear that they have both sets of skills.  My son was fortunate to be the valedictorian.  His girlfriend posted a picture of "the valedcitorian and his girl."  I commented that I had not realized it was a status symbol to be the "valedictorian's girl".  She answered that it probably isn't and she is just so proud of him.  We are fortunate to have a family where the older valedictorian and his girl have been supporting the younger valedictorian and his girl in their pursuits.  The cycle of life.

The speaker also mentioned "generation C" with the "C" standing for connection.  It was an interesting contrast with the teacher of the eighth grade from which my middle son graduated.  He talked about connectedness and the importance of being connected in ways other than electronics.  By whatever means, connections are key.  And it is interesting to see how kids use the connections.  How peple in general use the connections as individuals and the technolog both mature.

A few other growing up moments.  First, growing up in the workplace.  It was the first time that I really had to make an assessment of someone's skill and what their future long-term role in the organization would be.  It was tough making the judgment.  It was even tougher as the judgment was not as favorable as I like to make about everyone.  I'm an optimist.  But I made it.  And I think it was right.  And I think I have "grown up" in my managerial role as a result.

Also, there were issues raised with the curriculum at the school where my youngest will still be.  A lot of strong words exchanged by email.  Polite but strong.  Thinking about what my youngest will be exposed to as he continues to grow up.  And thinking about what we want for him and how  much control we have or do not have.  Talking with another parent we talked about when there is more heat than light.  On Thursday I had run in the rain.  It helped diminish some of the heat.  Not sure I had much light to share, but the heat definitely decreased.

Finally, (it is now Monday morning June 9), I skipped running this morning.  That was not planned.  I had wanted to do 4-6 just to loosen up the legs after the 10 & 12 over the weekend.  However, I think I had too much exposure to the sun yesterday.  At dinner last night I started getting the chills.  Sherry thought it was just because we were under ceiling fans and the temps were moderating.  I don't think that was it as it continued when we got outside and back to the hotel.  So, I went to bed all bundled up before 8 and rested (the sleep was off and on after midnight) until 6 this morning.  I decided not to stress my body today.  Hopefully a good decision.  More to learn about time in the sun.  The interesting thing is that I did not feel overly sunburned but some of what I had was symptoms of sun poisining.  Of course, I also have symptoms of stomach cramping so maybe it was something I ate this weekend.  I don't know.  But I'm feeling better, albeit not perfect, this morning. 

Parallels in Running and Work Life

Four days since the last time I wrote.  And so much to think about.

Thursday, I did a nice track workout with 8x200, all under 40, increasing speed as I went along.

Friday, I did an easy 4 just to keep the legs loose.

Saturday, I tried once again to prove that all the track work, all the hill work, and my general approach to training would, in fact, lead to a sub-19.  And again, I didn’t make it.  The splits were not horrible.  But I ran a 19:36.  I can say now that I am done that 5000 meters at race pace on the track is not easy alone.  Even early in the morning.  Even on a flat surface.  My legs were tight.  I probably should have taken a day off this week.  And my stomach tightened at about 2/3 of the way through.  I had eaten late the night before and stayed up late. Perhaps I really will never go sub-19 again.  But in the end, it doesn’t matter.  I’ve learned a lot along the way.

So, this morning, I ran an easy 8—average pace just over 8:30.  I’m up to a total of 877 miles for the year.  That puts me on Old Manchester Rd as it swerves off Manchester Rd/Missouri Route 100/US-66.  So, I will be back at US-66 and then on US-50.  The connection with US-50 is interesting as it will take me through about 30 miles of running.  Driving, I’ll be on a much different part of US-50 next week as we go to Ocean City, Maryland, for the final lacrosse tournament of the 2014 spring season.

I share some thoughts about my running issues with someone who has been sharing my running journey.  There are some interesting parallels between my work life and my running life.  In my work life, we have a performance review system in which the supervisor is asked to provide goals, name strengths, list watch outs, and suggest important networks. 

For strengths my boss listed attention to detail, creativity, and connectivity.  I think that these are well reflected in my running as well as my work life.  I love data.  I love to analyze carefully what I have been running and what I need to run.  I try to make every workout just right.  (And I have found that I get something positive out of making every workout just right even if I do not meet my racing goals.  It shows that I am focused on the journey or process just as much as I am on the outcome.)  On the creativity and connectivity side, the connectivity is with people in the case of work.  I have also found ways to connect with people in my running.  And the creativity is finding ways to link running to all sorts of other things and write about the connections and ideas. 

For watch outs, he listed three: pacing for productivity, “getting to win,” and professional image.  The last translates into “maybe your academic writing has gotten you this far but you will need to ‘look good’ to get further—but some more suits.”  OK.  Does that relate at all to running?  Maybe.  I definitely think of myself as looking more like a serious runner in how I dress for my running now than I used to.  Pacing for productivity—faster decision making, more decisive, get things done.  I can relate to that in my running although the pacing for running can be up or down.  The key is getting it right.  Finally, on the “getting to win” point.  I’m not sure I’d call that having a “killer instinct” but there is an element of completion.  There is an element of seeing things through.  There is an element of making certain that things happen.  Mental toughness to see things through.  Again, I can relate it to my running inasmuch as I clearly have to get better at not just doing the workouts and preparation but at making sure that all is done well—including the “final presentation” (or the race).

For networking, there was a focus on networking with leaders in my performance review.  I think that hanging with very good runners is something that I have been doing and continue to do and finding the right runners to help me improve my own running is also key. 

The parallels between my work life and my running life are not entirely surprising.  What you see is what you get. Someone who pays attention a lot.  Someone who tries very hard.  Someone who can work step by step.  But someone who sometimes finds it challenging to bring everything together and produce an excellent and expected final outcome. 

4 Miles and an Exchange with My Cousin

Yesterday I ran a very easy 4 miles.  Total: 853.  Location:  Still on Missouri Route 100/Manchester Rd.  Now in the Kirkwood area as I head west of St. Louis from the Mississippi.

The run yesterday was not eventful.  Just useful for keeping my legs moving and continuing to keep in shape.

So, what else happened yesterday?

I had a series of exchanges with a cousin who writes a blog, too.  We were discussing my reaction to her latest entry:

http://findingfeminismcontemporary.blogspot.co.uk/2014/05/isla-vista-and-worrying-reality-of.html

This is a pretty serious blog entry.  She warns people in her blog entry about the disturbing nature of some of the discussion.  It focused on the shootings in Santa Barbara by the man who thought that he was owed sex by the women around him.

My gut reaction--not all guys who end up as "just friends" feel this way.  And some can turn it into a positive learning how to be platonic friends with women and learning some great listening skills.

My cousin's reaction--that's not the point.  She knows I'd never react that way.  But in any situation a woman has no way of knowing whether I am a really nice guy or the guy who did the shooting in Santa Barbara.  While guys as extreme as the one in Santa Barbara are few and far between, the belief system is not as uncommon as we might hope for.

So, in my constant thinking about numbers I think about the four miles yesterday and the eight intervals I hope to run this morning.  Four is half of eight.  I can think of four good examples of how I am not part of the problem.  My cousin would say that only gets me half way there.  I have to figure out whether I want to be part of the solution.

I think I am not part of the problem because I hold women in high esteem. I have a 24/7 reminder as my tattoo shows the man (St. Sebastian) as the vulnerable one and the woman (Irene) as the rescuer.  I have described many times the importance of strong women in my family, as professional mentors, and as fellow athletes.  It is great to hold women in high esteem and recognize their importance in my life.  That is one example of not being part of the problem.  How can I turn it into being part of the solution?  Well, perhaps it would start with my own sons.  How have I taught them to keep that lesson as close to their hearts, minds, and souls as I do?  Have I ever done that explicitly?  Or do I just hope that the attitude will be adopted by my offspring?

I think I am not part of the problem because I like to think that there should be no stereotyped expectations.  The man in Santa Barbara focused on sex.  But why should any male/female stereotype hold.  In a marriage there are certain things that have to get done and the partners have to figure out who is going to do them.  Yes, I have been known to say "well, you should do that because you are the stay at home mom."  That's awful.  A better argument might be, "In light of the fact that I have to work this much to earn the money that we need to achieve the goals we have, it might be better for you to spend your time on this particular task."  It gets us to the same place.  But it is not because Sherry is the wife.  And there is nothing that I should be doing just because I am the husband.  So here, while I try very hard not to hold prejudicial attitudes in general, I think that going that next step and making sure that I never utter the words, "You should do this because you are the stay at home mom" again would be a good start.  And then, once again it comes back to our sons.  After that it is about setting a good example for others.

In running, I have two examples.  Earlier this year I wrote about the occasion on which I found myself just behind two women after they entered and intersection and turned down Charles Street just before I passed through the intersection already going to the same direction as they had turned. I remember thinking, "I don't want to be perceived as that creepy guy who hangs out behind two women runners."  As a result, I sped up and passed them even though their pace would have been just fine.  Clearly, I am tuned into the fact that some guys could be perceived that way and it could make women uncomfortable.  I'm not sure what I can do to extend this to make myself part of the solution.  I guess one way is to work even harder to avoid situations in which I could be perceived as a threat and set an example in this way.  I like to think that things as simple as saying hello to others makes me seem less threatening.  But in this day and age, people will wonder about motivations.  They may ask, "is he trying to lull me into a sense of security but he really is mean and nasty?"  This is a hard one.  i think the key is to be on guard against placing myself in situations that make others uncomfortable in an unnecessary way.

Finally, the second running example and fourth example overall.  I have heard male runners talk about getting "chicked."  That is--outrun by a woman.  Personally, I am a 44 year old runner who knows that there are men and women who are older and younger than me who are faster than me.  And I am faster than other men and other women who are younger and older than me.  We are all just runners.  To talk about getting "chicked" (even in jest) is not something that crosses my mind at this point.  The problem is that even if the guys who say this are saying it in jest, it is representative of an attitude that is accepted.  I have also known guys to comment incessantly on the "bodies" of the women runners around us.  Again--even if just said in what is perceived as not harmful the question is why should this be said at all?  Again, the fact that I'm not going around talking about being chicked, that I complement any runner who offers me advice, the fact that I recognize other runners for being great runners is nice.  I am gender neutral.  Great.  It is another example of how I think I am not part of the problem.  But that doesn't make me part of the solution unless I start to ask my fellow male runners, "Why?"  And, of course, it is not all male runners.  But for those who do, the question should be there.

The question in our society is why we cannot trust each other.  Why we cannot just approach each other as individuals.  Valued for our skills, our knowledge, our conversation, our company.  Valued for who we are rather than what we are.  Valued even more importantly for what we are rather than what we are perceived to be.  Valued even more importantly for what we are rather than what we are labeled.  And when an individual or group of individuals feels labeled, how does that affect their decisions and their lives in ways that may be completely unproductive?  How limiting is that?  And what am I going to do to help solve the problem.

The Power of Positive

Today's title sounds like a self-help book.  I suppose that is okay since my blogging is essentially a self-help experience.  

Today, I will briefly share how far I've run the past two days.  Where I am in my virtual pilgrimage.  And a lesson I learned.  

Yesterday--5.7 miles. It took a good 3-4 miles for my legs to feel ready to go after the 5K on Sunday.  By the time I was done, my legs did open up again.  And it felt good.  That put me up to 843 miles.  That put me on the edge of the St. Louis University campus.  I have been on the St. Louis University campus once when I was speaking at Washington University.

Today, I went to the Dunbar track.  The group of us included 5 runners this morning.  The other 4 did 4x800 with 400 between each.  I did 1 mile warmup.  8x400 with 400 active rest between each.  Times: 87, 87, 87, 86, 84, 86, 86, and 82.  Two of my four friends stayed around until I was done the last 400.  They cheered me on as I ran the last four 400's and that really helped.  The extra six miles has me moving across the city of St. Louis on Manchester Rd.  

Now for the power of positive.  First, despite the race on Sunday not going 100% as planned, I just keep going.  That is positive.

Second, I met a new runner for the track group this morning. I gave her a shout out when I mentioned the four people on social media this morning after the run.  I could not put a link to her as I did not know her before this morning.  One of my other friends put a link and we became friends on social media.  Turns out she is a research dietician and we may have some common research interests as well as running interests.Thus, you never can tell what one quick mention will turn into.

Finally, I took time this morning to email the person whom I "raced" at the 5K on Sunday.  She has numerous mutual running friends.  I thanked her for the advice but pointed out how difficult it is for someone who has been running off and on for 30 years and who has been running constantly for 5 to change in the middle of a race but that I'd keep her advice in mind.  I also noted how wonderful it was for her to cheer on the women ahead of her and to come in third in both races.  She wrote back that she appreciated the effort to write a positive note more than I coudl appreciate as she is on a mission to give more positive recognition that society does on average.  What a wonderful thing to say.  She even said she would think of the experience the next time she did something nice for someone.

It is amazing how much a little positive recogntition to two people this morning led positive outcomes for all concenred.  What I need to do is to take the lesson about the power of positive into the rest of my life.  Not just my running.  My teaching.  My managment.  My research.  My parenting.  My marriage.  All parts of my life.

5K Race Recap +

So, yesterday, I ran the MCVET 5K race for the 4th time.  First two times, I paced my now 14 year old.  Last year I ran it for my own time.  This year I did the same.  The goal (as stated in my last entry) was sub-19.  I did not make my goal, but I had a great race.  Here is the story.

I had to awaken my 14 year old just before 5:30.  We had not had a chance to pick up packets in advance.  So, we drove to a little more than a half mile from the start of the race where parking is free and walked down.  Easily found the packet pick up.  Got our numbers, our goody bags, and out timing chips.  And then met up with other runners from Back on My Feet.  I wanted to get in a whole mile in adance of the race, so I left before the stretching was done and the Serenity Prayer was recited.  Not what I wanted to do.  But it gave me time for my warm up, a last trip to the rest room, and a few striders before the race.  I did not line up in the front row but a few rows back.  My goal was to go out at 6:06.

As we began the race, people sorted themselves out quickly into relative paces.  There was a guy named Duance whom I see in a lot of local races.  He didn't end up having a great day and I was surprised at how early I passed by him in this particular race.  I don't think that I was passed or passed anyone except for one person after about the first mile.  This is getting more and more typical in races I run where there are a relatively small number of fast competitive runners.  This time there were 10 out of 242 who ran sub-20. I am not in any way saying that there is not some good competition and kicking it out at the end to win among runners who take longer.  Just not usually a lot in the front.  

So, I passed a few people who had gone out quickly.  Saw that ahead of me there was at least one guy who looked clearly older than me and I knew Maurice was out there (it turns out that there were three) and I settled in.  I have tried to make it a habit not to check my watch excessivley during the run especially because it is hard to know whether the watch is measuring exact distances.  So, I came through.  A time of over 6:20 was announced by the guy at the first mile marker.  It had not felt that slow.  Adding up the time that my watch said as it beeped for one mile plus the extra time to get there to the marker, I had 6:16 based on my watch.  The second mile was all flat and involved teh turn around on Key Highway and passing the water stop.  It was very warm out on the road despite the chilly start yesterday morning.  I took a water at the water stop before the turn around (there are water stops just beorfore and jsut after the turn around) and poured it over my head.  I had just passed someone whom I would spend the rest of the race in competition with.  If nothing else, I finally had someone to push me the whole way.  That was a good thing.

We continued back along Key Highway toward Light Street and reached mile 2.  This time, my mile was right at the mark and I had a 6:09.  I had picked up nicely but still not enough to really shoot for the sub-19.  Goal was still to beat last year's time.  Running neck and neck with the woman whom I'd passed and been jsut ahead of at the turn around.  I don't know how "just ahead" of her I was, but I did worry about splashing her when I poured the water over my head.  

Now, it was time to dig deep.  The third mile is the only one with some uphill.  I didn't think I had lost that much.  And during the third mile, the woman who was running next to me offered some advice on how to fix my stance and stride.  It helped me speed up but it is hard for a 44 year old who has been running since he was 14 to make major changes on the fly during a 5K.  

We reached Calvert Street still running neck and neck.  I was looking for the three mile sign.  I don't know whether it was never put up or it had fallen down, but when all was said and done, I saw the six mile sign for the 10K race that used mostly the same course but I did not see the 3 mile sign for the 5K race.  I wasn't going to worry about it.  I had someone to outkick.  Afterwards, I looked at my watch and it said 6:24.  All that was relelvant at the time was that I not lose my place.

So, the last 0.14 according to my watch was run in 38 seconds.  Was it 0.14 or just 0.1?  It does't matter.  I held my place, and the other runner and I congratulated each other.  After having crossed teh finish line and gotten our chips removed she came over and made a further comment about my stride and mentioned to a friend of hers that it was just the coach in her coming out.  She had had enough energy during the race to encourage the woman who won the race (good for her!) and the other woman who came in before we did.  (This was after they had turned around on Key Highway but before we did.)  And then to offer me some coaching.  Not only that but she came back and was the third woman overall in the 10K as well.  I don't know if I would recognize Amy anywhere else, but hats off to her for a great race and for helping me to come in ten seconds faster than I did last year.  Goal achieved.  And the race was actually a race rather than just a hard run surrounded by others.  

A few other things beyond the race report.

First, this puts it at 837.3 miles for the year.  I am on Illinois Route 3 in Venice, IL, right near a train yard and about to cross the Missippi and enter Missouri.  

Second, I am wondering whether I make the commen I am about to make only because I didn't reach the goal, but for once I feel that the journey was as important as the destination.  Runners talk about this issue a lot.  I'd be interested in knowing from fellow runners whether they find it comes up much more when they have not reached a goal.  But the key is what is more important--for a 5K, for a marathon, or for running in general?  No simple answers here.  But I found that yesterday, I was not as disappointed as I expected to be.  I ran 16 seconds faster than a race three weeks before.  I ran 10 seconds faster than the same race a year ago.  I was eighth overall and first in my age group.  I can't complain.  My son got a medal as well.  And I enjoyed the preparation.

Why did I enjoy the preparation?  Because I had a plan that someone had helped me to develop and I worked through the plan.  Every day.  Every workout.  Each one hour experience was just right.  Why worry about whether 19 1/2 minutes was just right when for the eight weeks of preparation everything was.

I also learned something else about myself.  I have said for years that running is no longer just an individual activity for me.  The camaraderie I felt yesterday was amazing with so many runners from Back on My Feet.  The many workouts with others leading up to yesterday.  But I found during the preparation for this race, that one other thing was important.  Talking with others about running.  

The person who had helped me prepare a plan also wanted to know how each workout went.  Having someone to talk with about each run provided an opportuntiy for useful insight and feedback.  And it was nice to have someone to talk about running with who cares about it as much as I do.  (There are plenty of people out there like that but not necessarily people I engage in conversation with every day.)  It reminded me of why I like Johns Hopkins and why my oldest son has enjoyed the Baltimore School for the Arts and will attend a conservatory for college.  It is great to be around people who care about your activity as much as you do.

So, in conclusion, hats off to Coach Shannon as well--for the plan to prepare and for helping to learn some more about running and some more about myself.

The two women who are first and foremost among those who have been strong in my life and are represented by Irene rescuing St. Sebastian in my tattoo are my wife and my mother.  For my wife, every day of life with me and three boys in the house is a show of strength.  With this running experience of the past eight weeks culminating yesterday with an enjoyable race, I have added Shannon and Amy to the list of strong women who have influenced my life.  

In Pursuit of Excellence

The last time I wrote was after my easy 4 miles on Wednesday.  Today, is Friday.  It is unusual to have a Friday to rest but I do.  I will have one last run tomorrow before the 5K race on Sunday for which I have been training diligently.  The person who helped me develop a training plan says I've done all the right things to achieve my goal.  Now the key is to remind myself of that goal and to visualize.  So what is the goal: 18:59 or better.  Other than the GBMC 5K last year that was short by everyone's GPS watch and for which I didn't feel like I had run a sub-19), I have not run a 5K at a sub-19 pace since I was a teenager.  In fact, probably since 1986.  Ronald Reagan was president.  I had not graduated from high school.  I was probably watching the Cosby Show, Cheers, Night Court, and Family Ties.  It's been a long time.

Yesterday, I ran 3x2x200. Short workout.  Intended for the track.  But there was lightning when it was time to go.  I do track workouts alone.  I do track workouts in the rain.  I've even been known to do one or two alone and in the rain.  But I don't do them alone and in the rain when there is thunder and lightning.  So, I did it on the treadmill.  It is not often that I set the treadmill for 10.8 MPH, 11.3 MPH, and 11.8 MPH--even for 1/8 of a mile.  And I don't expect to hit those paces during the race except for the very end.  If I can run my 6:06 first mile (a little net down) and come through with a 6:06 second mile (pretty flat), then run a 3-ish 800 M, all I will have left is 0.6 miles.  And at that point, anything goes.  And when I have 0.1 miles left, I will dig deep and give the race everything I have.  If all goes well, I'll be able to find it in me to kick like I was running at the end yesterday and set a new grown up PR--and hit my sub-19.

That is my pursuit of running excellence.  My run yesterday put me up to 828.4 miles which puts me coming off the Madison County Transit Nature Trail in Granite City, IL, getting ready to run counterclockwise around the Horseshoe Lake.  The Catholic church in this city is called Holy Family, and that is neat because I want to talk about a few things having to do with family today.

Wednesday we had the Johns Hopkins Carey Business School's commencement ceremony.  I read all the names.  We finished in record time.  It was a great event.  It was a wonderful opportunity to celebrate the pursuit of excellence with family.  It was also reflective of pursuit of excellence within the "family" of Carey employees.  We made that ceremony come off as seamlessly as possible and the teamwork aspect was great. 

Wednesday evening, I went to the last 3rd grade parent-teacher evening I will ever attend at the Waldorf School of Baltimore.  We talked about 3d grade highlights and a bit of a 4th grade preview.  And we painted wet on wet.  My appreciation for art has increased since I got my tattoo. My appreciation for the hard work to produce good art has increased even more since I got my tattoo.  When I get my picture, I will have to show it.  (It is not cery good)   Wet on wet painting is one thing that requires patience and control to pursue excellence.  Done often enough one learns how to work with the flowing colors rather than be frustrated by it.  It is kind of like running.  Painful/difficult at first, perhaps.  But after doing it enough times it becomes second nature.  One learns how to work with one's body and the random things that occur around it in the pursuit of excellence for running.  The experience made me slow down and breathe deep, so that was also very relaxing at the end of a long day.

We talked about geography as a unit in fourth grade.  The teacher mentioned that some adults don't have much of a sense of direction.  One of the joys of running alone or designing courses to run with one or two friends has been an incredibly more developed sense of direction about the roads on the runs that I do.  I would not call it a pursuit of excellence for me, but it is definitely part of my development of excellence. And for the kids, it may clearly be a pursuit.

Finally, in terms of family and pursuit of excellence, I attended the Baltimore School for the Arts senior honors recital last night.  Seven young adults getting ready to move on to study music in college who were able to develop a 15 minute repertoire of music to perform in two parts.  Amazing.  Pursuit of excellence celebrated with family and facilitated by family.  It will be fun to see where these kids (including my oldest son and his girlfriend of three years) go.  

Running and the Former New York TImes Editor's Tattoo: Considering Commitment

Time to report on two days worth of running and what I thought about.  Yesterday's run was 7.8 miles.  2 miles of warm up.  Three sets of 3 quarter miles.  First set at 6:00/mile.  Second set at 5:52/mile.  Third set at 5:44/mile.  All was good.  The workout made me feel much better than I had when I awakened yesterday morning.  My throat is much better than it was on Monday morning.  That is good as I have to read ~400 names at the Business School commencement today.

Today, I went out and ran an easy 4.1 miles.  New course.  Up into Stoneleigh and home.  Very nice. 

Puts my total up to 822.4 miles.  I am still in Illinois on my virtual pilgrimage.  In fact, many of the most recent miles have been on bike trails.  It's very nice to see that there are so many miles of bike trails in that section of Illinois.  At the moment, I am in Glen Carbon on the Glen Carbon Heritage Bike Trail. 

The Catholic church in Glen Carbon is St. Cecilia.  She is another Roman martyr and is the patroness of music.  She is described as having sung in her heart to the Lord at her wedding.  Music is obviously relevant to me given my own ministry for numerous years and given my oldest son choosing Gregory as his confirmation name (the patron of musicians).  

Music ministry leads me to think of what (if anything) I would get as a second tattoo.  At the moment, my vision is a cornucopia bursting with breads, golden apples (teaching), and red eggs (Mary Magdalene) placed in a Garden of Eden setting with a cassowary in the background.  I've described most of that before, but the cassowary is new.  It is a reflection that not all things are good and gentle and not everything in life is perfect.  

Thinking about my own tattoo (and potential future tattoo) and thinking about advice I've given adult friends about getting tattoos, brings me to an interesting story in the news yesterday.  Here is an article about the immediately past editor-in-chief of the New York Times in one of her first public addresses after she left the position.  She apparently has a tattoo of the classic New York Times styled letter "T" on her back.  She was asked if she would get it removed.  Removal of any tattoo is not perfect.  But it says something about her commitment (at least that she is willing to admit to publicly).  Getting a tattoo is not to be taken lightly.  Like marriage.  Like parenthood.  A tattoo is designed to be forever.  A tattoo should be something that if it is on a part of the body that is visible to others, the person getting the tattoo would need to want to explain it on the day they get it, one year after that day, ten years after that day, and (should they be lucky enough) fifty years after that day.  The former editor-in-chief seems to have made a choice that reflects a story she will always be willing to tell regardless of her employment by the paper.  My tattoo of St Sebastian and Irene is a story about vulnerability, strength, and people helping people that I will always want to tell.  My story about bread, teaching, and contemplation is something that I would always want to tell.  When I first thought about a second, I had music high in my mind.  But now I don't.  It reflects how important it is to consider the tattoo long and hard before getting one.

It is like running.  Not necessarily a lifetime but definitely something that takes commitment.  And certainly something (like any exercise) that if I am wanting to do today, in a year, in ten years, and in fifty years will lead to a much better health and wellness outcome.  And to spread even further, my approach to spirituality and religion--also a matter of life long commitment. 

So, a couple of runs, "arrival" in Glen Carbon, IL, and looking up some of the history around St. Cecilia leads to thinking about some very interesting issues regarding commitment.  From tattoos to exercise to religion.  The stories we tell. The dreams we have.  The things we wish.  Driving life ahead.