Run with me

Morning (8k around the lake with Anandi)
Evening (3.75 around the botanical garden with Irene)

Like most runners I do most of my running alone.  Earlier I did almost all my running alone. I like the solitude: the free flow of my thoughts, thinking through some issues, observing nature.

But lately it motivates me to run with family and friends. If you know someone is going to wait for you, it doubles your own motivation to be there. It also gives you a chance to talk which you do not always otherwise make time for. That is now unless you are going so fast that can hardly breath!



 So if you want to run with me - I will make a plan to make it work. On Saturday I will probably only do 8 so you are welcome to join me for that. Planning to start around 7:30AM


Keep running
Stephan

Fighting mediocrity

+- 6k 33min (10X200m uphill repeats)

I remember the previous time I did the same workout - it was probably about 2 months back.  And I remember that I was a lot more tired after that. It is good when you realize that you are making progress. One should keep on trying to be better at what you do.

I have settled for being mediocre in some aspects of my life.  One cannot be great at everything. But there are some areas where I know I should never settle: Being a great husband and father is one thing I have to seriously work on in 2012. (I heard recently on "Focus on the Family" that I am replaceable as a manager at the company, but irreplaceable in my home.)  Being a better student of the Bible and a more devoted man of prayer is another area. Becoming kinder and more caring and a better listener are all part of it.

If I have time I would like to become a better singer and musician, but that is negotiable.  Becoming a better runner, too.

Keep improving!
Stephan

Shoe stories

8k 49min (Around the lake)

What did you get for Christmas?  I got some new running shoes.  Adidas Cushion 20s.
Almost a year after getting my Nike Air shoes, the soles wore through and the air escaped. Stones and sand started getting in there. I did not even run that many kilometers on them - probably only about 1000.  Be warned against them! So this made my Christmas present this year necessary... :-)

I still wear the New Balance shoes I got 8 years ago.  I do not run with them, but they are very comfortable walking shoes and I even played soccer with them. Since then I enjoyed Asics (did the Comrades with it in 2006) and had another pair that our cleaning person threw away.

I test drove my Adidas today.  First impressions are good.

On a side note I came in my Bible reading (listening) to Mathew 5 now and listened through the Sermon on the Mount a few times (chapter 5 to 7) I am going to try to memorize it. The teaching of Jesus is so different from anything else and opposite to common culture, but anyone could get his Adidas to run according to these it will surely be a wonderful change.

Some pictures taken behind the lake...

Keep running
Stephan

A Carol marathon

22k 124min (Yesterday)

This week I ran 51k which is the highest k week for my training for the half-marathon on the 8th.

At the same time it was carolling week and we had a record number of places to sing for. We sang at residences from Pinjore to Kharar. We sang at three IT companies and in the hospital. We sang in church.  And then I even had a little chance to sing Silent Night at a restaurant after a piano recital.

Lord, thank you for the music, for friends and the ability to run. And thank you for Christmas - that I can be Your friend.

Keep running
Stephan

Pillow versus Nikes

11k 51min

For two days my pillow was crying out louder than my Nikes next to my bed. The first was because of late-night work and the next because of caroling until very late.  Last night we again went for caroling and again we came back after 12.  But somehow my shoes managed to call louder this time.  Maybe it is because they know I have to still run  55 - 18 = 37 k this week to reach my target!

I have to run. (Pun intended)

Keep running
Stephan

Dreams

5k 30min and 3k 26min (with Irene)

I love running with Irene. In fact I like running with anybody regardless of their speed. But running with Irene is special. We dream of running marathons together and then running together in Spain and touring through Europe when our ship comes in... It seems that she may be overcoming her foot injury now. Anyway we hope so. Then we will start the slow build-up again.

We have many other dreams, which may or may not come true. But there is something else called hope. This is that certain belief that we will be "running" with Jesus in eternity.  I always think of the final chapters of the last book in the Narnia series of C.S. Lewis where everyone runs.

"But now a most strange thing happened. Everyone else began to run, and they found, to their astonishment, that they could keep up with him: not only the Dogs and the humans but even fat little Puzzle and short-legged Poggin the Dwarf. The air flew in their faces as if they were driving fast in a car without a windscreen. The country flew past as if they were seeing it from the windows of an express train. Faster and faster they raced, but no one got hot or tired or out of breath."


I am quite certain that this kind of thing will happen for those who follow Jesus. We will be freed of our limitations in heaven.

We do not know what our future here on earth holds, but is nice to dream - especially with someone you love.

Keep running
Stephan

21

21k 127min

Three different rounds.  The first with Kamal Jit and two friends around the lake - quite a fast 11. Then another adding Anandi for another 8.  (Through Naya Gaon).  Lastly 2k with Irene.

My legs got pretty sore nearing the end. It is the furthest I ran since the marathon on 13 March this year. Anandi did well keeping up with us.  So this completes the week with 52k.  One more hard week ahead where I plan to do 55.  Let's see how that will be possible between carol singing and working deep into the night...

Christmas shopping for us today. I think this will add another few kilometers on my clock!

Keep running.

It is winter

11k 62min

Running in the winter can be a challenge in many ways.  It is dark.  It is too cold to get up early.  You have to wear lots of clothes and then be able to take off some of it during the run. But I do love getting warmed up by the exercise and the feeling that you could run a long long way. I do love the quiet time of meditation the running provides to me.