...and Today

The sun came out again this morning and I felt like going for a run was a pretty important thing to do today. 6-mile loop around the seminary at 6:20 pace. Inspired for sure, but still reeling a bit from yesterday's tragedy.

Yesterday

Sunday night I slept out in the back yard in a tent with my two older kids (Benjamin, 6, and Grace, almost 4). I was overjoyed that they both made it through the night and never talked about wanting to go inside. The temps were pretty chilly (34 degrees in the AM), so that made it all the more of an accomplishment. Because we had gotten out to the tent kind of late on Sunday night, I promised them that we would have hotdogs and smores for breakfast. I woke up around 6:30 Monday morning (I had taken the day off from work) and got a small fire going, so when they woke up we moved some lawn chairs over and got to roasting. Grace was quite the picture in her winter hat and foot-ee pajamas eating a hotdog off a stick that had been cooked over the open fire. After a couple bites, she admitted that this was the "best day ever". I had to agree.

The rest of the morning was spent lounging around indoors waiting for and then watching the Boston Marathon, one of my favorite televised sporting events. I also had fun tracking as many friends and New Englanders as I could think of on the BAA website (never did figure out how to look at more than one athlete at a time, other than the leaderboard).

Even though I had taken the day off, I had to go in to Gordon at 2:00 to meet with some prospective students who would be visiting for a "Gordon Experience Day". I planned to be on campus until about 4, and then go for a run, which is usually of the inspired variety on Marathon Monday. Little did I know I would end up completely losing my appetite to run as the now-infamous events of the afternoon unfolded...

A few thoughts:

I struggle with what to make of acts of terror and how to respond to someone's obvious attempt to harm or kill others, especially when it is done in a way that seems to beg for mass attention.

I didn't have much of an answer other than, "Yes," when Benjamin asked me if someone meant for the bomb to go off.

I know there are people who are grieving for loved ones lost or injured in a way that will change the rest of their lives.

I also understand that people, myself included, are disposed to hurt others when we act selfishly.

It is so hard to figure what goes wrong in someone's life to bring them to the point where they commit such an act. But I don't doubt that a string of messed up decisions, ill-guided plans or hurt feelings can build into something pretty dangerous and disgusting.

I am thankful (and somewhat amazed) that things like this don't happen more often, because of the tendencies of people toward sin. I am grateful to God for His protection and mercies, which are new every morning.(Lamentations 3:23)

Chase the Gorilla 5k

8:20 am - 2 mile warmup with Nate H. on the first mile of the course.

I saw Jordan Kinley and Pete Asaro who I knew would both be capable of mid-low 15's. Then I saw Jordan changed into his Karhu bear suit, and realized he might not be in contention today.

Went out hard for the (slight) uphill first half-mile and came through one in 4:56. My Garmin beeped just beyond the mark. Mile 2 was 10:08, but I think the one-mile was just a few seconds short, because it didn't seem that I had slowed too much. I took a quick glance back just after two miles (which I never do in a race) and caught sight of Pete only about 30m back. I knew if he was that close with a quarter mile to go, he would catch me no problem, so I tried to keep the foot on the gas for the last 1.1. Ended up closing in 5:27 for the last 1.1, which brought me in at 15:35, comfortably under my goal of 15:40. Pete finished second in 16:01. Cooled down on the course with my dad (who had showed up at 9:15, thinking the race started at 10) and Nate.

Finish line shot:

 

rainy pre-race

It is hard to believe that three short days ago I was running in shorts and no shirt up on the track. Today was rainy and 39 degrees. Fortunately, we just had an easy 5-6 miles in mind, and that's what we did. Felt pretty good running 5.8 at 6:57. Hoping for a strong race tomorrow.

Thursday lunch run

8.4 with Nate H. on the roads at 6:49 pace. Tomorrow should be easy and short to be fresh for Saturday. Tomorrow sounds like a pretty miserable day to get out, too. Hoping for sub-15:40 for Saturday's race - my course record is 15:42. May have a chance to meet some Kenyans on Saturday night in Boston. I'll have to report on that here if it happens.

Woods with Nate

8 and a half on a cooler but nice day in the woods. An hour and change. First time I can remember running with my Native lowlight lenses in that it didn't end up raining. Getting ready to chase the Gorilla down Argilla this Saturday with Nate (and also Chris Blondin and Pete Asaro, who were up at the track yesterday - Pete did a mile in 4:50, followed by two twelve-minute bouts at 5:20 pace - think he might be the man to beat!)

A midsummer morn's track workout

It felt like June up there on the outdoor track with the sun beating down and the temperature approaching 70 degrees. Decided on some 400's while Nate did 6 x 800 @ 2:50. Also ran into masters track ace Chris Blondin doing some repeat miles to build base and get ready for the Chase the Gorilla race this Saturday in Ipswich.

2 miles + for a warmup then did 13 x 400 (66, 66, 65, 69, 67, 66, 65, 65, 64, 66, 66, 64, 65) with a full lap walk/jog recovery. Almost 3 miles for the cooldown, including a couple laps with Chris.

Felt good to run fast (for me), especially after a late night of brownies and cinnamon rolls last night watching the Wolverines lose a close one to Louisville.