Help me... As We Help Others!

It has been an extremely hot and dry summer... possibly one of the hottest in a while.  As a runner, this has been both a blessing and a curse.  It's been a blessing because the weather has been pretty consistent: sunny and hot (the absence of rain is good for training).  But it's been a curse because I have consumed so... much... water...

I don't know about you, but I often don't think twice about going into the kitchen, turning on the faucet and filling up my glass. What continues to amaze me is that there are still millions around the world who don't know what that feels like.  Because they don't have access to ANY clean water.

What they are forced to drink is dirty at the least... contaminated with deadly bacteria at the worst.

That's where Active Water is trying to step in. 

Active Water is a nonprofit group of endurance athletes (folks who run marathons, half-marathons, triathlons, etc) who are dependent on water for their training who are trying to help provide clean, drinkable water for families around the globe who don't have access to clean water.

You might be thinking... "What can a little bit of money donated help in the face of so many without water?" Well:

• $25 will provide one Africa with clean water for the rest of his or her life! 
• $85 will provide one family with a bio-sand filter which will provide their whole family with clean water for 20 years! 
• $4,000 will provide a clean well for an entire village!

So... even a little bit goes a long way!


So... here's what I'll do! I've been doing the hard work all summer... running... training... sweating... and preparing for the Chicago Marathon on October 7th.   I've joined Active Water's Team Chicago for the Chicago Marathon.  Together: We are trying to raise $40,000 for clean water in Africa.  I will go out and run the 26.2 miles of the Chicago Marathon.

Here's what I'd like to ask you to prayerfully consider: Go over to my donation page and make a small donation to Active Water.  I am setting a goal of raising $1,000 to help my team reach it's $40,000 goal.  Even a small donation: $5... $10... would be awesome!  If you can make a larger donation: $20... $50... $100... that would be awesome as well!

All the money that I collect goes to Active Water... none is kept by me.  Let me say that again: 100% of what I raise goes directly to Active Water.  It's all about providing water for those without.  If you would rather not make an online donation and would rather hand me you donation, I'd be happy to donate it for you.  It's all about clean water!

Will you help me???
Will you help Active Water???
Will you help a few of the millions in Africa without clean water???

Pledge:
I just thought of this... this might be a bit goofy... but it could be cool as well.  For everyone that donates to Active Water... I will write your name on my legs or arms in black marker for the race!  While you can't be personally with me, your support will carry me through the race and I'll carry your name on my body! The more you donate... the bigger and darker the letters!!!  Who's in?

Let's do it! Go HERE to donate!

Jim



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Quick Running Tip Tuesday - Honor the Rest

Exodus 20:8-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁸ “Remember the Sabbath day by keeping it holy. ⁹ Six days you shall labor and do all your work, ¹⁰ but the seventh day is a sabbath to the Lord your God. On it you shall not do any work...

One of the instructions that God gave to his people was an expectation of rest.  God knows us.  He knows that we will work non-stop if we are allowed (some of us will...).  So he expected his people to take one day off per week. 

Last week was a hard week for me as a runner.  Last week was an intentional mileage cut back week.  I build a couple of these into my marathon training plan when my mileage gets really high (for me).  It gives me a bit of a mental break.  It gives my legs and muscles a bit of a break as well.  But it's so hard to cut back.  It's so hard when my mileage is high (54 miles the week before and this week) to not run that many miles.  When I'm used to running 12 to 20 mile runs to only do medium 9 to 12 mile runs. 

But I must. 

If I want to stay healthy... I must rest. 
If you want to stay healthy... you must rest. 

It's not a suggestion... It's not a good idea... It's a command. 

In the midst of marathon training... I take one day a week off (Thursdays).  No running... No walking... No nothing.  I throw in a couple of cutback weeks at the height of mileage.  Your body needs the rest and the break.  Your minds needs it too! 

Keep running friends!
Jim

Disclaimer (if you're into that sort of thing): Jim is not a professional runner nor is this blog endorsed by any company.  These thoughts are merely the thoughts and experiences on one runner.  What works and what doesn't work from a practical level.  Jim hasn't set any records, but he's run a few races (Marathon: 4h 22m / Half-Marathon: 2h 3m / 5k: 22m 57s) and he's been around the block!

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I might be crazy... But I...

Just signed up for the hardest road marathon in America...

The Blue Ridge Marathon in Roanoke, VA! If you don't believe me, take a look at this video:


Looks pretty intense. 
I don't yet have Chicago under my belt... But I always want to know "what is next..."

Well... The Blue Ridge Marathon is next! April 20, 2013!  I registered "officially" today and booked my hotel room. 

Join me???

JC 



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2012 CIY Mix Video

If you missed the CIY Mix video this morning, featured as a countdown, here it is.  Enjoy!




Click HERE if you'd like a direct link. 

JC

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Friday Fun - Muppet Show - Mahna Mahna!

Nothing like some pink cow-like things and muppet craziness to add a little fun to this Friday! Enjoy!

JC



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Quick Running Tip Tuesday - Mileage Markers

Anyone who runs knows the importance of mileage markers.  Without them, I don't know how far I've gone on a run.  There are a variety of ways to figure that out... GPS watch... websites like mapmyrun... or the old fashioned drive around with your car and check the mileage.

Those are vital to any runner.

But I'm not talking about those markers today.  Today I officially crossed 3,000 miles running (with my 7x Yasso 800's this morning).  I'm not sure if I'm due for an oil change or not but I'm totally blown away by this little factoid.  (Check out my mileage and connect with me on DailyMile!)

Here's the thing: Keeping track and remembering this little mileage markers keeps you going.  It gives you something to look back on... something to celebrate... something to gauge how far you've come.  It's vital to look back every once in a while.

Running is hard.  It's hard work... and it takes a lot out of you.  Take a few moments every once in a while and see how far you've come since you started in the same way that you take a few moments every time you run and look back to see how far you went that day!  You can look back by tracking your mileage online (DailyMile is a good place) or a paper mileage journal will work too.  Just find a way to keep track of it and do it!

Keep running friends!
Jim

Disclaimer (if you're into that sort of thing): Jim is not a professional runner nor is this blog endorsed by any company.  These thoughts are merely the thoughts and experiences on one runner.  What works and what doesn't work from a practical level.  Jim hasn't set any records, but he's run a few races (Marathon: 4h 22m / Half-Marathon: 2h 3m / 5k: 22m 57s) and he's been around the block!



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Well... that cat is out of the bag...

We have been working very hard for the past two months to keep that cat IN the bag (although a few folks figured it out).  But now... we're happy to have it OUT running around. 

If you missed the big social media news last night, Jackie and I are expecting our first child.  She is 16 weeks along... this is the 10 week ultrasound from the beginning of July. 

We've kept it on the down-low because we wanted to visit our doctor a couple of times and make sure everything was alright.  Then we wanted a chance to tell our families (which we did), some of best friends, our youth leaders at church (which also fall into the "best friends" category) and our students.  But now... the news is out!  After we told our students last night at the "Back to School Swim Party", I posted it to Twitter and Facebook! 

We are both very excited! We will know the sex of the baby after our next appointment (in about two weeks), when we will get another ultrasound.  We plan to share that news with everyone.  We are not, however, planning to share the baby's name with anyone until he or she arrives. 

Right now... we're focusing on landing a house and a space for a nursery for the little one! And I'm... I'm excited to be able to openly tweet and post all the funny things about my wife being pregnant (within reason, of course... you know me!).  She is having some of the weirdest cravings and choosing some of the weirdest meal choices.  Right now, she is totally addicted to anything vinegar based... pickles... ketchup (I caught her eating ketchup out of the little cup at McDonald's the other day)... Weird! 

More on this front to come!  This is going to be fun!

Jim



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3 Years Running...

Happy Anniversary to me. 

I've been running for three years now.  My first run was officially on today... August 15... in 2009.  So... maybe I'll take a minute to look back. 

Since then, I've run:

• 1 full marathon (Air Force - 2011)
• 3 half marathons (Akron, 2010, Flying Pig 2011 and Cap City 2012)
• 6 5k's (too many to list)
• Nearly 3,000 miles

Whew!

It's good to stop and look back.

Next: Chicago Marathon in October!

Keep running friends!

Jim



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Matt McGill - Track and Field Sports Instructional Video

Oh man!
Matt McGill Sports Instructional videos are back!  And just in time for the Olympics! Love this guy!





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Quick Running Tip Tuesday - Homemade Gatorade Recipe

It's been a while since I've posted up a Quick Running Tip... no better time than the present. 

Summer is here! 
I don't know where you are... but where I am, it's been hot.  This week is the first week in quite some time that we are beginning to see overnight lows dipping back into the upper 50's, which is great for those early morning runs. 
It's been hot. 

With my Chicago Marathon training in full swing (my first ever 50 mile week is happening this week), I'm taking in a lot of fluids... before, during and after my runs. 

If you haven't checked the grocery stores, Gatorade is great... but expensive.  Unless you're sponsored by Gatorade (and I'd love to be if you could hook me up), you could spend a small fortune on Gatorade each week.  I've discovered a super-cheap recipe for homemade Gatorade that my wife has tweaked to where it tastes almost identical (in my humble opinion) to the lemonade flavor of Gatorade... which is my favorite. 

Here it is:

• 1/4 cup of sugar (but could use splenda to save a few calories)
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 1/4 cup of hot water
• 1/4 of apple juice (the original recipe called for orange juice... but apple makes it taste like lemonade (don't ask me why)... but you could use cranberry juice or experiment with other juices)
• 2 tablespoons of lime juice (or lemon juice if you want a little less flavor)
• 3 1/2 cups of cold water

Directions: At the bottom of the pitcher, dissolve the sugar and salt in the hot water.  Add the juice and the remaining water.  Chill and drink away.  Super quick and cheap. 

I've been doubling the recipe because I'm going through a lot of it and I'm still going through a gallon or so a week.  But, at about $0.25 a jug, it's A LOT cheaper than buying Gatorade at Kroger.

Keep running... and hydrated friends!
Jim


Disclaimer (if you're into that sort of thing): Jim is not a professional runner nor is this blog endorsed by any company.  These thoughts are merely the thoughts and experiences on one runner.  What works and what doesn't work from a practical level.  Jim hasn't set any records, but he's run a few races (Marathon: 4h 22m / Half-Marathon: 2h 3m / 5k: 22m 57s) and he's been around the block!

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I haven't forgotten you...

Hey all...
Just a quick note.  I haven't forgotten all of my faithful blog readers. 

I didn't plan it.  But it's been a busy summer.  I didn't plan to take time away from my blog... but everything just happened at the same time and so something had to give.  I've been traveling a lot with students... preaching a lot in main service at church... had a little vacation time... and been generally pretty busy. 

Hopefully you will forgive me. 
And allow me to return to my normal blog pace. 

JC



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