What's Next: Blue Ridge Marathon!

Well...
It's been almost 2 months since the Chicago marathon.  It's hard to believe that it's been that long already... but it has.  Last week, I jumped in on a turkey trot in Columbus and felt really good.  So it's time to get back into the training ring.

So... I thought I'd tell you all what's next for me and how you can be a part of it!

Some have called me crazy... and there may be some precedent for that.  But I've decided to set my eyes on America's Toughest Road Marathon... The Blue Ridge Marathon.

I know what you're thinking, "Really Jim, how could they know that?"  Take a look at the course map and the elevation map if you don't believe me... about 7,200 feet of elevation change over the course of the marathon.  (The Chicago Marathon... that I just did... elevation change of about 30 feet...)

Needless to say: I'm going to be spending some time on the hills training for this marathon.

But I've picked this marathon for a couple of reasons (and I think you should too):

• First, It's small! After Chicago (45,000 runners), I'm ready for something a little smaller.
• Second, it's a challenge.  It's going to be really, really hilly.  I've never done anything like that so it's going to force me to change my training cycle to get the job done.  
• Third, it's in an area of the country that I've never run in before... Roanoke, VA and the Blue Ridge Parkway.  
• Fourth, some friends of mine are going to be a part of it... and I've never had the chance to run a marathon with them!

So...  I've teamed up with them as an "official blogger" for this year's coming marathon.  "What does that mean?" you ask.

A couple of things...
First, I'll be blogging about my experiences in training, running and after the race in evaluation.

Second, I'm helping them out with some promotion of the event!

But third, it means that you could win a free entry into either the half marathon or the full marathon.  I'll tell you how you can do that in a second.

Take a look at the course video... along a map and elevation marker... and see if this is something YOU want to tackle:


So...
If you think you'd like to put the Blue Ridge Marathon on your calendar for April 19 and 20 and run with me, here's how you can do that:

1. First, follow me on Twitter... @jimmclark.
2. Second, follow the Blue Ridge Marathon on Twitter... @BRM26pt2.
3. Third, post this tweet exactly (without the quotation marks, of course) to your Twitter feed: "thinking about running America's toughest road marathon: crazy? You could win a free registration! @jimmclark @BRM26pt2 http://ow.ly/fzVBl "
4. Fourth, post that tweet each day to your twitter feed to receive another entry per day through Friday 9 pm (eastern time). 
5. Fifth, post in the comments below that you did all those and you'll receive up to seven entries (2 for the follows and up to 5 for the Tweets) for the race entry of your choice: half marathon or full marathon.  Include in the comments below your name, your email address (so I know how to get in touch with you if you win), your Twitter name (so I can count the entries) and what you would prefer: a half marathon entry or a full marathon entry.  

I will choose a random winner on Saturday morning and contact that individual.  

Happy Running... and Good Luck! 

Keep running friends!

Jim Clark

Disclaimer (if you're into that sort of thing): As an official blogger for the Blue Ridge Marathon, I am receiving a free entry into the Blue Ridge Marathon in exchange for promoting this event.  This in no way discredits any opinion I may or may not have about the marathon or my excitement about participating in the marathon.  My opinions and excitement about the race are solely mine and are not the product of anyone other than the author.  

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Returning to the Turkey Trotting World...

My first race 3 years ago was a turkey trot... the Naperville Lion's Turkey Trot.  I haven't run a turkey trot... or Thanksgiving Day run... since.

This Thursday, I return to the turkey trot crew... I'm running the sold-out Flying Feather Four-Miler in Dublin, Ohio.  And I couldn't be happier.  I'm running with one of the ministers on staff, Donnie, and it should be rad!

It will be my first time running a 4 mile race.  I've done the 3.1 miler... and obviously further... but never just a 4 miler.

Overall... I'm feeling good.  I have been resting quite a bit since Chicago and am ready to get back into the ring and back into a regular training cycle.

Just thought I'd share!

JC



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Friday Fun... Skydiving Cats!!

I'm not sure exactly what they are advertising... but I think it's insurance...
But you can't beat skydiving cats!



Now, there's a tag I never thought I'd put on a blog post...

JC


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Evernote - Youth Ministry Tech

I'm just going to put it out there...

Evernote helps me get stuff done.  Flat out.  

I'm not being paid for this spot... I am receiving no benefit whatsoever other than passing along a good thing.  So, this is a genuine recommendation. 

I love Evernote.

Saturday, I was sitting in a gathering/meeting with some other youth pastors.  As my faithful readers will know, last summer I declared the age of the Moleskine in my workflow dead.  At that point, I moved exclusively to working in Evernote.  In this meeting, one of the other youth pastors commented that he had been saving notes in the "notes" app on his iPhone.  When I asked him if he used Evernote, he looked at me like I had 3 heads and 7 eyes (which I don't... in case you were wondering...).  Briefly, in about 2 minutes, I explained the awesomeness that is Evernote and we moved on.  Then he said, "we should have a tech day at our youth ministry gathering."

Then it dawned on me... There are still some who don't know about this wonderful Evernote service.

If you haven't heard, Evernote is an amazing program for just about any device you have.  My experience is Mac-based... sorry PC users... But I have Evernote as an app on my MacBook Pro, my iPhone 3Gs (yeah, still rockin it old school) and my iPad (3rd gen).  Basically, it allows you to create a note... about just about anything... and then tag it and upload it so you have access to it on any of your other devices.  Additionally, you can created notebooks where you can keep notes organized according to type or function.

Currently, I have approximately 1,100 notes in Evernote in a handful of notebooks.  Everything from shopping lists at Home Depot to ideas for upcoming events (like our Holiday Lock-In that I'm planning right now).  The tagging option is great because then I can go back and search for a note and find it. Additionally, most web browsers (I use Safari... but they also have a Firefox app... no idea if Internet Explorer does (does anyone actually still use IE?)) have a clipping option where you can clip articles or pages and save them in Evernote.  I clip blogs... games... ideas... pictures... just about everything that I think I might have a use for down the line.  Then I tag it and I can find it quickly in the future.

As if that wasn't enough... you can email email messages to Evernote and it will add them as notes... You can send tweets to it and it will save them as well.  It really is a handy tool.

One of the best parts: it's free (up to 60mg a month)!!! For a small investment, you can get more storage.  But honestly, I have rarely gotten close to maxing out my monthly free limit (only a couple of times when uploading hi-res photos).  Want to check it out for yourself, head right over here and get rolling.  They just released new apps for the Mac iOS and they are really slick and well put together.

Good stuff...
Check it out and get stuff done!

Jim



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Chicago Medal and Catch Up

It's nothing personal...
Honest... it isn't...

I haven't blogged in quite some time.  And honestly, its not you, it's me.  My life has been so crazy lately that I really haven't had time.  I know, I know, you make time for what's important.  I guess you know where that puts my blog.  Over the past month, we have bought a house... painted... cleaned...  packed... moved... unpacked some... had a baby shower... unpacked some more... and there is still more to do and more to unpack.

But I'll try to do better.

Here are a few pictures wrapping up my Chicago marathon experience.  It was a great experience.  But now I know why marathon runners say not to try to do amazing things at a major marathon, like Chicago.  It was huge!  This was one of the biggest marathons in Chicago history... 45,000 runners and about 39,000 finishers.

To the left, you can see my official Garmin time. (All the watch data is here... including splits... if you're into that sort of thing.)

But it was fun.
I did well.  I set a new Personal Record by 6 minutes.  It wasn't was I had hoped for... but I think I set my sights too high.  So, I'll take the new PR.  Below is my official data from the Chicago Marathon's website.

Not bad.

The best thing about the Chicago marathon was the money raised for Active Water.  I raised, through the help of some awesome people, $820 for clean water in Africa!

That's amazing and made the experience all the better.

Finally...
I have a new piece of hardware... and a new shadowbox to do.  Actually, I think I have two to do... which shows I'm not only behind in my blogging.

Oh well.

Keep running friends!



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What Running for Active Water Means to Africa...

Many of you know that I run for Active Water... a non-profit running and endurance athlete group dedicated to clean drinking water for people around the world.

I saw this video from their latest newsletter and thought I would share it.  The $800 plus raised by my friends and supporters for Chicago went to help provide these filters...

Watch for yourself:

Executive Director Shares About The Delivery of Bio-Sand Filters In The Community from ActiveWater on Vimeo.

Video HERE.

JC



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One more week for Active Water!!

First off... If you have already donated to Active Water for me,
        THANK YOU!
        THANK YOU!
        THANK YOU!

But I am sooooo close to 100%.  I am a little more from $300 from being fully funded for my Chicago Marathon on Sunday.

Only one more week!

If you haven't had a chance to donate yet, get on board... send me to Chicago fully funded.  All of you money goes to help children and families in Africa have clean water.

For more information, go HERE and HERE.  To donate, go HERE!

Send me to Chi-town fully funded!

Jim



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World's Fastest Piano Juggler... just for fun!

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9/11 - I am Second® - Sujo John

A powerful video from a 9/11 survivor...
A powerful reminder to be about the things that matter for God's Kingdom...

Check it out HERE.

Jim



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Well...

It's a boy!!!

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If you're wondering why I'm raising money for...

If you're wondering why I'm raising money and running for Active Water... Watch this video:

Children using a Hand Pump Well In Zambia, Africa from ActiveWater on Vimeo.

Then head over HERE and donate to help me raise money so more kids have clean water like these do!

Jim



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Quick Running Tip Tuesday - Get Back In The Saddle

We all have one every now and again...
It keeps up without warning...
Boom... it's there!

A bad run!

One crept up on me this week.  In my training, I've been alternating between Yasso 800's, Hill Sprints and Tempo runs on Tuesdays for some variety.  This week, Yasso's were up.  I didn't have time on Tuesday to run up to the high school where I usually do my Yasso's on the track where I coach... so I bumped them to Wednesday and decided to hit the local walking track instead. 

The session started out well.  I was set for 7 cycles of 800 runs in a 4 minute time frame with 400 jogs between.  The first one was normal... the next two were amazing, about 20 seconds faster than normal.  I was excited about the possibility of the remaining four. 

Then it hit me... a brutal side cramp came out of nowhere.  You know the kind where you can barely move.  I tried stretching... I tried breathing... I tried running it out... Nothing worked.  With that cramp hanging around, I couldn't get back up to speed.  The incredible start to my Yasso's was wasted.  I limped home defeated. 

How do you handle a bad run?

You get back out there the next day!  You get back in the saddle, so to speak! The next morning, I got up as I usually do and went out and did a 10 miler! Back in the saddle!

When you have a bad run, focus on the good that you accomplished.  There is always a little good.  Maybe the only good is that you ran while others didn't.  Then get back out there the next day and do it again.  Sitting on the couch... licking your wounds... isn't going to help. 

Get back in the saddle!
Get out there!

See you out there!
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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GEICO Bodybuilder Commercial - Happier Than a Body Builder Directing Tra...

This commercial cracks me up!

Enjoy!
JC



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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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