1% of The World’s Population

PDX Marathon Finisher

As of 10/10/10  1:33 p.m. Pacific Standard time, I am a marathoner. I have now joined 1% of the world’s population in completing a marathon! 26.2 grueling miles in 6hrs and 14min. I have to say this is probably one of the biggest accomplishments in my life. It’s finally hitting me a day later. Not just the pain and the aching but actually what I just put my mind and body through…
I’ve always been the guy to admire the amazing people who do marathons or triathlons. I never thought of myself as some body who would take on that kind of challenge. That is until my buddy John Chang planted the idea in my head. Over the past few months I have joked about cursing John Chang (aka Changsta) every time I put on my shoes to run, but honestly I am so thankful that he believed that I could do it. To read more about how and why this all started read my blog entry “Running Out Of Excuses”

Race Day Story
On race day I actually was able to get some sleep, I had eaten and drank well throughout  the week and felt ready to attack the big day. At 5 a.m I was up and grabbed a bite to eat while I stretched and got myself ready. Lisa took me downtown as I lamented the rain and the pooling puddles in the street. I got there and met up with John and Melissa my running mates from Missio. We had agreed we were going to run the race together and we would all finish together. As we joked around and got ready for the start I realized my iPod wouldn’t start, the rain must have shorted it out. How do you run with out music?

The Start

As the marathon began we were herded up the street like lambs going to get slaughtered. The pace began to quicken as we went through the starting gate. I was amped up and ready to run, but remembered that I had many miles ahead of me. The excitement and energy was amazing within the first few hundred yard we saw Lisa and Kaden cheering us on. The three of us stayed together but quickly realized our strategy of staying together probably wasn’t going to work because our paces where so different. I got antsy at mile 4 and started to pull away from John and Melissa. I felt bad, but my body had a lot of energy and it wanted to go.

A couple of miles down the road John caught up with me. He informed me Melissa told him she would be fine and he should go on. Our strategy was to run two minutes and walk a minute increasing and decreasing intervals as needed. The volunteers at the aid stations were amazing. Throughout the race I would here people call out “BigToe” (the name on my bib) it’s crazy how that kept me going. (If ever cheering for people at a race like this yell out the name on their bib it will mean a ton to them.) Who knew that my name would be so popular? We laughed every time someone yelled out BigToe or Changsta. Along the way different bands played music to encourage the runners, which was great since I was iPod-less.

Kristine & Lillian Cheering

At mile 11 we were greeted with cheers from great friends from our Missio community. The Changsta family, the Kans, and our good friend Blair were cheering so loud that I thought I could run another 15 miles. About a quarter mile later… Lisa and Kaden sat in the trunk of our Honda Fit yelling for us. That really gave me a boost of energy, but quickly the energy began to give way to pain a mile down the road. Our friends Vikki and Birch met us at the 12.5 mark and ran along side us before we hit highway 30.

John setting pace at mile 11

I am so glad I had John beside me pushing me the whole way. I’m not sure if I would have been able to keep any kind of pace without him. At times I was just going because I knew he wouldn’t go without me. By the time we got to the base of the St. Johns Bridge I was hurting, but knew that I already hit mile 16 and only had 10 more to go. We climbed the mountain of a hill then started to jog across the bridge. That’s when it happened… I hit the “WALL” my quads began to grip up on me, both legs began to start seizing and cramping.  I pulled over to the side of the bridge holding on to the rail to stretch. If you don’t know, I’m deathly afraid of heights so grabbing on to the rail of the St. Johns Bridge and actually looking over the side isn’t something I do. The pain was much greater then my fear.

Team Missio

The stretch helped enough to keep me moving and thankfully the next little run was down hill. The next station we came to had everything: gummy bears, orange wedges,pretzels, and liquid gold (that stuff is like thick globby teriyaki sauce.) I downed it all and felt another burst of energy and the cramping actually stopped for a bit. A block later there were spectators who had a table full of pastries out. I grabbed a part of a danish and some kind of berry bliss bar.  The only thing that was missing was water. All those sweets and I didn’t get any water? The next half mile all I could think about was getting some nice wet clean Oregon H2O. Miles 18 and 19 probably had the best cheering sections on the course. People at their front porches yelling encouragement to all the runners. Even people holding out buckets of licorice and candy corn (some of my least favorite candies.)

Changsta & Lills

At mile 20 we came across the biggest cheering section. It was like the whole universe had combined forces and come out to root for Changsta and BigToe! Our Missio crew was all there. I wish I wasn’t in so much pain I would have enjoyed it so much more. It meant the world to me that so many of my friends and family were there to encourage me and tell me they believed in me.

When looking at the map the last six miles seems like it should be the easiest. There is a huge down hill and some straight long stretches. This isn’t the case! The 20 miles prior had taken it’s toll. As much as my heart and mind wanted to run my legs would not allow it. They continued to cramp up in places I never realized could cramp up. While running down the hill on Interstate Avenue my toes began to cramp up. Yes, my toes! Imagine curling up your toes with a role of dimes wedged in between them… the crease where the toes bend down have muscles there and they can lock up on you. Who knew?

At mile 23 we entered the city and made a big decision. With my legs and feet cramping so badly I could barely jog more then fifty yards at a time. I told John that I wanted him to run ahead and finish. I wanted him to be able to run through the finish line and  enjoy the moment. Assuring him I would finish one way or another he sped off. Watching him zig zag through the rest of the runners he still had a lot of legs in him. It made me proud that he stuck by my side for so long. (Thank’s John Chang for being a fearless leader and supporting me through this journey.)

.2 more miles to go

The last three miles seemed endless minutes felt like hours… The final stretch was brutal, not like the first 25 weren’t but the finish line was so close I could taste it. Actually the taste in my mouth was nasty… residue from 19 stations of liquid gold, gummy bears, ultima sports drink, orange wedges, and pretzels felt like something went rancid in my mouth.

Zach, Mike, & Joe

With a quarter mile to go three images appeared to me, and it wasn’t the Father, Son and Holy Spirit calling me home. It was Zach, Mike, and Joe cheering for me. The Missio crew was there running along side me, on the corner jumping up and down, yelling on both sides of the last .2 miles. The tears wanted to well up inside me, but too dehydrated to cry. With every ounce of energy left I tried to run to the finish just because they were cheering so hard… the legs began to buckle and tighten my mind telling me, “don’t be that guy who falls ten yards short of the finish line.”

My eyes looked up as I took my last step across the finish line surprised to see Changsta standing there to greet me. He had waited for me and was the first person to congratulate me on completion. It was craziness as volunteers tossed a space blanket on me and put a medal around my neck… food was being pushed into my hands and people crying and cheering all around. The finish line was a party just like it was advertised.

BigTo & Changsta

John and I found our way back to our families and celebrated with them as we awaited Melissa’s  return. What a moment it was as she fought through leg cramps and a hip injury to the finish. Her mom stood on one side and her sister in-law the other side. We cheered and roared near her proud Pappa who could not hold back the tears as he watch his little girl finish 26.2 miles.

As I write this I am overwhelmed with emotion and have no idea why I am crying this very moment. It has now been two days my body still beaten and battle scared. My heart and mind stronger then ever. When talking about the experience I feel a swell of pride and confidence not just for my own accomplishment but for the community that journeyed with me.

My Community

Lisa, Kaden & Me

Lisa- my wife who supported me through the months of training pushing and encouraging me. Caring for Kaden so that I could get the extra runs in. Dragging the boy through the rain to meet me at the hardest points on the course. Kaden- my big boy who got excited every time I put on my shoes, “Dadda go running? Me too!” Thank you for being my running partner and inspiring me to be a better husband and father.

John Finishing

Changsta – thanks for challenging me and asking me to join you. Thanks for not quitting on me. Our relationship is now changed forever. You are my pastor, mentor, friend, fellow marathoner, and brother. I will follow you into battle any day of the week. Just wait until my legs recover, please.

Melissa finishes with mom and sister in-law

Melissa – So proud of you woman. The heart and determination you had from beginning to the end was a blessing. You are truly my strong sister.

My family of runners Craig, Christian & Vinh w/ family

My family – Thanks to my sisters, brother in-laws, nieces, nephews and cousins. You guys rock and your encouraging words through the months helped me keep running and made me want to finish for you guys too…

Little Sis

Lori & Kyle – You guys are my favorites! (don’t tell anyone) Thanks for always being such big supporters of me, Lisa, and Kaden. You guys don’t know how much we love you and care for you.

Kyle & Me

Me & Zach

Amanda supplying me drugs

House Mates – Zach & Amanda of course you fall under family, but there is a special thanks to you guys for living with the madness. Thanks Zach for going on my first run with me, not sure if I would have endured that first three miles with out you. Amanda thanks for telling me you were proud of me every time I ran.

Jackson finishing hurt.

Jax – Dude, thanks for taking on the challenge with me. You have been there for some of the biggest moments in my life and I appreciate you greatly bro. I have a feeling that you’re going to take on some crazier things then this in the future. Recover well friend.

Team Missio

Missio Crew – What in the world have we put you guys through? Five marathoners in our midst and you were there to cheer us all on. The passion and the endurance that you guys had to chase us around the city, yell at the top of your lungs, jump up and down, run along side, take pictures, high five, blow kisses, and pray for us over the past 8 months will never be forgotten. I’m glad we do life together and I glad we are bringing life into the world.

Fellow Marathoners – Changsta, Melissa, Lindsay, Patrick, Jackson, Craig, Vinh, Christian, Nancy, Brandon, Marcy, and 10,000 others… Wow!

Final Thoughts

I didn’t want my acknowledgments to my community to sound like an acceptance speech or a cd cover, but some how I’m sure it did. Seeing how it ended up that way no good acceptance speech or cd cover is written with out thanking the”man upstairs” my Savior and Lord Jesus Christ!

I write this of course tongue and cheek, but you know my heart and soul. I am a passionate follower of Christ. A Christian. I believe that Jesus is the answer to my brokenness and for the worlds brokenness. When I gave my life to Christ years ago I believed that he would begin a new work in me, that my life would be transformed and changed. There are times in my life when it doesn’t seem that way. Where I feel far away from God. When My actions speak volumes of what a wreck I am. When I don’t have an answer for the hope I profess.

There are also times like today where I feel like Christ is transforming my life. When I take big risk trusting that my God is big enough to transform my weaknesses. When I know it really isn’t me sucking it up and gritting my teeth to get through a tough spot in life. It is seasons like this where I have leaned on my understanding of Jesus and his love for me. His desire for me to live and love life differently, causes me to change and grow. He causes me to look at life and live life different then I used to.

So yes, I do thank my Savior and Lord in heaven and on earth here in my life for constantly transforming me into a person that I would want to be around. A person who loves the fact that I finished a 26.2 mile race with friends and family all along the way.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

After running a marathon building and playing tunnel in the little ones bedroom is not a good idea.

Thoughts Running Through My Head

As the marathon date approaches (10/10/10) I find myself thinking more and more about what may or may not happen on race day. I can’t say I have anxiety about the whole thing, but I can say I am getting a little scared.

Training has not been easy this summer. I found myself working like a dog every week (still haven’t blogged about that) and so tired from the work that I skipped out on training. So now I’m paying for it as I try and cram in workouts.

What’s interesting to me is that throughout the months I haven’t found my body shutting down on me. No major cramps, muscle or joint injuries, but I’ve been plenty sore, stiff, and tired. Just saying nothing that has physically stopped me from running.

What has stopped me from running is, my head. My mind is my worst enemy! As soon as I tell myself, “it’s time to go running,” my mind starts to come up with excuses, it starts to race with negative thoughts. Here is the conversation that I had with myself last night as I went on my run. (what I was thinking in blue / my negative thoughts in red)

Man it’s almost 7pm gotta get up and try to go for a run

I’m so tired, why am I so tired and sleepy. I just ate maybe  I should keep laying here and digest.

Come on! Get up just push yourself, Lisa doesn’t want you to die out there.

Serious you’re gonna get up? You just ran 10.5 miles on Saturday night. You need to let your body rest.

Your body has been resting for two day get up and go. Wash your face put on your clothes and just run a few miles.

ok a few miles, 2 or three at the most you can walk most of it.

Alright doing good get your stuff and get out the door. Once you’re out there you’ll feel good and you’ll be glad you did it.

Man you can already feel it.

I’ll go up Johnson Creek to warm up and get my legs going. There’s a big hill during the marathon that I need to be ready for.

You’re going up there cause you wan to walk! It’s easier…

Alright finished the hill time to run

Oh that streets still a little steep you should keep walking

Slow and steady get into rythem

slow, slow, slow… it already hurts

Not too bad feeling good

Why do you lie to yourself? You’re only a mile and a half in and you’re feeling it. A marathon is 26 miles of this!

Keep going a couple of blocks and you’re go down the hill.

That hill ain’t easy! It’s hell on your legs.

Woo hoo down hill make up for the walking time!

Don’t fall… Wow you could get shin splits blodding down this mountain.

Alright back to normal pace… this is the best part of the run.

How many miles have I you gone?  Two really?

Don’t count the miles keep running.

Oh man maybe dad was right. I can hear him right now: “Are you sure Joel? Are you going to finish? If you start you have to finish, cause it looks really bad if you don’t.”

I love my dad, but his words aren’t very motivating.

Ok you’ve run enough you should head back. Take it easy the race is in two weeks.

Push yourself a little more. You can do this… Down to Sunnyside, then around the mall and back. Only adds about two more miles to this route.

Two more miles??

Turn on your worship music maybe if you focus on Jesus…

Jesus, Jesus, Jesus… this hurts!! My God why do you forsake me!

Uh… That’s not good.

Funny though…

You gotta be ready if you’re running with John and Melissa. Do it as a team support each other.

Stupid John Chang!! I hate you Sr. Chang!! Why did you have to challenge me to do this??

Haa haaa You know this is good for you.

Man you did this cause you hate saying no to people. You did this cause you thought if Oprah can do it… You are so full of yourself!! You just want to look good in front of people! You love the attention.

Oh wow… That might be true. I gotta check that. Whatever the reason I signed up. I’m committed and I’m gonna finish.

Two more big ass hills!!

At least theirs one down hill that’s about half a mile long. You can push hard and be home right after that.

Two more big ass hills!!

Man I have been swearing a lot more lately… I must be one of those Hipster Christians.

Alright two hills down…. a little more then half a mile left and most of it is down hill.

Man how long have you been running?

Down hill push…

Wow this is fast but your lungs are starting to burn

Come on let the gravity do it’s work

gravity is gonna put you into the ground

Almost home you can see the lights!!

Are those your lights or are you about to pass out?

Done!! Woo Hoo you made it. You didn’t puke!

This is really the typical battle I have with myself each time I head out for a run and what I have to look forward to over the course of 26 miles. In a strange way I am kind of excited to take on this battle in two weeks. I want to see how intense that battle in the mind really does get. I’m not expecting it to be easy at all, but I expect to go out and push past the negative thoughts and finish this race.

Good thing I have a two great friends that have committed to run the race together and we can be there to help each other along the way. I do things much better in community, so having them is going to be a total blessing.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Encouraging the little ones through song is a great way to help them learn and grow. Make up a song to the tune of “row, row, row your boat” is amazingly easy!

Power In Words

It’s midnight and I’m in my office cleaning. It’s time to  file, sort, recycle, and organize. How do I know it’s that time? I can’t take a step with out knocking something over and there is no room to put anything on the desk (well at least I think there is still a desk in here).

As I was cleaning I came across a card from 2007 from an old mentor of mine. I’m not sure what prompted him to send me the card. I know that at the time I had not seen him for a few years. But for what ever reason he decided to write me a quick note. I still have this note from three years ago because it was so encouraging and even as I reread it this evening the words just affirm me and bring me a great peace.

Simple words sent three years ago that express an appreciation of friendship and pointing out the strengths that he saw in me while I was in college… His words encouraged me to keep walking with God and that Christ loved me even in my mistakes and imperfections. It impacted me then and it still did this evening and I think that’s why I held on to this card.

Sometimes I don’t think we remember or realize how powerful our words can be.  ”I believe in you,”  ”I trust you,” “Keep up the fight.” Maybe at times those phrases may be cliche’ or corny, but when a person you respect says it or you know it’s  genuine… words like that can breath life.

How have you used your words lately? Have your words had a lasting positive impact?

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Love your kids well or they’ll find love in places you don’t want them to.

Technology May Help Me With Blogging.

So I’m trying out a new program called Dragon Dictation on my iPhone (yes I finally have joined the ranks of the iPhone users and yes, I am totally addicted to apps.) Dragon Dictation is an app that records my voice and types out what it interprets me saying. Being a mumbler who knows what it will interpret. My hope is to be able to blog more by using this app.  It’s been so difficult to sit down and write because I feel like I have no time and that it takes so long for me to pound out words. I’m wondering if using this program will help me be able to keep up with my blogging.

This is my first try at using DragonDictation and seeing if it will work, if it does then I may be more consistent at it. We’ll see…

(I basically wrote and edited about half of this blog, but I think it did save me time and it actually helped get the ball rolling so I may end up using it to help me boost my blog entries.)

Look for more blogs as I try and catch you up with my crazy life.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Try not to stunt your kids imagination. If they want to use you as a school bus… then be a bus… if they want you to be a speed boat… be a boat if they want you to be a horse… be a horse… if they want you to be a trampoline… be ready to go to the bathroom.

Proud Pappa!!

There are some things a daddy dreams of when having a boy, a lot of which are probably the stereo-typical “Man” kinds of stuff. Even me, todays “modern man” who is a stay at home daddy, culinary artist, newbie farmer, marathon training runner, and wanna be tree hugger, has a dreams of a son who will love some of those “manly – man” things.

On Friday, Lisa had the day off so we decided to take a trip to visit my alma mater Oregon State University. I am always telling stories of my time at OSU and Lisa is nice enough to keep the eye rolling to a minimum. I was so excited to give the family a tour of the great town of Corvallis and the university campus. But very cautious of retelling too many stories.

When we got there we went to the book store and Lisa found Kaden gear so that he would look just like daddy. A new ball cap and fun football shirt made the K-man feel right at home.

Then we toured around the campus admiring all the old buildings and amazed at all the new buildings that had popped up. Lisa reminded me that it had been 12 years since I graduated from college. She always has a way of making me feel more mature then I want to be.

We wrapped up our tour by walking down to Gill Coliseum (basketball stadium) and then down to Reser Stadium (football field).

I wanted to see the field so we walked around to the side of the stadium to see if we could sneak a peak. We were surprised to see that a gate was open and a few people were walking down toward the field. The football team was practicing and preparing for the spring scrimmage and it was open to the public. I was so excited I think I might have left mommy and Kaden behind trying to get closer to the action.

Kaden loved every minute of it. I was so proud and beamed at his excitement. He got down in a three point stance and charged at me as he yelled, “Hutt Hutt Hike!” Then he ran to the tackling dummies and put a hit on them. It was a daddy’s dream.

There wasn’t any scouts or reporters there yet, but I know they would have been lining up if they saw little Kaden unleash his football instincts.

I laughed cause I saw a twinkle in Lisa’s eyes too. She is gonna be one of those crazy sideline moms who screams for her baby from the stands.

As we walked back through campus we chanted:

O….S….U…. OREGON STATE !!! FIGHT… FIGHT… FIGHT!!!

I drove home with a big grin on my face. My boy loves football just like his daddy. Now lets hope he chooses OSU like daddy did too.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Good Daddy’s don’t let their kiddos go to U of O. Care enough to send them to the very best! Oregon State University

Daddy Meltdown

The last two weeks have been some of the more difficult weeks of parenting for me.  Kaden turned two on Saturday April 10. (did you know you’re not supposed to at a “th” at the end of the ten when you write out the date? My housemates always make sure we know that when ever they see it. If you add a “th” at the end it’s like saying, tenth – th… so don’t do it or people might think you are an idiot. )

Where was I? Oh yes, so it seems that Kaden has entered the terrible twos. I seriously refuse to acknowledge it, hoping that if I don’t buy into it then it just doesn’t happen. But alas continual denial hasn’t worked, because over the last weeks I am seeing my sweet boy become very independent and vocal about his distaste with me.

My son has been so easy from the very first minutes he entered the world. We tell people all the time that we know he is a super easy kid. I think I’ve been a little spoiled by it. Kaden has had a few episodes of late that have left me baffled. Seriously it probably isn’t that bad, but when he has never really thrown tantrums and now all of a sudden he’s rolling on the floor yelling No… well that leaves this parent at a loss for words.

This morning I had a brilliant idea. I wanted to get Kaden out and active for the morning before nap time. We got ready after breakfast and went to playgroup at Mosaic Church. He has always loved going and playing with the other kids and behaves amazingly.

The first half hour was great, but then he decided he didn’t want to share the big car with one of the other kids. As he expresses himself saying, “MINE” he begins to push his way into the car with the little girl. As any good parent does I intervene and  comforted the little girl while I drag my little one away from the situation.

Kaden and Daddy continued to struggle for the next ten minutes in the hallway in a battle of wills. My heart is to be a good parent and teach my son how to be gracious and loving toward other people. I want to discipline and mold his heart and not just control behavior. ( for a great book on this read Shepherding A Childs Heart )

As I stood there in the hallway where my two year old laid screaming and rolling on the floor I began to meltdown. I felt the eyes and looks of pity drifting over at me. Although I knew the mommies and daddies weren’t judging me, my own insecurity creeped in. The feelings of wanting to nurture my child’s heart went out the window. My own pride sneaked in threw the back door. I was embarrassed. I didn’t want the other parents to think less of me or to think I was a bad parent.  It wasn’t just the kiddo melting down anymore it was Daddy. I just wanted the tantrum to stop!

Why is it that our human nature takes over in situations like this? Why can’t I just be ok with who I am and who my child is in these moments? Why did I feel the need to have to make myself look good?

As the feelings began to well up inside me I got down on the floor and scooped up my boy, and whispered in his ear, “I know buddy it’s hard to share toys. We want to be people who care for our friends and have a heart the will share even when it’s hard.”  At that moment Kaden turned and looked at me and responded, “NO!!!!!”

Haa haa… What do you do? Sometimes you gotta keep trying even when the reaction isn’t what you want. It took Kaden a while to calm himself down and we left playgroup with alligator tears dripping down his cheeks. The mommies and daddies at play group still looking, but with comforting glances of solidarity.

Every parent goes through this… I know I’m not alone. I already had two mommies from playgroup FaceBook me today to encourage me. And every little bit of that helps. Parents stick together, tell your stories and know you’re not alone. It’s ok to meltdown there would be something wrong with you if you didn’t. Take courage remember it’s like every parent says, “It’s just a phase.” I truely believe it and I hope this phase passes quickly.

RaisingDaddy Tip of The Day

Making up silly songs is a great motivator to get your child to do things.

One of mine and Kaden’s favorites:

Poop poo in the potty, poop poo in the potty

Not in my diaper, not in my diaper

Poop poo in the potty, poop poo in the potty

Not in my pants, not in my pants

Poop poo in the potty, poop poo in the potty

ugg, ugg, ugg ….

Endurance

It’s 1:15 a.m and I’m sitting in bed on April 13, 2010. Today I am 34 years old. Yeah Happy Birthday to me….

So why am I up? I have no idea. Maybe I’m just waiting for all the FaceBook well wishes to come flooding in. (I know that’s pretty narcissistic.) Maybe it’s because I just ran another 3 miles on the treadmill at 11pm. Maybe part of it is I feel the need to reflect in my old age. Whatever it is I’m wide awake and what stinks is I know I’m gonna pay for this in the morning when my two year old gets up and is ready to play.

At 34 I can’t say I have accomplished all the dreams and visions I had when I was 24. But for the first time ever in my life I’m feeling ok that I’m not “there” yet. I’m also realizing that I’ll never really be “there” this side of heaven, because those dreams and visions are ever changing.

In my “old age” I’m becoming more and more content with the journey. The process of getting there and pushing toward the dream is just as important. Finishing or accomplishing is only one part of the mission. Doing it well is the other.

It reminds me of the tortoise and the hare fable. When the race begins Hare takes off like a bullet, while Tortoise begins a slow and steady pace. Hare’s race is flashy and brilliant drawing a lot of attention to himself, while Tortoise slow and steady doesn’t attract the crowds.

I’ve always been like Hare. starting out wild and crazy with great intentions and trying to impress. (Too much shaken and not enough bake.) Like Hare I would get ahead and lose focus, get sloppy, get lazy, and pull over to sleep, while Tortoise told himself, “slow and steady wins the race.”

When I was a kid I still wanted to be like Hare. I figured that the stupid rabbit still finished the race and he looked good for most of it… Well in real life, I’ve had a hard time finishing. I’ve made a habit of sleeping too long or even dropping out of the race.

Recently I’ve been challenged to take the slow and steady route. It’s not the rock star way, but I am more confident that I’ll make it to the finish line. More importantly by setting the right pace and building endurance I’m not running over people on my way.

And I’m learning a priceless secret as I take this slow and steady pace. That secret??

I’m here. I am right where I am supposed to be. Alive and in the moment totally dependent on Christ. At 34 I’m learning to take care of my finances better, organize my calendar, follow through on commitments, set goals, and run a marathon. These are all races of endurance and slow and steady  will win the race. I’m learning and growing excited to see how this race changes as I adopt a new way of running.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Telling the kiddo that something is spicy if you don’t want them to eat it. It will keep them away from the food for a while.

First 5 Miles

So I took my first run on Monday. I decided to start with a three mile run, knowing that I would have to walk some of it. As I prepared for my run my housemate Zach surprised me by offering to run with. We took off and hit the road to run 3 miles.

This was the best idea of the year. Running with someone is a huge motivator. For sure I would have walked more then half of it if Zach wasn’t with me.

I’ve realized over the years that I need people around me to do well or to stay committed. I’m going to need a lot of different people to support me through out this Marathon goal. It will be exciting to see who will come a long side me to encourage, support, train with, teach, and guide me.

The first three miles were concurred on Monday, which is huge for me, because the last time I ran three miles must have been 5 years ago. I kept thinking about how hard these first 3 miles where. I imagined that this would be the feeling of the last 3 miles of the marathon.October seems so far away, yet not far enough. Like I wrote in the last blog, I’m not a runner. My attitude is changing and I’m more inclined to say, “I’m not a runner, yet.” By 10/10/10 maybe I’ll be able to say, “Yeah I’m a runner…”

On Wed. I hit the gym and ran on the treadmill. Not as enjoyable, but at 6am what’s really that enjoyable.  The next run is planned for Sat. morning with Jono and Jackson who both decided to run the marathon with me. I’m excited to attack this monster of a challenge together.

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Paper napkins and syrup are not a great combination.

Running Out Of Excuses

So for the last week I have been wrestling with a challenge tossed out at me by my buddy John. He was kicking around the idea of running a marathon and asked who wanted to join him. I was one of many that shot back a silly remark laughing at the suggestion and giving every excuse for the reasons that I don’t run, but in the back of my mind I was envious that John would challenge himself and run a billion miles like that.

I have always said that I’m not a runner. Honestly I hate the feeling of running and don’t know how people motivate themselves to run 2 or 3 miles at a time let alone 26.4 miles. And as I contemplate running a marathon that distance just seems insurmountable.

So why would I even give it a second thought? Maybe because John has this magnetic personality that makes you want to follow him (even if it’s off a cliff.) Or maybe it’s because deep inside I want to know what I am made of.

There is a steady theme developing in 2010 for me. So far it’s been a year that has pushed me outside my comfort zone. For example, I look at our financial situation and it seems so bleak. Unless we hit the lottery, killing our debt looks like it will be a very long process that requires planning and discipline to overcome.

As we join an amazing team to plant Missio church, we know it will be a long hall that will take a ton of sacrifice, blood, sweat, and tears to see the vision come to fruition.

Caring for my diabetes is a life long challenge that I have to learn to take seriously daily, and not when I feel sick or after I binge on Lisa’s baking adventures.

The past three months has shown me that if I want to see change in my life then I need to begin setting goals and consistently work to see these goals get accomplished.

One thing after another has challenged me to look at how I operate and function in life. Over the past three months I have organized started to organize my calendar, finances, and daily tasks. It’s still not pretty by any means, but it is coming together slowly.

If you know me at all, I have never been a goal setter. I am horrible at mapping out a plan and sticking with it. My typical action plan is to jump into things head first, flail around for a while until I figure out what I’m supposed to do and then some how get it done. In some ways this crazy method has worked for me, but it’s not ideal and some times people get hurt by all my flailing.

Running a marathon requires more discipline and training then a head first dive. It requires a lot of intentionality, just like the areas I have been challenged with the last three months. I can’t shake the idea of running this race because it feels like this is the lesson God is trying to teach me this year. I need to be slow and steady, I need to be intentional and push for the long haul.

I don’t find the physical demands to be the scariest part of this challenge. It really comes down to my mental toughness. Can I overcome my own thoughts? Do I believe that I can do this? Is my desire to start and finish this process, stronger then the desire to let myself off the hook? How in the world will I do this if I haven’t even ran a mile in the last 4 years?

These questions will be answered this year, because today I begin my quest to run The Portland Marathon!

As I write I’m already struggling with the thought of announcing this to the world. I don’t want to fail and I don’t want to look bad, but I guess that’s part of taking risk and doing something that really is bigger then yourself.

The big day is:

10/10/10

Who’s with me?

Raising Daddy Tip of The Day

Bananas are the exact opposite of prunes!

Rooted In Community

On Friday I took a drive with John (lead church planter of  Missio Community). For a while now we have talked about planting Missio Community in SW Portland. I have been down with this idea from the time I heard about it, but never really understood what John meant when he said SW Portland.

My first thought when hearing SW Portland, was the area around PSU. Then John told me, “kinda, but not quite.” So then I started thinking OHSU. John said, “that’s closer but there is an area even more specific we want to target.” I was so confused, because really I had no clue what area he was talking about.

So on Friday I hopped in the car with John and we drove into this amazing little sliver of Portland that I never knew existed. I’ve been in Portland for about 11 years now and I had never gone into this area of town. (I’ll unveil this neighborhood in a moment.)

Missio Community is still praying about where it will land and who will become a part of this work that God is creating. We have said we wanted to plant in SW Portland, because there are not very many churches in this area. We believe God is calling this church plant to root itself into the area and allow Christ to birth and grow something new and refreshing in this section of the city.

Lisa and I have been talking about moving into whatever neighborhood Missio ends up planting in. Some people have questioned us about why we would move when we have a nice house and the economy is so tight right now. Many Eastsiders have gasped saying, “Why would you move to the Westside?!” We still continue to ask ourselves the same questions, but try and remember the Apostle Paul’s words to Corinth.

1 Corinthians 9:19-23

19Though I am free and belong to no man, I make myself a slave to everyone, to win as many as possible. 20To the Jews I became like a Jew, to win the Jews. To those under the law I became like one under the law (though I myself am not under the law), so as to win those under the law. 21To those not having the law I became like one not having the law (though I am not free from God’s law but am under Christ’s law), so as to win those not having the law. 22To the weak I became weak, to win the weak. I have become all things to all men so that by all possible means I might save some. 23I do all this for the sake of the gospel, that I may share in its blessings.

A great example of this is John Perkins who writes in his book With Justice For All. He moved into rural Mississippi and took jobs picking cotton and cutting wood. He lived and worked among the people he wanted minister to.

…the needs we shared with the community determined the shape of our ministry. We didn’t come back to Mississippi with preconcieved ideas of what programs we would start. Rather, our programs grew out of the needs we found there. We lived among the people, we knew their needs, we felt their needs – in fact, we shared their needs. They were our needs too.

Although Perkins is describing his experience in rural Mississippi. The same ideas should be applied to any type of church or ministry that wants to have lasting impact and grow roots in a community.

Lisa and I believe that we need to be living among the people that we want to serve and minister to. We can’t just drive into the neighborhood, help out, clean up, have a picnic, do what we do and then just take off until next time. Commuting in and out makes it difficult to sense the community’s true need and how to best meet the needs. We want to become the community, know what our neighbors need and intern their needs will be our needs. This is why we would want to move into the community and root ourselves, even if it doesn’t make sense financially or even if it means moving to the Westside.

So where is this place we’ve dreaming and sceaming about?

The specific area has been called Corbett-Terwilliger-Lair Hill or CTLH. It has also been described as South Portland. This little pocket right outside the hustle and bussle of Downtown runs along the basin of OHSU and the Water front. It’s a long and narrow four-mile stretch following the west bank of the Willamette River. Running down the north-south length of the neighborhood along the east side is SW MacAdam Avenue. Corbett road runs through the neighborhood and contains commercial properties including retail, restaurants, shops, and a small grocery store. In between all this are older Victorian style houses, row homes, apartments, and town houses.

As John and I concluded our drive he asked me, “So what are you thinking?”

I don’t know what my exact response was at the time, but as I spend time reflecting on the drive, I can’t help but get excited. I can’t help but think, we may be one of the first churches in a long time that can bring a Gospel presence into this quiet hidden section of Portland. My heart keeps saying, “We could do this… We could live here and we could root ourselves into this community.”

Raising Daddy Tip of  The Day

When watching the Blazers play be sure to keep your language under wraps. You never know what little ears will pick up on.