Follow Up

In the days following this year's event, I am so pleased to report that there have been no ill effects of going sunrise to sunset.  I really had little soreness and no lasting pain at all.  The rolling pin effect on the quads did the trick and the wonderful support from everyone made this a true team success.
I'm pasting the new text from my JDRF page below because I think it sums up my feelings pretty well.

The next thing on the horizon is the MegaTransect in October with perhaps another event or two in between.  I am really looking forward to doing this year's Mega with my brother, Brad.  It is going to be a great day.  I must say that I truly hope that he is challenged by the course and the distance and that I can be positive and supporting the whole way.

What a great day May 20th was!  Molly and her sister, Alice, met me at several places along the run on a rainy morning.  They met me at Jabco-Maggi Mitsubishi where we all said hello to John Jabco and thanked him for the tremendous support he and the dealership have provided the past couple of years.
Next, WTAJ and WJAC met us at Boalsburg Elementary School for some precious press coverage for JDRF.  It is so neat to see how far reaching the television coverage goes in spreading the word about the effects of diabetes.  Even yesterday, 2 weeks after the event, people are stopping along the road to tell me that they saw the story on TV.  I think the only way to show people what can be done is to try what many won't.  Fear of not reaching the goal is often the major limiting factor to what we will try.

This year was definitely more difficult than last year because I did not train well enough.  However, with the support of friends, we were able to do big things and make it through tough times.  This was a very appropriate analogy of the diabetic's daily life.  God is good and allows us to do wonderful things to bring Glory to Him. 

Whew and Yahoo!

What a great day yesterday was!  The run went really well.  The weather changed dramatically throughout the day to keep things interesting.  Many wonderful people encouraged and supported me through some low points and shared in the joy and accomplishment.  God is good, all the time!

I truly could not have done the day without Molly's help.  She and Alice met me several times throughout the rainy morning feeding, watering, and pushing just the right buttons to get me moving forward.  I want to thank both WTAJ and WJAC for the coverage they provided for the run and JDRF.  Many people, including present and former students and parents saw the run on the news and stopped to offer encouragement.  All of the folks on Cogan Circle provided a huge lift as the end neared.  What a wonderful surprise!  Thanks especially to the Ritchey family for rousting the troops.   We even got a rainbow to make the visit and the run complete!

Students and staff at Park Forest Middle School, thanks for the attention and respect you show, for your contributions to JDRF, and for your kindness and your encouragement! It is wonderful working with you all.

One of my favorite places to visit is Jabco-Maggi Mitsubishi.  Yes, it is fun to look at the cars, but chatting with John is a pleasure.  I appreciate his friendship as well as the support for many great organizations.

I really appreciate the reception I got at the high school south building from Nell Herrmann  and her students.  I  miss working daily with Nell, but the kids at the South building are reaping the rewards.

HUGE props to the students and staff at Nittany Christian School.  Our family has been so incredibly blessed that you have worked with our children.  As I explained about insulin, the pancreas, glucose, and blood sugars the kids were so attentive.  And they asked such good questions!

Thanks John Donoughe, John McCullough, Pat Gallagher, and Pete Coray for running and walking alongside me.  John says I could do it without you all, but I'm not certain that is true.  Special thanks to Pat for the miracle working with that water bottle.  You worked out the knots and cleared out the gunk that was making any thought of running painful.

This whole project has been incredibly blessing to me.  So many people have stepped up to offer contributions, kind words, and MUCH prayer.  I was so pleased to have so many people asking the Lord to bless this effort.  He truly has done so.

Well, the JDRF walk steps off in about 4 hours.  I am so glad to work with the dedicated people who make this happen.  It is going to be a beautiful day to walk, to share challenges and successes, and to support JDRF as they assist in the search for a cure.  See you at the walk!

Final Prep

Just a few days to go and I am so excited.  I had a great run tonight after school and it made me feel really good and ready.  I am certainly not as prepared as I would like to be, but I feel that nobody is ever ready to hear that they have been diagnosed with diabetes, either.  I remember the day that Molly was told that her pancreas wasn't functioning properly and that she would be insulin dependent for the remainder of her life. What we weren't prepared for was the frustration of doing everything right and still not getting good results.
I think about the pain, hassle, and the complications of what might happen.  It makes moving forward for this little project seem pretty simple.

Ephesians 2:10
For we are God's workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.
               How cool is that?

Spring in the Step

Spring is certainly in the air and I feel a spring in my step as well.  After a super wet April, we really haven't seen much moisture since.  For the last couple of days, I was expecting to see some rain, but nothing yet.  We've got lots of plants in the garden as well as extending the rhubarb patch - if you want some, call we have plenty.  I also put in 6 blueberry bushes and the raspberries are coming up nicely.  I put fences around everything, so the deer shouldn't be a problem, we just have to watch for the rabbits and groundhogs.  I love eating food that we've grown.  It may or may not taste better, but it is satisfying.
Bruce asked me yesterday if we could put up a honeybee hive.  I told him that we would work on it, but that it takes a lot of work in the beginning.  I am going to check around to try and find some boxes second hand and then we will see where it takes us.

I had a really enjoyable run this morning.  Gray skies and 60 degrees.  It looks as though it should feel terribly humid, but I didn't have any trouble.  Thanks to all who have supported the run so far.  I haven't been listing them as they've come in.  It's just that I'm lazy, not ungrateful.  Thanks to the Babcock family, the Bastress family, Dolores, Bill, Pat W., Pete, and Marc.  It is a tough time for people to be giving money away, I really can't say thank you enough.  Just remember that it isn't going to be wasted.  Well over 80% of the money goes to fund research that will save lives and make lives better.

I heard from a long lost friend this week.  Denny sent photos of a wildfire in North Carolina.  It is amazing.  Molly, Bruce and I were fortunate to spend some time with Denny and Lynn at Stumpy Point several years ago.  What a great community of people!  The coconut pie at the church picnic was incredible, too!  Molly still makes it for us once in a while.  I'll always remember Hooper's Store (Major Hooper not Mr. Hooper for you Sesame Street fans of yesteryear ).

I'm looking forward to the week of getting things organized for the run and just seeing how the Lord works through this project.  I am immensely blessed to be able to serve Him this way.

Time is short

Well, I have to apologize for not keeping up with this blog.  I had written earlier that if I didn't run, I wouldn't post.  The idea was, of course, that I would put pressure on myself to get out the door.  I must admit that I am getting out more, mostly for runs of 3 to 6 miles.  Last weekend I had a couple that were a bit longer, but not a lot.

I have been sending emails for fundraising and have begun to get some nice responses.  Not only am I asking for monetary donations, but also for prayer.  Prayer for me, for researchers, for those afflicted with diabetes, and for their families and loved ones as well.  I have been hearing a lot about people struggling with blood sugar control and they are frustrated because things are not combining the way they seem that they should.  It is very disconcerting to do everything by the book and still end up with a reading in the 200s and 300s.  This is why we must move forward in the search for a cure.

Nine days to go and I have resigned myself to the fact that this year is going to be much more challenging than last year.  Even though the distance is much shorter, the difference in my fitness is vast.  I am beginning to look at this as a positive, though.  It will certainly be a greater struggle to run/walk for over 14 hours and to try to get past the 62 mile mark.  That will make me appreciate the struggles those with diabetes have EVERY DAY.

Thanks for stopping by.  To God be the glory.  It is awesome to know He is in charge.

Thanks to Panera and Brooks!

I just wanted to post that Brooks Running Company and Panera Bread have made donations of product to JDRF.  Brooks has provided me with a pair of Adrenaline ASR 7 trail shoes for my training.  Panera has donated Bagels for a Year certificates for the auction to be held on walk day, May 21.  The certificate allows the user to get 13 bagels and 2 containers of cream cheese each month for a year.
Thanks to Brooks Running and Panera Bread for their support !

He is Risen!

Happy Resurrection Day!  Today is the day we celebrate the resurrection of our Jesus, our Savior, from the dead.  Hebrews 9:22 says "Without the shedding of blood, there is no forgiveness."  Christ died on the cross to shed his blood to pay for our sins.  Today, we recognize that he did not stay dead.  He returned from death to life, and He lives today.  By believing, and accepting that this price was paid, we too can have life, eternally, in heaven.  I often tell people that everyone is going to have eternal life.  God has given us free will to accept the payment for our sins and spend that life in paradise or to suffer eternally in Hell.  Christ said I am the way, the truth, and the life.  No one comes to the Father except through me. (John 14:6)  That is pretty clear to me how important it is to accept his gift.

Yesterday was a great day for Bruce and I at the Ridgway triathlon.  I ran the 5 miles, and then we biked together for about 15.5, then we paddled the swollen Clarion River for 9 miles.  The race organizers gave the option of skipping the paddle portion and I told Bruce that I would make the decision when we got off the bikes whether we would canoe or not.  I decided to go ahead, which caused my wife and my mom quite a lot of worry.  To their credit, they did not question my decision at all.  I'm honored that they trusted me.  It was a great experience doing the race with Bruce.  We got to chat for a couple of hours with no one else around, and Bruce got a chance to push himself physically to a place, I am sure, he has never been before.  I don't think either of us will soon forget the experience.  I am so happy that we got to do this together.

The day was not so good for my friend Pat.  A couple of miles into the canoe portion, he capsized in some rough water.  He quickly became hypothermic in the 44 degree water.  Brenda and Ken, or as they are better known, Doc and Thundercloud, came upon Pat clinging to the river bank on the side opposite the road.  They worked to get him across the river and to the road.  It was not an easy task as Pat was fairly incoherent and uncoordinated from hypothermia.  Praise God that so many things came together for his rescue.
It is to Pat's credit that he was grateful for his safety and not at all concerned for the loss of all of his gear.   He said that he really thought that this might have been the end of his life in this world.  The good side of that is that he is ready and knows where he will spend eternity.  But, with few exceptions, I am fairly certain that most would rather not end this segment of life just yet :)

So, the training has been pretty much nonexistent, but yesterday was a kick start.  I had spoken with Ray Zahab and asked him for some advice.  He recommended taking a week off and not even thinking about running.  Of course, it was then that I woke up every morning thinking maybe I would go.  I did once or twice, but the big thing was that I didn't feel guilty for not going.  That made a big difference in my mental state.  Today, I got up and actually did some core work.  As much as I don't like it, it needs to be done.  I want to allow my running to become just for fun again.  Even though I am certainly not competitive, it seemed that every time I started out on a run, I would start to think about what it could do for me instead of enjoying the run.  Funny thing is that when I run for fun, I actually run faster and further.  Go figure.  So back to running for fun.  More tag, more ball games with the kids, and more listening to birds singing in the peaceful mornings.

If you contributed last year, look for a letter this week.  I am really slow in getting out fundraising letters, but I have been so hesitant in this economy.  Please do what you can to help.

He is risen!
He is risen indeed!

Feeling Better

Motivation has been a huge problem this spring.  Today was a great day for a couple of reasons, which I will share during this post.  First though, I think I will lament on the situation a little.  At this time last year, I was running nearly every day with at least 3 runs a week over 10 miles, one of those over 20.  This year, I've been lucky to run 3 days each week.  I've sought out several methods for motivation, but none seems to be working.  I've had gentle encouragement as well as not so subtle get off your  [butt] and get moving.  THe thing that I've not focused on is the one thing I should be focused on, the reason I am undertaking this task again.  JDRF.  Finding better treatments.  Finding a cure.
I emailed Ray Zahab yesterday and asked for his help.  Ray has done amazing things with his running including a run across the Sahara desert and another through the Atacama Desert in Chile.  Most impressive, however, is the work he does through impossible2Possible.  This group takes students on expeditions designed to inspire young people to reach further and push their limits as well as to deliver powerful educational programs to kids around the world.  I'm looking forward to talking with him on Monday.
The good thing is that I feel better because of something I did in the past 24 hours.  I registered my son and I to do the Ridgway Triathlon together at the end of the month.  I am going to run and tag him to start the bike.  I will change my shoes and get a drink and then catch up to him on the first big hill.  Then, we can spend time biking the 15 or so miles, and then we will paddle 9  miles of the Clarion River together.  I'm certain that this will me an adventure together that we won't soon forget.  I'm sure that I will never regret sharing this experience with him.
Tonight, I ran 5 miles and Bruce rode his bike along with me.  It was a nice jaunt and the weather turned out to be really perfect.  In the last two days, we've seen bright sun, wind, rain, sleet, snow.  This afternoon was wonderful.  I also am enjoying the emotions Bruce is going through already.  I can remember my first time at Ridgway and I was in my 30's.  I hope that I can be supportive enough to make it great for him.  I think the only thing that can booger it up would be bad weather on event day.  Otherwise, we'll have a ball.
So, the motivation is here and I feel good physically and mentally.  Yahoo!
God is so good to me.

What a Weekend!

As much as I have not been running - as I really should be- this weekend got me on the road, and the trails and got in some good mileage.  And, as an added bonus, I was making myself go when I didn't think that I really could.  Mentally, this was a really good thing for me in both the short and long term.
On Saturday, I did the Taidaghton Trail Challenge.  I have to say first that I had read that it was in the middle of nowhere, but WOW! It really was in the middle of nowhere.  But that didn't stop the PA RoadRunners from putting on a great event!  I loved the slow start to the day, since I got there about an hour before the start and it was about 20 degrees. The only glitch in my opinion was the narrowing of the course after only a quarter mile.  I reality, it wasn't the course so much as the reaction of several of the others in their impatience to get onto the trail and onto the first stream crossing.  The course had just enough technical areas combined with just the right amount of vertical.  I REALLY liked this course.  Streams, snow, hills, rocks make a great run.  20 degrees and sunshine and then running under Interstate 80 through a tunnel that was a 6-inch deep stream.  I know some people different care for it, but I thought it was awesome.  Food afterward was well done and I am really glad that I chose to do this one. Plus, it was the first 13 miler I've done in a while.
Sunday was the Run around Egg Hill.  I am so glad that Bass invited me to join him in 2004 and continue the tradition until now.  The course is challenging, the environment of the old school in Spring Mills is like stepping into a scene from Hoosiers, and running as part of a relay makes me want to do my best.  Bonus here, too.  In the raffle, I won a $25 gift card for the Elk Creek Cafe.  I'm looking forward to redeeming that later this spring or in the early summer.  I've sampled some of their products and haven't been disappointed :)
So, the weekend was a great experience in the running side of life.

Beautiful Day

Today is beautiful, though 20 degrees cooler than yesterday.  I got in a nice 5 miler, then rode 5 with my son and walked another one with Molly.  What a fantastic way to spend the day.
The weather is supposed to take a downturn on Sunday night, but it is March.  That's what we expect.  I'm glad to be outside moving.  One week until the Tiadaghton Challenge Trail Half.  I will let you know how that goes.  I certainly am not running enough yet, but I'm feeling it now, so that is good.  The good thing is that it hasn't been physical issues that have kept me off the trail, it's only been psychological.  Then again, 90% of everything is 1/2 mental.  Thanks, Yogi.

Visitors from where ? !

I was working on a flier to share with students tomorrow at our school's Health Fair.  I have a table reserved to publicize what I am doing to raise money for JDRF and to let the kids know that we will be having a School JDRF Walk.  The kids last year were awesome and really came through, raising over $1000 for JDRF.  They did a variety of fun stuff, but the best, by far, was duct taping teachers to the wall.  :)
 I've been looking at the statistics to see who is viewing this page and have been amazed at the geographic breadth of those who visit.  Yesterday, the majority of hits were from Brazil and China.  I don't understand how these links are made, but I am so grateful that people are seeing this small corner of the web.
Don't forget. . . give early and give often.

Runs the last couple of days have been very enjoyable.  Not far, but longer each time.  I feel much better about the 65 days remaining until the run.  You know what else makes me feel good?  This verse:

Titus 3:4-7
But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy. He saved us through the washing of rebirth and renewal by the Holy Spirit, whom he poured out on us generously through Jesus Christ our Savior, so that, having been justified by his grace, we might become heirs having the hope of eternal life.

Pray. There are bigger things than running.

I haven't posted since last week, but I have been working out.  The tragedies in Japan have occupied my mind and computer time over the past several days.  I am amazed at the degree of damage and the seeming calmness that many are showing as they deal with the situation.  I realize much of this is a shock reaction, but they are acting and this is good.
My son came home today and asked if he could give money to help the people of Japan.  I said yes, of course, and we talked about how to get the money to where it would be well used.  He has done Operation Christmas Child boxes, and so he is familiar with Samaritan's Purse.  He selected this organization to send his money to be used to not only help the physical needs, but the emotional and spiritual needs as well.  I am very pleased that he did this.  Having a giving heart is something that I am glad to see growing in him.

So, Pete has made the first donation of the year to the M&M team.  Thanks, Pete!  That gets us rolling.  Only 67 more days to go before the big day !  I am getting excited. I have had several folks ask about the run already and say that they will be expecting a letter soon.  I don't plan to disappoint :)

The runs have been more frequent and I've been on the bike trainer as well.  My older son and I went on a great 2 hour hike on Saturday and it was a time to be treasured always.  I am such a lucky man to have this family.  God is truly Good.

Well, I've got to take my Juice Plus+ and hit the sack.  I am getting up to run in the morning and need my beauty sleep.
More soon.