Whenever I travel internationally (which isn’t that often!) I enjoy seeing the dogs working the customs beat. I had a greater appreciation for them once we had a beagle, but I’ve always thought that they are pretty cool.
I’m also fascinated by the many different ways that dogs can be trained as service animals to help people with different needs–from physical disabilities to epilepsy. There are amazing stories of service dogs saving the lives of their people. Continue reading
At least I measure both before I use them!
One of my non-resolution goals for 2012 is to read twelve books this year. I love to read, but reading has taken a back seat to other activities lately, be it blogging, chatting on Facebook and Twitter, or just falling asleep watching television.
I finished my first book of 2012 with a few days left in January:
Pigeon English by Stephen Kelman:
I hadn’t heard about this book, but my sister-in-law gave it to me for my birthday because it has gotten good reviews (and the 2011 Man Booker Prize). It’s different from most novels that I choose for myself, but I thought it was very good.
The narrator is an eleven year old boy who recently immigrated to London from Ghana, and lives a rough-and-tumble life in an inner-city housing complex. His observations and insights made me stop and think–and appreciate the little things in my own world in a new light.
The best thing about finishing a good novel is that it leaves me anxious to start another one!
I never was comfortable relying on my faith when I was dieting. I admire people who are motivated to treat their bodies like “God’s temple” or who draw strength from prayer, but I had enough guilt and self-esteem issues to throw sin into the diet mix. I’m sure God does want me to eat right and take care of my body, but I hope He has bigger things to worry about than how many Chips Ahoy I ate.
Still, there are a few Bible verses that always make me think about my dieting efforts whenever I read them.
There is this passage from 1 Corinthians 10: 23-31
Everything is permissible— but not everything is beneficial.
Everything is permissible— but not everything is constructive.
Nobody should seek his own good, but the good of others.
Eat anything sold in the meat market without raising questions of conscience,
for, the earth is the Lord’s, and everything in it.
* * * * *
So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.
Of course, the passage is talking about religious dietary rules, but it easily applies to healthy eating rules (whatever they may be).
“Everything is permissible—but not everything is beneficial” fits perfectly with my current approach to food. I can eat anything, but I know that some choices are better than others, some options are more beneficial than others, and some foods have very little redeeming value. If I decide to indulge, that’s OK, especially if make a conscious decision to enjoy myself with family and friends–that’s the closest I come to eating “for the glory of God.” 😉
These two passages help me remember what really matters when I am judging myself by the calories in my food log or the number on my scale.
In 1 Samuel 16: 7, the Lord is speaking to Samuel and says:
The LORD does not look at the things people look at.
People look at the outward appearance,
but the LORD looks at the heart.
In Luke 12:22-24, Jesus tell his disciples:
“Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat;
or about your body, what you will wear.
For life is more than food, and the body more than clothes.
Do you turn to prayer to help you reach your goals?
Are there any Bible verses that speak to you in this context?
Hopefully this will be my last “training log” post summarizing a week where I hardly did any training for the Rock’n’Roll USA Half Marathon (Washington, D.C., March 17, 2012).
My “excuse” this week was a business trip to London. Yes, I did select my hotel based in part on it’s decent gym, but it was hard to get up for an o’dark-thirty workout when my body thought it was the middle of the night!
Monday (Travel Day)
I arrived in London mid-morning, with only a few hours of dozing to count for sleep. The guy in the seat behind me was very tall, and I could not recline my seat at all. After I checked in to my hotel I did scope out the hotel gym, but I had an afternoon business meeting to get ready for.
Tuesday (Hotel TM)
Treadmill: 45 min, 6K
I spent the first 1K warming up (walking and running) and then ran 5K, first at 6.0 mph, then at 6.3 mph. I felt better than I did last week, but not “better.” The rest of the day I felt “tight” in my ITB/hip/glute area.
Wednesday (Hotel Elliptical)
Elliptical: 30 min
Weights: 15 min quick routine
I cranked up my iPod and cranked out a decent elliptical workout–I broke a sweat and everything! Then I squeezed in a quick weights workout covering the essentials (deadlifts, military presses, push-ups, lunges, bicep curls, plie squats, French presses).
Thursday (Zzzzz)
I forgot to set my alarm and woke up just in time to get ready for my conference meetings. A conference call back to the U.S. and dinner plans meant I could not hit the gym later. Oh, well. Sleep happens!
Friday (Hotel TM)
Treadmill: 1 mile warm-up (12:30); 4 mile run (37:40); walking cool down
I woke up before the two alarms I had set, and decided to hit the gym early. It was totally dark when I got off the hotel elevator on the basement level–I used the glow of my iPod Nano to light the way to the gym. (They do take energy conservation seriously!)
Saturday (Home Sweet Home Run)
Just an easy neighborhood run with Tiger Lilly. She did great. Sometimes my ITB(?) felt really tight; sometimes it didn’t.
Garmin Data:
Total Distance: 4.34 miles
Total Time: 42:12
Avg. Pace: 9:44 min/mile
Split Times: 9:54, 9:45; 9:39; 9:45
Sunday (Bike Path)
I felt good after Saturday’s run and was itching for a run on the bikepath, so I brought my running clothes with me to church and changed in my car. I kept myself to 6 miles since it was my third running day in a row. Today my “issue” was definitely more in my glute than my ITB, and wasn’t too annoying.
Garmin Data:
Total Distance: 6.05 miles
Total Time: 55:00
Avg. Pace: 9:07 min/mile
Split Times: 9:09, 9:09; 9:19; 8:57; 9:05; 9:00
![The Ultimate Coffee Date](http://got2run4me.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/Ultimate-Coffee-Date.png" "The Ultimate Coffee Date")
