Records.

by Joe Thorn on August 1, 2007

record keeping

During my blogging hiatus I have been running. 4/5 days a week for the past 65 days. It started with runs around the block – that was all I could do. Now each run is at least 3.1 miles. I have not taken care of my physical body very well for the past 13 years, and it feels great to be running. Lots of changes. I have kept a running log in a small Moleskine journal.

About Joe Thorn

I am the Lead Pastor of Redeemer Fellowship in Saint Charles, IL, and author of Note to Self: The Discipline of Preaching to Yourself. Jen is my wife, and Katherine, Elias, Madeline and Kilian are my kids.

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  • http://www.conqueringthirst.com James Gordon

    Joe,
    Do you have the iPod thing that calculates all of your running data? If so, how do you like it?

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    No, I have read to many unfavorable reviews. It’s not very accurate and can be a pain to calibrate. If getting something like that I would go for a Garmin watch w/ GPS. I use Runners World Training Page or mapmyrun.com to set distance and routes. I’m mostly low tech when it comes to running, though I do have an iPod suhffle I use on some runs – like this mornings.

  • http://www.conqueringthirst.com James Gordon

    Thanks for the input and the pointing towards those sites. They look very beneficial.

  • http://adamfeldman.typepad.com adam

    joe~ there are plenty of free running sites on the web that can keep and aggregate your running data. you should try running a race in the near future! if you’re doing 3.1 miles 4x’s a week, you can run a 10k (6.2 miles). go for it, bro! they’re so much fun–unless you’re actually trying to compete! hehehe.

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    Adam, yeah I am aware of a number of those sites, but prefer pencil and paper. I use a couple to compute all the data for me since I’m not the best with math. I’m running a 5K (my first race) in October, and have plans for a 10k after that and a half marathon next year. Goals right? I’m not bog on competing against others, but do like to run against myself.

  • http://aubuchon.wordpress.com Bob

    Joe … wow the running is impressive and inspirational. As I have told you … I “use” to run a lot with my average daily run being 6 miles. However that was yesterday (glory days) and today I am not running. Sad to say habits change … run less and eat more. Thank for sharing … I may go out and run tonight or the in morning. Best do it tonight. Thanks!

  • http://www.joethorn.net Joe Thorn

    I’m looking at this as a major life-change. An important one for me for a number of reasons i will address when the blog comes back online. The huge part for me at this point is that I primarily run because I love it. It brings me joy.

  • http://blog.iamnotashamed.net Ariah Fine

    I love Moleskines!
    My brother got me one, and I’ve really enjoyed using it.
    Great stuff.

  • http://www.bjnotbk.com bjnotbk

    Very cool Joe! I too am a long time runner. I have the Nike+ Ipod and it works great. So far I have run 458 miles in less than a year, not much for big time runners, but decent. I like the challenges that you can create and join with the system. Maybe we can get everyone to join a KJV vs English Standard challenge….the group to run the most miles wins and the other group has to switch translations for a week….just kidding, really.

    I like the moleskin journals. I give them out as Christmas gifts and use one myself. My father-n-law keeps track of all his hikes in his journal. While the technology is very cool via web based logs, etc. there is something special about seeing your accomplishments, thoughts, dreams, prayers written out in your own handwriting that can’t be duplicated.

    Keep up the running, reading, praying, and preaching. You are being lifted up right now brother.

  • http://www.anniemayhem.com/cgi-bin/wordpress/ Carl

    For whatever it’s worth, I developed a weight problem back when I was in college. When I was in high school, I ate a lot but played a lot of sports and did a lot of power-lifting. That kept the fat off. But upon entering college, the activity decreased and the eating increased and my waistline did as well. That combined with bouts of depression and a couple of medical conditions caused me to finally get over 420 pounds on a 5’8″ frame. Fortunately in March of 2006 I had gastric bypass surgery and have managed to drop over 170 pounds. I now try to walk at least a mile each day with lots of mini-walks at my part-time job during the day (I was let go from my job of almost 10 years in august of 2006 — with the exception of my surgery, 2006 was a very bad year for me and my wife) and have just been hired by the state of Florida. My goal is to lose another 60-70 pounds. I have an online “before-and-after” graphic I made on my blog with it linked to a high-res version of the graphic. Even that “after” shot is dated because I lost more weight since the photo was taken. The difference in my life is amazing and I still can’t wrap my brain around it. I look at myself in the mirror and I still see the 420 pound slob that I once was and just mentally don’t feel thinner although everything obviously shows that I am.

    Anyway, may God bless you and keep you on the track to a healthy life.

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