Spirit of the Marathon

Posted by Joe Thorn - 07/01/08

I’ve been waiting for this; a documentary on running the marathon (26.2 miles). Spirit of the Marathon focuses on six runners, including beginners and elites, who run in the Chicago Marathon. It’s hitting select theaters later this month, and has a showing about 5 miles from our church’s building. I’ll be there. I got sick last week and have not been able to run in 2008 yet - but I am getting ready for a run later this morning. I plan on running in a half marathon this year, and a full marathon in 2009. Check out the 6 minute trailer. It’s worth it.

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Run Report

Posted by Joe Thorn - 13/12/07

Yeah, I’m still running and loving it more all the time. I run 8, 5 and 3.1 mile runs during the week. People have been asking about the cold weather - especially since this is my first winter running around outside. The good news is the cold hasn’t been an issue at all. In fact I have really enjoyed running in the cooler temps of 19°-25°. What has slowed me down is the ice. The ice is terrible. Nevertheless I have continued to run, just a bit more carefully when I can’t avoid the ice. The last two days have been so unusually busy with ministry I had to choose between eating breakfast with the kids and running. The kids of course came first. But I may be able to squeeze in a run before a meeting I have this afternoon. 5 Miles from the church building means a sink bath. Those work so well.

For a few weeks I was stuck at 150 lbs, but have finally this week dropped solidly into the 140’s. I am down well over 30 lbs now and feeling great.

I have found that all runners have a lot of inner dialog with themselves. Much of it, especially for us beginners, boils down to an argument between the old self and the new self; something not altogether different from the inner struggle against sin. Just as fasting teaches us about the nature of contentment, dependence on God, and denying self, I am finding that the discipline of running teaches me a lot about the nature of perseverance and becoming. This commercial from Nike, “Reincarnate Now,” encourages us to leave the “old self” behind. It’s beautiful and relates to more than becoming a runner. Check it out.

…put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.
Ephesians 4:22-24

Run Report

Posted by Joe Thorn - 07/11/07

The NYC Marathon was this past Sunday drawing tens of thousands of runners, including the famous. Actress Katie Holmes finished in 5:29:58, just a bit slower than the time it takes the average female marathoner to complete 26.2 miles. Lance Armstrong also ran and came in at 2:46:43. That’s about an hour and 46 minutes faster than the the average male finisher. Good grief that’s fast. I know, it’s Lance Armstrong, but still. Wow. I hope to come in somewhere between these two times when I run my first marathon. And though that’s a long way off (2009?) I believe I will be able to do it.

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I began running 164 days ago, and this has been a consistently surprising and encouraging experience. My short run is now 5 miles, my long run is over 7 miles. I have a long way to go to meet all of my goals, but I am now confident that I will reach them. With all of the changes I am experiencing (physically and mentally) this is the most dramatic - confidence in what I can do physically. Dropping 5 inches around the waist (so far) is nice, losing 30 lbs feels great, but the optimism is much more critical to my long term running.

I have never been an athlete. Never competed, or even participated in school sports growing up. And cardio, running specifically, was something I loathed. So when I started running over 5 months ago I had little confidence in how things would progress, and every small accomplishment was a big surprise. While my progress still excites/encourages, it no longer surprises me. On my running blog I explained that I’m now a believer! I no longer wonder if I can do these things, only when they will happen. And while this optimism encourages me to try harder, it is not merely belief in self. This optimism is more of a combination of confidence in the way God has designed the human body (to run), and thankfulness for leading me to do this.

Run Report

Posted by Joe Thorn - 22/09/07

This morning I ran 5.1 miles in 56:03 (See route below). Not fast, but the run felt very good and I am still amazed that I am able to run this far at all - even more so that I can do it without stopping. Even more so that I truly love running! During the run I listened to a Tim Keller sermon, then the official Lost podcast, and the song “Are You There?” by Klint on my little iPod shuffle. Anyway, that brings the week’s total mileage to 16.8 miles. I started running 118 days ago. Two more days will mark four months and I have already passed the half-way point in terms of weight loss. ‘Not even close to being the kind of runner I dream of being, but I am on my way. For those who are interested, all my runs and times are recorded at Running Ahead. If you are new to running like me (and I know there are a few of you) you might want to start recording yous stats there too.

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Run Report

Posted by Joe Thorn - 15/09/07

The temps have dropped and running is a bit more comfortable when it’s cool. I have not yet upped my mileage, still running 3.1 - 5 miles each time out. It’s going well and I am enjoying it.

Saturday is the day I take my long run (5 miles today). I typically give my thoughts to the sermon for Sunday. With the new church start things have been very busy. I protect time with the kids and wife, but running is when I find alone time. Running has allowed me to decompress from the typical pressures of pastoring in a new way. It’s also valuable in that I am pushing a part of myself that my calling does not naturally exercise. Studying, talking to people, and teaching doesn’t exactly work the body.

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