Run for Life - Gearing Up for Battle

Only 4 days until the Pinhoti 100.  Below is the final devotional I wrote for LIFE Ministries.  Please consider donating to the ministry as part of the race effort.  It only takes a few moments and any amount would help the cause.  To give and for more information please visit http://runforlifenow.com/

 

October 30, 2012 – Gearing Up for Battle

A day late this week.  This weekend I had a work trip in Boston and had to stay a bit longer than expected due to the hurricane.  However, now I’m home and race week is finally here.  This week will be spent making final preparations and resting.  Excitement and nervousness are present, but in all a sense of peace has come over me the last few days.  I have had time the last few days to reflect on the training and preparation to this point.  While my training cycle has not gone exactly as planned (work schedule, sick kids, injuries, etc.), in all I am quite pleased with it.  My body is ready for the battle ahead. 

With training behind me, the focus now turns to final preparations.  I spent a lot of time the last couple days studying the course and determining the best places for my crew to meet me, where I would need additional clothing or supplies and where the biggest climbs await me.  I also spent a considerable amount of time on gear selection.

There is a part of me that wants to keep things simple in a race like this.  Take a handheld water bottle and go, relying on aid stations to provide any nutrition and refills.  However, this would not be wise.  A lot can happen over the course of 100 miles in the woods, so careful attention to the supplies needed to give me the best chance to complete the race seems like a better idea than just winging it.

The gear selection is now complete and quite detailed.  It includes essential, obvious items like shoes (Brooks Cascadias) and a headlamp for night running, as well as items that will likely not be needed, but could make a difference depending on the weather (gloves, jacket, etc.).  My crew and I have also determined what gear they will give me at various points in the race depending on the trail ahead.  For example, they will provide me with solid food (Clif bars, sandwiches) at mile 68 before the big climb up “The Pinnacle” since the pace will be slow and thus more conducive to eating substantive food.  Also, some longer sections where crew access will be restricted, such as between miles 18 and 40 and again from 68-85, they will provide me with a hydration pack with plenty of water and extra food, whereas at other stops a single water bottle will be enough to do the job.

The gear selection is intentional and designed for the battle of finishing the 100 mile race.  

As Christians, we are also in a long battle.  Knowing this is essential to fighting.  Ignoring the battle does not exempt you from it.  Ephesians 6:12 states “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”  Very simply, there are forces in our world that want us to fail.  Our enemy, Satan, wants us to disavow our faith, to end our marriages, to abandon our duties as parents…to just give up.    This can be tempting, especially when it gets tough and the attacks against you are relentless and sustained.  Sometimes the attacks are major (sickness, disease, divorce) while others can be subtle (general frustrations, attitude, fatigue.) However, God gives us the specific gear we need to effectively fight each individual battle.

The Armor of God is described in Ephesians 6:13-18.  If you grew up in the church, you recognize this passage from children’s church or Sunday School.  Please do not make the mistake of thinking this is a passage for kids.  Ignoring the gear that God has provided for us to fight the battle and focusing instead on our own strength would be similar to me entering this race wearing blue jeans and flip-flops and carrying milk instead of water.  The spiritual war that we face requires very specific, very intentional armor to fight effectively.  Fortunately, Christ has provided us with the armor to fight this battle. 

You are currently in a fierce battle.  Make sure you’re armed and ready.

Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying for all the Lord’s people.
- Ephesians 6:10-18

Run for Life - Pain is Part of the Process

Less than two weeks to go.  Below is this week's devotional for LIFE Ministries.  For more information on the race or to sponsor LIFE through the run, please visit http://runforlifenow.com/

October 22, 2012 - Pain is Part of the Process

Less than two weeks to go.  This is what is officially called the “taper” phase of training.  Mileage decreases in order to recover from the strains of training.  Now is the time for rest, and for runners, with rest comes doubt.  Have I trained enough?  Is my body strong enough?  Am I mentally prepared?  For me, I’ve been dealing with doubts about how I will responding to how painful this race promises to be.  Having never attempted to run 100 miles before, I am unfamiliar with the amount of pain that will certainly be present during the late stages of the race.

For runners, pain and fatigue are part of the training and racing process.  In an ultramarathon, even the best and most extensive training plan will not eliminate pain and discomfort during the actual race.  The length of each race guarantees suffering.  Strangely, that’s part of the appeal.  Every ultramarathon I have run has been painful.  In races there are more times than I care to admit when I ask myself, “What in the world am I doing out here?  Wouldn’t it be easier to just go home?”

Pain is part of training also.  During this training cycle I have had various ailments, including plantar fasciitis, IT band issues and shin splints.  These issues require constant and vigilant monitoring, icing, stretching and other therapeutic measures to keep them from becoming larger issues that require more intensive treatment.  These pains, whether during the race or in training, are frustrating. 

Many people wrongly assume that being a Christian protects us from any pain and suffering.  However, God offers us no guarantees that our lives will be free from pain or tough times.  Christianity is not a free ticket to abundant health and great wealth.  Pain is part of life.  We live in a fallen world plagued by sin.  As a result we will face pain and suffering much greater than what I will face in this upcoming race. 

What is our reaction when faced with pain?  Many times it is easy to give up.  Wouldn’t it be easier if I weren’t married?  Is having all this responsibility really fair to me?  Did I marry the wrong person?  These questions enter our minds and if we’re not careful can overtake us.  We cannot forget that we will face trials in this life, but we are promised that through Christ we can persevere through the pain and suffering and be blessed as a result.

How do I respond to this pain when running?  In a race it’s fairly simple:  keep moving forward or quit.  The term “Embrace the Suck” is one frequently used in the endurance running community.  It is most often used by NCO's in the military referring to when an individual or a group must complete a task that is pointless, tiring, and/or lame (I realize that ‘pointless, tiring, and lame’ is exactly how many of you would describe this race, but stay with me here).  To me the phrase is very simply acknowledging that when things get tough you have to make progress despite the pain. 

The choice is much the same in our personal lives.  Address the problem directly and keep moving forward…or just quit.  The life that God intends for each of us is worth fighting for.  When it gets tough we must turn to Christ for guidance and direction, and He can see us through.

In running, some pain you can run through, while some requires you to stop and rest.  When tough times happen in our lives, some we must forge through and others require us to stop and evaluate, but in both cases through prayer and perseverance and a steadfast dedication to seeking God’s will can help us to battle through the pain to realize the glorious life that God intends for us.

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God.  I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.   - Isaiah 41:10

Have I not commanded you?  Be strong and courageous.  Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.    - Joshua 1:9

Run for Life - Training for the Long Run

Less than 3 weeks until the Pinhoti 100 mile run.  Below is the devotion I wrote for LIFE Ministries this week.  Again, you can read about the Pinhoti 100 and get much more information and donate at www.runforlifenow.com

October 15, 2012 – Training for the Long Run

Training for a 100 mile run has proven to be very different from other races I have completed.  Training for any race ranging from 5k to a marathon consists of a good bit of “speedwork”, which is simply high intensity, shorter workouts that focus on leg speed rather than endurance.  Of course, endurance is very important, especially in a marathon, but the goal many times is to move as quickly as possible for the goal distance.  In a 5k this can be quite fast.  For me a 5k reaches the point where my heart is racing throughout the entire run and each step brings me closer to the point of passing out or puking.  Just being honest.

My training for the Pinhoti 100 has featured less speedwork and instead longer, slower, consistent efforts that last for many hours.  For example, last week I logged 97 total miles, including back-to-back 5 hour trail runs on the weekend at Oak Mountain State Park.  How many of these miles would I consider to be fast or speedwork?  Zero.  In fact, many of the miles were very slow and plodding, but the idea is to keep logging time on your feet and keep coming back for more.

As Christians, I’m afraid that most times we live our lives like a 5k…fast and focused on the short-term.  Our minds are focused on the here and now.  What it takes to get ahead in this world is more important than the eternity that God has placed in our hearts.  We live tired and overextended lives in order to get ahead and live life to the ‘fullest’, whether it is the next promotion, bigger house, fancier car, etc.  By the world’s standards, these things equal success, and it is easy to define success by the world’s criteria and believe we are winning the race.  Unfortunately we are running the wrong race and the pace is not sustainable.  Our race is much, much longer, and our mindset and hearts must reflect this reality.

A 5k is fairly fast for many runners, but the pace cannot be maintained for the long-term.  Longer races, particularly ultramarathon races, require a commitment to steady effort and constant forward progress, regardless of the pace.  Similarly, the frantic pace of our current life is exhausting and many times not focused on our long-term goal of spreading the Gospel of Jesus Christ.  As human beings, we tend to focus on worldly victories like the ones mentioned above, and many times with good intentions, but these are small in comparison to the victories that God promises for running and finishing the race we should be running, which focuses on eternity. 

Very simply, you can’t run a 100 mile race on 5k or 10k training, yet many times we try to do exactly that in our daily lives.  We focus on living life to the ‘fullest’ by the world’s standards and miss focusing on the longer and larger prize of heaven and winning souls to Christ and nurturing our relationship with Christ so that we may live life to the fullest in Him. 

 "I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full.” – John 10:10

"Yet God has made everything beautiful for its own time. He has planted eternity in the human heart, but even so, people cannot see the whole scope of God’s work from beginning to end." -Ecclesiastes 3:11

Run for Life

With less than 4 weeks remaining until the start of the Pinhoti 100, I felt now is a good time to update you on an exciting partnership opportunity with the race.  I am pleased to announce that I will be running the race to raise awareness and financial support for LIFE Ministries, a local ministry here in Birmingham.  You can become a sponsor by going to http://runforlifenow.com/.  Lots of great info on the website and a safe, easy way to donate at the bottom of the page.  

I am running for LIFE Ministries because they are fully committed to helping people discover the freedom that can only be found in Jesus Christ.  There are many parallels between the freedom I find in running and the ultimate freedom that can only be found through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  I have seen first-hand the impact that LIFE has had on many individuals and couples in their own personal adventures and journey with God.  I fervently believe that God has uniquely positioned Randy and Melody Hemphill and LIFE Ministries to help individuals and couples realize the hope that is found in Jesus Christ.

Randy at LIFE Ministries has asked me to write an update/devotional for each week leading up to the race.  Below is the first update/devotional that was sent out to their supporters and friends.

October 8, 2012 – Finishing Strong by Chris Dollar

With less than four weeks until the start of the Pinhoti 100, training continues to proceed…mostly as planned.  The miles continue to add up and I feel confident that my body is responding to the beating it is taking on a daily basis.  Before a big race I like to run a shorter race as a tune-up and to gauge overall fitness.  A couple weeks ago I ran the Georgia Jewel 35 mile trail race to see just where things stand.  Below are some thoughts about the race.

The Georgia Jewel 35 is also on the Pinhoti trail, albeit on the Georgia side, so I figured the terrain would be quite similar to the upcoming 100, making it a great training race.  The course was 17.5 miles out to the turnaround, and then 17.5 miles back on the same trail.  My strategy was to run the first half conservatively and then hopefully pick up the pace in the second half.  This is my strategy for a lot of races, but usually has mixed results.

The first hour of the run was before sunrise, and began with the first 1.3 miles being straight uphill.  I chose not to bring my good headlamp, and instead opted for two clip on lights purchased from Academy for $5.  Bad decision.  One never turned on and the other was quite dim.  Therefore the first hour was spent tripping over rocks and looking for the directional markers.  After many near falls (my running motion probably looked like a toddler), a near wrong turn, and not drinking enough water due to the focus on the trail, the sun came up and the lack of light was no longer a factor. 

Skip ahead to the turnaround.  At mile 17.5 I made it to the turnaround aid station and was in 13^th place overall and felt good to have half of the race behind me.  I took a bit of time here to hydrate and gather supplies for the return trip.  Now it was time to crank it up and test the legs a bit.  My pace quickened over the second half, and my legs felt good and spirits were high.  My effort moved me up to a 5^th place finish and resulted in a negative split.

A negative split is a frequent goal of runners, as it simply means running the second half of a race faster than the first.  It is a tangible way of knowing that a runner finished strong. 

Running has many illustrations for life, and particularly life as a believer in Jesus Christ.  What does it mean to finish strong in your personal life?  As individuals there are many times when we, like in this race, are wandering around in the dark directionless and without light.  Sometimes we feel like every step is uphill.  Many of us have taken the wrong turns of bad decisions or find ourselves being repeatedly tripped up by the consequences of those decisions or sometimes simply by forces outside of our control.  Despite these obstacles we can still finish strong.

The turnaround for the race was a mile marker, but for us the turnaround is found in a relationship with Jesus Christ.  Jesus can take the hurts from our past, heal them, and replace them with hope in Him, allowing us to live life with new joy and excitement.

What does this look like for us?  Turn your past, regardless of how ugly, over to Jesus, and from this point forward make it your goal to finish strong with Him by your side.  Maybe it’s in your marriage, family, career or relationships.  Let Jesus be the turnaround and from there finish strong with Him.  

"Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.” 

Matthew 11:28

Again, the website to sponsor or learn more is below: 
http://runforlifenow.com/