Anatomy Of An Ever-Changing Weekend; July 29, 2018

Getting older is tough.

The mind is able, but the body is, well, I won't say it is completely weak, but figuring out where the 'want to' comes and goes from is a challenge in and of itself.

I had another weekend of baseball planned with a flight to and from St. Louis and three Frontier League - independent baseball - ballparks (two in Illinois and one in Missouri).

In the middle of the week, I realized that I was just a little bit still wore out from the past weekend, plus it looked as if weather might affect the game in Normal, Illinois Saturday night (and the race on Sunday morning in Bloomington).

So I started in looking at mixing things up and thought that I would run races on Friday night, Saturday morning and Sunday morning, then go to a ballgame on Sunday night before flying home Monday morning.

Lots of combinations.  Was going for a home run, which would have been a Friday night race (either in Findlay, IL or Champaign, IL) and another one - at 11:15 p.m. - in Terre Haute, IN.

The challenge there was that I lost an hour due to the time zone changing from Central to Eastern.

That would have put me into Indianapolis at about 1:30 a.m. with a goal to run 5Ks in Carmel and Fishers, which are less than five miles apart, at 8:00 a.m. and 9:30 a.m.

The fun part, then, on Sunday morning was to take part in a four-miler in Evanston, Illinois that started outside of and then finished on the field at Northwestern Stadium.

I've finished on the fields of Notre Dame, Penn State and Illinois.  As a Nittany Lion fan, that would have been great.

But I couldn't touch a hotel room for a Hilton or Marriott south of about $175.

The final straw was that I had a 5:45 a.m. flight out of Hobby.

I got home Thursday night at 11 p.m. from Bridgeport, where I work during the week.  And I didn't even stop to run, just to eat in Huntsville.

So I would have had to have returned a car to IAH, got my car, come home, washed my running stuff (for multiple races) and then leave by 3:30 a.m. to get to HOU by 4:15 a.m.

You get the picture.  Exhausting to even think about it.

Needless to say that before midnight I was on the phone with Southwest banking my money for another trip, another day.

So what to do for the weekend?

More wheels were in motion.

I saw the following:  1.) 5K double in Big Spring and Midland (Friday night at midnight and Saturday at 8 a.m.), 2.) Howl At The Moon 5K in Waco at 10 p.m. and 3.) the Mississippi Braves were at home at 5 p.m. on Sunday night.

Waverly was coming home from church camp in Sevierville, Tennessee early Friday morning, where she served as a camp counselor to a group of girls from her home church.

We traded texts early Friday morning as I offered to run her seven mile long run with her on Saturday morning, but she wasn't going to commit to anything until she got home and saw how she felt.

I kind of knew where that was going to go, so I kept my options open.  I understood.  She had a busy, exhausting week as one of the next last before she starts her first year of teaching.

Work took the Big Spring and Midland option off the board, plus Midland's website didn't indicate if there was race day registration and if the races were timed.

Right.  I'm going to go that far for an untimed fun run.  No way.

So I signed up for the Mosquito Chase 5K in Clute on Saturday morning.  I had run it before, but therefore I was able to save Mom a trip from going to get Waverly as they made it back in from church camp at 1:30 a.m. Saturday.

I was up at 4:45 a.m., got a quick shower and was out the door at 5:05 a.m.

Saw that there was going to be some road work on Highway 288 so I took the Beltway, the Fort Bend Tollway and Highway 6 to get to 288 and was in Clute and at the race site at close to 6:40 a.m. for a 7:30 a.m. start.

The guys from Houston Masters Sports Association - Mike Mangan and Michael Luna - were there to promote their 25K in November.  They both ran as well as Clark Courtright and Larry Lindeen.

Galveston's Kelly Carmichael and his wife both ran.  They've become good acquaintances, primarily through Robby Sabban's Texas Bridge Series races.

I had the opportunity to talk shop, as always, with Fit Tri Run's Kimberly Bachmeier.  Her FTR Race Management entity was timing the race.

I actually ran pretty good. 

Offset - 8:16
Mile 1 - 9:31.75
Mile 2 - 10:32.06
Mile 3 - 8:39.60
Last .1 - 1:36.48
Total = 30:19.89
Two years ago = 31:52.30

Just like two years ago, the mile markers were off.  Although, I think the total distance was pretty much spot on.  There was a different in the start location that might have made it a few feet long, but otherwise it is a solid race that was very, very humid.

Ran a minute and 33 seconds better than two years ago.

I held off a lady that tried to challenge me near the mile two marker as well as going into the last water stop a little while later, but I ended up beating by 25 seconds.

I made it back to Spring, slept some and then went and got a rental car as I planned to go run the race in Waco Saturday night and then venture to Dallas that evening.

The plan was to run the Carrollton Running Club 5K at 7:30 a.m. in McInnish Park on Sunday morning, go to church some place close to Lewisville where I was going to stay and then venture to Jackson, Mississippi for a minor league baseball game.

It was a little over six hours from Dallas to Jackson and the game's first pitch was at 5 p.m.  Doable.

Back from picking up the rental car and getting packed, I was ready to leave by 5:15 p.m. and was in Huntsville a little later for dinner at McKenzie's BBQ.

However, it was there I realized that I left my laptop bag with my Bible in it at the house.

I could have gone on to Dallas, et. al. and done everything I needed to do from my phone, but I'm basically a bit naked without my laptop (actually have two, including an older one that I use for certain things).

I got to Waco at about 8:45 p.m., made it over to the race site which was Indian Springs Park and got my race packet, changed clothes and then waited for the 10 p.m. start time.

The course was across the Suspension Bridge to the north side of the Brazos River where we ran under Interstate 35, by McLane Stadium (on our left going out), over the footbridge, into Grant Teaff Plaza and then along University Parks a little bit until we got in front of the Mayborn Museum Complex where we turned around and returned.

I crossed the finish in 29:28, but I suspect that the turnaround might not have been in the right place and the course might have been short.

If not, I ran really, really well.

Offset - 6.98
Out - 14:33.36
Back - 14:54.20
Total = 29:27.56

My chiropractor, Dr. Dawn Schwab, made an adjustment to the front of my body in my upper pelvic area that seems to have unlocked the range of motion on my left leg where my hamstring wants to continually remain tightened.

Back in the car, I made it home at 1:45 a.m., as I projected, and was awake and out the door by 8 a.m. to get breakfast and make it to the Church Project at 9 a.m. for morning worship.

The message came out of Psalm 23, which is the Lord's Prayer, but it was really to relate to how we, as God's children need Him, like sheep need a shepherd.

It is something that I have heard preached similarly by Tony Evans on his radio program a couple of Mondays ago on the drive to Dallas for work.

I got home and pretty much rested off and on the entire day.  I read three chapters from Michael Weinreb's "Season Of Saturdays:  A History of College Football in 14 Games".

I went and got a bite to eat at Jason's Deli in The Woodlands at about 8 p.m.

I got some Chicken Alfredo, to give me a little fuel for our run that started about 9:45 a.m. on The Woodlands Waterway.

However, it turned out to cause a bit of an issue on the return trip of the first loop.  We had two planned to get in between 7 and 7.5.

Waverly, at the same time, was having some issues as a result of not eating enough as she had been at a Bible Study from 6 to 8 p.m. before taking a young lady to her home before making it to The Woodlands to join me for a run.

We'll run out normal 3.66 miles tomorrow afternoon (Monday) and I'm already looking forward to it.

And on the table for next weekend, right now, is the final Outrigger's 5K on Saturday morning, August 4 and then the Run For Wellness - Heights 5K on Sunday morning and The Woodlands Running Club Sunday Night 5K that evening.

Killing Jesus: A History by Bill O'Reilly & Martin Dugard

A Note To Readers - 7/15/18

Book I - The World of Jesus
Chapter One:  Bethlehem, Judea, March, 5 B.C., Morning - 7/15/18
Chapter Two:  Rome, March 15, 44 B.C., 11 a.m.
Chapter Three:  Philippi, Northern Greece, October 23, 42 B.C., Morning
Chapter Four:  Jordan River Valley, March 22, A.D. 7, Noon
Chapter Five:  Jerusalem, March 23, A.D. 7, Afternoon

Book II - Behold the Man
Chapter Six:  Jordan River, Perea, A.D. 26, Midday
Chapter Seven:  Villa Jovis, Capri, A.D. 26, Night
Chapter Eight:  Jerusalem, April, A.D. 27, Day
Chapter Nine:  Capernaum, Galilee, Summer, A.D. 27, Afternoon
Chapter Ten:  Galilee, April, A.D. 29, Day
Chapter Eleven:  Jerusalem, October, A.D. 29, Day

Book III - If You Are the Son of God, Take Yourself off This Cross
Chapter Twelve:  Outside Jerusalem, Sunday, April 2, A.D. 30, Afternoon
Chapter Thirteen:  Jerusalem, Monday, April 3, A.D. 30, Morning
Chapter Fourteen:  Jerusalem, Tuesday, April 3, A.D. 30, Morning
Chapter Fifteen:  Jerusalem, Wednedsay, April 4, A.D. 30, Night
Chapten Sixteen:  Lower City of Jerusalem, Thursday, April 4, A.D. 30, Night
Chapter Seventeen:  Jerusalem, Friday, April 7, A.D. 30, Early Morning/Day
Chapter Eighteen:  Jersualem's Upper City, April 7, A.D. 30, 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Chapter Nineteen:  Jerusalem's Upper City, April 7, A.D. 30, 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Chapter Twenty:  Pilate's Palace, Jerusalem, Saturday, April 8, A.D. 30, Day
Chapter Twenty-One:  Jesus's Tomb, Sunday, April 9, A.D. 30, Dawn

Afterword - 7/15/18
Postscript - 7/15/18
Sources - 7/15/18

Detours by Tony Evans

Introduction:  What Is Destiny? - 7/15/18
Chapter One:  The Purpose of Detours - 7/15/18
Chapter Two:  The Pain of Detours
Chapter Three:  The Pattern of Detours
Chapter Four:  The Purifying of Detours
Chapter Five:  The Proof of Detours
Chapter Six:  The Presence of Detours
Chapter Seven:  The Promotion of Detours
Chapter Eight:  The Plan of Detours
Chapter Nine:  The Pardon of Detours
Chapter Ten:  The Pardon of Detours
Chapter Eleven:  The Providence of Detours
Chapter Twelve:  The Perfection of Detours
Chapter Thirteen:  The Perspective of Detours
Chapter Fourteen:  The Peace of Detours
Chapter Fifteen:  The Patience of Detours
Chapter Sixteen:  The Path of Detours
Conclusion
Appendix:  The Urban Alternative

The Republic Of Football: Legends of the Texas High School Game

1.  Hamlin, 1984 - 2/18/18
2.  Odessa, 1946 - 2/18/18
3.  Snyder, 1952 - 2/18/18
4.  Brownwood, 1960s - 2/18/18
5.  San Antonio, 1963 - 2/26/18
6.  Lubbock, 1968 - 3/3/18
7.  Mexia, 1968 - 3/3/18
8.  Celina, 1974 - 3/3/18
9.  Big Sandy, 1974 - 4/14/18
10.  Temple, 1975 - 4/14/18
11.  Midland, 1983 - 4/14/18
12.  Daingerfield, 1983 - 4/14/18
13.  Corpus Christi, 1985 - 4/14/18
14.  West Orange, 1986-1987 - 4/14/18
15.  Idalou, 1988 - 4/14/18
16.  White Deer, 1988 - 5/16/18
17.  Rockport Fulton, 1992 - 5/18/18
18.  Converse Judson, 1992-1993 - 5/18/18
19.  Tyler, 1994 - 5/18/18
20.  Sealy, 1994 - 6/2/18
21.  Galena Park, 1994 - 6/2/18
22.  Wortham, 1996 - 6/2/18
23.  Waco, 1996 - 6/2/18
24.  Austin Westlake, 1996 - 6/6/18
25.  New Braunfels, 1997 - 6/6/18
26.  Katy, 1997 - 6/6/18
27.  Mart, 1999 - 6/6/18
28.  Everman, 2001-2002 - 6/6/18
29.  Ennis, 2001 - 7/6/18
30.  Palestine, 2002 - 7/6/18
31.  Georgetown, 2002 - 7/6/18
32.  Southlake, 2002 - 7/6/18
33.  Tuscola, 2003 - 7/6/18
34.  Crawford, 2004 - 7/6/18
35.  Abilene, 2004 - 7/14/18
36.  Highland Park, 2005 - 7/14/18
37.  Copperas Cove, 2007 - 7/14/18
38.  Brenham, 2009 - 7/14/18
39.  Aledo, 2008-2011 - 7/15/18
40.  Fort Worth, 1983-1984 - 7/15/18
41.  Denton, 2002 - 7/15/18

Tap Out Ten; July 9, 2018

Really good day capped off by the drive up here to Denton this evening for work tomorrow over in Wise County, but it was a little long too.

However, one of the best parts was a nice 3 2/3-mile run with Waverly on The Woodlands Waterway before I started my drive up here.

With the new project assignment after my work here is done in mid-October, we should be able to log some more miles together and I will also be able to get out to the track with Bill Dwyer’s group as well.

Got a lot done, including an appointment with my chiropractor, Dr. Dawn Schwab with Spinal Care Chiropractic Center in The Woodlands, today. 

She really does an incredible job in keeping me in as healthy of a position as possible to keep tearing my body up from running.

I’ve had two protruding discs that we discovered about 12-13 years that will never “go away” without surgery, but her constant adjustments have kept me out of surgery all that time.

I’m very thankful for the work she’s done on and for me.

I’m also very thankful for getting back to listening to some programs on KCBI on the drive up this evening – Dr. Robert Jeffress, Tony Evans, John MacArthur and Focus on the Family. 

Two good hours of instruction and insight.

One of the most profound things I heard was from a guy named Ted Cunningham who co-wrote a book with the (now) late Gary Smalley that was “Unresolved anger is like drinking poison expecting the other person to get sick.”

Then again, I heard a variation of that on Sunday at the Church Project from the lesson given by Tierce Green.

He said, “Holding a grudge is like drinking position hoping the other person gets sick, but you’re the one that’s dying.”

Good things to remember.

There are two individuals that immediately came to mind on Sunday – and that was Tierce’s point, I believe, and these were folks that either did something to me (wrongly accused me of something in response to me learning something about them that they didn’t fully want me to know) or put me in a position to have to make a decision that was unpopular (to them), but was “right” for me.

I just have to continue to work to guard against letting things slip back to where I want to see something not good come their way.

If I do, then I would still be basically holding that grudge and not forgiving them for their actions.

So, it was a great lesson and one on Sunday that I probably took more notes on then I have in quite some time.

I also listened to a podcast – once I made it in my hotel room here in Denton - of the pastor that I was in attendance for last week – Dr. Mark Rotramel of First Baptist Church El Paso.

He spoke about “People Matter:  Handle With Care”, which was their lesson from this past Sunday.

He had started a new series with his congregation last Sunday about foundational truths that were needed by their church to be able to support and serve their church and local communities.

I really enjoyed visiting there last Sunday and will very likely listen to their sermons more frequently.

I need to do the same for the Church Project as well as some other churches that I’ve attended and their pastors.

Never hurts to continue to have the right material going in each and every day – as opposed to what some of the world has to offer.