I went running a couple of times so far this week. I'm back in the saddle...er...groove again. For now at least.

While I was running one night this week after work I realized two things.

1. There is nothing like running in a new pair of sneakers. Apparently the elusive 'they' is right. New shoes do make a difference. They certainly don't help my need for oxygen but they certainly do put a spring in my step. Plus my feet stand out since the sneakers are so white.

2. I seriously do NOT like running after work. You'd think it would be a great idea. Sort of run that stress right out of my body. I've been sitting at a computer all day; running will be good. Not so much. I feel sluggish; I feel rundown; I just don't like it.

You know what this means right? I'm going to become one of them who buys a new pair of sneakers every 3 months. After all that's what 'they' recommend. And not only that but I may have to get up at 5 am and go for a run before I get ready for work. Ew! The sun isn't even up at that time. It's even smart enough to stay hidden for a little while longer.

We'll see though. First I need a habit. Then I'll go from there.

I will rise

You know the phrase 'old habits die hard'? Well I have a new one. New habits can fizzle. So much for a habit. I was this close. My confession; I have only run once this week. I didn't quite make it to the 'habit day.' I have my reasons:

It was hot outside. We broke records left and right. As a matter of fact my section of Philly was on the news due to an electric cable breaking and us losing power. It was way to hot to pound the pavement.

I am lazy. There is no way on God's green earth I was getting up at 5am to run before the crazy heat started and before getting ready to go to work. It's not happening. Not even on the morning I woke up at 5am on my own. No siree. (What was that about anyway?)

I hate the gym. Sure I could have run on a treadmill in a 'nice' 'air conditioned' place (I use both words loosely. Nice and gym do not go together.) But then again no. See first sentence.

So for all of the ways I boasted about maybe being a runner I have to take that back now. A real runner would not have let any of that list get in the way. Okay so maybe I'm not a "real runner." Not yet anyway. Oh but I'll get there. A real runner I will be. The habit mark I will pass.

Like Confucius said, "Our greatest glory is not in never falling, but in rising every time we fall." So, I've fallen. But unlike that old lady in the life alert commercial I can get up. I'll rise. I'll suck wind again, that's for sure (especially since I'm now a week behind schedule). But I will rise. And I will run.

You know gas prices are out of control when the gas station doesn't have enough number 4 cards to use on all of its signs so it has to resort to spray paint.

I *heart* Country Music

Believe it or not there is a country radio station in Philadelphia. Hard to believe I know. It’s been here for 24 years actually. The station is so cool that it threw itself an anniversary party. And I got to go. For free.

This wasn’t just any kind of party. It was an all day, outdoor country music fest. The lineup was fantastic. I saw Chuck Wicks, Keith Anderson, Pat Green, Billy Ray Cyrus (yes it’s true), Terri Clark and my current favorite Sugarland.

I had two tickets so my friend Anita from college flew up to hang out this weekend and go with me. Little did she (or I) know what we’d be in store for. All week ‘they’ were calling for thunderstorms on Saturday. I wasn’t sure if we’d even get to go. Well, thunderstorms turned into excessive heat instead. The temperatures hit around 96. Add the humidity to that and the heat index was nearly 110. Now imagine yourself sitting on a giant field in those conditions with no shade and several thousand other people. It was crazy. I think I sweat my full body weight. And that was before 1pm. I applied and reapplied sunscreen and still managed to burn in places. In fact I’m radiating heat as I type.

In spite of that heat it was such a great time. The artists were so good and I loved every minute of it. Seriously, if you have the chance to see Sugarland take it. They are great in concert. I was reminded how much I love country music. Seriously, I *heart* country music. I was also reminded of how good it is to spend time with ‘old’ friends.

Anniversary Show tickets, $0. Parking $20. Water and food $18. Making memories with an ‘old’ friend while rockin’ out to country music and sweating like no other – priceless!

Running to Habit

I am now in my 3^rd week of this running program. “They” say that 21 days builds a habit. So I’m nearly at the habit stage. This week the task is to jog for 90 seconds, walk 90 seconds, jog 3 minutes, and walk 3 minutes. Repeat. Um, excuse me? Jog for how long? Just last week, a mere 2 days ago, I was jogging for 90 seconds and now you want me to double that? You’ve got to be kidding me.

I did it though. I realized a few things while I was running tonight. And these are in no particular order. A mere 2 weeks and a few days ago I would have come up with any excuse not to run. Like tonight. It’s windy and a storm is on the way. I would have talked myself out of it 2+ weeks ago. Tonight, I wanted to go as soon as I got home to get the run in before the rain came. Does that make me an official runner now? Well, maybe I have to wait a few more days until I officially pass the habit day.

I also realized maybe I should change my goal. My goal was to run 3 miles without needing an oxygen tank. After my run today I think that goal should be changed to one mile. Perhaps I should start smaller. That 3 minutes nearly sent me over the edge.

Seriously, the first one wasn’t so bad but when that second 3 minute run rolled around again I wanted to use some not so nice words. I tried to break it down into 30 second increments thinking that would ease the pain. I know. It’s only 3 minutes. Seems like nothing. Until you start running. But then once minute 2 passed I seem to get a second wind. That last 60 seconds wasn’t so bad.

I’m so hoping this gets easier.

Here’s to habits. And nearly habits. And becoming a runner.

Fairness & God

Our pastor is currently preaching a series on the lies that we tend to buy into. The sermon at church this past week was titled Life is Fair. That certainly is a lie. For life is anything but fair. Then again our sense of fairness usually means things are going our way or we are getting what we want. When we don't, we tend to scream it's not fair. (those sentences are my own take on the sermon, not words my pastor used)

The sermon reminded me of a conversation I had with some dear friends a while back in Arizona. My friend Kim was commenting how it's easy for us to say 'God is good' or use some other phrase with the same meaning when things are going our way and when we get what it is that we want. She then posed an insightful question. Do we say the same phrase; do we feel the same way when things are seemingly not going our way or when we aren't getting what we want? Kim asked that question that day and it came out of a painful place she was in at the time. It's a powerful question. The answer, at least for me I'm afraid, isn't always yes. In fact, it's seldom yes. I tend to let my circumstances be my barometer for far too many things.

The truth is God is God regardless of my circumstances. It doesn't have to feel true to be true.

It's probably a good thing that life isn't fair. Otherwise, every time we broke the law and went over the speed limit we'd get a ticket. Every time we used the copier at work for personal copies or grabbed something from the printer tray that we got online for personal use we'd be charged a fee. On and on it goes.

"God is God and I am not. I can only see a part of the picture he's painting. God is God and I am man, so I'll never understand it all for only God is God." Steven Curtis Chapman