Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow

November 15, 2024

15% off for Fast Running Blog members at St. George Running Center!

Location:

Fort Collins,CO,

Member Since:

May 15, 2003

Gender:

Male

Goal Type:

Local Elite

Running Accomplishments:

Unaided PR's:
5K: 14:48 (Track - 2001)
10K: 30:45 (Track - 2001)
10K: 31:32 (Bolder Boulder - 2013)
Half Marathon: 1:06:09 (Duluth - 2013)
Marathon: 2:17:54 (Grandma's) - 2014)
Marathon: 2:19:47 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2013)
Marathon: 2:19:49 (Indianapolis Monumental - 2010)

Aided PR's:
10K: 29:38 (Des News - 2011)
Half Marathon: 1:05:30 (TOU Half - 2011)
Marathon: 2:18:09 (St George - 2007)
Marathon: 2:17:35 (Boston - 2011)

Short-Term Running Goals:

Diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis in June of 2008. Started taking Enbrel in March, 2009.

Run as much as I can, and race as well as I can. Make the most of however much time I have left as an able-bodied runner.

Training for the 2018 Colorado Marathon

Long-Term Running Goals:

Run until I'm old, and then run some more. Stand tall.

Personal:

1 wife, 2 kids. 1 cat. Work as a GIS Specialist/Map Geek

Endure and persist; this pain will turn to your good. - Ovid

Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. - Romans 5:1-5

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to Ukraine's Armed Forces

Miles:	This week:	0.00	Month:	0.00	Year:	0.00
Saucony Trail Shoe Lifetime Miles:						247.50
Hoka Clifton Lifetime Miles:						491.50
Saucony Type A6 Lifetime Miles:						186.50
Saucony Zealot Lifetime Miles:						478.75
Saucony Kinvara 6 Lifetime Miles:						433.50
Saucony Kinvara 6-2 Lifetime Miles:						358.75
Brooks Pure Connect Blue Lifetime Miles:						337.25
New Balance Trainers Lifetime Miles:						314.50
New Balance 1400 Racers Lifetime Miles:						65.00
Brook Pureflow Lifetime Miles:						99.50

Thu, Nov 23, 2006

Easy Miles	Marathon Pace Miles	Threshold Miles	VO2 Max Miles	Crosstraining miles	Total Miles
9.50	0.00	0.00	0.00	0.00	9.50

Thanksgiving Day, probably my favorite holiday of all, and one of my favorite days to run on. Today was no exception, and I had a great run down the Logan Canyon River Trail to near Guineva Malibu Campground and back. Weather was surprisingly warm at first, but dropped substantially over the duration of the run; but it was nice to wear short sleeves. The run took 1:10:30, and I pushed the pace in a few places, so it was a good overall pace and a nice workout. It's great to get to the 10-mile point in my runs again!

****

I've been meditating on Thanksgiving a bit, and here a list of what I'm thankful for:

1) First and foremost, that God loves us unconditionally and gives the gift of grace, and that "...while we were still sinners, Christ died for us." (Romans 5:8).

2) For my wife, who also loves me despite my faults, and who has given me support and companionship through both good times and hard times.

3) My job, that I enjoy it and that it gives my wife and I provision that we can depend on.

4) Being injury free again!! It is so wonderful being able to run again after such a long layoff. I do not take any of it for granted and am happy for each day that I get to pursue my passion.

5) Daring to dream again. During injury I had lost hope of running competitively at times, and was simply focusing on and trying to live a pain-free existance again. Now I have my sights on racing again, and PR's in the future. I have hope that the lessons I've learned and tools I've found will enable me to run competitively for years.

6) Finally, I'm thankful for other runners, not only my running buddies here in Logan, but also all the other bloggers on this site, for your encouragement, accountability, insights, and inspiration. You all rock! Keep it up everyone, and happy Thanksgiving!!

Comments

From Superfly on Thu, Nov 23, 2006 at 13:36:34

Way to work back into shape Paul. I look for good things out of you.

I was just going to let you know that I was in Phoenix last week and got 2 rooms for 2 nights for our team at the Embassy Suites by the airport there. One on the Thursday night before the race and one on Saturday night after the race. We've been doing some business down there so the rooms were comped. So if we need them- we have them if not no loss.

From Sasha Pachev on Sat, Nov 25, 2006 at 16:17:46

Paul - I know something about the loss of hope and ability to dream. I still struggle with it. Yes, I can run St. George in 2:25, and I am thankful to have gotten so far, but deep down it feels wrong to stop there. Yet I often get frustrated because I do not see a scientific step-by-step path to go past my current level.

There are two types of dreams - pipe dreams and faith dreams. The former never come true regardless of what you do because it is not the will of God. The latter come true as you exercise faith and do everything in your power to make them true.

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