Leanna--Thanks for posting the pictures and all the favorable comments! I love you too! Here's my two cents on the weekend...
Conference Weekend
I am really disappointed that I missed so much of General Conference. The Wisconsin football game took up a fair portion of Saturday and the Twin Cities Marathon consumed way too much of Sunday. I had hoped that I’d just miss the Sunday morning session of conference, but we also missed Sunday afternoon. It’s such a choice blessing to hear the messages of our church leaders—missing that was a serious error in judgment on my part. It won’t happen again. I have run my last Twin Cities marathon (assuming it falls on conference weekend/Sunday). While it is a choice experience to participate in that amazing event, the benefit/cost trade-off is a net loser if it falls on conference weekend. I need to be at conference--each of our lives can be richly blessed by hearing the words of these men (and women) of God. The conference that I did take in was a great source of renewal for my soul! I need to download the talks (lds.org) so that I can take it all in over the coming weeks and months.
Okay, so how about the race? Let’s start with the background. This is no average 26.2 mile run. It’s more of a social event, packed with as much energy as you can imagine—tens of thousands of spectators, loudly encouraging 8,000 plus runners along the way—teaming up with music and noisemakers—it’s a virtual party on the streets of the Twin Cities.
My motivational cues for the day (as written on my hand) Stay positive: essential for most great challenges Expect success: another element of getting through a struggle Mental toughness: endurance is mostly a mental game (coupled with adequate preparation) Say goodbye (to the race): this one is a bit odd—but I knew that the message in the first paragraph was my reality—that this would be my last TC marathon. Enjoy the time on the course. Be grateful: I am always (tearfully/emotionally) grateful that I can physically participate in these events—made possible by our freedom, standard of living, and the blessing of favorable genes. Quick feet: This is really the only exclusive running cue in the bunch—a reminder that speed comes from turning over the feet as fast as possible
So, my race experience was a favorable one. I enjoyed the sites and the sounds and sharing the streets with the runners and spectators—working through some pain, minor injuries, and fatigue—while appreciating the family support of mom, Leanna, and Nate. Now…on to the conference download.
3 comments:
I really enjoyed this post, dad. I made a note of the thoughts you wrote on your hand & plan on keeping it in my journal as a reminder - I might have to copy you in my next race.
Sad we missed so much of conference- but, I have already listened to the majority of Sunday's talks, and am starting to listen to Saturdays. I've been listening to a talk each morning as well - right when I get to work - seems to start my day off a little nicer.
Thanks for all the great memories this weekend. Are you sure we can't run Grandma's together next year? I was hoping to run a race with you - maybe you can find one we can run together (sometime early-summer-ish).
Love you. Again - - great race! Glad you enjoyed the experience. It was a joy to watch you!
Congratulations Dad! You're always quietly amazing everyone. We had no idea about your race until Sunday night when we called to say hello. Wish we could've been there to support you.
Way to go stud muffin! I can't blame the Twin cities people for always planning it on conference weekend, it's an incredible time of the year.
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