5k Every Day in the Month of May 2017 (Day 17)
Today was a good day. It was a hard day, but a good day. I was able to log 11 total miles on foot and 5.7 miles on my bike.
I started the day by reading my three chapters of scripture and then meeting with a buddy at Starbucks to talk about life and church and Jesus. That is always a good start to the day. When I got home I went out for a 5 mile run at a 7:19 per mile pace for a total run time of 36 minutes and 41 seconds. That was a solid medium effort and I felt pretty good.
Then I had the idea of doing the same route on my bike. My thinking was that I could continue to build up strength in my legs and lungs (but minimize the pounding on the pavement) by working a few bike rides into my week. I was definitely able to get my heart, legs, and lungs going on my bike. I ended up with 5.7 miles in 22 minutes and 12 seconds.
I have come to the conclusion that I am much faster on a bike. Haha.
To round out the day, I was able to join the Vertical Runner of Wooster group run today for another 6 miles. The run started off fairly well. My legs were tired, but not dead. My first mile was 7:46 and I thought, “I can probably keep this up.” The second mile was a touch faster at 7:42. On mile 3, I hit a brick wall (figuratively -not literally). My legs were done.
I felt like someone had tied 10 pound bricks to my feet and I had no idea how I was going to finish the run. The mile clicked over at 8:11 -not nearly as bad as I thought it would be.
Mile 4 was even worse. In my mind I was running about a 17 minute per mile pace, and working very hard for it! Mile 4 clicked over at 8:26, which was actually quite encouraging.
I can do this!
I finished up with a 7:40 mile and a 7:48 mile. It was a hard-earned 6 miles total, with an overall average pace of 7:56 per mile and a total run time of 48 minutes and 9 seconds.
So far this week I have run 37.8 miles. I am well on my way to my goal of 70 miles this week. Hopefully I can get rested up a bit before my run tomorrow.
The main thing that stood out to me today as I was reading through Luke 5-7 was Luke’s writing style, especially in Luke 5-6.
I think it is important to notice that Luke is trying to help us understand who Jesus is. These chapters are not necessarily chronological. They are an overall big picture look at the character and person of Jesus. Notice some of the beginning phrases of the different sections:
On one occasion, while the crowd was pressing in on him to hear the word of God, he was standing by the lake of Gennesaret, – Luke 5:1
While he was in one of the cities, there came a man full of leprosy. And when he saw Jesus, he fell on his face and begged him, “Lord, if you will, you can make me clean.” – Luke 5:12
On one of those days, as he was teaching, Pharisees and teachers of the law were sitting there, who had come from every village of Galilee and Judea and from Jerusalem. And the power of the Lord was with him to heal. – Luke 5:17
On a Sabbath, while he was going through the grainfields, his disciples plucked and ate some heads of grain, rubbing them in their hands. – Luke 6:1
On another Sabbath, he entered the synagogue and was teaching, and a man was there whose right hand was withered. – Luke 6:6
In these days he went out to the mountain to pray, and all night he continued in prayer to God. – Luke 6:12
It is almost funny that a guy like Luke, who is so particular and detailed, pays no attention to what day, or what city, or what Sabbath he is referring to in these chapters.
Why is this?
Well, it’s because what day, or what city, or what Sabbath is simply not the point. The point is: look at Jesus! Look at what he has done! Listen to what he has said! These are the important aspects.
Masterfully, Luke wraps up these chapters that are outlining the character and person of Jesus with these words from the LORD:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? Everyone who comes to me and hears my words and does them, I will show you what he is like: he is like a man building a house, who dug deep and laid the foundation on the rock. And when a flood arose, the stream broke against that house and could not shake it, because it had been well built. But the one who hears and does not do them is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the stream broke against it, immediately it fell, and the ruin of that house was great.” – Luke 6:46-49
Luke gives snapshots of what Jesus is like, essentially telling us to look at Jesus, and then he reminds us that it is not enough to just look. At some point we have to decide what to do with what we see.
I love what C.S. Lewis said regarding this. He pointed out that Jesus was either a liar, a lunatic, or LORD!
Jesus made some incredible claims! Even in these chapters he is claiming divinity by forgiving sins. He is teaching as one with authority. He is claiming to be Lord of the Sabbath.
Either he is a liar, and none of the things that he said are true (this would be a hard pill to swallow since so much of what he said has, in fact, been proven to be true).
Or he is a lunatic who really believed what he said even though he was insane (and somehow ironically and luckily got much of it right even while being out of his mind).
Or he is LORD. The final explanation is that he was completely honest and truthful about what he spoke -that he really did have the power and authority to forgive sins! But if this option is true, then we have to take an honest look at Luke 6:46:
“Why do you call me ‘Lord, Lord,’ and not do what I tell you? – Luke 6:46
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Not a good idea to do crossfit and then run. Thanks to Mark for guiding me through Wooster and letting go of his fast pace for me. One day I will be fast again but I don’t think
It will be in the near future. 😢
5k Every Day in the Month of May is not exactly a speed challenge! I do think you will be faster on the other side of it, though. It was good to see you at the group run! I am a big fan of the VR Group Run. I always enjoy being a part of it.
I made the mistake of thinking I’d just run to town since I needed milk anyhow. Wasn’t thinking about how it’s gonna go running home with a gallon of milk… it ended up being a walk home.
Pushing through! Some days are tough. I was up at 3:30 for work and didn’t get home till 8:15, right back out the door to get the 5K in. I’m tired. But I feel good.
hahahahaha. That’s great! You should have at least bought 2 gallons of milk -one for each hand. That might have worked a little better for you!
Way to keep pushing through!
Got my 5k in this morning. I was planning to do a run/walk combo but once I finished up 2 miles running, I thought I might as well go one more.
You are doing so great! Well done!
We got our 5K walk and 3 chapters in early yesterday morning then did it all again early this morning. We admire those of you who run, and even run more than a 5K. We’re tired! And rejoicing that Jesus is Lord!
That’s funny, Cindy. I admire you and Paul! Your dedication through this challenge has been incredible! I’m very impressed.
You may think it is silly, but I don’t know if I could complete the challenge walking a 5k every day. I think that is hard work. Helping Jodi get a 5k walk in at the Denver airport was really a workout! But you are doing it every day! Great job!
I ran 13.2 on the Goodyear Half Marathon Course this morning and was lucky enough to join the awesome people at the VR group run this evening for 6 more. Not a bad day!
Not a bad day at all! And a lot of the Goodyear Half Marathon goodness was captured on Facebook Live for anyone who is interested. How fun!
I got to run with you for part of a mile tonight… and then I died.
I think Jeff rubbed off on me a bit. We had plans to run our 5K this morning, but without any recollection of it, I somehow turned off the alarm rather than hitting snooze this morning. We were tight on time (after waking up and realizing what happened) and weren’t able to run in when we wanted to. Instead, we went and enjoyed an Indians game with Paul and Cindy. We listened to our 3 chapters on our way up to meet them, and had a great day! We got back and at about 9:30 and got ready to do our run. Tonight was one of those nights where I was tired, but I felt like I could just keep going and going. Our time wasn’t the best that we have had, but we came in under a 9 minute pace.
Jeff, I love what you had to say about Luke. I have never noticed the exact words he used when describing the events. It is very interesting and nice to know!
Haha. I’m sorry my oversleeping rubbed off on you! Way to persevere!
Great job on both your runs and bike ride Jeff. 👍
I got my 5k in with the VR running club. It was great running with Rachel. Not sure how you go from cross fit and that work out to running.
There is so much that sticks out in the verses. It’s really been good going through the gospels quick so I can remember what I read from the others.
The women coming into the Pharisee’s house stuck out. It’s sad to see the Pharisee can’t see he’s a sinner too. But he can’t see that. But on the other hand I can relate of how many times do I cast judgment on people? Guilty. Not that she was using the ointment or wiping Jesus feet to show favor but appreciation. It was that she knew what Jesus was going to do for her. A form of worship to him. How do I lift worship to him. Not out of obligations but I want to.
Thanks for sharing!
Nice all walk tonight with my wife. Love reading Jesus’ words again in Luke.
A husband and wife walk is always nice!
I ran 3.1 in Akron while I waited in the SUV to be serviced.
I like how Jesus decides to pray all night long. I often make the mistake of thinking I can accomplish that in 15 minutes… as if it’s a task I should complete rather than an awesome opportunity to spend time with my Creator.
Good use of time! Thanks for the prayer challenge! It was a great reminder.
I got to run with one of my best friends today. We kept a nice and easy conversational pace around Kidron. Got the 5K done in 33:23, pace of 10:46. Randy was gonna go to VR, but something came up so he ran at home. He ran 4.42 miles in 36:20, pace of 8:13 in the hot afternoon heat!
I have appreciated all the extra details that get pointed out by you and the others. Sometimes it makes me have an ah-hah moment since it didn’t hit me that way when I read it and I like that somebody pointed it out. This has been fun. I enjoyed the last part where the woman is literally grief stricken over her sins while the Pharisee seems to feel somehow that he is more on an even footing with Jesus. I am never on an even footing with Jesus, but I know I can sometimes act like I am. I want to be more consistently like the woman who knew what all she had been forgiven.
Way to keep running! I have really enjoyed the virtual dialogue, as well. Thank you for your insight and thoughts.