5k Every Day in the Month of May 2017 (Day 19)

Some days you just don’t feel it. Today was NOT that day for me. Thankfully, today I was feeling great!

I met a couple of guys in Wooster this morning for a 20 mile run. We started heading out of town towards the Wooster Memorial Park and the miles were just clicking over like a dream.

We ran the first mile at a pace of 8:26. I think we were all conserving energy, knowing that we had a long way to go. The next miles were 7:51, 7:56, 7:53, 8:01, and 8:00.

We had put together a pretty great 6 miles by the time that we got to the park. Then it got a little tougher, but it was still a great run.

Wooster Memorial Park has trails weaving all over the place. There are streams to cross, roots to watch out for, steep inclines, and narrow paths at times. It is pretty great! Our pace slowed substantially as we ran 8 miles through the park, but it was a great time.

Our first mile in the park, which was actually mile 7, was pretty fast, but it also started out mostly downhill. We ran our first mile in the woods at a pace of 8:51. The next miles were 10:21, 11:19, 10:58, 10:03, 10:05, 11:00, and 11:37 back up to the park exit. While in on the trails I lost my step 5 times and nearly went down hard at one point -but I was saved by my water bottle! I also slipped into the water 4 different times. That made for some pretty soggy shoes.

Once we got back onto the pavement, we headed back towards Wooster and the miles ticked away at a pace of 8:06, 8:06, 8:23, 8:14, 8:08, and 8:25. I finished with a half mile back to my car at an 8:00 per mile pace.

I was very happy with that run. I feel much more confident and optimistic about the marathon planned for May 31.

After a great morning run, I ended up spending 5 hours in a van with the guys from Polen Band on our way to New Tribes Mission in Jersey Shore, PA. We will be leading worship tomorrow for their “Wayumi Youth Day” event. It is a cool “Survivor” type of event in which youth groups show up and participate in challenges throughout the day, as well as learn more about unreached people groups and how they could be a part of God’s story by going into the nations to reach them with the gospel! It is a great event and we are excited to be a part of it.

As we finished setting up our equipment and preparing for a great day tomorrow, I started to get excited about what God is going to do in this place throughout the event. I think it is fitting to read these words tonight from Luke 13:

He went on his way through towns and villages, teaching and journeying toward Jerusalem. And someone said to him, “Lord, will those who are saved be few?” And he said to them, “Strive to enter through the narrow door. For many, I tell you, will seek to enter and will not be able. When once the master of the house has risen and shut the door, and you begin to stand outside and to knock at the door, saying, ‘Lord, open to us,’ then he will answer you, ‘I do not know where you come from.’ Then you will begin to say, ‘We ate and drank in your presence, and you taught in our streets.’ But he will say, ‘I tell you, I do not know where you come from. Depart from me, all you workers of evil!’ In that place there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth, when you see Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the prophets in the kingdom of God but you yourselves cast out. And people will come from east and west, and from north and south, and recline at table in the kingdom of God. And behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.” – Luke 13:22-30