The eve of a Boston Easter

Most of the day was devoted to travel. Airplanes and airports are generally uninteresting, but today was different. Runners from around the world were making their annual pilgrimage to Boston and I was lucky enough to be among them.

Airport waits were spent talking to other runners. We compared stories, we gave our opinions about the weather on marathon day, and we took part in the rites of the marathon called Boston.

We wore our shirts and jackets to identify ourselves as Boston runners. These things served as the colors of our gang; a fraternity of a diverse group of people bound by a love for running and a race named Boston.

I talked with Mary Beth from Texas, an 11th grade teacher running Boston for the first time. I talked to some nameless veterans and I accepted nods of acknowledgement from passers by.

This was a day I felt important. Recognition came from many places. Our flight attendant wished us luck over the intercom; a pilot asked me questions about the race while we rode the elevated train in Dallas.

We made it to our hotel room by 4:30 PM. My brother George was waiting for us there. Soon, Kenna, a fellow blogger would call and all of us along with her friend Susan went out to dinner.

Tomorrow will be some light sightseeing and acquiring my race packet. The weather is cooling and the outlook for Monday looks to be near perfect running conditions, except for a possible strong head wind.

So things are going well. The clock is ticking down to that Patriot's Day Noon in which 20,000 pilgrims who assembled in Hopkinton, MA will make their way over the rolling hills east to Boston through corridors of cheering souls.

When it is all said and done, the 110th Boston Marathon will be history and we will all be part of its story.

Until the next time
John Strain

Good Friday

It is funny how we call today Good Friday, when you think about the kind of day Jesus had. I know it is good because of what He did for us, but don't forget that the suffering was real.

2000 years or so later it is easy to gloss over what it must have been like. Imagine yourself going through abandonment, betrayal, torture, ridicule; and all because you spoke the truth and scared the people in “power.”

Think of how crushed Jesus' followers must have felt. When He was in the grave it must have been so defeating and confusing. Again, we gloss over it, but from Friday to days later, many felt it was all over.

Then think of the joy that occurred on the Sunday. Hope returns. Peter, who denied Jesus only a few days earlier, became one of the most vocal for Him. Later on Peter would also be crucified, however, at his own request he was crucified upside down because he explained, that he was not worthy to die in the same manner of his Lord.

Sometimes all of this gets lost in our ritualistic observances of Easter and the Easter Bunny. I like a chocolate egg as much as the next person, but don't forget what these days mean.

Because He lives and because death is conquered, what can happen to us to get us down? If God is for us who can be against us?

Pie in the sky?

You bet there is a big piece of pie waiting for all of us in the sky, but Easter makes a difference now. The way we live now can be a life of hope and joy. We should live with gratitude and offer service to others.

It is hard to do with competing philosophies and religions. Some are living the game, "Whoever has the most toys when they die wins." I want toys too and sometimes that clouds my real purpose in life.

We have so much that does not come from stores or that requires a purchase, because the price was paid for it a long time ago.

Enjoy this Easter weekend folks and have a "Good Friday."
Until the next time
John Strain

Play list

I put the word "run" into the search box of my iTunes library and of the 4,223 songs, 45 turned up. 5 of the songs hit because of the word "drunk." Funny how "drunk" is really the word "run" sandwiched between a "D" and a "K". I am not sure what that means.

A few of the songs were not talking about running. "My Cup Runneth Over, Ed Ames" and a few others.

It turns out to be a nice little play list.

Today is my last day of work and I have lots to do. Then tomorrow, it will be time to get the house and yard cleaned up. Packing is always fun. What will I forget this year?

I hope I remember to pack my running shoes.

Happy Maundy Thursday folks.

Until the next time
John Strain

Carb depletion

Today and tomorrow I eat as close to zero carbs as possible. After my easy 3 miles on Friday, I begin carb loading.

To me, going without carbs is one of the hardest parts of training. I would much rather run a 20-miler in the heat than go a day without carbs.

All I can figure out to eat is cheese, boiled eggs, and smoked sausage. Maybe I will grill a steak or something and eat some scrambled eggs with cheese tonight.

It all goes down much better with a big baked potato slathered with butter and sour cream.

Here I am winning the Boston Marathon last year. Since then, I have gained a few pounds and become white. Therefore, my chances of repeating are slim.

If you're not doing anything next Monday, you can watch the Boston Marathon on OLN. Click the photo to see their promo trailer.

I will also post the info you need to follow me on the course. You can really "Run and not grow weary."

Here is a post I wrote three days before leaving for Boston last year. At the time, I had no idea what to expect. This is my second year, so I know what to expect, but I am more focused on improving my performance.

I thought it was eerie I thought of this poem out of the blue. When I went to my archives, I discovered that I wrote the post exactly one year ago, (The Wednesday before Boston.) Great minds think alike.

This poem has even more meaning to me now after Hurricane Katrina. It speaks of the tempest and stripped trees. It was almost as he were describing a hurricane.

I guess that when all of the preparation is done physically, I turn more to the spiritual and emotional. This poem does both. It was written by a 19-year-old English Army soldier in World War I. "We run because we like it through the broad bright land."

I'm getting psyched. The weather is looking good at this point, but I cannot control it. That which I can control is going well. So next Monday, I will be there. If it is hot, cold, rain, or snow, it doesn't matter. I will be there and give it another shot.

Isn't that what most of life is anyway? Giving it a shot. Let's give it a shot today and make it a good one.

Until the next time
John Strain

Trauma on a Sunday

by Bear

Hi everyone, It's me Bear.

I feel lucky to be alive after the trauma I experienced on Sunday. Let me tell you about it.

Daddy and I had just started on my walk. We walked down the street, over the bridge and up the hill like we always do. There were a couple of new fast food bags on the ground I sniffed and licked. I peed on my usual spots and did what I usually do.

When we rounded the corner things were still going along according to Hoyle. I walked around a big blue thing, Daddy later told me it was a trashcan, and sniffed some more. I had to come back around the can, because of my leash, but when I did, I heard a deep noise.

Noises scare me and I am what Daddy calls skittish or jumpy. I just call it self-preservation. So anyway, I hear this noise and I jumped back a little, but the noise happened again right when I jumped back. That scared me even more, so I jumped back farther and faster. The noise came quicker and louder.

Then there was a big boom and the trash can fell to its side in my direction. I took off running and it chased me. Now I like to chase a cat or a squirrel on occasion, but I am not used to being the prey. This can was fast. I ran harder and faster and the can kept pace with me.

My heart was pounding out of my chest and I thought I was a goner. I couldn't get away because of the leash. Daddy was holding on to it and I was just running in a circle like the hands of a clock.

Daddy kept yelling at me and I finally realized he was shouting "stay". Well, I was getting tired, I was scared, and Daddy was telling me to do something, so I stopped. Then the can stopped chasing me. I guess my leash got tangled up in the handle of the trashcan and when I ran, it was just being dragged. It wasn't chasing me at all.

It still took me a few minutes to calm down. Daddy petted me and talked to me to help me settle down, and then he started laughing. He kept teasing me. "Was it going to get you Bear?" "Heeheehee." Daddy can rub things in pretty good, but that is what friends do.

Daddy said he felt like he had a big fish on a fishing pole that he couldn't reel in. We sure messed up the silence of a Sunday morning. Me running, the trash can bouncing all over the street, and Daddy yelling at me to stop. It must have been some sight.

I'm OK now though. I am ready for another adventure. As long as Daddy is with me, I know I will be OK.

I got some bad news. Mommy and Daddy are going to Boston, whatever that is. Daddy says he is going to run in a race like at Baton Rouge. He will be running next Monday. The bad news is I have to stay at the vet. That place gives me the creeps.

Such is the life of a dog, but I'm not really complaining. That's the way the old bone bounces.

Have a nice week. It is back to laying around waiting for my family to come home again. Wait a minute; LJ is home for spring break. Maybe he will throw the tennis ball for me.

Bye for now,
Bear