Sunday, November 30, 2008

Training Log; 10 6 3 EDI; 3 miles

I just remembered this--Will said that the Russian lunge one I did, I did wrong. It was only supposed to be that jumping lunge during the lunge exercise. Oops. Oh, and he also said that if I'm pressed for time, I shouldn't cut out reps, I should cut out exercises. Note to self. Maybe he'll add it into the new month's work and I'll have a legitimate reason to ask him to explain it.

Today, I ran 3 miles on the treadmill (which I hate) instead of running in the wind and rain (which I hate worse); give me 55* and sun any day, and I'll be one happy chica! 9:35 warmup mile, 8:33 mile 2, 8:33 mile 3. Since I'm focused on trying to use my hamstrings and push into the ground with the ball of my feet, I always feel link I'm going to get shin splints. I'm not sure what the connection is. I do need to get back to the Y to use the foam rollers on my hips/knee/IT band area, though. That will be a good Monday activity.

10 6 3 EDI, 2 sets. I tried to imagine that I was pushing up against someone. Will said yesterday that this girl Hannah (a sprinter in AZ) could push him and another guy while she was doing the hamstring thing (on the glute ham stand). I can't even get myself up off the ground without help from my hands. But he said she's crazy fast, and if I can get my hamstrings stronger I can be crazy fast, too! So that's a good goal--be able to get myself up off the ground on the reps without having to use my hands so much. That and really trying to lengthen the hamstrings while doing lunges. I think I'll start working even harder; I guess I never really connected that I should also be making it hard for him (like during the manual holds), but it would make me work harder to push harder.
  • Lunge: R, L, a 2-minute (or so) break, R, L. I really tried to pull myself into the deepest position possible. It felt like I could go a lot deeper since I had just finished running. Then I was also trying to pop up and down fast; typically, each rep took a second.
  • Wall squat: at least for the second set, I was really trying to keep my lower legs perpendicular to the ground. When I get tired, I have a tendency to push back instead of up, and I could really tell that it was right pushing up and wrong (easier, which I don't want) pushing back.
  • Glute ham raise: I'm curious to see how sore my hamstrings are tomorrow. Also my lower back was sore last time, I think partly from this and partly from the curl. You're not supposed to use your lower back at all on this one, so today I was really trying to keep my core tight and use only my hamstrings and glutes. I was also thinking of doing a hamstring curl instead of just pulling up.
  • Curl: I was definitely focused on keeping my chest up by pulling with my lats (although during my hours in the car this weekend, I was trying to feel this one; I think I'm getting closer to getting this one down). Part of my problem here is that I was to squeeze my shoulders together. That's not correct. The other thing I do is tense up my lower back. I'm not sure the connection there, but that probably played a little into my soreness earlier this week. We'll see how I feel again tomorrow.
  • Crate crunch: didn't do this one.

Thanksgiving 2008; 10 6 3 lunge

Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays. Mostly because it reminds me how much God has done for me and how much He's blessed me, and then partly because it's always the same (tradition!) and we get to see people we typically only see once every year at this time (although this year we got to see the Koks twice since a few of them came to M&M's wedding). Good food, family time, and game time all combine for a wonderful weekend.

Robin, Jason, and I got there Wednesday, and AJudy arrived on Thursday around lunch (which never really happens on Thursday because we know we'll be eating good food relatively early in the afternoon). ALucy had already made a 20-lb turkey, so all we had to do on Thursday (after I ran a few miles) was cook another one (14 lbs) in the roaster and prep a few other things. Mom would always bring meat, cheese, and crackers for snacks, but she wasn't here this year to take care of that so Robin had to cut the cheese while I peeled potatoes. Then we made the corn and gravy and waited for everyone to arrive.

Aunt Lucy has a few aprons, and she let Robin wear this (slightly inappropriate and completely uncharacteristic) apron.

Aunt Judy brought pumpkin chiffon pie (and crawlers, breads, and malts for the family to enjoy later), Maryvon and Angela brought their green bean dish, Gaelle brought pecan pie, Clarence and Carol brought rolls (not nearly enough--they went very quickly and she couldn't believe everyone polished them away), and the Koks (Randy, Marilyn, Stephanie, Katie, and Gavin were the one 5 who came; Arthur and Jo, Brittney and David, and Susan couldn't make it) brought 3-berry tort for dessert. I think we ended up with 4 pies, the tort, cookies, and ice cream for dessert; we should have just had that!

After dinner, which we ate in about 30 minutes, we played games, including the Name Game, Catch Phrase, Cranium, Taboo, Mafia (I sat out of that one; maybe I'll play again next year, but it's definitely not my favorite since it basically requires lying), and Pictionary (a staple).

After the Acheson victory dance, Aunt Judy gave Uncle Ed this prize--the visor has blond hair on it so A) he looks like he has hair and B) he looks like a surfer dude. She's going to make him wear it on the beach in Siesta Key. It was absolutely hilarious!

Friday's tradition is to get up early (even though we're typically up until 1 or so on Thursday) to go shopping. Last year I was the only one who got up (sort of) early, and then only to get new tires on my truck. This year I again woke up early, but I just decided to read and study. We did do a little shopping, but we also just relaxed and did various projects around the house. Jason and UEd put up a railing and worked on some electrical thing, and Judy, R, and I put up the Christmas decorations. We had spaghetti for supper (another tradition) and then watched Monk, Psych, and House (instead of watching a movie) while we enjoyed the malts Judy brought.

Me, Jason, and Uncle Ed putting up the railing; it turned out well, and I was happy to be able to help. Since there are boys in the family now, I've been relegated to the kitchen instead of outside or in the basement.

Saturday I got up early again, but rather than freeze outside I decided to do the Yamuna body rolling (which felt really good, especially on my IT band, hamstrings, and back) and did 10 6 3 EDI lunge. It wasn't quite the same without the manual hold, but I definitely worked hard, since I was sweating and got my HR up (hooray!) after just that.

We hung out at the house, I neglected to even start my project (changing the laser assembly in a printer--it would have been really fun had I gotten to it), we went to Sam's Club, and then I headed toward Evansville for Will's game.

Saturday night, the IceMen played the Battle Creek Revolution. They came out looking like a completely different team than the last time we'd all seen them (the guy behind me concurred). Will had said that they'd played well the last weekend during their away games, and their playing like a team definitely came out during that period. It was 1-0 at the end of the first (Will had an assist for the goal), and then they came out flat (the Revolution had dominated the second period of the last game, too). It was 1-4 at the end of the second (3 quick goals), and although they played better in the third, they still ended the game losing 1-4. Will and Warren played well (Warren did have a few in the crowd upset with him, tho, because a few times he [a defenseman] carried the puck all the way down the ice and never passed; he should have a few times, but some other times he never had anyone to pass it to), but Will hardly played during the third period. He hadn't seemed to notice, tho, because when I mentioned that to him he was surprised (I knew because I was trying to get some pics and didn't succeed). I was actually able to fully enjoy the game because I wasn't thinking about the camera at all, but he might have been disappointed that I didn't take any others.

Will skating; one of my two pictures (the other one is even worse than this one)

Then I drove home, slept in, went to church, ran errands, ran, worked out, talked to the parents and grandparents, and now it's now. Fun weekend! I am glad tomorrow is my day off so I can hopefully clean my house and go through the stuff I brought from Ed and Lucy's house that Mom thinks she'll want. Two boxes of Beanie Babies? They'll be going on ebay. The race information? That I'll take to her. Five stockings? Robin ended up with those (we were thrilled to find them!), but they (and hopefully 2 more made by Allison) will be going to Hawaii with us!

Stockings, lovingly made by Mom back in the day (like when M was an infant); we might have trouble finding matching fabric for the two new ones for the boys in the family!

Thursday, November 27, 2008

Training Log; 4 miles

I'm visiting my aunt and uncle this weekend, so I just decided to do a loop around their neighborhood.
  • Temperature: 35 at start, 40 at finish. Too bad I didn't wait another half hour to start or I would have enjoyed fairly decent temps the whole time. Even still, it only took me about 1.5 miles to warm up; earlier this week, it took 4. We're making progress....
  • Mile 1: 8:06.79
  • Mile 2: 7:53.06
  • Mile 3: 7:39.19
  • Mile 4: 7:50.58
  • Total time: 31:29.62
  • Average mile time: 7:52.50 (two miles: within a second of this time; the other two: 14 seconds and 13 seconds)

I'm really feeling my hamstrings today. So does that mean I've been doing glute ham raises wrong, or I just worked harder yesterday doing the reps to arm's length and having Will there? I wish I could figure out why my mile times are so spread out (difference: ~26 seconds). I know the first mile or so was mostly uphill and warmup, but still. Should there be that much of a difference?

Came home and stretched (definitely stretching the hamstrings). My knee didn't hurt at all today, but I do wish I had a foam roller to loosen it up at all. It's weird, though, that the outsides of both legs (by my knees) are like numb. Not really, because I can still feel them, but they definitely feel weird to the touch.

Wednesday, November 26, 2008

Training Log; 10 10 10 EDI

This song was on my mind today:

O Happy Day

Oh happy day
When Jesus washed
Oh when he washed
He washed my sins away

He taught me how
to watch, fight and pray
fight and pray

Oh happy day, Oh happy day
When Jesus washed
Oh when he washed
He washed my sins away

We´ll live rejoicing
ev´ry day, ev´ry day
Oh happy day, Oh happy day
When Jesus washed
Oh when he washed
He washed my sins away

God is good!

It was a good morning, too, because Will got up early to work out with me! EDI (a good partner exercise); 3x10 seconds with 10 reps after every interval; 2 sets (I forgot to look at last time's run down, and we didn't go in the specified order on my paper, but it was still tough).

  • Lunge: I've gotten better about not leaning so much and about stepping straight. However, I tended to roll on my foot some--I wasn't really pushing into the ground with the whole ball of my front foot. Right leg was worse than left, I think because by the time I got to the second leg I was more aware of how it felt to do it right.
  • Glute ham with reps to arm's length: The second set was better than the first, but my midsection was still lagging behind. I think I was using my arms more than my legs (it's a leg exercise!), as evidenced by my push up performance.
  • Wall squat: For some reason, I really wanted to try to use my arms to help me stand up. I don't remember feeling like that before and was really trying hard not to move my shoulders or anything.
  • Push up: Ugh. This was awful. After the first 10 on my feet, I did the rest on my knees but still couldn't push all the way up. By the last 10 of the last set I could barely push up at all.
  • Curl: No weight on the bar felt super easy, and then Will says that once he did towel curls (like with a towel--no other weight) and after 50 reps he was exhausted. What does that mean? I definitely wasn't using my lats. Using lats: good. Squeezing shoulder blades together: bad. I don't quite have this feeling down yet.
Here's what Will did:

  • Glute hamstring: starting up, going down, and coming back up; 1 rep every 5 seconds for a minute. 2 sets.
  • Squats: 45-lb bar with ~35lb on each side; 1 rep every 5 seconds for a minute. 2 sets. Shins perpendicular to the ground the whole time, sitting back to keep them so.
  • Row: 45-lb bar with ~15lb on each side; 1 rep every 5 seconds for a minute. 2 sets. This was like a bent over row only he was holding the bar; bent at hips, knees slightly bent, chest out, but nothing moved except arms.
  • Rebound/Altitude drop: arms straight out from shoulder; I was only watching and didn't ask, but from what I could tell, on one he was dropping and then catching to pull up, and on the other he was going down and then dropping (5-lb weight, that is) while he was pulling back up? Not quite sure how it really worked, but if I tried it I might understand. Alternate between the two every 5 seconds for 60 seconds (6 times of each); 2 sets.
  • Rebound/Altitude drop: Curl. I guess pretty much the same only curling. Basically it looks like it's either fast up and slow down or fast down and slow up. Alternate between the two every 5 seconds for 60 seconds (6 times of each); 2 sets.

After work, I headed to Decatur to visit the family (R & J, Aunt Judy, Uncle Ed & Aunt Lucy, the Koks, and a few others) for Thanksgiving. The 6-hour drive took me just under 8 thanks to moving 3 miles in 1.5 hours and then having a bunch of traffic after that. But it cleared up later, so it wasn't terrible the whole drive. Then I saw a falling star! It was beautiful! God is amazing in the way that He orchestrates creation and the world; I find it difficult to understand how some people can think that He did create the world but then, like a clockmaker, just wound it up and let it be. In addition, seeing God's creation make me want to worship Him more, not to worship creation (or a creature if the case be so). It didn't do anything to become like it is.

It reminds me of the Israelites and the other cultures around them that made idols and then worshiped the idols. They couldn't do anything; they couldn't speak, see, hear, answer, react, move, or act in any way. They were made by the hands of the people! The one true and living God can do all those things and more, and had shown Himself to them multiple times in more ways than one, yet they rejected Him and moved to something tangible yet mute and dumb. God, I pray that I remember to worship You only and not anything that has been created or dreamed up by man. You are the author of all things, and You alone are worthy of praise and adoration.

Tuesday, November 25, 2008

Training Log; 4 miles, 5 on through 60

It's a good thing I didn't have too many miles planned for today, because I'm rapidly losing daylight in the afternoon and really don't like running in the dark. I am going to have to seriously consider going later to work so I can run in the mornings when it's lighter longer. The only thing is that it's so cold in the afternoon!

Today was 45* and pretty calm.
  • 1.5-mi warmup (7:55.56 [mile 1])
  • 0.5 mi around track (3:24.22)
  • appx. 32 min total
  • 4.30 total mileage

Before and after running I used one of those foam rollers on the outside of both legs. My left knee has been bothering me slightly, and rolling on it killed! Then rolling on my right leg killed, too, so I'm not sure I should be too worried. It didn't really feel tight, so rolling didn't necessarily loosen anything. Maybe I'm just feeling things. The knee didn't really aggravate me while I was running, but I could definitely feel it when I was running counterclockwise around the track.

5 on, 5 off through 60 was the next thing on the list. This one takes forever...remember that!

  • Wall squat: 40 (maybe 45) seconds was the hardest. Then the last few seemed to be easier. This was pretty much the case for all of them.
  • Standing hamstring
  • Lunge: Same thing as with squat--it seemed to get easier after 40. Weird, though: I definitely needed at least 15 seconds between the last few reps because I got really light-headed when I stood. Not sure what was going on there. My legs felt like I could have gone right into the next lunge. Also, some lady tried to talk to me about 30 seconds after I'd finished; people just don't realize that I'm working hard! I made her wait another 30 before I responded, but she was trying to tell me that I'm going to hurt my foot because I step down on the ball of my foot. There was no convincing her that I didn't feel it at all because I was focused on using my big muscles. I think a contributing factor was that my shoes (flats) were really loud on the hard wood floor. She didn't worry me at all with her questioning or personal worries.
  • Push up: 40 seconds again was the hardest. I don't know what my deal was!
  • Preacher curl: Did I do the right one? I get so confused! 30-lb bar, starting up, then lowering for the on, then raising up for the off. The last minute was the hardest. I made it past :40 with no feelings of distress like in the previous ones!
  • Crate crunch: Note to self: squeeze the crate harder!

Then I did the roller thing again. Ouch! I don't think it should hurt that much!

Monday, November 24, 2008

Rest Day Fun and Frustration

Since today is my day off, I decided to spend 11 hours at work (well, 10 if you discount the hour I took for lunch) and then head to the Y. It would have been crazy had my trip to the Y not been for fun: Swing Dancing Class!

Yes, I'm terrible. But hey, the only way I'm going to learn is to let someone teach me and then practice it, right? Hah! Maybe a year down the road I'll be able to hold my own. I am definitely grateful the guy has to lead and I just have to follow. That's not so bad. I think I wouldn't have been as frustrated had we not learned so many steps: the basic (I think I got that one down), the cuddle, the spin and win (I think the teacher was having fun), the shoulder spin (or something like that), and perhaps one more? Yikes. It only ended 30 minutes ago and I can't even remember everything! I guess I'll have to go back for more next time.

Sunday, November 23, 2008

Training Log; 5 miles

Hooray! Today I actually made it outside to run during real daylight (not impending sunset) and it was fairly comfortable (a moderate 50*, compared to the chilly 28* it had been when I awoke). 5 miles (8K), 39:38. Not the best, not the worst. If I can run 26 8-min miles, I'll be just under 3:30 for a marathon!
  • Time--39:38.22
  • Mile 1--7:54.82
  • Mile 2--7:51.60
  • Mile 3--8:03.56
  • Mile 4--8:01.10
  • Mile 5--7:47.14
  • Average HR: 49. I remembered why I hadn't worn my HR monitor in a few weeks!
I think the next thing I need to work on is running not just a good average but consistent mile times. At least according to the Run Less, Run Faster book, I shouldn't have a 16-second spread between the fastest mile and the slowest mile. However, I don't remember where it is so I'll have to look into how much of a difference there should realistically be (hills and wind are a few determining factors); I'm thinking it's somewhere around 5 seconds.

Then I went and swam a 500. I now know why Will tells me I have to do the scap pullup. That's the one that works my swimming muscles! I could definitely feel yesterday's workout during today's swim.

After that I wondered if I could have any more car trouble. So far in the last year:
  1. November: Got new tires for the pickup truck.
  2. January: The clutch in my truck went out. Got that fixed, bought a different (way newer--1995 vs. 2004) car, sold the truck.
  3. Summer 1: Let my battery die while at work; needed a jump. Dumb mistake.
  4. Summer 2 (same week): Locked my keys in my car. Even dumber mistake. Fortunately the windows were down and a coworker and I reached in with a hanger to grab the keys.
  5. Summer 3: While driving to my sister's in New York (maybe 5 hours into the drive in the middle of the night), the car started honking at me and the lights start flashing. This stopped after maybe 30 seconds. I called my dad, and he said not to worry, it did that for him a few times, too. OK.
  6. Friday: Got a flat tire that needed completely replaced. Could have been my fault; that tire's pressure wasn't where it should have been, and it's possible that played into the damage. My company's president changed my flat and put the donut on, then took me to the tire place in the morning and back again in the afternoon. I'm very grateful!
  7. Sunday: Had a weird electrical problem. The check engine light, alarm light, seat belt light, and interior lights were on and wouldn't go off; all other lights and gauges (speedometer and fuel gauge included) were off. Uncle John to the rescue! I (hopefully properly grounded, because there was still electricity being supplied to the dashboard) unplugged the positive battery cable (it made a weird noise and emitted a puff of smoke). When he got home, we plugged the cable back in (by this time, the car had been sitting at least 3 hours) and I started the car. Score! Everything was back to normal! I have no idea what caused the problem; he suggested an electrical short, which sounds good to me. Fortunately the reset was all it took, and hopefully it won't do that again or I'll be worried. I was looking on some PT Cruiser forums, and others' cars would randomly not start or randomly die in the middle of the road. I am grateful my car hasn't caught that bug!
I hate when I need people to help me with things, but I am so thankful to have Uncle John as a resource when my dad is so far away. I can't wait to see my parents in 3.5 weeks!

Saturday, November 22, 2008

Currently thinking about...

...prophecy, visions, dreams, and how to deal with them.

I mentioned in a previous blog how much some people always make me think. (See also this blog, prompted by a conversation with a friend). I recently spent a few days with a friend and his parents, and here I am thinking and writing again.

I grew up in a Christian and Missionary Alliance (C&MA) church, went to a small (mostly nondenominational) Christian grade school and middle school, went to a slightly larger (mostly Christian Reformed) Christian high school, and attended a Baptist college. To say that I’ve been indoctrinated all my life is not an understatement. High school and college years are some of the best formative years when it comes to making your own decision. Usually, until then, your parents tell you what’s right and you believe them. But when you start to mature, you realize that you have to make some decisions on your own and you begin to think through the issues. Then you start to form opinions, talk to friends and other adults about them, do some research (if you’re so inclined), and decide what you believe.

Of course, you can believe whatever you want, but if it’s not true, the belief is unfounded. (For instance, I can believe that there’s no way a train is going to travel on the tracks across Moore’s Lane; after all, I’ve never seen one. But if I’m driving down the road, the barriers come down, and a train crosses the road, I’m wrong. My belief could have been as strong as ever, but I’ve just been proven wrong.) So any beliefs that you form during those formative might be tested and changed later in life based on new information you might gather.

I’m sure I have only been realizing how important those years were in my life over the last few years. I am so much more appreciative of the deep conversations I had with friends during that time and of how much I was able to learn, research, and decide on. I’m also grateful for the teaching I received from some very knowledgeable teachers and professors and the book resources I’ve been able to acquire over the last few years. Those all have helped feed my desire to continue to learn, test what I believe based on the Bible (the standard for truth), and believe what is true.

The latest thing that’s been on my mind has to do with charismatic Christianity. C&MA, Baptist, and Reformed denominations are very conservative, but the issue of prophesying, speaking in tongues, and their related interpretations did come up a few times. I was always far-removed from people who were involved in that type of ministry; I’m sure my only connection to it was based on what I’d seen or heard on TBN and from people like Benny Hinn. (It’s not that I’ve tried to stay away; I love meeting new people! It’s similar to how you don’t know anyone who plays hockey unless you’re at the ice rink, or you don’t know anyone who does synchronized swimming unless you’re at the pool.) But over the past year, I’ve been able to interact a little with people involved in prophetic ministry.

[Let me mention here that whatever you believe about the sign and revelatory gifts will not affect whether you are saved or not. My dad ingrained this saying in us girls: In essentials, unity; in nonessentials, liberty; in all things, charity (which I see is attributed to Augustine and John Wesley). Prophetic ministry is a nonessential.

These are the essentials: Salvation is by grace alone through faith alone in Christ alone. If you believe that because God loved us so much that he sent Jesus, His Son, to live on the earth and teach the truth, to die on the cross to forgive your sins, to rise again, and to dwell in heaven as the only man (though still fully God) to completely conquer death, you will be saved and spend eternity in heaven with Him. If you do not believe that truth and do not accept Him as Lord and Savior, you will spend eternity in hell, separated from God forever.

Although nonessentials are just that when it comes to salvation, they do have an impact on how others perceive Christians.]

I wish I could find a better way to coherently organize this. I realize it seems like a jumble of thoughts and verses, but as I see some verses, I think of others that I want to share and just end up going all over the place. Apologies. I think what I really want to communicate is this: It’s imperative that we know what the Bible says and that we test what others say and do against the standard of the Bible. People claim to be speaking in the name of the Lord and yet are leading the people away from Him. Those and others are dressed as sheep, but they are really wolves. Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light when in fact he is the prince of darkness.

Questions (and some answers [i.e. there will likely be more blogs to come that hopefully will address these issues articulately and rationally]) to contemplate:

  1. Prophecy was big when we didn’t have the Bible; now that we have the revealed and complete word of God, do we need prophetic revelations?
    • Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20–22)
      • In this case, “prophecies” refers to the Scriptures.
      • When Paul wrote to the Thessalonians, they would have had access to the Old Testament.
    • Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully. (1 Peter 1:10–12)
  2. God does speak to His people through prompting and through His word; does He communicate to one person what they should say to another person?
    • Peter had a vision of a sheet and animals; God told him they were acceptable to eat because He had cleansed them. At the same time, Cornelius had been praying and received a vision that his prayer had been heard. (Acts 10)
    • Paul was prohibited from traveling because of God’s word. (Romans 1, Acts 21:11–14, James 4:13–14
    • Saul sees a light from heaven, believes, becomes Paul, and Ananias (who heard from the Lord in a vision) ministered to and baptized him. (Acts 9)
    • Joseph and Mary were told to go to Egypt to save Jesus. (Matthew 2)
    • Hosea was directed by the Lord who to take as his wife. (Hosea 1:2)
  3. How do we test/discern the spirits? How do we know whether what someone tells us is from the Lord actually is? (1 John 4:1–3)
    • When a prophet speaks in the name of LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken. (Deuteronomy 18: 15–22)
    • Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God. (1 John 4:1–6)
    • Every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. (1 John 4:1–6)
    • To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins. (Acts 10:42–43)
    • They received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. (Acts 17:10–12)
    • Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. (1 Thessalonians 5:20–22)
    • Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully. (1 Peter 1:10–12)
    • Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15–20)
    • For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)
    • If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them. (Isaiah 8:19–20)
    • If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6–9)
    • Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. (Matthew 24:11–14)
  4. How do we discern the truth in our own lives? Let’s say we have a dream about something that ends up coming true (a friend had a dream about someone in a wheelchair; he ended up in a wheelchair after a basketball incident/accident); can we determine that it came from God? (Deuteronomy 18: 15–22)
    • Kings and prophets often saw visions and dreams that needed interpretation. (Daniel 2, 3, 7, 8, 10; Zephaniah)
    • Joseph dreamed that he would rule his brothers; he also interpreted dreams of others. (Genesis 37, 40, 41)
    • Saul sees a light from heaven, believes, becomes Paul, and Ananias (who heard from the Lord in a vision) ministered to and baptized him. (Acts 9)
  5. We can know it’s true if God is glorified through it; Satan and demons will not do something that brings glory to God. (Deuteronomy 13:1–5)
  6. Can we ever lower our guard? NO! Satan and his cohorts will appear like true prophets; one of their main deceptive tactics is to make us think that what they tell us is the truth.
    • For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. (Acts 20:28–31)
    • Then if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Look, He is there!” do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. (Mark 13:21–23)
    • Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. (Matthew 7:15–20)
    • For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works. (2 Corinthians 11:13–15)
    • But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. (2 Corinthians 11:3–4)
    • If anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed. (Galatians 1:6–9)
    • For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ. (Jude 1:3–4)
  7. What will the coming Prophet be like? (Deuteronomy 18:15–22, Acts 3:22–24)

Bible passages from the previous points (not including points 2 and 4), listed in order of appearance in the Bible:

  • Deuteronomy 13:1–5 If there arises among you a prophet or a dreamer of dreams, and he gives you a sign or a wonder, and the sign or the wonder comes to pass, of which he spoke to you, saying, “Let us go after other gods”—which you have not known—”and let us serve them,” you shall not listen to the words of that prophet or that dreamer of dreams, for the LORD your God is testing you to know whether you love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul. You shall walk after the LORD your God and fear Him, and keep His commandments and obey His voice; you shall serve Him and hold fast to Him. But that prophet or that dreamer of dreams shall be put to death, because he has spoken in order to turn you away from the LORD your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt and redeemed you from the house of bondage, to entice you from the way in which the LORD your God commanded you to walk. So you shall put away the evil from your midst.
  • Deuteronomy 18:15–22 The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your midst, from your brethren. Him you shall hear, according to all you desired of the LORD your God in Horeb in the day of the assembly, saying, “Let me not hear again the voice of the LORD my God, nor let me see this great fire anymore, lest I die.” And the LORD said to me: “What they have spoken is good. I will raise up for them a Prophet like you from among their brethren, and will put My words in His mouth, and He shall speak to them all that I command Him. And it shall be that whoever will not hear My words, which He speaks in My name, I will require it of him. But the prophet who presumes to speak a word in My name, which I have not commanded him to speak, or who speaks in the name of other gods, that prophet shall die.” And if you say in your heart, “How shall we know the word which the LORD has not spoken?” — when a prophet speaks in the name of the LORD, if the thing does not happen or come to pass, that is the thing which the LORD has not spoken; the prophet has spoken it presumptuously; you shall not be afraid of him.
  • Isaiah 8:19–20 And when they say to you, “Seek those who are mediums and wizards, who whisper and mutter,” should not a people seek their God? Should they seek the dead on behalf of the living? To the law and to the testimony! If they do not speak according to this word, it is because there is no light in them.
  • Matthew 7:15–20 Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravenous wolves. You will know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes from thornbushes or figs from thistles? Even so, every good tree bears good fruit, but a bad tree bears bad fruit. A good tree cannot bear bad fruit, nor can a bad tree bear good fruit. Every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down and thrown into the fire. Therefore by their fruits you will know them.
  • Matthew 24:11–14 Then many false prophets will rise up and deceive many. And because lawlessness will abound, the love of many will grow cold. But he who endures to the end shall be saved. And this gospel of the kingdom will be preached in all the world as a witness to all the nations, and then the end will come.
  • Mark 13:21–23 Then if anyone says to you, “Look, here is the Christ!” or, “Look, He is there!” do not believe it. For false christs and false prophets will rise and show signs and wonders to deceive, if possible, even the elect. But take heed; see, I have told you all things beforehand.
  • Acts 3:22–24 For Moses truly said to the fathers, “The LORD your God will raise up for you a Prophet like me from your brethren. Him you shall hear in all things, whatever He says to you. And it shall be that every soul who will not hear that Prophet shall be utterly destroyed from among the people.” Yes, and all the prophets, from Samuel and those who follow, as many as have spoken, have also foretold these days.
  • Acts 10:42–43 And He commanded us to preach to the people, and to testify that it is He who was ordained by God to be Judge of the living and the dead. To Him all the prophets witness that, through His name, whoever believes in Him will receive remission of sins.
  • Acts 17:10–12 Then the brethren immediately sent Paul and Silas away by night to Berea. When they arrived, they went into the synagogue of the Jews. These were more fair-minded than those in Thessalonica, in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily to find out whether these things were so. Therefore many of them believed, and also not a few of the Greeks, prominent women as well as men.
  • Acts 20:28–31 Therefore take heed to yourselves and to all the flock, among which the Holy Spirit has made you overseers, to shepherd the church of God which He purchased with His own blood. For I know this, that after my departure savage wolves will come in among you, not sparing the flock. Also from among yourselves men will rise up, speaking perverse things, to draw away the disciples after themselves. Therefore watch, and remember that for three years I did not cease to warn everyone night and day with tears.
  • 2 Corinthians 11:3–4 But I fear, lest somehow, as the serpent deceived Eve by his craftiness, so your minds may be corrupted from the simplicity that is in Christ. For if he who comes preaches another Jesus whom we have not preached, or if you receive a different spirit which you have not received, or a different gospel which you have not accepted—you may well put up with it!
  • 2 Corinthians 11:13–15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ. And no wonder! For Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light. Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also transform themselves into ministers of righteousness, whose end will be according to their works.
  • Galatians 1:6–9 I marvel that you are turning away so soon from Him who called you in the grace of Christ, to a different gospel, which is not another; but there are some who trouble you and want to pervert the gospel of Christ. But even if we, or an angel from heaven, preach any other gospel to you than what we have preached to you, let him be accursed. As we have said before, so now I say again, if anyone preaches any other gospel to you than what you have received, let him be accursed.
  • Ephesians 6:10–13 Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil. For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age, against spiritual hosts of wickedness in the heavenly places. Therefore take up the whole armor of God, that you may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.
  • Colossians 1:9–14 For this reason we also, since the day we heard it, do not cease to pray for you, and to ask that you may be filled with the knowledge of His will in all wisdom and spiritual understanding; that you may walk worthy of the Lord, fully pleasing Him, being fruitful in every good work and increasing in the knowledge of God; strengthened with all might, according to His glorious power, for all patience and longsuffering with joy; giving thanks to the Father who has qualified us to be partakers of the inheritance of the saints in the light. He has delivered us from the power of darkness and conveyed us into the kingdom of the Son of His love, in whom we have redemption through His blood, the forgiveness of sins.
  • 1 Thessalonians 5:20–22 Do not despise prophecies. Test all things; hold fast what is good. Abstain from every form of evil.
  • 1 Peter 1:10–12 Of this salvation the prophets have inquired and searched carefully, who prophesied of the grace that would come to you, searching what, or what manner of time, the Spirit of Christ who was in them was indicating when He testified beforehand the sufferings of Christ and the glories that would follow. To them it was revealed that, not to themselves, but to us they were ministering the things which now have been reported to you through those who have preached the gospel to you by the Holy Spirit sent from heaven—things which angels desire to look into.
  • 1 John 4:1–6 Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God; because many false prophets have gone out into the world. By this you know the Spirit of God: Every spirit that confesses that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is of God, and every spirit that does not confess that Jesus Christ has come in the flesh is not of God. And this is the spirit of the Antichrist, which you have heard was coming, and is now already in the world. You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world. They are of the world. Therefore they speak as of the world, and the world hears them. We are of God. He who knows God hears us; he who is not of God does not hear us. By this we know the spirit of truth and the spirit of error.
  • Jude 1:3–4 Beloved, while I was very diligent to write to you concerning our common salvation, I found it necessary to write to you exhorting you to contend earnestly for the faith which was once for all delivered to the saints. For certain men have crept in unnoticed, who long ago were marked out for this condemnation, ungodly men, who turn the grace of our God into lewdness and deny the only Lord God and our Lord Jesus Christ.
  • Revelation 21:22–27 But I saw no temple in it, for the Lord God Almighty and the Lamb are its temple. The city had no need of the sun or of the moon to shine in it, for the glory of God illuminated it. The Lamb is its light. And the nations of those who are saved shall walk in its light, and the kings of the earth bring their glory and honor into it. Its gates shall not be shut at all by day (there shall be no night there). And they shall bring the glory and the honor of the nations into it. But there shall by no means enter it anything that defiles, or causes an abomination or a lie, but only those who are written in the Lamb’s Book of Life.

A short summary is this: whether people are currently prophesying, hearing from God, claiming to speak in His name, and receiving revelations and dreams today or not, our responsibility as believers is to know the Word. We must take everything we hear and measure it against the standard that God has given to us. No one can add anything to or remove anything from the Holy Bible, God’s loving, gracious, personal revelation to us.

  • Deuteronomy 4:2 You shall not add to the word which I command you, nor take away from it, that you may keep the commandments of the Lord your God which I command you.
  • Deuteronomy 12:32 Whatever I command you, be careful to observe it; you shall not add to it nor take away from it.
  • Proverbs 30:6 Do not add to his words, lest He rebuke you, and you be found a liar.
  • Jeremiah 26:2 Thus says the Lord: "Stand in the court of the Lord’s house, and speak to all the cities of Judah, which come to worship in the Lord’s house, all the words that I command you to speak to them. Do not diminish a word."
  • Revelation 22:18–19 For I testify to everyone who hears the words of the prophecy of this book: If anyone adds to these things, God will add to him the plagues that are written in this book; and if anyone takes away from the words of the book of this prophecy, God shall take away his part from the Book of Life, from the holy city, and from the things which are written in this book.

References:
The MacArthur Study Bible, New King James Version; Thomas Nelson, Inc.; Nashville, TN, 1997.
Napier, John; Charismatic Challenge: Four Key Questions; Providence House Publishers; Franklin, TN; 1995.

Training Log; 5-min ISOs; 3.5 miles

Even though it's the weekend and I had all day of daylight to go out and run, I ended up at the Y after the sun went down since I was less than motivated to run outside when it was freezing. But since I was on a treadmill, I could actually watch my pace and increase incrementally. It wasn't the 6 miles that my tempo runs are supposed to be currently, but I did what I had time for. Starting at 9:13 pace, I added 0.1 mph per quarter mile until the last 5 minutes, when I added 0.1 mph per minute. I ended up at 7:43 pace. 3.5 mi, 29:55. It was just a warmup for my 5-min ISOs!
  • Scapular pullup: I used the pullup/dip thing where you can stand on the foothold and have it take weight off for you. I had the lever in #12, which I think aided me 64 lb. I finished the 5 minutes and during that time did maybe 5 pullups. I think I liked doing it this way because then I knew I was actually holding myself correctly. When I do it on my pullup bar, for instance, I don't feel like I can do a pullup from the position I'm in. I'll see how I feel tomorrow and will then know whether I did it differently!
  • Curl: started with 10-lb dumbbells, but after 1:30 I knew I wouldn't be able to do that all. I wish we had 8lb ones! So I quit with those and grabbed the 5lbs, started over, and did the whole 5 minutes.
  • Standing ham: Doing this in front of a mirror is good because then I can make sure my legs are completely straight. I think this one is getting easier, which means there has to be a way I can work harder when doing it.
  • Lunge: Right leg--2:15; Left leg--1:35. This one is not getting any easier! However, I was really trying not to lean to one side or the other OR to lean forward (but I was trying to keep my torso erect). Ay! So many things to remember!
  • Wall squat: 3 min. The last 2 minutes were so hard! Maybe I am working harder on the lunge than I think I am.
  • Crate crunch: 5 min.
I really like the weekend, especially after this week, when I was at work late 3 of the 5 days, missed helping at church because my 25-min drive took 90 min one day, got a flat tire, and had 2 days of discouraging meetings at work. So today I cleaned, did all my laundry, spent some time in the kitchen, cleaned my car, ran some errands, and did not much else. Fantastic!

Thursday, November 20, 2008

Training Log; 10x30 sec; 10K

Based on yesterday's and today's runs, I'm thinking about taking 10 days off every couple days and then getting back out running (not seriously, though). Today felt great. I ran the 10K MFY loop (counter clockwise this time so I could actually enjoy the sunset). 10K recorded dates and times:
  • Sept 14 - 51:08
  • Sept 19 - 49:33
  • Sept 30 - 48:13
  • Oct 30 - 47+ min (tempo run)
  • Nov 4 - 48:39
  • Nov 20 - 45:25
Evidently October wasn't a productive 10K month!

My most recent fastest 5K time is 22:30. Doubled, that would be 45 min. So either I really am an endurance runner or I should be able to run a 5K faster (I pretty much felt like I could keep up that pace for a marathon). I didn't split miles, only every 2, and each interval was approximately 15:05-15:10. So each 2-mile split was very consistent. Average mile time: 7:34. If I could lower that time by a minute per mile I'll be happy. Good thing I have a few years to hit my goal!

According to my Run Less, Run Faster book, my 5K time has me finishing a marathon in 3:38:57; my 10K time has me finishing a marathon in 3:31:00. The farther the distance, the more accurate the projection. Boston is certainly looking attainable!

Then I had to do the real workout (what's probably actually helping me run faster).
  • Lunge: 2+ minutes on right leg, barely :30 on left leg. Ugh. Someday I'd like to be able to do this whole thing without having to take any weight off. But I know I was focused more on pulling into the deepest position possible, so I really was making myself work harder. Will says it gets easier in one sense but then it gets harder because you realize you can work harder.
  • Glute ham raise: I actually lifted the weight bench I was using! That made me feel strong and like I was actually doing something right!
  • Wall squat: Last week I did this entire 5 minutes without hitting the ground at all (granted it wasn't after a run); today I made it 3+ minutes, and the last 1+ were crazy hard!
  • Push up: Did this on my knees and really focused on not shrugging or taking a split second before pushing up. It probably helped that this wasn't with a partner, but I was actually able to push up all the way on all but one.
  • Altitude drop curl: 15-lb bar. I still don't have this one down. I can't move my arms fast enough to let go of the bar, drop and raise my hands, and then catch the bar. It always falls! Definitely going to have to practice that! I didn't want to do more weight because of the drop, but 15 lb wasn't enough for the hold part, especially since I had no partner.
  • Crate crunch: just took a second off between each interval. The further into the 5 minutes, the more I feel like I'm using everything rather than just my lower abs. I guess that's good?
On a completely different note, I found out that MFY offers swing and ballroom dancing classes 3 days a week at times I can actually make it to! I'm definitely going to have to look into those so I can learn! Some day I'll get all the coordination down.

Team Updates

Next year I'll be riding for Team Harpeth Bicycles and tri-ing for Team Global Motorsports. It should be interesting. Harpeth wanted us to commit to doing 8 of the 15 local events, and then we'd get a nicer discount at the shop. However, they want people on the team getting there name out there, so they had another commitment level of 5 mass starts. That's the one I chose. Although I'll do more than 8 bike races, they won't all be road/TTs and most of them will be the local NashvilleCyclist.com crits in Nashville, which don't count toward the 8 of 15 (they were listed on the contract; of the 15, I did maybe 5 of them last year).

It will be exciting to race with Laura and Kelly next year (Kat and Lark weren't there; they might just be focusing on tris), and perhaps Tony and Maggie if I can get a hold of them. It will be even more exciting to race against Lisa and Marsha. They'll be on the same team, and both will cat up to III next year. I decided to stay as Cat IV and will hopefully do well in the state standings (I ended up 6th in the state this year behind at least 3 people who have catted up, and that was scoring points in a total of 8 races when 15 are allowed, and they take your best 15 results). They'll be some good competition in the crits, but otherwise I won't be competing against them much. One of my goals is to defend my crown from last year; I like having a tiara in the house!

Lisa, me, and Beth (both will cat up) after the awards ceremony

We had our tri team meeting this week. Leslie and I were the only two women, but triathlon is an individual sport, so I don't mind that there aren't many women to race with. I likely won't be training with any of the team anyway. We'll be provided tri kits, cycling kits, and a podium shirt. We're also supposed to get really good deals on cars if we need them. They also asked for 8 races, but they basically just want up to represent and race well in the local races. I think I can handle that. Hopefully my kit fits this year so I can actually wear it!

Promises

The Bible is full of promises, and God has fulfilled some and will fulfill all the rest. If we are His children, we can claim His promises. I ran across these today and had to share them (emphasis added). This is Ezekiel 36:8-38. I know it's a long passage, but it's so uplifting!

8-12 "But you, O mountains of Israel, will produce branches and fruit for my people Israel, for they will soon come home. I am concerned for you and will look on you with favor; you will be plowed and sown, and I will multiply the number of people upon you, even the whole house of Israel. The towns will be inhabited and the ruins rebuilt. I will increase the number of men and animals upon you, and they will be fruitful and become numerous. I will settle people on you as in the past and will make you prosper more than before. Then you will know that I am the LORD. I will cause people, my people Israel, to walk upon you. They will possess you, and you will be their inheritance; you will never again deprive them of their children"

13-15 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Because people say to you, 'You devour men and deprive your nation of its children,' therefore you will no longer devour men or make your nation childless," declares the Sovereign LORD. "No longer will I make you hear the taunts of the nations, and no longer will you suffer the scorn of the peoples or cause your nation to fall," declares the Sovereign LORD.

16-21 Again the word of the LORD came to me: "Son of man, when the people of Israel were living in their own land, they defiled it by their conduct and their actions. Their conduct was like a woman's monthly uncleanness in my sight. So I poured out my wrath on them because they had shed blood in the land and because they had defiled it with their idols. I dispersed them among the nations, and they were scattered through the countries; I judged them according to their conduct and their actions. And wherever they went among the nations they profaned my holy name, for it was said of them, 'These are the LORD's people, and yet they had to leave his land.' I had concern for my holy name, which the house of Israel profaned among the nations where they had gone."

22-23 Therefore say to the house of Israel, "This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "It is not for your sake, O house of Israel, that I am going to do these things, but for the sake of my holy name, which you have profaned among the nations where you have gone. I will show the holiness of my great name, which has been profaned among the nations, the name you have profaned among them. Then the nations will know that I am the LORD,' declares the Sovereign LORD, 'when I show myself holy through you before their eyes.

24-32 "'For I will take you out of the nations; I will gather you from all the countries and bring you back into your own land. I will sprinkle clean water on you, and you will be clean; I will cleanse you from all your impurities and from all your idols. I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh. And I will put my Spirit in you and move you to follow my decrees and be careful to keep my laws. You will live in the land I gave your forefathers; you will be my people, and I will be your God. I will save you from all your uncleanness. I will call for the grain and make it plentiful and will not bring famine upon you. I will increase the fruit of the trees and the crops of the field, so that you will no longer suffer disgrace among the nations because of famine. Then you will remember your evil ways and wicked deeds, and you will loathe yourselves for your sins and detestable practices. I want you to know that I am not doing this for your sake,' declares the Sovereign LORD. 'Be ashamed and disgraced for your conduct, O house of Israel!'"

33-36 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "On the day I cleanse you from all your sins, I will resettle your towns, and the ruins will be rebuilt. The desolate land will be cultivated instead of lying desolate in the sight of all who pass through it. They will say, 'This land that was laid waste has become like the garden of Eden; the cities that were lying in ruins, desolate and destroyed, are now fortified and inhabited.' Then the nations around you that remain will know that I the LORD have rebuilt what was destroyed and have replanted what was desolate. I the LORD have spoken, and I will do it."

37-38 This is what the Sovereign LORD says: "Once again I will yield to the plea of the house of Israel and do this for them: I will make their people as numerous as sheep, as numerous as the flocks for offerings at Jerusalem during her appointed feasts. So will the ruined cities be filled with flocks of people. Then they will know that I am the LORD."

Amazing! God is so good!

Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Training Log; 4 miles

Today ended my 10-day streak of no running. I don't know why, but I just really felt like I needed some time off. And I didn't feel bad about it at all, either. But today I decided to get back out on the road and felt great.
  • Total mileage: 4
  • Total time: 30:41.37 (30.683)
  • Average mile time: 7:40 (7.67)
  1. 7:55.08 (7.912)
  2. 7:31.48 (7.512)
  3. 7:39.12 (7.65)
  4. 7:35.69 (7.58)

I felt great the entire run (granted I wasn't pushing AT ALL!) and actually felt like I was doing everything correctly. I focused on running style, intentionally lifting and lowering my legs and pushing into the ground with the balls of my feet, and I really tried to use my big muscles. It felt really fluid and I wasn't at all uncomfortable. I don't think I kept my chest up the whole time (which I realized after), so I'll definitely need to work on that next time. But still, for not having done anything for 10 days, I'm pretty happy!

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

3x30sec heavy, 5x30sec with lunge

Yesterday was day number 4 without any workout of any sort (besides 1 or 2 pull ups, I did nothing!). It felt wonderful not to have to worry about getting a ride, run, or swim in, and a weekend with friends was well-spent. But today I had to hit the gym again. Since I didn't do everything that was prescribed last week, I started week 2 over again. I didn't mind, though; weights are my favorite!
  • Scapular pull up: 25lb. Some guy named Tony let me use his wrist straps; I'm going to invest in a set. They made it so much easier! I actually used the bar where your arms are directly above your head, and my hands kept slipping off the "grips" (especially on the first 30 sec, before Tony stepped in). The weird thing is that I don't think that I could actually pull myself up from that hanging position. I'm not sure if that's normal or not.
  • Dip: no weight. I'm definitely getting better at this one; I'm really trying to do it right and make myself work the whole time. Hopefully I'm getting stronger!
  • Curl: 50-lb bar. I could hold the weight, but I could curl it up. I'm not sure if I'm supposed to be able to...guess I'd better find out (I think I'll have a lot of questions at the end of today).
  • Crate crunch: 35-lb plate.
  • Standing ham: 40lb.
  • Lunge right and left: heavy bar + 20lb per side (+5 on each side since last time). Definitely getting better--I was way more balanced (the bar wasn't hitting the sides and back like it normally does) and I could actually stand up at the end of each interval without having to drop the bar. I still feel restricted in that little area, but I'd much rather have the safety net.
  • Wall squat: 25-lb dumbbells.

After that workout I went to work, where I sat in a meeting all day with a nonnative speaker who tried to tell me I don't know my language because he feels differently when he hears things (but when I go by "feeling" I'm wrong because it's not his way). Yeah, not fun meetings. In the middle of the day I asked for another workout so I could have some release in the afternoon. I was supposed to run but figured I wouldn't have time to get outside while it was still light (and I didn't because of a later meeting), so I wanted something else to do. I was supposed to do 10x30sec with lunges after each rep, but I cut it in half so I could be done at a fairly reasonable time.

I was told to do a lunge in the deepest position possible, followed by a Russian lunge (RL) after each rep. To do an RL, you're supposed to jump as high as possible from the lunge position and land back in the lunge position. Now, that made sense when going from a lunge, but when I got to the other exercises, I wondered whether I was supposed to do a lunge again or the same exercise just popping up and down from there. I determined that I would do 2 lunges (R then L) and decided that if it was wrong, at least I'd do every lunge right (so a couple times I had to redo the lunge to make sure I wasn't leaning or off balance in any way).

  • Lunge: 5 times, with 1 RL after each 30-sec interval; then repeat with the next leg after completing the full set.
  • Glute ham: 5 times, 2 RLs (right let, then left leg) after each interval.
  • Wall squat: 5 times, 2 RLs. This one was harder than I'd anticipated (not the lunges but the actual wall squat).
  • Push up: 5 times, push up all the way, 2 RLs (push up was to be done on knees; I never have trouble following that directive!).
  • Standing curl: 5 times, 2 RLs. I started with the heavy bar (in our weight room here) but had to switch to 15-lb dumbbells for the last 2 sets. I had already done this one with 50lb (my heaviest) this morning and just could not handle the 45-lb bar.

So I didn't run at all, but the workout felt great; just expending some energy in a quiet room that I had to myself to do my crazy exercises was nice!

Sunday, November 16, 2008

Weekend Excursions: Saturday

Saturday's summary: wake up early;p eat breakfast made by the ladies in the office at my complex; try to nap; drive to Evansville with Allison; join Will, Warren, Bill, and Nancy for dinner; watch Will's game; drive home.

After Friday's game, I was so excited to go back on Saturday. Forget that I hadn't gotten much sleep, or that I was going to have put 700 miles on my car before the weekend was over. I would get to watch another game, spend time with the Roberts clan (all of whom I love), hang out with Allison all day, and basically just have fun.

The drive was uneventful. I loved being able to chat with Allison; I will be very sad when she goes back home, but I will hopefully be able to visit her a few times. I hate that all my good friends keep moving away! We joined the Roberts family and Warren for dinner at Olive Garden. Will is seriously like my brother, and so I feel at home with his family. They all love the Lord; they are my brothers and sister, and they make me feel like part of their family. They show their love for others in their faces; I pray that I demonstrate that love to others as well. Warren I didn't know much before, but felt like I'd known him forever, too. If I were still in high school and hung out with people all the time like I did then, they would probably be some of my best friends (not like Will isn't now, but he's just not around much). I just love their personalities, their drive to succeed and to please God, and their focus. That's one reason I love working out with Will: he makes me do it right (because I want to) and pushes me hard to focus. He's a great role model; whatever he does, he does his best. I pray that whatever I do, I do with all my heart and to the glory of God, and that those who watch what I do know that I do it for an audience of One.

Plus the Roberts family makes me think. They are involved in so much that is focused on making other people better and glorifying the Lord, and I in comparison am involved in very little that I think really makes a difference to those around me. Most of what I do is self-centered, and I don't always use the gifts God has given me to encourage the body and build others up. Probably without realizing it, this family is going to make me better. I don't want ever to lose Will as a friend and thus lose his influence and the influence of his parents. They make me think critically, test the spirits, and dive into the Word, as well. More to come on that later; I can't wait to blog on it, but it's going to be a super long composition!

Saturday's dinner made me feel like part of a family again. I mean, I know I am a part of my own family, but my parents are so far away. With them, I could just relax and enjoy some great conversation. Did I mention that I love them all?

Allison and I headed over to the mall after dinner and found some great deals at Old Navy; that was worth the freezing cold walk across the parking lot--it was much colder than I'd anticipated! Then we went to the game, actually arriving early enough to watch them warm up and chat with Bill and Nancy. We'd communicated about the tickets beforehand, so they were actually at the front office waiting for us. We explored the building a little and then sat in the cold arena.

Saturday's game was against the Battle Creek Revolution. They never mentioned the attendance, but it didn't look quite as well-attended as Friday's game; there was actually room to breathe in our section, but there were people standing around the edges of the bleacher area. The game was not as consumed by fights, either, and the Icemen as a team were actually more fun to watch; they came out with intensity right away and a few looked like they were trying to play as a team.

The starters (Warren in the middle, Will on the far right)

During the game, Will and Warren played really well. Warren ended with a point (an assist), and Will had 2 penalty minutes (better than the 9 from the day before) and some good ice time. I don't think he played as much as on Friday, and I think the team hurt from it. However, the team won 3-2!

Will in motion...he's almost too fast for the camera!

The refs were the same, and they still let the other team argue too much. However, they did make more calls. In the second period, the Icemen were on the power play (5-on-3 and 5-on-4) for at least 5 consecutive minutes (unfortunately they did not get 1 shot on goal that entire time). In the one major fight (just between two people), #11 (Icemen) knocked a Revolution into the goal post; he ended up being taken to the hospital, probably for stitches and to check for a concussion. It was at this point that Nancy mentioned that for one team Will was on, she was like the team ambulance and would usually end up taking 5 guys to the hospital and sit in the ER with them for the night because whatever league he was in was so rough. I don't know that this one will be much better, at least if the Shooters keep playing like they did on Friday night (Will said they play them 19 times during the season; I guess that's what happens when there are only 4 teams in your league).

The team at center ice after the win; they were more excited Saturday than Friday, but still weren't all that enthusiastic

The Icemen came out ahead, 3-2, and skated to center ice to thank the crowd. It was interesting to watch Warren try to encourage the guys to skate into the middle together faster (I couldn't hear what he was saying, but that's what his facial expression communicated). He (captain) and Will (assistant captain) will make good leaders on the ice, at least based on what I've seen of their play, and I have no doubt that if the guys want a leader off the ice, Warren and Will will do a good job (Warren did say that he'd led practice that day).

Will on the wall

This pic didn't really fit anywhere else, but I wanted to get it in. He was just spectating during a down time; I think he was ready to play! A few other notes: Will's stick was broken during the game; who knew they cost $150 each? Warren and a few other guys came out to talk to the crowd after the game (I wish I could have gotten a pic with him in his jersey!) and talked to us. I think the coach got that part right; the group that was still there was happy to see some of the players, and it's good PR for them. Plus how great would it be if there were scouts out there, and when seeing them come out they had a chance to pick up Will and Warren? (Personally, I think they should move up quickly; they both have a lot of skill, game sense, and experience, and it showed during both games.)

After the game, we waited on the guys, Bill took a pic of us (which I hope to get and post) and he and Nancy left, and we went to eat with Will, Warren, and their friend and teammate (#19) Jason. It was refreshing just to get to hang out for an hour or so, listening to them talk and learning about them. Allison carried on a lot better conversation than I, especially since most of the talk centered on movies and TV shows, but I love to listen and learn. Finally we headed home, arriving at 3 or so. What a sleep-deprived weekend but so much fun!

When I do this again (I definitely will be watching as many games as I can--I love spending time with those guys and Will's parents!), I will not be driving back and forth both days. I'll crash somewhere in Evansville. The 8-pm start time seems pretty late, but the arena is used by other skaters as well, so maybe it's the only time that works. This time, I took them some cookies (Renee's recipe) and some good chocolate milk. I wonder what I can take next time that will be a little healthier but will still make them all happy? Someday soon I'll have to learn the names and numbers of the guys on the team so I can cheer for them as a team rather than just Will and Warren. 'Course if I do that, I'll know more than Will; he said they're only skating twice a week and therefore don't even really know all their own teammates! How different pro sports are from college sports! They will be traveling in 15-passenger vans, though, so if he doesn't learn their names then I'll start worrying even more about the coach!

It was so nice getting to spend some time with Allison (even though she slept most of the drive home!). We had some good conversation, and she's another one who makes me think a lot. It helps that we both go to the same church and are able to talk about what we've been learning and doing with what we've been learning. Me: not much; her: tons! So convicting. I'm going to miss this girl a ton when she moves.
  • Friday: loss
  • Saturday: win
  • Don't miss exit onto 41/68/whatever it is off 24
  • From whatever it is onto 24, the route has changed; just keep following the parkway even when it ends
  • Tickets are $6 and worth it
  • There and back: 5:10-5:20, 350 miles, and approximately 15 gallons of gas
  • Arena: cold! It's definitely not like Sommet and is more like a home-town ice skating rink with bleachers.

Saturday, November 15, 2008

Weekend Excursions: Friday

Friday's summary: drive to Swonder Arena (that took forever!) in Evansville, watch the Icemen home opener! (an unfortunately loss), chat with Will and his parents, drive home (all with 3 freshman boys).

This weekend was one of the quickest, busiest, most fun weekends in a while (besides my sister's visit earlier this year, and at least since the racing season ended, that is). I had the chance to go to the Evansville Icemen's home opener on Friday night and then to their next game on Saturday night. This got long, so I only recapped Friday here.

I had planned to go for sure on Saturday but was still debating about Friday. Then I decided to go and called my cousin Luke to see if he wanted to join me and invite a couple friends (Luke knows Will through D1, and I figured he'd enjoy the trip). He said yes, so Luke, Abe, Morgan, and I headed out toward Evansville at 4pm on Friday afternoon (game time: 8pm; projected drive time: 2.5-2.75 hours). I knew it would be a fun trip when Renee said, "You're a brave woman [for taking 3 freshman boys on this long of a trip]." We stopped for supper about half an hour from Nashville and hit the road after about 30 minutes, only to make it approximately 30 more minutes before we sat on the highway, car off, for 26 minutes. Then we slowly started moving.

The GPS estimates my arrival time, and it kept saying we would arrive around 7:30. So even with the two stops, I figured we'd be OK. Then I missed an exit. Ugh. I had the sound off and was listening to the boys and not paying attention. Stupid mistake! (I turned the sound up after that!) It rerouted me (once down a dead end road) and I flew the rest of the way; I absolutely DID NOT want to miss the game! But thinking back to our sitting on the highway, I thank God that we stopped to eat when we did, because who knows but that we would have been closer to the accident (which I noticed later had been a car or bus fire) and perhaps involved. God is good, especially when we have our plans that might not be working as we'd hoped.

We finally arrived at the arena at 7:59 (no thanks to the rain slowing me down!) and went to get our tickets, which Will said would be at the front. This is the first season for the Icemen, and this was their first game and their home opener. They were playing the Chi-Town Shooters. The attendance was 1,212 (which they said was a record. No kidding.) and the crowd was intense!

Our tickets, which we could use again since they aren't dated

No tickets! His parents were there, and I knew that they'd picked them up and gone in, but I didn't know how I was going to get in to find them and tell them that they had our tickets! So we walked in, and a staffer and his wife gave us 4 tickets. Thanks! I found Bill and Nancy, we sat down, and they dropped the puck. We made it there for the opening faceoff, which Will was a part of (he took most of the faceoffs when he was in the game, which was often; if I had to guess, I'd say he had the most ice time besides the goalie and perhaps Warren; but then again, they're probably the two best players on the team and the captains).

Will winning a faceoff

I still am learning about hockey, but this game was one of the most exciting games I've been to (granted it was only game #3). There were so many fights. Everyone was intense, hitting, and playing hard. It wasn't hard to tell, however, that the Icemen weren't playing too well as a team. Warren is the captain, and Will the assistant captain, and it was interesting to watch them try to lead the team and play their best on the ice. I'd never seen either of them skate and had only met Warren once before, but I know Will and how he aims to be the best at everything he does. So to see him out there with teammates who just weren't trying (analyst Luke said he could tell which of the guys were trying and which were just out there; it was evident especially when one, Will for example, would skate toward and with the puck, and then another would look behind him to see where the defender was and try only to keep the defender away, not to handle the puck and aim for the goal.

Will doing what he does best: sprinting and hustling

The refereeing left a lot to be desired. To us, the ref looked like he was 12 and the line judges looked lost; they kept getting in the way of the skaters and the puck. The refs at Preds games sometimes were in the line of play, but they always jumped out of the way or jumped up on the wall to let the puck pass. These guys just didn't have a clue. They called tons of penalties (although only 1 during the first period), but they let the Shooters argue nearly every call. Nancy said they should have just taken control and either T-ed them up or ejected them. Plus they didn't really know all the rules, which Warren told us after. He said that he had to chat with them after nearly every penalty just to see what they were doing.

Captain Warren telling the refs the rules

After a while (maybe mid-way through the 2nd period? I really wish I knew how to keep stats for hockey, because I would really enjoy that and would know more about what was going on), a fight broke out between Will and the biggest guy on the Shooters. Will did something and they thought they were just going to shove a little, but the guy threw off his own gear and lit into Will. Will quickly threw off his gear and took the guy on. Will was in complete control; he pulled the guys jersey completely off and "pwned him," in Luke's words. At that point, out of the 12 men on the ice, 9 were involved in some sort of fight (this might have been the point when 2 guys were onto Will). The refs were watching maybe 2 of the fights, and weren't even paying attention anywhere else, where someone had a guy on the ground for almost 2 minutes (if I understand the rules correctly, as soon as someone is on the ground the refs are supposed to step in), and the goalie was even getting into it!

Will fighting...pretty sure he's taking this guy's jersey off here!

At the end, 5 Shooters were in their penalty box, and 5 Icemen were in their penalty box. Will got 2 minutes and 5 minutes, so be served consecutively. Warren and his goalie were the only 2 Icemen who could stay on the ice; 3 new guys had to be brought on.

The entire team in the penalty box...what an exciting game!

Will's 2 minutes were counting down on the score board. When that was up, he left the box. I the novice thought it was because someone was serving the rest of his penalty for him (I know that there are certain situations where you can do that, but I don't know what they are), but he said later that he just left to see what the refs would do. They did nothing, had no idea, and he was back on the ice within a minute! From our perspective, he and Warren pretty much carried the offense (and Warren is a defenseman!). Both of them ended with 1 point, an assist for each.

Will's in the white helmet; he was easy to follow and find on the ice!

After those major fights, there was even more drama. At the end of the second period, Warren carried the puck all the way down the ice, shot it, scored, and then got hooked. We all saw the goal, but then we looked at him and he was on ground; almost everyone missed the hooking and thought he had hit the wall. Unfortunately, they immediately announced that the goal didn't count and that there was still time remaining in the period. But the guys started heading down to their locker rooms and we were left wondering. One of the volunteers came up to where I was sitting and explained that the refs had called a delayed penalty; therefore, the goal didn't count. There's NO WAY it could have been a delayed penalty; when they make that call against the Shooters, as soon as the Icemen get control of the puck, the whistle should blow, time should stop, and there should be a faceoff and a power play. Obviously Warren had control of the puck if he carried it all the way down the ice. They ended up calling only the hooking penalty, so at least the Icemen started out the third period on the power play. It seemed that the teams were evenly matched when we were on the power play.

The refs made two other mistakes: they took two goals away from Will. One he shot in--we all saw it go in--and it hit the top pad and bounced out. The refs didn't count it a goal because they said it didn't make any noise. Obviously it didn't, because it hit a pad and didn't hit the post! The other one he shot and the goalie kicked it in, but then it came out again and the refs missed it. If they had given us the 3 goals that Will and Warren scored, the Icemen would have won 6-5, but they ended up down 3-5. All in all an exciting game!

Will chatting with a line judge after one of his goals they didn't count

We waited around for Will to come out after the game; it was great to see him and his parents, and his dad spent a few minutes talking to the boys. They loved him and Will and said as we drove home that Bill's blessing really made them feel good and that they felt like they'd known them forever even though they'd just met them. The Roberts are such a loving family. When I left, Nancy gave me a hug and said she loved me. That made me feel so good. Bill took a picture of the 5 of us, and hopefully I get that and be able to post it.

(Will is seriously like my brother, which I think is why I like his family so much. My sister always came to my softball games in college to cheer me on. I don't know if Will knows, but that's kind of what I feel like when I watch his games: like his sister cheering for him. The wonderful thing is that Will is my brother in the Lord; I know that when we die, I'll see him in heaven because he and I both believe that Jesus died on the cross to forgive us for our sins. We are now joint heirs with Christ and adopted children of the Father!)

The drive home was way faster than the drive there, but I didn't get home until after 2:30. I slept from 3-5:30 and 6-7 and then got up, made cookies, had breakfast at the office here, did a little reading, and then waited for Allison.

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Training Log; 10x30 sec manual holds

Yet another partner exercise, done alone. It might serve me well to make a friend who'd do these workouts with me!

Warmup was an hour of racquetball, during which I lost all 3 doubles games I played. At least this week was better than last week, and I could actually contribute a few points (and not make all the errors). Then it was the fun stuff!
  • Lunge right, then left: I lasted at least 2 minutes on both without having to take weight off, and I was able to actually pop up after each 30-second interval. I know not having someone push me while I was working helped me have strength to push up. I tried to work like I was pushing against someone, but it's not quite the same as having someone there.
  • Glute ham raise: I wish I could have been paying attention to the people around me, since I was pretty much in the middle of the floor of the Y during peak time. If I were them, I'd have been wondering what I was doing!
  • Wall squat: This was the best--I lasted the entire 5 minutes without falling! I never hit the floor, barely even went down until the last interval, and I popped up and quickly back down for each interval. My legs were tired after, though!
  • Push up: I did this on my knees, and like the lunges, I could actually push up some every time. I was really trying to focus on just pushing up immediately, not shrugging my shoulders or anything. I didn't get all the way up every time, but I at least moved each time.
  • Curl: 30-lb bar. Until I practice the altitude drop curl, I'm not brave enough to try it with so many people around. Plus I'm sure I'd need a lighter bar, but I can't do this one with a lighter bar because I don't have anyone to push against. The encouraging this is that I could lift the bar to put it away. Actually, I just made myself do it.
  • Crate crunch: Another fun one!
I really wanted to ride outside today, since I was working from home, but I also wanted to play racquetball and so was torn. I ended up not riding but finishing what I needed to for today for work, so it ended up being OK. Next week I'll be back to running consistently (3 days/week). My legs have been happy to have a slight break after last weekend's race and run after.