Tag: Running

Doubtful, spirit

Apple Watch and a building
Yesterday, a 12-noon massage. Walked five miles to get there. It’s only 1.5 miles away from home. Took the scenic route. Tried a few short running bursts. Torqued my left calf again. Thought a week’s running abstinence would be enough rest.

Doubtful my spirit will ever offer anything but cosmic love.

It hit me yesterday that if i never get to run again, i will accept it.

Love to run.

Grateful for six decades of it.

Last night the Universe reminded me of a story while i was thinking for the first time that odds are high running is over for me.

Universe: “jeff, remember when you went blind in your left eye a couple years ago?”

me: “Yes.”

Universe: “Same thing here.”

me, saying to myself: “If you never get to run again, you’ll be okay. You’ve had 60 years as a runner. Focus on what you’ve received, not what is missing. Nothing is missing. You are lucky to be alive. Enjoy every walking step you get to take. Walking is a huge blessing. Be amazingly grateful you can do that pain free.”

me, still talking to myself: “Thank you Universe (God, Creator, Energy, Cosmos, Light). i love you.”

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This website is about our SPIRIT. To enjoy today’s post about our WORK, click here.

One-oval Church

Jim Bortner, left, was a good friend. He was an 880 runner. Coach put him in the 440 for some unknown reason.

Dedicated six teenage years to master the one-lap race.

The dedicated, passionate effort was a great life lesson. Didn’t know it at the time. But it’s clear now.

Doing the reps in a remarkable way produces, without a guarantee, remarkable results.

i think that’s called faith.

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This website is about our SPIRIT. To enjoy today’s post about our WORK, click here.

Praying i can run again

Daisies
This exact spot is the leading contender for my first week back to GNP. T-minus two weeks.

Been 11 months since the first retina tear repair surgery.

A few weeks after the first surgery, the retina re-tore and i had a second retina repair surgery.

And of course, months later a third eye surgery. The left-eye cataract surgery was radically accelerated by the steroid drops from the first two surgeries.

Presently trying to remain under-excited, to manage my expectations after three eye surgeries.

Had expected to be in Glacier three months last summer. The August and September eye surgeries shaved two months off of the 2023 plan.

To describe my excitement and gratitude for returning in 2024 is difficult.

It easily could sound like these things:

Off the charts.

Through the roof.

Best day ever.

Etc.

However, 2024 is just another in a long number (12, maybe 13) of consecutive Glacier Summer visits.

Business as usual it’s often called.

Contextual note: Initially, last August before the first surgery, Dr. Kumar said i wouldn’t normally need cataract surgery for 10-15 years. But after his first retina repair, he said i would need cataract surgery (left eye only) in two years. Then, after a second emergency retina repair i immediately needed cataract surgery, following (hopefully) a healthy post-second-surgery recovery.

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This website is about our SPIRIT. To enjoy today’s post about our WORK, click here.

Australia Day 19, spirit

Two elementary school student photos
If this is my sister’s 1st grade photo, this is my 5th grade photo. Two years after these photos, i made the Spring Grove Area Junior High School Track & Field varsity team.

i serve others through my roles as husband, father, and teacher. Running brings those roles to life.

dad

To teach is to learn twice.

To serve is to honor the gift of life.

To run is to honor the Universe’s ability to sustain humans.

Running is how we caught food.

Running is how we escaped being food.

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This website is about our SPIRIT. To enjoy today’s post about our WORK, click here.

Dear running

Sunrise in Orlando
Photo taken this morning, September 10, 2016, an hour after writing this post. Red Dirt Road is barely visible bottom center.

 

Dear running,

Finding more time to pray, finding more things to pray about, and improving the quality (depth) of my prayers are because of you.

Thank you for the gift of focused “free-time” to feed my soul.

 

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This website is about our spiritual health. To leave this site to read today’s post on jeff’s career health website, click here.