I miss you. I miss hanging out. Doing life together. You see, I’m an extrovert. I feed off of people. In fact, I’m the CEO of my blog: The Chief Encouraging Officer of People. That said, this Coronavirus, “social distancing” thing truly stinks!

Since creation, we were never meant to be alone.

Then God said, ‘Let Us make man in Our image, according to Our likeness; let them have dominion over the fish of the sea, over the birds of the air, and over the cattle, over all the earth and over every creeping thing that creeps on the earth.’ So God created man in His own image; in the image of God He created him; male and female He created them. 
Genesis 1:26-27

God did not create JUST Male. He did not create JUST Female. He created Male AND Female. There was no social distancing in the Garden of Eden. This is not how life is supposed to be. That said, I totally understand the reasoning behind our current, “social distancing” suggestion.

Over these last few weeks, I’ve made a mental checklist of what “social distancing” has done. These are in no particular order.

• I miss hanging out with people.
• I’m bummed that several Spring Races have been put on hold.
• I miss hugs. (no shame here as I’m a hugger)
• I miss Social Gatherings. (Church, grabbing coffee)
• I miss running with a group.
• I miss my favorite restaurants and stores.
• I’m sad that my daughter’s musical, and the rest of her Senior Year, could be cancelled.
• I miss March Madness. ( Especially Spartan Basketball)
• My kids, and several friends, miss getting a paycheck.
• I miss eggs, flour and toilet paper on the shelves.

Now, here are 10 encouraging things “Social Distancing” has created.

• A new appreciation for hanging with my friends.
• It’s great to have all of my kids home. (College Campuses are closed)
• I don’t see near as much division between people.
• My house seems cleaner. (What else is there to do?)
• People have opened up conversations about Faith.
• We have a new appreciation for the ‘everyday’ things we’ve taken for granted. Like technology.
• I have a new appreciation for all business owners, their staff, waiters and waitresses.
• Gratitude for those serving in the medical field.
• I’m spending a lot less money, as I’ve learned to ration food and materials.
• We’re learning that we CAN do hard things.

What have I missed? Feel free to add your thoughts in the comments below.

While we all learn to adjust to this new normal, I leave you with words from my hero, Jesus.

“Peace is what I leave with you; it is my own peace that I give you. I do not give it as the world does. Do not be worried and upset; do not be afraid.”

John 14:27

Jesus was, and still is, the “CEO of People”. He came to bring peace. In fact, He actually preferred to hang out with, “rejected” people. Hmmmm. Maybe, because of “Social Distancing”, we can all learn a new, “social thing”, or two?

Keep making a “social” difference. And, Run By Faith.

Fears. We all have them. For me, it’s heights. I’m not a fan. Now, if I’m in a plane, or in a building, I’m good. But, put me on the roof of a house? Nope. Climbing a tall ladder? Um…pass. Peeking over the edge of a building? No thank you!

I’m not sure when my fear of heights began. Too many weird dreams, I suppose. Maybe it’s more of a ‘fear of falling’? Hmmmm. Fears. We all have them. Even one of my movie heroes, Indiana Jones, had a fear.

“Snakes. Why did it have to be snakes?”

Indiana Jones

Snakes and heights are pretty common fears. But, here are a few other unusual fears you might not have heard about.

• Globophobia: The fear of balloons. (Oprah Winfrey has this)
• Pupaphobia: The fear of puppets.
• Turophobia: The fear of cheese. (how is this even possible?)
• Nomophobia: The fear of being without a phone.
• Arachibutyrophobia: The fear of Peanut Butter getting stuck to the roof of your mouth.

Today, there’s one fear/phobia that many people are dealing with. And, chances are, YOU are, too.

• Mysophobia: The fear of hands.

The Coronavirus, COVID-19, has people around the world on high alert. Making contact with one another has even brought about a new phrase, “social distancing”. Yes, the concern is real! It’s not something to mess around with. We need to be smart. We need to wash our hands. We need to wipe down surfaces. But, we can’t live in fear. Being “concerned”, and “living in fear”, are two different things.

I remember a few weeks ago, my wife, Patty, and I noticed that a piece of siding had come off from near the roof of the garage. So, I decided to tackle two fears at once: climbing a ladder, and climbing onto the roof of the house.

I climbed the ladder pretty swiftly. I pulled myself up on the roof, and began the climb toward where the siding had come unattached. With a very deep breath, I inched my way to the edge of the roof. As I leaned over to attach the siding…it happened. I froze. I could NOT move. Fear got the best of me. Now, in my defense, this was about 30 feet off of the ground. Just then, I realized, not only could I not do it, but I had to inch my way back down the roof toward the ladder, and then re-position myself to climb down. It’s like I was paralyzed.

Fear is a weapon that the enemy uses to paralyze us. Fear holds us back. Everyday, I play many songs that remind us all that we need not fear. “Fear is a liar”. “Fear No More”. “Whom shall I Fear?” Even powerful lyrics about fear, “I’m no longer a slave to fear”, and, “I will trust you Lord, I will fear no more”.

I encourage you to take at a look at the following Bible verses about fear. I truly believe that they can help you in your struggles with worry, anxiety, and fear.

1.  “But in the day that I’m afraid, I lay all my fears before you
and trust in you with all my heart. Psalm 56:3 (TPT)

2. “Don’t be pulled in different directions or worried about a thing. Be saturated in prayer throughout each day, offering your faith-filled requests before God with overflowing gratitude. Tell him every detail of your life, then God’s wonderful peace that transcends human understanding, will make the answers known to you through Jesus Christ.” Philippians 4:6-7 (TPT)

3. “I leave the gift of peace with you—my peace. Not the kind of fragile peace given by the world, but my perfect peace. Don’t yield to fear or be troubled in your hearts—instead, be courageous!” John 14:27 (TPT)

4. “For God will never give you the spirit of fear, but the Holy Spirit who gives you mighty power, love, and self-control.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (TPT)

5. “Love never brings fear, for fear is always related to punishment. But love’s perfection drives the fear of punishment far from our hearts. Whoever walks constantly afraid of punishment has not reached love’s perfection. ” 1 John 4:18 (TPT)

6. “Whenever my busy thoughts were out of control, the soothing comfort of your presence calmed me down and overwhelmed me with delight.” Psalm 94:19 (TPT)

7. “Anxious fear brings depression, but a life-giving word of encouragement can do wonders to restore joy to the heart. Proverbs 12:25 (TPT)

I also want to share a Bible verse out of Psalm 23. Even if you don’t know much of the Bible, you’re probably familiar with Psalm 23. It’s been recited on the hit TV show, “ER”, and, in the movie, “Titanic”.

“Lord, even when your path takes me through the valley of deepest darkness, fear will never conquer me, for you already have!
You remain close to me and lead me through it all the way. Your authority is my strength and my peace. The comfort of your love takes away my fear. I’ll never be lonely, for you are near.” ~ Psalm 23:4 (TPT)

So there I was, on the roof, trying to convince myself that all I needed to do was swing my leg over the top of the ladder, and begin my descent. Well, after about 10 minutes, I did it. I got back down to the ground. And, let me tell you, when I touched the driveway, I wanted to kiss it. (And no, the siding still isn’t attached).

I can tell you this, no matter what you’re facing, God has your back! Whether it’s a fear of heights, snakes, or a virus, you do not need to be paralyzed. Don’t live in fear. But, take that first step of faith knowing that God has your back. And remember, fear is a liar!

Now, wash your hands. Go make a difference. And, Run By Faith.

Sitting against a wall. It shouldn’t be a big deal, right? WRONG! Welcome to the world of “wall sits”. Hated, and feared, by volleyball and basketball players, wall sits simply, “bring the pain”.

January, our #planksquad made the decision to build up to a 5 minute plank. Little by little, day by day, we worked our way up to achieve our 5 minute plank goal with success. So, for February, making a goal of 3:20, while sitting against a wall, should be much easier right? Once again, WRONG!

We began the month of February with a 10 second wall sit. Then basically everyday, we added 10 seconds. Throw in a day of rest every 7th day, and by the 31st calendar day, we were ready to tear that wall down for 3:20.

Everyday, our team of wall sitters posted their daily wall sit on Facebook. Plus, we tagged each other to show accountability. (This is the same principal we did in January with our “#planksquad”). Let me tell ya, accountability is a BIG factor to keep you going, even when you just don’t feel like it. In addition to #planksquad, we also added #mindandbodytribe and #breakingdownwalls.

As a tribe, we decided to do our, “challenge meet up” at Core Life Eatery in Grandville. Core Life is a healthy restaurant with plenty of room, and more importantly, lots of wall space. We chose the time of 6:30 to meet, then wall sit, then eat. Easy Peasy, right? WRONG!

I’m a big believer in being thankful in all things!

There was another large group that got there before us and grabbed the large wall sit area we planned on using. While at first this appeared to be an issue, we figured, ‘hey all we really need is a few feet of room, and a wall to lean on’. Plan in place.

Before we got into “wall sit position”, we huddled up for a moment of prayer. It was a prayer of gratitude, for safety, and a prayer of thanks for what we were about to accomplish. I’m a big believer in being thankful in all things. We all said a loud “AMEN!”, found our random areas inside of Core Life, and ‘popped a squat.’

As you noticed, some of us chose to listen to music with earbuds, while some talked. Me? I went with a classic, “Let’s Go” by one of my favorite 80’s bands, The Cars. Why? It’s just above the required 3:20 wall sit. (And yes, the hand claps in the song also help)

One of my favorite memories of the entire night happened during the “Wall Sit Challenge”. One of the workers from Core Life decided to join us for all 3:20. How in the world did she do 3:20 without daily practice? Sheesh Tommy, jealous much?!

Here’s something else that was cool. As our wall sit tribe expanded throughout the month, more and more people wanted to join us for our meet up at Core Life. But, due to prior commitments, many weren’t able to go. However, all you need is a wall, right? This pic was sent to us by one of our “Wall Sit Tribe” members.

As we heard our timers go off at 3:20, we all cheered, gave high fives, and were ready to celebrate with a meal! But first, one final group shot!

So, what’s next? For the month of March, we’re doing a Push-up Challenge. The goal is to get to 50 Push-Ups in 31 days. We’ve even created 3 different workout calendars to help you get to your goal, based on your fitness level.

We’d love to have you join our tribe! Just drop a comment below so we can stay connected!

Keep making a difference, and Run By Faith!

Gerbils. I feel sorry for them. It’s the same thing everyday. They wake up, eat, and then their idea of excitement is hitting that spinning wheel. You know the one? The one that takes them nowhere but around and around. Some life, huh?

But ya know what? I bet you’re more like a gerbil than you think. Do you find yourself doing the same thing every day? Same wake up time. Same breakfast. Same route to work. Same ———. (fill in your “same” here)

I’m more like a gerbil than I realize. I’m very routine. It helps keep me on track. I try to run at the same time every day. Read my Bible at the same time every day. In fact, I rarely shake things up. But, thank God for Wednesday! No, not Friday, Wednesday.

Wednesday is one of 2 days that I take off from running. It’s a day that I pop in a Focus T25 Stretch DVD from Beachbody. (Thanks Shaun T) It’s a hard core stretch workout, complete with some yoga, focus stretching, and breathing. It’s not as intense as a long run, or hill repeats, but I actually feel a bit more refreshed. It’s different. And, it’s a change to my routine.

That said, basically everything else in my day remains the same. (Insert shoulder shrug emoji) But, this subtle change has me thinking about a few more ways to alter my normal routine. What if I change the day I vacuum? (Every Friday) Read my Bible in a different spot. (Maybe by the Lake, or in the front living room) Or, cook breakfast for dinner! (My alarm goes off at 3:30a.m. so, I don’t often get a normal breakfast)

Now, not all routines are bad. But, what about you? Maybe it’s a need to break a bad routine, and create a new, “healthier” one. Try taking a walk. Try a new recipe. I’ve even found lots of enjoyment, and benefit, reading a new Proverb every day. It works great! There’s 31 days in most months, and 31 Proverbs. (But if I keep doing this, does that become, ‘routine’?) Anyway..

Are you finding yourself on the spinning wheel? Doing the same thing every day? Step back. Look at your day. What can you change, or alter? Or, I’ll say it this way, if Gerbils could talk, what would they say to you?

Thanks for reading. Break up your routine, and instead of just hitting delete, hit that Subscribe button. Keep making a difference, and Run By Faith.

P.S. That’s one routine I pray you never change.

It happened Dec 29, 2019. I put a simple challenge out on Facebook, wondering if any of my friends would like to join me for a 30-day plank challenge. I figured, “Why not start January in epic fashion? I’m going for a 5 minute plank in 30 days.” A plank is designed to strengthen your core, chest, and arms. But, what good would it be doing it all alone? I wanted a tribe. Well, let me tell you, I was NOT alone!

One by one, I began receiving notifications saying, “You have a new message.” Every time I opened the message, I saw things like, “I’m in!” or, “It sounds pretty crazy, but I’m up for a challenge“. One of those messages was from my wife, Patty. Another was from my friend, and Race Director of Gazelle Girl race, Holly. It seemed to make sense to make this more than just an idea for myself. I love the Bible verse that says, “Therefore encourage one another and build one another up, just as you are doing”. (1 Thessalonians 5:11)

A few years ago, I remember Holly inviting a few friends into a plank challenge. She called it her, “Planksquad”. This seemed like a great idea to resurrect! So, we created a new tribe,”#Planksquad”. To help create more of a sense of community, the three of us decided to begin posting pictures of ourselves planking. Not for vanity, but for accountability and community! We wanted people to share with others the, “hard things” they were accomplishing.

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As each day went by, we heard from new people who wanted to jump into our #planksquad. Yes, they were willing, even if they missed the first few days. It totally showed us that people are willing to join something bigger than themselves. (that’s what community is all about, right?) One of our #planksquad-ers, Carrie, said, “I’m in! Cranked out side planks, too. Thought I would add extra since I missed yesterday.” Julie, in Florida, said, “I’ll join you! I’m almost always up for an exercise challenge.” Paul messaged me, “I’m in, but I need the accountability!” Then there was Patrick. Patrick posted a pic of himself, and his son, saying, “Building the strength of the next generation.” Wow!

As the month went by, the planks got longer, and harder. Longer planking equals more time ‘inside of your head’. So, just how does someone pass planking time? For me, I popped headphones in, and found songs that equaled the time of each plank. Like, “Jessie’s Girl” from Rick Springfield. Great for my 3 minute plank. (It comes in at 3:16.) Patty cranked up, “Desire” from U2. Great for her 3 minute plank. (It comes in at 3:29) Holly found herself mixing things up between songs, and reading out of her, “God Calling” devotional. A great way to build mind and body.

As the month passed by, each of us commented on how great we were feeling. We noticed that our core was getting tighter. And, we felt stronger in our arms. This really is working!

The real game-changer happened on Monday, January 27. God gave me a vision of getting as many of our #planksquad together to do a unified 5 Minute plank, in the same location. Remember, “WE can do hard things!” So, why not do these ‘hard things’ together? As Patty, Holly and I chatted, Holly reached out to one of her friends, Ed, at City Built Brewing in Grand Rapids. It was on! We arranged an impromptu #planksquad meet-up. We had no idea who would show up. But, you never know til you try, right?

January 30, 2020: The night that would live in infamy.

Day 30. Holly arrived at City Built Brewing first. She was chatting with Ed. Next, Patty and I arrived with our yoga mat. There were several people who wanted to be there, but already had prior commitments. Well, we were the only ones there for about 10 minutes. (The question of “would anyone show up?” went through our minds) That was until we saw Rose. Then Rachel. Next, was Brian. Followed by Betsey and Matt. Game on! Let’s DO this!

Ed took us back to a special part of the brewery, “the brew station”. This is the area where City Built creates their beer. We each grabbed our yoga mat, (mine made by Gaiam) got comfy, put located our headphones. As a tribe, I said a prayer of thanksgiving, and safety, for our #planksquad. We said, “Amen!” and we were ready to go.

I popped my headphones in. My song?? I went with, “Metal Health” by Quiet Riot. Odd choice, I know. But, it has a kickin’, driving beat, and is 5:22. Patty went with, “Don’t Fear The Reaper” by Blue Oyster Cult. Holly went with, “Rage Against The Machine”.

As time went by, we all shouted encouragement to each other. 5 minutes is a LONG time! Basically, the volume on each song got louder, as the minutes got longer.

Legs were shaking. Sweat was forming. Mental grit activated. Then, TIMER! 5 minutes! It was finished! The #planksquad goal was accomplished!

We all got up, cheered and clapped. “We did hard things!” What a feeling! To do something that has been 30 days in the making, together, makes it even tastier!

OK, so now what?

As we rolled into February, Patty, Holly and I knew this whole thing was something much bigger than ourselves. Together, we’ve decided to keep it going. Patty has created a sub-group inside of the #planksquad who want to plank, but at a bit of a slower pace. Shorter increases, looking for great results. Awesome, huh?

Meanwhile, we’re also currently in the midst of a, “31-Day Wall Sit Challenge“. And, once again, we have numerous amounts of people posting pics of themselves not only doing their wall sit, but also their planks, too. By day 31, we will be up to a 3:20 wall sit. (ugh my legs are shaking just thinking about it!) And yes, we’ve adopted 2 new hashtags. In addition to #planksquad, we have #BreakingDownWalls and #mindandbody.

In Genesis, the beginning of the Bible, God said, “It is not good for man to be alone. I will make a helper suitable for him“. (Gen 2:18) Friends, you were NEVER meant to do things by yourself. Knowing someone has your back really can push you through ‘hard things’.

What ‘hard things’ can YOU do? Wait. I bet you already have. Maybe you’ve battled a sickness. You’ve persevered through a struggle in a relationship. Even the loss of a loved one. (insert YOUR “hard thing” here) Take a second and reflect on how you’ve gotten through your ‘hard thing’. Chances are, someone in your “community” has helped you through it. I encourage you to take a second, and thank God for them. And hey, why not take it a step further? Send a text. Make a call. Simply say, “Thanks for helping me through some hard things!”

Find your tribe. Go make a difference. Do hard things. And, keep Running By Faith.

To receive more encouragement I’d love for you to subscribe to my blog. Feel free to drop me a comment about YOUR hard thing, and how you got through it.

Sometimes, you sign up for a race, and think, “Yeah, I can do this!” Then, there are other times that you get to the race and think, “How am I ever going to do this!!” This pretty much sums my feeling as I approached the start line of the Walt Disney World Dopey Challenge.

Why is it called “Dopey Challenge”?

Complete all 4 Walt Disney World Weekend races on pace and earn not only the 4 individual event medals, but both Goofy’s Race and a Half Challenge Medal and Dopey Challenge Medal—for a grand total of 6!

runDisney

That’s a total of 4 races in 4 days. Day 1 is a 5k. Day 2 bumps up to a 10k. Day 3 shoots you up to a Half Marathon. Day 4: The Disney Marathon. 4 races, 4 days. That’s a total of 48.6 magical miles!

This whole crazy idea started as my Pastor hinted that he and a friend were thinking of signing up for this race. I’d been training for my first marathon in the fall of 2016, so adding a few miles between my October race, and “Dopey” in January was not too big of a deal. So, in December of 2016, I noticed that there were a few openings left. I entered the race, and in the words of, “The Emperor’s New Groove” “Boom Baby” I was in!

In an earlier blog, I eluded to my experience with the Disney 5k. The 5k ran on a Thursday. It was a nice easy way to enter into the Dopey challenge. 3.1 miles of fun, entertainment, with very low key pressure.

The 10k took off at 5:30am. Yep, an early bird race. No issue for me,. as I am always at work by 4:30a.m. At the starting line, I ran into my Pastor from Michigan. Yes, Pastor Ken was the one that dropped this crazy idea into my head in the first place. We met up before the race. Had a time of prayer and encouragement, and we went to our separate corrals. It was a chilly morning by Florida standards, but great for running. 6.2 miles of fun, characters, pictures, and an amazing sunrise. Oh, and that sunrise, accompanied by Phil Collins’ “You’ll Be In My Heart” from the movie Tarzan was breathtaking!

As I finished, I noticed a fellow runner limping. I asked if she needed help. “If you could hold this little meal box, that would be great.” I gladly held it for her, as she was walking with an ice pack wrapped around her leg.

We chatted for a while. “My name is Joy”, she said. An interesting name for a woman who was in severe pain. She never complained about her knee. She was simply excited to be at the finish line, ready to see her husband and kids. She was choosing, Joy!

Disney does an amazing job helping to set the stage to an unforgettable experience. Complete with magical Disney music pumping through Epcot Center. Torches blazing around Epcot Center. And, smiles galore! That’s a two day total of 9.3 miles completed!

Then came Friday night…

We kept a close eye on the weather, as things were looking pretty stormy for Saturday Morning. We were to report to the starting line near 4:30am. Severe Thunderstorms were in the forecast. I thought, “Eh, no big deal!” Then, it happened. I received an email saying. “Due to severe storms, the Disney half marathon is cancelled.” Say what!?! How am I going to complete my Dopey challenge? This is my mission! My reason for signing up! So, I did what all committed runners would do, I mapped out my own 13.1 miles, and got my half marathon in!

I sent a text to my Pastor, and we decided to meet up and get our own 13.1 miles in. The funny thing is, we saw several runners out on sidewalks doing their own thing. Some of them were even wearing their bibs! Yes, I had to stop and grab a pic of this fellow Dopey runner!

Here is where things get quite interesting

I went to the Dopey Challenge at Disney with my friends DeWayne and Tony. DeWayne didn’t run, but Tony wanted to do the half marathon. But, when the half was cancelled, the amazing people at runDisney gave runners the option to bump up to the marathon at no extra charge. So what did Tony do? He bumped up! Now, Tony had only run as far as a 7 miles during his training. But, he still wanted to attack the full! Uh-mazing!!

Marathon Morning

We arrived at Disney by 5:00am, which in hindsight, was probably too late. So late, that Disney put us on one of their shuttles and whisked us to the starting line. Which, by the way, had a windchill warning in effect that morning. The windchill was 29 degrees. No biggie for this Michigander, but for others, it was a scene out of Frozen!

What an incredible 26.2 miles. Attractions every .5 miles. Treats, water, electrolytes, and FUN! Tony and I stayed together for about 22 miles of the race. We stopped quite often to take pictures of the scenery, the characters, and to soak in the ambiance. Then it happened.

Tony was spent! Tony fought cancer, and now he was fighting “the wall”. The wall is the moment in which runners experience a moment in which they feel like they just can’t go any further. I was super impressed that Tony had made it this far! “Go ahead. I’ll be alright”. Tony told me to leave him, and go finish the race. I struggled with this. We runners don’t leave friends behind. But he insisted. He just could not go any further. So I took off.

I loved running near, “The Green Army guys” from Toy Story. Snapping pictures, and shouting encouraging messages to fellow runners, while (spoiler alert) enjoying magical pieces of Dove Chocolate!

As I crossed the finish line, I teared up. Yep. I cried. No shame here! 48.6 miles in 4 days is NO JOKE! It was tough like Tarzan. Tiring, like Sleeping Beauty. And, magical like Tinkerbell.

Tony? Yep, he finished! He fought cancer, and he did what very, VERY few people have ever done – run a marathon without training! Now that’s Dopey!

48.6 miles of memories. 48.6 miles of smiles. 48.6 miles I would happily do all over again!

Your phone dings. Your wrist buzzes. You’re being notified.  Someone wants your attention. It’s a text! But what happens when you swipe to open the text?

Did you know that you can change someone’s day with a simple text? Encouragement in the palm of your hand! Think about it. It could be a co-worker needing help. A family member saying, “I love you”. Or, a friend asking for advice.

But, it can also be discouragement in the palm of your hand. Think about it. A co-worker ripping on another, causing you to do the same. A family member saying, “I’m sick of you”. Or, a friend saying something so harsh, it breaks your heart.

Today, I encourage you to think twice about that text before hitting send. Does it bring life? Or does it breed, “death”. You hold a pretty powerful weapon in your hand. That 3×6 inch device has the power to help speak “life” into someone. And, it can bring almost a “death” to the heart. Words last.

Remember getting a card, letter, or email, from someone you cared deeply about? Perhaps it was your first love! Oh, you held onto that thing for dear life! (My wife still has love letters from when we dated) It’s stored away in a drawer, a memory box, or even flagged in your inbox. Sometimes, you think of that person, you reach for the letter. and read it again. Why? Because it brings you feelings of love. But, what about the “breakup letter”? A rejection letter? A “letter of termination”? Chances are, you tossed it. Those things hurt to read. You don’t hold onto them, but they’re etched in your memory. You’re skin might be crawling even as you read this.

Today, there could be a text you revisit to bring you a feeling of peace and love.  Recently, my Aunt passed away. Our last text exchange went like this, I said, “I love you”. She said, ” you’re so sweet. I love you.” That is a text I will never delete!

Are there any texts you wish you had never sent? Or, texts you’re holding onto that need to be deleted?

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I encourage you to stop, “bitter texting”, and delete any “harsh texts” you keep re-reading that do nothing but cause you pain.  Remember, build up, don’t tear down.

Text with care.  Run by faith. Go make a difference!

Ever sign up for a race, without being fully prepared for what’s in store? That’s what happened to me at the Run Disney 5k – part of the RunDisney Marathon Weekend at Walt Disney World Orlando, Florida. It’s also the first race of a 4 day challenge called “The Dopey Challenge”. (more about the Dopey Challenge in an upcoming blog)

As we entered the Magic Kingdom, nothing can really prepare you for the first glimpse of the iconic welcome sign. Seriously, all the feels! I was swamped with the emotion of what’s ahead, combined with the excitement for the memories to be made.

We made our way to the ESPN Wide World Of Sports Complex for the Race Expo, and packet pickup. Let me tell you, I had NEVER been to a fitness expo quite like this! Vendors. Samples. Disney-Magic!

Thursday Morning

The alarm rang at 3am. Crazy enough, that’s not early for me, as my normal daily alarm rings at 2:45. Forecast was a touch on the cool side, so I grabbed my Saucony running jacket, laced up my Hoka running shoes, and was off to make a memory.

We headed to the “runner drop-off area”. Considering it was near 4:15 in the morning, everything was very well marked. Signs made it easy to navigate, and the volunteers were super friendly. DeWayne and Tony, two friends who embarked on this adventure with me, and I sat in the car to try and stay “warm”. Now, being a guy from Michigan, a temp of 55 in January was very comfy. But, when you’re standing around for 2 hours, it does get chilly. (Tommy tip: pack large garbage bags. Cut a hole in the bottom, and slide your head through it. Wear it as you wait for the race to begin. It locks in the heat)

I surely didn’t expect to run with Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, and Snow White!

I made my way to the coral area, and was greeted by runners not dressed as, “typical runners”, but as Disney characters. I surely didn’t expect to run with Elsa, Buzz Lightyear, and Snow White. This was a surprise to me! Perfect proof that this is designed to be a FUN 5k. Don’t get me wrong, I LOVED seeing the costumes, and experiencing the vibes in the coral, I just never thought a starting line could be so FUN!

RunDisney does a fantastic job pumping up the crowd. There’s music playing, announcers playing the part of a “hype-man”, (I seriously want this job!) and every time that a wave of runners is released onto the course, they shoot off fireworks. That’ll put a little Zip a dee doo dah in your pre-sunrise activities.

The 5k Race

The 5K is a fun race for everyone, great for adults, kids and teens—from beginners to veteran runners and every level in between!

RunDisney

I failed to mention that I signed up for the Dopey challenge in December. Yes, 1 month before the actual Marathon weekend. That said, I was placed into the last coral for every race. Not a big deal, but it did make a difference for me. Why? Because when I crossed the timing mat, I was surrounded by people walking the 5k. Please hear my heart on this, walking a 5k is 100% acceptable, and totally fine! My wife is one tough mama, and rocks out a very brisk walking pace! I just didn’t want to be “that guy” and spend time weaving in and out of people, and making them feel “less than”. (I hope that just made sense) The runners were amazing on the course. Nobody gave me a harsh look, (as far as I know) and we all cheered and laughed with each other.

I love how Disney makes this a true “experience” race. Every 1/2 mile, there is some kind of activity, or character, to entertain you. There are lots of photo-ops with the characters, so make sure you bring your phone/camera with you. Just make sure that you shoot the video “the correct way”! I will share this video with you, although I shot it sideways.

Normally, I run races and watch my pace. This race, was all about having fun. I did have the timer on my watch going, I just didn’t set out to make it all about the “finishing time”. I made it all about the “memory time”.

As I came across the finish line, I never thought that there would be such a large medal at a 5k race. But, this is Disney!

You will LOVE the Walt Disney World 5k. Every runner receives:

• 5K Finisher Medal
• On-Course and Post-Race Refreshments

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• Participant Shirt –
• Personalized Race Bib
• Virtual Goody Bag
• Downloadable Finisher Certificate

Feel free to subscribe to my blog, and drop a comment. In my next blog, I will detail the Walt Disney World 10K. Til then, keep making a difference, and Run By Faith!

Here we are, 2020. Sounds so futuristic, huh? It’s a new year, a new decade, a brand new beginning. So, as I write my first blog of the year, I thought I’d let you in on a little secret to how I’m beginning the year.

A few years ago, my Pastor challenged the church to begin the year doing something called, “The Daniel Fast”. It’s a 21 day fast in which you eat no meat, drink no coffee or alcohol, eat no sugars or sweets, and really put a focus on God. Whew! Yeah, this is serious!

My wife, Patty, and I took the challenge last year, and we each lost over 10 pounds in the 21 days. It was also an incredible way to be introduced to many healthy foods that I had skipped over for way too many years. Foods like Black Bean Hummus, Cauliflower, Brussel Sprouts, Spaghetti Squash, Black Bean burgers, Oatmeal, plus several fruits and other veggies.

The initial launch into the fast was admittedly tough. I had caffeine withdrawals, and a slight headache, for the first 3 or 4 days. But, after that subsided, I really felt great!

As a runner, I did realize I was lacking an intake of protein. Often times, after a run, I grab a slice of Turkey, or eat cheese. But, because both of those are NOT allowed during Daniel Fast, at times, I felt sluggish after a workout. So, I had to learn to adjust a bit. I began eating more nuts. I also learned that Broccoli is a very good source of protein, as is Quinoa. Once I figured that out, I was able to get some energy back.

Spiritually, I spent more time reading the Bible, and praying. (This is something that Daniel did in the Bible) I also journaled my experience. In fact, I have journaled daily for the last 3 years. I love looking back and reading about what I was going through, what was happening in the life of my family, and taking inventory on what God had done for me on that day. If you currently don’t journal, I highly recommend you starting this simple task! It is a life changer.

Interested in joining this 21 day journey with me? To launch into 2020 in a different kind of way? Drop a comment below, and I will keep you in prayer.  We all could use it! I also invite you to subscribe to my blog for other ideas, and inspiration.  Here’s to 21 days of change, to help you Run By Faith!