Why do I run?

I get asked this question often.   I wish there was just one answer or at least a 'simple' answer to this question.  Sometimes I find myself asking this question when the alarm goes off way before the sun comes up.   The answer can and does vary a bit, but the foundation is always based on "Because I can!"  It was not always that way.  Heck for the first few years of my running 'career' it was a deep love / hate relationship.  It is that way when you are carrying around 50 extra pounds on a pretty small frame.  But over time it began to change.  I actually started to enjoy the feeling, the transformation, the "pain" of it all.  God gave me this great gift or perseverance.  I didn't always think it was a gift.  More like the ever present reality that I was born at the shallow end of the gene pool.  Growing up with 3 brothers that were academic and sport all-stars.  I was the black sheep who was challenged in school and in sports.  So in the midst of that I had to work harder at things, even things that I enjoyed - nothing came easy.  During that time God was already at work shaping me for his mission, I just thought it was to discourage me :-)   But now as I reflect on this hard years, I realize that it prepared me for life as a husband, father, disciple, coach, friend, business owner, etc.   God gave me the ability to find the comfort in discomfort.  I experienced that in a physical way through sport, that allowed me to reflect on how I experience in a powerful way in life.  Running is all about perseverance, about a willingness to enjoy the ability to run.

I am in the midst of transformation that I can sense in a powerful way.  For a long time running was all about the destination, the race, the podium.  But even in that I was always driven to train and the 'event' was just part of how I was kept focused.   Now - I am driven increasingly by the journey not the hardware.  I am currently training for a 40 mile ultra-marathon that doesn't exist on paper.  I guess if it had a name it would be '40 miles - because I can'.   I run because I can and because it reminds me of how great life is :-)

Run for Life -

Kevin

What is Legalism?

I was sharing some dinner with a group of friends of mine a few days ago and we were circling around the subject of prayer. What we as Christ's disciples like or dislike about prayer. Some of the ways we practice this discipline or don't.  The fact is that the problem is not that we don't pray, it is that we are not consumed with God's mission on a day-to-day level in our lives. Being a part of God's mission will drive us to living a life of prayer.  But how do we engage in the practice of prayer and not become Legalists? There are plenty of those out there even in christian circles.   Following our discussion this week, as the group was processing the area of 'spiritual discipline' this question was asked "Where do you draw the line between a spiritual discipline and legalism? What I mean is I know I should be praying but if I do it only because I know I am supposed to does that make it legalistic?  As I processed this in a deeper way I came across this great article "What is Legalism?" It is a great reminder of the self-effort that we are prone to rely on for our salvation and requires our repentance and awareness.   My personal prayer is that my default mode would automatically be "Salvation is of the Lord" and not "I have to work harder, and do more!"  Through God's grace he is revealing this to me at an ever increasing frequency. Deep down I realize it is "What I am" that is most important, not what I do!

What is Legalism?

Legalism could be defined as any attempt to rely on self-effort to either attain or maintain our justification before God. In Paul's Epistle to the Galatians he warned them sternly about such false understandings of the gospel when he asked the offenders: "After beginning with the Spirit, are you now trying to attain your goal by human effort?" (Gal.3:3). Legalism always seems to have one thing in common: it's theology denies that Christ is sufficient for salvation. That some additional element of self-effort, merit or faithfulness on our part is necessary. As an example, those who erroneously teach that a Christian can lose his or her salvation are, in essence, denying the sufficiency of Christ to save to the utmost. They believe sin to be greater than Christ's grace. But Christ's righteousness which he counts toward us is not only efficient for our salvation, but sufficient. His once for all sacrifice put away sin for all time in those He has united to Himself. His salvation also means that he not only saves at the beginning but preserves us to the end, sealing us in His perfect righteousness whose blood "reminds the covenant God" not to treat us as our sins deserve. Any attempt to add our covenant faithfulness as part of the price of redemption after regeneration is an "attempt to attain our goal by human effort" and thus a complete misapprehension of the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ. We must, therefore, reject any and all attempts to maintain a judicial standing before God by any act on our part. Salvation is of the Lord.

Kevin

Proverbs

I am auditing a couple of classes this fall, one of the classes is on the Psalms and Wisdom books in the Bible.  Auditing = you do all the work, reading, and assignments without actually be registered for the class.  Yes - mind boggling, but richly rewarding :-)

I was reading some lecture notes (yes - doing this all from a distance - online) and came across these comments of the class instructor (Dr. V. Philips Long) on practical wisdom of proverbs.  My prayer is that I allow the Proverbs and Wisdom books of the Old Testament to really permeate who I am that that I would live by them!!

Kevin

Coach Kevin Athlete Chad Holderbaum - Web Article

Here's to Chad for an outstanding Ironman Triathlon PR!  Like he says, it was a bittersweet day setting a 18 min personal record, but not earning a coveted spot to compete in the 2008 Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii!!

Chin up Chad!  Motivation comes in some strange forms :-)

You Rock -

Kevin

Chad's Web Article

Current Reading List

Never thought that I would ever have a reading list, but one of my favorite past times is reading.  I am definitely a slow reader and I take a more academic approach of under-lining, highlighting and making notes in the margin, but to each his own right?  Here is a current list of active reads:

In no particular Order -

"The Reason for God" by Timothy Keller

"Vintage Jesus" by Mark Driscoll & Gary Breshears

"Ephesians - Inductive Bible Study"

"The Heidelberg Catechism"

Xterra Spearfish South Dakota and my face plant!

Xterra Spearfish SD – 7/12/08

How much fun can you have in the Black Hills of South Dakota? I found out on Saturday July 12th. As a veteran multisport athlete and coach, I had yet to experience competition of the off-road Xterra kind. I did one mountain bike race back in 2000 down in Lawrence Kansas, but focused my time and resources in recent years on getting faster on the road. For years I have enjoyed the break from road riding on my TT bike, doing one ride a week on my mountain bike. Alright – eastern Nebraska is not known for their technical off road riding, but there are some short trains that will challenge you. One of the things that kept me away from going off road was the likelihoods of crashing and injury that can and does happen off road. But, finally I wanted to experience the thrill that many athletes are talking about, thus me signing up for the Spearfish Xterra. I will be honest, I was a wee bit under prepared for this event. The summer is a very cherished time that I have with my 2 children Megan and Cameron. They and their activities keep me hopping and I try hard at keeping them in the correct priority. The summer of 2008 will be a memorable one for my children and I. The Xterra fell at the end of a 10 day road trip that took us to the Seattle WA in the Northwest. During our trip, I was really on cruise mode. We did some activities, but got real used to driving for long hours and chilling with my children.

We arrived at the race site on Friday afternoon around 4pm, enough time to set up our camp site and tents and for me to get in a short pre-ride of a portion of the course. Kind of wish I would have punted on the pre-ride as the I found out that the course was very technical in spots. The technical sections included some gnarly rocky downhill sections. I made it back to the camp site, got my gear ready, had dinner and slept great on a un-seasonably cool evening/night (got down to the low 50's). I woke up around 5:45am, had I soft food breakfast of ensure (I have learned to love that stuff) and oatmeal and went back to bed. I made it down to the transition area, about a 2 min walk from my tent, readied my gear and headed to the lake.

The swim was a 2 lap (exit on land after the first lap) course. The race started at 9am sharp with ~100 athletes. I had decent swim, my swimming times in the last few races I have done, had been solid, given my lack of consistent time in the pool.

I headed out on the bike for the real fun. The ride included 14 miles of technical single, and double track. About 15 mins into the ride and had an 'EPIC' over the handle bars face plant crash. Let me explain.... at the end of a fire road there was a wash out area about 12 feet across, that included a 1.5 foot drop or edge on both edges. The surface of the wash out was thick mud and some standing water in places. On my pre-ride, I knew that this obstacle was there, but knew that if I hit the edge at a solid speed, I could ride across the mud water. So as I headed to this obstacle during the race, I was cruising at t pretty solid speed. My error ..... I did not get my center of gravity far enough back on my bike and as I approached the far edge of the washout, my front tire sank into the mud and I preceded over the handle bars at a pretty good velocity that did not allow me to get my hands out in front of me. So I stopped myself with my face / head :-) Luckily, the mud was soft!!!! A few cyclists behind we applauded the fall and made sure I was OK. I mounted my ride and was taking off when I realized that one of the lens from my glasses had popped out. So I went back to retrieve the lens. I finished the rest of the race with only one lens in my glasses!!! I got some great remarks during the duration of the race, due to the mud caked on my face and left side of my body!!! About 9 miles into the ride, on an up-hill climb I thought I dropped my chain, but when I dis-mounted I found out that my chain had broke. I hiked my bike to the top of the hill and turned my bike upside down to do the maintenance required. I found out that the multi-tool that I had brought, did not have a chain break. One of the first riders that saw me asked me if he could help “Roy from Corpus Christi Texas” had a chain break tool. Thanks Roy not only for the tool, but also for your assistance in fixing my chain! It would had been a long hike without your assistance. Once I had the chain fixed the ride was pretty uneventful! Other than a serious technical decent,with rocks and major roots! It was a very challenging ride and I loved every bit of it. Oh – did I mention the climbing! I think the course included a 20 min climb!!!!

The 4 mile (2 loop) run started with a long climb on a fire road, that looped around the lake that we swam in. The run was pretty uneventful, other than a serious climbing up a steep rock / scree trail. There were many opportunities for a twisted ankle and fall, but some how I made it without either. I finished unofficially in 2:56, 5th place 40-44 AG. Makes me think how much time I lost on the chain issue?!?

Overall I feel good about the day given all the hurdles that I had to overcome. I have to be honest here, just being out there was a ton of fun. The competition part of the day was really minor in my mind. I was pushing hard and having fun and in all that I was praising God. He is the only reason that I or anybody can go out there in do stuff like this. And to be in his creation in the backwoods of the Black Hills. He gets all the glory! It is so easy to lose track of that! To make it all about me and my abilities. I continually pray that he would get the glory for my efforts in sport and in life. I know that my sinful flesh wants to be noticed by others, to get the lime light, be the one that gets noticed. It takes intention and discipline to be aware of this. I am finding after 17 years of multisport racing that “THE JOURNEY” was instituted by God, not by me. I like to think that I came up with the idea to start doing triathlon back in 1991. That I was the one that was disciplined enough, focused enough, had the work ethic required. But it was God's plan for me!! I am so thankful for the many opportunities that this journey had provided for me. From traveling coast to coast and even Canada doing what I love. But in hind sight, it was not about me at all, it was about God developing me as a man, husband, father, and more importantly as a disciple of Jesus Christ. The many relationships that I have with athletes through coaching and sport has allowed me to share my faith in Christ in ways that are very contextual. As Matthew 28:18-20 indicates : 'All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go an make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.' NIV Live life as it is your last day - Kevin

I am back!!!

To my many supporters - my deepest apologies for my neglect of this blog. Yes, I am still alive, yes, I am still kicking, and yes I am experiencing growth in some significant ways. I am not going to lay out a bunch of lame excuses. But over the next days and weeks, you may learn some things about change, growth, endurance, perserverence of the deepest kind. I leave it at that!

I am back!!

Kevin