Among people, there are a community of runners. I am among that community. Well, at least, I returned to it.

After high school, my ten year gap started; and my activity of running stopped at that point, along with many other things. I remember in my speech class during college. I once boasted the fact that I used to be a runner but not anymore.

Thanks to my cousin, I returned to this activity. I am not as good as I used to be; and that's to be expected. I'm not sparky young'un; but at times, I still feel that way.

Regardless, this is the best aspect of running. Even though, only an elite few can literally run for a living by earning relatively low prize money (compared to other athletes in sports). This is one activity that anyone else, like myself, and thousands of others can participate in.

During my training last year and even on the marathon run, I felt alone. However, that was not enough to get me to quit. I had a goal! Yet, I remember an article in the Forward in Christ magazine. In this article, it talks about this feeling of being alone or loneliness. It happens to many of us. We can't help it. But alas, no matter what; we are not alone. God is there watching ready to give and provide at the right times. Just for this reason, we keep going.

I've had various practice runs over the summer, where I did quit on a run. For example, I had one where I walked 5 miles home. Then again, I had to. It was either that or risk getting hurt, such that training overall may stop. So then, that is not quitting; for it was part of injury prevention. Then, the run's finish is saved for a later day; and that I did.

In the hopes of reaching the end, runners do not quit. This is what Christian life is like. In the event where we feel like quitting, we shouldn't. We keep going. When running, we keep going; and we don't quit. The best feeling from running comes from finishing. At the end, we can just look back and say, "Yes. We did it". Just for that reason, we don't quit.

http://www.osamuko.com/2009/11/21/japanese-general-laws-of-mahjong/

I've been playing it online via Tenhou.net. If I could get the chance to play using real tiles, that would be great.

Yup. The marathon was done. Right now, I don't know what do to next. I could set myself up for another one. In fact, I would like to run another - in another city. But not now. Probably not even next year, maybe. But, I think a large project of a different, maybe similar, nature may do the trick. The purpose of continued development is in mind. While open to suggestion, I'll be thinking about this for the next month, or two.

Be as it is may. It is God who has a timing for everything; for it is He who knows what is good.

Low and behold. I find myself faced with a minor injury, such that I actually had to reduce mileage training as recommended at marathon training.

Ironically, it happened on the flat surface of a paved bike trail; due to the storm the previous night, there was a rock or even a large seed on the trail. I stepped on that with my full weight and ended up straining the calf muscle. Yet, the pain was not noticeable until the next morning.

All I have to say about that: I'm thankful that my cousin introduced me into XSport's gym membership more than a year ago. If it weren't for this, training for the marathon made it easier and accomodating. Dealing with this minor injury, it gives me access to equipment that allows me to continue training without exacerbating a minor injury into something worse.

While I still find myself to be rather concerned about the mileage count, it is also best to not be a "slave to the training schedule"; yet, I'll admit to be stubborn enough to be just that. Previous experience regarding athletic injury says, "if it hurts, don't aggravate it".

With just 6 weeks left before the marathon, it is best to be careful from here on out; or else the opportunity to run this year would be compromised. As a reiteration, the goal of completion is still intact; yet, I do not have a time based goal. How "fast" I run this thing is irrelevant; completion is all that matters. Speaking of opportunity, the weather this year has been extremely cooperative. I could not have picked a better time to be training for this.

Praise be to the Lord for granting all these gifts. I look forward to completing this task and not give any of that merit to myself. Without Him, none of this would have been possible.

What are my limits? I shall find out and break each one as I do.

Funny how this year is going by so quickly. Per usual, I mark the 4th of July as the year's midpoint. Soon enough, it'll be 2010.

As a note, I have to develop a Year To Do list here. That'll probably be done by the time I return.

So. How has my marathon training going?

Despite starting 40+ days later than the projected calendar, the return to running the previous year made adjustment easier. Basically, I started where the calendar was marked at the time - around the week of March 15. Since then, I maintained the training schedule and plan to continue on since.

Admittingly, some days, I had to reduce the mileage. That's either due to discomfort or simply not having enough in the "tank" for that day. That is acceptable if the cut-off isn't more than 2 miles. Any more than that, the day is wasted.

Now as for my goal:

Try to finish the Marathon. If I do finish, then that's "icing on the cake".

I will have to adjust that higher. Finish or Bust. The feeling of finishing - this is what I am looking for. If there's anything my 40-day journal has taught me (among many things), if I set myself out to do something - especially if the work is long term, then I do my tasks ritually - daily or almost daily as the calendar requires. My intention is to finish - and that is what I intend to do. In the event of failure, I try again.

More often than not, the mind
Wanders from one topic
... to the next.

Often dwelling on thoughts
By which we lead ourselves
... mildy perplexed.

Here we examine ourselves
Checking our alignment
... our center.

To what idea do we point
Our focus and avoid
... needless banter?

Our sin's aim is to confuse
Divert our thought away
... from the root.

Thankfully, Christ has given
Us the Word to make the
... confusion moot.

When lost in the train of though
We can find our way back
... towards the light.

For Christ is that light to whom
We follow through the darkness
... safe from fright.

"Do not be afraid," Christ says
For in Him is the gift
... of Salvation.

Our minds may lose focus
But the Holy Spirit works in
... divination.

All this works in the heart
As God's Eternal part.

Signed, Kyuu-reStart

Happy Easter! The life, death, and ressurection of Christ has made Salvation a certainty. Thanks be to God through Christ.

As a confession of faith, I write here the Nicene Creed. Thankfully, my service folder today has a copy of the words - thus allowing this privilege.

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Amen.

kyuu (adj)

1. weird
2. simultaneously valued and worthless
3. derailed

From here on out, my use of LiveJournal will be limited. From my 40-day exercise, I found my taste for pure handwritten journaling. It's a lot more honest than my typed up version; and I'll be able to reach and train my intuition a lot better. Since the end of that exercise a good 3-weeks ago, I had felt rather... lost. It was as if a part of me was gone. Well, through the pen and paper method, I may be able to get that back - easily. I just maintain the same pattern from the 40-day exercise into this form of journaling. At least, this time - I won't need some kind of Internet hiatus pledge or something like that - not yet anyways. Nevertheless, randomly, I will still contribute entries here.

The biggest lesson from the 40-day thing is to: "Slowdown". In the event I feel some sort of "rush". It's best to hit the "airbrakes". Slowdown and pay attention. This is where the patience will come to play. Quite frankly, this "slowdown" is a skill to be learned. Some naturally have it. Many of us don't. I certainly did not; therefore, I had to learn it. Did I really learn it? Not really, but gettin' there.

On that note, I still need to review and summarize in the last pages of that book.

Chicago Marathon: October 11,2009

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GOAL: Try to finish the Marathon. If I do finish, then that's "icing on the cake".

(I know, sounds like I'm aiming lower - but I'm not. Deep down, I know that I want to finish.)

Comments: Seeing as how the first week as the 1st of Feb. - I started my 40-day thing then. If only I had started this training... it'd be underway. So, that bit of lateness now has me rather nervous - as if the idea of even trying this race makes me nervous enough.

Naturally, I won't be sticking strictly to that schedule. Variances will depend on my health status on any given week. If I can run more, I'll run more. If not, then I won't. Let's not forget the weather too. Either way, the point is - to prepare for this big thing - race - run. Whatever.

Why am I even doing this? Well, it's something to work for. I choose to do it. IF I do finish this race - it'll do me a lot of wonders. I know it.

On top of everything, I'll be praying to the Lord each step of the way. No way I can do this alone.

Now that I have returned to the Internet. I really don't know what to say. In the journal book, one of the prompts for the last day was - something like - what would I say to my friends about this 40-day "excursion"? Right now, I don't know. I'll wait till I actually write it in that book. For now, this is simply a closer to the exercise - even though I still have to review all the entries written over the past 40 days; that's what this weekend is for.

To be honest, I'm not all that comfortable coming back; even though I should - well - not really should - but - I do make a return to it. Ultimately, I cannot let this thing take me over like it did before. Sadly, at the end of this 40-day exercise, I was letting something else take me over - namely Sim City 4. Darned that game! But it was fun building something (even virtual) and watching it grow.

In any case, just gotta balance everything out, y'know? With everything I managed to learn during this exercise, I can use and experiment with it during the remainder of the year. See where it all leads me. My goals still stand; none of that changed. I'd say - the biggest difference before the 40-days to now:

How do I intend to go through with those goals? Nothing. I will do them for the sake of doing them; plus, they are written. Therefore, I shall do them. I want to - as best as I could. And that is that.

From Christmas - I thank my older sister for this gift - 40 Days 40 Nights guided journal.

To make sure this gift will not be left unused, I shall use it. Prior to this entry, I had already read the preface, but no further. For once, I don't want to spoil it. From my impression, in order to make effective use of this gift, I shall execute this plan with minimal interference.

Order:

• For the next 40 days and 40 nights, I shall journal in this book daily - as directed in this book.
  
• For the next 40 days and 40 nights, I shall refrain from the Internet.

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Practice:
This is a practice. A practice of Faith. A practice of Restraint. Does this make me closer to Heaven? Of course not. Only through Christ. Nevertheless, I consider this gift as an opportunity given from the Lord himself. I do this with gladness.

Start:
This practice starts Feb. 1st - as soon as I go to bed this evening. This is my assignment, as a command. I shall follow it through.

Comments:
This will not be an easy task. This is considering how much I've used the Internet. Furthermore, the content of the book is uncertain. It is a journey in of itself. By following through with this, I hope to learn some very important things - about myself and everything else. By the end, I will see how this all goes.

Well, after a change in phone service - with limited notification - my house is cut off from the Internet -- and phone. So, I will have to talk it with my mother about restoring services.

While I have a plan to shun myself away from the Internet for a number of days, I don't plan to put my sisters through that same deprivation. By the looks of things, this will be something to take care of next week. Much to my dismay.

Cinderella Teams.

In sports, teams considered to be Cinderella Teams are those who "on paper" have no chance of winning, let alone making a championship. Analysts, fans, and critics often do not give these teams the benefit of the doubt and expect failure and defeat. Numerous examples throughout sport history show Cinderella Teams beating the odds and overcoming adversity.

The very human aspect of this story - overcoming the odds and adversity. Many of us find ourselves in situations that seem "impossible". No way we can do it, etc. Given the odds, no matter how bleak, there is a way. This is what sports show; they show that even the "little guy" has a chance of making it big. It's all a matter of whether the cards for them - turn in their favor.

For example, look at the 1966 NCAA Championship. This tournament featured the first all black team - just after the passing of the Civil Rights Act (1965). I'm sure the sentiment against this team was not very positive. On my way home from my Philippine trip (2006), I remember watching a movie about it, Glory Road. The depictions are just as imagined - a rough road - riddled with adversity, not just within the game - but beyond it, especially when the idea of racism was very much fresh in people's minds. They were regarded as "loose-jointed ragamuffins. Hopelessly outclassed". Despite all that, this team went onward and won it all.

In the event where we are gifted enough to make this kind of achievement, we can be very thankful of it. If not, then someday. This kind of story occurs over and over again in human history. Just don't give up.

We may see it again in the Super Bowl in a couple days. This is why the games are played!

As much as I'd like to take this course - it's been years since I had any science course (that's not computer related) -- it is disappointing to cancel it. I made this decision based on its interference to a pledge to be made within the week. While it is a breather to be taking a class on this subject - and with the extra time on my hands, regrettably, I cannot take advantage. I have a greater good in mind.

Well, I can study it on my own.

After innocence lost, it is possible to return to it. Aside from time, another means is possible -- remembering the roots. Usually, when innocence is lost, some form of transgression has occurred. As long as we live on this Earth, we are vulnerable to sins and transgression. Well, no one is better suited to carrying our transgression other that Christ himself. This belief is one powerful root. Knowing this, the return to innocence is possible.