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"Just going to church doesn't make you a Christian any more than standing in your garage makes you a car"
-G.K. Chesterton, The Twelve Types
People run marathons for as many reasons as there are participants in a race. Whether for charity, fitness, personal achievement, competition, or the swag bag, something surely motivates we crazy folk to hand over currency in exchange for the "privilege" to travel the 26.2 miles with a banana and a beer ticket on the other side. Whatever gets you motivated though, any runner worth their salt is going to agree that if you want to run a marathon you need to train. It would be foolish to sign up for the thing, neglect running entirely and hope the day goes well. They might think about running quite a bit, but unless feet go in shoes and shoes hit pavement, all the thinking in the world won't do any good.
Since my high school cross country days (go Flyers) I have always identified as a "runner." Over the last three years or so, my training has been more consistent and in-line with prescribed plans and best practices, but this was not always the case. During graduate school and my first years teaching, I would go weeks without running and then, "shocked" by how long it had been, I would head out the door for a few miles, call it good and then, maybe, get out a few more times that week, but something would come up, I'd skip a run, and the process would repeat. Despite my low mileage and lack of wear on my shoes, I still called myself a runner and, more than that, just assume I had the fitness. I could eat whatever I wanted because, well hey, I'm in good shape, I'm a runner.
The only thing freaky fast were my sandwiches
Thing is though, despite my thinking about running, I wasn't actually doing it and so I lost fitness.
These days, I do a lot running. I have a plan that I follow and, regardless of whether I may want to run on a given morning (seriously, though, who gets excited for an hour long run on the treadmill because there's freezing rain?), I know that if I want to hit my goals, I need to run. (To be fair to myself, I usually want to run...usually). As a Theology teacher I also do a lot of thinking about God and there have been times when, despite how much I talk about God, I find that I haven't stopped to actually talk to Him.
I've said it before and I'll reiterate my conviction that to be a "runner" you don't need to hit any time standard or wear any brand of clothing. There's no mileage threshold you need to cross to earn the title - all you need to do is get out the door and, well, run. The same is true for our religious identity - what makes us Catholic is, very simply, our Baptism, and if we want a relationship with God, all we need to do is talk to Him. It's simple, really, but it means we actually have to do it. Thinking about running is not going to get me to Boston, I actually have to run - and that means accepting that some workouts won't go as well as others. Likewise, being a Catholic doesn't mean just thinking about God - it means developing that relationship with Him. It also means that, in the same way that I'm not going to abandon running because I bonked on a tempo run, I'm not going to abandon prayer because I didn't "get anything out of it."
Building fitness takes time, commitment, conviction - physical fitness, spiritual fitness. It's not enough to just think about them, we have to act as well.
Quick Thoughts
A few quick thoughts on happenings in the world of running and the Church
The London Marathon
Mark your calendars for April 26. Eliud Kipchoge, the world's fastest male marathoners and, in my opinion, greatest marathoner of all time, will line up in what is looking to be a ridiculous field of runners. "Challenging" the King for the title will be Kenenisa Bekele would ripped a 2:01:41 at Berlin last fall (good for the second fastest time ever) along with Birhanu Legese and Mosinet Geremew, the third and fourth fastest marathoners respectively. On the one hand, we could see a legitimate race between Kipchoge and Bekele given that only two seconds separate their individual records. (Kipchoge's historical 1:59:40 didn't count for record purposes...but still). On the other hand, Eliud Kipchoge's only real challenge has been the stop watch, being pushed by a real contender like Bekele might find that morning produce multiple finishing times under 2:02. Watch this space.
From the Depths of Our Hearts
In a shocking and supremely controversial move, Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI released a book co-authored with Cardinal Robert Sarah that completely...confirms what the Church has taught? I'm failing to grasp why so many are up in arms over this. Look I get that this is a big deal considering Benedict hasn't published much lately, you know, being a retired pope and all, but it's not like he took to Twitter to offer a hot-take on the latest Harry Potter installment. And I understand the context with the Amazon Synod not too far in the rear-view mirror. It seems that critics aren't so much upset that the Pope Emeritus is offering a perspective per se, but rather that they are afraid this perspective will be different than their own. Will I read the book? Absolutely. Look, no matter how many Star Wars spin-offs come out, I'm 100% going to watch them all. Why? Because I love Star Wars. Pope Benedict is one of the greatest minds of our time, you bet I want to read what he has to say.
Galen Rupp is Back
You guys remember Galen Rupp? No. Yeah, he wasn't even on the latest US Marathon rankings (Jared Ward at the top, though? Scott Fauble better grow a lip sweater equal to Wardy's if he wants that top spot). The current holder of the US marathon record pretty much disappeared after the last Chicago marathon and with the shaming of his previous coach Alberto Salazar faced from the cheating scandal, it's no surprise he's kept a low profile. Recently, though, Mr. Rupp has announced that he will be working with Mike Smith, the current coach at Northern Arizona University. If you aren't familiar with the NAU Lumberjacks, these guys can hammer on the cross country circuit. Perennial favorites to with the NCAA title, Mike Smith knows how to get his guys ready for the big stage. To be honest, a month ago I wasn't even sure Galen Rupp would show up for the Olympic Trials, let alone compete for a top spot. While I still think he ends the day outside the top three, it'll be interesting seeing him back in the mix.
Carlos Beltran, Alex Cora
Yeah, don't cheat. I know this is a running newsletter, but as a Mets fan and fan of a sport that has faced its own series of cheating scandals (Read: Galen Rupp) this whole sign-stealing debacle should be a reminder to everyone that cheating it stupid. Here's the thing, while I think Alex Cora should get a lifetime ban from baseball (don't @ me) who I really feel for are the Astros fans. Here's a group of sports fans that have been through it when it comes to mediocre seasons (as a Mets fan, I get that) they finally secure a World Series victory and now they get to throw a Barry Bonds style asterisk* up next to that 2017 Championship banner.
Team News
Upcoming events, prayer intentions and other items of note
Training Programs: 10k, Half Marathon, Full Marathon
We have the interest so we're going live on Monday! If you want to train for a 10k, Half or Full Marathon, go ahead and sign up right here.
Beyond the weekly training plan that you'll receive, every athlete will also have access to a set of suggested prayers, weekly challenges and our team Slack page. If you're not familiar with Slack, this is an online messaging platform that allows teams to organize conversations into "channels" to help collaborate and build towards a common goal. This will be our go-to hub for questions and ideas surrounding shoes, nutrition, strength training but will also be a great spot to share graces received, offer prayer intentions and further build this great community.
Right now, the cost is $10/month ($30 total) but if just 2 more athletes sign up, the cost will drop to $7/month for everyone and if 20 people sign up for a program the cost will be just $5 ($15 total). So, invite, challenge, encourage, push, guilt, whatever you need to do, but get your friends and family to train with you.
If you are interested in any of the programs, you can fill out this interest form.
Feel free to copy and paste this url to send out to your running friends, running family and your actual family too!
https://forms.gle/j18h16wSRP8EZcbb8
I'm really looking forward to getting this thing started so I hope you can join us!
If you have signed up or plan on doing so you can order your training shirt here. Shirts at $15 each!
The March for Life is this Friday.
Whether you will be travelling to the District or joining in spirit, I hope that you will united with the thousands of pilgrims and protesters in offering your prayers, words, and actions towards securing the rights of the unborn. I would definitely recommend checking out the Life Runners and Biking For Babies, two neat ways that athletes are witnessing for Life.
Upcoming Saints
A Saint, Memorial, or Feast of the Week
St. Agnes
January 21
Image from: Women of Faith: Saints and Martyrs of Christian History
St. Francis de Sales
January 24
Last week, we celebrated the feast of St. Anthony of Egypt, the great father of the monastic movement and patron of solitude. I find it all too fitting that this week the Church also offers us the model of St. Francis de Sales, a gentle spirit who encouraged the "everyday" people to find God in their own daily life. Known as a deeply kind and warm person, St. Francis never shied away from speaking Truth. Today, it may seem that respect and kind-heartedness are incompatible with speaking Truth to those with whom we disagree. "A spoonful of honey attracts more than a barrel of vinegar" is a quote often attributed to St. Francis; in other words, kindness has a powerful effect on winning souls. Not to overlook oneself, though, St. Francis reminded his friends and followers that while we must strive for tranquility with neighbor, we must also be gentle with ourselves. Friends, how true is this! It can be easy to find the good in our neighbors and coworkers and yet we struggle to allow ourselves that same grace.
Let us pray that, like St. Francis, we may attract others to the Gospel with kindness and grace and, with humility before God, speak Truth unashamedly with the sweetness of honey, rather than the bitterness of vinegar.
Prayer
A prayer or habit to take with you this week.
Friends, this week begins with the observance of Martin Luther King Day and concludes with the Right to Life March in Washington. The juxtaposition of these moments should be a sobering reminder of the reality of evil, racism, oppression and the work of the evil one. This week, let us pray for the courage to speak boldly, listen deeply and act courageously in our work to secure the rights of all the marginalized and oppressed.
Below is a prayer from the USCCB:
We thank you, O Lord,
For in your loving wisdom
You created one human family
With a diversity
That enriches our communities.
We pray to you, O Lord,
That we always recognize
each member of this human family
As being made in your image and beloved by you,
With worth and dignity.
We pray to you, O Lord,
That we may envision a way forward
To heal the racial divisions
That deny human dignity and
the bonds between all human beings.
We pray to you, O Lord
That we may affirm each person's dignity
Through fair access for all
To economic opportunity, housing,
Education, and employment.
We pray to you, O Lord,
That we may have eyes to see
What is possible when we reach out
Beyond fear, beyond anger,
To hold the hand of our sisters, our brothers.
We thank you, O Lord,
For your call and challenge to us
That we may reveal your teachings and your love
Through our actions to end racism
And to proclaim that we are all your children,
heirs to your sacred creation.
Amen.
Find more resources on racism and the Right to Life here.
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