Cougar Mountain Trail Series

5 miler - May 20This was a fun race -- though a bit painful. I'm not nearly as fit as I am used to being, but I'm trying to "run for fun" and trail running is a great way to do that. I'm hoping to do as much of this series of races as possible. I finished second in the 5 mile run.

7.5 miler - June 10
Today I ventured back to Cougar Mountain for the 2nd race of this series. This time I was still feeling hesitant and concerned about my current fitness level. Still, I was encouraged by the way the race began. I found myself in the front right away, and was hoping to "cruise" to an easy/uncompetitive win. 20 minutes into the run, I was surprised to find that I still had company -- and he was running strong. The course was full of hurdles to jump (downed trees) and hair-pin turns.
This "0ther runner" passed me quickly and decisively -- surging ahead until I lost all visual contact with him. At that moment I began to worry about those who were behind me and the long, lonely run that was still ahead. Sometime later, at about 25 minutes, we came to a long, steep series of downhill switch-backs. As I zig-zagged downhill I was surprised to hear the lead runner somewhere ahead of me. I was gaining quickly and soon realized I had nearly caught up with him. In fact, at the bottom of the hill, I had re-gained contact and realized I was back in the race. Too bad there was another uphill - and this runner (Adam Airoldi - 21 yrs. old), quickly pulled away. Next downhill - I caught him again. Next uphill - he pulled away from me - but not as much or as quickly. I began to think ahead and realized that if he was slowing down on his uphills perhaps I could eventually hang with him on the uphill. Well, that finally happened -- on the last hill of the race. When we reached the top of the hill I was right on his heels and we began a .3 mile "drive" for the finish. On the final stretch it was an all out sprint. I put it into "high" gear and tried to surprise him with a final surge and lean at the finish. We crossed the line side by side. I wasn't sure who won. Our times were identical: 48:57. The finish judge told me I had been "outleaned" after 7.5 miles of exciting racing. Oh - well! It was a lot of fun. I felt good about it - especially since I felt like an "old man" (37 years old), taking on this college runner from Michigan (home for the summer). I had hoped for the win, but when you know you've given 100%, there are no losers. So whatever you're doing today -- give it your best shot -- "Run the race to win". It's exciting even if you fail to "win", and you'll have the satisfaction knowing you maximized your potential.

10 Miler: July 8
This morning the sun was shining brightly and it was time for race #3 in this series of four races. Having finished second in the first two runs, I was determined to win this one. I have been training consistently and feel as though I am slowly getting back in good shape for racing.
This race was difficult. I was a bit sore from a hard week of training -- plus this course was really challenging. Long steep hills, technical downhills and lots of switch backs. I ended up leading from the gun, with one person hanging gamely with me for the first 15 minutes of the race. I let him pass me at that point, but when we came to an aid station he stopped to drink and I passed him. After that he hung with me for a long time but never passed me again. I pulled away on the last couple of uphills and won by about one minute. This win secures my overall points victory for the series -- but I still plan on running hard at the final 13 miler on August 12th.

Final Results -- As the truism goes, "When you say yes to one thing you say no to something else." The trip to Mexico ended on the day of the Cougar Mountain 13 miler - the final race of the series. As Mexico team leaders, we could not come home early, so I missed this race. If I had run it, I would have won the series easily, regardless of my finish. By missing the race, I forfeited the series. A small sacrifice compared to what we experienced in Mexico.

White River 50 Mile Run

This Saturday morning I am going to be running in my first "ultra" (any race over 26 miles). I'm not yet ready to run the full 50, so I will be doing the first loop -- 27 miles of the race. This is my idea of a lot of fun. Since it is the U.S. Championships, it will be great being among the best endurance runners inn the country. Looks like it will be cooling off as well.

Set in the shadow of Mt. Rainier, this race offers spectacular views. Like "The Mountain" itself, though, the race stands as an ultimate test of mental character and physical endurance. Over the 50-mile distance the race course rises and falls a staggering 8,700 feet (total elevation change: 17,400 feet). The race features rolling terrain, ridge tops, northwest forest, several sections of technical trails, and of course several demanding climbs and challenging descents.This
year's race will be the U.S. Men's and Women's Open and Masters National
Championship.

Race numbers are limited to 400 of the toughest endurance athletes this country has to offer. Most competitors will be pleased just to complete the race distance. However, as an extra testament to supreme performance, at least $7,500 in prize money is offered, going five deep in each category.
Update: I did what I set out to do -- completing the first loop of this amazing race. I was impressed by the athleticism of these extreme endurance runners who were well prepared for this great challenge. This course gives you very little time to relax -- It climbs relentlessly upward and unless you're really fit, the downhill section cannot be enjoyed because the climb took it all out of you. If you're running the 50, you get to do this twice. When I left today both the men's and women's races were shaping up to be real battles -- both had groups of four closely packed together after 30 miles of hard running. The official results will be posted at Seattle Running Company soon. I was glad that I was "only" doing the first loop (27 miles) as that was difficult enough.
An event recap (as well as a preview) is now available at Greg Crowther's blog by clicking here.

Returning His Call - Complete Notes

This past weekend my sermon was entitled, "Returning His Call". You can access the notes by clicking here.

Vocation and Avocation

Have you made a distinction in your own life between vocation and avocation?

A dictionary definition of the terms is as follows:

Vocation: A divine call to the religious life. One's job or occupation.

Avocation: A subordinate occupation one pursues, a hobby, secondary job or interest.

Both of these terms contain the Latin root vocare which means "to call".

The common use of these terms identifies vocation as being essentially our job, and avocation as our hobby.

A Christian distinction of these terms identifies "vocation" as your true calling in life (primary), and "avocation" usually refers to what you do to make a living (secondary). Sometimes a person has the luxury of these two things being very closely related. Other times one pursues their true vocation outside of their job. For example, a salesman might feel truly called to serve the poor. They might have a job (avocation) in sales, but they pursue their true vocation by volunteering with a mission and as a community advocate for the poor (outside their job). We often don't get paid for our vocation, but we must seek ways of fulfilling it. Yes, the highest calling of every Christian is their pursuit of God, but this often has very specific and personal uniqueness as well as life-shaping implications.

Author and educator Parker Palmer put it this way:
"My vocation (to use the poet's term) is the spiritual life, the quest for God, which relies on the eye of the heart. My avocation is education, the quest for knowledge, which relies on the eye of the mind. I have seen life through both these eyes as long as I can remember - but the two images have not always coincided....I have been forced to find ways for my eyes to work together, to find a common focus for my spirit seeking heart and my knowledge seeking mind that embraces reality in all its amazing dimensions." To Know as We Are Known, Parker Palmer.

Your Calling

Jeremiah 1
4 The word of the LORD came to me, saying, 5 "Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."
6 "Ah, Sovereign LORD," I said, "I do not know how to speak; I am only a child." 7 But the LORD said to me, "Do not say, 'I am only a child.' You must go to everyone I send you to and say whatever I command you. 8 Do not be afraid of them, for I am with you and will rescue you," declares the LORD. 9 Then the LORD reached out his hand and touched my mouth and said to me, "Now, I have put my words in your mouth. 10 See, today I appoint you over nations and kingdoms to uproot and tear down, to destroy and overthrow, to build and to plant."

I believe we are all "called". God has a personal plan and purpose for everyone. We are uniquely formed by Him. The question is whether or not we walk in that calling. There is opposition to fulfilling that calling from within (fear, doubts, self-centeredness, etc.), and from without (distractions, peer-pressure, opposition, etc.). These factors can cause us to "miss" His call -- but it is never too late to get back on track.

This passage illustrates how God communicated this to the prophet Jeremiah. Study the passage carefully and see how God brought assurance and ability to do what He called him to do.

Have you heard His voice? Have you "received a call"? How? What was it like? Was your conversation with God anything like Jeremiah's? Did your calling have to do with what you do or who you are (or both)? I'll be sharing from this passage on July 22-23. Your thoughts are welcome!



Here is a photo I took July 3 from Snoqualmie Mountain. That is Snow Lake in the middle.

Celebrate Freedom

Today I will be carrying on the Messner tradition of putting on an amateur fireworks display for friends. I think I can at least trace this propensity back to my Grandpa Messner who enjoyed making some extremely loud, home-made fireworks. My brother Kendall and I used to enjoy our back yard burning barrell where we liked tossing in an occasional aerosal can. I think my parents wondered where all the hair spray, WD40, and spray paint went.

This past weekend Pastor Jim said that I am a "pyromaniac". Personally, I think I am rather tame compared to the other person who is really in charge of our annual fireworks display. And I must go on record to say that my donation to our 4th of July display is about 10% of the total cost of the fireworks -- Not nearly near the total cost that was spent on all of them (the amount I was rumored to have spent). It would be immoral for me to spend more than that.

I laugh about it and try to remind myself that this is all an act of patriotism anyway.

The 4th of July is a reminder to me of the value of true freedom. Yes, it is great living in a "free" nation. I have travelled all over the world and I know how blessed we are with our basic human rights and the opportunities that we have to live comfortable and safe lives.

But true freedom isn't a politcal climate or a national reality. Many people here do not know freedom. They are slaves to oppressive influences such as chemical addictions, behavioral patterns and emotions.

Galatians 5:1 says, "It is for freedom that Christ has set us free."

Romans 8:1-3 "Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus, because through Christ Jesus the law of the Spirit of life set me free from the law of sin and death. For what the law was powerless to do in that it was weakened by the sinful nature, God did by sending his own Son in the likeness of sinful man to be a sin offering."

So embrace and enjoy your true freedom. I don't have to be an addict. I don't have to be a slave to sinful behavior. I don't have to hurt people around me. There is a joy and liberation that comes where I don't fee condemned and I can choose to live in a Kingdom where liberty truly rules!

Happy 4th of July. Feel free to comment and share how you appreciate freedom in your own life.