Go Humans Go!!

So, I haven't written in a while - just a bit overwhelmed by the training lately - but still encouraged. I think I might be reaching the point where my body could handle about 30 miles straight right now. Yes, I have a long ways to go but I have come far too. I am trying to stay alive to the vision, you know, leaving the past behind and straining toward what's ahead. This will be another week of back to back 15 milers and then at the end of the week a 11 mile run and an 8 mile run. Thanks for the prayers, love and support because lately I have been thinking a lot about the interdependency of us as humans. We really do need each other in all ways. Why do we so quickly gravitate toward our differences rather than in our general disposition being "for us?" Jesus always seemed to be for us and against the spirit that boxed some people out and had "ins" and "outs." I want to live my life with the inner disposition of being "for us" rather than "against us."

Hitting the Training Wall??

Well, friends, this is week number 5 of my training and I am feeling a bit overwhelmed, tired and doubtful. I will persevere, stay the course and all of that but my flesh and spirit feel a bit weak today. I have two 15-20 milers this week along with an 8 miler and a 10 miler. I also have some anxiety about the $50K - I have confidence that the finances are out there, but I don't know if there is a willingness for the release. We will see and if it happens, all honor will the God's - as usual, the only way it should be. This whole vision is an exercise in following a call in obedience but having so little ability, power, or strength to get it done. May God make it such a great story that I get the privilege, along with many others, to simply tell his story. Peace and Strength to all of you this week. Remember, hold firm as an important image bearer in God's mysterious divine drama!!

Getting Stronger, but still many doubts

Well, I did a 15 miler yesterday and had my quickest recovery yet - I feel quite strong today - the next day- but still can't imagine doing that three times plus a final 5 miles. I don't know if I will ever feel like I will be able to do the 50 miles. I will train the best I can, arrive at the day, go for it, and trust God will come upon me in my weakness - guaranteeing that only he gets the glory - how cool is that.

The Dreaded 20 miler - but wait a minute...

I just finished my 20 mile run and it went amazingly well. I was dreading this run because I had 3 bad 8 milers in a row last week. But today I actually felt like I had another 3 to 4 miles in me - Thanks, Lord, for the gift of that. I really needed the encouragement - and thanks to many friends who are praying for me and my training. Who would have thought a whole community would help a guy get ready to run 50 miles....ahhh, community...so, so, good.

Keep Me in Prayer!

Keep me in prayer. These weeks of back to back longer runs are going to be difficult. The Recovery takes about a day and a half but mostly it is a mental thing - having to get it done and then face it again the next week so quickly. This week was 8 miles on Monday and 18 on Tuesday and then two more 8 mile runs before the week ends. Next week I do it all over again. At this point running for 10 hours seems overwhelming. Also, keep spreading the word about the vision - all of us doing this together. Imagine 200 of us asking 9 friends for $25 for clean water in Africa and suddenly 2,000 of us will have had the privilege of participating in changing thousands of lives in Kenya. Wow! When we allow the streams of our lives to flow together so much happens!!!

Streams of Life

I have been thinking a lot lately about how each of our lives is represented by a stream of water. When one stream runs into another stream they build strength, momentum, power, energy, movement, influence and effect. Soon a few streams encounter a few others and a river is formed and the energy and influence grows again. Soon the rivers meet and form bigger ones that eventually flow into oceans of water - the power and vision of community. We are so much better together than separated as individuals. Oh, the creativity and imagination we could offer to the world. The hope we give in the name of our Creator would be unstoppable. The Church would be unleashed! It seems to me that this is what God created as our capacity. What if we set aside our differences as the christian community and began to celebrate the gifts that each of us and our church communities have been given? That's the vision of John 17 and Revelation 5 and 7. May God give us the grace.

Am I Making Progress??

Hey friends, 8 miles done tonight in 89 degrees and they went soooooo well. I give honor to God who came upon me in my weakness as an ordinary, everyday guy going about his daily followership. I am blessed beyond measure. I am beginning to feel like I am making progress. Just think, I only have to do 8 mies 6 times. No problem - ugh!!

8 Ugly Miles!

8 miles in heavy heat equals 8 ugly miles. I made it. The first four miles weren't bad but the last four were an exercise of discipline and obedience. What a life lesson though - persevere when you want to quit trusting that the perseverance will have a pay off down the road. Thanks for the life lesson, Lord, even in the midst of a rather silly activity like running.

OOOOOh, The Summer Heat!!

I am back from 5 days in California. Just got a 4 mile run in one day while out there but now am ready to roll again. I now have 16 weeks to prepare and I won't be able to let up from here on out. And the heat is here. I knew it would come but was enjoying the cooler runs for as long as I could. This week - Tues. 8 miles, Weds. 8 miles, Thurs. 8 miles, Fri. 15 miles. Obedience in weakness once again - I can do all things through Him who gives me strength.

P.S. I was very encouraged by a few friends who have given financial gifts through my web site and by one who I haven't seen for a number of years and yet she sent a gift in. All things are meant to be done in community. We are so much better together than all alone - even when separated by miles and circumstances. Unity through the Spirit is a great, encouraging mystery!!

Learning to Live and Run Empowered by God

I simply can't stop meditating on I Corinthians 1,2,3. The call of those chapters is to live through the Spirit's power lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power. Paul is challenging us to live our lives in such a way that they don't make sense unless God exits. "Therefore, as it is written: "Let those who boast boast in the Lord." I Cor. 1:31 I actually prayed this through several times on yesterday afternoon/evening's 18 mile run. It seemed to me that the inner, spiritual nature of that message was enhanced by the physical challenge and weakness I was feeling. What a great holistic teaching time from God.

The 18 miles took me about 3 hours and 20 minutes to complete - about an 11:20 mile pace. I am trying to be very deliberate in my pace to begin to set myself up for the long 50 miles. While I was very tired with three miles to go it was much better than any other long run I had done. And my recovery is good this morning as I prepare to run 8 later today.

The Running....just keeps going and going and going

Did another eight mile run this evening - no rain but very comfortable temperature. I am very comfortable doing these eight mile runs and have begun to wonder if I will have to break down the 50 miler into 5 to 8 mile running segments to keep my head together.

While on this run I was just praying that God would make all this time and effort really worth it for change in this world - otherwise it almost seems like an abuse of the gift of time. And sometimes I do have doubts about the whole vision - but I will stay the course. With God it is a long obedience in the same direction or maybe in this case a long run in the same direction.

rain and run - again??

Well, gotta go run about 8 miles today - rain, rain, rain. I have done more runs in the rain this year than ever in the past. Could it be that God is preparing me for something toward October 11?? Oh, I hope not - though I would rather have rain than 80 plus degrees.

Why the numbtoe 50/50/50 title??  Well, 2007 thru fall 2008 was a very difficult year in my life that was capped off by waking up the Monday before the 2008 Chicago Marathon with a pinched nerve that shot down my right leg into my foot - basically zapping all the strength in that leg and foot.  I still attempted the marathon and dragged my foot and leg around for 13 miles before I stopped in tears.  But over the next few months God brought new life to me in a variety of ways.  This past February I ran for the first time in three months.  The run went great, but I still have a numb big toe on my right foot.  I believe that this is a leftover reminder from God that all I am and have comes in and through him.  I run and live in weakness, surrender, and obedience - and find that my life is joyfully full as I do.  It was during February that God revived a vision that he had given me months earlier about celebrating my 50th birthday as a gift of undeserved life.  This led me to start dreaming of running 50 miles on the day of the next Chicago Marathon - 23.8 to the start and 26.2 in the Marathon itself. But then the vision grew - 50 miles to raise $50K for clean water in Africa and to start a new running and walking club on the westside of Chicago to offer new health and hope to adults and kids at risk - all to celebrate 50 years of undeserved life.  So - the Numbtoe 50/50/50 was born.  Check it out and join the vision at www.firstgiving.com/timhoekstra50miler

Just completed 15 plus miles or 2 hours and 45 minutes of running - miles of great wonder and absolute joy in the movement of my body to be able to run, in the gift of drinking fountains so easily at my disposal, and that I have the luxury of doing something like this - but also moments late in the run of doubt, pain, exhaustion, wanting to quit and wondering if I really can do this (I can't in and of myself - I run in weakness and obedience). And yet, oh the people of Africa, and oh, the streets of Chicago. Did I choose the place of my birth, my economic status, my ability to go to certain high schools, colleges, seminaries? Did I choose to live where I do not struggle to find food for a moment and get satisfied living amongst 20% of the world's population using 80% of its resources? Oh, Hoekstra, what great responsibility!!