Five things friday (running, steps, pot)

Whewee, what a week! School has started (well, not for me, but the grandkids), we had a tree cut down, a new roof put on our house, I wrote several blog posts, got a new pair of running shoes, and I read a book. More on some of these later. For now...

1. RUNNING A 5K

I'm kinda-sorta using a half marathon training program right now, and my "long run" this week was to be a 5k at 5k pace. Last weeks long run was 8 miles, and next week is 9, and those are normally done at a snail's pace in training. I don't even remember the last time I tried to see how fast I could run a 5k. Anyway, even though I did have to wait on one car, I ran 3.11 miles in 26:36 this morning (8:33 pace). I was pretty happy with that, but did wonder for a moment if I was gonna die. I wore my Saucony Endorphin Speed 2 shoes that I bought in 2022 but have only worn a handful of times (there's a story). They didn't feel too bad, and neither did I! :) If I could translate that into a sub-2-hour half marathon I'd be ecstatic right now.

2. WE ARE NOT FINE

I have not read it, but am intrigued by John Ortberg's latest book, Steps, in which he apparently suggests adding a "Step Zero" to 12-step programs. TFU says of it: "Rather than begin by admitting powerlessness over an addiction, participants begin by admitting that - despite appearances to the contrary - we are not fine." Yeah... I'd probably agree with that. 

3. LET'S GET CRAZY

Speaking of not being fine... I've seen quite a few people mention this news that in 2024 the number of Americans who use marijuana daily surpassed the number who drink alcohol daily. While it's probably good that fewer people are drinking everyday (though more do still drink than use marijuana), the rise of cannabis use concerns me (as a former daily user). Per this Smithsonian article, cannabis is psychoactive, meaning it affects how a user's brain works. They note how schizophrenia associated with cannabis use nearly tripled after Canada legalized the drug for nonmedical use in 2018. I mean, I know, even way back when, people were freaking out over kids smoking pot. Maybe that's all I'm doing now, but it had an affect then too, and everyone says it's so much more potent now. I dunno... (did you see my blog posts last week on the new frontier being fantasy instead of reality??).

4. I'M CRAZY ABOUT THIS BOOK

This week I read Haruki Murakami's fantastic 2008 book 'What I Talk About When I Talk About Running.'  I LOVE this book! And it's not really about running. Sure, he talks about it some, but it really is a memoir. I love how, as a Japanese novelist, he says he uses simpler words when he writes and speaks in English. I was also fascinated with his life as an author, when he used to run jazz clubs, and just his unassuming manner in general. Oh, and the running parts too! As you know, I don't like to hurry through books, but I devoured this one in a few days. I found it very interesting, heartwarming, and felt like I'd discovered a kindred of sorts. I was sad when it was done (in a good way).

5. A QUOTE

"To put one's hope in Jesus, then, is to believe, despite all the evidence to the contrary, Jesus' way of peace, justice, mercy and compassion will ultimately prevail over the empire's ways of violence, exploitation, oppression and fear." - Rachel Held Evans (with thanks to Mike Frost for the reminder)

 

Well, it is Friday... I assume you know what to do!

Peace out (and in)