Bonus Footwear Recommendation

GREETINGS Clerics and Laity! 

Sneakers and Books proudly announces the (un)official walking shoe of the Coptic Orthodox Church. 

During a recent meeting with Fr. Daniel Meleka, we received an inside tip: The Skechers GoWalk is the shoe for those seeking the utmost in comfort and style.  Well, comfort for sure.  

Fr. Daniel's Actual Feet

Ramsey 10k Race Report

I went into this race mainly wanting to improve on last year's 10th place finish, hoping to finish 5th overall.  

As with most races, a huge herd of 25 or so jumped in front me from go. It's funny how these stupid things trigger those younger-days feelings. There I was, alone, on the outside looking in. They were in on some secret: *This* is how you take it from 'go;' get with the program. There they were, the happy pack, and I just couldn't keep up. 

Look who I found! Ann!

Race start's uphill, a point I had forgotten. I knew there was a big hill somewhere after the first turn off Oak St., but I forgot that much of first mile was uphill. So when I came through mile 1 in like 6:45-6:50, I wasn't too ruffled. 

Second mile, I'm still alone but I see the pack has broken up into like 2 (all behind 1 and 2 who were out of sight from the race's start). I am still trying to get in with *someone*, anyone. I can't quite get my breathing right. Then, I remember the kids asking me questions last night at dinner about blood doping (One kid "Nader you should try doping!".Another kid looks at him: "Uh, you know if you do it wrong the blood will form clots, right?"). Anyways, it made me realize, DUDE, OXYGEN is IMPORTANT to this process! At that point, I tried to get my breathing right. Up the big hill. Mile 2 in about 6:34. 

Mile 3, alone but now chasing a pack of 3. Two headphone guys ("Oh, *heck* no!") and a blue singlet off whom they were drafting. There was another blue singlet ahead of them. One of the blue singlets was Frank, but to far out to see (Frank finished in 39:00, and, like a boss, ran the 5k after in 18:55-ish). 6:19. 

Mile 4, alone, struggling, wishing I were in a pack. Two miles to go! 6:24

Mile 5, pushing, yup, alone. Took down one of the headphones guys, the one I didn't know and who had the audacity to put it in my face by wearing an *armband*, too. Go find a "tough mudder," dude! 6:16. 

I tried to crack blue singlet and the other headphones guy, but not...quite... Ah. Now I'm seeing the clock and it's reading 39:xx, so just I dumped it all out. Last 1.2 in 7:20. 

Tough mudders are hard core, bro.

8th place will have to do for this year. 1 minute PR. I'll take it.

Running Alone

I expected to be beaten by a 16-year-old at this year's EYS 5k. My prediction was not technically accurate: as I was beaten by two 16-year-olds. No respect.

Still, I went in confident I had a shot at personal best, never mind that the temperature was 88F. We lined up, I took a deep one, and we were off. As expected, about 25 people jumped in front of me at "Go." I waded through the mass of runners (1), and within 3 minutes, I was by myself. And that's how I remained: alone.

We were an earnest bunch, if nothing else.

It was my slowest time this Spring, and a lesson in running alone, which, in racing, is the kiss of death. You want to be in a pack, taking turns pushing the pace, sharing the pain. If you get lost in no man's land (what runners call "getting gapped"), you're more or less outta luck.

Jeff Edmonds contrasts track and road racing:

In track, you don't get to do what you want to do. You have to race the pace that is set. More than that: you have to make yourself a part of this barely formed organism that is tightly hurtling itself around this little track...

In a road race, you make adjustments off the pace, especially in a podunk road race where there is no such thing as a pack, just a few scattered skinny guys you know and train with all the time...You aren't a part of a loosely-bound organism skittering tightly around a 280 meter oval. You are a normal human being, and you think like one (2)

The Christian Church has emphasized the unity of the organism, the Body since her beginning (4). Kallistos Ware states, "The Church is not an organization, company or corporation, but rather an organism, a body, a divine-human...body.”

Hard as it is for me, if I want to live within this organism, the Body, to share fully in its life, I don't always "get to do what I want to do." Edmonds continues:

Thinking, in the middle of a track race, is a HUGE mistake. It only separates you from the organism. [Side note, don't be confused: Thinking is awesome at the end of the race, if you can still muster it, because that's when the organism must be separated--and better that you do the separating.].

So, there is that tension, between thinking and non-thinking, between individualism and herdism. Too much of one, and you separate yourself and are lost, too much of the other and you're fused, swallowed, and you disappear. And so, Oliver Clement, notes:

Christian spirituality...is of its very nature something that ‘we’ share, our self-awareness being awakened by our sense of being in communion with others. Never forget that this ‘we’ is not an undifferentiated mass, that it has nothing to do with collective hysteria. It exists always by personal encounter; it is my neighbour’s face, innumerable certainly, but every time a face. The Christian ‘we’ reflects the Trinity...the Eastern liturgies...remind us that the Christian ‘we’, like the Trinity, is not a fusion, but a unity of unique persons (6).

This might also be the long answer to the kid who asks a reasonable question: "Do I have to go to church?" Man, you don't have to do anything (7). But when you get together with like-minded people, it makes a difference in a way that's hard to articulate. Life is best lived, it seems, in community, with family, among like-hearted sisters and brothers. Troubles are best faced with a little help from our friends.

But, so are the good times, you know? Not surprisingly, my best and most enjoyable races have been those I spent in the thick of the pack, a paradoxical herd of wild, yet focused stallions, simultaneously exuberant children and grown-ups taking ourselves way too seriously.

The pros know it well. When Dathan Ritzenhein crossed the finish line last week, earning a spot on the US Olympic team, he crossed himself, as well, perhaps thanking God, for Galen Rupp, who pushed and pulled him along.

 

Ritz, an Olympian, with a little help from his friend.

Of course, sometimes it's better to run alone. Mike Girouard's Cape Ann 25k race report describes it well:

Everything was going fine and I was okay with the low 6:30's pace...when around mile 5 or so a guy...caught up to us and broke up the party. He was working awfully hard for 5 miles into a 25k and between his feet slapping the ground and his breathing like a freight train I just for some reason decided I needed to leave. And so I did--out the front door. I dropped a 6:26, then a 6:18 and a 6:17 and suddenly I was all alone...

It's true. We're better off alone than with downers, heart breakers and the like (8).

Not to over parse, but notice there was a process of thinking. He considered the options and decided that it was better to wade into that human-less asphalt void, The Gap, which reveals no pace and has no heart.

So it is at our schools and jobs and in our spirituals lives. We have to make that studied decision sometimes. It seems to me that this is one of life's big tasks: knowing when to be part of the organism and when to pull away, when to roll along with a little un-thinking, and when to stand apart, when you just "need to leave."

Mike had many years of experience on the road and on the track, and so his decision was probably almost instantaneous. Developing that instinct in spiritual life is very hard. It takes time, experience, mistakes, and reflection. In other words, lots of living. But it's important to at least know that the issue is there. It seems to me that we each need someone to whom we're answerable, a spouse, a coach, a spiritual guide, someone from whom we permit ourselves to hide nothing.

Clubber Lang: Alone to the bitter end.

   

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(1) many of whom, I am confident, set 400 meter personal bests. Congrats!
(2) Race Recap: My first college track meet in 13 years
(3) "in real life," for the not-so-savvy; lessons for all!
(4) Acts 2:40-46
(5) divine-human
(6) On Human Being:  A Spiritual Anthropology
(7) Unless you're my daughter, in which case, yes, you have to. You'll either thank me or, perhaps, write a wildly popular rock song about me. Either way, a great outcome is nearly assured! 
(8) cf. 1 Cor 15:33

The Half at Philadelphia

The night before was nearly as memorable as the day of. The plan was to responsibly take in a movie and be in bed by 8 or 9; in other words 2-3 hours earlier than normal.

Restlessness was exacerbated by what sounded like *quite* a party in the lobby. Totally unable to sleep from the jitters, inexplicable hunger, and periodic howling (in the strictest definition; actual howling) coming from the lobby, I did what any normal super-tweaker would do: I pulled on my jeans and shoes (no socks) and headed down to the gift shop for pretzels and water. I sat there, scarfing, first two pretzels at once, then six or seven, listening to Like a Virgin booming from the nearby bar. "OMG, I'm in the land of the world's loudest, most inconsiderate people in America: Philadelphia. Screwed. Got back to bed, only to be awoken an hour later by a piercing ring (Maybe I'm dead? I hope so.) and a voice "Evacuate the building. There is an emergency in the building. Do not use the elevator. You must evacuate the building." Some kid had pulled the fire alarm.

Got up around 4 and went out for a light jog. This is my day. I once passed a really tough exam on 2 hours sleep. Been there. Came back and heated up two packets of oatmeal. No spoon, so I used the coffee cup lid. Lots of it ended up on my face. This is my day.

The way they organized the corrals was weird. Half and full marathon peeps are all together, which was fine. But, right behind elite and sub-elite are “up to 3:10" and “up to 1:35.” Hmm? Anyways, by the time I got to the start from the portajohn line, it was like 5 minutes to the gun (of course). The only way to get into my corral was to jump over a chest-high metal barricade. Up and over and who do I find? Bryan McDonnell, who lives one town over and regularly wins local races. I was flattered that he recognized me. He told Mike he was going for two 1:24's. Yeah, see you back in Jersey. They started playing Lose Yourself and, embarrassed to say, I lost myself a little. But, some dude behind me was tearing. Come on, man; I hope it was from something other than Eminem.

Go! I was through the first half mile in like 3:15. The sub-3 pacer was cruising along, chatting with the guy next to him, and holding up his balloon stick like it was nothing. I was mesmerized by that for a bit. Forcing myself down, I came through mile 1 in 7:13.

Around mile 4-5ish, I noticed I had been running most of the way with one runner, Amanda, and asked her what she was going for.
“1:30.”
“Me, too.”
“Good.”

Running with Amanda was the best part of the race. Even though we exchanged surges, I wasn't trying to beat her and I could tell she wasn’t trying to beat me. At some point, she came up with another woman: “I found another one.” Ha.

Through 10k in 43:01.

At this point, we hit the hills. I hadn’t looked at a course elevation profile or anything before the race, so these took me by surprise. At some point I lost Amanda, and the other women lost me.

I pulled up to the to 10-mile clock and saw 1:09: 50, 51. Good *grief,* not again. Not again. At this point I started negotiating with my legs. “No more races this year. This is it. This is it. Come on.” I knew I had to run in the low 6's for the rest of the race. Plowing, plowing, plowing. “Full marathoners to the left, half to the right!” At this point, there was only one half marathoner in front of me. As I passed him, he grunted, “Yeah, finish strong.” Seeing no one else and completely delirious, I sincerely thought, for about a mile, “Am I winning? Am I going to win? Omg. I’m winning the half at Philly...No.” Later, others would comment that the course finished along “the river.” I did not know that at the time, since I was in a tunnel. The clock came into view: 1:59:40, 41. Oh no, not again. Not again. Dig, dig - Why is the guy in front of me stopping to jump and touch the clock? - 1:29:57, 58. In! Right? I later found out that my gun time was 1:29:59. Good grief is right.

Racing and Selective Attention

This year's Ramsey 10k was best race of my life, so far, and not just because of the time on the clock.

I lined up near, but not at, the front. By the end of the first mile, two packs had emerged; top 12(?) and then maybe 4 of us in the next pack. I found myself in the front, with the leaders way ahead of us.

After about the second mile marker a guy jumped in front of me. He lead for a bit, then at about mile 4 1/2, he started to flake. I was thinking he'd race with me, but, as I found out later, his tendonitis got him (big bummer).

A little into the last mile, I passed a kid in a T-shirt. There's something about the competitive cotton-clad that I respect.

About 1k to go and I was *right* up on Hector of Clifton RR. I was giving everything I thought I had, and figured if this guy doesn't relent I'm just not going to beat him. Then, he looked back at me and I found something that surprised me and took off. 7:22 over the last 2k.

When I saw the time on the clock, I was very surprised. I was so consumed with the race, that I had forgotten what my time goal was. It was one of those races where I had to force my eyes open to find the finish mat.

I was so happy. I thank God for such an experience.

On a related noted, Jeff at the Logic of Long Distance blog has posted some very good thoughts on Toughness as an Act of Imagination. He writes,

The attention is the greatest tool of the human mind because it allows us to select from the world the stimuli to which we would like to respond. Intelligence, it seems to me, is a matter of selection; more about tuning things out than opening the mind. The great geniuses of history created a world that made some sense through acts of attention--selecting a single problem so that progress could be made, setting up the world as intelligible when apprehended along very particular lines. Great thinkers help us frame our vision--by telling us what to see or how to see, they also tell us what not to see.

The Egyptian Situation

THERE IS NO NEED to "report" the bombing at the Church of the Saints in Alexandria, Egypt, the latest in a series of terrorist attacks against Coptic Christians inside Egypt. Clearly, the issue has garnered attention outside Egypt.


President Obama has issued a statement, condemning the attacks. Pope Benedict XVI has also weighed in. The Christian Science Monitor is calling for prosecutions. Fox News and MSNBC have also addressed the issue.

Speaking to Al Ahram, His Holiness Pope Shenouda III said, "The slogans used by some [Coptic protesters] have transgressed all values and modes of behavior... and some have tried to resort to violence, but violence is absolutely not a method of ours." He added

We can not prevent people from expressing their sorrow, yet I ask them to express their feelings without violence. I am glad that many Muslims joined [in the protests] which shows that all are against terrorism and sectarian violence. The attack brought us together and we have to unite against the enemy that aims to weaken our bonds.

He also expressed views regarding the government's role: "I believe that the state has a duty to solve Copts' problems," adding, "We all believe in the rule of law and the importance of law and order. A state would collapse if the law was not implemented, but we want equality. Additionally,

Citizenship is a great principle, but many don’t understand it, for it means equality.We must be alert to all kinds of discrepancies taking place in the our society. We should face problems and work on solving them because if we just ignore them, it will get worse.

The National Democratic Party's Policies Committee Chairman (and presumptive future Egyptian president), Gamal Mubarak called the attack "heinous" and asserted that everyone behind the terrorist attack will sooner or later be brought to justice.


Many here in the U.S. have suggested exerting pressure by whatever dignified means available. Among the options suggested was a letter campaign, directed to U.S. congresspersons. While I think this is helpful and necessary, President Obama and the U.S. Congress are preoccupied with resolving other important issues, such as those concerning healthcare and the economy, as well as the growing concern over Iran, North Korea, and domestic security. The concerns of their American constituents and (realistically) their own political well-being will dominate their efforts.

In the end, Egypt's destiny will, for better or worse, be decided by and among Egyptians. Encouragingly, many in the mainstream Egyptian media have begun to express the an appropriate level outrage. Among them are Amr Adeeb and, his wife and colleague, Lamis Elhadidy:





With a burdened heart, I ask you to join me in praying and advocating for Egypt, my people.

Congratulations to H.G. Bishop Suriel

I am excited to report that His Grace's PhD. thesis proposal has been accepted. You may read more about it here. As you may know, His Grace seeks to contribute much to our knowledge of Archdeacon Habib Jirgis.

Winning Yourself

Haile Gebrselassie, known as "The Emperor," is considered by many to be the greatest runner of all time. On Sunday, he announced his retirement from the sport.

Here is a nice clip, in which he discusses "winning yourself."

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

He once told CNN,

When you believe in something, you believe in yourself as well. I believe in God. I go to a church and pray, not just to pray to God, but at the same time to pray for yourself. Your body is always ready to do what you recommend what you ask it. That's why believing is very important. I am a religious person. I am an orthodox Christian. My family taught me how to pray.(*)

Here he is announcing his retirement, after the 2010 New York City Marathon

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

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*Q & A with Haile Gebrselassie

The Baystate Marathon

LAST WEEK I took a second crack at the marathon. After a little time to reflect, I am o.k. with how it went.

I went out hoping to hit sub-3:30. The night before, I thought: "All I have to do is start a bit carefully and then try to stay in the 7:50s." This did not exactly pan out. Like my training, there were brief good moments, some bad ones, and some really bad ones.

I crossed the 10k mark in 50:42, feeling fine, but realizing that I was running with the sub-3:40 crowd. This is more or less where I remained.

Near the end of the first half, I could not tell whether I had more than enough to finish "evenly," or if did not have nearly enough. Such is novice marathoning.

When I crossed mile 20 in 2:42 and change, I thought, "A 48-minute 10k? I can do that." Miles 21 and 22 reflected that belief. But, for whatever reason, during the 23-26.2 stretch, either became cautious or lost some zip, finishing in 3:36.

I think in many ways the race was microcosm of the training that preceded it. I ran more than I ever have, but my training was erratic and I do not think I "learned" my body well, how different paces felt, and what the different signals from my body meant. The fact that, throughout the race, I could not tell whether I had a ton of reserves left or very little is, itself, indicative.

I read Pete Pfitzinger's Advanced Marathoning and followed (more or less) his 18/70 plan, but wish I had fully-digested it well before I started training or, at the very least eight weeks before the race.
I attempted a number of workouts, but did give myself the time or rest to execute them properly. In some cases, I executed them more aggressively than I should have.

If, God willing, I run a marathon this Spring, I hope to get to bed consistently earlier so that I can get up early and do the workouts properly and after proper rest. Doing workouts properly entails not pushing harder than is called-for. I also need to take my easier days a bit easier so as to soak up the benefits from the hard days. I also split most of the weekday medium-long runs into doubles, which does not produce good results for me.

Overall, I am thankful to God and my wife for supporting me in this beautiful thing. Thirty minutes faster than last year is a lot to be grateful for. Time to take it easy for a bit.

How Champions Finish

HERE'S the amazing men's finish at last Sunday's the Chicago Marathon:

Track and Field Videos on Flotrack

Manute Bol's Radical Christianity

JOURNALISTS use the terms "redemption" and "atonement," fairly loosely. But for Manute Bol, who died last week, these terms had a real theological meaning, a meaning that translated into a single-minded life for Christ. Here's a nice Wall Street Journal piece my wife sent me.

Western States 100

THE WESTERN STATES 100 has been described as the "de facto national championship" of ultra-racing. Most runner's will not run it. Most know that they cannot ever run it. This is not a never-say-never issue. There is wisdom in never.

For an in depth look at the race experience itself - its pain and beauty - check out the reports of super-elites Anton Krupicka and Geoff Roes.

Hey, maybe one day I'll race it. You never know.
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Photo by Luis Escobar

Lent--Why Bother?

Frederica Mathewes-Green has published a nice essay on the value of Great Lent.

Ms. Mathewes-Green has written much on Eastern Christian spirituality and the Orthodox Church. Her husband, Fr. Gregory Mathewes-Green, is an Orthodox priest. Among her works are:

The Illumined Heart: Capture the Vibrant Faith of Ancient Christians

The Jesus Prayer: The Ancient Desert Prayer That Tunes the Heart to God

At the Corner of East and Now: A Modern Life in Ancient Christian Orthodoxy; and

The Open Door: Entering the Sactuary of Icons and Prayer

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Thank you to Andrew Mitry for sending the article.

Clark Carlton

ONE PODCAST I particularly enjoy is Faith and Philosophy by Clark Carlton. Professor Carlton, a convert to Orthodox Christianity, brings a sober understanding of the world and its cultures to each of his discussions.

He is the author of The Faith: Understanding Orthodox Christianity, a title recommended for those interested in such topics as the Trinity, the Fall, and the teachings of Christ.

Guest Post: Farrah's Trip to Egypt

by Farrah Assad

A friend of mine, Farrah Assad, visited Egypt last summer to work with the children in the Zabaleen district. She was kind enough to prepare a report for us:

I visited Egypt over winter break carrying all the donations, including children’s clothing, computer equipment, game console and money. I met with two of the teachers serving at Dare Banet Mariam in the Zabaleen. I also saw Tasoni (sister) Takla, the principal of the school. We divided the clothing into several groups, boys and girls and the age groups. The next day I visited the school and brought along with me the donations from school and church. My family and I set up the computer, printer, projector and video camera in Tasoni’s office. We passed by each class handing out the clothing for the students. The donations that were made for this organization were not only enough for the class that I taught over the summer, but there was plenty for the entire school, about 210 children. All the students were so happy and grateful for the sweaters and socks. The teachers and Tasoni Takla was extremely delighted to see the joy in the eyes of the children. They expressed their gratitude towards all who contributed to this effort. They decided to use the monetary gift towards setting up a playroom, something they wished to have for a long time. I wanted to thank everyone so much for all the donations that were made and to let everyone know that the smallest donations have made a huge impact on these children’s lives. I have attached a few of the pictures of the children receiving the gifts, hope you enjoy them. Thanks so much again!!!

You're Too Old To Run...

... but Joy Johnson is not:

Giving Facebook the Ax

I vacillate.

Sometimes I get to a place where I wish to purge my life of Facebook and even text messaging. Sometimes it is triggered by a total inability to focus and accomplish anything; sometimes by the nausea created by all the noise in my mind; sometimes by the simple, primordial desire for simplicity; sometimes from regret over a curt, rude or misinterpreted text message; or sometimes by the sight of an older person staring at their phone with delight like it is a greater being than they are (You're old. You know everything. Why are you enamored by a toy? Go sit on a chair and smile, bemused at the young, impetuous kids).

Other times, I want to get in touch with someone(s) (and Facebook helps) or I want to send a message, but can't make a phone call at the moment (and so I send a text).

I've decided to try to use these things, while keeping the noise at bay.

Are The Gospels Reliable?

Faith and Theology published a letter from George Hunsinger to a young inquirer on the reliability of the gospels. The letter is worth reading.

More Pain

I WILL BE the first to admit that many of the Coptic protests in the West against persecution in Egypt have been gaudy and downright embarrassing. But no one - no one - can deny that there is a serious, serious issue in that country. For the first time, the situation is making me physically sick and psychologically depressed.

The latest episode occurred this past Christmas when six Coptic Christians were murdered by a Muslim gunman as they filed out of a midnight mass in the southern town of Nag Hamadi.

The situation has become so bad that even, in Europe, His Holiness Pope Benedict felt compelled to address the issue.

I genuinely believe that President Hosni Mobarek is personally saddened by these events, especially in view of his long-time friendship with His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. However, it remains to be seen how serious he is about a crackdown on the mess in Upper Egypt. Egyptian police say they have arrested three suspects. It is my view that what is done with these three men and about this attack will speak volumes about how serious Egypt is about being viewed as a just, respectable nation on the world stage. For a country held in high regard - at least relative to other Mideast nations - such a state of affairs is unacceptable.

The Wall Street Journal recently put this event in context of a wider global issue.

In contrast,The New York Times appears to minimize the issue, framing it as a simple case of a shooting that just happened to take place at a church. Really.

See also the report and perspective at Christnology.

As the Year Turns

THIS IS THE FIRST NEW YEAR in which I make conscious decisions about the kind of person I would like, by God's grace, to become. Perhaps, making semi-new year's resolutions is a sign of the kind of conformity to social conventions that comes with age. Whatever the case, I am starting to find rebellion for its own sake annoying. Plus, certain political figures have made terms like "maverick" both hilarious and nauseating.

In 2010, I hope to

1. understand the Bible/Fathers more deeply;

2. run a sub-3:30 marathon;

3. close the gap between running and spirituality; and

4. deepen the many beautiful relationships with which I have been blessed.

On the running side, I feel like I peeled away one layer of slowness and weakness. I feel ready for a faster 2010. I surprised myself at the end of 2009. After choking on marathon day, I ran a good 10k and, 4 days later, an even better a 5-miler, which were good enough to entice me to do better in 2010. These races were like an enticing aroma, pulling me into 2010.

I learned what kind of miles I will need to do if I ever want to be a marathoner. I am not a marathoner yet; no way. Jogging 26.2 miles with a cheering section does not make one a marathoner; it makes him a clown with a moderate fitness level.

I feel like I have reached the fast end of slow and I am grateful for that.

I made some good friends.

I am firmly fixed in this thing called running, which helps me forget at times, the thing in life that kills me most, that I spend most of my hours working for money and not for something meaningful. But on many runs - while snot drips over my lips as I greet day laborers waiting and hoping to earn a buck - I have had time to think that maybe this elusive “meaningful work” is just an empty name for an illusory castle. I have learned on those runs to find meaning in the now, in the presence of God and man. Thanks guys.