Focus, Focus, Focus

Now that my season is over I have decided to work on my running again for the next few months. Trying to build a good running base. It is my hope to do some longer races this next season and I want to have a good distance base. I am hoping to do at least one 1/2 marathon and a 1/2 Ironman as well. After some research I have decided to do the Heart-rate running system. So I have been working the system. One of the things you do in the heart-rate system is you take your max heart rate and your resting heart rate and calculate the two numbers to get your heart rate zones. I know this sounds complicated but really this is very easy. I have a web site that I visit to get these numbers and zones.

So while I was enjoying a beautiful morning run this last week. I was trying to do a max heart rate test. I was attempting to dial in my heart rate for my heart rate running training. So the plan was to do a 15 min warm-up and then a 1/2 mile sprint with a 1 min rest then a 2nd 1/2 mile sprint. What ever your heart rate is at the end of the 2nd sprint is what your max heart rate. So I set off on my warm up feeling fine. pretty much staying in zone 1 just trying to stay loose. So as I started my first 1/2 mile sprint. I held a a comfortable pace and was now kicking it up for the finish. I then hit my lap counter to get my time and then flipped to get my heart-rate but the lap screen stayed up. So now I am staring at my watch I didn't see the pot hole in the middle of the running path. Yep, that's right I twisted my ankle and I dropped like a ton of bricks. I walked it off for about 5 minutes and then finished with my 2nd sprint. Although I did have 2 good 1/2 mile runs of 6:45mile avg and 6:58 mile avg. I unfortunately I did not  get an accurate heart-rate, but what I did get was a very sore ankle. I have been nursing this sore ankle for about 5 days now. I don't think I will be running for about 10 days. All because I was not watching where I was going.

You know in the Christian life this is true as well. God gives us a basic running path. He tells us to keep our eyes on Him. He has admonished us to, trust in Him and he will direct our path. Provb. 3:5-6. We sometimes get sidetracked. We take our eyes of of Jesus and look to self, or the things of this world.  Although we Love God and want to please him we get distracted by life and we try to go it alone. I don't think we plan it or realize we are doing it until we step in a pot hole of life. Now we are struggling to get back on our feet. I just Praise God that He is an all loving and forgiving God. I thank Jesus that he not only died for my sins, but all of my sins (past, present and future). The thank the Lord that he gave me 1Jn1:9 to forgive me of my sins and that for the most part it does not hurt like my ankle has for the last 5 days.

So now that I have God's little reminder to keep my eyes on focused Him. I will trust in Philp. 3:13-14. Last but not least I will always REMEMBER: to keep my eyes on the right path by Staring at Lines.

NOTE: This web site is the best site I have found for heart-rate training. http://www.best-running-tips.com/index.html
This is the link to the Karvonen Heart rate calculator (http://www.best-running-tips.com/heart-rate-monitor-training-karvonen-calculator.html)