The need for speed...

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize." - 1 Corinthians 9:24

Amy and I have added Wednesday track work. It called Yasso 800’s. Bart Yasso (see his blog at: http://www.mylifeontherun.com/about ) is a marathon runner who came up with the idea of a marathon time predictor. The theory is to practice running 800 meter intervals (880 yards, or twice around a track) at a time in minutes and seconds that you want to run your marathon in hours and minutes. For example: You want to run a 3 hr. 50 min. marathon. Practice running 800’s in 3 minutes 50 seconds with a recovery jog of the same time between interval runs. The goal is to work up to running 10 of these intervals in a training session.  Incremental improvements are the name of the game. Also, stop these training sessions at least 14 days before the marathon to aid in recovery. Amy and I are at 4 intervals of 3:58 and next week we will do 5! Is running a 3 hr. 58 min. marathon  our goal? Duhno. Time and practice will tell. This training sounds a bit odd, but according to several running books and websites it works. This doesn’t change our other training runs and especially not the weekly long run. It just focuses you on running faster, building confidence, etc. We’ll see after the marathon just how it worked. Keep us in your thoughts and prayers.

I am grateful for our awesome creator

I am grateful for our amazing 3 children

I am grateful for chocolate ice cream

I am grateful for waterfalls

I am grateful for Bible Study Fellowship

Backpacking Yosemite!

"For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come." - 1 Timothy 4:8

If this is your first time to the blogosphere... Welcome! Ishimwe Running is intended to raise awareness and funds for the Ishimwe Center in Rwanda, a home for orphaned children. It is following my daughter Amy's and my efforts as we prepare to run the Calif. Intl. Marathon in Sacramento this coming Dec. 2010.

Amy and I took the end of the week off from running to backpack Yosemite (http://www.nps.gov/yose/).  We backpack annually (this was our 8th year) with any number of friends and / or family. This year we trekked with Megan, Jordan and Mark Biasotti from Tuolumne Meadows to Happy Isles on the valley floor over a three day period. Here is a short recap.

Leaving Sunrise Camp Site

Leaving San Jose late Weds. morning, we drove across the Central Valley to Merced picking up Highway 140 and entered Yosemite through the Arch Rock Entrance near El Portal. We were in the Valley mid-afternoon and headed straight for the Wilderness Center. There we picked up our reserved Wilderness Permits and Half Dome Permits (something new this year for anyone wishing to climb the rock). On the way back to the car we stopped by the Yosemite Village Store for that evening’s dinner of chili hot dogs. Then we drove to the Backpacker’s Camp. Aptly named, only those with Wilderness Permits are allowed to use a special walk-in camping area on the valley floor. It is located (almost hidden really) next to the North Pines campsites and near the Riding Stables. After a pleasant evening together laughing, listening to Jordan's stories of his cross America bicycle ride and playing card games, we slept (fitfully) under the stars with a minimum of two late night interruptions of “bear!”, clanking of pots and pans, yelling, clapping, etc. as a bear entered the camp (far away from us).

Megan B and Amy B

In the morning, it was up at 6am. We have all backpacked together before, so everyone knew the drill. As soon as I was packed, I walked to get the van. We were out of there in no time. We headed over to Yosemite Lodge for a lovely breakfast in the cafeteria. I love the shared memories of Yosemite. Every family we know has enjoyed the park in one fashion or another. The cafeteria is one such shared memory. It remains looking much like it did in the ‘60s with only upgrades in the food services area, yet remains filled with snippets of childhood memories for each of us. We drank coffee, picked up our bus tickets and chatted of Yosemite & hiking memories past as we waited for the bus to Tuolumne Meadows.

Once on the hiker’s bus, we kicked back, joke a bit about our driver’s spiel of years past and rested until Olmsted Point (just before Tenaya Lake) where we got off the bus for a Kodak moment with Half Dome in the distance; then on to the Cathedral Lakes trailhead where we were dropped off.  The hike starts off quickly gaining altitude with a series of switchbacks that eventually lead past the two lakes hidden below Cathedral Peak, named for its craggy rock outcroppings resembling a medieval cathedral. After the “reasonably” severe initial climb, the hike levels out (relatively speaking) and follows the John Muir Trail westward to Sunrise High Sierra Camp to where we set up camp for the night. Our milage: for 7.8 miles. This is one of our favorite camp settings as it overlooks a large pristine meadow reminiscent of the Plains of Rohan from Lord of the Ring trilogy.  Mark outdid himself in his culinary arts with a one pot meal of pasta salad with spam, fresh tortellini, fresh yellow and red bell peppers, fresh mushrooms, butter and tossed with Italian dressing. Dessert of Poptarts Flambe’! Yum! This camp site also allows for camp fires, so Jordan and I set about successfully starting a fire with his flint and steel (no matches) taking only a couple hundred strikes of both.  The night was crystal clear, and once the moon set, stars, shooting stars, satellites, airplanes and the Milky Way gave an impressive show of God’s majesty of creation. But it was cold that night. We woke up to the meadow as a ‘fairy land’ of frost and a wisp of smoke wafting over from the High Sierra Camp. When you sleep outside, you rise with the sun. In this case, I could lay in my bag and wait for the sun to crest the far mountains and eventually reach us with its encouraging warmth. One of our breakfast traditions is ‘eggs in a bag’ where you create an omelet of egg, cheeses, bacon, salt ‘n pepper ‘scrabbled in a sealed baggie, then placed in boiling water to cook. Once done, it’s an easy pour of cooked egg into a tortilla to make a breakfast burrito / hand warmer. After breakfast we packed then had a 20 minute quiet time which we each spent in thought, prayer, reading, or reading God’s Word. Fantastic way to start the day!

Amy & John on top of Half Dome

Our next hiking segment (as all our days should) started with a prayer, then we set off for a 7.9 mile hike to Little Yosemite Valley campground. We arrived early afternoon, found our campsite (w/ bear box) and set up camp. After a swim (all of us) in the Merced River, we prepared hor d’ourves of fried Spam and sourdough bread with olive oil & balsamic vinegar followed by a dinner of beef stew and dessert of cookies.  As the campsites filled up fast, Megan cheerfully offered to share our campsite & bear box with Jeanna and Dillon from Chicago. Neat people, but both characters. We shared our evening meal with them. Then, after our evening ablutions, we hit the hay early as we were to awaken at 2:45am Sat. in order to hike to Half Dome under a starry canopy, climb the cables and be on top for sunrise. Hiking uphill, in the dark makes for a cool and amazingly quick transit. Ok, maybe we were way early, and there was a freezing cold wind, but we were there when the Sun crested the Sierras around 6:35 while y’all were still in bed.  But wait, that’s not all… we brought a camp stove, water and fixings for coffee with 1/2 & 1/2, hot cocoa and oatmeal for breakfast. The view from the top is absolutely 360 degree AMAZING! No matter how many times climbed, the thrill of accomplishment combined with the breathtaking, never to become monotonous views is truly awesome. After breakfast, we paused to give thanks and honor Christ by partaking in communion on top of the Dome. Praise God from whom all blessings flow!!

Jordan, Megan, Amy & Mark
Just down off  the cables

We then headed down to camp, packed up and hit the Mist Trail to trek down to Happy Isle. Ask Amy and Megan about their desire to help a couple of wayward hikers find their way to Merced Lake. We stopped at Emerald Pool at the top of Vernal Falls for our final trail meal, then headed down the trail, fighting our way through the Sat. crowds all heading up to Vernal and Nevada Falls. What a delight it is that a park such as Yosemite can be accessible to so many people from literally around the world.  I heard French, German, Italian, Spanish, Chinese, Japanese and even a bit of the Queen’s English plus American dialects. And every shape, size and age of visitors could be seen. It would have been more fun  people watching had we not been on our last miles of our 31 mile trek through the Sierras. We enjoyed a bus ride through the valley back to Yosemite Lodge where the car was parked. A quick change into clean clothes, and shoes; bought a Diet Coke, mailed a postcard to Mom (Hi Mom!) then on to Oakdale for Pizza & Starbucks and home to San Jose by evening.A great trip with wonderful friends. We look forward to going back next year! – Johnny B

I am grateful for my Savior, Jesus

I am grateful for bold coffee

I am grateful for hill running

I am grateful for clean sheets

I am grateful for inspiring artwork

Can you say RFID?

Step with Mr. Peabody, his boy Sherman and me once again into the Wayback machine for a visit to running history. The first running competition was probably by accident between two men outrunning a dinosaur trying to eat them. And it probably wasn’t too much later that teenage boys began racing each other as one dared the other to slap the backside of a T-Rex then “run for it” (laughing all the way back to their cave). Running competitions in recorded history date back to the Tailteann Games in Ireland in 1829 BC, and the first Olympic Games in 776 BC.

Now take the Wayback forward to the early part of the 20th century. Running had become a gentlemen’s sport. Rules became an increasingly important part of the game, racers trained for specific events and expected organizers to be more, well …organized. Enter time keepers, starting guns, numbers on jerseys identifying athletes, finish line tapes, photo finishes, and record books. Athletes began wondering how to best capture and standardize the athletic performance. Stop watches, certified and standardized running distances, etc. all became part of the game.

In the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s running hadn’t changed a whole lot. Technically things improved, running tracks, timing abilities, etc. (oey! If they can send a man to the moon…) Yet, as more runners entered races, capturing times (not just Olympics) became more and more important. A runner registered for a race, had his name written down and a bib number assigned and handed to him (or her) to wear. Computer tracking eventually became an essential part of the event (and an evolving business). On TV, the Wide World of Sports even devoted segments to scientific methods of timing. In the 80’s, hundreds, if not thousands of runners entered events. As you approached the finish line you were encouraged, forced, nay... herded into finishing chutes that funneled runners into single person lanes. As you cross the finish line, someone with a device attached to a computer clicked your finish time (a time stamp) into a computer of the order finished, unassociated with who crossed the line. Multiple finishing chutes; multiple computers.

This was a great improvement and the best that could be done at the time. As you finished you were herded into the chutes (yes, you did hear an occasional ‘mooing’ along the way) where your order of finish was determined. If you finished with great effort and right behind you someone else finished but stepped in front of you as you entered the chute, your time was given to the interloper... and you got his (or hers, “after you; oh no, I insist!”). The bottom of your numbered race bib was torn off and put onto a stringer in the order you finished. There was no ability for individual timings. Your race time was from when the gun sounded until you crossed the finish line. In a race such as the SJ Mercury News 10K, there were 10 – 15,000 runners. It might take 5 (or more) minutes to cross the Starting Line. You timed it yourself and often subtracted time “until I crossed the starting line” when exchanging bragging rights with fellow runners.

In the 70’s, I was employed with Memorex (then one of the big names of pre-personal computing Silicon Valley) and was involved with their employee activity group (MAG). We decided to run a 10k (6 miles) for employees and their families and I called on some techy friends to help with the timing. We purchased numbered bibs (w/ tear off bottom), trophies and a friend put together a rudimentary finish line timer using an Apple IIe. We held our run at West Valley College in Saratoga, and had approx. 200 registered runners. Twice around the perimeter road we ran, finishing in a (one) chute in front of the Admin. Building. Luckily, the winners were easily determined and no one came in close to each other. We compiled our finishers’ timing list for publication and counted our blessings that the timers worked without hiccup.

Now take a quantum leap forward to 2008 and the use of passive RFID (just say the letters individually like you know what you’re talking about) transponders. RFID stands for Radio Frequency Identification. Have you ever thought about those little metallic ID strips in new DVD’s, CD’s, books and clothing that activate the door buzzers unless deactivated by a sales clerk at checkout? That’s the same principle I’m talking about! Each runner is now given a chip or tag with the runner’s unique identification number (bib number). The chip / strip / tag (called a transponder) is inactive until moved into a magnetic field generated by a sending antenna in a mat or stand (see picture above of blue and red mat ). The transponder (strip) then transmits its unique identification number to a receiving antenna in a stand or mat whose software creates a time stamp of when the strip passed by. Although a RFID tag might transmit its number several times while the athlete is crossing the mat, software is used to eliminate all but the first time recorded for each chip at each timing point. Very cool technology.

Over the past several years I’ve experienced two different RFID tags. The first from ChampionChip, an early leader in the field. They created a hard, enclosed waterproof capsule containing the chip and energizing coil. Race organizers rented them from the race timing company and assigned one per entrant. Following the race staff helped remove the tags from runners’ shoes, and if not returned, runners were charged $25 – 30 per tag lost.

Then came along D-Tags (see picture at left) which are disposable transponders. The runner gets it with his bib number and easily attaches it to his shoe with attached removable tape. These tags need not be returned and are very efficient. Now runners can have their cake and eat it too ….errr… have their gun time and chip time too. Runners get the full elapse time from when the gun fires and their personal time from when they cross the RFID mat at the beginning and end of the race. Some distance races are now also including a RFID mat mid way through the course to provide both a split time (how fast the runner ran each half of the race) and insure that runners don’t take short cuts along the route. To complete the run they must cross a) the Starting Line mat, b) a midway mat and c) the Finish Line mat to prove they ran the full course. Races are even now offering automatic text messages as well to be sent to cell phones of spectators and runners alike when a runner crosses the midway mat. How excellently far we’ve come!

- John B

I am grateful for beautiful sunrises and sunsets
I am grateful for running at 56
I am grateful for serving at church
I am grateful for walks with Janet
I am grateful for backpacking with friends

120 days to go!

My musings today (Saturday, 8/7) are short. 120 days to go until the marathon. It’s going to take a lot more training to be ready for the Calif. Intl. Marathon! This morning I went for my longest ‘long run’ to date: 16 miles in: 2 hr, 26 min, 20 sec.! By most peoples’ standard that’s one definition of obsession. Well not obsession really; more like craziness! This I have to agree with. Add to that 10 more miles! No matter what your passion in life, the pursuit of a goal, or dream, can and will take over part of your life. I am trying not to become obsessed (OK, maybe a little, but shhhhh! don't tell anyone). Amy and I do have a goal of completing a marathon. That by itself is one major big deal. So to accomplish this we have to put in the time and effort to prepare to as Nike says “Just do it!” As an old guy it takes a bit more to get to a physical level of endurance, and more time to recover in between training sessions.  

Quick  aside:

The Boston Marathon (http://www.bostonmarathon.org/) qualifying time for:

56 yr old males: 3 hrs 45 min

21 yr old females: 3 hr 40 min

           ..…go figure...so don’t look for me qualifying any time soon!    ;)

Yet the goal of completing is important to this 56 year old’s fund raising efforts. Thank you one and all for your pledge cards! Keep ‘em coming!! The more I run, the more I look not at myself, but to Christ who strengthens me. I’m learning about pacing oneself, about the need for hydration, mid-run nutrition and above all, the encouragement and support of Janet, the kids and our stalwart friends!

My current long run starts Saturdays at 6am in Campbell, at the park on the Los Gatos Creek Trail. I cross the creek and head down the creek toward San Jose, turning around at Meridian Ave and trace my steps back to Campbell. That breaks up my run into the first segment of 5 miles. I then run out 5.5 miles toward Los Gatos, turn around and head back to Campbell for the total 16 mile run. Then it’s home for coffee with Janet, job search, work on refinishing the kitchen cabinets, AND take a nap! Yahoo! One more week at 16 miles then on to 17 miles!

I’ve also been reminded lately that we are a blessed people, and have much to be grateful for. So I will be adding a few thoughts on what I’m grateful for each week. What are you grateful for? Let me know and I can include them!

 – Johnny B

I am grateful for close friends

I am grateful for family

I am grateful for Bible study time

I am grateful for my wife

I am grateful for my work

Running with perseverance!

Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God.- Hebrews 121-2

Before I start, let me just shout "Happy 21st Birthday!" to my running buddy and beautiful daughter, Amy!


What does it mean to “run with perseverance the race marked out for us”? Is this just a saying we may sometimes casually make because it sounds cool and ties in with running? Maybe. To me it says a lot about life and running. Every runner knows about running with perseverance. One definition of perseverance would be to act or undertake something in spite of having to face difficulties, obstacles or discouragement. Ask anyone about preparing for a race. Each of us knows what it takes to do our best; work; practice; dedication; sacrifice; effort; perseverance and reliance on family and friends for support. Some practice days are good; others not so good. For the Christian it is much the same. Yet, with steadfastness we are to honor Jesus in our beliefs holding true to God’s teaching through His Word. Are you daily preparing to follow Christ and do His will?

In preparing to run, many of us may look at a map of a race course, look at a map of the elevation changes or we maybe even drive the course beforehand to get a picture of what to expect. Some larger races (like the SF Marathon) even provide YouTube video of the race course (http://www.thesfmarathon.com/the-course/course-video.php). When you are running in the pack, in the thick of a race, you are relying on others who came before and who marked out the route with signage, traffic cones and race staff who help direct. We all follow the same course. As Christians we have the Bible to show us the path ahead, what to expect in life and how to be a winner. Psalm 119:105 says "Your word is a lamp to my feet and light to my path." Am I picking up the guide book daily to see the course my life should take? Not always, but I (we maybe?) need to keep trying.

Even before speaking of running, the writer in Hebrews speaks of “a great cloud of witnesses”. In life, I see this ‘cloud of witnesses’ as those who went before us and testify of what they have seen, and also those presently watching us. When running a race, I see many bystanders watching us and cheering runners on. I also would say that I am witnessing from within the race itself. I love to people watch. I bet everyone running has a story to tell. From a Biblical perspective watching us may be Christians residing in Heaven who went before us giving testimony of the goodness of Christ, or the angels serving God, or, witnesses could just be the man on the street… our neighbor, co-worker or family member. You and I are being watched to see just how we handle our struggles, challenges, victories and disappointments. This is not said boastfully, as many people are so wrapped up in their own lives that they may not even care about what you or I do. And what you or I or we do, frankly, isn’t that impressive. But others are watching as we try to battle or surmount life’s challenges and to see if we are real / true to our beliefs. Do we walk the walk? It is a reminder to rely on our preparations so as to minimize stumbling and maximize what we know to be true and right.

Pastor Jon Courson (http://joncourson.com ), writes in his Bible commentary of the Christian walk (run?), “The race before us is not a sprint. It is a marathon. We’re in it for the long haul, gang.” This is so true. Our training (for life, as well as running) is meant to give strength and endurance for our full run of life in service to God. Our physical training and study of God’s Word prepares us for service and running that marathon. If you are running a long distance race (I’ll let you define what long is), then the physical training may be what is primarily on your mind as it is our bodies that must carry us through. And yet there is also a great mental aspect in running. There’s an old saying ‘when the going gets tough, the tough get going.’  It doesn’t say ‘the tough bail or give up.’ The tough keep going. Mental toughness is part of the preparation for long runs. Most of us don’t wake up one day and say, “I’m now mentally tough enough to withstand the pressures of this world.” It takes preparation, training, experience, perseverance and reliance on God to see us through the toughest times in life.  Are you prepared to go the full distance?

One key element and way to accomplish the marathon is seen in the next passage of Hebrews. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith. We need to pick and focus our efforts on the proper goal. To the runner, it may be the finish line and the accolades in crossing that line. To the Christian it should plainly be Christ Jesus. To the Christian runner, our focus should not be just the physical accomplishment, but the running can be a way to honor and draw closer to God. And lastly, in focusing on Jesus, we will appreciate His great sacrifice on the cross in order to give you and me the free gift of eternal life in Him. I give Him praise and honor each time I set foot out the door for a run.

Take the time to do something in His and for His name. Maybe even run to Him as He runs to you!!– John B