Reps

Kip 

Do you really think getting a personal trainer will break all those bad habits I have cultivated for years? Lynn, ever the optimist, gave me a Christmas gift that just keeps on giving... a personal trainer (for a limited time!). She told the folks at 24 Hour Fitness she wanted the biggest, ugliest, meanest, trainer they had to get her husband in shape. What I got was Kip. Great kid! From Arkansas at that! He starts going through the routine and talking about these reps. I am going through the routine thinking after each sadistic tool he introduces, "Man, I'll never use that again." and "Boy, I'm glad that's over with." Then at the end, I'm gasping for breath and he's saying stuff like "Do this one 3 times 15 for 45 reps." Do that one 75 reps." "I want to see you here 3-4 times a week working on these." So, in my head, I'm lining up 12 friends that can be my representative for each of these knee crunching, belly busting exercises--but there's no way, I can get 75 friends to be my reps. Then, the fog clears. Kip thinks I am going to sit on that ball and contort my body 75 times -over and over and over. I've got a headache! Think I'll have some ice cream and go take a nap.

Do two halfs make a whole?

Seven days apart produced 26.2 miles! The Kansas City run was fun, but challenging in the ups and downs. Who knew KC was so hilly! While finishing with a time of 3:17 was not impressive, I did accomplish all my goals;
1. Completed the race! without injury...
2. Did not finish last.
3. Did not finish last in my age class.

L.A. was another race with a unique set of rewards and challenges. My son, Kyle, and I arrived just before the start. We were both in the porta-potty lines when the gun went off. Finishing my biz, I buzzed off to catch our time corral and wait for Kyle there. Kyle, meanwhile, waited for me back at the potties. Awkward... We did hook back up and cross the starting line together. I am convinced the City officials had no interest in this 30,000+ participant run and routed us through road construction, rundown neighborhoods, warehouse areas, unused parks and backroads. Rock-n-Roll Races are some of the best organized I have ever run (and many others, that's why they are so popular), but I will NOT be going back to L.A. for a race. Even with our communication trouble at the beginning, and my complaining about the course, we still had a great time! pic taking, band sing alongs, Kyle pacing me--all with a 3:10 time. And best of all, if everyone came through with their pledges, we raised about $1,500.00 for Outreach. Thanks!

L.A. is 2 Weeks Away

Happy Campers! I run for their future!

5.5 miles, 1 hour, 17 minutes
Gym workout
4.9 miles, 1 hour, 3 minutes
Gym workout
5.2 miles, 1 hour 7 minutes
Lawn mowing
12.1 miles, 3 hours 23 minutes
239 pounds

I will run the Waddell and Reed Kansas City half marathon October 16. Hopefully, my grand-daughter Ava will join me on the last half mile and we will cross the finish line together. It would give this ole' grandpa a real thrill to share such a moment with such a precious, beautiful young one!

More importantly, my son Kyle has agreed to run the L.A. Rock N' Roll Half Marathon with me the next weekend--October 24. Zac Mac will also be joining with us. Together, we are running to support Outreach International in ending poverty one child, one family, one village at a time. The L.A. Community of Christ youth have been challenged by Kyle and Zac to step up with their family and friends support. They are invited to give to Outreach International and support Kyle and Zac in finishing the race. Ways to support include:
1. Pledge $1.00-10.00 for each mile completed by Kyle and/or Zac. (13.1 miles total).
2. Go to Outreach-International.org website and make a gift.
3. Run the race with Zac and Kyle.
4. Buy a run4liferun4love T-Shirt (all proceeds go to Outreach!)
5. Buy the t-shirt, wear it to the race, and cheer Kyle and Zac along the way.
6. Tell your friends and family and encourage them to do any and/or all of the above!
7. Find out more about poverty and how you can help end it in our lifetime. Read some of my blog entries. Check out the Outreach website.

The Waddle becomes a Hobble

3.5 miles, 46 minutes
6.7 miles 1 hour, 48 minutes
Cutting down a tree and stacking wood
Trimming trees and clearing brush
mowing lawn


What a terrible week! On my second run I developed blisters on the toes. First time ever for having this happen. Same shoes, same socks, same pavement. Why now? What caused this hiccup? The dang things were huge and on every toe. They would not go away. Walking was a pain in the ---. So, I changed the workout routine and did a little manual labor for Walnut Gardens' Congregation. On my second cut in felling a tree, my back twisted north while the rest of my body was bending south. Ouch!  Now, I admit my diet is not watched as closely as it should be, but I do seem to discover new foods that seem to set off the GERDS all too often. So by Thursday night, I couldn't sleep laying down because of the GERDS effect, and I couldn't sleep sitting up, because my back was screaming. All three impaired any attempt to run out the door for a quick one. That left mowing the lawn as an option for a little exercise. Mowing the lawn was like harnessing a dust storm. So, the allergies have kicked in with a vengeance. 


While I do like whining about life's little inconveniences, poverty demoralizes and puts others at risk far beyond a little back pain. Lack of dignity, little confidence and no belief in their own abilities are the most debilitating aspects of poverty, creating hopelessness, isolation and resignation. These blisters don't heal as easily as mine. Outreach International brings dignity to individuals by helping them become self-sufficient through education, healthcare and livelihood, building stronger families as a result. Outreach International brings people together to share their concerns with others, to find hope and build confidence.

Ruth Humbert was an RN from the Community of Christ Health Ministries Association (HMA) who backpacked into Guatemala’s isolated mountain villages to provide health care for isolated families. Ruth and other nurses set up 10 traveling clinics in the mountain villages, each seeing 200 patients, and encouraging patients to solve lifestyle problems that impacted their health. As a result, people replaced smoky wood stoves with new ones that were vented to the outside, reducing respiratory distress. They obtained clean water filters and grew their own vegetables. Outreach International empowers people in Sustainable Good because it’s the good that’s energized in the people themselves. Now 2000 patients a month have access to preventative health care from 10 clinics. Join me in running to the end poverty one blister, one backache, one runny nose at a time!

I love technology...when it works!

Grandson Elliott knows how to use every app on my phone!

4.5 miles, 61 minutes
5.2 miles, 1 hour, 22 minutes
24Hr Fitness workout with 20 min cross trainer 48 minutes
mowed lawn
7.9 mile long run,  2 hours, 5 min.


Got a new iPhone. It has taken over my life. So many apps... so little time. I can wear this thing on my belt and with the ipod app listen to my running playlist, spend face to face time with my grand-daughter Ava, and with RunKeeper app, keep track of my distance, time, speed, etc. But then, about an hour into the run, the playlist begins erratically skipping and jumping to new songs every few seconds. Next, the earplugs would cut in and out--finally they would not work if plugged in, but iphone speaker would go silent when the plugs were removed. Last, the RunKeeper would pause whenever winded, so I would have activities lasting 2 min. 34 sec. and lose stats on an hours worth of run. A trip to the Apple store resulted in a new iphone! Not Expected! Yea!

While many of us in the U.S. are blessed with the affluence to use sophisticated apps, for many (2.4 billion) people in our world, the apps are biomass fuel (primarily wood or dung) for cooking and heat. The environmental cost is enormous, but the human toll is even greater. The World Health Organization estimates that 1.6 million people die each year from indoor air pollution – that’s one person every 20 seconds. According to Outreach International, nearly half the world’s population use wood, coal or dung to fuel their stoves and heat their homes. The smoke from open fires and stoves carries concentrated particulates of black carbon deep into the lungs of adults and children alike, ultimately causing chronic respiratory distress, lung cancer, pneumonia, and – too often – death. 

With the help of Outreach International, however, many communities are learning about a campaign for clean cooking energy and raised funds to install cleaner Malena stoves. These improved stoves are vented, use less fuel, and reduce smoke and carbon monoxide emissions. This app is inexpensive and effective. Let’s work to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time by actively supporting the creation, production and distribution of apps for better living!

My Belly--the Community Project

Run: Younhidong

4.55 miles

1:05

Run: Mt. Ansan

5.37 mile

1:12

Run: Younhi Stream

5.22 miles

1:12

Weight: 244

I love visiting Asia. I love the people. I love the food. I love the culture. Every trip is a wonderful experience. But I do have to prepare myself mentally. By Asian standards, I am a big man. People notice. I am finally ok with that. But why is it that in a culture with gracious manners, polite references, and no physical contact, complete strangers feel free to walk up to me, poke me in the belly (or worse yet, rub it) and laugh?

As is my practice, I attended church Sunday. It was great to see old friends and meet some new ones. The kids are all growing so fast. And, of course, the slim and trim ahjimas ( a Korean term of "endearment" for middle-aged women with an attitude) gathered 'round, poked and prodded my belly, declared that I was too fat, and took control of my diet for the next two weeks. Mrs. An, a wonderful cook in the kitchen and consumate professional in her career, put me on a nurtri-system soy powder shake, mixed drink, lots of water, pills, yada, yada diet. . . along with kimchi, kim, namyang, udon, and anything else they want me to eat. My eyeballs are floating, my colon is completely cleansed, my pores are oozing salt water, and I am running to the toilet every 20 minutes. I am also running--as you can see by my post. All for the loss of 2 pounds! Dr. Alcox says that's what old age does to your metabolism. It ain't fair!

Well, my Korean friends fuss and make fun of me-- I don't like the attention-- but I fuss over them and the point is this: They care. They support me. We are friends. We are family. We are community. If I am successful in my training for the races in October, it will be because of the encouragement of ahjimas. All of us need support in meeting our goals. All of us need to feel that we belong. Those enslaved in poverty and are ravaged by the violence, disease and human degradation that so often comes with poverty, often are able to effect change for a better life, when the opportunity is given to create community. To band together. To support one another. Together we can fight to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time. I invite you to join me!

Why is it so - - - - hard?!

Planting flowers

Hi. Long time, no see. After several false starts, fits and spits, I hope I am back on track in training for my next race. It has been a long miserable spell of lethargy, minor injuries and excuses. One thing I have discovered during the last year is that I need you... for inspiration motivation, encouraging support, a gentle push (and sometimes a kick in the ass to get me out the door!

Accountability makes me responsible. I think just the weekly embarrassment of posting my statistics motivated me to such a thrilling feeling of accomplishment for the Country Music Marathon.

So here we are. And yes, it is very embarrassing! I think this is the most I have EVER weighed in my life! These are the SLOWEST times I have ever posted! And my efforts to eat healthy and workout consistently are truly pathetic.

I am waddling toward the Kansas City Waddell and Reed Marathon (probably the half) with the following baggage:

Weight: 246 pounds

Last Run: Hospital loop/Jackson

Time: 1:05

Miles: 4.55

I promise I will keep posting.

Marathon Finish

It's a beautiful day in Nashville! 32,000 runners. 100.000 supporters and spectators. 220,000 gallons of bottled water. Over 1200 volunteers. 50 bands along the route. What an amazing run..

Thanks to the Wonderful People of Korea for their support during my training.

오은영/Oh Eun Young

김주혜/Kim Joo Hye

장성진/Jang Sung Jin

김 미/Kim Me

조동준/Cho Dong Jun

조선옥/Cho Seon Ok

안재옥/Ahn Jae Ok

김현애/Kim Hyun Ae

신상금/Shin Sang Keum

신금희/Shin Keum Hee

황숙희/Hwang Sook Hee

이순희/Lee Soon Hee

강유리/Kang Yu Ri

김현주/Kim Hyun Joo

김민정/Kim Min Jeong

신상범/Shin Sang Beom

강유경/Kang Yu Kyung

This successful venture is dedicated to the kids whose love kept me running.

박민지/Park Min Ji

박민우/Park Min Woo

이서연/Lee Seo Yeon

이서진/Lee Seo Jin

박현/Park Hyun

조범구/Cho Beom Gu

조지은/Cho Ji Eun

서은빈/Seo Eun Bin

윤창진/Yoon Chang Jin

김정태/Kim Jeong Tae

신수주/Shin Soo Ju

이은성/Lee Eun Sung

이은수/Lee Eun Su

진 현/Jin Hyun

김민선/Kim Min Sun

조강인/Cho Gang In

조용주/Cho Yong Ju

이수호/Lee Soo Ho

이예원/Lee Ye Won

Each of their names are on the back of the T-Shirts I wore during the race.

I have not been able to get a response from anyone at Outreach International to track our progress and indicate the funds that have been received for our efforts. From personal notes that have been sent to me regarding direct contributions and donations through facebooks, I think we have raised around $1,255.00. Thank you everyone for your support and belief in me!

As I get more race info and am able to upload photos, I will update in the next blog. In the meantime, I'm HUNGRY!

Love to all.

Build Back Better

Date: Friday, April 17 Jet Lag COSTCO Run

Time: 58:21

Distance: 5 miles kind of

Date: Monday, April 20, 2009

Time: 1:27:44

Distance: Loose Park Loopy Run

Date: Tuesday, April 21, 2009

Time: 41:19

Distance: 3.7 miles

Liu Ju went into labor February 26, 2009. While on her way to Anxian Maternal and Child Care Center, Liu gave birth to her daughter. Liu Ju was one of thousands of mothers who lost children in the devastating May 2008 earthquake in southwest China that took 69,000 lives. Liu's house was destroyed. The ambulance that transported Liu Ju and the medical equipment provided by UNICEF—such as infant incubators, pediatric examination tables, obstetric delivery beds and weight scales—has been crucial in guaranteeing the health of those women and their babies. Thousands of people have received a “second life” because of others more fortunate who care. Liu Ju came to my attention through UNICEF. One of the health workers shared the sentiments of many: "Our goal now is to build back better."

I was thinking of Liu Ju when I headed west on Truman Road in Independence, Missouri. I am now back home, just a few days from achieving my goal: finishing the Country Music Marathon in Nashville. I am doing what I call my Truman historic run around the core of Independence.

As I pass a row of recently renovated homes, I think of my friend, Ken McClain. Known to some as an obnoxious ass and to others as an altruistic angel, Ken has devoted his life to helping individuals and communities in large and small ways. Whether voluntarily coaching a community youth team on the field, fighting for the rights of consumers in the courtroom, preaching a social gospel to an anti-social congregation, or turning urban blight into quality community, Ken brings passion, energy, and vision to every aspect of life.

In his legal profession, Ken is a man of firsts: In 1986, he won the first asbestos property damage school lawsuit in nation. In 1997, the first tobacco lawsuit that was settled in the nation was his. In 2000, Ken argued successfully the first PCB building contamination verdict. Currently, his firm is pursuing lung disease cases across the country. When no one, and I do mean NO ONE, was willing to invest in the businesses around the Independence Square, he sunk millions of his own money into retail, restaurant, and entertainment places designed to bring people back to historic Independence. He lost money. He invested in the development anyway. Because he believes in community. He understands that poverty is created by neglect and abuse by the greedy. He “gets it” that when you change the culture, environment, and educational opportunities for the better, people change. The community changes. Our world changes. Each of us can make our world a better place to live. Liu Ju, Harry Truman, Ken McClain. Different stories, but the same goal: to build back better.

This story is coming to an end. Saturday will be the day of truth for me. I invite you to join me in running to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time. Go to the Outreach website at http://www.outreach-international.org/. Click the DONATE button, then click the Make a general donation button. In the Other Information box, type “run4liferun4love” and your donation will be credited to our efforts. Do it now. For the sake of the children. Thanks.

It’s raining. I hate the rain.

Date: Tuesday, April 7, 2009

Time: 32:14

Distance: 3 miles speed run on Yonsei Track plus 1 mile

Date: Monday, April 13, 2009

Time: Lost Track

Distance: 4 miles—16 laps on Yonsei track

Date: Wednesday, April 15, 2009

Time: 1:20:20

Distance: 7+ miles to the river and back

Slogging through the rain just to get in a few miles is NOT an incentive for me to keep up with the training program. But it does mean a work slowdown with the project, so, I must choose between not having the time, or… well, the rain. I love the rain (attitude adjustment there).

The run to the river is chilly and wet, but does help clear the head of all those niggling details of construction and moves me to a new place. Seoul needs this shower. Korea is becoming dry. Way too dry. Water is life. Yet one billion people do not have access to safe water, and 2.6 billion people live without proper sanitation. Water-borne illness is the second highest cause of childhood death in the world. When water is unsafe and sanitation non-existent, water can kill. Providing safe water and sanitation to millions of affected children and their families is one way to help end poverty. How? By supporting efforts to distribute oral rehydration salts wherever children are suffering from illness and deadly dehydration caused by unsafe water, distributing hygiene kits during a crisis to help children and their families keep diseases like cholera at bay, training teachers to educate children about safe water and proper sanitation and building pipelines to bring water to remote villages.

I like to think that I am doing this to help children survive. Almost 10 million children die needlessly every year. They come from families who exist without clean water and sanitation. They have not been vaccinated against childhood illness. They are not protected against malaria. They do not receive enough nourishment to fight malnutrition. They are often affected by AIDS. They do not survive without your help. When I say I am running to end poverty, I am being a part of a global network of individuals and organizations seeking ways to help children survive, to protect children from abuse, give them an education, so that all children lead a healthy, humane, and dignified life.

The water bottle I picked up at the GS Mart for 500 won quenches my thirst. It’s important to stay hydrated. I head back toward my new home in Yonhidong, now barely aware of how sopping wet I am. I am very aware that what “quiches” my thirst could “save” the life of a child. I invite you to join me in running to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time.

Food, Glorious Food

Date: Saturday, April 4

Time: 4:47:12

Distance: 20:14 miles

I figure if you are going to run 20 miles, you might as well start at Starbucks. There are five in the Sinchon area of Seoul. None of them is open at 7:00 a.m. on a Saturday morning. Did not know that when I headed out the door…

A few miles down through the alleys and side streets of Mapo-gu and I realize that today is market day. Food vendors everywhere. As I dodge the carts and weave my way through the increasingly active crowds, I am faced with the sights, sounds, smells, color, and tastes of some of the best snack food and market fare you will find anywhere. My run becomes a culinary adventure as I stop to taste this skewer of squid and that cup of brine. While I enjoy eating my way through 20 miles of famous and not so famous Seoul street snacks, I wonder about those who will not eat today.

Worldwide around 852 million people are chronically hungry due to extreme poverty. As of late 2007, increased farming for use in biofuels, world oil prices at more than $100 a barrel, global population growth, climate change, loss of agricultural land to residential and industrial development, and growing consumer demand in China and India have pushed up the price of grain. Food riots have recently taken place in many countries across the world. More than half of the planet's population, numbering approximately 3.3 billion people, live in urban areas. Any disruption to farm supplies may precipitate a uniquely urban food crisis in a relatively short time.

· Programs seeking to protect or enhance the nutritional status of mothers and infants account for as much as half of the development resources channeled through USAID.

· A recent study in Ethiopia showed that food aid had a significant impact on protecting child growth during droughts.

· Studies of refugees in Algeria found that fortified food given to stunted children permitted rapid nutritional improvement.

· In Mexico, a government-supported program called Progressa supplies food to children under 3-years old in poor households. This has had a significant impact on child growth rates, reduced stunting and anaemia.

· These results confirm that food aid can certainly play an important part in nutrition programming.

· Given the scale and persistence of malnutrition around the world, there needs to be a far greater share of development resources earmarked for nutrition interventions than is currently available.

A direct relationship exists between food consumption levels and poverty. Families with the financial resources to escape extreme poverty rarely suffer from chronic hunger; while poor families not only suffer the most from chronic hunger, but are also the segment of the population most at risk during food shortages and famines.

A few hours after beginning my run by looking for Starbucks, I find myself back in Yonhidong filled with Kimchi, tofu, and a variety of delicacies smeared with red paste. The last two miles were at waddling speed. Twenty miles. Today, I don’t think I could make the last six. Let’s hope the Nashville route is not through the BBQ district. I will never survive.

And that’s the irony, isn’t it? I fear death by overconsumption. Millions face death daily because of severe under-consumption. Sobering? I invite you to join me in running to end poverty one child, one family, one village at a time.