Inspiring Excellence

Saturday Morning Stroll

The boys and I participated in a 5K (3.1 miles) this morning in Murfreesboro.  This was Blake's second and Logan's first. 

Logan and I ran together at about a 12 minute pace.  I was a proud dad as we crossed the finish line.  Not bad for a guy that just graduated from crocs to running shoes in the past month!

High School Excellence

This photo was taken earlier this season of the Oakland Patriots High School (Murfreesboro, TN) baseball team after an early season tournament win.  Everyone knew they had lots of potential, but just how much was yet to be seen.

Oakland is known for their baseball excellence having won two state championships in the past and sent several players to Division I colleges and to professional baseball.  This year's team may be the best ever with a minimum of 5 Division I future college players.

My family has been following the team this year because we know three of the families on this year's team and I had one of the players in a small group Bible study this year.

This year's team continued to climb in the national polls (reaching #2 in the nation a couple of weeks ago) and maintained top ranking in the state most of the season setting a record of 43-1 through the region championship.  All that stood between them and the double-elimination state tournament was a home sub-state game with Cleveland.

Last night's game was about as close of baseball game as you will ever see.  Both pitchers pitched two-hitters.  My friend, Tennyson Dodd, opened the game with a solo home-run in the bottom of the first.  Cleveland scrapped out 2 runs in the top of the 5th.  It ended in the 7th with the tieing and winning runs on 2nd and 3rd for the Patriots.  Cleveland 2, Oakland 1.

No state tournament, no chance for a state title, no more games for the seniors...but, what I would offer, is they are no less excellent than if they were going to be there next week.

The excellence happened (win or lose) because these young men got to be a part of something great.  They got out on the field and risked losing.  They played with all they had, all the time.  And happened to win about 95% of the time.

A little like life.  Maybe we don't see as much excellence because we are too afraid of losing.  We spend more time on the sidelines than in the game.  Abundant living is out there between the lines...let's go risk a little...

By the way, thanks Patriots for an excellent season!!!!

Friends and Family

Even making the trip down here to watch LeAnn run the past couple of years, I had no idea how much fun it is to be a participant.  Once you start running, you find out how many other people you know that are runners also.

The picture is of my brother-in-law, Bill Greer, and me at the finish.  We actually don't look too bad considering that we just finished our first Country Music 1/2 Marathon.

Several friends, former clients, and other Bob Park's agents were part of the fun yesterday.  Congrats to....

Marathoners:

Todd Overby  3:37

Craig Brandon 4:07

Scott Slavens  3:02

Jeremy Thiessen  4:48

Currin Kozak  5:20

Half-Marathoners:

Tony Hunsinger  2:17

Randy Elrod  2:11

Bill Greer  2:38

Angela Blankenship 2:03

Ken Futrell  1:54   Kelly Futrell  2:33

Susan Brandon 2:49

Lyle Lynch  2:12     Susan Lynch  3:39    Robin Lynch  3:01

Lisa Lowe  2:49

Then after a great day, we got to share a fantastic meal with friends John and Angela Blankenship.  John was my inspiration to get started first with regular exercise, then to running.  John, thanks for dinner and pushing me to do this!

See you all next year.  My room is already booked!

My First 1/2 Marathon

I enjoyed great weather for my very first 1/2 marathon at the Country Music Marathon in Nashville, TN.  The whole gang came to watch and found me as I made my way over the Woodland Street Bridge a few hundred yards from the finish.

What an experience!!!  Running down West End this morning in the midst of 32,000 other people was quite a rush.  Somewhere around 8 miles in I knew my knee wasn't going to allow me to keep the pace that I had started with.  But I finished in 2:17....I guess this becomes my PR (personal record).

Lessons from the 1/2 marathon....

- finishing feels better than a sore IT Band

-ice is a good thing for sore knees

-Nashville was an awesome place to run my first run

-doughnuts at the finish line...quite a treat

-the Country-fried steak at lunch never tasted so good (Phil - just for you)

A big thanks to Randy Elrod who became somewhat of a coach toward the end of my training.  He ran my last long run with me two weeks ago and ran most of the way with me today.  Randy, thanks for helping make it a memorable day.

Watch for official race times of some family and friends tomorrow.