Embracing Sloth-Like Movement

Did you know???

I feel like a SLOTH in comparison to how fast my car can travel.  In setting off on the Awake My Sole journey I said goodbye to my Toyota Yaris.  It travels much faster than my feet; a thirty minute car ride translates to eight or more hours of running.

Saying "Goodbye" to my car for the year.  January 9, 2012

Not having a car for the year, has really slowed me down.  In our fast moving culture, some consider sloth-like movement negative.  From my experience, "slowing down" has been very fruitful and healthy.

At first it felt weird, but traveling at a slower pace, though not as efficient, has really helped me see and enjoy the beauty in things. 

For example, Iowa's incredible landscape:

It is incredible what you are you able to see and experience when you travel slower.

I would never have been able to experience several of Iowa's natural beauties if I was traveling by car.  

The Awake My Sole journey has been built on a year long time frame (January 2012 to December 2012).  Each Monday I run to my next community and spend a full week in that community.  If the whole journey was scheduled for only a week or a month rather than the whole year, I wouldn't have been able to spend as much time in each community meeting new people.  

Here are a few wonderful people I've met:


Audrey in Sac City

The Central College Cross Country Team (Cody, Adam, Jim, Michael, Austin)

Running to Grinnell Iowa (Jim, Anet, Andrea, Michael, Marty)

I've met a lot of people on this year long journey, several of whom I've reconnected with.  In March I met Andrew, a senior at the Webster City High School.  When I made my way back through Storm Lake I was speaking at Buena Vista University, and Andrew came up to me.  It was great seeing him again and we were able to grab some dinner at La Juanitas.  

I want to take this next portion to write and reflect on a conversation I had with Peter, a man I reconnected with in Storm Lake.    

Peter is an incredible man.  He is from Africa and currently lives in Storm Lake with his family.  I was blessed with the opportunity to celebrate his son's birthday with him.  

Peter and his son.    

After his son's birthday party, Peter and I were able to chat.  We talked about his life and his current job where he works tirelessly to support his family.  He is a worker at a local large meat company's rendering plant: 8-10 hours a day, six days a week.  In my conversation with him, he said something that caught my attention, "Americans would have two suns if they could."  

I asked Peter what he meant by that.

He said, "Americans are so busy they would rather have more hours of daylight to work and less hours for rest."

 

An interesting perspective from someone who grew up outside our western culture. 

His comment really stuck with me.  It rattled around in my brain during the 40-mile run from Storm Lake to Spencer.

 

 

Are we really so busy that we want MORE hours in the day to get things done?  

  

Are we trapped in a sea of busyness?

Busyness pervades everything we do, from the food we eat, to the way we travel, even in the ways we vacation. 

In Spencer, I was talking with the owner of Toad's Coffee Shop and he said, "It's funny when people talk about getting back from a vacation and they feel even more drained than before they left."

What's interesting about Jim is that he is a wood carver and makes wooden toys for kids.  His toys and carvings are made by hand and they take many hours to complete.  He mentioned how his end product is very rewarding and fulfilling. 

Jim and his wooden toy creation

 Through all these interactions I've been left wondering about "busyness" and how we are truly meant to live.  I do know that slowing down, experiencing Iowa and its people has been rewarding.   

 

Life has so much to offer and we have to be still enough to experience it lest it pass by unnoticed. 

 

 

Back roads of Des Moines

Brigg's Woods near Webster City

Spencer Wrap Up

I love Spencer Iowa.  They have great coffee, great places to eat and some incredible people.

Monday's 40-mile run to Spencer was cold (22) and windy (15-30 mph gust from the West).  I woke up feeling super sluggish, and it took about 4 hours of running to get out of the sluggish feel.  Jay & Anne came and ran with me, and that really helped me mentally as we made our way to Sioux Rapids Iowa.  It was one of those running days where you wanted to quit.  My wife said, "Jim, if you finish today's run, you will feel much better later tonight."  

About 6 miles from finishing, Danny & Ryan came and ran with me.  A great way to finish the run.  We finished really strong.  

During the week I was blessed with sharing the AMS story 10 times:  at the Hope RCA middle school youth group, the Dream Center after school Program, Lincoln Elementary and 360's young adult group.

Here are some pictures from our week in Spencer:

It's getting cold in Iowa.  

Anne & Jay, Jim's Storm Lake host family who ran to Sioux Rapids with Jim.  Jay & Anne also help out at The Bridge of Storm Lake: they are doing some incredible things in Storm Lake

Last February when I ran from Spencer to Storm Lake, not only was I mistaken as a "Woman running down highway-71 with a baby" but I had to stop early due to safety reasons.  This time, I decided to stay off of highway-71 and take the back roads; they provided some amazing scenery.  Really enjoyed the back roads and the few cars I passed. 

Monday's run had some beautiful sites.  An old barn off of Highway-71 near Sioux Rapids.   

Jim, the running ninja.  Protecting his face from the WIND gusts.  

Which road should I take.  The low OR high road.  Beautiful back road Iowa pics.  

A beautiful white barn

"Keep Out."  I was tempted to go and run through these fields.  

At mile 34.  Getting some rest.  

Ryan & Danny came and ran the last 6 miles.  Great to finish the race with them. 

Jim, owner of Toad's Coffee shop in Spencer Iowa.  He also does wood working, and he made this wood crane toy.  It is absolutely brilliant.  Check out his blog called "The Repurposed Male."   

Wednesday night, speaking at the youth group.  

At Toad's Coffee, a hot chocolate drink.  So tasty.   

Some woodcarving in Toad's Coffee shop

Danny's Big Hairy Audacious Goals.  Anyone else wanna run across the state of Rhode Island???

The Dream Center of Spencer Iowa.  

Got to speak at the after school program at the Dream Center

Jon & Nathan rocking out at the Dream Center.  They are in middle school and they have some big aspirations to play music when they get older.  

Had to play the old school Mario.  So legit and so fun. I really miss being a kid.  

A big THANKS to the Spencer community who welcomed Chantalle and I so warmly for the week.  We really look forward to coming back through.  Also, a big thanks to Danny for hosting us and to Jim @ Toad's Coffee for the great conversations over some great coffee.

Running with purpose in every step.

Jim

Ps.  Here is the latest AMS update.

Smelly Beautiful Feet

Would you rather, smell Jim's feet after he runs 10 miles OR run 10 miles??? 

Very rarely do my feet smell good.  

Often times after a long run OR after my feet simmer in my TOMS, they find themselves emitting odors that have those nearby gasping for air.  

Resting my stinky feet in the middle of a long run

In fact, earlier today, I was walking around with my shoes off, and in the middle of a conversation my wife stopped what she was saying and asked me to move away.
  

I would say my feet are not beautiful.  They have callouses, blisters, odors and much more.  

A blister on my feet after a 50-mile run

Many who know me, know my faith is very important to me.  I love to have conversations about faith and spirituality.  I especially enjoy dialogue with others of different faiths.  

For me, I'm a follower of Jesus Christ.  I find myself reading the Bible, what followers of Jesus call "The Inspired Word of God."  There is a passage from this ancient text that resonates with the "runner" and "advocate" in me.  It is found in the Book of Isaiah, chapter 52, verse 7.  From the English Standard Version (ESV) it reads:

How beautiful upon the mountains are the feet of him who brings good news, who publishes peace, who brings good news of happiness, who publishes salvation, who says to Zion, "Your God reigns."

This verse fascinates and intrigues me.  The author writes about feet and the actions that make them beautiful.

It's as if the saying, "Beautiful feet" is a metaphor involving a movement towards things that are of the Divine.

If this is the case, it doesn't matter if your feet literally smell, you could still be a person with metaphorical beautiful feet.

  

I think about the options and choices we are presented with every single day; for example, to be a person with beautiful feet or to be a person with ugly smelly feet.  You see, our actions can bring good news, through our words and deeds.  If we go up to a person and punch them in the face that would NOT be a "beautiful feet" action.  However, if we were to go up to a person and give them a hug that would be a "beautiful feet" action.  

During the Awake My Sole journey, I've wrestled with this ancient biblical text, and will continue to wrestle with it.  It's challenging and I don't have it figured out.

What are your thoughts after reading the biblical text found in Isaiah?

How does this metaphor apply to your life?  

I would love to hear your thoughts and ideas, please add a comment.  

Let's wrestle with this together.    

:::Some more FEET pics from the AMS journey:::

After running in some stinky mud

In the middle of a run.  Resting my feet

My feet after running is summer humid conditions.  Super wrinkly and smelly. 

Storm Lake Wrap Up

It has been a most amazing week in Storm Lake Iowa.  Safely ran 26.1 miles on Monday (it was a little muggy).  Hosted by a most excellent family.  Was able to share the AMS story twelve times.  Ate two times at La Juanitas.  Discovered an amazing Cuban Restaurant, Cafe Habana.  Overall, an amazing week with some amazing people.  Really enjoy Storm Lake and all it has to offer.  

Here are some pics from the week  

Monday morning, a foggy/muggy run from Sac City to Storm Lake

Super foggy morning

MOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!

Epic Ninja Moves performed by Jim

Jay came and ran the last 9 miles with Jim.  

Jim found a Woody Action Figure on the side of the road.  Yes, a new addition to the Awake My Sole journey

Jim got to share the Awake My Sole journey several times throughout the week.  Here is a pic of some of the boys Jim got to share with.  

Really enjoyed my time with these guys

Cuban Coffee at Cafe Cubano in Storm Lake.  An awesome place to get great coffee on Railroad Street.  Really enjoyed meeting the owners of this place.  Super friendly people. 

Dumb and Dumber.  "Mutt Cutts, coming through."

Jim got to share at the Buena Vista University chapel and bible study on campus.  Talked about setting Big Hairy Audacious Goals & what it means to have "beautiful feet."

Buena Vista University Chapel

Got a short 3-mile run in.  At the end of the main road in Storm Lake.  "Pioneer"  

Got to speak on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday at the Storm Lake Elementary School, to the 3rd & 4th grade students. Jim welcoming students with some Curious George music.  

Jim Ellis is a professional long distance runner and motivational speaker.

He welcomes any opportunity to SPEAK at schools, youth groups, churches, organizations, clubs, etc. 

There is no cost.

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Contact Jim for additional information OR if interested in having him come speak.

AwakeMySole@gmail.com

303-913-0986