AMS STATS

Final stats from the first Awake My Sole journey:  

January 9, 2012 --- December 22, 2012

347 days
29,980,800 seconds
499,680 minutes
8328 hours
50 weeks

Spoke a total of 317 times to 15,225 people

Day #128 @ Fulton Reformed Youth Group near Clinton Iowa.  Around speaking Spot #100

Day #240 @ Central Iowa Christian School in Grinnell Iowa.  Speaking Spot #200

Day #332 @ MOC High School in Orange City Iowa.  Speaking Spot #300

Ran a total of 1339 miles 

Day #14.  Running in a BLIZZARD to Orange City Iowa

Day #209.  Running to Clinton Iowa.  Attempting to outrun a thunderstorm.  VIDEO HERE

Day #238.  In the middle of running to Grinnell Iowa.  Using ICY POPS to down in the EXTREME HEAT of  IOWA

Day #252.  Running to Des Moines in the rain.  The last run before Jim got married.  

2,678,000 steps taken on the journey

Quote written on the Awake My Sole gear cart.  Jim's mantra.  

35.23 miles per run

51.1 marathons

418 5Ks

Used 5 pairs of Brooks Running Shoes

Brooks Glyerin 9s:  Pair Number 1 (Green) and Pair Number 2 (Red)

Pair Number 3 ... Brooks Glycerin 10s

Pair number 4.  Brooks Ghost 5

Pair number 5.  Brooks Ghost 5

9728 ounces of Gatorade

114 Clif Bars & 76 Clif Gel Packs

Numerous Snickers Bars consumed

The whirlwind of the unexpected obstacles

Just like in running, life throws us some unexpected obstacles. 

This last week, we had to cancel all the Awake My Sole running and speaking events in Fort Dodge. 

Never expected this.

Why?

Our best friend was admitted into the hospital with pulmonary embolisms (blood clots in the lungs), and  without hesitation we made our way up to Bismarck North Dakota. 

An unexpected obstacle.

Life is full of these.
Some happy and joyful.
Some sad and disheartening.

...and just like in running, we must continue on.

Our week has been filled with a lot waiting in the hospital. 
Doctors and nurses. 
Prayer and food.
Tears shed, both in receiving positive and negative updates.

These unexpected obstacles make us question our present status, possibly realigning us to what really matters.

What does really matter?  People?  Career?  Money?  God?   
What is meaningful?  What makes life meaningful?  Am I living a meaningful life? 
Is there a God?  If so, why are negative unexpected obstacles allowed to happen?  

These are tough questions, and we must wrestle with them. 

After this week of going through this unexpected obstacle, we have once again been strengthened and realigned to what really matters:  the greatest commandment "to love God, and to love people."

I hope this makes you laugh