Stay Strong - Run Long

Coming up in a few short weeks I will have accomplished something that I never thought I would be able to say that I have done. At the end of August 2004 I began a journey. A journey that has taken me on some amazing highs and some tremendous lows. A journey that has been filled with tears of happiness and tears of sorrow. A journey that has shown the world that with a little hard work and determination (and a whole lot of stupidity) you truly CAN change yourself. Along this journey I have learned how much the human body and mind is capable of. I have been blessed with health, happiness, humility, hunger, pains and purpose. The past 10 years have brought me out of the pits of depression and destruction to a life filled with purpose and passion. The last 10 years has seen my marriage soar. The journey has brought me 3 of the most beautiful, talented, creative, adventurous little girls. This journey has given me the opportunity to be a dad to them and show them that no matter wha

It's not something that is a secret. When I run, I think...a lot. A couple of days ago Mrs Messenjah gave me permission to head out on a 20 mile run after church. When I say, she "gave me permission" it's because having a one month old and 2 rambunctious other children can be taxing on her. I do try to help as much as I can with cooking, "light" cleaning, laundry, yard work, baths, showers, playing games, reading, etc...normal parenting duties. There are sometimes though that I just need to get away. I am admittedly a very high stress person and if I haven't run in a few days, the claws tend to come out over incredibly trivial things. This run, I knew, wasn't going to be like many others this year. The forecast called for highs in the mid to upper 90's, with 85-90% humidity and wind gusts of up to 20mph. Typically your normal runner will see a forecast like that and scoff at going outside, especially during the hottest part of the day, but as