Running on Oil
Posted by Ryan on August 1st, 2006
Another installment in my ongoing lessons from a marathon series..
On Saturday we were slated to run 11 miles. Due to some miscalculations on the part of our coach, we actually ended up running about 12 miles. Thankfully this weekend was a stark contrast, weather-wise, to the last few weeks in San Diego. The entire run was shrouded in overcast weather with a consistent cooling drizzle. It was wonderful and I was able to run much faster and much more comfortably than I had run any week previous. It really is amazing how the heat can absolutely suck the energy right out of you.
So as I ran I was thinking about the experience and wondering what lesson I would take away that I could share on the blog. By the end of the race I had… nothing. The run had been too easy. The cool weather, the flat terrain, the aid stations and energy bars, the specialized running shoes with dri-fit clothes and all the other controlled and uncontrolled circumstances came together to make for an absolutely fabulous, invigorating and altogether uninspiring run. I have no tales of enduring to the end, of pushing back against adversity, relying on the Lord or anything else.
And then I realized how stupid I am.
If ye are prepared ye shall not fear.
Or as president Spencer W. Kimball put it:
“In reviewing the Lord’s counsel to us on the importance of preparedness, I am impressed with the plainness of the message. The Savior made it clear that we cannot place sufficient oil in our preparedness lamps by simply avoiding evil. We must also be anxiously engaged in a positive program of preparation.â€
I realized that with every training run, and every running aid I purchase, I drop a little bit of oil into my Marathon lamp. That Saturday run, although long, was not difficult because I had poured about sixty gallons of oil into my lamp when I pushed myself to complete last weeks grueling uphill, 100+ degree run and every difficult run before that.
It is a great testament and a great lesson in how we can feel when the bridegroom cometh. There will probably be few more satisfying and joyful feelings than the moment we realize that we were sufficiently prepared for that great day. Who knows how long the march to the wedding will be and how much oil we will need to keep that lamp burning the entire way. How glad I was that day in the drizzling rain when the lamp I have been filling did not fail me. I can only hope that the oil I am putting in my spiritual lamp is similarly sufficient.
Run, Ryan, Run.
I admire what you are doing. It is certainly not something that one can do without a long preparation. Most worthwhile things are like that.
Comment # 1 left by Eric Nielson on August 1st, 2006
Another great analogy Ryan. I admit, I’ve been too busy to read it til this morning, but I really like this post. In fact, I needed it. That quote from President Kimball is great.
Comment # 2 left by Wade on August 5th, 2006
I guess my comment got eaten up on the old site. This was another nice post.
(But I still maintain that you are a little crazy!)
Comment # 3 left by mullingandmusing (m&m) on August 8th, 2006
Thanks for your thoughts guys.. because of the symposium I will not be posting on last week’s run but I should have another marathon update next week.
Comment # 4 left by Ryan on August 8th, 2006
Guys? Guys? You gonna use that kind of language when a girl has commented? (Picture me storming off, completely offended.)
OK, enough. I should stop giving you a hard time. I seriously admire you for doing the marathon thing. I am just too much of a wimp. I appreciate the lessons you are drawing from your experience. Looking forward to more.
Comment # 5 left by mullingandmusing (m&m) on August 8th, 2006
You make a good point M&M.. although I wonder if “guys” hasn’t become an asexual term. I use it all the time when referring to mixed gender groups of people.
In fact, wikipedia makes it pretty clear that Guy is a term used for a person and not just a male.
My question is then, what is the factor that made it asexual? Is it simply something that evolved because of widespread usage or is it part of a masculine language akin to words like “mankind” and “manatee” (jk about the manatee… sorta. )
More importantly thanks for your supportive comments.
Comment # 6 left by Ryan on August 8th, 2006
I’ve often thought of this as well, and usually try and catch myself when referring to a group of females and say “you girls” instead of “you guys”. It’s not a good argument by any means, but saying “you girls” just doesn’t sound as good (to me) as “you guys”.
I think the progression of this term is much like the progression of all other words that have taken on different meanings.. “that’s cool”, “she’s fly”, “you’re dope”, “that’s gay”, etc. Largely, I think it is Hollywood that catalyzes these shifts in our society’s vernacular, and then teenagers hoping to be cool (or.. um.. “socially accepted”) heavily adopt the new term. From there, the rest of us begin to use it merely out of habit, media indoctrination, or laziness.
Comment # 7 left by Connor Boyack on August 8th, 2006
From there, the rest of us begin to use it merely out of habit, media indoctrination, or laziness.
Yeah, well, the use of such slangish words in and of themselves shows that we are lazy.
I think sometimes we are afraid of sounding too formal. At least I am. “You guys” is much easier and more colloquial than “all of you people” or something equally as cumbersome.
Sheesh. I really caused a threadjack…but I guess I can’t feel too bad if the post’s author is the one who really gave it steam.
Comment # 8 left by mullingandmusing (m&m) on August 8th, 2006
Even “you girls”, or “hello girls” may be offensive to certain females.
While I was the manager of the girl’s apartment, I sent out emails to everyone starting with “Hello girls”, one of them took that as a deep offense and balked out on me. I guess according to her, it made her feel belittled or like a child. I’d imagine it’d be comparable to hearing Will Roger’s super-friendly low voice saying “hello boys & girls!”.
One can never be too careful. I started to use an absoultely safe greeting that is guarateed not to fail, “hello everyone”.
Comment # 9 left by joel on September 12th, 2006