MAY RUNNING

With the month of May gone, here's some of the stats from the month that brought May Flowers ...The May Running Stats:

Total Miles Run - 120.64 (according to mapmyrun)
Days of Running - 16
Longest Run - 26.2 (Bayshore Marathon, baby!)
Approx. calories burned - 15,649

In 2008 I have logged approx. 624 miles and that is well on my way to reaching at least 1,000 for the year. In fact, I might need to rethink how many miles I can run this year.

MAY 2008

What an amazing month! It's not often that a person gets to experience a month of so much fun but somehow I was able to be blessed with a great month.

Not only did I get my masters degree but I completed my first marathon. Seriously, how fortunate am I? It's almost not even right. How many people can do accomplish one of those things in a lifetime let along do both in one month? In addition to those two awesome events, I got to celebrate them with some really great people.

Please understand that I am not bragging about my month as much as I am just taking a moment to realize how fortunate and blessed I am. Thank the Lord because life is good!

L.A. LAKERS

I am not the biggest NBA fan but for some reason this year I find myself watching more of it. I am probably one of just a handful of people that lives east of the Mississippi River and cheers for Kobe Bryant. So with that being said, I am hoping the Lakers find a way to win the NBA title and people can get off Kobe's back a little bit.

NEXT MARATHON?

Running guru Hal Higdon said you shouldn't start thinking about your next marathon until you stop thinking about your last marathon. With that being said, anybody have any thoughts on these ...

- K.C. Marathon (October 2008)
- Grand Rapids Marathon (October 2008)
- Harrisburg Marathon (November 2008)
- Houston Marathon (January 2009)
- L.A. Marathon (March 2009)

Notice the spread out nature (at least geographically) of each them? There are different reasons for the possibility of running each and I'm in no real rush to make a decision.

QUOTABLE BILL GATES

"If you show people the problems and you show people the solutions they will be moved to act."

- Bill Gates (Live8, 2005)

MARATHON, DAY(S) AFTER

A decent number of people have asked how I am feeling after the marathon. Here's a pretty look at what the next day(s) look like.

INDIANA JONES

I was really looking forward to this movie. After leaving the theater I was trying to figure out what in the world just happened:

* If this movie didn't have "Indiana Jones" in it's title it would be in a dollar theater in less than six weeks.
* The ending was ... well ... odd. Maybe even bad.
* Acting was average at best.
* Script was sad.
* Who makes a story line like that? Seriously?!?

I actually enjoyed Shia LeBeouf's character. He did a good job. Harrison Ford really looked old in this movie. It might be because I wanted him to be the same old Indiana Jones but those days are over.

There were some good action scenes in the jungles and the use of the snake was certainly very clever (it's Indiana Jones - you must have a snake scene) but there wasn't a lot about this movie that would recommend it.

BETHEL WEBPAGE

Go to -- www.bethelcollege.edu (Picture #7 on the main page)

I am glad to know that someone out there feels that my graduation picture is good enough to promote the college!

BAYSHORE, PICTURES

2008 Bayshore Marathon

Just a few pictures from the events leading up to the marathon, during the marathon and post-marathon. Probably should have taken more recovery pictures but that would have been a lot of meaning laying around and limping around Traverse City.

BAYSHORE, POST-RACE

If a picture is a worth a 1,000 words, then running a marathon – especially your first one – will leave you speechless. There aren’t enough words in the dictionary to truly describe what the experience of a marathon is like.

I have been a marathoner for just over 48 hours and I still can’t completely grasped everything that I went through on Saturday morning in Traverse City, Mich. None the less, I will give it my best effort.

* It is, without a doubt, the hardest physical thing I have ever done. And, for that matter, will probably ever do.

* I feel very blessed to have been able to accomplish it. There are people who want to run one but can’t and somehow I was blessed to be able to do it. I am very grateful for the ability!

* The satisfaction of crossing that finishing line is beyond words. To overcome 26.2 miles after all those early morning training runs and other sacrifices is quite surreal and humbling all the same.

* All the experts who write those books were right about running your first marathon, finishing should be the #1 priority. My time of 3:48:44 is certainly nothing to brag about but I learned so much about running that distance that is really was more important to finish than anything else during your first attempt.

* It is such a mental challenge. So much more mental then I ever imaged! Yet, another thing I learned.

* I was so happy to share in the experience with Dan, Laura, Naomi, Jackie and Matt. Sharing something like that in community is the way each of us our wired.

* I am looking forward to running another one, and another one after that and …

BAYSHORE MARATHON

My first attempt at 26.2 miles is here. Bayshore Marathon here I come!

During my final taper run of two miles this morning I couldn't help but think about the fact that the next time I start my wristwatch it is going at the start line of a marathon. Seriously a marathon?!? What was I thinking?

This seemed like a really cool idea when I first signed up but the level of nerves and excitement in my bones is becoming tough to handle. There may not be an event in my life that I am looking forward to but dreading all the same. Although, it is mostly excitement.

Most of the fear comes from the unknown of what the last few miles will look like and how my body will respond. My two 20-mile training runs could have been better but I was able to complete them. Yet, as fearful as it is in my mind there is so much joy that comes to my mind when I think about overcoming whatever comes my way on Saturday morning.

My goal is to have a good time and enjoy the experience regardless of the time that I post. Would I love to run a time that would qualify for the Boston Marathon? Sure I would, but whatever time I put up on the board I just want to make sure I had fun doing it and gave it the best effort I could.

Here's the quote I'm going with -- "You have never been better prepared to start and finish a marathon as you are today!"

MARATHON SOUNDTRACK

Here's what I have put together from my pre-marathon music:

- Start Me Up, Rolling Stones
- Glass to the Arson, Anberlin
- Born to Run, Bruce Springsteen
- Politik, Coldplay
- Wake Up, Arcade Fire
- Transatlantiscim, Death Cab for Cutie
- Rocket, Def Leppard
- Book of Days, Enya
- Run, Collective Soul
- Where the Streets Have No Name, u2
- Electable, Jimmy Eat World
- Alive, P.O.D.
- Easier to Run, Linkin Park
- From Yesterday, 30 Seconds to Mars
- Dare You to Move, Switchfoot
- Runnin' Down a Dream, Tom Petty
- Beautiful Day, U2
- Baba O'Riley, The Who
- The Rising, Bruce Springsteen
- My Hero, Foo Fighters

NEW YANKEE STADIUM

I would love to go to the "Old Yankee Stadium" one more time but I'll be saving my pennies for a trip to the new Yankee Stadium. Keith Olbermann did a tour a few weeks back. The place looks amazing!

NARROW STAIRS

Not that I didn't like Death Cab for a Cutie before their most recent album, but after the release of "Narrow Stairs" I am officially a big fan.

I think the best way to describe this album is with this phrase - Creatively Creepy. Most of the lyrics on this album revolve around some sort of relationship and, well, you can draw you conclusions as to what they are singing about. But each song is crafted with a certain amount of care and organization that is just about brilliant.

The first single "I Will Posses Your Heart" has a 4 1/2 minute intro before you hear any lyrics. Kind of odd but it just seems to work. The song has a level of creepiness to it but it's just a smartly crafted song just like all 10 on the album.

75,000+

Please Hillary just quit so American can get onto the "real election" process. This picture may just be reason enough to show that your support is no one close to where it needs to be. Seriously, 75,000+ people at a campaign rally?!? I'm not sure if this gives me hope in the political process or scares me that people in Oregon are just bored. Either way, to draw that many people into one setting is pretty amazing ...

BRAVO!!

I am not a Red Sox fan by any stretch of the imagination. In fact, I have pretty much despised them for most of my life.

Yet, despite my disdain for them I have to take a moment to applaud Jon Lester. Here's a guy who is just 18 months removed from cancer treatment throwing a no-hitter. That's the power of the human spirit and overcoming obstacles that are thrown in your face.

This moment is right up with Jim Abbott throwing a "no-no" in 1993 with only one hand because of a birth defect. Who says those with "disabilities" can't accomplish great things?

So I say "Bravo!" to Jon Lester for overcoming all the odds, even if you play for the Red Sox.

QUOTABLE JACK JOHNSON

While the whole song is well thought out and extremely well written, the chorus of "Sleep Through the Static" is pretty brilliant:

Who needs sleep when we've got love?
Who needs keys when we've got clubs?
Who needs please when we've got guns?
Who needs peace when we've gone above
But beyond where we should have gone?
We went beyond where we should have gone

- Jack Johnson, Sleep Through the Static

COOL CHURCH VIDEO

Take some black light, white gloves and add a Little Casting Crowns and this is what you get ... Pretty Cool!

QUESTION PT. 3

(Since finishing Donald Millers first book, I have been really thinking about some of the thoughts and ideas he presented. So, let's journey with some of those questions - see Pt. 1, see Pt. 2)

How does it look when I try to dance with God? Sloppy, toes hurting, close or distant, grateful, painful …

In some odd way everyone wants to be a good dancer for at least one moment in their life. I am convinced of this. Some fathers want to be a good dancer for their daughter's wedding, there are numerous high schoolers who want to be perfect for their prom while others just want four minutes of peaceful bliss.

But what would it look like if we tried to dance with God everyday? How in rhythm would we be with how he is trying to lead? Of course, the problem might be we are trying to lead. Some how we have concluded that we know what is best for our life. That would be the wrong way to dance with God.

Years ago Martina McBride how this really cool song called, "I Hope You Dance" and it was an absolutely beautiful piece written to her two daughters. OK, maybe I'm trying to hard in trying to explain myself but that song is perfect in so many ways about what God wants for us. He wants us to dream, to risk, to love, to view beauty, to ...

I just got to believe that God wants us to enjoy our dance with Him. Shoot, God just wants us to dance with Him and not leave Him on the sidelines. Hopefully we are trying to dance.

BIG COW!

Years and years ago I remember sitting on top of a cow on my grandparents farm in Pennsylvania (not sure why I was doing it but I did). They are quite power animals. Actually, that moment on top of the cow was some what scary because the animal was most definately more powerful than me.

This cow really scares me ---

It is 6'6" and somewhere in the neighborhood of 3,000 pounds!

BASEBALL SONGS

Paste Magazine recently put together their top "baseball anthems" - here. One of the hardest things to do at a baseball game is play music that will please a majority of the people. People who attend baseball games (and sports events in general) probably get more upset and frustrated with song selections than anything. You have to play "very vanilla-type" songs.

There is one very obvious song that must be played at every game - Take Me Out to the Ballgame.

Here's some personal favorites I enjoy at baseball games:


- Glory Days, Bruce Springsteen
- Centerfield, John Fogerty
- Free Fallin, Tom Petty
- Right Now, Van Halen
- Enter Sandman, Metallica
- The Greatest, Kenny Rogers
- Blitzkrieg Bop, The Ramones
- Livin' On a Prayer, Bon Jovi
- Cheap Seats, Alabama


There are probably a few that I am forgetting at this moment but these are the ones that I absolutely love hearing at a ballgame.

2008 MLB - 25 PERCENT DONE

* How in the world are the Tampa Bay Rays in contention for the AL East title? Seriously, you are the Rays!!

* Florida Marlins First Place -- really? How does a team with a payroll of about $20 million lead one of the toughest divisions in baseball?

* Arizona is really, really good. Not a team that I'd want to play when they are playing at their full potenial.

* I am massively shocked at how bad Detroit is playing. A slow start is one thing but a 16-22 record at this point is sad for a team with that much talent.

* The Yankees better get their act together. I know they have some very key injuries but 19-20 ain't going to cut it.

PAINTBALL

I must admit that I was fairly apprehensive about my first paintball experience. Excited as well but mostly apprehensive.

After the first game, I had no idea why I felt that way. It was an absolute blast. The Tim Towne bachlor party ended up playing seven different games on four different courses. Some of the best fun I have had this year.

The one thing that really caught me off guard was how fast the paint filled balls come at you. They definitely go fast enough to break the skin and cause bleeding. Fortunately I didn't experience that "fun" first hand.

Of those seven games I was only hit three times. Not bad for a first timer I'd say. On the flip side I believe I knocked individuals out of the game on six or seven occasions. Not too bad either.

If there is one downside to paintball, it is kind of expensive. Certainly not something I'd do every weekend or even once a month but every now and then won't break the bank.

One piece of advice for anyone who is going paintballing - don't do a 60+ minute workout prior to playing. It's a bad idea. Your body will not like you the next day. The energy you put out in playing just one game is pretty substantial (that is if you play to win). Adding a work out prior to that; just not a good idea.

QUOTABLE GORDAN FEE

There's this guy - Gordan D. Fee - who has this awesome commentary on Phillippians 1:21-24 and I wanted to share it:

"Such people (i.e. Paul) can not be intimidated by anyone or anything since they belong to the future. With the kind of certainty that the people who live their life controlled by faith can never understand."

- Gordan D. Fee

JOSH GROBAN

I just purchased Josh Groban's live CD/DVD from his Awake Tour. Not surprisingly, it's a pretty good listen.

I've had the honor of seeing him twice in concert. If you ever get the chance to witness him live, please do so. Everytime I listen to his music it really just blows me away. No one should be able to sing that well. His voice is probably the best male voice of my generation.

So in honor of his new release, my Top 10 Josh Groban songs --

1) February Song

2) Remember When It Rained

3) For Always

4) Un Giorno Per Noi

5) Broken Vow

6) You're Still You

7) Mi Mancherai (Il Postino)

8) You Are Loved

9) The Prayer

10) Awake

MYANMAR CYCLONE

This whole situation in Myanmar is truly mind boggling on so many levels.

The picture (please click on it for larger version) is what really gets me. The satellite basically shows that half of the country is pretty wiped out. Just gone.

The estimates are that over 100,000 people have died because of the cyclone. That's the population of South Bend, IN. The football stadium at Notre Dame seats roughly 80,000 and just imagine several more thousands in addition to them just no longer on earth within a manner of a few hours. It's so surreal.

Then the "government" of the country doesn't want to be told how to distribute aid. What in the world is up with that? Countless nations want to help so please, dear God please, let them help!

I really feel for what the residents of the country must be going through. Hopefully there will be good that comes from this seemingly endless horrific ordeal.

"THE SHIRT" 2008

For those you don't know, every year Notre Dame does "a shirt" for the football season. The proceeds go to benefit the student activities office. Here's what this year's shirt should look like ...

Here's what it actually is - here

BY THE NUMBERS ...

Thanks to Time Magazine --

64% -- Percentage of U.S. teenagers who use informal text-message slang in their written schoolwork, including abbreviations like "LOL" (38%) and smiley-face emoticons (25%)

56% -- Percentage of teens surveyed who consider good writing to be "essential" later in life

Kind of scary, isn't it?

QUOTABLE ARTHUR ASHE

"From what we get, we can make a living; what we give, however, makes a life."

- Arthur Ashe

FOR THOSE ON FACEBOOK ...

This is borderline brilliant and definitely hilarious (link) ...

GRADUATION FUN

So some of this might border on a level of being a stalker but I promise you that this is not the case in anyway. I promise!

Some of the Saint Mary's staff that I work with put together this very fun little profile of me (here) and doctored up a few photos of Norah Jones. All this in honor of my graduation. It was a very nice surprise. (Although, I'm not sure where all of my new found chest hair came from - HA!)

To the entire Marketing and Communication staff at Saint Mary's ... Thank You!!

GRADUATION CEREMONY

There is just something really cool about hearing your name be called from you diploma. The way I figure, it cost me a few thousand dollars and countless hours of studying so being apart of the actual ceremony was a very cool thing.

You could haven't asked for a better day. Sunny and 70 on the outside, comfortable inside the gym and, for the best part, the ceremony was extremely efficient.

It was really cool to get on stage and recieve a hooding ceremony in front of everyone and then get your actual diploma and not some letter welcoming you to the alumni association. Seeing my name on that piece of paper was quite a festive moment.

I am just a little bit smarter now with a new "title" ... Stephen Hinkel, M. Min (or Stephen Hinkel, M&M - thanks Melissa) - HA!!

GRADUATION SOUNDTRACK

Here's a list of the my picks for a graduation soundtrack (well, at least from the songs on my iTunes):


* Learning to Fly - Tom Petty
* Beautiful Day - u2
* Good Ridence (Time of Your Life) - Green Day
* The Times Are A-Changing - Bob Dylan
* Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
* Run - Collective Soul
* 100 Years - Five for Fighting
* My Way - Frank Sinatra
* Days Go By - Keith Urban
* Pictures of You -Last Goodnight
* Best Days - Graham Colton
* Start Me Up - Rolling Stones
* Born to Fly - Sara Evans
* This is Your Life - Switchfoot

QUESTION PT. 2

(Since finishing Donald Millers first book, I have been really thinking about some of the thoughts and ideas he presented. So, let's journey with some of those questions - see Pt. 1)

Ever look at the stars and wonder which star is yours? God did tell Abraham his descendants would number the stars.

So this isn't so much a question as much as it is a thought. A pretty cool thought if you ask me. There are websites that you can buy a star and claim it as your own but why do that when you already own one? I wonder which one is mine? It really makes you wonder how vast the universe really is.

There are over six billion people on the planet and that means there are at least that many stars. How cool is that? How vast is the universe then? It just goes to show you how creative and wonderful God really is to create all this beauty.

THOUGHT ON COMPLAINING

Here's an idea that popped into my head the other day:

When you complain about something, is that limiting your creative ability?

So think about it for second. When I complain about something all I am really doing is taking the easy way out. Instead of trying to really fix and/or understand the issue at hand, I complain. Instead of trying to be creative with the situation, I complain.

Not sure if that makes any sense but that's something I've been mulling over for a few days.