CTS Alumni Challenge 2008

first, some introduction...
Within my six years in pastoral ministry and the couple of years of college studies in preparation, I noticed that my physical condition made a steepening dive downwards. Like in many other mental trade, in pastoring too, the fatigue we feel (that's throws us on our couches in free days) does not match the physical wear - or consumption of calories and stuff. Unfortunately though, often times the fatigue is enough to keep us from exercising. (take is from the pseudonym: been-there-seen-that)

Two years ago I thought to change the course and went jogging, wanting to run a 5kms track... I walked back from the 2kms pole nearly dying, and never went jogging again until this fall. To make a long story short, I've now been running around streets and woods a couple of times, and find it really fun.

The key for me was running slow enough (remarkable, ai?) It turned out that I'd always tried to run way too fast for it to be (a) effective for fat-burning/condition improvement (b) pleasant enough to keep me doing it. I found out that if you keep your heart rate between 160 and 125 beats-per-minute, you can easily keep moving for an hour and very soon extend the time for two hours. (i'm not an expert on this, but that's how it seems to me) Respectively, two hours takes you far away, no matter how slow you go. And the best thing is still ahead: that heart rate is the best to keep you fit, and your fat keeps burning like woods in Greece. This actually makes jogging up into the few things in world where good feels good.

Now, with all my excitement about the lately improvements and the shocking little effort that brought it about, I'd like to share the joy and benefits of it with my dear fellows around the world. To make it even better, let's combine some other delights; such as a alumni reunion.

I thus challenge all graduates/students/teachers of Continental Theological Seminary to join me in Brussels City Half Marathon 2008 (I'd expect it to take place about a year from today Oct.14th) and an alumni meet-up at CTS thereafter.

Technically, this means that we'll register to run half marathon in Brussels next fall - and show up at the given day. (you're welcome to do a full marathon as well, but i think most of us are dead in half way.) The date of the event is not published yet, but send me a note, or drop a comment line below this post, and I'll mail you more info as it appears.

To keep it low-profile, everyone takes care him/herself . I will be in contact with CTS to get us a place to meet and perhaps something to eat afterwards, as soon as I have a littel clue of the number of attendants. you should organize your room yourself.

and to you who are as ignorant as I've been, I asked around some how-to's from the experienced, and came up with a plan. Practically, if you are like me, a complete wreck or even worse... get a heart rate monitoring device (50€ upwards) and start moving three times a week for and hour with your pulse average around 150 -160 bpm. As your condition improves, you'll find that jogging actually makes sense. Eventually, (sooner than you'd think) you should be able to run three times a week 5-8kms (1hour) and once a week for 1,5-2hours. That makes up to 5hours of sports in total. I know this makes many feel like I would have felt three months ago: There's no way to squeeze out another 5hours from the schedule, but I guarantee: You will accomplish more in the remaining hours than you ever would do with the five hours now lost in sports.

Our objective in the race will be making it to the Finnish line, we don't count the time. For the curiosity though, the fastest hundred made it to the website last year, scoring 1h30mins (which sounds like fast to me...) . But our victory is really meeting up at CTS after, more energetic, healtier and fit than in fall 2007.

Join in, anybody?