The Parable of the Treadmill

Dear Elder Jeppson,
Years ago, when I started to run for exercise, I only ran outside – mostly along trails or backroads around my house.  When winter rolled around, I joined a gym and started to run on a treadmill.  The first time, I was thrilled at the ease and increased speed and stamina I felt compared to running outside.  I was able to both increase my pace and run further than I could outside.  Not fully understanding all the things that were taking place, I simply was happy with what I assumed was my own increased ability.  I ran on the treadmill all through the winter and when spring came around, I decided to continue to use the treadmill instead of returning to the trails because it was making me feel so strong.

Over that spring, I continued to increase in ability and fitness and was feeling amazing.  When the next winter rolled around though, I began to experience severe pain in my lower legs, shins and calves.  It was a sharp piercing pain that shot through my whole legs on every impact of my feet.  It became bad enough that I could not run.  I would rest for a few weeks and try again, and the pain immediately returned.  After almost a full month of trying to get to heal, I finally went to a sports medicine specialist.  He did some x rays and determined that I had developed sever compression fractures in both my legs.  He further explained that this kind of injury is common among those that run exclusively on a treadmill because of the lack of variation in terrain.  The sameness of the treadmill deck and the fact that every single impact of my legs was the exact same flatness, speed and angle was really rough on my legs.  He advised that my legs actually needed the variety and undulation of the real ground and even better if it involved dirt trails, logs, inclines and changing density of ground.  After months of not running to allow my fractures to heal, he advised that I start running again, but run outside on dirt trails.  When I did this, I was surprised at how different and challenging running outside was.  The resistance of the wind, the incline of the ground, the need to always be observant of my foot placement – it all amounted to a make running significantly harder and slowed down my pace.  But surprisingly, my legs and feet felt amazing.  They became stronger because of the undulating trail and various ways each stride impacted the ground.  

As I continued to train, my pace and strength soon exceeded the point I had reached on the treadmill.  Not only were my legs and overall running ability being strengthened, but it was actually protecting myself form injury by running on the trails.  At times, the running outside got muddy, messy, icy or difficult enough that I had to slow down to a walk, but each time, I remembered how bad the treadmill had injured me.  I remembered the danger of the sameness.  In the end, I was actually safer from injury by foregoing the easy treadmill and facing the additional challenges of running outside. 

This whole experience had been on my mind lately.  I can’t stand the treadmill anymore.  In fact, I call it the dreadmill.  There are so many beautiful life lessons in this parable.  There’s a deeper lesson than your standard old slogan of choosing the more challenging route to experience growth.  What I learned here that was so unexpected and something I truly believe applies to our lives is that when we seek the easy way, the way that comes without hills, headwinds, splattered mud and tripping hazards, we risk serious set back and injury.  Our bodies and spirits are healthier and happier when our route undulates and is constantly adapting to challenges.  It’s the little bumps, roots and mud puddles that protect us form the compression fractures brought on by the repetitive, mundane-ness of the easy road. 

I hope when life deals you a trail that is filled with these ups and downs, or a bit of a headwind, you’ll remember to not be too worried about meeting your expected pace and being okay with walking or resting and remember that it’s this very road that will protect you from the dangers of easy street. 

I love you.  Keep going!  I’m proud of you and know that this is definitely not treadmill running.  I hope this little parable helps you. 

Love Dad. 

Lisbon - A Paintable City...

It's been a long time since I've posted on my blog and have recently been painting some scenes here locally.  I'm recommitting to my painting hobby. It's incredible how much therapy it provides me.  I'm also committing to restart my special envelope activity.  If you've asked for a special envelope and never received one, please message me to let me know.  I've misplaced my list of requests I was keeping and working through.



The Torre de Belem is a wonderfully paintable landmark here in town.  Everytime I pass it, I think....I need to paint that thing.  This was a fun one and I've already started a long list of local scenes to paint in the coming weeks. 

Hiking the Appalachian Trail

This week's envelope goes out to some great hiking pals.  Anthony Joseph, his son and I shared one of the most memorable experiences of my life.  We decided to plan a hike along the Appalachian Trail and during our hike, we stumbled across a "dropped" bear cub only a few days old.

  

We immediately were concerned about the dangers of encountering an angry mama bear but after a few hours watching from a distance, determined that mama was not likely coming back.  There was something clearly wrong with the poor cub and it could not get up and move around.  We debated for so long about what to do.  We knew a ranger station was near by, so after much debate and realizing that either way, the cub would likely die if we didn't take him to the ranger station. 

We wrapped him up and took him to the Rangers where we hope they were able to save him.  The rangers seemed positive that they could help the cub get healthy.   

I enjoyed this painting and like to remember the cute little cub in a healthy state like shown on my envelope.  We hope he made it.  

Daredevil

I remember watching Ryan backflip off a cliff - making it look easy and wishing I could do it.  Although I grew up on skis, I've never been that comfortable when the sticks are in the air.  Ryan was agile, athletic and graceful and it impressed me. 

Just like he is on skis, Ryan and his family run an impressive show in family life - making the most difficult parental maneuvers look effortless.  I did this envelope for one of my life-long friends while contemplated all the reasons I love, miss and admire him and his family.  

Ryan and I met 25 years ago in Russia while serving on our missions and have remained fast friends since then.  He continues to lead me in examples of adventurous and wholesome (and sometimes dangerous) living.  

Nice Ride...

It's a little rough on a 45 year old ego when you're jealous of the 17 year old kid's ride down the street.  Kehler is that kid.  He's got this '68 Bug that is so cool.  I've always wanted one of these classics.  I had a blast painting this special envelope for him.  

I owed Kehler.  See, in addition to owning a sweet ride, he's a genius when it comes to electronics and while here in Baghdad, my family was having some technical difficulties with some home theatre equipment.  Kehler volunteered to run down and trouble shoot it for my wife and had it fixed in short order.  Ever since, I've wanted to return the favor.  I hope he likes this feature with his '68 Bug.

     

Long-Necked Friends - The Best Kind!

There are some people that will always "stick their necks out" for you even when it's inconvenient.  Sandy and Jim Douglas are these kind of folks.  They are the parents of one of my closest friends, and although I've only had the pleasure to visit with them a few times, somehow I feel "adopted" by them because they treated me with such consideration and love during our short visit.  I instantly understood that these are charitable and Christ-like people who would give the shirt off their backs out of concern for their neighbor.  Corby, their son and I love to backcountry ski together and it's not uncommon for Jim to spend hundreds of dollars and hours to work on innovations to make our trips easier.  Jim is frequently lending his truck, trailer and expensive snowmobiles to enhance our trips.  

On our trip last season, Jim fabricated an innovative sled that we pulled behind his personal snow machines in which we loaded all kinds of luxuries that made our yurt trip so much better.  He spent all of his valuable time working on the sled (thing thing could be patented and marketed with a top-mounting ski rack and a dumping tailgate) with no expectation of anything in return.  Sandy invites us to stay at their house before and after our trips as if we were her own children.  

As I contemplated how much I appreciate their generosity, I kept thinking of these fun "long necked" animals and was reminded of how the Douglas family has "stuck their necks out" for our trips.  I realized that this is a characteristic that I hope to always emulate toward them and others.  I hope they like these fun animals that share the great quality of a long neck!   

Old Timer

One of our family's favorite people is Rex Richards.  They don't make 'em like Rex anymore.  He's been a scout master and mentor for my boys and is an all around amazing person.  Rex emulates all the characteristics my boys and I strive for in our characters.  He's an honest-to-goodness cowboy that has invited us many times to go out into the mountains with him and his horses.  Here's some of my favorite things about Rex:  He's one of the best gardeners in town and keeps bees, builds old covered wagon replicas, has amazing woodworking and electrician skills, is an expert knot tier, a great backcountry skier,  and most important, is a sincere father, husband and priesthood holder who strives to take care of and love his neighbor (everyone in town).  

He's taken my boys and me into the mountains with his horses that always lighten our loads on our backs.  He's pure joy to have around a campfire in the mountains and always has a great story to tell.  We're hoping to have him along this summer on one of our backpacking trips.  I deeply respect Rex and cooked up this image out of my memory from one of our trips into the mountains.