Category Archives: Running

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3 Things To Do When You Can No Longer Lead Your Organization Effectively

Matt Fitzgerald was a world-class athlete, author, and public speaker. He loved to get out and run. So much so that he completed 50 marathons. One of those was with a 2-hour, 39-minute, and 30-second pace. 

But something happened to Matt…

Matt came down with COVID-19. He recovered from his illness, but yet another issue arose. He began to suffer from long COVID. While there is no universal definition of long COVID, long COVID sufferers experience COVID-like symptoms for weeks, months, and even years. Some of those symptoms may be:

  • Extreme tiredness
  • Brain fog
  • Dizziness or light-headedness

These symptoms can make it hard for one to do what they love to do. For Matt, that has been long-distance running. He’s been unable to run or exercise for over three years. I feel for Matt. After my COVID-19 battle, I’ve struggled to return to running, improving my fitness, and concentrating.  Read more...

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When Directions Don’t Get You To Your Destination

The Redeem Mi Run recently happened in Montague, Michigan. The purpose of the run was to help raise funds to redeem the land which had been polluted, neglected, and abused. 

Redeem Mi Land, an organization dedicated to the abovementioned goals, put on the event, which was their first and a great success. 

I was asked to be a part of this race. First, I was asked to find where to rent the start/finish line equipment. Second, I was asked to man a water/aid station at the 5K turnaround point.

One of the things I had to do for the aid station was to obtain water coolers that would dispense water. A person from my church was kind enough to allow us to borrow one of his spare coolers.

He gave me his address. I plugged it into the GPS. I turned into the driveway the GPS told me to go to.  Read more...

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Leadership Quotes From Team World Vision’s National Leader’s Gathering 2024

You can tell a great organization by the way they treat their people. One of the best organizations is Team World Vision. They’re working to end the global water crisis by giving everyone access to clean water.

Their work is far-ranging and goes beyond just clean water. They also work to provide nutritious food and health care. It’s the reason I run for them and the awareness of the need for clean water.

This year, I’m running the London Marathon to do this. My goal is to raise $25,000 and bring clean water and life to 500 children. Every $50 raised is a child whose life is changed.

Group photo of people at the Team World Vision National Leader's Gathering 2024. Many in bright orange shirts.

One of the things Team World Vision does is celebrate their leaders. They provide access to regional leaders to help guide them as they lead their local team. They also provide encouragement during the difficult times. Maybe the most amazing thing is they also put together an engaging and informative National Leader’s Gathering to thank them and equip them for the upcoming year.  Read more...

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Leadership Reflections From The Amway River Bank Run 2023

I participated in the Amway River Bank 25K run this past Sunday. It’s an annual event that was started in 1978. The race, a 15.5-mile stroll through downtown Grand Rapids and more, is one of scenic beauty. You run past the John Ball Park Zoo, along the river bank, and back into the city. Every part of the run can take your breath away.

Over the years, the sponsors have changed. It started as the Old Kent River Bank Run, transitioned into the Fifth Third River Bank Run, and is now the Amway River Bank Run. There’s a lot of history in the race and people are proud.

Something unique about the race is the distance. You hear about 5k, 10k, half marathon, and full marathon but the 25k is an elusive distance. It’s one that brings in runners from all across the country. Over 10,000 people ran in this race. It’s quite the experience to run with that many people!  Read more...

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Leadership Lessons From A 200-Mile Ragnar Relay Race

A few months ago, I was approached by a local pastor to do something crazy. He had put together a team of runners to run the Ragnar Michigan relay. This run takes runners from Muskegon, Mi to Traverse City, Mi for a 200-ish mile run.

The Dogman Bounty Runners Ragnar Road Michigan 2022 running team

The Dogman Bounty Runners At The Finish Of Ragnar 2022 Michigan

The team consisted of 12 runners, a driver, and two volunteers for the event. That’s a lot of people, with most of them being inside a 15-passenger van. The thought of it reminded me of the Five Iron Frenzy song Superpowers. One line of the song went like this:

Eight people in a stinky van, a couple more couldn’t hurt.

I guess the guys and gal in Five Iron Frenzy were right. A few more people in a stinky van wouldn’t hurt as we all rode peacefully to each leg of the race to cheer each other on.  Read more...