Raising One's Head

Today's training just seems like a miracle because I had no energy to do anything strenuous. I had to go agere contra (to go against), one's inclinations in order to achieve the greater good. 

I had no nap yesterday and I presumed I would fall asleep quite early because of my energy expenditure, but I ended up falling asleep around 4 a.m. I knew I had an 11:00 a.m. mass in Cambridge, so I would sleep in until 8:00 or 8:30. I woke up exhausted.

Now, yesterday I had a burst of energy so for our community I made some vanilla pudding, banana bread, and salted caramel brownies. The day before I made two batches of pizzelles figuring I would stop by my family's this weekend. That's a lot of sugar for a weekend. I did eat two pizzelles, one on Saturday to see if they tasted okay and one of Sunday because they are tasty. One thing I like about pizzelles is that they are not saturated with sugar. I made then on Saturday because it was the anniversary of my mother's funeral and February is the month my grandmother, Maria, was born. It seemed right to keep a family tradition alive. However, I digress.

After mass, I went to work and spent time in the studio. It was a beautifully sunny day with temperatures in the low 40's and hardly anyone passed through the studios. As I sat in the studio, I could feel myself nodding off so I decided to leave so I could do my training. For the next twenty minutes we had a surge of people passing through the studio and that delayed my departure. When I left, I realized I was one of the few artists left in the building.

So, I went home and resolved to at least do some walking since I was too tired to do anything else. As I began, my mind kept telling me, "Make it to fifteen minutes, and then you can walk a bit." I turned on my podcasts and listened to a talk show about French sauces and ways to arrange the spice racks in a pantry. Though it was interesting, it proved to be a respite from the heaviness of the rest of the news.

Then I realized I was at 22 minutes and I decided to be in it for the long haul. I was last until half and hour and then I would walk a few laps before I resumed jogging again. The next five minutes seemed hard, but the news program change to travel talk and I was immersed in South Pacific Island travel, and then I was at 28 minutes. The show was continuing. It looked like I could reach 30 minutes, and then I would wimp out and walk a few laps.

I was then at 31 minutes, and I realized that is when the news channel comes on and it takes about 5 minutes before a commercial break. And then I was at 38 minutes, and there was no reason to stop running at this point. I might was well just continue on. The running seems to get easier after the 32 minute mark. I was so proud of myself. I did not think I could make an hour today because of my tiredness, but now I have bundles of energy.

Perhaps the best learning moment of the day was that I have to "raise my head." I've seen this over the past few weeks, but it made such a big difference today. If I run with my head down, I feel slow and lethargic, but if I raise my head, my posture is better and my attitude is better. My whole perspective is better and lighter if I raise my head and look around and energy seems to generate itself.

This is especially important in light of the news about Ukraine. I feel sad for the people and I worry about the Russian leader's response since he carries nuclear weapons. The world and the U.S. in incredibly fragile and I want to help people unify and see the blessings on the common good. We cannot focus upon our individuality without looking at our responsibility to one another and the common good. We have to keep our heads raised high and look for the best in one another. We have to look at opportunities rather than the problems and obstacles. We have to keep looking at one another as a sibling in our common humanity under God. 

This week I've heard from four people who are adamantly opposed to my fund raising efforts because they think that I have bitten off more than I can chew. They may hear "Boston Marathon" and think that I am competing as if I'm an elite runner. I hear their voices and yet I cannot give much energy to their disputes because I've already won. I raised over $21,000 for the homeless and that money is guaranteed even if I cannot run. I can walk half a mile and give up, or run 15 miles and walk eleven, or take the subway back to Boston after mile 3, or persevere the whole 26.2 miles. I'm not racing; I'm participating the best way that I can in order to provide relief for our less fortunate siblings in humanity. The race has already been run, so there are low expectations.

However, I'm participating in the marathon and I'm excited about it. I will do my best of behalf of my benefactors and the homeless, and now I get to carry the misfortune of the people of Ukraine with me as I go forward. Each step of the way is like a puff of incense rising to heaven, and this effort is part of my Lenten contribution. The marathon will be run on Easter Monday. I look forward to having a Cadbury egg early that morning to give me a sugar rush and to jolt me along the pathway. In our tradition, this is the day to bury our "Alleluia so we can pick it up again on Easter Sunday." The time for rejoicing will be ours, but for now, it is time to buckle down and to focus upon the journey. Our lives are but a journey, and we have to carry one another along the way, and it is more fun and more enjoyable as we do this together. As you support me, I hope to support the homeless and the people of Ukraine. Let's keep our eyes lifted so we can see God's glory in unexpected steps along the way. I'm grateful for your support. 

A number of people asked me the best way to donate, and I give them these options in rank from best to least desirable.

1.  The Best Way to Donate.

Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      

2. The next best way to donate.

Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

to this address: 

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street, 

Boston, MA 02118

In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"

A good week of training

It has been a good week of training despite the cold, nasty, changeable weather in Boston. I was able to run for an hour from Sunday to Saturday with Tuesday as an interruption. As I finished today, I realized how comfortable I was in running and how I could run even longer. It does not seem as laborious today as it did on Sunday.

Perhaps I should have been at this pace two months ago, but I'm an older man who is overweight and I have to take these matters reasonably and gradually. The long and short of it is that I feel good.

I like when it is a snow day because a teacher, Jeff, is in the gym when I do laps. He does the rowing machine and he does not have an ounce of body fat on him. His training regimen is precise and impeccable and I'm inspired by the rigors through which he puts his body - with ease and grace. Anyways, we both coexist in the same space, but just by being present we support each other. He is also a brilliant English teacher.

Boston's sidewalks are covered with snow. It is almost unthinkable, from a climate point of view, that in a month and a half, we will be participating in the marathon. The sun sets in Boston at 5:30 p.m. and in two weeks, we change the clocks forward to better adjust to the daylight.

As I run, I listen to podcasts on the dire situation in Ukraine and I'm inspired by the determination and resolve to defend their country from the Russian invaders. I believe peace is possible. War never needs to happen. Not today. Not ever. 

Onward and Upward

OMG. I cannot believe that I ran for an hour today because yesterday I could scarcely lift my legs. I ran for an hour (nearly six miles) on Sunday without walking any part of it, and I repeated it on Monday. Yesterday, seemed like drudgery and my knee was in mild pain and my muscles were sore. 

When I started running today, I felt rather good. I slept for 8 hours and I awoke pain-free. I do mean pain-free. I figured that I would try to run for an hour but that seemed aggressive after being sluggish the day before. When I got to 30 minutes, my mind was saying that I needed to walk a lap and then resume jogging, but then I looked at my watch and I had already gone 35 minutes, so I figured I would trudge along. 

I was listening to the stories about Russia's invasion of Ukraine and I was filled with sadness for the people of the region, but filled with energy because of the fortitude of Germany, the Baltics, the UK, the EU, and NATO. I have come to believe that war is never necessary and that everything can be worked out through diplomacy and sanctions. I am hoping and praying that calmer, clearer heads prevail, and that Russia respects the self-determination principles of Ukraine.

Well, now 45 minutes had passed and now I could not slow down for a walk when my goal of making an hour was within reach. I perspired a great deal too and my breathing felt a little heavier because of the humidity. Typically, the last five minutes are the longest, but they came so quickly. I felt so proud of myself for playing mind games to continue. Three of the past four days have been filled with a regimen of running steadily for an hour. It is easy to be a self-defeatist, but I had little tolerance for that in me today. I was happy to reverse the course of yesterday's lethargy.

And now I can look at tomorrow with some hope of continuation, and I look forward to a good night's sleep tonight. Let's see what I can do.

 A number of people asked me the best way to donate, and I give them these options in rank from best to least desirable.

1.  The Best Way to Donate.

Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      

2. The next best way to donate.

Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

to this address: 

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street, 

Boston, MA 02118

In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"

How to Donate

 A number of people asked me the best way to donate, and I give them these options in rank from best to least desirable.

1.  The Best Way to Donate.

Click on this link to the online donation form. You will see two big red buttons with the word "Donate" on them. Click on the link and follow the easy instructions. This will add your total to my fundraising page and it will generate a tax donation form for you.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      

2. The next best way to donate.

Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

to this address: 

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program
780 Albany Street, 

Boston, MA 02118

In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"

3. If you simply cannot do steps 1 or 2, then do step 3.

Do this only in the last resort. What I will do when I receive your check is to put it in an envelope to Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program and will send it to the above address. We can eliminate the middle-person if you send the check directly to them. 

Send a check made out to: Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

to:

John Predmore, S.J.

150 Morrissey Boulevard

Boston, MA 02125

Keeping Pace

 This afternoon I was very pleased with my activity. I jogged steadily for an hour and walked only as a warm-up and cool-down at the ends of the running. It felt so good to keep going. I could have run for a  longer period but I only scheduled myself this solid hour as part of my training regimen. I'll go a bit longer tomorrow during Presidents Day.

This week the outdoor temperatures should moderate and I'll be able to get outdoors, which feels much better with the fresh ocean air to greet my lungs. It is nice that the sunset at the Boston coast sets at 5:22 p.m. so it feels like spring is soon to arrive, though it has been very cold. We were hit with a snow squall during mass last night. When I went to worship, it seemed like a mostly clear night. When I left the church, I had over an inch of snow on my car.

My knee does not hurt me when I run. I can feel stiffness when I finish, which means that I have to stretch more immediately after a run. It is quite moderate and I take glucosamine each morning for my joint health. If I lose weight, I'm sure I will feel less pressure on my knee, but overall I feel good. I also noticed that if I get a good night's sleep, my joints feel fine. The problem is that I don't quite get 6.5 hours of sleep each night. I run out of time. 

I spoke with two high school classmates this week and they are urging me forward. They are as excited as I am. It is good to get their affirmations. I may practice for a 5 K with one of them; the other I will see this summer on the West Coast. I do want to get a virtual class reunion set up so we can catch up on each other's lives.

I am around $20,000.00 raised for the homeless, and I'm two months away from running the marathon. All seems to be falling into place, and I notice that I am getting excited about the day. Many friends have been great supports and many are giving me their wisdom from prior entries. 

I may be running on fumes and prayers by the end of the race, but anything we can do to help the homeless build a better life for themselves, then all the better. I'm just feeling grateful.

Here is the online donation form.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      

or you can send checks to:

 
Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program

780 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118

In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"

Marathoning in later life

Though I am not in my 70s, this was an inspiration piece to read for solace and encouragement. You might want to read it to get inside the mind of an older runner:

Marathoning in Later Life 

https://lithub.com/on-the-ecstasy-and-agony-of-running-an-ultramarathon-in-your-seventies/

Getting back to Jogging

 Saturday in Boston was a rare February day. Temperatures reached 57 degrees at its warmest, and I went out for a run early in the day when it was still cool with strong winds. I only ran for 3.8 miles because I had to be somewhere else by midday. However, I learned a few lessons.

This was my first day running outdoors. The fresh air was invigorating, and I realized I must continue to wear a sun hat because of my fair skin. I probably need to get warmer moisture control running pants instead of wearing shorts. I also learned that it is so much easier to keep in motion than to slow down for a walk. It takes more energy to restart from a walking mode.

Running outdoors is much easier than running indoors, where I might be more worried about laps or distance. Being outdoors, next to the ocean, makes you just focus upon running and you do not pay attention to statistics on one's phone. My knee is feeling better, and it helps that I lost ten pounds. I need to continue that positive trajectory.

I became worried about 26.2 miles and my rate of progress. Waves of concern washed over me, and then I realized that I am doing this for the homeless and not for a personal goal. I have so many generous donors and I do not want to let them down. I sometimes feel the pressure of expectation, and I have to keep reminding myself that this is just a fun exercise.

Among so many people of goodwill, my high school physical education teacher wrote a great not on the webpage. That lifted my spirits. I was surprised at how pleased I was to have some adult from my childhood speak such encouraging words. High School classmates have been encouraging as well as so many good friends over the years. I just have to keep being the tortoise in the "tortoise and the hare" story. I needn't worry because worry doesn't add anything positive for the outcome.

It was also encouraging to read a good story about the Mass and Cass homeless in the Boston Globe. There were 54 people who are in temporary housing, which is a first step in addressing other needs. The timing of this story was spot on as an encouraging sign.

I received my official entry form for the Boston Athletic Association. I'm all in. 

My friend who was struck by the bus is going through another surgery tomorrow. My other friend begins chemotherapy tomorrow. All we have is today, and it is quite good.We might as well make the best of each moment. 

My fundraising goal is to reach $20,000.

Here is the online donation form.

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      

or you can send checks to: 

Boston Health Care for the Homeless Program  

780 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118

In the memo field, write "for John Predmore"

Fundraising Efforts - February 10th

 I am honored, surprised, humbled by the outpouring of support I have received as I announced my intention to run/walk the 126th Boston Marathon. I never before considered such an undertaking, and what surprises me is the tremendous amount of support to reach fundraising goals for the homeless.

Within three days, your contributions surpassed $10,000, which is the quickest total that any person met that goal through this agency. I raised it to $18,000 because I have already surpassed $15,000 as some contributions are checks and wire transfers directly to the agency.

I am stunned, though, by the thoughtful words and significant contributions by so many people. If I ever had doubts about the undertaking, your contributions have put it behind me. I now have a dual purpose: I will not only be running on behalf of the homeless in Boston, I will also be running because of the trust and confidence you have put in me. Please know that you are in my prayers each day. I'm just taken aback by your kindness and it is great to know that we are all in this together in some capacity.

My new sneakers are working out fine. The pain in my knee has subsided and I've taken to jogging again to test the pain. I am progressing well. 

Tomorrow, the insurance appraiser comes to examine the damage done to my car. It is minor but it will be nice to have a chance to get it fixed. But to put matters in perspective, a friend was just seriously injured in a terrible accident. Life can change completely in a matter of a second. My friend, an 81 year old man, was at a pedestrian at a walkway in his hometown when he was struck by an MBTA bus and seriously injured. He was transferred to Massachusetts General Hospital yesterday for an extensive surgery, and he has another surgery scheduled for tomorrow. He has such a positive, upbeat spirit and is looking toward the next challenge in his life as this accident has forever altered his manner of life. His story is heartbreaking. 

Tomorrow I visit friend a longtime friend who moved to the Mid-Atlantic several years ago to live near her son. She made her annual physical in December feeling absolutely fine, and she received a difficult diagnosis immediately. She had surgery in early January and begins chemotherapy on Tuesday. 

When I think of the minor aches I am experiencing, they are not comparable to the types of suffering other people are experiencing. I am able to align my prayers for them and for the charity donors in my training regimen. It is a new way for me to pray but at this moment it seems effective.

Overall, I'm just feeling grateful for the uplifting support and I'm feeling energized. I cannot turn back. I don't want to. I just want to bring all this forward one step at a time. 

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      or send checks to: BHCHP  at 780 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118

Marathon Fundraiser Update

This is the beginning of the third day of fundraising and I am already in awe of the financial and inspirational support I have received. It shows just how much goodness is in the world. As I see the numbers tumble in, I get to pray for each person who has made a donation or provided me with support. I am praying for those anonymous donors whose identities are unknown, but their thoughtful benefactions are great. I'm deeply touched.

Yesterday, I went to buy some cushioned sneakers for the marathon because the old ones I had been wearing were not suitable. I developed runner's knee or tendonitis because I had been pushing myself to see if I had enough stamina to go through with the marathon. I wisely chose a comfortable pair and I was eager to get home to try them on around the house. I was on cloud nine.

Cloud nine last two minutes as a woman in a car in the left lane wanted to be in the right lane where I was at the same time. Her right front bumper dislodged my left rear bumper, and I spent the next hours filling out motor vehicle crash reports. So much for my high spirits. Actually, I still couldn't wait to put on those sneakers.

The sneakers, the bags of ice, and the new sneakers made my exercise regimen successful. The slight pain I had (2 of 10) was receding. Once I lose weight, I'm sure that pain will go away. Now, it is an ice day and there is no school, so I'm heading to the track early to get in a few lights steps. Much of the snow has been washed away and soon I'll be outdoors to get a real training regimen started. Until then, I'm happy to use the indoor facilities. 

Thanks for all your support. 

Fr. Predmore's Fundraiser

 Bear with me while I present a wild and crazy idea. After all, this is the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord, so let me present to you my fund raising initiative. 

 

For months I have been reading about the situation with the homeless at intersections of Mass and Cass (Massachusetts and Melnea Cass Avenues), and have felt, like you, powerless to be an active part of the solution. Prayer sufficed, and prayer is the best part. The Jesuit community prayed often for a humane solution for this societal challenge.

 

In early January, I kept waking up with the prompting to do something tangible. I went to the website of the agency that is directly behind the infamous intersection and I saw a unique opportunity at the Boston Healthcare for the Homeless Program (BCHCP). I was making a donation in honor of the late Mary Richardson, who was a Channel 5 co-host of the long-running series Chronicle. This strange and wild idea would not leave me.

 

Vincent Van Gogh once wrote, “If you hear a voice within you say, "you cannot paint," then go ahead and paint, and the voice will be silenced.”

 

On their website, BCHCP had a fund raising project directly connected with the Boston Marathon, an iconic sports event in New England. It asks participants to raise $10,000.00 for the agency which allows you a non-competitive bid to enter the Boston Marathon. That is what I intend to do. 

 

But, Fr. John…… you are of a mature age and you are overweight. Yes, you are right. I will be entering the marathon rather than racing in it. I am a practical man and a realist. I will do my best to pace myself with jogging mixed with walking, but the goal is not the race but to raise money for the homeless. For me, it is a daunting undertaking and I need your help in two ways. 

 

What do I need? I need to raise $10,000 by early April, and your financial support will take a burden off of me. I cannot put a burden on the Jesuit community for financial support because we are a community of low financial resources. I need your prayers. Please pray for the People of God who are without adequate housing and have many complicated needs. As temporary housing is set up for those who are struggling, their precarious situation appears long-term. I want them to know that we regard them with the dignity that is inherent in their humanity and that together we can work for compassionate solutions for all our societal challenges. 

 

Please know of my prayers for you as you support my fund raising goals. 

 

https://www.givengain.com/ap/john-predmore-raising-funds-for-boston-health-care-for-the-homeless-program/      or send checks to: BHCHP  at 780 Albany Street, Boston, MA 02118