Dee's Alaska adventure

3 years ago when I did my one month ride around the USA hitting all Lower 48 States on my motorcycle after riding a motorcycle for less than a year, the question I was asked often was "why?". Last year when I peddled my bicycle 1500 miles to Fairbanks Alaska with my brother, Cliff, again a common question was "Why?". This year as I get ready to run 550 miles of the 2400 miles to Fairbanks, again I am asked the same question. Part of the answer is to do something that offers some solitude away from ministry pressure for awhile in order to refocus and get emotionally refreshed in order to do a good job for the next year. I could go sit in a cabin out in the woods by myself and have the solitude but the physical challenge is a key to the time being fully rejuvenating for me. There is something about a very difficult and physically challenging experience that helps keep my passion hot and my vision high for the future. When I turned 55 I was aware of a growing boredom in my life that seemed to lead to a level of apathy that I hadn't experienced in my years of ministry. I fretted over it not wanting to be unfaithful to my calling. These weird and wacky goals have really worked for me to help keep me young in my head. When I finished my 48 State motorcycle ride I remember thinking, wow, I think I can effectively Pastor until I am 100. I realize there is a level of risk involved in them, but that seems to be part of the formula in these goals working in my life.

Dee's run to Alaska

I am leaving on a 20 day trip on Monday, June 4th to Fairbanks, Alaska where my daughter, Shelly, her husband, Philip and their 3 kids live. Patty and my Mom are going with me. My goal is to run/walk 26.2 miles, a marathon each day. I will leave from our house on Monday at 6 am and Patty and Mom will leave the house in our car at 11 am and pick me up. we will then drive about 100 miles and camp. We will be pulling a little utility trailer to carry all our camping stuff and food and clothing in. I also built a rack on the trailer to carry my bicycle on in case I get to sore to run. If I ride my bike the goal will be to ride at least 50 miles. My goal is to read and write every night for 4 or 5 hours. I am bringing my very comfortable camping recliner as well as a dozen yellow legal pads and 4 books. I would like to come home with 20 sermons outlined on a new really great sermon series that I would start this Fall. I am looking forward to the solitude with just me and the Lord every day for about 5 hours as I run. I also am hoping to lose about 20 pounds. I lost 22 last year when I bicycled to Alaska. I have gained 7 of them back. My goal is to get in really good running shape and then run an official marathon July 4th in Portland and do it in 4 hours which would qualify me to run in the Boston marathon in April. We will see how it all goes.