Journal of today’s activities:
Fathers and Families teaching the Straight-A Guide
Today I ran through a severe rainstorm that drenched Northern California today. I enjoyed the run very much for a couple of reasons. Whenever I ran through torrential storms, I always felt my spirits lift because I knew that sheer will to stay consistent with my goals drove me. Earlier in the week I had to sacrifice my running in order to prepare for many of my work-related responsibilities. That sacrifice came with a price. My 2014 value categories showed that I would not allow my weight to exceed 172 pounds. Ordinarily, I stay within a range of 162 to 168 pounds. When I stepped on the scale last Wednesday and saw 172, I knew that I’d have to cut back on my eating and get back to running. If I didn’t, I knew that 172 could turn into 178 and 178 could turn into 190 and 190 could turn into 200. The key to success, I believe, is monitoring progress on a daily basis. We taught that lesson in our Straight-A Guide. After my run today the scale read 166 pounds, putting me back into a more comfortable range.
Following my run I drove to Stockton in order to attend a graduation ceremony at Father’s and Families of San Joaquin. Fathers and Families is a community-based organization that works with the formerly incarcerated. Andrew Lucero, who is part of the leadership team, has been teaching a group of formerly incarcerated individuals in the Straight-A Guide. Twelve people graduated from the program today. Our friends at Golden State Lumber opened employment opportunities for four of those graduates. They’re working today.
In the late afternoon I participated in a Skype session with a young man. He was a high school student who was preparing a video report on mass incarceration. I appreciated an opportunity to make a small contribution to his work by sharing what I learned as a long-term prisoner.
- Days since my release from 26 years in federal prison: 200
- Miles run today: 7
- Miles run this week: 17
- Miles run this month: 197.2
- Miles run in 2014: 473.33
- Miles I need to run to reach my 2,400-mile running goal for 2014: 473.33
- Number of miles I’m ahead of schedule or behind schedule: 85.7
- Today’s Weight: 166