Mental Techniques for Runners: Visualizations

In line with the concept of dissociation, I have used visualization techniques to mentally propel myself further toward my goals. Objects or concepts take on new and powerful meanings when I see them in this light. Running for long distances requires a certain degree of mental toughness and discipline, which I have found comes easier with visualization.

My visualizations include the following:

“On tap”: One time I heard a runner refer to their mileage as “X miles on tap for today”, as if each number were a flavor of beer. For example: 15 miles on tap would be a different “flavor” than 9 miles on tap. If I consider my daily mileage as a drink on tap, then my legs are the liquid that flow until I reach what is on tap. The rest of my body (including my mind) steers my legs and gets me to that “flavor”.

“Liquid courage”: This is Powerade. When I take a sip of my Powerade during a run, I get a shot of carbs and electrolytes that powers me further than if I did not have it at my disposal. Therefore, it gives me courage by making me feel stronger even as my muscles become more strained. I borrow this terminology from people who believe that other liquids (i.e., beer) make you artificially stronger. Visualizing Powerade as “liquid courage” gives me vigor when I might otherwise lose it.

I struggled to find an image for "breathing in and breathing out". Bear with me here.

Breathing in and breathing out: I got this visualization from a yoga class that I took earlier this summer. Each breath in should be seen as a gift from the universe. This helps me to be thankful for the world around me and the opportunity to run in it. Each breath out is visualized as returning that gift back. The breaths out help me to remember the gifts that I give through running - a better health-related quality of life that I can share with my family and friends, funds raised for Periclean Scholars, motivation of my MCM cohort, and more. This visualization makes running more about just me.

My breath, my beverage, and my body can be transformed through mental visualizations, which make me a tougher runner. Fellow runners: what visualizations do you use? What ordinary object or concept do you give superpowers during your run?

Freedom - MLK Jr. Tribute Series

The new post series starting today is inspired by the recent opening of the Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial in Washington, DC, along the Tidal Basin and the National Mall. Part of the Memorial’s Vision Statement reads, “Upon reflection, we are reminded that Dr. King's lifelong dedication to the idea of achieving human dignity through global relationships of well being has served to instill a broader and deeper sense of duty within each of us— a duty to be both responsible citizens and conscientious stewards of freedom and democracy.”

Dr. King’s orations challenged our society to achieve peace and equality through nonviolent means. He is an inspiration across generations and continents, and his accomplishments were the subject of some of our lunch and dinner discussions while in Zambia.

The Memorial’s Vision Statement also mentions how the movement calls upon America to realize its potential in the arenas of freedom, opportunity, and justice. This series will address how the Periclean program captures each of these and works to broaden this vision across the globe.

Freedom is a central tenet in successful democratic societies. Citizens are not trapped by unjust constraints and able to exercise all human capabilities and liberties in a truly free society. Dr. King’s vision sought to bring freedom to all peoples, in particular African Americans who had struggled under the Jim Crow laws and bigotry by other races.

To obtain true freedom, a shackled society must see all of its members make great sacrifices. This seems counter to what individuals would want, but I feel that it is the selfish attitudes of all that make freedom so difficult to obtain.

One of the most difficult forces to overcome is that of racial pride. All humans belong to a different racial group based on luck of the draw through birth. Through societal constructs, these races (or blends of races) have tied us down through the force of pride. Identifying oneself in a group to the exclusion of others is an excellent way to weaken our ties as global citizens.

When people have too much racial pride, they elevate themselves above other groups to the detriment of society. When white people in Germany elevated the Aryan race above others, they sparked the Holocaust. When neighborhoods are formed based on race, enclaves lash out at those not perceived to be their “own” and race riots ensue. When bachelors and bachelorettes only elect to date people of one race, they place a wedge between themselves and suitors who may very well have more compatible life values than others in their own race. While those who are proud of their race might feel great about belonging to a certain group, they should be warned that there is no such thing as a separate peace; with each group that clamors with pride, others cringe in shame.

Over the course of history, the opposite of racial pride has indeed shown its ugly head. In the United States, we had the Jim Crow laws. In South Africa, there was apartheid. All across the world, candidates are passed over for job opportunities because they were not born into a certain group, and they feel shame for the inability to overcome something so disconnected to their talents. Racial pride depends on the misfortune or diminishment of another, a force that has polarized societies today - a force that King worked so tirelessly to overcome.

How has the Periclean program helped to make me free? The Periclean program has shown me the possibility of racial contentment. While in Zambia in January 2009, one of my peers described a moment where he explained to a young boy that the incoming President of the United States, Barack Obama, had the same color of skin that he did. This young boy had never seen a picture of Obama and did not understand why everyone was so excited about his inauguration. Upon realizing that Obama was like him, and that someone that looked just like him could be President of the United States, he wore a huge grin. He was not ashamed. Yet, though I could not read his mind, I do not think that he was proud. He was simply glad that the way he was was good enough.

As we watched the Obama inauguration on January 20, 2009, beginning at 5 p.m. local time in Zambia, we knew that race was no longer an excluding factor in seeking the highest office of the most powerful nation in the world. Being black could no longer be seen as a source of shame. Race became a point of contentment: the (racist) pride of whites in holding the highest office for so long, and the (racist) shame of blacks in believing that no matter how hard they worked, they would never achieve it, vanished. Race just is, like eye color or finger length or the type of belly button you have. Americans swelled up with this realization, and Africans (with the fresh memories of apartheid) beamed at the leveling of this playing field.

Race is not a cause for celebration. Race is not an excuse. Race is something that is decided before you are born, and it should not be judged above the content of a person’s character. This is the message that Martin Luther King, Jr., would want us to believe, and it is the message that the Pericleans bring to their partners and all they touch.

13 Mile Run - Saturday 8/27

In spite of the fact that the half marathon was cancelled for this weekend, I decided to continue this week as a stepback week and run the 13.1 instead of jumping up to 19.

Hurricane weather was a huge threat that I did not want to have to deal with during the course of my run, so I decided not to do an out-and-back. Today's run was along a measured mile around the apartment complex. By running repeats on this mile, I could track my splits - as if I were running a race - and I could get inside as soon as possible if it began to thunder.

There were two ways that I went to achieve one lap. One was 1.05 miles, and the other was 1.15 miles. To make the full 13.1 miles, I did five laps of 1.15 and seven laps of 1.05. To keep track of how many laps/miles I ran, I did three laps in one direction, then reversed, for a total of four sets of laps.

I believe that running laps is harder mentally than running on the treadmill. The scenery rarely changes; it is the same buildings, cars, bushes, and (for the most part) people. Being so close to home makes it very tempting to run back inside and call it quits.

During my sixth lap, the hurricane reached Northern Virginia. At first, the sprinkles were a nice reprieve from the humidity, but soon it began to rain harder and my shirt and shorts were drenched. I followed my rule of thumb and did not stop running, because no thunder was heard and no lightning was spotted. Still, during that lap, I was very tempted to go inside and stop. I considered how if I were on an out-and-back, this would not be a possibility, as I would have to go an equal distance back to the starting line. I did not stop, and I pushed on. Soon, the rain became a constant, and I was counting down the laps until the finish. Thunder and lightning never came into the picture.

Although today's long run outdoors was somewhat uneventful (minus the beginnings of the hurricane), I will carry the strength of completing it with me to marathon day. Today's run was the first in a long time that I have had to deal with the rain, so if it returns on race day, I will not be panicky. Plus, I had thoughts of giving up, but I pushed through.

One of my runner buddies in one of my running groups posted this quote this morning, presumably because of the hurricane conditions and people like me who thought about quitting but didn't give up. I will use it to conclude my post:


"Conditions are never perfect. 'Someday' is a disease that will take your dreams to the grave with you. If it's important to you and you want to do it 'eventually', JUST DO IT and correct course along the way. So whatever dream you have been holding off on chasing, do it now. And when you look back at the end of it all you can say: I DID IT." - Shannon Neinas

Love - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

This final entry on the fruits of the spirit concerns love. I saved love for last because of its power. I believe it encompasses all of the other fruits.

The love that I will discuss as a fruit of the spirit is agape (ἀγάπη) love, which is the truest form of love. It is unconditional love through choice and not by happenstance. It is unconquerable goodwill. Agape love differs from other forms of love that people express. These forms that will not be discussed are philia (φιλία) love, or loyalty to friends; eros (ἔρως) love, or romantic/passionate longing; and storge (στοργή) love, or the natural affection like that a parent feels for a child.

The Class of 2009’s motto for the Zambia build was “Built with Love”. When we reached Zambia, our goal was to work in the spirit of love. If we were to claim a conquest at the end of our journey, it would be to have spread agape love to all whom we have touched, and to receive it back.

We were never alone in mixing cement, digging out a foundation, laying bricks, or shoveling backfill. We were part of a diverse, international team that included the future homeowners themselves. We had our foremen, additional contractors, our Habitat coordinators, future neighbors of the homeowners, fellow villagers, and ourselves. All of these team members realized the truth of what a home built with love could do in a family’s life. They rejoiced at the opportunity to be a part of it, and to let this truth continue to prevail.

There are three different models of service: doing for, doing with, and being with. The first one implies subjugation and does not emphasize the relationships built. The second one acknowledges cooperation, but it puts a heavier focus on the tasks rather than the relationships. The third model reflects an emphasis on relationships, on service that is not self-seeking. It does not take into account the titles, status, or backgrounds of the participants. It is the true spirit of goodwill; it is love.

In serving our Periclean partners, we are a part of a community that gives and takes equally. For every act of service we give to our partners, they give us a feeling, a token, a word of thanks in return. For every photo we take, for each memory and story we take, our partners take hugs, memories, and more. My only reason for mentioning this is because this dynamic is hidden and not considered. We do not keep score. Our partners give more to us than we could ever imagine, and vice versa. We do not do favors for one another; we are of service to one another. I believe that this dynamic, and the lack of scorekeeping, grows agape love in the Periclean spirit. This is unconquerable goodwill.

During the closing ceremonies, it was said that our greatest failure would be if we did not return to Kawama to grow the community and build more houses, in the same spirit as when we first arrived. We certainly took this to heart and laid the foundation for future groups to come. In May-June 2011, we showed our obedience to our word by sending a second Elon team to complete a build. Our class, and the program as a whole, consistently lives up to the expectation of sustained partnerships. This loyalty is a measure of love, as agape love never ends.

Lontia’s and Rosemary’s homes were built with love. The Periclean program grows the spirit of love through the nature of its service. As a result of the Periclean opportunity to serve, the fruit of love has grown immeasurably in the hearts of Elon’s Periclean Scholars and those they touch. To end this series, I shall continue in the spirit of thanks, to acknowledge the impact of the Periclean program on growing the fruits of the spirit in me - all of them being encompassed by love. Thank you for assisting me on the journey toward obedience to virtue.

Hurricane: 1. Half Marathon: 0.

Hurricane Irene is scheduled to make landfall on Wildwood, NJ, right as the half marathon is scheduled to take place. 

Nnnooooooooooooooooo!

Irene, you may have won this battle, but you did not win the war! The race officials have deferred all entrants to the 2012 race, because it would require too much logistical coordination to schedule the race for an alternate date in 2011. As of now, I had not planned any races for next season - but now, I will be motivated to keep on going in anticipation of this race!

Training for the marathon will not be stalled by this. I will do a long run either tomorrow evening or early Saturday; it will either be a fast 13 or a slow 19, depending on how ambitious I am.

My hope is that Irene's evil twin sister or brother does not reappear for MCM. If it does, then... well, I guess I'll have to repeat all of this training one more year!

Natural Disaster Emergency Plan for the Marathon

Yesterday’s earthquake in Mineral, VA, felt along much of the East Coast - including Washington, DC - put people through a range of emotions. One of my first thoughts was, at least this didn’t happen while I was running the marathon!

With that thought, I considered how I would deal with a variety of natural disasters if any of them were to crop up on race day. Here is what I decided I should do:

• Tornado: Hop into a protective orb. Allow the tornado to run through the path of my orb. Spin around the tornado and allow it to carry me to the finish line.
• Hurricane: Swim. Ride the currents to the finish line.
• Flood: Swim. If the currents are not strong enough, paddle a canoe or kayak.
• Earthquake: Run on the parts of the shaking earth that propel me forward instead of setting me back. Bounce closer to the finish line.
• Tsunami: Surf to the finish line.
• Avalanche: Strap on skis and slide downhill to the finish line.
• Blizzard: Wear snow shoes or tire tracks to traverse the snow. If necessary, cross-country ski.
• Volcano: Wear a gas mask. Run uphill away from the volcano to the finish line.
• Drought: Drink extra water/Powerade at the water stations.
• Heat Wave: Freeze clothes or put them on the air conditioner before running. Refrigerate or freeze water/Powerade. Stuff ice cubes in various places.
• Fire: Wear a protective fire suit. Drink extra water at aid stations to accommodate for extra clothing.

Granted, many of these scenarios will not happen on race day - especially an avalanche or volcano. I’d like to think I will be prepared just in case. Even when everything is going perfect during training, there is always the unknown of what will happen the day of the big race. Yesterday’s earthquake reminded me of the power of nature and how I should expect the unexpected, especially on race day, to propel me to success (or at least to lower stress).

Inspirational Video from 2010 MCM

In 70 days - a mere 10 weeks - I will add 8 more miles to my longest run to date to make a full marathon. Compared to the beginning of training in February, the race date is unbelievably close. 

Nevertheless, I can always use inspiration to remind me of the challenge ahead. I think this video does a great job of preparing me and inspiring me for what is to come.

I have heard from many friends and acquaintances that the MCM is the best first marathon. Based on this video, the course support and race atmosphere looks like it would be difficult to beat anywhere else.

I am privileged to be a part of the 30,000 elite on October 30. Until then, I will do everything in my power to train strong so that I can race strong. Doing so for the PSAA is beyond worth it!

18 Mile Run - Saturday 8/20

This morning, I returned to the Arlington Road Runners in Rosslyn. I had received their trail map in advance, so I did not feel like I would get lost this time. Plus, it was an out-and-back through Rock Creek Park, which would make it easy to stay with the group (and see members of the group turning around).

I felt pretty good before the run. I think I might have eaten too many carbs the day before (is that possible?) because I felt like I had a bit of a gut. However, whatever I felt melted by the end of the run, as I felt like myself after 18 miles.

My legs, lungs, heart, etc. all felt great throughout the run. There were no lingering injuries, and I was breathing well because the weather was pretty cool (thanks to a rainstorm the previous night). As I was finishing up the run, I thought about how 18 miles felt easy. It seemed kind of cocky to think, but it really did. I know that I'll be in great shape for the marathon, and I am so happy that things seem to be going so well.

On the map, the Rock Creek Park trails go past quite a few areas of interest. My favorite would be the zoo. Unfortunately, all that you see are trees and trails and streams. On the plus side, you become lost in the scenery and it all becomes a blur. You don't know how much you run - which is great when you are running in a group with other people and know that a water stop will be marking your turnaround point.

During the first half of the run, I ran with a group of four or so people. One of those was a guy named Rolando, who is originally from a town in Puerto Rico near the world's largest radio telescope. This group was a fairly talkative one and helped the run to fly by. We passed a log cabin, and one of the group members said "If we were in New Jersey, George Washington would have slept there!" This is quite true; any remaining decrepit buildings or log cabins in the middle of nowhere likely has historical significance (aka, a tie to Washington). I also mentioned how I like to add 0.2 to each of my runs to get over the mental hurdle of adding on the 0.2 at the end of the run. One of the group members said that they didn't do that, and I said that's silly that you only run in integers - to which he said that he would think of the marathon as 27 miles and then the last mile would be very, very short!

The first and second halves of the run were marked by a water stop. However, I did not want to stop while running, so I ran in circles for a few minutes. When I realized that my group would take longer than I had anticipated, I began the trek back to Rosslyn on my own. At a nearby water stop, I started running with a lady named Amy, who ran a great pace but was not a conversationalist. She just sort of stuck to her headphones for a distraction. (I don't mind this too much, as I run most of my runs by myself and don't depend on it.) Even though Amy didn't talk, I definitely needed her in the middle of the final segment when I almost passed the bridge that took me back toward home base. I ran straight, but she called out, "Don't we turn here?" Indeed, we did, and I got back fine with her assistance.

Since most of the Rock Creek run was the same monotonous forest, I was surprised to see the Watergate Complex and Georgetown when the trail spit us out. It was at this point when I realized just how good of shape I was in, because it did not feel like I had run 17 or so miles by that point. My long runs tend to feel easier compared to my tempo runs, and since the weather was cooperating, my body felt great.

Although most of the run was monotonous, two occurrences stand out as worthy of blog space:
1. When I was heading back up the trail, the paths became clogged with various groups of runners. A group three across ran past me, and one of the guys wiped me with his arm. It was one of the most disgusting things ever, because he was extremely sweaty. I had to wipe my arm of his sweat after that brush, and I was grossed out for at least a few minutes. I guess this is good preparation for the marathon, because running with 30,000 runners is likely to make the roads a little dense.
2. A bit closer to base camp, I saw three Army guys carrying a log. I am not sure what purpose this served in their training or conditioning, but I do know that I got very concerned when one of them dropped a log. It looked to be the same mass as a human, so I thought that they had been carrying someone and then that person suddenly fell. As I was in my running daze and finally realized that it was not a human, I was relieved.

In terms of the running and conditioning, this run was much better than my first one with Arlington Road Runners. I got to go on a trail I hadn't braved by myself, and it felt great.

Next week is the big half marathon race in Wildwood - so it's 13.1 miles at slightly faster than race pace! Wish me luck!

Mental Techniques for Runners: External Dissociation

What is external dissociation? It is the technical term for my secret weapon during races and training. Shortly before my first half marathon in April, I came across this article on Active.com about breaking down the mental marathon.

After the 1996 London Marathon, researchers asked non-elite runners (those like me!) about their thought processes. They were able to group these processes into four different categories, based around four terms:

Internal: What is going on inside the body - thoughts, feelings, mental tricks, etc.
External: What is going on outside the body - fellow runners, spectators, splits/times, etc.
Association: Focusing on factors related to the race, such as your fellow runners, bodily sensations, etc.
Dissociation: Distracting oneself from factors related to the race, such as by thinking about the scenery or solving math puzzles mentally

Grouped together, the researchers found that runners’ thought processes fell into internal association, external association, internal dissociation, and external dissociation.

Why does this matter? Well, it turns out that choosing to have certain thought processes has a significant impact on when runners hit the proverbial “wall”, as well as their perceived exertion and fatigue. Runners who mostly focused on internal dissociation often hit the wall, because they were so disconnected from their bodies and the race and ignored signs to slow down and hydrate. Runners who used internal association, or thought about how their bodies were feeling, also hit the wall often.

The runners who were the most successful in avoiding the wall and minimizing fatigue mostly focused on external factors, such as those during the race with association (spectators, water stops, mile markers, etc.) and those outside of the race with dissociation (mental games, scenery, other distracting thoughts).

I rely on external dissociation during my training runs. During the week, this takes the form of reading a magazine and watching the news while on the treadmill. Doing so always makes the time fly by; when I don’t have a magazine or a screen to watch, I get bored and my perceived exertion is greater. For my long runs, this counts as observing factors about the trail and the run which I can then write about in the blog. When it came to race time, I focused heavily on inspiration as gathered from the scenery around me - the smell of the flowers, the style of the houses, and more. I use external association in small doses, too. I kept tabs on my pace every mile as a way to prevent me from hitting the wall. I did not focus on myself, but I did consider my fellow runners - how they were feeling, what they were wearing, how soon I could pick them off. If I had focused on how I was feeling, I guarantee I would not have felt as great. If you’re running at race pace, how can you possibly feel 100% well? By directing your thoughts elsewhere!

Fellow runners: if you have not considered controlling your thought processes as a means to achieve a PR, try some of the techniques above. Separate out your thought processes and only allow the ones into your head that will help your time. It will make your training runs and races much less painful and more enjoyable. Then, let me know how it goes!

Self-Control - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

Today’s fruit of the spirit is self-control. I will treat self-control as having possession over one’s own behavior, as well as resisting the urge to give in to temptation.

I will begin with an anecdote from Zambia. Proverbs 25:28 states, “Like a city whose walls are broken down is a man who lacks self-control.” In this regard, I believe that self-control was cultivated while constructing our Habitat homes in Zambia. One of our main goals in building the houses was to ensure that they were structurally sound. As amateur builders, we relied heavily on our foreman, Noah, for guidance. Sometimes, I was tempted to stack bricks, smooth cement, and stack more bricks at a rate faster than recommended by Noah. This was only compounded by the frequency of downpours during the rainy season, so building time was precious. However, the Periclean program taught us the importance of listening to our partners in all things - especially when they are the clear experts on the matter. Listening to our partners’ needs meant resisting the urge to move too rapidly and delaying the gratification of completing the house. By modifying our behavior and not giving into temptation, we slowly but surely constructed strong homes that will last for generations.

I have often been told that I am very disciplined in nature, as evidenced through my success in marathon training runs done mostly by myself before the sun rises. I control my own behavior by getting in my miles and resist temptation by not sleeping in late.

Lately, however, I feel that living out the virtue of self-control - as well as many other virtues - has become a particular challenge to fully live out. A couple of events in my life have caused my balance to be thrown off kilter; even though it only marginally affects my running, in other areas I haven’t felt like myself for the past couple of days. Yet, I believe that it is in the toughest moments that we show our greatest strengths. I have been pulling from my Periclean toolbox to help me live up to these challenges.

My most recent challenge has been to not lash out at others who have hurt me or to seek vengeance against them. I have been seeking out ways to re-channel this negative energy and exert self-control by not giving in to such a damaging temptation. These vindictive feelings are not characteristic of my nature, so I have been trying to get rid of them as quickly and definitively as possible. I do not want any walls in my city to be knocked down as a result of bad blood.

Yesterday, I found that the best way to restore my balanced nature was in a manner that is completely Periclean: losing myself in service to others. I had one of my regular shifts at the safehouse. Now, sometimes it depends; I can leave feeling awful, because it is a stressful night and clients do not treat me like royalty (and that’s expected as part of the work). However, last night was the most exhilarating. I had my first intake. What that means is I facilitated a new client’s transportation to the safehouse, got the person oriented, helped to calm them down, and made them feel at home - like they did the right thing. My time was not spent lamenting my situation. I delayed (and partially erased) my selfish, negative feelings and my desire for vengeance by directly helping someone to flee domestic violence. By losing myself in service, I worked to find my balance.

Service, whether it be in the local community or around the globe, is an excellent avenue to grow the fruit of self-control. Servants resist the temptation to claim all of their time on earth as their own, and they give it freely to those in need. They listen to the needs of others and do not judge before getting complete information. They resist the temptation to condemn, and they choose love. In working with the Periclean partners, I found my colleagues and mentors exemplified this spirit of self-control. While it is not the sexiest of the fruits, I find its fruit to be one of the most sweet in the end.

I am thankful for the Periclean program for showing me the value of self-control, and providing me with the toolkit to value service as a means to achieve this fruit.

Gentleness - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

What do you desire? Shall I come to you with a rod, or with love and a spirit of gentleness? 1 CORINTHIANS 4:21

Today’s fruit of the spirit is gentleness. It relates to kindness in many ways but is its own fundamental virtue. I see gentleness as having strength with an even temper and tranquil spirit. This challenges most people’s idea of the source of strength and how to grow it, but the fruit of gentleness arises when someone is strong in the truest sense of the word.

What does it mean to be a “strong” person? In American society, we often associate strength with muscular ability, the number of drinks we can stomach, the amount of willpower we have, or courage to stand up to the bad guy. All of these things constitute strength in the most superficial sense. They are right, but they should not be the first thing that comes to mind.

I believe that strength comes from the acknowledgement of weakness, the internalization of another’s struggle, or the holding off of judgement. In many respects, this is the opposite of society’s view of strength. True strength is not hitting your wife; it’s listening to her. True strength is holding off on those drinks and taking watch over friends. True strength, in many cases, is not attacking the bad guy but showing him the path to virtue.

Strong relationships are woven with gentleness. The approach to international relations taken by the Periclean Scholars program is to select meaningful partnerships and then to spend time listening to them and getting to know their needs. The goal is not to impose American will on these communities, but rather to unpeel the layers of the societies’ greatest needs. We do not make war or shove our theories down their throats. We hold back the rods and guns and encourage the hugs and open ears.

The Periclean program grows gentleness first through the classroom setting. We read and write about our partner communities in the academic setting and synthesize all of the elements that have created certain outcomes. The second way that the Periclean program does this is through the community setting. We listen to the Elon and greater community’s perspectives on why issues are a certain way and then educate them about the layers that construct these issues. We show no anger toward others, accepting that they obtained their perspectives from as complete information as they had at the time. We believe that increased community knowledge increases compassion, especially on the international development front. The third way that we build gentleness is through our ground work. Interacting with our partners helps us to build an even more complete picture of why things are the way that they are. The layers are unpeeled, and we show true strength and gentleness in learning and simply accepting our partners’ lots in life as different and not inferior.

All aspects of the Periclean program have helped to make me a stronger and more gentle person. Granted, this is a fruit that I have not yet perfected - as I have not perfected any of them, in my opinion - but my heart is in the right place and I am on the right track because of the Periclean influence. I use more of my time and resources to ease someone’s burden, to set them free, and to use my inner strength for the benefit of others. This benefit becomes mutual, as the fruit of gentleness grows strong.

Universality of Play

On today's visit to the High Line in New York, I saw children engaging in various forms of play. Even in one of the most densely populated cities in the entire world, these children had the need and desire to run around, laugh, and play games - so they went to the open space above the ground to do so.

Observing this made me think about how our environment has no effect on universal needs and desires, such as that of children to play. It does not matter if a child lacks space, money, or fancy toys. It doesn't matter if a child lacks physical abilities, has a non-traditional household, is a different race from your own, or anything else. All children in this world are human children and deserve an equal right to express themselves through play. Creativity has no bounds, as children play in diverse ways.

One child that we met in Zambia was particularly creative. He used whatever resources he could find to construct a functional, homemade kite. See him flying it:

As part of our cultural exchange, the 2011 Zambia group taught Kawama's children how to play a common American children's game: duck, duck, goose. Check out the second half of this video for footage of the play:

No matter how different the Zambian and American societies may be, we are tied together in many ways as humans of this same earth. The basic needs of humankind apply to all of us. One of these needs for children is play, as we observed while being in the village.

One of the largest gulfs to bridge in obtaining development aid is seeing "others" from developing countries as equal to Americans in terms of needs, feelings, and desires. My hope is that this footage of the universality of play will bring the other needs - such as housing, medical, and nutritional - a bit closer to home for you. Zambians and others from Periclean nations of focus are not faces in the global crowd; they have needs just like you and me, and it is in our best interest to acknowledge these needs and work to help them meet them.

17 Mile Run - Friday 8/12

I decided to complete my long run on a Friday, because I am enjoying a long weekend at home - and knocking my run out first thing makes me feel like I can relax for the rest of the weekend. (To make up for a shortened week, I'm going to switch a 5 miler to Sunday.)

I have never posted my run maps before, but since I will not be running this one again throughout the rest of training, and because the distance/towns covered might impress my NJ friends, here you go:

After arriving home late yesterday evening, I woke up relatively late - so I started running much later than I had for previous long runs. However, my early starts help me deal with high temperatures, and today's weather was just perfect. The temperature started at 58 degrees, and it didn't go beyond 70 for the duration of the run. It made the run feel effortless and allowed me to keep a good pace across the full distance.

In planning the run, I aimed to stay in relatively flat territory. The Franklin Lakes/Wyckoff/Midland Park area has a few hills, but the streets I ran on had gradual inclines that were perfect for running. I also aimed to hit some key landmarks; the two that I sought out were Abma's Farm, a local grocery/farm with cute animals, and the Wortendyke Studio, where I went for pottery lessons as a kid.

It appears that I have gotten spoiled by the sidewalks and trails in the DC area, because the dearth of them in Northern NJ was glaring. The sidewalks on most of Franklin Ave (aside from those near commercial areas) are abysmal; Franklin Lakes and Wyckoff should consider using their stockpiles of tax revenue on improving this feature of their towns. Midland Park was a step up in terms of sidewalk, especially in their commercial areas. On the way back, Wyckoff earned points back from me, because there was a consistent sidewalk on Wyckoff Ave. Given, it could have been paved a bit better, but at least it was there. I certainly will not take my DC sidewalks for granted anymore; if towns like Franklin Lakes pale in comparison, then DC has to be one of the best in the country for this type of public works project.

I saw some fellow runners on the roads. My guess is that they were mostly housewives, since they were at least ten years older than me and since they were not working on a Friday morning. That seems very North Jersey to me. I also saw two cyclists and a few people walking their dogs, but the streets were not bustling with runners - only cars.

That being said, I did see everything that I sought out to see - and more! In Oakland, I had to take a detour because of road work on Franklin Ave. As a result, I got to run through parts of my old neighborhood that I hadn't seen in a while, and I got to run through a bikes/runners only part of the trail. Other than starting from my home and hitting the neighborhood, I didn't see too many interesting things in Oakland.

In Franklin Lakes, I ran near my old high school. Heading up Colonial Road made me think about all of those runs I did in track/cross country, and how the run I did now completely blew all of those runs out of the water.

In Wyckoff, I ran past Abma's. About a block up, I saw three wild turkeys. One of them crossed the road; I kind of wanted to ask it why. I also heard a loud fire alarm as I passed a firehouse in Wyckoff. The scary part was that I didn't see the fire truck leave until at least 10 minutes after the alarm first sounded. Lesson learned: if I'm at a friend's house in Wyckoff, do NOT set it on fire.

In Midland Park, I ran past my old pottery studio, which is attached to an old train car. In running down Godwin Ave, I went past the Friendly's - which is where I went on the day of 9/11 to see the city skyline. It took me back to that day when they sky was clear without a cloud in the sky - except for the cloud over the WTC - and how it's so hard to believe that that day is almost ten years past.

I enjoyed my Tour de North Jersey, and I especially enjoyed how effortless it felt to run 17 miles. I know I will be in great shape come marathon weekend. Next up will be 18 miles, back on the streets of DC!

Joy - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

The sixth post in the fruits of the spirit series is on joy. The joy that is listed as a fruit of the spirit is not the one that first comes to mind for most. It is the inward joy that for Christians comes with the knowledge and trust of God getting us through and being there for us all our lives and after life. For all, it means a reliance on the inner soul, the supernatural, as independent from outer circumstance. This is opposed to outward joy, or temporary happiness, such as when a person gets a raise or buys a boat. This kind of joy is material and fleeting, and not a direct result of character and virtue.

The challenge for me is to show how building houses with Habitat has enabled true joy to grow within me, and within my fellow global citizens. Wouldn’t the construction of houses be fostering outward joy?

In contrast to my normal stance on things, I am going to start out as a hard and fast realist. In order to obtain the fruit of inner joy, certain lower needs on the hierarchy need to be met. For those who are not familiar with Maslow’s hierarchy of needs, here is the diagram:

Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs

According to Maslow’s theory, we must attain our basic needs before we can graduate to pursue the other needs. In this case, a need such as housing, which falls under the second-lowest level of the pyramid, must be attained (to a level deemed satisfactory) before a human being can move on to self-actualization - which, in my opinion, includes all or most of the fruits of the spirit. Attaining these outward needs - not for the purpose of “joy”, so much as for survival - is the foundation that is necessary to allow us to turn inward toward spirituality, goodwill, and giving. I believe that giving is a sign of self-actualization, but if we are perennial recipients of aid, we are rarely in a position to give back fully. As global citizens in a position of relative power, the Pericleans help our fellow human beings to get in a position to give back. By doing so, we work to eliminate the pressing need for outward joy over inward joy. The distractions are gone, and we can put more faith and trust in what is true.

A caveat to my above statements: I am not saying that the lower needs are the same as the decadence associated with outward joy. They may be similar in purpose, but the intent is what matters. For instance, if you buy a multimillion dollar home, you are evoking your outward joy with perhaps no intention to focus on the inner joy. However, if you are not in shelter but buy your first home, you are meeting a basic need that will enable you to focus on the inner joy.

Now, I am going to take the opposite stance and pretend that Maslow’s hierarchy is completely untrue and biased because it only addresses Western culture and values. If this perspective is true, then all of Zambia has taught me that inner joy is independent of how much you have or what you have. Zambians are the happiest, friendliest, most joy-filled people ever - and their joy does not come from possessions. It comes from celebrating life and from trusting in God. Building houses in Kawama and interacting with Zambians helped to grow the fruit of joy within me by showing me where it truly comes from.

The faces of joy - which come from love, hope, and a strong community

Only an experience in a developing nation and community, such as the ones that the Periclean program supports, could have helped an American such as myself to see that a viewpoint contradictory to Maslow could be viable on this earth. Sure, there is deep poverty in pockets of the United States, but for an entire country to be full of joy and hope in spite of hardship is beyond anything I have ever seen. It is an inspiration and a challenge to me, to let my joy come from within and to not be dependent on outer circumstance.

Regardless of your conclusion and perspective on how to attain true joy, spending time in Zambia through the Periclean Scholars program has taught me the essence of joy, a fruit I hope to cultivate well inside of me for a lifetime.

Sea Girt 5K Race - Sunday 8/7

After reading yesterday’s entry, some of you might have figured out that this past weekend I ran the Sea Girt 5K. For a small shore town, this 5K has become a huge annual event.

The decision to go to Sea Girt was last minute, but when Jason invited me to be a part of his family’s team - “Team Coneys” - I jumped at the opportunity. Why? There were many reasons, but the big ones were these:
1. It would be a great tempo run. 5K race pace is faster than my current tempo runs, so it would be a nice supplement to my race plan on an “off” week.
2. I ran the 5K back in 2003 with my dad. This was the summer before I started cross-country. Since I had run the race previously, I decided to challenge myself to defeat my previous time of 23:38.
3. I would be an honorary part of a legendary family that has run the race together since 1995. They even have matching t-shirts, sponsored and paid for by a local restaurant!

The shirts!

Everyone on Team Coneys woke up early Sunday and ready to race. It had rained the night prior, but it did not rain the remainder of the day. This made for cooler than normal (but humid) conditions. There was a great spread of NJ bagels in the dining room, but I resisted the temptation because I never eat before I run. (I did grab two of them after the race, though!) I took in some water and did some very light stretching. We took the first group picture in front of Jason’s aunt’s house, which is right along the race course. After that, I handed off my camera to his grandfather, who got a couple of great shots during the race. We then headed down to the start line in groups.

The race has definitely grown in size from 2003. There was a very large crowd at the start. Members of Team Coneys scattered throughout, based on their position in the race. I started in a small group in the middle. We had ample time for preparation, including more light stretching, fluid intake, and checking on shoelaces. I was not nervous at all.

Every year, the race is dedicated to a specific charity. This year, it went to the Wounded Warrior Project. As a result, at the start of the race there were a lot of words to be said about those who serve in the military. Many people, both present and in spirit, were honored. Then came the Pledge of Allegiance (perhaps the first time I’ve said it since my time as a counselor!), the national anthem, and the announcing of special groups - including Team Coneys.

Before long, the lead motorcycles revved their engines, and the race was off. A large crowd meant that we were packed in tight for a good distance before establishing our race paces. However, one of my favorite parts of races is coming from behind and picking people off, so this proved to be a fun challenge. Before long, I settled into a 7:45 pace, which I kept pretty much throughout the entire race (including the middle mile - the slowest in a 5K). Jason’s uncle, Jeff, kept pace with me for pretty much the entire race - until he had to stop to tie a shoelace. I even chatted with him a little bit during the race, a feat I would not have attempted during my cross country years.

The race environment was very suburban - in that we saw little except for the beautiful Sea Girt houses with their own enthusiastic cheering sections. The only turns were at blocks in the road. The roads stretched pretty wide, though, and there was no congestion around the turns. I got a lot of cheers at the Coneys household near mile 1.5 from Jason’s grand-aunt and other family members. One of my favorite parts of the race, which broke up the monotony, was when we ran near the shore. There were bagpipers to welcome us, as well as Jason’s grandfather, who took this photo:

That's me in the yellow shirt. Somewhere to my right (your left) is Jeff.

I ran strong throughout the race and finished well, too. When I crossed the finish line, it was on to the water, bagels, free back massages, and free brunch at our sponsoring restaurant (Fratello’s). Jeff crossed the finish line very shortly after me, so I went to congratulate him. I also watched as many runners from Team Coneys crossed the finish line. Apparently, I missed one team member finish who threw up as she crossed. I guess I picked a good time to get a massage after the run!

My end time was 23:40. Technically, I did not meet my goal. In spite of this, I was very happy with myself, considering I had not been training for 5Ks and had not run at this pace in a long time. It felt easy, and I was able to make conversation during the run. I also had the distinct honor of leading the Team Coneys pack. Although it might not show in the number, I think I bested my 2003 self in terms of pure fitness. However, I will definitely see this as a challenge to come back in the future and shatter this time. Perhaps that will be the focus of a subsequent year’s running!

The victorious Team Coneys in front of Fratello's

11 Mile Run - Saturday 8/6

This may be the latest I have ever posted on a Saturday long run! Don't worry, though; I promise it was worth the wait.

My nonstop athletic weekend technically started on Thursday, when I had an agency softball game. All was going well; I was connecting well with the ball and making some decent plays in the field. Then, I pinch-ran for one of the women on our team. Upon reaching second base, I got this lovely little doughnut-shaped wound:

My softball bruise on my right abdomen

The center fielder threw the ball much harder than he had to, and the second baseman could not catch to save her life - so the softball ended up in my right side. It knocked the wind out of me, and I screamed and fell to the ground. I just kept on breathing, and I walked to the sideline for some ice. I was feeling relatively better after a few minutes, so I fielded the next inning - but then common sense and the pain from bending took over, and I sat out the rest of the game.

The point of recounting this story is that it took a lot of faith for me to begin my 11 miler on Saturday, as the swelling from my internal bleeding was still quite intense. Luckily, I knew that I had a running buddy who would stop/get help if anything went wrong.

I had been invited to Sea Girt, on the Jersey Shore, for the weekend by Jason, and we joined his family in an annual tradition they have been doing since the mid-1990s. (This will be the subject of my next entry. For those of you who know what goes on in Sea Girt at this time, get excited for tomorrow's entry.) On Saturday morning, we took on the boardwalks and various terrains of Sea Girt, Spring Lake, and Belmar.

What a gorgeous change of pace from the normal DC run. The weather was cooler close to the shore, so I slept in a little later than normal for a Saturday. I woke up feeling extra refreshed and ready to run. Even though I woke up late, I was still able to see the sunrise over the Atlantic Ocean. My body welcomed this change of pace. My heart, legs, and lungs all felt great. *Edit: Everything felt great, except for my softball bruise. Luckily, after a few miles, the pain seemed to vanish and I didn't notice it anymore.* The run took place over many different terrains - some easy, some not so easy - including boardwalk, sidewalk, asphalt, gravel, rocks, dirt, and grass. My body handled (pretty much) all of them well, and I was not sore Sunday morning.

For the most part, the only other people crazy enough to be awake at 6 a.m. on a Saturday morning at the shore were the other runners. The lazy/smart/early riser crowd was also out, as people began to claim their spots on the beach. Much to our surprise, there were very few bikes on the boardwalk! This quickly eliminated an obstacle that I have had to deal with for weeks.

The absence of bikes did not mean that there were no obstacles at all. For one, I ran under a brick arch, nicknamed the "Arc de Triomphe" by Jason, and I nearly collided with another runner who thought that the triumphant way to go would be directly into me. Another obstacle was the drawbridge in Belmar. It was up for no reason; there wasn't a boat or anything coming through within visibility. This meant that we had to turn around and do more than a straight out-and-back.

Along the boardwalk, there were two views. The first one, clearly, was the shore. The second, and (nearly) as magnificent, view was the one of the gorgeous houses. Many of these shore homes put our local mansions to shame. In Sea Girt, we started out with rows of million dollar homes, but then we ventured into Spring Lake - where a down payment wouldn't even buy a Sea Girt home. It was a fun distraction to pick out my favorite houses. There was not a lot to see in Belmar, except for some shore shops and summer college kid housing - at least as compared to Spring Lake and Sea Girt. Toward the end of the run, we had to snake through the neighborhood. In it, we found a cute lake with an abundance of swans. Swans are so beautiful from far away, but I would be more scared of one of them than of a dog if I encountered it while running. Thankfully, they stayed in the water.

I wish that I could do this run for the rest of the season - just go to the shore and knock out a long run every week for the next month. This is not only for the scenery and the items mentioned above, but also for the running amenities. Because of the boarwalk, there are an abundance of restrooms for pit stops and showers for cooling off. There is also one large body of water for a recovery foot soak:

The Atlantic Ocean!

Wasn't that entry worth the wait? I apologize for taking so long to post it. With all of that said, tomorrow's entry will be even more exciting.

Back to Blogging

Friends, family, and fans:

I apologize for the lack of posts in the past three days. I was without Internet and unable to update the blog. However, I completed enough training-related activity to warrant at least two to three posts - so get excited!

This weekend's events will be recounted starting tomorrow. For now, I am tired and ready to go to sleep. Hope you had a great weekend, and I hope you enjoy my entries this week.

Peace - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

Today’s post in the Periclean Scholars and fruits of the spirit series is on peace. Peace is the tranquility in the soul that is not affected by outside pressure. Those who express the fruit of peace have inner stability that allows orderly, stable conduct in chaotic, nerve-racking, or traumatic circumstances.

There was one experience during my time in Zambia where I felt a sense of urgency and pressure. We were laying bricks, mixing cement, digging out the latrine, and putting in backfill. I was tired, so I took a quick water break. When I sat down, I noticed a mother holding her child. The child had a softball-sized open gash in his thigh. He was not crying, and there was no traumatic event that anyone had witnessed. It seemed that his mother had brought him over in hopes that we could help. In any normal situation, the immediate response would be to grab the nearest first aid kit and administer cleaning solution and bandages. However, we had recently agreed in a community meeting to not give out items to individuals in the village if there were not enough for everyone. My inner compass told me to act. I asked the leader of Team Eagle, Tom, if I could go ahead and get the first aid kit to assist the child. He said go ahead, so I ran back to our quarters for a first aid kit. My fellow Periclean, Brandy, cleaned and bandaged the wound, and the child was as good as new.

One of the reasons why my soul was at peace during this crisis was because of the bigger picture. I had a firm understanding on why I had to do what I had to do. I knew that I had the skill and resources to act in the situation, if deemed appropriate. Most importantly, my soul was at peace because of our vision for the future. We would work to end this circumstance from happening again. This event, as well as many others, cemented our desire to return to Kawama and start a clinic. We were not powerless; we now had additional justification to take action.

Circumstances of upheaval and discomfort are those which test our inner peace. Performing work alongside the Zambian people meant that I would feel at least some discomfort, and I also knew that some upheaval could result from this. The Periclean program encourages peace of the spirit by helping us to realize the positive benefits of our service and the opportunity to remain connected with our partners. We are taught to believe that societies are different - and that one society is not better than another. Therefore, we come into a situation as foreigners with the understanding that there will be some discomfort, but there is no need to lose our inner peace and sense of well-being. Everything we did was a learning experience and had value in the long run - even those little moments of crisis.

Tranquility from within allowed the fruit of peace to be expressed on Zambian soil. The situation with the injured child could have been a chaotic situation that involved more people in the village, or I could have stressed out about it and upset the poor child or his mother. There was a good amount of pressure on me from different angles, but I remained calm and did what I had to do. In retrospect, it even gave us one more reason to build the clinic in Kawama. I am thankful that the Periclean program allowed me the opportunity to have an impact in a situation of potential chaos, enabling me to grow the fruit of peace.

Goodness - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

Today's post in the Fruits of the Spirit series will address goodness. This fruit produced by the spirit exemplifies moral excellence, generosity, and strong virtue. By doing so, those who are full of the fruit of goodness use all of God’s creation for its rightful purpose.

Why were we put here on this earth? If only there were a simple answer to this question. The answer will vary for everyone, based on creed, upbringing, and overall values, but the collective answer should be in line with the concept of serving and benefiting others. I am a human being, just like everyone else here. My legacy should be woven in with the betterment of my fellow global citizens' lives, to as great a degree as possible.

The Periclean Scholars organization helped me to stop changing the channel on many of my fellow human beings that are in need of my assistance. Instead of ignoring the issues that are most pressing and most difficult to deal with, we were challenged to confront them and find the biggest challenge to tackle. Our purpose in developing and sustaining projects is to grow the fruit of goodness, in our classes and communities. With each new family that has the chance to live in a home in Zambia, with each new person in Namibia who is educated about the perils of HIV/AIDS, with each new clinic built, we are living out a deeper purpose.

As citizens of the developed world, we are equipped with many tools to carry out this work. They include our networks, our finances, the clothes off of our backs, the ability to write and petition, and more. I would argue that all of these powerful tools can be given in greater quantities to those in need thanks to our education. Therefore, the university setting - and the Periclean one, at that - is the perfect place to grow the fruit of goodness and purpose. We can choose to use these tools for good or for evil, for a strong purpose or for deep destruction.

Goodness is about inner purpose and intent. Our choices show how well our virtues are developed, if not the direction we yearn to take. For instance, an Elon student on a need-based scholarship may want to give back, but s/he cannot do so financially as readily as a student who grew up with a silver spoon in his/her mouth. For this student, opportunities such as the Periclean program enhance the ability to give back, as well as the ability to learn from the service. Though students in the developed world have more opportunities to give back, programs such as Periclean ensure that initial resources are not a hindrance.

Upon graduation from Elon, all alumni are equipped with the same diploma. I will argue, however, that they have different foundational educations and values based on how they chose to use their resources and grow their spirits. For those in the Periclean program, the diploma will be a powerful tool to do good deeds and to continue in generosity for the rest of their lives.

I am the first person to believe in free will, but I have to believe that there was a reason why I was born. There is a reason why my parents chose to have children and raise me as a citizen of the world. There is a reason beyond myself that I must give back. The spirit of goodness in me ensures that my time on earth is spent in pursuit of a positive purpose and legacy, not for myself and for my own pride, but for those who will come after me - around the world, and not just in my tiny community.

Goodness is more than just doing positive works. It is a deep sincerity in achieving our positive purpose. We were put here to serve others. I choose to use my free will and my time on this earth for that greater purpose, and the Periclean program has helped to grow that fruit in me.

Half Marathon Race for Training: Decision Made!

For those of you who have been eagerly awaiting my half marathon selection, I am happy to tell you that a decision has been made. I will be running the...

The pros of this race far outweigh the cons for me. I am looking forward to the expo and the events of that weekend, and it is a little earlier on the training schedule than the half marathon weekend originally planned - which will give me the opportunity to add a filler week for recovery, if necessary. Plus, there is a chance my family could come watch. It will be a great weekend of running, and a fantastic chance to see how much progress I have made.

Anyone else running it? (Dad, I know you're not. You don't have to tell me; you're "retired".)

Faithfulness - Periclean Scholars & Fruits of the Spirit Series

Today’s post in the Fruits of the Spirit series is faithfulness. Faithfulness is devotion; it is not wandering from commitments or promises, no matter how hard it gets. It is being someone that others can rely on.

The greatest tests of faithfulness are changes in time and location. When we first get energized by an opportunity to commit, it appears that remaining faithful will come easy. We promise to never forget a story, a face, or an experience and to live by what we learned from them from that moment forward. In that moment, remaining faithful is the path of least resistance. However, when time moves on and we go back to our normal location and routine, it becomes more and more difficult. Hence, faithfulness is a fruit that comes as a result of strong character and resolve. We remain faithful by choosing to carry our promises in our heart and fighting off temptation to break them.

My great test of faithfulness to the Kawama citizens and potential citizens came as soon as I left the village. While in the village, we put in as much time and effort to make as great of a difference as we can, because that is why we were there. They could rely on me to do the work at hand. When separated by time and distance, our group had a charge. We had to never forget the stories and people we met and to try our best to make sure that more have the opportunity at a better life. We promised to tell our friends and family about our experiences and to bring more awareness to the needs of the Zambian people. Our Elon professors, Tom and Steve, had promised to return and build more houses for the Zambian people. We all had the challenge to be faithful to that commitment through lapses in time and distance.

In the United States, the path of least resistance is to go with the flow, follow the crowd, and abide by WIIFM (“What’s In It For Me”). While many want to hear about Victoria Falls and the elephants on safari, not as many want to hear about the greatest needs of the Zambian people. Overcoming this resistance is hard, but doing so shows integrity to character. Whenever anyone asks me about my Zambia trip, I start out by describing the work we did with our partner, Habitat for Humanity-Zambia, through the Periclean Scholars group, and then I go into details about the safari and the falls.

Our faithfulness has proven fruitful. The Periclean Scholars, including leaders Tom and Steve, returned to Zambia to build more houses. We continue to tell friends and family about the Periclean journey. We constantly look for more ways to leave a positive influence on everyone with whom we have the opportunity to work. Our partners know they can count on our word. We rely on each other - and the strength of the PSAA reinforces our faithfulness.

I choose to remain faithful to the future homeowners in Kawama village and to help them attain the dream of their own homes through many outlets, such as this blog. My schedule in July (and continuing into August) continues to get busier, and my time is limited - but my commitment to the Periclean partners keeps me writing strong. I have also decided to remain faithful to those who participated in the Chitenge Challenge. I will honor those who have given, who are expecting me to wear a chitenge, by wearing one to work when I reach the $1,500 mark - whenever that may be.

The Periclean Scholars program has taught me to be more faithful to myself and to honor where I came from and the opportunity to give back. Faithfulness is a quality that transcends time and space when practiced to its truest. I will always remain faithful to the village of Kawama and to the Periclean partners, for helping to grow the fruit of faithfulness within me.