July 12-16, 1970
Nate and I were both very busy, me with student teaching and seminars, he with his paper route and preparing to start 5 summer school hours-worth of classes: Estate Planning and Poverty Law.
Since Nate was getting up at 3:30 AM to deliver papers, our paths didn’t cross until I returned from Danville in late afternoon. But often I’d come out of the bedroom in the morning to find a sweet note from my thoughtful husband.
One note during this week was written tongue-in-cheek:
Dead seal time – I got the reading load for my courses and then dead seal! For Law and Poverty: 6 books, 300 pages of mimeos, plus reading necessary for a report (all in 5 weeks). Estate Planning – lots also. I can’t quit, because I know it’s good for me!
The two of us decided to start what we called a “self-improvement program.” Nate wasn’t sure when the Army would need him next and wanted to get in shape. He suggested I join him, “to do something together.”
When he asked how I felt about running, my mind went back to college PE class and the memory of sharp rib pain whenever we had to jog. “I’m not a fan,” I said.
“We could go at our own pace,” he said, “and you wouldn’t have to run any farther than you wanted to. Why don’t we just try it?” Unable to resist Nate’s gentle invitation, I agreed. The plan made sense, since both of us were doing lots of sitting during the day.
Rather than run around the neighborhood dodging cars and tripping up curbs, we decided to use the university armory building with its smooth indoor track.
On the first day, Nate ran one effortless loop after another, clocking 2 miles without much difficulty. I chugged and gasped to the 1 mile mark but hated every stride. “It’ll get easier,” he said, patting me on the back. “You did great for your first try!”
My feet were burning, my head was pounding, and that side pain was back full force. Wobble-walking to the car, I whispered to myself. “Give it one week. Then quit.”
Four days later, we were still running daily (at 7:00 AM when Nate came home from his paper route). But for me the highlight of our self-improvement program was when I could finally plop on the bench at the side of the track to watch Nate finish his run.
“While bodily training is of some value, godliness is of value in every way.” (1 Timothy 4:8)