www.GAJohnson.org | Hebrews Twelve Two

summer solstice 10K 2008 race report

I ran the Summer Solstice 10K Friday evening in Salem, Oregon.  It was a couple of firsts for me - my first 10k, and my first night race.

Conditions were tough with the race time temperature at 86 degrees, high humidity and pollen floating through the air on the trails.  There were a couple of times that I sucked up the white snow flakes from the cottonwood trees.  It made breathing very difficult and it took me 4 miles to get my breathing in some sort of rhythm. My legs felt great the entire race, but breathing was tough.

My goal was 52.33 and I did it in 55:40.  Overall, I was pleased considering the conditions.  And it was an automatic PR for me since it was my first 10K.  It doesn't get any better than that!

My whole family was with me which made it great.  Becky, Austin, Kelsey and family friend David Sanna.  LGF'ers Gina and Rich Harris were also there.  Gina ran the 10K, PR'ed (it was her first 10k) and came in 2nd place in her age division.  It was a great evening.

To top it off, I came home and played three pickup basketball games with Austin, David and Kelsey!

My splits:

mile 1 - 8:24
2 - 9:08
3 - 9:03
4 - 9:05
5 - 8:57
6 - 8:56

Avg pace = 8:56; 853 calories burned

Click here to view more pictures.

Keep pressing toward the finish line!

gaj

dad and i

gaj

a great lady in my life

She just finished her junior year of high school yesterday.

She has made straight A's throughout middle school and high school.

She was inducted into the National Honor Society her junior year.

She played varsity tennis her junior year.

She is now officially a senior.

She has been elected president of the National Honor Society for her senior year.

She has a heart to make a difference in her day.

She is my daughter Kelsey.

I thank God for her.

I'm a proud dad.

gaj

janie cavazos - lgf minister of the month

On Sunday, Becky and I recognized Janie Cavazos as the LGF minister of the month at the Loving God Fellowship (LGF) Salem  Campus.

Janie is one of our team leaders that goes into the Cavazos Center for Latino Youth and Families to conduct a weekly Bible study on Tuesdays.  The Cavazos Center is named after Janie's husband and our brother, the late Cat Cavazos.  Cat started the Street Vision gang intervention program here in our city and now it is named after him and is run by Catholic Community Services.

In recognition of Janie being what LGF is all about and fulfilling the LGF Ministry Model, we presented Janie with a yellow LGF messanger bag.  Afterword, she told us that yellow was Cat's favorite color.  

Join us in congratulating Janie for ministry well done!

gaj

roses for my ladies

I grow roses in my yard, and here in Oregon, they really grow. 

I like to keep them cut for the special ladies in my life that I love - Becky my wife and Kelsey my daughter. 

I cut the first ones of the season for Becky and Kelsey yesterday. 

Becky always puts hers by her sink in the bathroom and Kelsey always puts hers in her room.  

I keep them in roses until the cold weather hits in the fall.

I grow enough for my mom too if I could just get her and dad to move out here from southern Ohio.

What little things do you do for the special people in your life to show them your love?

gaj

my favorite tennis player

That's my daughter Kelsey.  She plays varisity tennis at McNary High School.  Click here for some more pictures.

I'm her number one fan and I can't get her to autograph a tennis ball for me.  What's up with that?

gaj

running the 2008 boston marathon

That's me with Dr. Thomas Dannals after I finished the 2007 Marshall University Marathon in November. Dr. Dannals is my mom and dad's doctor, founder of the Marshall University Marathon, founder of www.HealthyHuntington.org, and is the chairman of the American Heart Association Heart Walk in Huntington, West Virginia, on April 26, 2008.   West Virginia leads the nation in heart disease and Dr. Dannals is utilizing his life in Huntington, making a difference in that city, promoting and bringing about healthier lifestyles through diet and exercise.  He is one of my heroes and Huntington, West Virginia, is blessed to have him there.  He is a gift of God to that city.

Dr. Dannals ran the 2008 Boston Marathon today after qualifying in Columbus, Ohio last fall with a 3:30 marathon.  He finished the Boston today, the granddaddy of all marathons, in 3:44.  I woke up this morning at 4 AM and said a prayer for Dr. Dannals.  There was no doubt in my mind that he would finish strong. 

I will be flying tomorrow to go to Huntington, West Virginia, to participate in the Amercan Heart Association Heart Walk.  The Amercan Heart Association has asked me to open the event in prayer.  It will be an honor.  I look forward to getting to talk to Dr. Dannals again and thank him for making a difference in our day.

gaj 

My Baby Girl's Birthday

We celebrated my baby girl's birthday yesterday.  She is my resurrection baby as she was born Easter Sunday morning, 1991.

Now she is a junior in High School, plays on the varsity tennis team and an "A" student with a heart to make a difference in her day.

Well, she wouldn't let me post any BD pictures of her on my blog, so all you get is a shot of the balloons and the ice cream cake.

I love ice cream cake!

gaj

Marathon Man

 

Click to view Stephanie Stricklen's story on my running to save lives.  

Stephanie is the health reporter for NBC affiliate KGW in Portland, Oregon.     

I'm running down the home stretch now and can use your help in reaching my goal!   

Thanks Stephanie for a great story! 

   

gaj

 

Click to view Stephanie Stricklen's story on my running to save lives.  

Stephanie is the health reporter for NBC affiliate KGW in Portland, Oregon.     

I'm running down the home stretch now and can use your help in reaching my goal!   

Thanks Stephanie for a great story! 

   

gaj

Stephanie Made My Day!

Wow!  Stephanie Stricklen of KGW in Portland, made my day today!  Steph and her camera man Brian met me and Becky at McNary High School track at 9 AM for an interview that will air on KGW tonight at 5 PM PST.  It was quite a privilege as Steph is one of my heroes that is using her life to make a difference in our day.

The interview is going to be about my life style change and running three marathons in nine weeks to raise money for the American Heart Association for critical research.  Heart disease is the number one killer and I'm running to save lives.

Thanks Stephanie!  It was a honor.

gaj