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Training Log #1, 12/11/20, Barmeyer Loop

  • Writer: Caleb Forsberg
    Caleb Forsberg
  • Dec 16, 2020
  • 3 min read

A common way of thinking within sports/competition is to perform well you have to get angry! I’m not naturally an angry person, but I’ve always tried to fit into this stereotype because it sounded tough. The only problem is, I never lasted long or competed well with this mentality. I’m sure some people do, but each time I tried to “get angry” wrestling in high school I ended up on my back. When I’m running and I try to use it as a tool to vent, I usually just end up running slower and questioning why I’m making life harder for myself. There is a time for anger, but when it comes to fighting an opponent, whether that be climbing a hill or another person, for me joy is a much stronger tool.


Training had been tough for me, this last week. I had just completed two ten-mile days and I had no desire to wake up early Friday morning to repeat the process. My last five-mile run Thursday afternoon was down the streets of Missoula, which was a definite mistake with all the stoplights halting my progress. All I could think about was how hungry I was and my odd craving for peanut butter pretzels and cinnamon toast crunch at the time. I had been in a bad mood most of the day and usually running knocks it out of me, but this time it made it worse.


Friday morning my desire to run was weak. I scheduled to run in the afternoon with my camera man Josiah, but he had to cancel, because work went on longer than expected. I sat at my desk in my apartment surfing the web for entertainment when I stumbled along some trail races the Runner’s Edge is putting on next summer. My excitement for trail running shot back up to its normal level of enthusiasm as I watched the preview videos for each race and imagined myself scaling 9,000-foot peaks wearing shorts, a t-shirt, and trail shoes. I immediately started thinking of nearby trails I could run and the Barmeyer Trail loop came to mind. It is a short three-mile hiking/running trail that leads up to a scenic overlook before coming back down. I was on my way in a heartbeat.


The trail is relatively short, but it is not without challenge. I arrived at the trailhead about the same time the snowfall did and began my ascent. It was about ten-minutes of an uphill climb before reaching the overlook. I did not exactly enjoy battling the climb. My already sore calves ached, snow was being pelted into my face, and it was a little steeper than I would have liked. With all that said, it doesn’t mean I can’t appreciate it. I was running on dirt, which beats pavement any day. I was surrounded by dark evergreens and got to pet the occasional runaway dog and now I would be able to enjoy the technical downhill with the added twist of newly fallen snow.


Hebrews 12:1-2 says “Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a huge crowd of witnesses to the life of faith, let us strip off every weight that slows us down, especially the sin that so easily trips us up. And let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. We do this by keeping our eyes on Jesus, the champion who initiates and perfects our faith. Because of the joy awaiting him, he endured the cross, disregarding its shame. Now he is seated in the place of honor beside God’s throne.” Jesus endured the cross because he knew the pain was worth enduring. He had a sure hope that a greater joy was on the other side. I can endure pain because I can enjoy running through God’s creation and in knowing that there will be an end to the pain. Jesus promises an end to all pain. Revelation 21:4 says, “He will wipe away every tear from their eyes. Death will exist no longer; grief, crying, and pain will exist no longer, because the previous things have passed away.” We can run for joy knowing that Jesus defeated sin and death on the cross and the best part is that one day for those who put their hope in Jesus there will be an unimaginable joy when we see him face to face.

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by Caleb Forsberg

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