A Rhythm for Running and Living
Not too long ago, I read a lengthy article about the legendary track coach from the University of Oregon, Bill Bowerman. Bowerman was to running, what John Wooden was to college basketball. Indeed, it was Bowerman’s genius that led to the modern running shoe, as he used his wife’s waffle iron to create the first wide waffle-soled shoe. He was also one of the co-founders of Nike.
Back in the day when all training for running simply meant logging as many miles as hard as possible, Bowerman was convinced that it was impossible to reach your potential as a runner unless you also built in regular, committed, disciplined, dedicated periods of NOT running. He used to gather his new recruits to the university together at the beginning of the season and tell them:
“Gentleman, take a primitive organism, any weak, pitiful organism. Make it lift or jump or run. Let it rest. What happens? A little miracle. It gets a little better. That’s all training is. Stress—recover—improve.”
I believe that without even recognizing it, Bowerman was pointing to the rhythm for all living the way God intended it to be.
Stress, recover, improve.
Stretch, relax, change.
Work, rest, grow.
Trial, trust, transform.
If you are interested in Bill Bowerman, you really should see the movie "Without Limits."
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0119934
It is more about Steve Prefontaine, but Donald Sutherland plays Bowerman, and the movie is surprisingly good.
WonderBunny
Posted by: WonderBunny | Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 10:30 AM
Tod - This reminds me of Eddie Reese the swim coach at Univ. of Texas. Rick Barnes, UT basketball coach, calls Reese, "The best coach in America." Reese says that most coaches don't understand the importance of rest for an athlete.
It's amazing how successful a coach you can become by understanding the wisdom of the Bible.
Posted by: Dan Roloff | Thursday, May 11, 2006 at 12:01 PM
Tod - where is that quote from? The "Jogging" book or an article? I want to use it in a message and don't want to mess up the reference.
Posted by: Kevin | Sunday, August 06, 2006 at 07:04 PM
The quote can be found in a number of sources, but the most easily accesible these days is in "Bowerman and the Men of Oregon" by Kenny Moore.
Posted by: Tod | Sunday, August 06, 2006 at 08:28 PM
Rhett Smith linked me here...
that thought with Bowerman is so true isn't it?
--RC of strangeculture.blogspot.com
Posted by: RC of strangeculture | Wednesday, August 09, 2006 at 09:26 AM