This Monday, Saint Paul’s Outreach put on a special event for students that were around after Easter break. It was a “Coffeehouse,” or basically a chance for people to come together, eat cookies provided by St. Thomas catering (the best cookies in the universe, in my humble opinion) and listen to some of the best musical talent that SPO has to offer.
Around 50 students showed up to hang out and enjoy the show!
Lizzy (right) performs a song she wrote, with the help of Ellie!
Kyle leads the men's SPO house. Here he is singing Johnny Cash!
Jenny sings a cover and plays guitar 
SPO members giving their full attention to the show!
Stephen closes the show with a cover of "Skinny Love" by Bon Iver.
The coffeehouse was a hit! It was nice to come back from break and have something fun and relaxing to do together.
Hi, everyone!
My roommates and I have been preparing for a half marathon for a few weeks. It’s pretty cool. For the record, I am not a runner. I like to blame it on the fact that I’m not “built for speed or endurance” but really what it comes down to is I generally don’t like running. Or exercise. But, alas, these things are important.
Anyway, I am going to share with you all a few things I’ve found helpful as a beginning runner, to encourage you all that anyone–literally anyone–can do it.
- Find your fuel: one of my roommates and I have been recording what we eat on a daily basis. No, this isn’t a calorie count, it’s a way of determining what your “power foods” are. In other words, you can figure out what fuels your body best by looking back and seeing what you ate on days when you had a really good run. I have found that my power foods are eggs and oatmeal. Go figure!
- Train your body, train your spirit: Being human, we are both body and soul. What’s really awesome about this fact is that what you do with your body affects your spirit, and vice versa. It takes a lot of will power sometimes to get out and run or get the weights out to work out, but these moments are what a priest back home in Duluth likes to call “the heroic moment.” To say “yes” to exercise and “no” to what you really want to do at that moment, you make a small decision that can make a big difference in your life. Always be encouraged by your choice to run! You’re exercising your gift of free will. In summary: work out, feel good, glorify God!
- Strength in numbers: “Did you run today?” is one of the most dreaded questions … if you haven’t! Find an accountability partner to ask you every day whether you did your run. Or, have them run with you, which is even better!
- Little goals: While you run, set landmark goals for yourself. If you want to keep a certain pace, work one mile at a time, trying to finish the mile at the interval you choose. If you’re struggling through your run, try to run to the next stop sign, to the next mailbox, to the next bend in the road. Get up that hill. Then decide whether you really have to stop or not. You may find that you’re stronger than you thought!
- Losers unite: This is my personal secret. I’m addicted to watching The Biggest Loser on Hulu, not only because it’s the most amazing show ever, but because it inspires me to work out. Find your television show, or your book, or whatever, that really inspires you to accomplish your goal
Last-ditch effort: pretend you're being chased by a T-Rex.
Hopefully these are helpful tips. I don’t claim to be a fitness guru. I’m your average beginning runner who’s finding ways to love my Asics
