7:32 --  Vikki The Producer takes over from Vikki The Runner.  She gives instructions about Joanne Gilbert , a college classmate who contributed to Vikki's St. Jude fundraiser, responding to a matching contribution training challenge for that morning.  On her heels came Producer Jules, having closed the gap.  It was a "had to be there" moment...so why not let's go there.  After the video moment, Michael went back to The Hill, per instructions, but not before sharing the video with Trudy.

8:10 -- The Hill is actually the end of an incline on Water Street in Batavia.  It's a steep incline the marathoners must be careful navigating because coming down too fast can cause a stumble, also because the foot of The Hill is a curve leading into the back five miles to the half-marathon turnaround marker.

The Hill is also characterized by a horrid stench: burning sulfur and sour water.  As if the Fox River is flatulating.  It has something to do with stored salt vats on the river. The smell is a good reason to take off. 

​ Michael discusses this smells with Janie, an official Fox Valley Marathon cheerer...people who volunteered to work the marathon. She and her husband have been assigned strategic spots on the course to shout encouragement along with family and friends, and after family and friends have moved to another location.  

This is Janie's first time to volunteer.  She is hopeful the last runner will pass by her location -- eight miles from the start -- in time for her to return to the Finish Line in downtown St. Charles and partake of the festive celebration.

 Despite the smell, The Hill is a pastoral retreat.  The sound of soles on concrete accompanied by church bells peeling is a momentary respite from what waits around the curve.

Against this Sunday backdrop, Janie occasionally waves and cheers, "Good job" while hearing Michael tells  her about how Jules helped Vikki across the line three years earlier.  The story is so engrossing, he almost forgets to keep watch for Vikki who doesn't forget him. 

8:27 -- Thirty yards from where Michael is holding court with Janie, Vikki shouts. She is coming.  She's making much better time than expected, still doesn't need Ibuprofen, but benefits from Michael slathering the muscle rub on her calves.  Much kneaded.  She turns around and heads back toward Jules, who has finished, and is waiting at the car on Route 56. 

Vikki is now running with the pack of marathon competitors. ​ They're heading for the back end where Vikki will meet Jules and Michael three miles down the road for a last triumverate reconoiter heading toward the finish.  

Michael says this schedule, coming at the end of my  9-to-after-5 work week, explains the subliminal reason why my VikkiThon Playlist includes Whitney Houston's classic anthem:  "I'm Every Woman." I disagree.  I've always loved the song, found Whitney and inspiration in my own music, and, frankly, find myself sad whenever I think about how her life transpired.  Of how her talent was misused.  

Looking over the Vikkithon  Playlist, and reviewing previous posts I know I've chosen many songs that are not traditional church songs.  The truth is, many are difficult to run to.  Most would be cool down and stretch tunes. 

At the same time, I adore the traditional church songs -- meaning the ones Michael, Garlan or I grew up hearing, or that were taught to us by the old people at church -- with a new bent.  New funk. Or, in the words of one of my favorite gospel rappers, T-Bone, songs with some "stank."

When the "stanky" old school songs come up, I can "have church" no matter what day of the week, or how tired I am during the run or after the run. 

​The beat and the rhythm, naturally, help...even after the run, like when I recuperated after the 10K Gospel Run in June when blocks of South Shore Beach in Chicago became a Saturday morning concert propelling the runners and walkers on shore and into Lake Michigan.

But, as a songwriter myself, I'm most moved by the words, especially words from Scripture. 

So, for musical and theological reasons, I am inspired by Eddie James' "Strong and Mighty." I was first introduced to the song by the Bellevue Baptist Church choir, which Garlan directs.  I've sung the tune with Bellevue, as part of the choir, and congregation. 

​I didn't connect that it was based in the King James Version of Psalm 24 and employs verses 4-7 in the lyrics until I saw the video with  the words (the idea of music videos with lyrics is wonderful, and corrects lots of misinterpretations).  Use them to introduce a song when you can.  We'll write about that later.

No matter what the rest of the soundtracks include, or no matter how badly the weekend has gone, old school church music  like this have a special place and let's me remember The Lord Is Running with me no matter what day of the week.