New Title????

I am wrestling around with a new title and pic for this blog. I don't know if I'll stick with this one...just messing around with it...trying to come up with the best fit in my limited time of doing so! I just feel like I need a change. If you have any ideas, let me know. I have realized that out of my running is birthed so much of my writing. So I want to connect the two on here....

Turkey Trot

We awoke on Thanksgiving with a feverish 'O Factor', but did that stop us? By no means! We had some turkey trotting to do--fever or no fever--it was a 'go'! So we bundled him up and went anyway. We're such nice parents.



Eric ran the six miler and Joshua, Soph and I ran the two miler. I pushed cranky Owen in the stroller. Joshua placed fifth in his age group and 64th overall. Yea, Joshua!




Then it was time for the children's races. Here's the 'O Factor' getting some coaching from his Daddy before entering his first race.


Him and all the other one year olds ran to the finish line either crying all the way or being blackmailed with a cookie. Some wouldn't run at all and just stood crying. 'O' would only run when Eric walked backwards in front of him. He never made it to the finish line because he fell flat on his face onto the freezing ground and just laid there screaming until we picked him up. Fever or no fever, it was very 'O' like of him.


Next, Jeremiah and Wes ran in their age groups. Wes fell down but was a great sport and jumped right back up and finished strong. Sophie won 3rd place in her age group and proudly sported her extra tall turkey trophy!


All in all, it was a very successful Turkey Trot!




Doesn't 'O' look excited in this picture?

Perseverance

Perseverance--this is the word I feel that the Lord has given me this year as He has whispered to me over and over:

'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.'

This is what I felt He said to me when He led me to run a marathon. This is what I heard whispered to me as I pounded the pavement through my training. This is what I heard Him say to me on that scorching hot, excruciating day in Chicago.

As I ran the last six miles of the marathon, I was not prepared for the agony that my body would experience. I was not prepared for the pain that I could not get away from, no matter if I was running, walking or stopping and stretching. It was 100% torture. The pain was in full force and there was no getting around it--I had to move through it. I had to keep going.

Post marathon, I realize the mistake I made through that last painful hour. I took my eyes off of Jesus and focused completely on the pain. And as I focused more and more on how awful it was it became worse and worse and bigger and bigger. Remember the scripture cards I was determinedly going to carry and pray through as I ran? Did I pray through them once during those last six miles? Nope! In fact, they felt so heavy in my hands I almost through them down.

'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.'

He whispered it to me--but I chose to focus instead on the circumstances of the moment.

Perseverance. The Lord has opened my eyes to a deeper appreciation and meaning of this word and what it looks like to actually do it. Running a marathon gave me a real, tangible definition to associate with this word. It has given me a little glimpse of the agony and torture that Jesus endured for us on the cross. It has given me a backdrop against which to lay the difficulties and troubles that arise in everyday life:

I am going through my homeschooling day and coming up against all kinds of obstacles...I am about to throw my hands up in the air. Suddenly, I hear that gentle whisper: 'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.' I am reminded of what it took to make it through those last six miles. I see Jesus up on the cross. My obstacles don't seem so difficult anymore.

Eric goes out of town for several days. On day four, loneliness starts to set in and one of the children get sick. I begin to let it defeat me and the whisper is so faint I almost miss it: 'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.' I am reminded of the marathon. I see Jesus up on the cross. Once again, I get perspective on this momentary trouble and fight through it.

We came with Eric on a business trip and arrived last night. I geared up for staying in a hotel room with our five children. What I hadn't gearup up for was a stomach bug that hit me and one of our children, keeping us up most of the night. Today, I felt lousy. The last place I wanted to be was in a hotel. The last thing I felt like doing was all of the activities we had planned the night before. But I had no choice. I had five little ones counting on me. I felt the way I felt after the marathon--achey and flu like. It took me back to that day and again, I thought about that race. I heard the words of my Lord: 'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.' As I forced myself through each step today I kept picturing those last miles. I kept picturing Jesus and the agony He endured. Everytime I pictured it, my current circumstance seemed a little bit smaller.

During my training, I heard so many people bewilderly say, 'that is so crazy--I just don't understand why you would want to put yourself through that.' They thought running a marathon was looney. But, I wouldn't trade anything for what I've learned through it. I have learned how to buck up and endure through chaotic days with my children. I have learned how to keep going when I am really tired in the middle of our school day. I have learned how to reach inside of me and pull more out when needed. I have learned more about relying on Jesus when there is nothing left in me to keep going. I have learned a little bit more about persevering.

We are told in God's Word that in this world we will have pain and suffering. Suffering is an invitation to know Jesus better. I am glad I took the challenge and ran the race. I am glad that I learned a little more about suffering. Today, I feel closer to Jesus. I leave you with the words of Paul:

Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They doi it to get a crown that will not last; but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize. 1 cor. 9:24-2

'Persevere, precious child--you can, if you rely on me.'

Up on Team World Vision!

Oh, this so resonates with me and gets me excited for October 12!!!! :) This gets at the very heart of why I am doing this marathon...well, it didn't start out that way, it started out as me just wanting to accomplish a goal, to be able to say, 'I ran a marathon.' But, it has turned into something so much more than this. Read this link below--she says it better than I could ever say it.
Oh, I am so very excited to be running on the same team as these people!!!!

http://schmunkthis.blogspot.com/2008/09/big-day.html

I AM TAPERING

Recently, a runner friend and I were talking 'training' (yes, I do that kind of thing now--I feel so runneresque). She asked me if I was tapering yet. 'What the heck is tapering?' I thought to myself, 'a new breathing technique?' Confessing that I didn't know what she meant, she explained that tapering is the two or three weeks prior to your marathon when you start to decrease your mileage. She told me there was a really good article about tapering in the most recent Runner's World magazine. When I got home I read it. It explained that it is very important to taper those two or three weeks before your event so that your body has ample rest time. There was a poll on whether people like to taper or not. It said: 26% love the rest and free time; 55% know it's good for them but feel antsy; 7% could take it or leave it; 5% think it's harder than training; 8% hate it. WHAT IN THE WORLD? I mean seriously? Ok, I know there are those die hard, ultra competitive runners out there but you mean to tell me the majority of people have a hard time with 'rest and free time'???? You've got to be kidding me!

I guess you can tell which group I fall in...as of yesterday, I am officially TAPERING and I am going to enjoy every minute of it! No worries, I won't be trying to run more than my training schedule tells me. Nope. Not me.

--IT IS OFFICIAL--

I AM TAPERING!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

-------------------------YEA, YEA, YEA, YEA, YEA---------------------------

running thoughts

I was reading in Runner's World the other day that Deena Kastor, USA Olympian marathoner, has little 'one liners' or sentences that she repeats over and over in her head to keep her motivated while she is running. Here are the thoughts that I repeat over and over as I run:

• Isaiah 40:31: And those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar like wings on eagles, they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
• Hebrews 12:1: therefore, since we are surrounded by a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off the sin that so easily entangles and run with perseverance the race marked out for me.
• Phil. 4:13: I can do All things through Christ who strengthens me.
• No excuses, no exceptions, no explanations. Do what you do. (from Tony Dungy's book: Quiet Strength)
• Mind of Steel - I don't know where this came from--maybe I made it up?
• God is Who He says He is, God Can Do what He says He can do, I am who God says I am, I can do all things through Christ, God's Word is alive and active in me, I'M BELIEVING GOD! (from Beth Moore's Believing God bible study)
• Give it all to Jesus: Ready, Steady, Go! (For those of you that don't know, this is a song)

So, all you runners out there, what thoughts do you focus on to encourage you?

Also, I am going to focus on a different bible verse for each mile during the marathon. So far I have: Isaiah 40:31, Hebrews 12:1-3, Romans 5:4-5 and 2 Cor. 12:9-10. I have been doing this for my last two 'long runs' and it has helped me tremendously! I would love any input on verses...Please share any that have been particularly helpful to you. Thanks :)

THE FAB FOUR

Meet the Fab Four. The dynamic team of Eric, Mike, Trey and Adam. They ran the Flying Pig Marathon yesterday in Cinncinati, Ohio! Yea! What a foursome! While they live in different cities (two live in henderson, KY, one in Nashville, TN and one in Louisville, KY), they 'trained together' by keeping up with each other's training strategy and doing their 'long weekend runs' together when they could.

Myself, my sister in law Kelle (Adam's wife) and Kelle's sister Whitney (Trey's wife) along with four of our kids wound our way through Cincy to mile 10, mile 20 and the Finish to cheer for them. The Fab Four stayed together almost the entire race, spurring one another on. They finally began breaking away from each other around mile 21 or 22 and finished as follows: Adam - 3:40:13; Mike - 3:41:06; Trey - 3:41:45; Eric - 3:42:17. Wow. That's just about all I can say. Wow.

I am so inspired and impressed with each of them for different reasons. Adam, because he always finds a way to dig down deep inside of himself and finish strong. He has a ferocious drive and determination. I'm pretty sure I've never seen him have a 'bad' race. He is intensely focused and is able to keep the others 'on task'. Way to go, Adam! Mike is SO impressive because this is his very first marathon! His first 'mini' was just a year ago and now he's cranking out 26.2 like it's nothing. On top of all that, his wife was unable to come because she began having some pre labor contractions. (She is pregnant with #3). Still, even without his 'backbone' of support, he was able to stay focused and crank out an incredible marathon. Mike, you are a bulldozer! Now Trey is one of those runners whom I'm pretty sure always has a smile on his face, even when it's painful. He puts his heart into it. He runs because he loves it and his love for it is contagious. He keeps it fun for himself and those around him. Thanks for making it joyful, Trey! Eric finished with his best personal time ever! He never ceases to amaze me. He is the most disciplined, consistent, rock solid day in, day out person I know. Seeing these qualities displayed tangibly through the marathon was, well, it was something--I just don't think I can put pen to paper to describe it...love you, and so, so proud of you!

Now, Kelle, Whit, myself, along with our kids had quite the adventure. Maneuvering in and out of side streets, up and down hills in the big, white machine (our 12 passenger van) was no small feat. We withstood bone chilling morning temps as well as many interesting sights to withhold such as these:

Cheering on runners was so, so fun!!! It was fulfilling to encourage people who are trying to accomplish a big goal.

The Fab Four just might have to make a comeback in the future. Why don't you make it a yearly thing? I vote for NYC or DC next time. Here's to a great weekend of sweat, grit and accomplishment! It was so inspiring, I think you've convinced me to make the crossover from mere 'spectator' to 'competitor'; at least once, anyway! I'll have to find a different group to train with though. There is no way I could hang with the Fab Four!

GREAT JOB GUYS!!!!!