Mondays I try to get in a good little chunk of mileage. It kind of lets me stack it up so that it's easier to meet my mileage goals for the week. That way I don't feel like I am playing catch-up the rest of the week and there's less pressure to get it all in. I prefer going at least 5 miles on Mondays - Plus I'm coming off two rest days so it just makes sense! Sometimes I can imagine the hills are issuing me a challenge. I can't wait to tackle them and take 'em down! Yesterday was no different. I headed out and the big hill on my chosen route is about a mile and a half from the house. That gives me plenty of time to get warmed up good before I get there! I love the challenge! What I wasn't ready for was the return trip. (I prefer out and backs because I know my legs need the well rounded workout.) But when I turned around to come back I was facing a stiff head wind! I pushed it so hard! And each time the wind picked up - I picked up my pace in response. ...

For several weeks I had been driving by this wilderness area . It's only a couple of miles from my apartment and I've been wanting to explore. Finally, Thursday was an off day (supposed to be a rest day) from running and for cross training I figured I would ride my bike up there to see about the trail. It turns out to be almost exactly 2.5 miles up. That means I get a solid 5 miles of biking in! That's a plus. The internet said the trail was one mile. I thought maybe I would ride it to check it out and then come back and run it at a later date. I passed a runner who helped me know where some tricky spots were as far as following the right trail. Then he told me it was more like 1.5 miles around. I rode it first, then decided I had time to run it once just to see if I liked it...I loved it!! So I went back Friday and ran it 3 times! While I was exploring I thought about how different the terrain was. But it didn't matter if I was riding there are on the supposedly sm...

All weekend long I could hear "the big hill" calling out a challenge to me! So this morning I put on my running shoes and headed straight for it! I was doing pretty good too. To be honest I didn't find it to be too terribly challenging as my mind was walking through so many other things I really wasn't thinking about it much. I got to the road that is about half a block from the top and two cars approached the intersection. No problem. The first one went on through and the second one stopped... right on the cross walk! For safety reasons, even though I know I have the right of way - I go behind the car. It's part of never assuming someone else sees you just because you saw them! I kind of shake my head in disbelief at people's driving habits but am really caught up in my music and thoughts too much to worry about it much. But then I saw her look... the Biblical term for what it looks like is a proud look. I could be way off (but I'm not usually!) but ...

After my whole week off I knew I needed to go easy on this old body this week. I ended up logging about 11 miles. That's a little more than half of my normal weekly miles. Next week my goals will be closer to 15 miles as I gently build back up to longer runs. I still have a 10K and the Chicago half to prepare for. In addition to this I am making some dietary changes - going at it slow so I don't send my body too much into shock! I'll eat what I have here so I don't waste what I've spent, but begin to replace with whole, healthy options as I need to buy more. And I started walking in the evenings. When I first found this apartment one of the things I liked about it was the park with a paved path that is behind the complex. My son is in a wheelchair and it looked like a great way to get him out of the house. It really was a factor in choosing this particular apartment. I measured and it's about .4 of a mile long, but it's an out and back. From my door, thr...

On any given day there are tons of things that can be used for an excuse to not run. These excuses can range from very mild to real excuses, like my leg just fell off! And there are legitimate times when runners really do need to take a day, or even a week, off. When there is a serious injury or a family emergency it just isn't always using good judgment to try to get that run in. And of course, if it is actually thundering and lightening it is unsafe to take a run! Actually, so far lightning is the only reason I have seen a race postponed! So this morning after the bulk of the storm passed I headed out in the rain for a good solid run. I figured rain really could be a legit excuse; but as I found out at the half marathon - you never know what you might get on race day so it could be a great training exercise. And boy was it! First, I had trouble with my glasses during the half marathon as the rain kept getting on them and I couldn't see well. So today presented a perfect...

I must admit that I am just learning about running. Although I've been at it for just over two years I consider myself pretty much a beginner. One thing I am learning though is that there really is a balancing act to be done to make the body all work. For me, it's a body,soul and spirit thing and they all have to come into balance to make me into a decent runner - which I am determined to become! My body does all the physical part, of course. But then I have learned how stress, emotions and situations can really slow me down and affect my performance. That was amazing when I started seeing that one! But the time I run is my time; it's when I do a lot of my praying and sorting things out. So I think it's easy to say that my whole being is involved in my running adventure! What if we could (or would) engage our whole being into serving Him? What if we literally threw our entire being, body, soul and spirit into His service? It's too easy to divide it out - our spi...

Yesterday I was doing a teaching broadcast. As a closer I was referencing Hebrews 12: 1-2. Of course the phrasing about running the race with endurance caught my attention. So I camped there a bit and talked about endurance and running the race well. I mentioned that a lot of people can run - but they are not running well. By running well, I mean giving it the best you can for that moment. We cannot or will not all cross the finish line at the same pace or time. But we can each one run the very best for the moment. You really cannot run anymore than the moment you are in anyway! And for each moment we must reach out there and grab it and do the very best with what we have right now. I also cannot run two races at the same time. I can really only be in this moment. And to run well, I really need to be in this moment.   Sometimes it can be helpful to think that we only have to endure the moment.   And seriously, we do not know what a day may bring. Each moment we do have we ...

Yeah, that's right I was on my run, minding my own business, actually tackling a huge hill when I saw movement to my right. And there he was...Templeton! (remember the rat from Charlott e's Web?) He was huge!! And he was trying desperately to get back into a fence that was keeping him out of a very nice neighborhood. I assured him that I would not come close to him or bother him in any way! Seriously, I have not seen a rat that big in all my life! Well, I saw a dead one once that was almost that big. He splashed his stinky guts up on my favorite orange dress when I threw a brick on him though. (at my cousin's strong urging...) But this one was huge and alive! And he really wanted back in his old 'hood! I thought it was kind of funny that I was in a really nice area of town - well-to-do for, sure and there the rat was.. not over by the ghetto where I used to live! How funny! But then my mind went to a proverb. Solomon said that the spider (KJV) or the lizard (NAS) ca...

Well, I didn't plan on 5 miles, nor did I make 5 miles! I planned on an easy 2 or 3 really. But the morning was so beautiful and I was so excited to be out running again when I got to the corner I was supposed to turn on to head back - I went straight instead. Well, after the huge hill and about 3.5 miles my knee did its thing again... not a happy camper. I had to walk all the way home and maybe I should say "hobble"... So I had lots of time to think, and that I did. I was frustrated because I was hurting in an area I thought was okay. I gave it some time to heal after all. I wondered how many times in life we get hurt in some way and just keep trying to push it...especially in church matters. There is nothing that can hurt like those wounds we can receive from our church family. We are connected in so many ways those pains can run deeply. But how many times after being hurt in a church do we run out and try to do the same thing in another congregation...only to get hur...

It's funny as I am finishing up this week that I took totally off from running, I am so anticipating tomorrow morning's run! I can't wait! I think my body has recuperated enough now that it is just now realizing I actually ran a half marathon! While I was taking the trash out to the dumpster I was thinking about tomorrow's run...and my mind went to my last race and then the half marathon that I ran a couple weeks ago. I think I actually started walking different - just thinking about having run a half marathon. That's when I had the thought: I think I'm a runner! I still want to do a full marathon later - and eventually a full marathon. Then I want to do a Warrior Dash - those look like so much fun! And I'd like to give trial running a shot too...but all of that was not even possible two years ago when I first started training for the 5K! It's funny how when we take on a new adventure we can barely take on the day...but then we start stretching out...

I don't think I have ever taken a full week off by choice! Why would you not do something that you love so much and that pumps you so full of energy? But with the recent back to back races and extra training plus the pain in my back (the real reason) I decided to take this entire week off to rest. My body actually has appreciated it! It's funny how a little bit of real rest without pressure to perform can give you such a boost for the next phase! I can't wait to pound some pavement next week. And it's even okay to just run 3 or so miles each morning. Then the next week I'll bump it back up. Well I do have another half marathon to train for you know! I've always overrated rest. It seems so unnecessary and there's so much more that could be accomplished while sleeping or resting! But this week it's almost like my body has told me "thank you." Hebrews talks about a rest for God's people. I have to wonder if it's something like this fe...

I had my shoes on and was all ready to hit the pavement this morning when the aid called and said she couldn't come today as she had a family emergency. She's my relief. I am the caregiver for my son who was in a tragic accident two and a half years ago. And since she cannot come this morning I don't get to get out today at all. Actually, his accident is why I started running to begin with. After I fell in love with running I found out what a great stress reliever it has been...but I cannot run today...so what now? Running helps all the tension run out of my body somehow. I can run four or five miles and am mentally, physically and just all around refreshed! I have found running to be great at relieving stress, mentally - just pounding the pavement for an hour or so and I can solve all the world's problems! lol! So when I have a day like today I wonder if I am coming to rely too much on running for relieving stress. Is that possible? With the back injury I will prob...

I was talking to my friend the other day about some of the dietary changes I really need to do so that I can be a better runner. She mentioned how uncomfortable we were when we first started running but that the pain is acceptable because of the goal. And every time we bump up the regime and push it a little more we can get sore - but we accept it as part of the package...no questions asked. But when it comes to changing the diet...as soon as the craving makes us uncomfortable we give in. We decided to embrace the discomfort of dietary changes as just part of the journey in obtaining our final goal - being a better runner. How many times as Christians (and just in life in general) do we avoid discomfort? Many times pain or being uncomfortable is the very thing that will spur us into much needed changes. But it is natural to try to avoid things we don't like - or things that cause pain! It is also true that to avoid the pain of feeling guilty we read or attend church. Trying to...

Yesterday I ran a 5K with my sister. Going back to the 5K after training and doing a half marathon was interesting.I think my heart will always be in the 5k - I just love the whole thing! It's a great atmosphere and a very positive experience. But I will continue my half marathon training. Training for the half actually helped me out a lot with the 5K, even though I didn't do any speed training - only building endurance and distance. I still came out only about 30 seconds off my last PR and won the third place medal in my age division. (And yes there was more than two of us in the division! lol) It's just kind of funny how preparing for something else builds your confidence in a totally different area. Sometimes when we are working on spiritual matters, it seems like maybe it's ineffective or we just are not getting it - but it is totally strengthening another area of our lives...and we just need to keep pushing through! No matter what hits us in this race of life...

That's right I am signed up for a 5K for tomorrow. It's funny how different my feelings are now that I have been running the longer races. I know the training is so different I probably won't even set a new PR as I have done very little speed training. But maybe I will surprise myself. This is the Jim Thorpe Courage Run. I did the same race last year. It's a fund raiser for a rehabilitation hospital here in the OKC area. My son never went to that particular rehab but they are really good at what they do and the money goes to help fund equipment for patients whose insurance won't provide. Shoot, I probably need to do my own 5K so I can get my son some equipment! anyway, I run it for my son basically because he's given me the courage to run! We learn a lot about ourselves when tragedy strikes. Since his wreck in late 2008 I have really changed a lot and learned a lot. Running has been a huge factor in my progress. Yeah, it helps me deal with the stress of the ...

I didn' mind taking a couple of days off since my thighs were so sore! But trust me, it was a great sore to be! But today if was off the couch and out the door for my first post half marathon run. I was really sore and mentally prepared to walk...but it was great! I took it easy just like I'd read and did a little less than 3 miles. While I was running I was reflecting on the half marathon. One of the things I thought about during the 13.1 mile course was so many things that I had read over the last couple of years. I've read runner's world magazine and use their site to log all my miles even. I get their "Daily kick in the butt" motivational statement too. During the race Sunday so many things that I had read (and lacked opportunity to try) just kind of came up in my mind. I would think a question and then I'd remember an answer or possible solution. I'd implement it to see if it would really work for me or not. This proved something I've ...

Seriously, I have been training and running all along why in the world would I think I would need a couple of recovery days ? Well, mostly because I can barely walk, that's why! lol! Actually, over all I did well and am not too sore, except for my thighs. I am sure that is coming because of the extra miles and pushing it so hard the last two miles! So today is another recovery day. Tomorrow I will try to run a short, easy couple of miles to start loosening back up. I have to get moving because I have a 5K this Saturday! (not planning on setting any PR's there for sure!) It's funny how we can think after a big race or a big trial of some sort that we can just get up the next day and bounce back into normal. There are so many things that can occur in a day and we can take them in stride - at least for awhile. But there will be a slow down day. It's a time to stop and reflect on what has happened so we can learn from it... When there is a big happening in our lives...

That's right - this morning was my first half marathon! And I actually met all my goals.. I am very happy with myself and my performance in the race. I was so scared! I kept thinking about how until today I've only run 10.5 miles and I'd have to gut it out - and gut it out I did! First the weather was terrible. It was raining the whole race. There were two lightning strikes downtown before the race so they had to move the start time. I started slow and just kept going. I did okay and before I knew it I was half way done. That's no biggy - because I've done a 10K before. I talked myself through the whole thing in a crazy sort of way...After I got to mile 9 which is where I figured I'd start having challenges with my attitude and thinking...I started working it backwards. I told myself I only have 4 miles to go. And I do more than that on my regular daily running.   Basically, I ignored the fact that I had already run the 9 miles. Then at ten I was like I have a...