perfect conditions

It was a gray, chilly, overcast day in late October.   The sky was threatening rain, and the clouds seemed ready to burst in to showers at any moment.  There were grumblings from the runners about the cool temperatures and the possible rain.

As we parked the bus, I looked up at the sky and thought about what to tell them before the race.  Something motivational.  Something important.  Something that would encourage them and help them run their best race.

Thinking about the weather conditions and the impending race, I realized that it is not the warm, sunny days that the best races are run.  It is gray, chilly days.  It is when the conditions seem the worst that they are actually the best.

I wondered if it is also true that when the conditions in our lives seem the worst that perhaps they are actually the best.  Maybe it is when everything seems a mess that we find ourselves in the perfect situation to see God at work.  Maybe this is the place where He is most glorified. 

It is true of the cross.  Christ didn't come when we had it together the most.  No, He came to rescue us when we were at our worst.

 You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. ~ Romans 5:6  

Almost every runner had a personal best that day...

"adventures"

All smiles!  The SLCAXC team post race- with a little planking and owling action.

We had another SLCA Cross Country "adventure" yesterday.  We have had many adventures this year: an interesting encounter with a swat team, being chased by a storm, bus not starting, bus breaking down on 485, forgotten shoes, monsoon conditions at invitational meet.  We seem to attract "adventures."

Yesterday was no different.  The meet at this school had been cancelled once already because the course was under water.  We arrived to the meet and it was cold and rainy.  We were all wondering why the school didn't just cancel the meet a second time.   Everyone was freezing and wet.  The tent was leaking water all over the book bags.  The guy who was supposed to be scoring the meet was late, so we had to wait longer.  10+ kids had fallen in the mud during the middle school race; one had twisted her ankle.

There was much grumbling and complaining and discontent.  "Why are we even running this race?"

Race time!

One hill was so steep and slippery the runners had to use their hands to pull themselves up.  One girl lost a shoe. The same girl fell.  They slid in the mud.  Someone else fell.  Mud splashed up their backs.  Water soaked their shoes and blinded their eyes.  But they ran. 

Then the surprise came.

As each runner finished the race they were smiling!  "Best race ever, coach!"  They all laughed and compared battle stories.  They cheered on the rest of their teammates coming in.  For the last three runners they even made a tunnel.  I just laughed with them.  Everyone was so joyful.

Today at practice we read James 1:2-3

Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.

I think the joy came from persevering under trial.  In the beginning they were grumbling about the race.  The conditions were not ideal.  But they persevered, and in the end they matured as runners.

We are also running a race...a really long one called life.  The conditions are not always ideal, but maybe it is just another "adventure;" one that is meant for our good and God's glory.  Lord, let me see trials as your grace testing my faith to make me mature and complete, not lacking anything.

3. Break 2:00 for a half marathon Attempt #1

Attempt # 1 to break two hours at Kiawah Island half marathon. Time: 2:05:44--A five minute improvement from last year, but still 5+ minutes away. It didn't quite happen this time, but at least we all had a fun time training and spending the weekend with good friends.

2. Break 25 minutes for a 5K-Attempt #3

Attempt #3 to accomplish goal #2- 26:24 @ the HFFA Fall Harvest Race. Forty seconds better than last time. We are getting closer :)

2. Break 25 minutes for a 5k- Attempt #2

Attempt #2. Trying to run a 5k in under 25 minutes. Today's time 27:04 at the Lung Strong 5k in Cornelius- fifty seconds faster than the last race, but still not quite there. On the way, though.....gotta keep working! I am thankful that I able to run and breathe and be alive!

Fly Like an Eagle!

Our SLCA Cross Country Eagles soared at McAlpine Creek Park today! This was the kind of day that a coach dreams of- almost half the team ran a personal best. Congratulations, Eagles!

2. Break 25 minutes for a 5k- Attempt #1

To celebrate 30 years of life, I have a list of 30 things I would like to accomplish this year. Very high on that list is running a 5k in less than 25 minutes. Last fall I ran the HFFA 5k in 25:25, just 25 seconds away!

This morning, however, was not quite so close. It was a slow 27:52 at the Hit the Brixx 5k.

Oh well!

At least three good things came out of this morning:
1. I learned what NOT to do: NO coffee before a run. NO dairy products for breakfast. NO staying up to late the night before. NO waiting til the last minute to hydrate. NO benadryl. NO running while you are sick.

2. I got to eat free Brixx Pizza AFTER the race. YUM!

3. Standing in front of me at the start line was a very inspirational woman. She was wearing a bright blue San Diego marathon technical tee, a bright blue hat to match her shirt, neon green socks, and silver earrings. Her name was Harriette and she was 87 years old! When I asked Harriette about the San Diego marathon her son answered saying that she had won her age group 12 years in a row and had raised more money for Team in Training than anyone else.

I found her name in the results and then asked Mr. Google to help me learn more about this incredible lady - stalker-ish, I know.

Article in Run, Theoden, Run
Article at Runnersworld.com

I hope that I can still run and enjoy life when I am Harriette's age, and perhaps by then I will have broken that 25 minute goal!

Next attempt: Lung Strong 5k in Cornelius on Oct. 16!

Cooper River

This weekend was the Cooper River Bridge Run. It was a fun weekend in Charleston with one of my students and her mom and grandma. YAY :D

Two minute PR. Still not as fast I want to be, but at least it was faster than the last one!

Ryan Hall + World Vision

boston marathon women's finish

Spring SPRAIN (not break)

Sad! Saturday some friends and I went to play ultimate frisbee at Freedom Park....after about 10 minutes of the "Clemson team" beating us non Clemsonites, I jumped up to catch the frisbee and landed on my left foot, rolling my ankle and dashing my hopes of running in the Cooper River Bridge Run in Charleston.

I would like to jokingly echo the cry of the Prince, who after falling while fleeing Queen Orual in Til We Have Faces, said "curse the gods who made man's ankle.

Once again I will repeat, "SAD!"

spring training

Today we had a meeting to discuss Spring training for next year's cross country team.....over 40 students showed up! I am so excited!

Here is a great quote from Eric Liddell (well, from the movie "Chariots of Fire"), winner of the 400 meters at the Olympic Games in Paris in 1924 and Christian Missionary to China.

"I believe God made me for a purpose, but he also made me fast. And when I run I feel His pleasure."

Finish Strong

Saturday, September 29
5K time 27:29
Improvement from last race: 1: 35
Excitement Level: 10 out of 10!


I am really enjoying running lately....I am not sure why! Perhaps it is the challenge of pushing yourself beyond where you thought you could go.

I am enjoying seeing our cross country kids run and get faster and do more than they thought they could do. There have been times I almost cried to see them push themselves and finish strong.

Maybe it is because running gives such a great picture of our walk with Christ.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27 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 do 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.

Hebrews 12:1-3 Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

Psalm 119:32 I run in the path of your commands, for you have set my heart free.

Lord, give us hearts that run after you! Help us to finish strong and make it to our goal: home, with you, forever.

Pre Race Chicks

Here's Jess and I before the big race. It was all her idea to begin with :) In fact, the first time we ran together was at Oak Island in the beginning of the summer. She kept me running by saying: "Ok, you can make it to the next green house. Just a little more. Now keep running until the pink house." Thanks Jess!

I did it!

I am so excited!!!! I just got home from running the Rock n Roll Half Marathon in Virginia Beach. It was probably the hardest thing I have ever done!

STATS

Distance: 13.1 miles (I ran the whole thing...yay!)
Finish time: 2:32:28
Place: 10,203 out of 16,170 finishers, 1248 out ot 2045 women aged 25-29, 4949 out of 9128 women finishers
Bib number: 3205
Amazing Race Buddies: Jess Hawk, Dierdre Mumpower, Sharon McGowan, Donna Simons, Gatewood and Penny
Amount of Food eaten at Olive Garden the night before: WAY TOO MUCH! But the Chicken Alfredo was AMAZING!
Cups of water gulped down: 5
Cool people seen:
1. newlyweds - the bride was wearing her veil and the groom's shirt said "just married"
2. a guy running with no shoes because his gave him a blister
3. several men in hula skirts and leis
4. a lady with sequined gold shirts
5. lots of people dressed as pirates cheering on the sidelines....ARRRR!
6. 20,000 people from 50 states and 11 countries
7. the super-fast africans who passed us while they were on mile 8 and we were on mile 2
8. a loving father pushing his son 13.1 miles in a wheelchair (watch inspiring video here-wow- and official website here)
Fastest Man: James Kwambai 1:03:30
Fastest Woman: Edna Kiplagat 1:11:08
Favorite Part: The first 5 miles, across a bridge, under the trees, feeling like I could run forever.
Least Favorite Part: The last 4 miles in the sun, knees hurting, looking for a water stand.
Related Bible Verse: Hebrews 12:1-3> Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured such opposition from sinful men, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.
Regrets: none!

Photo Gallery

racer number 3205

The Rock n Roll Half Marathon is only 2 days away. Tomorrow morning I will be getting in my friend Jess' car and we will be driving to Virginia Beach. I am just looking at my registration packet.

I am runner number 3205....hmmm...sounds like a good, strong number.

I am in corral number 3 with a predicted time of 1 hour 40 minutes....wait a sec! Did I predict that? I think I will ask them to move me back about 5 corrals, because it will be more like 2 hours and 15 minutes (or longer) before I finish. What was I thinking? (a country song just started playing in my head).

Today I was talking to my friend Rusty about the Country Music Half Marathon that he ran in TN. It made me even more excited about the race. He said it was one of the most rewarding, encouraging things he has ever done. We shall see about that!

That is all for now!

marathon update: delusions of grandeur

It is finally here. The weekend I have been anticipating for 17 weeks! The Virginia Beach Rock n Roll Half Marathon. I confess, I am a little bummed, because the farthest I have run so far is 6 miles. However, it is farther than I was running when I started, and definitely farther than I have ever run in my entire life. Perhaps I had delusions of grandeur. I think I fully understand that phrase now.

Actually, this seems to happen a lot. I say, "I can do it." Sort of like Trish thinking she could snowboard when she have never even skied or done any other winter sport. After falling off the ski lift, not being able to even stand up, and then walking back to the lodge almost in tears, I discovered that I could not, in fact, "just figure it out."

Hmmmmmmmm......oh well. Maybe it was good to set my goal so high. At least I will be able to run half way. Final results to follow on Monday morning! Tally Ho!

a morning jog

I went jogging this morning. My path took me to a Greenway that runs near my house. It is a windy trail that took me through a green, foresty area. Nothing special happened, until I came across a family of deer on their early morning stroll. I stopped and stood there in awe. They were beautiful!

Everything else on the trail seemed to take on a new look and sound and personality: I met a granddaddy long legs who, I can only presume, was on his way to buy some new walking shoes, a squirrel eating her morning breakfast, a turtle who I am certain when he gets to his destination will discover that he has, indeed, beaten the hare, and a chorus of crickets practicing for one of their last evening summer concerts. Maybe the butterfly I met will finally find that perfect flower.

not in shape!

So, I have decided to run a half-marathon on Labor Day weekend at Virginia Beach. My first question is: Can I quit already?? he he eh.....so I went online today at the suggestion of my friend Jess to set up a training program for myself. Day 1: run 2 miles....waaaaaaaaa....who was I kidding! I ran a mile and a half and my legs were already screaming to stop the insanity. And this day was considered an easy day!

So, maybe I should set a goal because 13 miles is looking pretty impossible. Goal 1: complete 2 miles on wednesday! I think I can do it!

Well, atleast I still have 17 weeks to go before the race. Perhaps I will make it. I hope so ;)

runner quote of the day: The will to win is not nearly as important as the will to prepare. - Juma Ikangaa
http://www.rnrhalf.com/home.html
http://www.runnersworld.com