Running With A New Friend

Well, today I ran with a new friend. And my new friend made my run very sweet. I really didn't think I would enjoy the companionship as much as I did. I always thought I'd miss the quiet and solitude, but it's not how I felt. Strangely, I think I could run quite often with this friend, this new friend who happens to actually be my new nano ipod!

It was given as a gift. I'm quite sure I would've never bought one for myself. But I ran 4 miles with it today and I can't believe how much fun I had. I first listened to some training lectures on marathon running and then I listened to a few songs. My run went by so fast and I didn't even think about the run much since I was listening so intently to my new friend. I wasn't sure how well it would work, but I decided to just go for it. I didn't know if the ear phones would stay in, but they did, and I didn't have an arm band to hold it in. I just held the ipod in my hand and that worked fine. What a clever little handy gadget!

With this new friend, I feel even more confident that training for a marathon may be doable if my body can hold it together. I have not yet made this decision, but feel closer to it than ever before. I will have to have a family conference to get all of them to give a vote of confidence and full fledged support. I'll probably also go to the doctor just to make sure all is okay. Last night I bought a book on marathon training for first timers and I also commented on Dean Kardazes blog to let him know his incredible journey has been spurring me on to make the huge leap into marathon land.

As a Christian runner, I really want to know God's favor in all this. I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt He led me to run the half marathon in April of '05. He was teaching me much about endurance. He is continueing to teach me about endurance so we'll see. I am watching for His green light and know it will come if He wants me to go for it. Running is a gift. And I know it has brought me closer to Jesus in many ways. It has also taught me much about running the race of faith. It will never be a substitute for the disciplines of the faith such as the Word, prayer, and fellowship with believers in a local church. But I have drawn from God as I have run and, like Eric Liddell said in Chariots of Fire, I also passionately say - "when I run, I feel His pleasure!"

Running Bliss

Alas, I regret that I was not up to the task of arising at 5 a.m. for another local Fall 5K run. But I figured since I did not go to bed until 1:00 a.m., it was probably better to sleep in, get some rest and run later in the afternoon. So, that's what I did. And what a blissful run it was! I ran 4 miles just cause I really really wanted to. Perhaps I should've only put in 3 miles since it was only the second day back at running after an 11 day pause. But it was beautiful and I felt great and it was just pure bliss!

On my run I saw two other runners which I always love to see! It always encourages me when I see other runners. And speaking of other runners, I have been very inspired by Dean Karnazes and his Endurance 50 mission! I've been keeping up with how he's doing on his website, www.endurance50.com. If you need inspiration, go to his site. He just completed his 41st marathon in 41 consecutive days! Apparently he took a fall on this last run, but that by no means will stop him. He is set on his goal and I am so motivated by what he is doing. I've really been giving some serious thought to running another half, but even more than that, a full marathon. I want to run a full marathon some day in my life. That would be a dream come true for me! For some reason I've been thinking about it a lot lately. It would require a lot, I know. But I think if I want to do one some time in my life then why put it off. Why not now? Why not go for it? But then I think of the commitment, if my body could even handle it with it's issues that seem to come and go from time to time. If I could just have someone to mentor me through it - every aspect from diet, to hydration, to training, to rest, to mental prep, etc... I would have to alter my schedule and I don't even know if that's doable. But I'll tell you that keeping a watchful eye on Dean's progress is so inspiring it just makes you want to see what you could endure! I've tasted the half. I'm getting quite a craving for the full! I am seriously going to be thinking about this.

Running Pause Concluded

Well, I was able to get out there on the pavement and run 3 miles today. I took it slow but I felt really good. I was so excited to be running after 11 days of no running that I found my mental energies being swallowed up by pure emotional joy! It was like being a kid in a candy shop! I am so thankful for the gift of running. I am so thankful that the Lord has given me this gift. I felt like my Heavenly Father was so happy to see me enraptured by this small little 3 mile run. There's just nothing like Jesus and my running shoes to take me to a place where I can unload, reload, to lock and load for more of life! My running pause has thus concluded. Hmm...do I go for the 5K this Saturday? Undecided. It's that getting up at the crack of dawn in the cold that keeps me from just going for it. We'll see.

Running Pauses

Still recovering from a lingering sore throat! I am itching to run and hoping to give it a whirl either tomorrow or Friday. I'll take it easy and do only 3 miles. There is a race this Saturday I was considering, but really don't think it will pan out. If I run tomorrow and I feel okay, I may consider it. We'll see.

Running and Post-Race Sickness

It's Tuesday and it seems I won't be running again today. Sunday evening I felt a sore throat coming on and it is still with me. I've felt a tad achy and feel like I have a touch of a fever. I can still function in all the regular daily stuff, but I don't think I should push it by running. This is hard. Usually after running a race, I really look forward to running again at my own casual and relaxing pace.

Oh well, it's time to take care of myself and rest for a while. I was thinking about doing another 5K in a couple of weeks, but we'll have to see how this sickness "runs" it's course! I hope it's in a winning mood and takes to the finish sooner than I think or want.

Running and Fall Fest 5K Race

Well, I didn't think I was going to make it out of bed this cold windy morning, but to my surprise, I did! And it's a good thing I did, cause all my other running buddies were there! Well, almost all of them! If I had decided to stay in my warm bed and sleep, I would've been a real party pooper without any good excuses to not go. I was really tempted, but one thing got me up - and that one thing was the fact that I didn't want to have regrets the rest of the day and I didn't want to feel like a big ol' loser cause I really didn't have any good excuses.

I am soooo glad I did not let my ol' flesh and bones have their way! I had a lot of fun and I made my goal - to get below 30:00 minutes! It wasn't my PR, but I was satisfied with my time. I felt pretty good and just love the running comradery among all the folks.

I only ran twice this week bringing my weekly total only to 7. Oh well, I was pretty busy. This week I'll shoot for a total of 12!

As far as race harvests go, I reaped all sorts of good stuff! The usual Runner's Goody Bag full of things like, a new water bottle, coupons, future race info, small first aid kit, a pen, and some other stuff I can't remember. There's also another new long-sleeved t-shirt, a shiny gold medal I got after crossing the finish line and my keepsake number I'll add to my collection. There were free drinks and food available after finishing. And finally, that great feeling of accomplishment and joy about doing something you could've just blown off. It's all over now and I'm sooo glad I got myself out of that bed! Thank you, Jesus, for your grace and mercy and an ever so sweet strength to "run in such a way as to win."

A Runner's Bountiful Harvest

It is finally looking like Autumn as I run. The trees are beginning to look so beautiful and I just love crunching the leaves that have already fallen on the ground with my running shoes as I pound the pavement!

Today I ran my usual 4 miles and as I did I took in all the sights, sounds, and even smells of the crisp Autumn air. One particular site got me thinking about the sowing and reaping principle. It was the site of a field of those brown corn husks that remained after the yellow sweet vegetable had been harvested - that yummy corn I enjoyed during summer bar-b-ques with friends and family.

As I ran passed the corn husks, I began thinking about the things a runner like myself, harvests. Hmm. Well, there is self-discipline, cardio-vascular health, muscle building, stress relief, solitude for reflection, and great conversations with God to name a few. When I sow this kind of activity into my life, I reap good things. Some may think it a selfish and time-wasting hobby. And of course there are always more important things I could be doing with the 4-5 hours of exercise per week I fit into my schedule. But I truly believe that the harvest I bring in, due to running, God uses to make me even more fit to be the kind of servant He desires me to be.

Soon I'll be running by that field of corn husks and they'll be gone. The process of sowing corn seed and reaping in a harvest of ripened results will begin again. So it is with our lives. We sow. We reap. We sow. We reap. And the question will be, will our sowing bring a bountiful harvest fit for the King? That's my desire, anyway - in running, in life.

Finally Running Five!

Well, it took awhile, but I finally ran 5 miles today! Yahoo! But, I did have a bit of a problem with my runner's gut flaring up. Bummer! Hmm, wondering what to do about that. Anyway, I was very happy to have ran 5 and I felt pretty good through out the whole run.

About 3/4's into my run I passed some other runners who were coming towards me. We exchanged "hello's" and I asked them how far they were running. One of them said, "Oh, only about two." And I said, "That's great! Have a good one!" As I proceeded to run, I thought about their "2," my "5," and the runner I ran into the other day - her "10." We were all running, all at different paces, all with different goals, but running just the same - moving forward and making progress.

I am pleased I made 5 miles today - finally!

Running and Surprise Endings

Yesterday was a great running day weather wise! I felt really good as I ran yet again another 4 miles. I guess I'm just in a 4 mile rut. Haven't been able to get in that 5, but I was inspired to get it in soon, by my surprise ending to yesterday's run.

As I neared the end of my course, another runner was heading towards me. I got to the point where I stopped and as she passed me by we both said "hello." Then as she continued to run by me she asked, "Are you done?" I said, "Yep, got my 4 miles in." She said, "That's great!" Then I asked her, "How far are you running?" And with her head turned back towards me while she continued to run she said, "I'm hoping to do 10!" I shouted, "That's great and you couldn't have a better day for it!" Then off she went.

"I'm hoping to do 10!" Yep, that encouraged me. There's always someone ahead of you, a little farther in the distance from where you are, either on the running course, or the path of life. I like to remember that. It keeps me fixed on trying to catch up, go farther, press on and helps me remember how far I've come. Also, others are behind me, and to them, maybe my "4 miles" will encourage them to keep going.

My hope is in the Lord Jesus. And in Him, I'm "hoping" to spiritually "do 10"!

Running and Indian Summers

It's been four days since I've had an opportunity to run. I was able to go with my husband to a conference where he was asked to lecture. We traveled to the East coast and while I had good intentions and brought my running shoes, the conference and the chance to go to some historic sites squashed out any time to squeeze in a run. We arrived back home late last night and so today I was just itching to get in some run time. And I did. I ran a good 4 miles in what some would define as an Indian Summer day - meaning - it was very hot on a day when it's not supposed to be so hot! We are, afterall, in the month of October and days in the 90's are generally rare. But I made it and put out a good sweat - something I hadn't done due to the cooler weather we've been having, in a while.

I was happy to have be able to run. There was lots to pray about and think about. I got some inspiration for an annual women's event I help coordinate each year.

I know the things I heard over the past weekend at the conference filled my tank with encouragement, motivation and inspiration to keep my eye fixed on the things His good providence would have me do. It was great to run and think about the things I heard and saw over the weekend.

I also had a blast meeting some great folks, one of whom was a runner who had run a marathon. In a restaurant located in Alexandria, Virginia, where George Washington even dined!, we shared some great running stories with each other. And on this hot Indian Summer day, it was fun to reflect on these things as I ran another 4.