Running and Remembering

I had a wonderful 3 mile run today. I took it nice and easy. I decided to listen to my ipod and one of the songs I listened to really said everything I've been thinking about lately. Here are the lyrics: It's called Thoughts of You by the Barlow Girls...

Thoughts of You and how You've changed me fill my mind.
Without You where would I be?
So even though I've tried to express my thanks it never comes out how I hoped.
I want to say so much more, so with these simple words I'll try...
I Love You...my heart is Yours, only Yours.
I long to give You all of me, my everything, my everything.
God, I never could repay You, You gave everything.
Without You where would I be?
You still loved me even when I pushed You away,
You stood there and waited til the day I'd return.
So even though I've tried to express my thanks it never comes out...
I want to say so much more so with these simple words I'll try...
I Love You...my heart is Yours, only Yours, Jesus.
I want to give You all of me, I love You, I love You, my heart is Yours, only Yours.
I long to give You all of me, my everything, my everything,
Thoughts of You and how You changed me fill my mind.

My awesome son figured out how to put this song on my blog so it can play! It will be my running mantra. A mantra is an expression or sacred words often repeated to facilitate a sense of motivation or encourage a transforming of the mind. All those big wig professional runners say you need a running mantra. So that's it, my spiritual running mantra as I run the race of faith, wrapped in a love song to my Savior, my Hero of all Hero's - Jesus!

Running, a Snake, and a Break

A quick update on my running log - ran 4 miles on the 15th and on the 18th. Had a very unusual event take place as I ran on the 15th. A car passed by me and then stopped and began backing up on the street. I noticed the window on the passager side opening. The car stopped when it backed up far enough to where I was on the side walk. Of course I'm always leary when a car slows down or stops by me when I'm running. I did manage to recognize the person in the car. It was someone from my neighborhood and so I stopped running. She wanted to warn me about a big snake making its way across the road. She said she thought it might be a copperhead. She pointed to it and I saw it with my own eyes. It was a big snake and I never saw one that big in our neighborhood before. She said she was going to try to run over it. I watched as she proceeded to run over the snake. She managed to get the tail end and I saw blood and a squirming snake trying to make it across the road. I quickly ran by and the lady in the car said, I'm gonna run over it again. I gave her a thumbs up and continued my run.

What if that lady had not warned me of this impending danger? I could have been bitten by a snake on my run! Yikes! I was very grateful as I continued my run. I thought about how Christians should do likewise. We should warn our brothers and sisters in Christ when we see them running into harms way. Satan indeed would desire to trip us up as we run the race of faith. We must heed one another's warnings and humbly receive them in love.

The next time I ran, the stench of a dead snake was in the air as I ran by the spot where the dead remains lay in the road. I was reminded that Satan has indeed been defeated because of Christ's victory over the grave. My enemy may still lay snares for me - some I have fallen prey to, some I've been spared of, and some I've been victorious by the grace of God. I must remember that though at times it can seem like Satan is winning a lot of battles, God has already won the war!

After those 2 runs, I came down with a sore throat and took some time off until yesterday, May 29th. I was able to run 3 easy slow miles. It was great to be on the road again. I had a blessed time with the Lord. I left my ipod at home and just spent some good time in prayer and meditation. I'm looking forward to running tomorrow. I think I'll keep it at 3 miles just so I my sore throat doesn't come back.

A Running Race Day

After having to lay down my April race events I had wanted to do (a local 5K and 1/2 marathon) because of knee issues, I finally got to run in my first race event of 2007. I hadn't run a 5K race since last Fall. And it was a great day, perfect weather, and a nice flat course with only 4 turns. My goal was to get under 30 minutes which I did, but I didn't get my personal best. I was off by 1 minute and 26 seconds. But I still had a great run and feel pleased with how I did.

This morning my oldest daughter woke up and wanted to go with me. It was great to have her there. As I rounded the last bend and saw the finish, I first heard her cheering me on and then I looked up and saw her. It gave me my last push to finish strong and hard.

I had been neck and neck with a lady named Susan. We pretty much ran the last 2 miles right next to one another. We chatted a bit as we ran. She was one year older than I and I kept thinking I can't let her beat me and I'm going to have to really fight to get ahead. I did and it felt good. As I neared the finish, I saw a gray headed older man ahead of me. I remembered when he passed by me during the run. I thought, "Run, Diane, run! You can't let that little ol' man beat you!" I gave it everything and I ran passed him! Yeah! My treasured verse kept ringing in my ear, "run in such a way as to win!"

I didn't get into the top three in my age group, but I was in the top 12! I placed 11th out of 32 in my age group. And overall, I placed 53rd out of 180 other females. I'll take it.

As far as my running mileage for this past week, I ran 4 miles outside on Monday and then 3 miles outside on Thursday. Then my 5K or 3 miles today at the race. The race today was a charity run called, "Race for Miracles." It was the first time I ran for an event where 100 % of the money stays here and equally divided between the two children's hospitals in the area. It is always good to have a purpose for running in a race. Today it was for sick children and I was happy to be part of it.

Rain Stopped, Sun's Out, Time to Run!

Finally, after almost a week of rain - on again off again, the sun came out this Saturday afternoon and stayed out. I ran 4 miles out in the humid sunny air and it felt like I was running in a sauna! I'll need to drink in a bunch to make up for the amount of sweat output! The temperature was 76 degrees, not too hot, but with the humidity I was very thankful for the breeze moving the steamy air around.

Overall, it was a good run and I am happy to say I put in a total of 12 miles this week. To catch up on my logging miles, I ran 4 miles last Saturday, 4 miles this past Tuesday, and 4 miles this past Thursday. Through out the rainy week, I was fortunate to catch some dry moments and I found myself running inbetween rains. I had some rain sprinkle fall on me, but not like last week when I got caught in a down pour. The knee is feeling pretty good for the amount I'm running. I am surprised. No time for reflections today. Maybe next blog.