The Slow and Steady Grind

Last weekend Michael and I headed up to Green Bay.

13.1 for me, 26.2 for him.

The 30-40 mph wind was slightly less than motivating at the start....and throughout the rest of the race.

Yikes! Typically I'm smiling, haha, but this race was a definite exception. Michael's family is very persuasive and encouraging - I joined them this weekend only planning to spectate and cheer. But over dinner and a beer I found myself accepting a registration packet, and the next morning I showed up at the start. Smart idea? Maybe not.

But I ran with Michael's dad, and slow and steady I made my way through the 13 miles and into the (not-so) Frozen Tundra of Lambeau Field! Go Pack Go :)

Through constant prayer I chugged along, often at the same speed as those walking around me. But on a crazy windy day and without any training, I completed this half marathon for the 3rd year in a row.

The human body and mind continue to amaze me, but I know that it was my constant prayer that carried me through, PTL! I was so happy to have completed it, and was still able to cheer on Michael for his last few miles!

Here's to opening the season with a bang!

Ps. I'm sorry if this posted more than once! I kept getting interrupted while blogging and as I would try to press Save, my hand would spasm and I would press Post instead - oops!

xoxo

Get Motivated

One of our professors spoke to campus about her experience as an ultra marathoner,

specifically her 135 mile run through Death Valley.

135 miles. Running. through Death Valley.

Please take a second to wrap your mind around this.

I ran my first marathon this past fall and it was truly an amazing experience-physically, emotionally, and spiritually. But by mile 23 I was ready for a wheelchair, and during the last half mile, my vision was blurring and my hands were starting to tingle. I was in constant prayer, asking God for His legs and repeating a verse from Isaiah, "I will not grow weary."

That was 26.2 miles over flat Chicago land in nice cool weather.

She ran in 127 degree heat. Bread turned to toast right in her hands. She went through 6 pairs of shoes after the soles melted underneath her. She climbed a nearly 13,000 ft. rise in elevation.

No problem, right?

After 38 hours of running in these conditions, she crossed the finish line.

She titled her speech, "Get Motivated," and spoke of the physical and mental training required for such a feat. We were left stunned. It is truly amazing what the body and mind can do. Really, anyone could complete this task. You train physically, and you strengthen your mind. But to have the heart, (and slight insanity) to actually do such a thing is awe inspiring.

As she was describing her journey, I couldn't help but stare at the cross hanging on the wall above her head in the lecture hall. (Another reason why I love my school.)

To take on something like this without faith seems impossible. An ultra-marathon through Death Valley can be completed by anyone, yes, but not alone. He is the one that strengthens us, carrying us through each mile and opening our eyes to hardship in order to see the intense beauty surrounding us. I feel like an experience like that would change you forever, opening the door to a new level of living. A new high, a new strength, a new perspective and a new life.

Needless to say, I got motivated.

"We drench ourselves with the grace of exhaustion, and the ecstasy of knowing we are worthy to receive it."

From "I have to" to "I get to"

If you're reading this right now then I'm guessing you probably run more days a week than not. And if you're a runner, it means you enjoy running most of the time. You like knowing you're doing something good for your body and your mental health and so most days it's not a chore but rather something you get to do.

Most of us have days—weekly for some, every third day for others—where we don't really enjoy the run. On these days, getting dressed and putting on your shoes feels fatiguing, let alone doing the lunge warm-up the guy on NikeRunning.com says you need to do. Often this coincides with a stressful work week or a poor running weather, but even when those external stressors aren't present part of being a runner is the thought, "I don't really want to do this."

This is why a tweet I read this week, from a runner in Boulder named Todd, struck a cord. He simply said, "It's about the smiling, not the suffering. Change the mindset from 'I have to' to 'I get to.'" He's right and you and I both know it. It's hard to embrace each day you have the opportunity to go for a run as an "I get to," but I encourage you to adopt that mindset because we almost always feel better about ourselves (and often our lives?) when the run is over. so why not start today's run with "I get to."

Borrowed from Nike Running - Training Blog