Monthly Archives: May 2011

I have truly been overwhelmed with the Lord and His spirit today. All day long He has been so ever-present. He knows what we need and when we need it. Today He has shown Himself through nature, through friends, through family and through His word. I started my day with a run.

As I was running…the breeze, the beach, the trees and the people were all encouraging. My body did not want me to enjoy the run. To put it bluntly, I needed a bathroom in a bad way. Low and behold, I looked up and there it was. They were few and far between. But, I had one when I needed it. As most of you know, I don’t believe in coincidences…but Godincidences. And this was a huge one!!!

Next, when I finished my run, I had a text from a new dear friend from the Run For God Bible study. Her words of encouragement brought tears to my eyes because I could feel the Lord’s love wrapped around me. This run and this journey is being done for God. I have to remember that and remember that Satan is trying to sabotage me every step of the way. He will not win…the Lord will!!!!

After this I checked my email and had one from my sister. While searching for this blog she found another blog Range of View. On her blog she had a story about making it to the next mailbox. As you know from the name of this blog, making to the next mailbox is sentimental to me. Very! The story was soooo similar to my story. I knew it was God telling me once again…”I am here! I am with you!” He is sooo good!!!

Then…it just keeps getting better…another friend from Run For God sent me an email telling me she was praying for me this week and weekend. Wow!! I can so feel the prayers and I am sooo amazed (why, I don’t know) at God’s grace, His mercy, His love for me. He is not just showing up…He is always here. I am finally in tune enough to see it and feel it in EVERYTHING.

As a friend said today, you have a direct line to God with your prayer. Again, this was encouragement. Because…we ALL have a direct line of prayer. Use it!!! It works, because HE love us NO MATTER WHAT!!

One last thing…I am in the perfect place for my last week of preparation. I am running on the beach. I have palm trees all around. It is getting me prepared for San Diego. My tapering runs have been great this week. I feel wonderful running and I will continue to do so until the big race is over. I can’t wait to celebrate God’s goodness at the finish line on Sunday.

Thanks to all for your prayers and your encouragement. God is using you to make a difference in my life!!!

6 days, 9 hours and 15 minutes until start of the San Diego Rock n’ Roll Marathon. Today was my last long run. Now I have to focus on tapering and trusting my training. Today was hard! Hard! My legs were tired. My mind was not in the game. I had to get that out of the way because there is no room for that next week. My body is physically ready! My mind is close to getting there! My short trip to Florida will be one to get mind in gear. Focusing on scripture and my run for Him! Here I go…

Today I did my first ‘real’ round of speed work on a track with a pacer. It was cool. She ran beside me and kept me on the right pace the whole time. I did 3 one mile splits with 2-3 minute recovery. I ran them at 5k pace. The 1st mile was 7:30. 2nd mile 7:36 and 3rd 7:37. My goal was 7:40-7:50. Yay! I enjoyed it but it was hard. I also ran downtown. We live in a beautiful city. The river was gorgeous. 🙂

So 8 days left….here is what it will look like:
Saturday – 30 min Easy
Sunday – 15 miles Easy
In Florida – Monday – 50 min Easy
Tuesday – 40 min Easy
Wednesday – 30 min Easy
Thursday – 20 min Easy
Friday – fly to California – no running
Saturday – 15-20 min Easy
Sunday – the RACE – 26.2 in 3:50 or less

Phillipians 4:13 – I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength!

Today was the hardest run by far! It was 90 degrees outside and windy! Not the best conditions for a 80 minute run where 50 of it had to be at marathon pace! But, with a lot of prayer and God’s strength…I did it! It will make the 70 degrees or lower a piece of cake in 10 days! 10 days…did I really say that???? 10 days!!! I can, I will, I can, I will do it!

Today’s long run was a huge blessing from the Lord. Sunrise shining on the cliffs…red cardinals dancing in the streets…bunnies hopping in the grass…horses eating in the field! What a great way to start His day! Not to mention an awesome church service! He is so good!

I was able to run a negative split. This was supposed to be an easy run. So I went out there with the mindset to just let my body run. Easy. The first 7.1 I ran a 9:13. The second 7.9 I ran a 8:57 pace. I have to keep around a 8:42 on race day. I am right on target! The thing is I have to do that for 26.2 not 15! 😉

He will carry me through. He will be the wind beneath my wings!

He makes my feet like the feet of a deer; he causes me to stand on the heights. Psalms 18.33

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
Hebrews 12.1

Two weeks from tomorrow is the big day! I have lots of thoughts/feelings running through my mind! ConfIdent! Nervous! Anxious! Powerful! Weak! With all of these emotions I know God is there!

My training is progressing well! I have a long run tomorrow at an easy pace. I will feel better once it is done. Then two weeks to taper and prepare for June 5.

The vacation with my number one cheerleader is a huge motivation too! He gives me strength and encouragement everyday. The Lord blessed me with Mike! We are in this together. He will be with me every step of the way!

More to come tomorrow after the 15!

I am feeling hopeful! My training is going great. This weekend I had an ah ha moment. It dawned on me that though running is an individual sport, I could not do this without my support crew! God, Mike, my friends and family! The prayers and encouraging words from these have helped me every step of the way. They are truly the wind beneath my wings!

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I did it! We did it! My goal in the Mini Marathon was 1:49. I posted a 1:48:44. 🙂 I shaved 2 minutes and 12 seconds from my time in February. Yay!

God was present the whole way! There were runners with T-shirts that said “If God is for us then who can be against us?” They encouraged me every time I ran past them.

At one point I was struggling. I ran past a shirt with Phillipians 4:13. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. I needed that so bad at that moment.

I also ran by things that reminded me of my loved ones who have been supporting me every step of the way. Cameras, energizer bunny, Brickyard hotel, Charlie Brown’s, golf course and Wood…all of these things boosted my spirits.

Mile 5 was the best! I got to see my niece and my number one fan-Mike. We high fived, gave the “I love you!” hand sign, said I love you and I was off.

Then at the finish, as I am struggling to get there I hear “go Boo!”. I push it and then finish with a personal best!!

San Diego here I come! Thank you Lord for the ability, talent and desire!!