Tag Archives: noogastrong

Strong ENOUGH!

I guess last Sunday’s run really did me in because I didn’t post my weekly blog. So here are last week’s runs and this week’s in one blog. 🙂  Week before last was okay until the long run and once again the wheels fell off.  Now granted, I did A LOT on Saturday the day before my 15 miler.  I should have known it would be a tough run based on that alone. But, I got it done.

Here is how the run’s panned out:

Week of August 18:

Run 1 – 8 X 400s

1:33

1:41

1:36

1:41

1:41

1:44

1:42

1:46

Run 2 – Tabata run – 20 second hard effort with 10 second rest – 8 times! This is only 4 minutes of work – but OH, SO HARD!

Distance covered:

1 – .06

2 – .06

Intervals 3 – 8  .05

Run 3 – 10k Race – 51:15 – Hard race! This was the Superhero Make-A-Wish 5k/10k at Volkswagen Enterprise South.  The race had special meaning due to the fact it was for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  My nephew Connor was a recipient of Make-A-Wish’s generosity during his treatment for Aplastic Anemia.  He was able to enjoy an amazing trip to Disney World with his family.  Two of my running angels in the photo below also received Make-A-Wish’s generosity when their son battled cancer. This foundation does great things for families in great need.  We were honored to be a part of this run. This is a tough place to run due to the hills!  It was not a PR run at all but I felt really good due to the hills!  It was a tough course but I ran well and won my age group! Yay!  (Elevation gain: 406 ft; Elevation loss: 428 ft.)

1 – 8:07

2 – 8:07

3 – 8:10

4 – 8:34

5 – 9:01

6 – 7:39

.24 – 1:35

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After this run I went to an amazing CrossFit community-wide WOD. #noogastrong was put together to benefit the families of the five military members who lost their lives on July 16, 2015 here in Chattanooga.  This was an amazing experience. Any pain I felt melted away as I thought about what these families are going through.

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The best thing about this day was not my win or my WOD – it was that our precious mini-donkeys had a BABY! I came home to play with Cabela.  He was most likely born after I left the house for the SuperHero Run.

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Run 4 – 15 miles – YUCK!  This run was miserable.  I will say it again…miserable.  I ran in my next of the woods and thought that would be good. Not so much.  It had been raining all morning, so I waited until after church.  I was hoping for a sprinkle.  Instead I got full sun….and heat. 🙂  I pushed through the first half and then fell apart on the back half.  I turned my watch to the run/walk mode in an attempt to make it back to my car in one piece. 🙂  I did!  But, it was ugly once again….but, again I finished. I wasn’t as upset with this one as I was the last one.  I just chalked it up to knowing I had pushed past my limits.  It was okay. I had a peace about it.  When I got home I text my coach and told him how I felt. He has programmed us very aggressively.  Knowing that, I asked him to dial it down a bit for me the next week.  I was losing the joy/fun and I don’t want to do that.  He told me he figured my 15 would be tougher because of my race and WOD.  He was right. I am learning from every run. I need to listen to my body and be wise.  I know I am physically giving all I can and because of this was not too upset with the wheels flattening on this run.  I knew I had another week ahead of me…and I did….a good one.

1- 9:24

2 – 9:02

3- 9:05

4- 9:11

5- 8:48

6- 9:04

7- 9:28

8 – 9:06

9 – 10:48

10- 9:54

11- 10:23

12- 12:34 – started run/walk

13- 12::15

14- 11:46

15- 10:22

Week of August 23 – a good week. I needed this. Matt dialed it down for me as requested this week. He programmed 2 rest days, 3 CrossFit days and 3 run days as opposed to 4 CF days and 4 run days.

Run 1 – 6 x 600s -HAPPY about this one!  We are always trying to keep the times as close as possible on each interval.  This is the first time I have had over 2 the same time…let alone 4 of them. 🙂

2:39

2:36

2:36

2:36

2:43 – went off trail – car coming – took some time off!

2:36

Run 2 – 5 x 1000s – did after school.  Morning runs are cooler and easier for me.  I had to make myself get out there…but I did and overall felt pretty good.

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4:27

4:33

4:23

4:35

4:28

Run 3 – 12 miles – Went into this run needing a good one.  I have had 2 of my worst long runs ever the last 2 weeks and SOO needed a decent one.  I got it.  I prayed that I would be able to finish strong and He provided.  I had an easier week this week – more rest and less running.  It helped.  My goal going in was to try to keep my pace under a 9:00 minute mile AND not stomp, walk or cry the second half. 😉  I did it! I felt good. I was able to push when I was tired and my body responded.  Most importantly my mind responded. God gave me peace through song.  Strong Enough by Matthew West played and I realized I am not strong enough but HE is and with Him I am!

Mile 1 – Warm-up – 9:46

next .45 mile – 9:29 – reset watch here

11 Miles:

1 – 8:55

2 – 8:59

3 – 8:51

4 – 8:56

5 – 9:09

6 – 8:47

7 – 8:55

8 – 8:54

9 – 8:40

10 – 8:53

11 – 8:41

I did it without the wheels falling off and my goal was to stay under 9.  I did that! Yay! I needed this run!  As I was on my way back I passed the memorial for the 5 military members who lost their lives.  I chose to run on the road and not the trail next to the National Guard facility.  This was a great choice because as I came around the corner I noticed 5 American Flags they have placed on the railing of the riverwalk path.  They look awesome! What a great tribute.  This morning was one I needed and one where God provided.  He provided a beautiful moon and then a glorious sunrise.  He provided running angels in front of me and behind me.  Though we didn’t run together I knew they were there.  Philippians 4.13 kept coming to my mind:  13 For I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength.  HE DID! He made me strong enough!

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“Strong Enough”

You must
You must think I’m strong
To give me what I’m going through

Well, forgive me
Forgive me if I’m wrong
But this looks like more than I can do
On my own

I know I’m not strong enough to be
everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up
I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
For the both of us

Well, maybe
Maybe that’s the point
To reach the point of giving up

Cause when I’m finally
Finally at rock bottom
Well, that’s when I start looking up
And reaching out

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up
I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

Cause I’m broken
Down to nothing
But I’m still holding on to the one thing
You are God
and you are strong
When I am weak

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

I can do all things
Through Christ who gives me strength
And I don’t have to be
Strong enough
Strong enough

Oh, yeah

I know I’m not strong enough to be
Everything that I’m supposed to be
I give up
I’m not strong enough
Hands of mercy won’t you cover me
Lord right now I’m asking you to be
Strong enough
Strong enough
Strong enough

Now to be able to run effortlessly as my new baby, Cablea…

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Week 2 – oh how I despised YOU! ;)

My post is a little late because I wanted to forget about last week’s training.  Here is the subject line in the email I sent to my  running coach:

Week 2…YUCK! 🙂

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These pictures show my real feelings about the whole week.  I am not sure why it was so bad…humidity, heat, fatigue…excuses! LOL! But it was! When I emailed my runs to our coach I felt like a poor student reporting bad test results to my teacher.

I will say I love having goals for every run.  It breaks the monotony and helps with purpose and getting it done…but oh, do they hurt! 🙂  I sent the girls a text at one point saying, “what doesn’t kill us or make us puke, makes us stronger! Right?”

We decided to tackle the hardest run first…Wow! Here is how that played out:

Run 1 – Tuesday – 8x800m with 600m recovery
355
343
346
350
346
347
357
400 – dodging ankle biter dog!
Last week’s 800s were better but both workouts were challenging.  One we had rest and the other active recovery.  It does make a difference. We also had a dog nipping at our ankles on the last repeat.  Not so much fun! 🙂  When we were done…we were done!  We sent this picture to show how we felt about 800m repeats! Deirdre was right there with us – many miles away!
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Run 2 – 6 x 400m repeats with 90 second rest…
146
132
131
136
136
131
We thought going into this one…piece of cake! It is only 400m and only 6 of them.  Well, we were wrong once again! They were tough.  As you can see, I start out slower…I have to work on making it more consistent with the others.

The 3rd run was better…I ran it thinking of the fallen heroes in Chattanooga and the sacrifice they made.  Praying and thinking of others made it much more doable.  I am running. God has blessed me to be able to move.  I need to be thankful for life and the ability to put one foot in front of the other…daily!

Run 3 – 5 miles at 80% 5k pace – goal 807-809 – average 809 
Mile 1: 804
Mile 2: 803
Mile 3: 805
Mile 4: 808
Mile 5: 823 – This mile was hard…I tried to pick it back up and was unsuccessful.  My average was good overall but I really struggled that last mile.

 

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Run 4 – Sunday:  5 miles @ 90% 10k pace – 8:00-8:05 goal – 810 average – yuck!
This was the worst run by far.  I had a really hard time and didn’t keep pace.  All I can say is YUCK!
Mile 1: 801
Mile 2: 805
Mile 3: 808
stopped and walked for about 30 seconds between mile 3 and 4
Mile 4: 812
Mile 5: 821
Tough and brutal!!! But done! Mentally challenging! But done! I was so glad to have others out there with me.  It made me keep going and not quit.  We chose to have a little fun once we finished.

 5 miles @  90% of 10k pace on a bike is NO problem….

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Thankful for friends to suffer with…and grow with!

Proverbs 27.17 ~ As iron sharpens iron, so a friend sharpens a friend.

This week’s runs showed me that we will have bad runs…we will have good runs….and we will have done runs! And in the middle of it all we can still have fun runs…we can still grow and we can still do more than we thought! All runs were finished and I didn’t regret one of them!!!!

1 Corinthians 1.11-12

11 being strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience, and joyfully  12 giving thanks to the Father, who has qualified you to share in the inheritance of the saints in the kingdom of light.

Galatians 6.9
9 Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.
So here’s to week 3….
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#strong….

#strong – Whether it be #chattanoogastrong, #noogastrong or #bostonstrong – The word “strong” has been paired with cities that are close to my heart and has gained new meaning for most of us over the past several years.  It’s pairing has followed senseless tragedy.  A tragedy where innocent people lost lives and where phenomenal people have helped save them.

When we feel a personal connection to the tragedy it does something inside.  God has placed me close to two of these cities…two of these tragedies…way too close!  As I ponder it, I know there is a reason.  I don’t know what the reason is and I don’t know that I ever will on this side of eternity.

We live in a fallen world.  We live in an evil world.  BUT, we also live in a world of selfless individuals who are willing to protect and serve for our freedoms.  Today we lost four of those heroes and several more were injured.  Senseless is the first word that comes to mind – senseless!  In the middle of the chaos heroes were made and communities were made stronger! #strong

I went back to the blog I wrote the day after Boston 2013 to help me process the activities of today.  It has been so hard to get my mind/heart wrapped around it all. And why it keeps happening!  The statements I wrote then, along with the scripture brought calm back to my soul…

God is showing me He is in control.  Tragedy causes people to search for reasons why…to search for a sense of hope.  We may never know why but God is providing hope.  He is in control.  Romans 8.28 – For we know that all things work together for the good of those who love the Lord and are called according to his purpose.

A friend sent me a devotion today.  It was talking about being thankful in all circumstances.  My brother sent me 1 Thessalonians 5.18 – here is 1 Thessalonians 5. 16-18….16 Rejoice always, 17 pray continually, 18 give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.  It is so hard to be thankful for the tragedy that unfolded on Marathon Monday but in the devotion it stated again, we can’t see the big picture. He can.

“Remember who our God truly is, a God who is there and a God who cares.  So let us pause to consider our Great King. Let’s look on heavenly things for a moment to calm our nerves.”  Full blog here: http://wp.me/p1uMx6-lo

#strong in Christ is what gets me through daily.  He has shown me through tragedy and through triumph HE is there and will be my strength when I can’t do it alone….which is often.  Hope is found in Him and Him alone.  We are just passing through this chaotic world…thank goodness.  Love others! Pray often! Stay #strong….I am proud to say I am #chattanoogastrong and #bostonstrong BUT most importantly I am #Jesusstrong Because we know HE wins in the end!

Psalm 119.28 ~ My soul is weary with sorrow; strengthen me according to your word.

Ephesians 6.10 ~ Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power.

Isaiah 40.29  ~ He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

Philippians 4:13 Art Print

I want to say thanks to all of those  in our community who did an amazing job today bringing calm back to our city.  You will be in my prayers as will your families.  Praying for peace and comfort for the families who lost loved ones. Praying for peace and comfort for those who were injured as well as their families.  Here is my prayer for all involved:

Isaiah 40:27-31
27 Why do you say, O Jacob, and speak, O Israel,

“My way is hidden from the LORD, and my right is disregarded by my God”?
28 Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable.
29 He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.
30 Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted;
31 but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.

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