Distractions...

The last part of August brought a pretty happy change for me - and September was amazing (ya know, UH-MAZE-ING). Nothing serious, just an intimidatingly smart, funny, handsome distraction. No idea what is going to come of it - but I've had more fun in the last 30+ days than I have in a decade, and THAT is saying something. (I'm a fun girl, what can I say?)

I'm spending more time on me, too. I've ran more miles this week than I ever have before. Each day I've been aiming for 5 miles - which isn't much to REAL runners, but for me, it's so much more than I would've ever thought possible on a daily basis. Today, I splurged and got a Road ID bracelet and yesterday, I got a new race-day shirt. Tonight - I'm heading to the runner's store to get some new kicks. Along with my new brace, I'm hoping the shoes make my feet and knee feel new again.

This Sunday, I participate in a 10k in Spokane...yep, running a 10 on 10/10/10! On the 23rd, I've got another 5k, followed by a 10 mile race in November - and the grand finale - the reason I started running - the Seattle Half Marathon is on Sunday, November 28th. There's the notion that my finish line could have company - and that would be fantastic.

I'm so happy and relieved to be feeling renewed and refreshed - I am laughing so much and smiling so much lately - I just want to soak it in.  It could last another week or longer, I'm just going to enjoy what I can while I have it. I was raised to not be selfish - to put others first, but I'm gonna go ahead and say it - this time is for me. I deserve to be carefree and laidback, and I'm SO grateful that it's happening now. I'm a really happy girl. And in case the distraction ever happens upon this - many, many thanks for reminding me what this feels like.

Fell off the planet...

Eeyikes! It's been MONTHS since I wrote!

Let's see...I finished a 5k, which turned into a 10k, I went to St Louis for the Joyce Meyer Women's Convention, and I RAPPELED DOWN A 514FT BUILDING! It has been sheer madness over the last few months.

The rappel was sheer insanity. I really wasn't that scared, until I was about 20 feet down. The step over the edge wasn't so bad, the first 10 feet weren't so bad, but in 90 degree heat on a metal facade at 4pm in direct sunlight, the next 490+ feet were a bit of a challenge. The majority of the rappelers meant to walk down the side of the building, with the assurance that your feet would be in contact with the building for the majority of the rappel.  That, however, didn't happen.  The wall was too hot, and no matter how hard you tried, your feet couldn't stay on the surface - good traction or not. I made it down in about 11 minutes, mostly due to the strength of my arms. I'll admit that for a few moments, the sweet Lord and I had to have a couple of pep talks.  The height of the building wasn't the problem, it was the knowledge that should my arms wear out, I could potentially spend HOURS on the building, just hanging there - either waiting to be saved or to be humiliatingly lowered down. So naturally, I prayed some more and got the heck down all by myself. Immediately I thought, "I am NEVER doing that again."  And now, 2 months later - I would COMPLETELY do it again. I know, I'm crazy.

I completed the Alki Beach 5k...I just didn't do it the way it was intended.  It ended up being 5k just to get to the starting line, so a few others (who were from out of town and also misinformed) and I walked the 10k together. I have no idea what my finish time was, but it was a beautiful day and I was glad to finish.

The JMM conference in St. Louis was fantastic as always. Lots of fantastic info on mind, mouth, moods, and attitudes.  All very helpful and encouraging.  Darlene Zschech led worship - it was amazing. All in all, a fantastic trip - lots of fun volunteering - just not much rest! I met a super fun lady from Idaho, she and I shared a few meals and laughs. I'm always thrilled to meet someone new, especially if we've had such different life experiences. 

I can't believe it's October!!! I'll definitely try to write more tomorrow.

God Bless!
M

Skyscrapers and whatnot...

Things are looking up! Mostly, because if I look down this Saturday, I'll probably freeze with fear!

This Saturday, August 14th, I will be rappelling down Rainier Tower in Seattle. It's 514 ft and 41 stories high. Yep, it's true.  I think I lost my marbles.  The good news about that is, they won't be rolling around in my head making me dizzy while I make my way down.  I'm excited, a little terrified, and ready! Kinda really wish I wasn't going it alone, but as with all major things in your life, you often have to go them alone.  I've finished 7 races this year alone, so I can do this!

My next 5k is 2.5 weeks out, so I've been training for it.  It's a challenge to get up at 545a and run, but I'm making it happen.  (HUGE thanks to my pal Anna, who calls me to make sure I'm up. Thank God for her!) For the last few weeks, I've been doing a lot of ab and arm exercises to prep for the rappel. I don't want to be hanging there with an arm cramp, unwilling or unable to move.  Yesterday, the doc said I have fantastic muscle mass, so there's that. :)

I've turned a corner. I'm expectant and hopeful, grateful and ready for something great to happen. It's not that I wasn't before, but this huge mind/heart block that was there for a long time is gone now. Dissipating in the least. I'm losing weight and feeling better, eating healthy and spending time reading.  A few gal pals and I started a new devotion on eating right and it's really made a huge difference. It's so nice to FEEL good. A few personal victories didn't hurt, either :)

Still wanting to be in Seattle, but the door isn't open just yet.  So in the mean time, I'll go for races, events, fun with a wonderful person, and adventure.

It's been a wackadoo year, but certainly memorable.  Friends come and go, but God is faithful.

Happy August!
M

Oy vey! It's been a while!

Sorry!! I have NOT been faithful at blogging!!

News - I finished my 7th race on Saturday.  I bested my PR by 2 minutes/mile.  After 4 weeks and 4 races, I'm excited to take a weekend off.  *Mind you, I did get online to see if I could find a race for this weekend, but my mind beat my will and I decided to sleep in and clean the house instead!*

I've been looking online for jobs in the Seattle.  Oh how my little heart drips caffeine when I think of Seattle.  It's been my favorite city since I was little; it's magical with life - it never tires for me - every little piece is a treat...traffic and all.  (I know, I know...it wouldn't be that way if I moved there!) I applied for 4 jobs earlier this year and had no luck.  This weekend I found 15 more, but for some reason feel like maybe I am supposed to stay put for a while.  Ugh. Staying put in Richland. It just doesn't sound like heaven to me...but, since I really feel like that's what God has for me - I'm going to do it with the right attitude.  If I want to reap a harvest, I'm going to have to till my fields. Tilling means cleaning out the house, donating a ton of stuff, organizing and down-sizing, taking better care of my body, and working more on my little business. So, until Labor Day - I'm going to Labor away *oh the puns* at my life.  I don't want to move to Seattle with a ton of junk that I don't use or need, so it has to go. I'm tired of living with clutter...so I just need to grab the reins and do something about it already!!
I lived through the toughest year of my life (so far). I made it. I survived. Looking back, it doesn't feel like a year.  Thinking about my countless trips back and forth to Spokane however, makes me wonder what that year meant. It meant me getting closer to God, it meant me taking better care of myself and challenging myself in ways I wouldn't have imagined before. It meant realizing I was stronger than I thought I was, and it made me see what I really want in this life. I have more hope, I am expecting great things, and I'm ok with the unknown.

I resigned as worship leader at my church.  I'd been praying about it for a few months, and God just *popped* open my eyes to a few things and voila! I'm moving on.  I am really going to miss the team, I am really going to miss the congregation and the teaching, but I know that God wouldn't be showing me through another door without another amazing blessing just waiting for me :) I'm kind of giddy about what's next! This is exciting!

Things have not turned out how I expected.  Life isn't what I had planned or hoped for - but I have absolute trust that it's going to get there!! Kinda crazy...looking back.  I think my 6 yr old self would kick me in the shins if she saw me. She'd wonder how the heck I screwed up so badly...but then I'd let her know it's all going to be BETTER than we planned and, not to give away the Cabbage Patch Dolls. :) 

So, everything is the same and nothing is the same. I'm still where I was, but I'm not where I used to be. God is good - that never changes.  I'm all hopeful and whatnot...and I need coffee!!!

God Bless!
M

Oh, and I PROMISE that next time will be funny!!

Allow me to make an introduction...

Yesterday, I finished my 2nd 5k of the year. I finished a minute behind the time I wanted, but considering how ginormous the crowd was at the starting line, I'm pleasantly surprised it wasn't any later than just one minute!

Each and every time I run, I am reminded what an amazing God I serve.  If you've read earlier posts, you may remember that I have had chronic asthma since I was 11. I was told I wouldn't run again and may not give birth naturally (or be able to carry a child) because of my asthma. About 2 years ago I was diagnosed with a torn gastroc in my right leg.  The specialists were unsure of what to do about it, but one in particular kept encouraging me to see what I could do.  He even encouraged me to run (gasp!). So, after a 22 year hiatus from it - I started running; asthma, calf brace, and all.

Yesterday, not only did I finish the 5k - but I did it without an inhaler and without a leg brace. THAT'S HOW BIG MY GOD IS. "You won't run again." Not true. "Your lungs won't ever work right." Not true. "Your leg might not heal, and you could have severe problems walking." Not true. THAT'S HOW BIG MY GOD IS. I'm 3 Finish lines in - and have 11 more planned for the year - and I'm SO excited to see how far this goes!

I do not tire of hearing a race volunteer shout, "Go Runner!" I'm always up for encouraging someone, so when I hear it, I smile and think, "Yeah! Go whoever you are!" and then I realize, "wait, that's me! they're calling ME a runner!" And then I'm reminded again - that what humans say is impossible is NOT impossible with God. Throughout my races, I repeatedly quote Phil 4:13 to myself.  "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." And I can, and He does.

So - if you haven't met my God - and you want to - allow me to introduce you.  It's not always an easy race - but He's faithful to run along side you or to carry you when you can't go any further. He's unfailing, unchanging, and NOTHING is impossible with Him. He's Jesus :)

"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. Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God." Hebrews 12:1-2

God bless you!!
M

Inspirational quote of the day :)

What's crazy is a) I'm on sparkpeople and I love it. b) I have a motivational collage in my cubicle, and this girl who is running above is also on my collage twice! Someday, I'd like to have the same fit body (only, I'll keep the C's.) :)

Feeling like Forrest Gump... "I was RUNNING!"

On Sunday, I finished my 1st 1/2 marathon on Mercer Island, WA. I signed up to walk, planning on running to each mile marker as soon as I could see it. My plan worked! I finished in 3 hours and 50 minutes; bloody toes and sore muscles in tact!
For a chronic asthmatic with a torn gastroc, this was a feat!
I am signed up for races every month for the next 7 months - only these will be BETTER prepared for. I walked a lot to prepare for this 1/2 M, but not nearly as much as I needed to.

I've learned a lot about my body and about the sport of running in the last few days. I learned about my strengths, weaknesses, and mostly - I'm very proud of myself. When I ran across the finish line and people were shouting at me, "GO RUNNER!!!!" something inside me had the energy to jump...but my legs didn't cooperate :) It was an amazing experience, and I want to do it again!!!

I gotta make this really clear: I could not have even attempted this without my Savior. As a teenager, doctors told me I wouldn't run, I may not give birth, and I may not live long because of my asthma. A year ago, doctors told me they had no idea what to do about my leg because they hadn't ever seen a muscle do what mine has done. Well, my God is bigger than asthma - and He's bigger than a torn muscle. Nothing is impossible with Him. I ran with Philippians 4:13 streaming through my brain. "I can do ALL things through Christ who strengthens me." And it's true.

When I crossed that finish line, something changed in me. I'm a new creation. My faith is strengthened, my outlook is renewed, and my hope is refreshed. I'm praising God for what He has done!!!

God Bless,
M