Brick

So I had a very intense brick this last weekend. "What is a brick?" you may ask. A brick is working out in two different sports, back to back. So for this certain brick, I biked and then ran.

We happen to be out camping at a place with a lot of trails. So I went to hit them. After examining the dirt bike trails, I realized those were not for me, since my race is all road. But I did attempt some dirt roads. I headed down one, and that's were I got in trouble. The road ended, became a trail, all loose sand, not packed dirt. My map said that there was supposed to be another dirt road that I would run into to take me back to the main road. It failed to mention that trail connected the two roads!

So after walking my bike through sand I couldn't pedal in, contemplating how anyone would find me 2 miles deep on both sides in the deep woods with no cell phone coverage, I finally reached the other dirt road and then made it back to the main highway.

All in all, it was supposed to be a 50 minute bike ride. It ended up and hour and 5 minutes! Buy, hey! I was able to still run for 20 minutes afterward and could have kept going! I guess that shows I'm improving and headed somewhere!

8 weeks and counting.....

What a crazy summer it's been! Don't lose heart, though my blogs have defineatly lagged, my training has not. Summer threw me for a loop. Thinking that I would have more time to train with the looser schedule, having 4 kids home all the time threw my training routine out of wack more then I expected! With 8 weeks to go to reach my goal of finishing my first sprint triathlon, I am re-motivated with meaning!

Over this past 10 months I have noticed huge change, not only in my body, but my attitude for living. Like I've said in past posts, exercise truly does affect mind, body and spirit. I notice that through my exercise, I become reconnected with my Lord, thus pray more regularly. My stress is reduced and I am better able to serve my family. My body is actually relaxed, which makes me feel better about myself, that I'm taking care of myself and therefore can take care of others better.

The past two weeks I have started preparing mentally and physically for my challenges ahead. Along with a very sick dog, I've started to train following a schedule leading up to my super spring in Chicago at the end of August. This has given me a more structured routine which has been good in dealing with out of control circumstances of a sick dog and many vet trips! I'm back to being able to run 4 miles, even though they're 12 min. miles! But, hey, I'm running! My swim is still on track and during my bike in the Grand Haven Tri in July, I biked 12.5 miles in 45 minutes! I was happy!

So things are moving along and I'm glad to be back to track my progress and share it with you. Here's to tri-ing!:)

10K

It's been almost a week, and I'm still trying to bask in the glory of my first race! I ran the 5/3 River Bank Run 10K, last Saturday. Wet, windy and cold, but AWESOME! My friend, Kim and I, had a great time. I finished running hard. I was shooting to be under and hour and 10 minutes and I did it in 1:08:26!! That's 11 minute miles! I had been training at around 12.5 min. miles. I'm very happy!

So now I'm addicted. It was hard work but a lot of fun! I've been looking at lots of different races and tri's. Hmmm... what to do next. I'm looking at a relay in July to try with some of my friends. I'm still competing in the Super Sprint in Chicago in Aug. and a Sprint distance tri. in Sept. I'm wondering how much to add, what is too much, what's OK. I can see how this can get expensive as well! My husband says we'll have to create another account just for race entry fees!

All in all, it was a great experience, I'm so glad I did it, and I'm letting it spur me on to do more!

Shoes & training

Yes, I got a new pair of Mizuno's. Got to run with them last night for the 1st time. I went just over a 5K. Report? This morning, not much sorer (is that a word?) then usual, a little tight in my left hamstring and the sides of my lower back. But no PAIN in knees, back or shins. YEAH! The shoes seemed to help me strike better and have more flexibility. I think the Brooke's were just to stiff. Like Sheri mentioned, I sure know a lot more then I ever thought about my feet! Thanks Gazelle and the wonderful two women who helped me!

Training? We'll I've taken to just running in the last 2 weeks since I have a 10K coming up on May 8th. I do miss tri training, though. I really like having the option of 3 sports to choose from. I think that my husband is right, I'm going to be addicted. I started this journey thinking that I would do just one tri, but here I am, already looking at what more I can add and thinking how to train better next year.

I'm shocked at those I hear from, either, "how are your shoes working?", or "you're super-mom to be doing this", or "you are inspiring", cause these aren't things I think about myself. I went in this to achieve something that I thought I wouldn't ever normally do and to see myself follow through with it all the way. Look where it has taken me! My attitude toward life is so different now, and I'm so grateful for the blessings God has put in my life through my physical gifts as well as friendships and relationships as well as His beautiful Earth that He lets us enjoy!

It's been too long!

Spring fever is here and with that, and 4 kids, I've been away from the computer a lot! After being away for Spring Break, we've been outside a lot! The days being longer has been nice and we are having great spring weather here!

I'm in full training mode now, with my 10K looming in the near future, just 2 weeks from tomorrow! I'm up to 4 miles plus, easily, but if you saw in some of my comments, I'm still having shoe problems. I bought a pair, am returning them, and hoping to find the right pair to use before the race! This shoe thing, like stated before, is trickier then I thought. I've never analyzed my feet so much! I know that I definitely pronate (role from out to in), so I need some stability. But I seem to be more sore then ever before, which makes me think that I'm pounding harder then I thought and need more cushioning. It is hard to know how I should be feeling since this is the first pair I've bought since I've started running. It's like, how are they supposed to feel and how am I supposed to feel?!

Anyway, my hubby is running too, and I'm excited to run this race with him. It is definitely a challenge for both of us, since it has snuck up on us sooner then we thought. But I am still loving the exercise and feeling invigorated and stressed relived as I run. I am so grateful to be able to work out!

Shoe Confussion

So, I found a great deal on running shoes. I went to try them on, hoping they would feel good, buy them, and shop around some more. Instead, I ended up trying on 4 or 5 pairs and leaving totally confused!

If you know anything about running or do any running, you are supposed to know if you are a pronator, or a supinator, or neutral. I believe that I supinate, but what shoe does that mean I need, and how is it supposed to feel? I tried on many, like you are supposed to do, and they all feel fine and different in different ways. So now I don't know what to do, cause I'm not sure what to look for. What's best for my foot? Hmmmm.....

I never thought that running shoe technology would get the best of me, yet it has.....

Wipe Out!

Yes, it happened. My first official wipe out. It was actually a week ago, it was beautiful here, some of the first days of spring. I was out for a run, planning to go a bit farther. Right about the time I usually start heading back, I moved out of the street to avoid a car. At that point I noticed that in a few paces, the sidewalk would be covered with snow and ice. As I was scanning for how to move back to the road, suddenly my body was headed in full slow motion toward the ground. I felt as though I should be able to catch my balance, but alas, I could not. As I skidded on my hands, I hit my faces and then the pain surged through me as my knees broke my fall. Stunned, I rolled to my back, trying to breath, mentally accessing that I was OK. I slowly sat up to access the damage. Skinned hands, bloody face, ripped pants, throbbing knees. But no broken bones or teeth. As I gingerly got up, that is when I saw it. The sidewalk corner was raised a good 3 inches or more. I must have hit it square on, which sent my body propelling toward the cement. After stopping to use a walkers cell phone, (thanks to who ever you are!), I called to let the family know that I would be back a bit later and I was OK. (Yes, take a cell with you, I know!) I walked the last 1/2 mile home, thinking that was safer since I couldn't access my throbbing knees that were covered by my pants.

Arriving home, I accessed the damage. I had quite a nice scrapped up chin that has about fully healed over the past week. It wasn't quite as bad as my bloody appearance led my children to believe as I walked in the door. My hands where just scrapped, and I had only minor cuts to my knees, though the bruises they left and the throbbing I still feel will take a while to heal.

One of my many first adventures in this training period. Thankfully I got out of it relatively unscathed, except for quite the wounded ego.:)

This one goes out to the One I Love.....

In great thanksgiving and appreciation, I write this post. This is for my husband who supports me to no end. It is not easy being a father of four children 9 and under. He sacrifices so that I can accomplish a goal I've set for myself. His love is amazing, and I don't acknowledge it enough. So today I do so publicly. Call it a late 10th anniversary present, a belated Valentine's gift, an early 10 1/2 anniversary present:), or just a day of gratitude that I wanted to give him.

He has been an undying support as I train for this triathlon, my biggest cheerleader. I know that is takes away a lot of time from us and our family and to you I say "Thank you". Your support means so much to me and is the motivation that makes me want to keep going. I know that you say I am encouraging to you, but I want you to be aware of how encouraging you are to me. Thank you for spurring me on, and I hope you can say the same about me. I see in you the SHIMILY and I hope that this is SHMILY back to you.

I am so grateful to be yoked with you, on this journey together, striving for the same goal. I'm excited to reach it with you, the ultimate goal of getting one another to heaven! I love you so much!!

Winter Blues

Oh, thank you Jesus for the sun today! It get's so old with the gray and clouds. It is so nice to look out and see the sun reflecting of the beautiful snow! I always say that I'm a lover of the seasons, but without snow, winter gets old fast. I tire quickly of the gray yuck, as I call it. So I am happy for the 9 fresh inches of snow that fell throughout yesterday.

I think it does something for my motivation as well. My workout partner and I DID end up swimming last night! We ventured out in the "blizzard", and turned around more then once. We even walked to the locker room door and turned around. We SO did not want to swim. But we did it! We knew that we would feel better if we did. And I do. Today I feel like I could run forever. Though I won't with the below freezing temps and the snow everywhere. But with the outside actually looking welcoming, it is tempting.

Isn't it nice how God plays to our senses? I've been reading about suffering and how there is true joy in suffering. This is hard to grasp for me. But I see that in Christ's death, there is pure joy, the joy of a saved people. So in our daily suffering, when united with Christ's, there is joy to be gained. Now joy is something that my body and senses, shall I say, enjoy? Yes, enjoy! So if I can wrap my mind around this nugget of offering it up to be transformed to Christ, my suffering won't be in vain and frustration, but filled with grace to make myself and offering of joy to others. And that is motivation enough for me to move forward and enjoy the day!

Holiness in Weakness

While I've been training for this triathlon, I've been sharing my experience and goals with others. This has been a way for me to keep accountable to myself as well as the people I'm talking to. During this process, I've been suprised with how many people have found ME inspiring! I can't believe it, but I keep getting told stories about how others are starting to try exercising again, or training for something themselves, or they've told someone else who has really taken it to heart. This is hard for me to believe, because I don't look at myself and find what I'm doing inspiring. Yes, I feel excited and great, but I see it as something I need to do for my health and myself.

Feeling this way led me to be able to relate to a pod cast that I listened to the other day while running. It was on holiness. The speaker was saying how we should think of someone that we thought of as holy and why. He mentioned that if we took this reasoning to that person that they would deny it, being very suprised by our observations. His point was that holiness is not for us, but for others. We don't always see our own strives in holiness, but others observe it in us, and that is how we can tell that we are growing, or encourage someone else by telling them how we see them growing.

He also went on to say that it isn't in what we have done that we achieve holiness, but through our weekness. On that day when we see God face to face (God willing), we will not be asked about all the things we acompilishe without fault or difficulty. God will be asking us about how we offered up the things that challenge us and plauge us the most. He gave an analogy of a runner, which was a great picture for me since I was running.:) He says that they important thing is that when we fall, or stumble, that we get back up. We offer that to God. It may be the same thing over and over. But that is where the holiness is found, in offering that same stubbling block over and over.

This inspired me, that through my fault, I can still be striving for holiness. God is choosing to love us, even though we constantly screw up on the same things. This inspired me, I hope it inspires you, too.

It's been a while.....

Yes, it has been a while. The holidays kept me busy and, to be honest, I've been wondering how to restart this blogging thing. Then the idea of restarting got me focusing on the New Year how everyone tries to restart. That led to me restarting exercising. The next thought process was how to carry over the restart of exercising, with meaning, to my personal life. In thinking about that, it circled me back to exercising and how my attitude toward that has changed.

My husband will laugh as I admit that exercise really has changed me. I have come to discover what I always thought were myths about exercise, are tending to be true with me. I DO feel better, I DO relate better. I'm not as tired, have more energy, and am more positive. I didn't think that these things really would happen. But they have. With having taken a month off and now restarting in the last 2 weeks, I can see that these things hold true for me.

The nice thing is that this can carry over to my personal life. I am trying to have new resolve on how I face things. I trying to have a refreshing attitude to the daily challenges that come with being a mother of four. I'm trying to keep in mind that God has equipted me with, not only, the physical strength I need to exercise, but with the emotional grace and talents that go along with carrying out my duties.

It isn't that I am trying to be some great philosopher, but for me, I find great comfort in seeing parallels from one area of my life to another. I feel that if I can have a goal and be motivated in one area that hopefully I can carry that spirit over to another in hopes to be come a more well rounded person.