Without training but with Christ

I am not allowed to run right due to my back injury.  Back strain or something is what he tells me.  Cause = not sure, but need to give it a rest as of right now.  This past week was pretty humbling.  Can't run, hard to sit, difficult to put shoes on, and the list goes on.  I feel, as I've stated before that God is using this time to teach me about him being 1st.  Getting to know him all the time, not just the time when I need him.  On another note, today marks the 2 year anniversary since Dad died.  How could we be 2 years out from that time of my life?  It seems surreal, but I am thankful for this time. 

What do these 2 things have in common?  Running and race and dad passing away?  Not much on the surface, but before Dad died, he told my mom for me to remember "patience."  Patience when you have nothing else.  Patience when I was worried, frustrated, and at my wits end.  Which all happen a lot!   Dad knew that I would need encouragement in the little things in life that I always make into huge, boulders.  Patience has been my mantra this past week.  I can't run right now.  So what....I'd rather be able to run the rest of my life and take 2 weeks off right now to get re-focused and centered on what truly matters. 

What if it were all gone?  What if I could no longer run?  What if I lost the very thing most dear to me?  Um, excuse me, what if I lost my dad?!  Does it suck?  Yep.  Is it fair?  Nope.  Does life go on?  Yes.  Can life still be great and rewarding despite death and pain and suffering?  I have learned that the answer is definitely a YES!  But how can this be when you've lost your father and piece of who you came from?  Well, the power and blood of Jesus Christ covers all the crap this world can give me.  Christians will ultimately experience the same pain everyone experiences....we just know where who to lean on when we have nothing else.

Training....to a screeching halt, but with some revelations.

5 weeks to go.  35 days or so and I am injured.  BIG TIME.  Tried to pick up a laundry basket on Saturday morning and couldn't stand back up.  Diagnosis: disk strain.  2 weeks, absolutely no running.  Wha?!  How in the world am I going to do this.  I forget what sweat feels like.  I hate it.  I hate everything about it.  Less food, little exercise, zero sense of accomplishment.  But I am hard on my body.  Way too hard.  I don't take breaks...well, I am now!

I haven't been in the Bible recently.  My mind is sidetracked.  I "find" other stuff to do like things before God.  In a way, I am self centered.  It's always about my workout for the day or getting stuff done for school.  Truth is, I have the time.  I don't make the time.  Anybody feel me?  God takes a back seat.  And now, when I need healing and want him to hear my prayers the most, I keep thinking, "Why should he bother?".  You didn't care about getting to know him when things were going "your" way.  I believe God can teach me something through this, if I let him.  If I take this time to slow down and truly get the center of my life back in the center.

The Lord speaks to me in various ways and often times, it is through songs.  There is a song on Christian radio and XM right now called, "Fall Apart" by Josh Wilson.  I don't particularly care for the song but it has been on non-stop since my injury.  I even started the car and my Christian station was on and I turned it to XM, saying out loud, "I bet Fall Apart is on right now."  Yep, of course.  Thanks God for the wake up call!!!

Here are some of the lyrics:

Why in the world did I think I could
Only get to know you when my life was good
When everything just falls in place
The easiest thing is to give You praise

Now it all seems upside down

‘Cause my whole world is caving in
But I feel You now more than I did then
How can I come to the end of me
And somehow still have all I need
God, I want to know You more
Maybe this is how it starts
I find You when I fall apart

I don’t know how long this will last
I’m praying for the pain to pass
But maybe this is the best thing that
Has ever happened to me


I don't think this is the best thing that has happened to me.  But I do believe that God has gotten my attention and said, "Hang on sister.  You need me.  You can't do this all alone.  It's okay to take a break.  Give yourself some credit. But I want you.  I want the best of you.  Not the last minute prayers, only call on me when you need me best of you.  I want all of you because I made you and you are mine."  

I give thanks to all who have remembered me in prayers recently.  I pray that this injury passes me quickly.  I also pray that you will take the time this week to get to know your heavenly Father just because He loves you and cares for you so much.  Okay, sorry for the sap.  But I'm being reflective.  Thanks for reading.

Training week 4

This week was horrible!  I was gone 3 nights until 10pm and training was so difficult with a schedule like that! Still got most of it though =) One and pretty much the only perk to being part-time.

Monday - 3.06 miles - 6x400 run (made it longer)  morning run in 27 minutes

Tuesday - CX - Jillian Michaels fat burner w/o weights - 45 minutes

Wednesday - 5.75 miles in 57 min.  (supposed to be 6 mile run.  I got bored =)

Thursday - CX - Ran 1.7 miles in 17 min; lifting 15 minutes

Friday - REST DAY!!!  Much needed!

Saturday - 6 miles - 1 hour.  It was probably little over 6.  I ran on our new bike trail and it was awesome!  I went down 31 minutes and back so probably just barely over 6.  I'll take it!

Sunday - Jillian DVD w/ weights 45 min.  Going to feel this one tomorrow!

Tomorrow starts week 5.  Only 5 more weeks left of training!  I am running a 6k in St Louis next Sunday morning and get to finish at Busch Stadium home plate.  Who else can say that?!  Love it!  Here's to happy running!

Training Week 3

Oh my, we've been busy.  Volleyball games started, Nathan is preparing for fall kick-off at the church.  So neither of us is home right now, however, this Labor Day weekend, we have been quite productive!  I bought a bunch and I mean a bunch of craft project materials.  I'm now obsessed with Pinterest and if you aren't on it, don't be.  It's like a drug.  I can't stop "pinning" things.  But I have made some headway in my projects category and will post pics soon!

Okay so back to running, the real reason you're here...

Monday - 3.20 mile tempo 4x800, 27.40  I was flying.  Felt good.

Tuesday - Ripped in 30 Jillian Michaels DVD Week 3 27 min

Wednesday - 4.60 miles, 46 min on treadmill.  ( I feel the need to mention that I usually run outside in the morning, but Tuesday on the news they reported some old guy picked up a young girl during daylight hours at gunpoint and drove her to the nearest Metro station -  1mile from my house - and took her phone and left her there.  So Nathan is worried so that means I got up at 4:25 am! to go to my gym and run, come back, shower, eat, head 40 minutes to work.  I supposed to run 5 but 4.6 at that hour felt fine enough!

Thursday - yay September!  Eliptical 25 min, treadmill 15 min run/walk, lifting 15 min

Friday - Ripped in 30 Week 1 - 35 min

Saturday - 9.48 miles, 1 hour 32 min.  Supposed to be 10 but apparently I forgot to double check Map My Run! 

Sunday - Bob Harper's Kettlebell workout 45 minutes

Now, I need to rest.  I'm tired from typing!