Urban Cow Was Awesome!!!

Well, I must say I really hope Graem got some better pics! : P

The Urban Cow was a blast! Bonny & I showed up at 7:35. Perfect timing if the run started at 8:00 like I thought buuuuuuuuut it started at 7:30. We arrived just in time to see the last of the last wave leaving. No matter! The chip on the back of the bib registers your start time when you cross the starting line. Now then... to manage this sea of people. I was assigned to start in the first wave but now I had 3,300 people packed  in front of me. It roads were nice & wide so it wasn't really that difficult though I did feel like a jerk weaving tightly thru the crowd. once things opened up a bit it was just awesome! So much to see! So many people on the course edges cheering us on! Such a variety of surroundings! Here and there bands playing energetic music. "I AM the invincible winner! And I DO know that I was born to beeeeeeeeee..... I'm a heartbreaker, dream maker, love taker. Don't you mess around with me." : P

Thanks so much to all who were there & all of you we got to go eat with afterward! (Even sleepy Lauren. But you need the rest if you're gonna do this again in a few days.CRAZY!) Let's do it again next year! Bonny & I love you all. See ya soon! :)

                                         Ok, Im at the Rural Cow.... where is everybody??

Deep Thoughts and Fancy Footwork

This past week I've been meaning to blog about our Lake Tahoe run.  So now that Jaide has got the ball rolling, I'll add to it.

Please allow me to share a few of my thoughts, in order of occurrence, during the trail run:

• "What?  We're STARTING with a major hill?"
• (Out of breath at the top of the hill) "That's okay, I got this!"
• "Oh my goodness, I've never seen anything so beautiful!"
• "Careful, Lauren, don't trip over these crazy rocks."
• "Wow, this is unbelievably beautiful!"
• (Thud...) "I guess I should expect to fall on my face at least once."
• "Now I know why they call it Emerald Bay....the water is SO green!"
• "When are we going to stop going up hill?"
• "I think I'd rather be giving birth right now, because at least I'd be laying down!!!!"
• "At this point I don't care how beautiful this place is.  Where is the finish line??"
• "There's the finish line!"
• "Ahhhh...nothing like an ice cold beer on the beach.  This really is a beautiful place."
• "Maybe I'll do it again next year?"

Some things better with age

Us girls!!

As a rehab nurse, I care for people who have experienced some terrible debilitating event, whether it be a car accident, brain injury, spinal cord injury, or stroke.  Most of these patients also have diabetes, hypertension, or heart disease.  Many can barely walk, unable to use the bathroom without supervision and take pills by the handfuls.  I monitor their bowel movements, make them drink thickened liquids, and poke them with needles.  Naturally most of them are quite up in age.  Before I depress you any further, here is my point: getting old stinks and I hope I never have to.

So when I see an elderly person without a cane, walker, or swallow precautions, I am so excited.  When I see a elderly person run, I celebrate.  When I see an elderly person beat me in a race, I just don't know what to say. 



My competition

Last weekend, at the Emerald Bay Trail Run, we ran 7.5 miles in altitude.  For this Sacramento runner, it was hard.  At some point,  I found myself behind two aged men.  I know when I see a real runner.  He has no gadgets, no special water bottles, no shirt. All I see is tan wrinkled skin, gray hair, and a slow shuffling gait.  I think "He is so old.  He is running slow, but he is still awesome."  Then, I realized that I have been behind this "slow" runner for awhile. This man has some 40 years on me!  I finally make my way past him, feeling somehow guilty, like I should make sure he can still breathe on these tahoe cliffs.  In the end, I made it, finishing the most beautiful run of my life, happy I was still alive and breathing myself.

Happily, as I have read before, runners can continue strong into older age.  I guess there are some things to look forward to besides wrinkles.

As to answer Jade, I really have no special pre-race rituals. I try to go to bed early, with clothes ready.  I am pretty regular in the am, so emergency bathroom runs midrace are usually not a problem.  If you need some pointers, the recent "Runner's World" addresses this delicate subject.  Coffee is a must (I am addicted).  I wear sunscreen because I am terrified of wrinkles.  Pre-race pics to post on instagram is also very important.  I think next time, though, I will try some vaseline on any areas with potential rubbing.

3 weeks to go, until the big day!! I need some more long runs!!

I run there for I hurt

So I have done the one thing I said I would never do. I have started running. It has been one week now and it has been the most painful week of my life. But I gave made a breakthrough. I ran 1.26 miles straight without stopping. It may not seem like a lot for the seasoned runners but it's huge for me. And it's left me craving more. So I guess it's true running is addictive.

Test Run

The last run event I entered was a 10K(6.2mile) on Aug 4th & I've been slackin' a bit since then so since I signed up for The Urban Cow (with a little prodding from Jaide.[pun intended]) I ran a tester-13.1 this morning just to get a feel for where I was at.... oy. It's so easy to forget how stinkin' long a half marathon is! I'm not where I want to be but I think I'll get there in time. However, I made the rookie mistake of eating right before I ran which made me verpy for about 4 miles. That didn't help! So that led me to wonder, what's everybody's plan for the morning of the run?

What's for breakfast? Will you be dawning new shoes? Do you stretch? Scream psych-up phrases at yourself in a mirror & ask someone to smack you?

The night before a run I always drink senna tea & I start the next morning by drinking about a 1/2 gal of water to clean me out & ensure no surprise potty breaks later (Is this t.m.i. for this blog?) I always eat a slice of toast with honey & peanut butter & a protein shake 30 minutes before the run & I do very little warm up.

How about you all?

Super Food

Here's a little piece of an article I read about fueling for endurance athletes.  I wanted to share this with all of you....

Quinoa

Despite the confusing name, this gluten-free and grainy superfood is known for its complex nutritional profile. It cooks in less than 15 minutes, and contains both high levels of protein and carbohydrates. Plus, Quinoa has all nine essential amino acids, which are critical to the functioning of the human body. 

Quinoa's benefits to endurance athletes have been known for centuries. In fact, the Incas used it to increase the stamina of their warriors, which helped them to run long distances at high altitudes. This superfood is also a source of manganese, magnesium, iron, zinc, potassium and calcium. This complex grain can be integrated into just about any meal—from breakfast to dinner.

Feeling Bad For Mr. Cash...

Today, Lauren & I accomplished Personal Bests.... 10 miles (& in the hills to boot)!!! Woo-Hoo. Truly exhilarating. I didn't know how this would be possible but somehow we made it. That's the longest distance we've ever run & I now know anything is possible!

We ran up in Folsom along the American River Bike Trail canyons/ravines. (At least I think they're canyons/ravines - I'm from Florida! My hilly terrain geographical terminology may be off.) Whatever it's called, it's BEAUTIFUL! We are so privileged to have such breath-taking landscape to soak in during our outings. To my Sac-town running friends, if you haven't yet, trail runs in Auburn or Folsom are a MUST! It's so close & well worth a 30 minute drive.

As I ran past Folsom prison I couldn't help feel a little bad for Johnny Cash... "I hear the train a comin'.. It's rollin round the bend' ... And I ain't seen the sunshine, since I don't know when.
I know I had it comin', I know I can't be free, but those people keep a-movin', and that's what tortures me."
Should have listened to your Mama, Mr. Cash!

Now, off to ice my knees!

The Toddler Inside

We're all familiar with the phenomenon of being a 5:00AM genius right? The previous night you had your next morning planned & you arrived at the decision that, like it or not, you must wake up at 5:00AM in order to get everything done. But somehow, when the alarm goes off & you're half awake, a flood of seemingly solid reasons come to mind as to why you can snooze 5 times. That's the voice my brother calls "The toddler inside". That bratty little kid will say anything to get his way. "Just skip breakfast & you can keep sleeping." "You need the sleep for your health! I think you're sick." "No one expects you to get up right now" "I DON'T WANNA!!!!" His goal is to keep us in bed til it's too late to run. (Or get out in service. But this is a running blog :)) Are we gonna let that kid get his way?! Slap that little brat, throw those sheets off & get out there!


Keep it up everybody!

Back on Track

Back on the Track

 

What a difference a run makes! It's been over a month since I last ran, having slipped in my kitchen and hurting my left leg.  The leg's been ok for a couple weeks now, but it's sooo easy to be lazy! That initial push even just to walk to the park across the street from where I work took real determination and  I have to say how glad I am to have gotten back on the track... even if it was a pretty pathetic 15 minute jaunt.  Not my best, I'll admit.



 

The last time I ran was at the San Francisco Marathon on July 29th.  I know what you're thinking... how do you go from running a marathon to quitting a run after fifteen minutes?  I should probably explain that on the day of the Marathon I only ran from mile marker 22 to mile marker 23.  That's right.  I ran ONE mile of the 26.2 that my friend, Rachel, had signed up for.

 

I had a blast! A couple hours of scanning the crowd, trying to spot her in a sea of runners, high-fiving as many of them as I could and cheering 'til my voice was gone, then all of a sudden -- There's Rachel!  Her reaction when she realized I was there to cheer her on and run with her was priceless!  I got all the thrill of race day without the time commitment, shin splints or blisters. 

 

But now I'm ready to bring it on!

 

 

Happy trails everyone!

Good Mood

It's been so nice reading all the posts! Keep 'em coming. :)

I missed my run tonight due to not feeling well but was happy to jump on & get some encouragement.

- Jen

Meet Jade... the guy.

Hey all! I'm a brother who runs. Thanks for the invite Jaide! Yes, my name is Jade. (pronounced "Jaide" : P) I've just read all the posts! I love 'em! (But where my brothers at?!) My wife & I live in Red Bluff CA (on I-5 about 1 1/2 hrs. N of Sac.) but we attend the Redding Sign Language Congregation. (And I tend to overuse parenthetic statements.)  I grew up way overweight but when I was about 20 an elder in our hall invited me to start running. I'm 31 now so I've been distance running for a long time but y'know life happens so I've missed a season here, a year there. No brothers in our area run so it can be tough but to be honest I like running alone. I do alot of meditation & even talk prep during my runs.

Also, my wife is pregnant! (woopsie! What a blessing?) Actually we're through the roof about it now, though it took a while to get there. It's a girl & she's due DEC 31st! Here's a link to the video of us finding out it's a girl. 

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3vcMxCH3ScQ&feature=youtu.be

 Sorry. That's not run-related. Am I blowin it?

Anyway, a funny C.O. once told me, "Everyone loves a short talk". So I'll wrap it up for now. but here are some pics.

NEXT RUN: Almond bowl 2012 half marathon. In Chico, CA NOV 4th

GOAL: beat last year's time

With two brothers after the Almond Bowl Nov 2011 in Chico CA. L to R: Andrew Dreisbach, Brian Ohlhausen, Me

With Templeton :) 

My "trophy"! it's tough to tell but my face was covered in salt! (Remember the wife of Lot! But I didn't look back! I promise!)

My beautiful wife Bonny. (We don't usually...er... ever hang out in bars. There's a story there.)

She's awesome. But please don't tell her I posted this :P

THANKS SO MUCH AGAIN FOR THE INVITE JAIDE! I'll try to support without boring : D

The Beast

After finishing Pioneer School and eating and sitting for two weeks, note the Tiramisu, I had my first long run in a while. Sooo there is this beast I keep hearing about... "ran into him today" literally. Here I am mile 7 or so and he shows up. Put me in a headlock, I countered with a my best wrestling move, and we went back and forth finally, it came to me, try ignoring it like that annoying kid across the street. You know what, it works! At least until I staggered into my driveway. We'll see what happens next time...

We run but some walk

So Jaide has invited me to contribute to this blog. Heres the thing- I dont run. But I do walk. :) I have a nice neighborhood to walk in and a walking buddy. Her name is Rosie. Being a dog she has an advantage over me because she has 4 legs. So alot of times when we go walking I am always trailing behind or pulling her along when she decides that something looks interesting and decides to smell it for an hour. 

One of the reasons I got Rosie is because I thought it would be a good incentive to go walking more often. So does it work? Sometimes. There are many days I would rather just stay home in the wonderful air conditioning where its nice and comfy. But then Rosie comes over bumping me in the leg to get my attention saying lets go! Lets go!!

I have never considered myself a writer so please excuse this post if it is not the most interesting thing in the world. But walking is related to running right? :) So I will contribute from time to time something about my walking adventures. 

Rosie

So thanks Jaide for the invite!

To the People in My Life

Today, I arrived home making excuses why I shouldn't g running. I'm tired.  I already took a core conditioning class at the gym.  I should be a good wife and make dinner for once.  I need to pack to go to Reno for four days.

But my excuses quickly were trumped by the wonderful people in my life.  Graem was talking to his sister, Kaela, who asked why I have not been blogging.  Then my wonderful husband told we to go for run and he would again make dinner.  He told me I would feel better.

And he was right.  I make it through 3 miles, thinking about how great it is to have all of you.  Lauren's new found love of running is inspiring.  Jennifer's encouragement for new goals keeps me going.  Mike is doing my first half marathon with me.  Chiharu bought new running shoes.  My sister is running in smoggy China.  And then there are all the people that aren't running literal marathons, but their life is kind of like one.

Now, I sit on the couch, after a run.  I'm finishing off strawberry gelato, watching "So you think you can Dance" and blogging.  Life is good.

Oh and yes I still have to pack.

My dusty shoes after my run.  And yes, I'm 5'5'' and wear a size 10 running shoe.

Lauren "Gonna Make You" Sweat

"Keep your friends close and your enemies closer."  Isn't that how the saying goes?  Sweat has been an enemy of mine for so long.  I avoided it at all cost.  As a matter of fact, my maiden name is Sweat.  As I grew up, I never really lived up to that name.  I only 'glistened'.  Florida is a very sticky, humid environment to live.  Why would anyone WANT to be outside sweating?  That's such a miserable way to spend your time, right?  Or is that wrong?  

Sweat and I have grown to appreciate each other over the past few months, since we've been training for our half marathon.  It overtakes every square inch of my body when I'm running.  I become completely drenched as if I just jumped out of a pool.  Every drop  reinforces to me all of the hard work I've been putting into training.  The more I sweat, the more I feel empowered.  We even play a little game while I'm running, sweat and I.  Occasionally a little bead of sweat will trickle its way to the tip of my upper lip.  When it gets just to the right point, I blow it into the air sending it flying.  Sometimes it will even divide into three separate drops!  But it is the little things that keep you going, right?  

Happy sweating everyone!

Blood, Sweat & Beers

Last weekend we conquered the Beer Sweat & Beers run in Auburn. We (Jaide, Jasmine, Jennifer and Jehan) ran (I use the term "run" loosely here -- more of a jog and walk uphill) 5.9 miles down and up the Auburn Canyon. It was hot. It was dirty. It was sweaty. It was loads of fun!

Michael T. wins the endurance reward -- he ran 10.5 miles! And thankfully no one in our group needed an ambulance.

Good job everyone!

Pre Race Photo Shoot

Our only fan

Gettin' rough and dirty

Steep Hill

Finished !

Post race meal - beer and veggie burgers

Davis Moonlight Race

I finished the Davis Moonlight run in 1:03:24.  I felt great, even after a crazy start. The evening began with being stuck in traffic on the freeway.  We then navigated around closed roads, following confusing GPS directions, while getting my sister to pick up our race packets before it was too late.  We changed from our convention heels and skirts to sports bras and running shoes inbetween stoplights.

When we finished the 10K, we spotted a woman rocking it in tye-dye along with a live band.  I doubted she ran the race, but was enjoying the festivities nonetheless with a step, step, shuffle and hip shake. I suddenly and uncharacteristically decided it was a brilliant idea to join her celebration and have Jennifer tape it. Marisol, Jehan and I sang and danced enthusiastically to Love Shack. I told Jennifer I would post it. I swear it came out too dark, so I will spare you the time of watching it.  And I blame it on the runner's high.

Jehan's post run burrito

Pre-race smiles!

By the way, my longest run so far....is 7.5 miles.  and then I had a burger.

Runner's High

I've never blogged before...let me know how I do.  

I have never considered myself to be an athletic person.  I always preferred to be indoors.  Why?  Well, I always got headaches from too much physical exertion (even as a child) + the terrible humidity of Florida = one lazy couch potato.  

Recently after much positive peer pressure, I decided to challenge myself and join my athletic friends for a half marathon.  As I was beginning to get into my groove with running, I noticed something wasn't right.  My calves were so unbearably tight and sore.  It was as if they were screaming at me to stop like a terrified scaredy cat going on his first roller coaster ride.  The bottoms of my feet were completely numb and felt like I had been struck with a tranquilizer dart.   

I'm not an expert or anything, but something told me that shouldn't be happening.  So I decided to seek professional help.  I'm proud to say that after approximately two months of training, I experienced my very first "runner's high" last week while running three miles.  I had always heard of that expression and thought it would be impossible for someone like me to get to that point.  Me...the one who shy-ed away from stuff like this because of the inevitable aches and pains.  That's right - I found myself saying, "This is EEEEEASY!  I could do this ALL DAY!"  Woo-hoo!!!

Bare-Footsies ;)

So, after much deliberation, I decided to purchase a pair of Vibram Five-Fingers. I tried them out (just up & down my block) last night & think I'm going to absolutely love them. I've heard people try to describe the feeling of running in them. To be honest, after reading the description "exhilarating" in several places, by different people, I couldn't quiet my worry that maybe there was a lot of hype/excitement surrounding this as a current running fad & reactions were being influenced by this. But, after hearing a personal experience from a friend in Florida, I decided I had to find out once and for all. The verdict? "Exhilarating." :) It really is a completely different experience feeling ground beneath your feet and toes than layers of cushion, padding & rubber. I can't wait to start wearing them more often. I am going to be sure to take advice & transition slowly. The one thing I realized is that the light mesh on top is just that, light mesh! I jumped on Dylan's bike to demonstrate something and while pedaling scraped the top of my foot & busted the side seam on my pinky toe open. Today, I went to Fleet Feet & much to my relief they swapped them right out. Needless to say, I'll be much more careful in my shoes! I'll post updates as I progress & once I am able to actually do runs in them. :) Thanks, Lacy for the recommendation & advice!

Here's an interesting link from Mr. McDougall, author of Born to Run.
http://naturallyengineered.com/blog/the-100-up-exercise-method-for-training-barefoot-running-form/

Also, hoping either myself or Jaide can share some tips from last night's Good Form Running Clinic within the next day or so. We really enjoyed it!

Won Won Dauty Build Dam

The Guyanese have an expression, "Won won daughty build dam".  In American English it would go like this, "One One brick builds a dam".  One step at a time leads to a meter, a mile, a half marathon, a marathon, an ultra.  Ok, so I'm definitely not there yet, but yesterday this motto kept me going through a 6 mile run in the June heat.  Also much thanks to my sister, who wouldn't let me give up until I met my long run goal of 6.  I was able to keep pace with her for the first time in a long time, which if you ever grew up with on overachieving sibling, you would understand my newfound pride (I love you Jehan!!).

We made stops at the park drinking fountain, hoping a slobbering kid with meningitis didn't just take a swig before us.  We made very quick waves to our nearby golfing husbands.  I pleaded to my sister to tell me stories to distract me from my overwhelming urge to stop in my tracks.  And we made it!!  I haven't sweat so much since Guyana.

We quickly gathered our husbands and feasted at Macau Cafe.  According to these China girls' palates, we had the best Chinese food around.

Happy running!!

The Beast

My favorite part of the book I'm reading, Born to Run:

"Strictly by accident, Scott stumbled upon the most advanced weapon in the ultrarunner's arsenal: instead of cringing from fatigue, you embrace it. You refuse to let it go. You know itso well you're not afraid of it anymore. Lisa Smith-Batchen, the amazingly sunny and pixie-tailed ultrarunner from Idaho who trained through blizzards to win a six-day race in the Sahara, talks about exhaustion as if it's a playful pet. 'I love the Beast,' she says. 'I actually look forward to the Beast showing up, because every time he does, I handle him better. I get him more under control.' Once the Beast arrives, Lisa knows what she has to deal with and can get down to work. And isn't that the reason she's running through the desert in the first place - to put her training to work? To have a friendly little tussle with the Beast and show it who's boss? You can't hate the Beast and expect to beat it; the only way to truly conquer something, as every great philosopher and geneticist will tell you, is to love it."

Moody Slough My Old Friend

The countdown begins...6 more days in my in house in cozy Winters (population~6,000). Only 6 more days to run Moody Slough Road, my favorite and nearby run through farms and orchards with a view of the Berryessa Mountains. I have ran this road faithfully for the last six and half years. In the winter, I would wake up while dark careful not to disturb my snoozing husband as I clamored for my running tights and REI long-sleeve shirt and headband. Armed with a flashlight and water bottle, I would descend into the dark and fog inhaling crisp and frigid air. In the summer, shorts and cold water were staple items to endure the heat and sun. On the weekends, as I caught my running rhythm through open fields I watched hot air balloons take off into the sapphire sky. Yes, Moody Slough is like an old loyal friend. When I felt crummy and needed a boost, Moody Slough was there to lift my mood. When I felt strong and invincible, Moody Slough laughed at the challenge and said "How fast can you go?"


Goodbye Moody Slough I will miss you!

From: The Runner who will be known as the Runner Formerly from Winters

Running staples: Garmin watch, Ipod, water bottle

On Moody Slough Road

Moody Slough Road with mountains

Me and my sweat

Progress

Usually after a 12 hour shift, I'm pooped.  But I managed to get my sleepy self to hit the track right before dark.  I decided to make this run count, since I took 3 days off and downtown at night by myself would definitely insure a lecture from my husband about safety.  I ran 3.1 miles (my own little 5K race against myself) in 28:37.  Yay! I did under 10 minute mile! I finally trying to figure out how to set a good pace for myself.

How is everyone else's running going?

My favorite so far...

I grew up in California. Because the world is so full of beautiful places, I sometimes forget what we have here. Once in a while, Graem and I escape Sacramento to see the coast.  Last week, we explored Bodega Bay for the first time. Graem found me a  2 mile trail on Bodega Head that so was breathtaking, I didn't mind running around it almost 3 times. I was freezing and could have used a whole box of Kleenex by the end, but I was in total bliss. I loved the sounds of the birds, the fishing boats and even the sound of my feet shuffling along the dirt hills. The sights of fuzzy caterpillars, deer, seals, bunnies, and a whale kept me going for 5 miles.  Lastly, I saw Graem hiding from the wind, reading his book, ready for clam chowder. I don't think I could ever run on a treadmill again.

"Strong is the New Skinny"

I began considering getting back into running a few months ago. Speaking honestly, my original motivation was solely to burn calories. I have some "pre-baby" jeans (Yes, I know! My "baby" is now 3 1/2 years old) that I really wanted to wear again one day. I was lying in bed thumbing through a magazine and thinking of what changes I could make in my life that would motivate me to get strict with my food choices. Then, it hit me. I needed to take up the sport that I hated more than one could imagine.... running. I flashed back to my last attempt. The nightmare that was River Run 2011.

The River Run is a big race in Jacksonville, FL. I had actually done a little tiny bit of training the year prior, but wasn't able to run due to strep throat. I spent that whole day in bed watching running movies, wishing I could be out there. I was determined this time I would do it. Knowing that we were moving to Cali and that this may be my last opportunity, I embarked on the 15K monster without a day of training. At minute 4, I knew I had made a terrible mistake! As inexperienced runners often do, Seth & I started out much too fast. We were jumping on & off curbs to get around other people. I twisted my ankle as I took a nasty fall. I should have stopped right then and there. But, my stubborn side took hold and I decided that even if I had to hobble over the finish line, I was going to cross it. Hobble over I did! I ended up with a major pain in my foot. I suspect a hairline fracture. As soon as the adrenaline wore off, I was in so much pain that I could barely walk. The sharp, shooting pain lasted over the next several months. From then on, anytime I heard the mention of running, I knew I just wasn't cut from that mold.

With this sour taste in my mouth, I knew that if I could get myself disciplined enough to make it through even a short run, I would definitely have the discipline to decline a 2nd brownie! I couldn't jump right in though. I needed a goal. A reward. Something tangible to look forward to. While brainstorming what this something might be, I came across the Nike Women's Marathon in San Fran. After reading that there was a 1/2 marathon option, a chocolate mile, and a blue-boxed Tiffany's necklace presented by SF firefighters in Tuxedos to the finishers, I decided this was the race for me. Also, the race is in October which makes it great timing. I'll be 30 in November and thought this would be a great way to bring on a new decade in my life. After finding out that Jaide & Kindra were for sure on board, we started running.

Since then, our group has grown. Lauren has been running. I am so proud of her! I think she started out hating it even more than me. But, she's sticking it out and is even excited now. Marisol (running isn't new for her) is always a great support and is hoping to do the NWM. Leslie, although she can't commit to the SF trip, is regularly running with us and often sets the pace. She's a total drill sergeant! I say that with the utmost affection of course! And, Ashlee has mentioned maybe coming to SF and will hopefully join us soon. We've been a little less consistent with our group runs over the past couple of weeks but we've still been going on our own or in pairs. I am ready to get back to our groups though. I love being with all of you girls. :)

It hasn't been very long at all since we've started. But, somewhere along the way, my thinking has completely changed. I no longer think of how many calories I'm burning while I run. Sure, I like burning calories, and I'm not getting rid of my "skinny-jeans!" But, for me, my running just isn't about that anymore. I am running to be strong. Physically and mentally. As Jaide expressed, I too really appreciate more than ever the Bible's illustration regarding our "race for life." Running is so challenging. It certainly still doesn't come easily for me. Every time I lace up my shoes, I am thinking ahead to that moment that is going to hit when I want to just stop, drop to the ground and make grass-angels. ;) But, every time I power through and sometimes even get rewarded with a 2nd wind, I know I get a little bit stronger. Seeing the progression from not being able to run 1 mile, then not stopping for 3, now pushing through to 5 is extremely motivating. It is what keeps me going back for more. The thought that I may actually just be able to make it to this 13.1 mile achievement by October. And, along the way, I'm gaining mental clarity and physical stamina. I'm craving healthy food and the brownie just isn't all that appealing anymore. Ok, ok, maybe that's a stretch. Lol. But, at least I am craving healthy foods too. :D This parallels so much to our spiritual lives. All of the challenging times that we make it through, the times that we push ahead... refusing to drop to the ground and give up, make us that much stronger. One day we'll have made it. We will look back at this race and realize the accomplishment. Until then, let's keep our minds on our progress and enjoy our run!

Love you!

Jen

Zoo Zoom

 April 15. The race!! Leslie almost forgot there was a finish line (it was her first race), and Jen put her hand in bird doo-doo on the orangutan statue.  Then we had bottomless mimosas.  All in all, a great day!

Why I run

It all started in March.  My multitalented friend, Marsiol, who spends her free time learning her fourth language, face painting, and running races (among other things), invited me for the umpteenth time to join her for a 5K.  This time it was the Zoo Zoom.  I decided I had already said "no" enough to my ambitious friend and signed up.  Then, while I was trying to stay awake on a long night shift at work, Jennifer, who shares a similar passion of goal-setting, proposed the idea of running a half marathon.

Her enthusiastic texts about the Nike Women's Half Marathon enlivened me as I paced hospital walls, ensuring my sleeping patients were still breathing.  I instantly felt the itch to run.  I remembered when I was young I was dragged into runnng with my sister, Jasmine, who would then literally run circles around me trying to get me to go faster. Soon, though I fell in love with running as a teenager and vowed to run a half marathon. But after a 6 mile run, I decided I didn't  like running any longer than an hour.  I thought of how my obession with boys, pioneering, a new job killed my running.  I learned I was not good at multitasking. I remembered that days before I got married, my sisters pulled me out of the house for one last run as a single person.  How they laughed, although sweetly, that even though I was skinny, I had the lung capacity and enduranceof a person three times my age.

I thought of how a few years ago, my sister, Jehan, asked me to run the Nike Women's half marathon.  I was so excited to run again!  Then we didn't get in.  Graem and I decided to go to Guyana for 2 months and the more I planned my trip, the less I ran.  I have since been more convinced that I am not good at having more than one goal at a time. I guess I am disproving the theory that girls were supposed to be good at doing lots of things at once.

I thought of how my sisters had both run marathons before they turned 30 and how the big 3-0 is right around the corner for me.  How as a cardiac, then a rehab nurse, I should be able to hold my own on a treadmill.

Even though, I have only run on and off since being a teenager, the challenges I have faced felt like a run.  During my last stay in Guyana, I would be overjoyed by the exciting twists and turns of the experience.  Then I would be hit by a sudden pain, longing for home, much like a side stitch could practically drop me in my tracks.  But I would keep on going, feel better, and be overjoyed again.  When it was over, I felt like a new person, proud and encouraged that I could do it again.  It was the same feeling after a year of pioneering, finishing nursing school, or enduring any trying day.  It was soon be over.  I would feel good and be ready to take on another day, or year, or feat.  I get why the Bible says we are in a race for life.  It makes sense.  It's worth it. 

So here it goes...I will finally do a half marathon, while doing all the other important things in my life.  I am happy so many of you want to go run with me. It makes it so much better! Running is a sport that I can do alone, but its really about all of you.