Running into a New Season

Eccl 3:1 "To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:"

I wanted to up my miles this week.

Tuesday after work I decided I would run 3 miles. This is a big task for me because I never run on Tuesdays. 

I decided to take it nice and slow, it seemed like it was taking forever, yet I couldn't even get my legs to turn over at the pace they were doing. What was going on??? 

By the time I got home with Sheba (Took her running with me) I felt like I had been beat up and left to die. 

Wednesday was going to be a special day. Andy said he would take me to the track and do speed work. But as Wednesday progressed I again felt like someone had worked me over. The wind was blowing cold air with a vengeance. My throat was hurting, I had a headache and I was suffering from a bad case of whining!  I cancelled our date to the track..No running for me. 

This was NOT the way I planned my week for running. I was feeling like a big King Baby pouting. Not only was I not going to be able to "up" my miles, now I was actually going to be DOWN my miles. 

I had to just give it to God. Get over it. I know being sick is the season I am in. It is allergy season for me. It gets me every year....several times.

 Eccl 1:9 "What has been will be again, what has been done will be done again;  there is nothing new under the sun" 

It is nothing new..NEITHER are disappointments. This was a different season...this is one I can enter into often.

Being disappointed is not new. Actually it is a well tread road I travel often. I am learning to give it to God. Let it Go and just make the best of what I have.  Disappointments when not managed and kept under check can lead to a multitude of emotions that will place your butt right on the old PITY POT!

Yeah, I am disappointed but I am not discouraged.

I am disappointed by I am  not distressed.

I am disappointed but I am not disabled.

That's part of life. It is not a new emotion, and it will resurface again..Disappointments won't break me. The only thing that is the End of the World is the End of the World! 

Some seasons last long, some season even feel new,  some seasons are short but when we just accept each day as it comes we will be able to transitions into our seasons easier. 

I was talking to a sweet friend of mine, "Celeste". This was a break through for her. It was time for her to move into a new season.  We discovered tonight that when we move into a new season we have some clean-up from the previous season. We have some left over debris to remove to better prepare us and make the best of where we are going. Maybe You have a little clean up to do???


As I close I am relating this to my day of running today. I was still under the weather. I medicated myself up and met the girls at Indian Springs for our weekly 8 miles. They carried me through my season of Allergies. I couldn't have done it without the encouragement and support of Katie and Danielle. I was really miserable.


If you are going through a hard season, God places people around you for help and support. Embrace them to help carry you through this hard time. 


Try to remember every season is temporary. Be Patient. Trust God and his Plan for you.

"Rather than praying for a change in Circumstance Pray for a Change in Character."

And Last...Nothing is new Under the Sun..It may feel like no one knows what your going through, you may not even know..But you are not alone...


Anita

Marathon Madness: Just the Basics Questions Answered.

 Not everyone is a runner. Not everyone even have passions anymore. I was speaking to a childhood friend of mine this week and she was in a slumber. She just wanted to have a passion. She wanted something to call her own. something to get excited about that was hers. She wanted something that set her apart, gave her personal zest and excitement.
That is running. As runners we are a unique bunch. We are passionate and deep. We all have a story, a disappointment and a dream. We have seen our hell and touched the clouds to heaven.  Most of us don't run for winning because every race finished is a victory. We run for OURSELVES. Yes, we have medals and bibs, we have the tee shirt and the photo. But we have something else, we have routine, passion, perseverance and a unique support group. We come in all shapes and sizes, we have different goals and gifts..but when it all comes down to it we all lace up the same.

This is my own thoughts, these are my ideas and suggestions unless otherwise state. I am sharing this from MY personal experience.
Here are a few questions that "Jessica" wanted to know about training for a marathon:

  What should I know for training?

 I personally would recommend running a marathon with at least 1 year of running experience. This time frame sets up our body into motion. It transitions both your body and your mind into warrior mode. Allowing it to adapt safely. Running that distance puts a lot of stress on your body, so moving into it slower is better.
Running a marathon is a RACE. I would get some Racing Experience. Have fun. Set goals: sign up a 5K, then a 10K, then a HALF Marathon....all this leading to the Mac Daddy...The Marathon. Baby steps. Mini accomplishments.

 What are your favorite shoes, gear, etc?

Everyone has different favorites, but here are mine!!

• Shoes: Brooks/Asaics
• Shorts: Brooks
• I love running socks, Asaics, Brooks
• I run with my GARMIN..watch, keeps pace, alerts, heart rate, distance ,GPS &much more!
• Running Magazines, http://www.runnersworld.com/, Running Times ect....
• My favorite running Hat: LUCY Hat 
• Nutrition for LONG RUNS: CHOMPS, CHIA SEEDS, Juice Plus gummies
• FOAM ROLLER!!  "Trigger Point"

 Do you run with music?

Yes..I LOVE listening to music. I have used music as a way to escape since childhood. I would play old cassettes of Prince Purple Rain, David Bowie or homemade cassettes from the local radio stations all day and night long. I would fall asleep with the headphones pierced into my ears to drown out the alcoholic chaos that was going on in the other rooms.  

Music stirs me, drives me and has the power to set a mood with in me. 

BUT....

Most of your larger races do not encourage Ipods, or music. People do not hear if there is an emergency vehicle coming or hear if they should take a certain "Turn". It is a distraction for many runners. 

When training it is always good to run "Quiet". It gives you the opportunity to LISTEN. Listen to your breathing and footwork and SELF. I usually like to drown my "SELF" out...but it is a mental thing. You have to have your HEAD in the GAME. A strong mind is not exercised if it is ignored. 

What are some good foods?

NUTRITION

3 Keys to Healthy diet: Balance, Moderation and Variety. 

It really is SIMPLE. Eat the daily recommendations for all food categories AND mixing it up is Variety! 

Moderation is not EXCESS. Remember you are what you eat! If you want a body that is going to perform for you than you have to fuel it properly! Also when you eat right you will find that mentally you are more focused and sensible. Eating right is so important. FAST FOOD is a NO NO. It is processed, high in saturated fats and usually not even natural.

Do you eat before or after a run (or both)?

 If you eat to soon before running you will most likely get a side stitch or cramps. You can run through these but it is going to make your run uncomfortable.

At least 30 minutes before. I like a Banana, WW bagel, Oatmeal or a power bar. 

Hydration is equally as important. A couple of hours before your run try and drink 2 glasses of h2O. 

After running you may not feel like eating but wait...OH YOU WILL!!! I like to have a protein shake. This aids in my recovery and is a healthy way to recover your tiny muscle tears. 

 When do your long runs do you have your phone on you?

NO!...Unless Ipod is dead. I ran with it last week and it was beeping and dinging notifications the whole time at me..So distracting!

 Did u wear one for marathon?

I don't even run with a phone for a marathon. I see many people with phones. They are nice to have to take pictures of the run and the race activities. They are also good to have for finding family members at the end of the race where it tends to get congested with spectators, participants and volunteers. Most races have a drop off site now for your personal items and setting up meeting times and places after a race is most convenient.

Amphipod makes both of these items!Holds keys,chomps ect..

Andy just recently bought me a couple new running items.

Holds 20oz H20. Easier than the water belt...Long run this weekend...

 Knee joint pills?

ICE ICE ICE! I ice 20 minutes after my run. Motrin, helps inflammation.  My brother Bobby reminded me a few months ago how important it is to ice. After 2 knee surgeries (not from running) I want my knees to take care of me as long as I can, so I try and take care of them. I did take glucosamine for a while also, Joint Juice is very popular.


"Psalms 18:33 "He makes my feet like the feet of a deer."
Sometimes we have these runs, but God also gives us brains with that body. Be good to the body he gave you. Take care of it, manage it properly and notice what it does to you in return.  ~

If you have any more questions please let me know, I love to help and encourage others to run. 

What suggestions do you have for these questions????

Anita

Trying to keep up with my RUNNING NOSE!

TOP 5 responses to "What to do when your mind is working Against YOU?" 

I loved the responses that I got. I got quite a few but thought I would post my top 6. I gotta say that these replies really came in handy today on my 20 miler. I think I used EVERYONE at some point or another. The one that came in handy the most was:

Ben B. Shut it off! The more a person internalizes thoughts the worse time they'll have. Instead focus on the scenery, objects in the distance that can serve as "mini-accomplishments....

Jill Privalsky i tell myself that this is it.. this is the event i have been training for. i tell myself that although it's tough, i have the capability to push through... i try to think about when i cross that finish line.. how i want no regrets. i want to know that i didn't let my guard down once during the whole race.. i remind myself that it's not the time that matters, but rather the effort i put in!!!

Lou Thrash Break miles down into small chunks and mentally get a goal for that part. Also get someone to be at certain mile markers looking for you. Gives you something to look forward to. For really tough miles have a runner friend come meet and pace you for a while

• Scott C. Stop thinking. I get some mindless tune going and zone out. 

   Fritz I like distraction. When I feel my thoughts turning negative, I start counting my footsteps. I concentrate on timing them to my breathing. Three steps per breath, one breath per second, 180 steps per minute. If that doesn't work, I usually think about food. That post run smoothie has helped me finish so many times...

   Greg S. Listen to podcasts like Dirt Dawg's Running Diatribe and Chris Russell"s RunRunLive 2.0!

  Shut it off! The more a person internalizes thoughts the worse time they'll have. Instead focus on the scenery, objects in the distance that can serve as "mini-accomploishments," and listening to breathing and cadence!

  Ben B. Shut it off! The more a person internalizes thoughts the worse time they'll have. Instead focus on the scenery, objects in the distance that can serve as "mini-accomploishments," and listening to breathing and cadence!
  

  

  
  
  It was a great day to have to run 20 miles if ever I saw one. But it did not lessen the punch it only made it more tolerable. The best conditions for a long grueling 20 miler!
   Not only did Andy decide to run a few miles with me but so did my nephew Brian.
   It was pretty cool though because my nephew Brian decide to run with me too!
  So I took off at 1pm with Andy to pick up Brian at 2:15 at moms house. Brian shows up looking all buff in his MARINES tee shirt. He decided to run Andy back home with me, about 3 1/2 miles back.
  
  So I had company for a total of 8 miles.  That meant 12 ALONE. It was a Snot and Go kinda run.
  I had the water belt around my waist. HORRIBLE, uncomfortable, tight, then loose then wobbly. I could not adjust it properly, the water kept jostling all over till it rearranged the water belt. I must have adjusted it 20 times by the time I had gotten 2 miles from dropping them off.
  I found the long grass and took it off. I did 4 miles then came back grabbed a small water bottle and took off for another 3.
  By the time I got back I switched water bottles putting the empty  one back in the holster and carrying the larger one filled with water and CHIA. This was going to be my last stop. I had six miles to go so I put the belt back on without the weight of the water and headed off.
  ALLERGY season means Alot of Snot. My nose kept running and I had nothing to wipe it with. I tried to do what Andy does, holding one nostril them blowing out the other. Not VERY Girly. But because of my lack of experience in blowing snot I got alot more in my mouth. NASTY. Not only gross tasting my own snot but then my ears got clogged and started popping. But with in minutes my nose would start running all over again. I continued to try the snot blowing thing...when there were not cars and with a upper lip full of goo I then just said the heck with it and pulled the inside of my shirt across my lip wiping it dry.. What a snotty mess! As gross as this was it worked. After running 16 miles having a shirt full of nostril juice was the last thing on my mind. I had dirt stuck in my sweat and my hands were gritty with sweat and dust from the back roads, my feet were starting to hurt and I wanted to make sure I was still running at "conversational pace"...A little liquid goo..No biggie.
  Conversational Pace...on long runs you should have no difficulty chatting..or blowing snot..lol
  So OUT LOUD I tested myself:
  "Anita can you talk to yourself?" I sang out loud*
  "Anita can you laugh at yourself?"
  "Anita can you sing to yourself?"
  "That's right sing, sing out loud. sing sing sing"  And I did. I was still in the game..I waSNOT to bad!
  
  Some people spend an entire lifetime wondering if they made a difference in the world. But, the Marines don't have that problem.
  Ronald Reagan, President of the United States; 1985
  

  

  Stud Muffin....HIM Not ME!

  
  ANITA
  
  

   

  
  

  
  

   

  
  

  
  

Marathon Madness. Part two..MIND GAMES!!

"Anybody can do just about anything with himself that he really wants to and makes his mind to do. We are capable of greater than we realize." Norman Vincent Peale

There is so much MIND work that goes with running a marathon. A dear friend Jessica posted this comment on the last Blog.

  "I am SO weak mentally so that's probably my biggest motivator - and my biggest hurdle in running a marathon! I want to build mental stamina but I am terrified my mind will be weak on the "big day". What do you do when your mind is working against you?"

The Mind is no matter to reckon with. The mind is capable of so many things. It is the very vessel that can break strong men and make Grasshoppers perform like Giants.

BUT...The key is to learn how to CONTROL your MIND and not LET your MIND Control YOU!!!

Before I was a runner EVERYTHING controlled my mind.I was swayed to every wind of emotion. I let negative and hurtful things rent space in my head. I would try so hard to disable my emotions but they ruled me and were constantly on autopilot.

I let people and my demons own me, control me and break me. I have always been that person that doesn't want anyone to "Not like her." Well that is a fairy tale world now isn't it. I have that personality where people are just not all going to like me. I have family members that do not like me..why would I be surprised that random people would not like me. I would try so hard to change thier minds. But what I found was the more I tried the more I lost my sense of Identity. 

I CAN NOT control how others feel about me, but I can CONTROL my mind and how I respond and react to it. 

Having a STRONG mind means YOU hold YOURSELF accountable. You have to be YOUR biggest cheerleader and #1 fan. YOU have to Believe in YOURSELF. You have to fully RELY on GOD and not MAN. YOU trust in GOD and have Peace with everything else. Everyday you be the best you can be, you try the hardest you can AND you let go of YOUR expectations of others and live solely by yours.

It is Physically Pain VS Mental STRENGTH. 

Austin running cross country...Right before he PUKED!! He ran down his mind, ignored the pain and pressed for the PRIZE!!

When our bodies experience physical pain our minds want to explode with psychotic emotions. We question not only ourselves but our agenda.

BREATH.FOCUS. Realign your thinking.

When you release your mind from bondage of self doubt, discouragement and  distress you free your body to take you places you never dreamed. Places God himself saw you accomplishing before YOU KNEW you could!

"Thoughts are not a necessity; most of the time they are just distractions that obstruct your inner vision."

"Pain is Temporary Quitting is forever." 

MANTRA, VERSES, QUOTES...Memorize them and armor yourself with them use them as fuel and armor against the voices that want to disable and discourage you. 

You are going to have tough runs. You are going to have tough races. 

When you take the time to LISTEN to yourself...do not advertise the voices in your head...people may commit YOU! 

"No negative thoughts cross my mind on race day. When I look into their eyes, I know I'm going to beat them."
Danny Harris

What advice would You give for mental strength to Jessica?? Where do you struggle? How do you stay strong in the midst of a training run or a marathon?? 

1 Tim 1:7 "For God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control." 

Anita

Marathon Madness. Part one...Why I chose the Marathon...

 

"We are different, in essence, from other men. If you want to win something, run 100 meters. If you want to experience something, run a marathon." Emil Zatopek, winner of four Olympic gold medals

As many of you know, I am training for a marathon. This will be my 3rd marathon. 

• Chicago Marathon-10-10-10. 3:40:02 Ran for for Leukemia Lymphoma and qualified for Boston.
• Boston Marathon 4-18-2011. 3:39:44

The marathon is NOT my favorite race. I like the Half Marathon. 

The Marathon makes you feel like a Stallion. Powerful, strong and tough! It is the Race of all races, the Grandfather of distance. The "arrival" as a runner. This is ALL ONLY my perception!! And I am not working with a full deck..Just saying. There is no where this is written as truth.

The Marathon has been around since 490 BC. The Modern Athens Marathon commemorates the run of the soldier "Pheidippides" from a battlefield town of Marathon, Greece, to Athens where upon arrival of his message he was delivering collapsed and DIED!
The Message simply said "NIKI" which means VICTORY...."NIKI" is also know to many as NIKE!!

The apostle Paul gives many illustrations about "Running the Race" He talks about it often because the people in Greece could relate to the familiar games.

•  "Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one receives the prize? So run that you may obtain it" (1 Corinthians 9:24, ESV).
•  "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God."(Hebrews 12:1-2)

MARATHON HUMOR

The Marathon is ALWAYS 26.2 mile. I loved when I got done running or am training and someone always asks:
"So Nita, how far is a marathon?"  or "So, did you Win?"
Or one of my favorites "Is the Chicago Marathon as long as the Boston Marathon?"
I ACTUALLY even had someone ask "So how far is a Half?!
Many of you training for a marathon have heard these, ALL of these and can say "Yup, I have even heard these a few times!"

WHY RUN THE MADNESS of THE MARATHON:

 Frank Shorter, 1972 Olympic marathon gold medalist:

 "You have to forget your last marathon before you try another. Your mind can't know what's coming."

I ask myself this many times. I Love pushing my body to its limits. I love running. I love the warmth of the sunshine against my bare skin in the summer, the sound of my feet hitting the pavement. I love the breeze refreshing me, the birds soaring through the sky, and the serenity of quietness. I love the peace I absorb in the elements of earth. The greenery, the smell of lilacs, pine trees, horses in the pasture...I have a sense of smallness, humility, and powerlessness in Gods Beauty. I Love FEELING GOD all around me. A Oneness. I feel his presence as I run blocking out the chaos of the Children, the hurts of yesterday and today, the disappointments, disputes, and the overall DRAMA of LIFE and the people in it.

Bill Rodgers, winner of 4 Boston and four NYC marathons. "The marathon can humble you."

I push myself to the limits of the marathon for the same reason only more emotional. I do it because I believe God uses me in my weakness. "When I am weak He is Strong." I desperately seek his strength, his stamina, His endurance in my running...And that is where it collides with my life also. I break myself soo down that only GOD himself can carry me. Running to the level of pain and endurance of a marathon reminds me to humbly SEEK God. In order for me to ask him for Anything I have to come with a clean heart...It is here...HE searches me, It is HERE I purge, I release, I repent and Ask HIM to do a work in me.
*******************************************************************************

Soo Here is YOUR CHANCE:
ARE YOUR THINKING ABOUT RUNNING A MARATHON?
GIVE ME YOUR QUESTIONS...
For those WHO HAVE RAN AND DO RUN THE Marathon...Why DO YOU RUN it???
What Compels YOU to put your Body their such Stress and discipline???

Tomorrow I will answer some questions and give some Tips and Ideas for those considering Tackling the Madness of the Marathon!

"I've learned that finishing a marathon isn't just an athletic achievement. It's a state of mind; a state of mind that says anything is possible." John Hanc

Anita

Post Race Long run

 "The best way to get something done is to begin."

Andy took me by surprise and after church said he would run 6 of my 16 miles with me. I was so thankful.
Although my body didn't "Feel" sore I knew I was gonna feel something once my feet hit the pavement.

I felt something alright..I felt:
I felt like turning around....
I felt BLAHH....
I felt grateful to have Andy there (Even though neither one of us did much chatting)
I felt HOT, it was 74' degrees out there.
I felt my knees barking at me.

Andy and I were so excited that the water pump was on downtown. Not caring what anyone thought of us we must have looked funny. We were on our knees pumping out the water drinking it by the handfuls and wiping down our dry hot skin. The water came out of the pump cold and wet. It was so refreshing.

I dropped Andy off and was left to myself for the next 10 miles. I decided in order to not get discouraged I was not going to look at my Garmin. And I didn't. The goal was to JUST FINISH. No time, no worries, just make the 16 mile mark. I struggled to get to each mile.

 Behold, thou hast instructed many, and thou hast strengthened the weak hands. [4] Thy words
have upholden him that was falling, and thou hast strengthened the feeble knees. Job 4:3-4

My knees started to feel heavy, my hips were aching, my mouth was parched and I felt like I was going turtle slow. I wanted to walk, I wanted to crawl, I didn't want to run anymore.
But YOU can not put off a long run. You have to just get it over with. I knew it had to be done. As painful and miserable as it was, I GOT IT OUT OF THE WAY!!! I FINISHED!!With a little extra whining but it is accomplished!

Post run, ICE- Mortin and feet up for 30 minutes.
Now its time to get up and help Andy with the yard work. I promise I won't complain!

Are You a PROCRASTINATOR??
How is your training going??? Have you stuck to the GOALS you have set out?? You are only cheating yourself. Get our there. One step at a time. You only have ONE Body. Take care of it, Challenge it, Challenge yourself. Do something big, Be Brave...But stand by your word.
IF YOU SAID YOU WERE TRAINING...THEN GET OUT THERE AND TRAIN!!!

Someday is not a day of the week.  ~Author Unknown

Anita~

Pot O Gold

 Mexican Irish! That's me..Mother was a "Murdock" and Father was a "Gonzales".  It is kinda funny seeing a Mexican dressed  like this wearing something other than a sombrero! I dressed up for work today and got a lot of chuckles. My response was the famous quote " Growing Old is mandatory Growing Up is optional.








I have been sick and in bed the last 2 nights before 9:30.  Trying to get myself prepared for tonight's race. Sinus infection: Self Diagnose! Runny nose, head ache, sneezing..sneezing and more sneezing! Ibuprofen and NyQuil my invitation to sleep.

 The race was in downtown Flint. And the weather was 77 degrees.
Andy had me do some strides and warm up.

This race marks the first race of the season.

I paced myself well using my Garmin to maintain my pace. I was coming up on a woman that had a BAA outfit on. I was so nervous to pass her. I was already at full capacity and was afraid she would kick it into gear if I came up on her. I looked down at my Garmin to see that as I was trailing her we were running 7:45 min miles. I had my goal set at a 7:30 pace. Just then I thought. "Anita, You run YOUR OWN RACE, if she kicks it up thats OK, You know what your goal is, stick to it." And with that I slowly passed her. We were running with a headwind and up hill with less than a half of a mile to go. She never came back around to finish me off.

I turned that last corner to see the finish line. With everything left in me I turned my legs over. Keeping my head up and eyes focused on the clock I continued to pass people and finish in under my goal time. I was so happy. I Ran my Own Race with my own goal.

As I took my place on the sidelines to cheer Andy in, a woman came over to me and said "NICE Race, You finished well."  It was the Boston Marathon Woman. That made me feel great. This is what racing and running is all about, encouraging one another and recognizing the hard work and pain we all are enduring.

 I took 1st place in my age Division, which was actually pretty competitive! It is great to get first place in your bracket but believe it or not it is even better to achieve YOUR PERSONAL GOAL. I was happy I got to celebrate both.

I beat my time from last year,  29:28 where I took 2nd place. This years time was 29:08.
Now the real kicker will be tomorrow when I am supposed to do my long run.
And ANDY TOOK 2nd Place in his DIVISION!! So proud of him!


Good night, I am exhausted, I am going to take my kleenex to bed and wish for the best!!

BTW..Thanks for all the words or encouragment!

Anita

ING New York City..learning to Let Go and Let God.

SHORTS..I have the Ugliest legs..Mine are in the middle, the ones with the most scars!

Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. 

 FINALLY, I did it. I applied for entry into ING New York City. I have about a 1 in 8 chance of getting my name pulled in the lottery. The odds are really against me. But I am going to remain optimistic and give it to God.  
The Lottery will be held April 27, that's a FRIDAY. The drawings will be conducted using a random number selection algorithm to choose entrants from each applicant pool. (tristate, US, International)

After last years Detroit half marathon time, You remember..1:37:02, It was those 2 seconds that prevented me from having Guaranteed Entry that I have put it off, grieving.
 
You have successfully applied for entry for the ING New York City Marathon 2012, Your entry number is 944414. Please write down your entry number or print and save this confirmation page in your records as you will need this number in the future.

So with less than 2 months away..We shall see..... Let go and Let God.

They were calling for Thunderstorms today. As I was taking Austin and Alec to school I was sharing the weather forecast. 50% chance of Storms. Austin replied, "Yeah but mom that means it could be 50% chance of good weather." Well there you go!! I liked his answer. And that was the answer that defined most of my day. Sunny and Beautiful out. 

It made for a great run with the girls. Katie did awesome today. And Danielle with her cheetah legs had to reign in those blazing legs. We all showed up at Indian Springs in shorts. The temperature was in the 60's.
 I was feeling pretty good but my allergies really are giving me a run for my money! I  went to bed last night early after taking NyQuil and 2 Bayer Aspirin. I think I sneezed about a hundred times. That meant I probably peed my pants to! When I sneeze it is always in a series of 4 or 5 obnoxious, jerking, spit flying blows. I try to cross my legs but sometimes they just come out of no where! All the things you didn't need to know!! 
The run went well. Danielle made Home made strawberry jam and gave us each a jar. I can hardly wait to dig into that, I have to hide it till them..BOYS!

Speaking of things given to me. Here are a couple more things given to me that I am going to try today:

The butterscotch sits on the bottom!

http://www.chindeep.com/2011/02/27/slowcooker-sunday-butterscotch-pudding-cake-with-an-alternate-ending/

1. Heidi from work gave me a recipe for Crockpot Butterscotch Pudding Cake. Which is currently in the crock pot as we speak..I can not wait to try it.
2. My client gave me some quail. No idea how to cook it. I have it in a saucepan as we speak also. I added garlic, onion, chicken stock, thyme, salt and pepper and basil OH and BACON! I am going to cook it off the bones. then make a sauce with the stock and serve it over pasta. I think..Well thats the plan....

 3 hours later.. I came home from my addiction meeting to discover 2 out of 3 enjoyed dinner and the Cake was a huge success. I had a bowl...and I think I want another.....

 “Some of us think holding on makes us strong, but sometimes it is letting go.” — Herman Hesse

Anita

Play it forward...

PI day!! For all you Math NERDS you know what today is..3.14 is Pi.
I started my day out buying pies for Austins 3rd hour Math class I was volunteering in. On the way home from the store I stopped at TIM HORTONS (My personal favorite) for a cup of coffee.
I saw this girl in her car and for some weird reason she rubbed me wrong. It was me being a brat.

Have you ever gotten irritated over someone for no good reason?  I could hear my thoughts and was so embarrassed. I turned left into Tim Hortons and pulled around to the drive-thu. Sheba was sitting in the passengers seat inhaling the smell of donuts and getting more restless. I looked in my rear view mirror and saw "THE GIRL" pulled in after me.
Instantly I heard a voice "Buy her Coffee."  REALLY??? WHY?? UGH!!
Then I remembered a scripture I recite to my kids:

"Depart from EVIL and do GOOD."

No she was not EVIL! My thoughts were though.
I argued with God till I was reaching in to pay for my coffee. I put the 2 dollars down that I had to purchase my coffee with and got out a 5$ bill.....No I didn't buys donuts or a muffin!!
Yes, I bought her coffee.

It felt pretty good exchanging my bratty attitude and negative thoughts for a more positive action. I am sure you never have random crap running through your head. I do. I do not know why that stuff surfaces. I probably shouldn't be so honest about it. You may wonder what I am thinking of you next! You will know if I buy you a coffee!! LOL

All in all GOOD day! SUPER SUNNY and warm. I met my girlfriend "Kelli" for a massage. It was so funny when I confirmed my appointment. I said to the lady. " I am confirming my massage, I have a couples massage with my girlfriend Kelli." Then I heard myself YET again..and was like.."Ah, Well, she isn't my girlfriend, well she is sorta, I mean she is but not like that!" Oh my goodness! The receptionist was cracking up.

MASSAGE. I love getting a massage. And it is so good for you.
Massage will:
1. Break up scar tissue that may have built up in your muscles.
2. Improve blood flow to your muscles.
3. Loosen muscles that have contracted (shortened) with continued use.
4. Allow more oxygen to move into your muscles.
5. Improve the flow of lymphatic fluid, which aids in healing.
6. Reduce the chance of injury, through proper stretching, race preparation and through deep tissue massage.
7. Improve range of motion and muscle flexibility, resulting in improved power and performance.
8. Shorten recovery time between workouts.
9. Maximize the supply of nutrients and oxygen through increased blood flow.
10. Enhance elimination of lactic-acid build up (a by-product of exercise). 

Do your body a favor, treat it to a massage!! I struggle doing this for myself, I do it more for my running. It is like one more step I take to help me improve my running. But I enjoy this a lot more than Icing or Rolling my KNEES!!

THE RUNDOWN: I ran at the peek of the heat. It was 72 degrees by the time that I got outside. I had a tank top and my favorite Brooks running shorts on. There was not a cloud in the sky. I LOVE the heat. It is like mother nature is personally hugging me with her warmth. 

The first 3 miles were smooth sailing. But my turn around was quite a different story. The wind was camouflaged by the beautiful weather. There was no denying the non stop breeze that I had to endure for 3 miles.  I really wanted to stay under 8 minute miles but now I was challenged a bit more.

I must have looked at my watch 3 dozen times. But my favorite glance was when I hit the STOP button!! 7.09 mi 00:57 /08:02 pace. So close. 

Oh well, I gave it  a valiant effort. While running I had to remind myself to release some of the pressure because I have a race Saturday. "Pot O Gold" 4 miler. It is in Flint at 5:30 pm. This is one of my favorite runs and one that starts my running season off.  

The 2 seconds didn't devastate me, the wind didn't destoy me, and my overall time settled with me just fine. I was disappointed for a minute but it was way to pretty out to stay there to long! 

 That's part of running, setting goals, achieving some and trying to achieve others, defeat is a moment not a destination. Yes, we all visit sometimes, but we have to pick ourselves up and move on!

A GIFT FOR YOU....

Tim Hortons is MY Favorite place to get coffee. If you can guess or KNOW how I order my coffee I will send you a 10$ gift card to the coffee place of your choice!! You just have to answer in the Comment Section. I Challenge you to Buy the persons coffee behind you the next time you order yours!!! 

Have you ever had someone buy your coffee??? Tell me about it.

Anita 

Post Long run..

Andy asked me to send him a picture of myself, he had WiFi for a few minutes in Haiti.

Well. The best part of my day was having Andy back home.
Andy has been gone for the last 8 days, Mission of Hope in Haiti.
I stayed up till 1am to welcome him home.
That really hurt waking you up this morning. Andy didn't go into work until 8am. We all slept in.
6:15..came and went...6:30 came and went....6:45....came in went....7...7:05.....AHHHH!!!! We ALL gotta hit it and get it!!

Needless to say..after everyone had gone, I had my coffee, cleaned up after all of them and I read my chapter in the bible but that was what did me in...NUMBERS...Boring...I felt me eyes growing heavy, very very heavy....
Yup, I woke up with Sheba curled up against me. It was 11:15!! I had fell asleep for a little under an hour.
My body was moving back to its regular pace.

Time to hit the gym. I did speed drills on the Dreadmill, About 4 miles. I had a little fun with this Meat Head who got on the treadmill next to me. He kept looking at my digits then messing with his. "OHH, you wanna play that game, eh" Soemtimes I notice that big strong guys think they can out TOUGH a run with me, especially at races. I DO NOT NORMALLY do this...But I was feeling feisty today.  I think I was getting prepared for my race this weekend. My competitive spirit kicking in I went tit for tat upping mine..It was fun!!...Thats why I only did 4 miles though!
 I followed up the run with a easy bike ride, about 2 miles. But my favorite...Rolling my IT BAND. Andy took the roller with him. It felt soo good to roll my legs out.

A Haitian and Andy at the Church

Andy said she was the "Most Beautiful Girl" at the hospital He was working in.

But the best part of my day, Sitting next to Andy and listening to his trip through a collage of pictures. Listening to the Heartbreak of Andy for the people of Haiti.
Listening to his love for those people.
Hearing his humbled spirit.
His compassion for those with nothing...yet are filled with the HOLY Spirit.
I could go on and on...God Used Andy in a Mighty Way, But I believe Andy got the greatest gift...By Giving to others we really Gain so much more.....

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto me and I will answer you great and I will show you great and mighty things, which thou knowest not."

Anita

"Don’t follow in my footsteps; I run into walls."..

"God’s plan is like a movie. All the good and bad things are arranged together for the good ending."

I am a Airhead. For those that REALLY know me, they may think this is even a understatement. I try so hard to compartmentalize my actions, thoughts and emotions. My mind moves like a rollercoaster. It goes in hyper speed to up and down and often spiraling out of control. I have wires loose, fried and not connected at all. It seems to work OK...most of the time. Well I guess that depends on who you talk to though. But my scatterbrain usually equates to something getting lost..misplace is the way I like to word it.
I personally think it is a genetic disposition. My mom was the same way.
I REALLY try HARD to not be preoccupied, I try to be focused, rational, attentive..But something happens....

I lost Andys Keys!! He has been out of town to Haiti all week. I had to bring his truck to the church tonight so he had a way home and LOST his keys. Now loosing keys is like second nature to me. I have lost so many keys and locked my keys in the car so often that "On Star" would make jokes with me when I would call them.
We now own a FORD so it has a key pad. Kinda weird I can memorize numbers easy enough but not where I put things!

I was seriously asking people to pray for me to find those keys at church. I even told the boys if they found dads keys I would give them 20$ (cheaper than calling a locksmith)!

Well I had a long run today, 19 miles. I had a hard time focusing on my run because the "loss of ANDYS keys" really had taken up EVERY compartment in my overstimulated brain. I could hardly focus on anything.
Heidi had accepted my invite to run with me for at least half my run today. I was trying to zone in on my gratitude there. 
We had a great run together. I ran 9 miles alone before I met her. Together we ran  8 miles together. The day was so beautiful but we really needed the water today.  We actually did a couple loops to her house to hydrate again. We maintained a pace under 9's. That was incredible. We were both "Feeling it"
by the time we separated I had less than 2 miles to go. But I was still standing, my blister wasn't irritating me, and the sun was STILL shining!!
But then...in the quietness of my homeward run...ANDY'S KEYS surfaced into my thoughts!!
I wasn;t home 5 minutes and Andy actually called me from Miami! I had to break the news to him. He was trying to be happy but he was a bit irritated with me, That made two of us.
I hung up the phone and within 5 more minutes I prayed..MORE, and continued to look...I FOUND THEM!!
They were in my car..where we looked a few hundred times!

KHLOE!! my Great Niece..Isn't she GREAT!

Just when I didn't think the day could get any better, my niece and nephew came over with their daughter. What a incredible day.

HYDRATION: 5 Simple Facts: DRINK ONLY TILL THIRSTY!

1. On long runs (more than 7-9 miles) An hour before you start your run, try to drink about 16 ounces of water or other non-caffeinated fluid. 
2.  You should take in 4 to 6 ounces of fluid every 20 minutes during your runs.
3. During longer workouts (90 minutes or more), some of your fluid intake should include a sports drink (like Gatorade) to replace lost sodium and other minerals (electrolytes). 
4. Post run:You should drink 20 to 24 fl oz. of water for every pound lost.
5. Kinda gross but.. If your urine is dark yellow after your run, you need to keep re-hydrating. 

Anita

That could have been me..By the Grace of God go I.

Drug Raid..

Have you ever thought in the middle of chaos, "How did I get here?" "When did this happen?"

Have you ever thought you could get away with something and when you got caught you thought "I can not believe I did this." or "What was I thinking?"

I am everything you may think I am. Every mistake, every screw up, every judgement you think of me. You are Right. That was me. And in some ways that still is me. I have mistakes, screw ups and a series of unfortunate events broadcasted in my testimony.
I don't like the person I was. And there are days I don't like the person I am.  I made bad choice after bad choice. I tried to cover one bad decisions with another and when that didn't reap good results I dug my hole deeper.

Eventually you get Sick and Tired Of being Sick and Tired.

Eventually you realize you are Stuck On Stupid.

Eventually you have to wake up and see that doing the same thing over and over again expecting different results is truly driving you into the looney bin and NO Where ELSE.

But life gives you second chances..and third...You just have to start making better choices eventually.

Yesterday was a HUGE Drug Bust across the street from me. Marijuana. It is such a bummer because I have witnessed this family make a series of bad choices and try to recover from the disaster with yet another bad choice.  It broke my heart to see them humiliated with neighbors watching and guns being pulled on them in their own front yard. We were all gawking in astonishment. We all knew it was going to go down.
There in the balance are 2 little girls.
I was at home thinking...That could have been me. Maybe not the exact circumstance but that could have been me, like his wife. She was frantic and scared for her husband. She was confused and protective for her children and she was so co dependent she couldn't see the mistakes they had made.
That's how it works. We become as sick as our loved ones. We quietly em-mesh in their dysfunction becoming part of the canvas as well. 

The police took him to jail and left her home with the toddlers.
I made cookies and brought her a plate.
I wrapped my arms around her, no judgment, no condemnation, just "I am praying for you."
That could have been me.
That was me on a different scale at one time in my life. 
I just wanted someone to wrap their hands around me. I knew I was a mess.

I thank God for his Grace, his gift I do not deserve. I thank God for pulling me out and being patient with me. I thank God for second chances...Because that could have been me. "By the Grace of God go I."

Rain Or Shine, RUN!

The RUNDOWN:
It was just Danielle and I. I KNEW it was going to be a tougher run this morning. Aside from the rain and wind we had decided to try and pick the pace up today. The temperature said 52 degrees but that was before the wind ripped a hole right through you. We planned to run 8:15 minute miles. Indian Springs Metro-park has a nice hill you start off on. You feel like you are in a wind tunnel the first mile you run. I had to take my hat off because the wind was going to do it if I didn't. Danielle said reassuring "Well at least it isn't raining or snowing." 
That first mile I thought this already feels tough. Danielle is so sweet she just kept saying "You pick the pace." I thought well this feels OK. But somewhere around mile 2- I decided that's just it.  It feels OK. I didn't want OK. I didn't want mediocre, I wanted to push the limits. I wanted to test my legs and lungs. Go for the gusto. Before we approached the 3 mile marker I said to Danielle, "Lets go all out for a mile then bring it down and repeat it."  She was in. Quite rapidly we were no longer at a conversation pace. It got real quiet except for our heavy breathing and feet hitting the pavement. The markers were on my right, listing every tenth of a mile. Teasing me, taunting me...As we finished the first 800 meter repeat we were huffing and puffing, I was whining about a side stitch and both of us were trying to keep our breakfast down.

This was good. We had a mile to catch our breaths and to it again. It was awesome to have her next to me. Just her presence in my pain was so encouraging. We stayed next to each other stride for stride, never leaving each other. We didn't talk much when we were running a 7 minute mile other than a occasional "Ugh", "GOOD Job"  or shouting out our pace.
We welcomed the lower pace, feeling grateful for its return and amazed at how well we just did.

Thats what a 7:18 pace looks like!

Danielle made a statement that went something like this. "It felt so good, I haven't felt that kind of pain in a while."  Running through the pain, pushing the limits helps your recognize how much strength you really have. It prepares you for the race. If you never know the feeling of "Pain" then you are going to have a harder time running through it!..No you are not dying, you feel like it, but You are still feeling it, SO RUN!!

Closing:

"The GOD I believe in is the God of Second chances."

I am not who I was. And be patient with me, HE is not done with me yet. 

Anita