Keep it Simple Thursday

Indian Springs!

 “Whether the weather be fine, Whether the weather be not, Whether the weather be cold, Whether the weather be hot, We'll weather the weather, Whatever the whether, Whether we like it or not”

I looked forward to my run with "Danielle". It had been 2 weeks since we had ran together.
I crawled out of bed at 6:20am to meet Andy downstairs. I was dragging butt and thinking that second swig of NYQUIL was probably not a good idea last night.
Prying my eyes open I stumbled downstairs..Coffee..Coffee..Coffee...

I wish that was the perfect remedy but the hot elixer was not working so I prayed.
And from that moment I have not stopped!

It was a busy busy day! And it started out with me turning my car around to get my Yak Trax.
These are spikes that go over your shoes to run in snow. "Danielle" sent me a text that she was bringing hers and even though I was on my way to Indian Springs I turned around to get mine.

Keeping it Simple:

• Today was the first time I had ever wore my Yak Trax and it was a great day to use them. It made our run safe and attainable. 
• "Danielle" bought me a Timex Ironman watch. I needed a watch for the track to record my splits and she bought it in Purple...Ariels favorite color!
• Met mom at her moms house and helped clean. I felt guilty for not visiting her more. 
• Came home to clean my house and in the process I flooded my bathroom. I drew a bath and got so into dusting I completely forgot about the water running! The bathroom floor looks really good though!
• Had my kickoff run with the running club. I coach the intermediate runners and had 4 people show up. We ran in the dark. It was a great run. "Amber" attended our group but signed up with the beginners group and she did amazing!
• Dinner...Salmon patty, celery and cottage cheese.
• DESSERT....Buttermilk pie...YUM!...This is why I ate that boring dinner, so I could have dessert!

RUNDOWN:
Run 1: Indian Springs,  8.01m Time:1:15/ 09:22 pace
Run 2 Husky RR, 3.12m Time:36 /11:30 pace

Stay tuned I have another contest coming!!!  Very cool prize!!!

Anita

Don't Forget your own Victories!

Why do we forget where we come from? Why do we forget our victories we have achieved?

We forget all the hard work we have put into our own Personal Best. Many of us have reached goals, climbed mountains and even moved our own mountains and yet...we get distracted by the achievements of others.

We secretly peek out of the corner of our eyes looking at other peoples training and accomplishments when we just finished with OUR greatest victories!

Suddenly we are minimizing our triumphs and letting others trump all our hard work and achievements.

1 Samuel 18:8 "Then Saul became very angry, for this saying displeased him; and he said, "They have ascribed to David ten thousands, but to me they have ascribed thousands. Now what more can he have but the kingdom?"

As I read this I saw that Saul lost his FOCUS. He forgot the greatness that he had brought forth at one time. 

Saul  had "thousands" but because he focused on Davids victories he lost sight of the person God created him to be. 

God did not make me to be Kara Goucher or Paula Ratcliff.  

God did not even create me to be "Ken K" or "Michelle B". Both of these runners have awesome accolades and are incredible runners. God wants me to notice them through encouragement and edification but not jealousy and envy.

1 Samuel 18:9 "And from that time on Saul kept a jealous eye on David."

Because the people made more of David's single victory than all of Saul's, the king went into a rage and became jealous of David.
Saul looked at Davids Victories and forgot about his own.
Isn't that what we do. We have a PR or we run a distance we have never ran and we  hear about "So and So" doing something great and find our self deflating our own Triumph.

We have a great day and then hear about someones elses day and quickly lose that "Loving Feeling".

• Enjoy Your Victory. 
• Don't get Distracted.
• Use other peoples' Victories as Encouragement not Discouragement.

The RUNDOWN:
Distance: 7 miles
First 5 miles I did a PROGRESSIVE RUN:  (A run that each mile get progressively faster.)
I started out at a 8:30 pace on the TM and my last mile I averaged a 7:18 mile. I had the incline set at 1%.
The last 2 miles I ran the track and did sprints along the straight way and slowed down around the curves.

I encourage you to let other peoples Victories, Achievements and Blessings be just that Theirs!
Enjoy Your Accomplishments. You have worked hard for them.

Anita

Motivational Monday

Greatful...Grateful is the correct spelling but I think it should be GREATFUL..Because I have a great amount that fulfills me.
When you find things to be Thankful for it will pull you out of a pit. It will realign your vision. It will put a new spirit in you. It will humble you.
Sometimes it is so much work and other days it is natural.

10 things I am GREATFUL for:

1. Moms Blueberry Pie..so good warmed with vanilla ice cream over it
2. The Beautiful Full moon this evening. God Created that...WOW...Humbled
3. Opportunity to run in our Running club tonight. It was so awesome. The night was perfect.
4. For mom and dad. Ran into them in the grocery store. Mom said "Dad noticed your car in the parking lot." Dad: "Nita's here, we will find her in the healthy stuff." And thats where they found me! 
5. Andy had an extra Ipod..Broke ANOTHER one today! It just got REALLY hot when it was being charged and never turned on again..
6. The whole family liked dinner tonight and it was SUPER easy: Pulled Pork sandwiches, cottage cheese, Baked beans and Kettle Salt and pepper chips.
7. Boys were quiet for me to rest for 30 minutes before my 2nd run. 
8. I got to hear my sweet nieces voice, "Sarah" called me this afternoon.
9. 25 kids that were in my house along with 5 incredible leaders trying to grow them closer to Christ. 
10. The toenail that came off tonight reminding me that I am on schedule with my training!

What Are You Grateful For??


Anita

A head full of Numbers.

"There are no short cuts to any place worth going."

— Beverly Sills

I had planned all week running outside and that plan was thrown out the window with more snow today! I was on my way to church and angry at Mother Nature. I was angry at the snow for ruining a already difficult run.
What was I going to do? 18 Miles...where was I going to run?

I am not a numbers girl. Math was never my thing. Andy is a numbers guy. He is always there helping me with my splits, my pace, my miles and all the numbers in between.

I headed to the club. I considered changing my long run to tomorrow when the weather would be better but I just could not prolong it. I just wanted to get it out of the way.
The hardest part about running a long run is getting your shoes laced up and just doing it! That is not saying that running it is easy...Cause let me say it is not EASY..But it gets in your head first before you ever start.
I was going to try and do the whole 18 on the track.  That is where the numbers began.
As I approached the track it was 1:05pm I should be done by 3:45 if it all goes as planned.

4 times around equals 1 mile plus a little bit farther because it was not a perfect 400 meter track.
There were mile markers to help me but they only went to 10 miles. I would have to figure the rest out on my own. 
72 times around the track.plus a extra 2 laps..74 laps to make my 18 miles.
If I averaged a sub 9 minute pace I should be done about 2hours and 40 minutes.
I was starting at 1:05pm..I should be running till 3:45..

I had my GPS turned off on my Garmin so I could do my splits. I didn't even make it to mile 4 and I hit the split button to soon getting caught up in the excitement of the other runners. Now my brain was on overload trying to recalculate my splits and mile.

The track was full of runners and walkers who had no idea that they were all my running partners this afternoon. I was secretly running with them or running behind them. Todays runners were running a bit faster than me. I didn't mind lagging behind them but I really had to discipline my body and mind to run my own pace. I wanted to cheer them on and say things to them like "Great Pace", "Keep it up" and "Solid RUN" but I kept silent.

I got to 10 miles and then had to flip numbers around because that's where the track markers ended. . I had 8 more miles..about 69 more minutes. 48 more laps. I think I can..I think I can...

And again I stumbled over my numbers. I somehow lost track between the laps and my time not matching the track clock, I knew I did something wrong but I couldn't stop to figure it out. When I finally finished all my running partners had been "Long" gone and I just felt like something was not right.
I try not to cheat my running. I am not an exaggerator or someone who stretches the truth with my running.
I was concerned I had only ran 17 miles so to be safe I hit the treadmill for 1 more long excruciating mile. My legs felt like rubber. My shoes didn't want to come off the belt. I was digging deep adding this mile in. I put the TM on "Track View" so I could see myself going around again. I felt like I was going nowhere. It was the slowest mile even at a 8:34 pace I was crawling.

After a 12 minute cold plunge and a hot shower I started to feel human again. I checked out my Garmin and started looking at my splits, time and where I messed up.

This is what I came up with:
RUNDOWN:
Time: 2h 41m
Pace: 8:49
Miles: 18. 49

Running and Life Collide... Lessons I learned today

1. No Excuses...Make it happen
2. The biggest battle is in your head.
3. Run Your own Pace
4. Obstacles are always going to invite themselves: be ready for a BACK UP Plan NOT a BACK OUT Plan!
5. If you Cheat you are Cheating yourself!

• Congrats To "MOLINA" she ran her 1st half marathon, The Princess Half Marathon and 5K!!
• Thanks to MOM for my homade chocolate chip cookies and Blueberry pie. It made my run worth it. So yummy. Mom makes THE BEST Chocolate Chip Cookies. 

"Mental toughness is many things and rather difficult to explain. Its qualities are sacrifice and self-denial. Also, most importantly, it is combined with a perfectly disciplined will that refuses to give in. It's a state of mind-you could call it character in action."

— Vince Lombardi

 

ANITA~

And the Winners are...

In between clients I wrote the names of those that did their ABC's of running on little pieces of paper. I then put them in a cup and gave cup to "Abigail" asking her to draw 2....
MICHELLE R
DANIELLE
Those are the name "Abigail" pulled.

MY Favorite letters were:
Michelle R: U-UNDERWARE...Underware Michelle R.??????!!!!
Amber: P-Prayer...Love this!
Michelle B: L-"Lose Yourself"...This was my training song for my first Marathon...L-Love it!
Danielle: U-"UP Up Up"...I laughed till I almost cried reading this. This was what we said to each other each time we were running UP another hill at Kensington 2 weeks ago!

Thanks for playing along with me..I had so much fun reading your answers.
If you could email me your addresses that would be great. I will get the gift cards out right away.

Anita

Husky Roadrunners

Even though I was not running at Indian Springs I still have the number 8 in my head. I headed to the gym determined to do what had to be done. To be honest most of the time I love running but sometimes it is a chore. Today it was a chore. At 6:30am I knew I was digging deep when I was out of coffee.
I quickly told myself  "You do what You HAVE TO DO Anita." It was not an option. RUN. Do not entertain any other thought. Just RUN. No excuses. RUN.

When I got to the gym I signed up for the INCLINE Class. Before the class I did abs and upper body. The Incline class was pretty cool only it didn't run a full hour. I could barely get a mile in and I would accidentally hit the pause button and shut down my TM. UGH. I was getting so irritated with myself and the TM because it would not start back up and everyone was in a rhythm but me! The instructor gave me her TM and once my legs followed her instructions the sweat started to pour! Unfortunately the class only gave me 5.5 miles so I hit track to top off my 8 miler.

Tim Hortons was the direction my car headed as I pulled out of the gym. Coffee..oh sweet nectar from the gods!

Next Thursday is the launch day for our running club. Husky Roadrunners! I am coaching the Intermediate group which is 10-12 minute miles. Anyone can join, for 40$ you get a club running shirt, coaching, a group run once a week and your registration to HA5K!
I am really looking forward to the group. I have about 5 people in my group, it is actually the smallest of the 4 groups!

Hmm..I think I should throw a training tip out there...
TREADMILL Training:
A lot of my running buddies are die hard outdoor runners. I have Michigan running friends who have not ran outside for 2 years and this year that all changed.

• Adjust the incline on TM to 1 to 2 percent at your regular pace
• Or adjust the speed by 10-15 seconds to make up the lack of wind resistance you might get while running outside. 
• Adjust your speed as you feel fatigued on the TM. Often times runners get injured because they let the belt move them and do not change their speed when they are tired. This adds stress to your joints and if you are prone to plantar fasciitis TM running can enhance that condition.
• If you have to hold on then you should slow down! 

LAST DAY FOR CONTEST!!!  What's your ABC's of Running? Share your ABC's and get a chance to win a gift card to Starbucks!! I am picking 2 winners!!

Anita

STRENGTH

RUNDOWN:
Distance: 10miles
Pace: 7:54
Time: 1:19


Even though I look like a Smurf I have always thought of myself as a Super Hero.
I have never looked at myself as weak, inadequate, incapable or wimpy.
Now I have entertained them for dinner a few times but I have never let them stay too long.

I have always thought of myself as STRONG, COURAGEOUS,TENACIOUS and MIGHTY.
To look at me though..Yeah, I look like a TWERP! 

I have used the adversity I grew up in,the challenges that have been placed before me and the multitude of mistakes I have made to grow and build from.

I have used Mantra all my life thinking:
"What doesn't kill you only makes you STRONGER."
"Never Never, Never Quit."
"Failure is NOT an Option"
"God is my Strength."
"God never gives you more than you can handle...Therefore God Knows YOU can get through this."

AND YET....
The last 2 days I feel so weak and defenseless. It has been 4 months since the loss of Ariel. I feel like I am falling apart the last 2 days. I know I will be fine. But I feel like I am just dying inside.

I have always gotten what I want. I have tried to be obedient to God, I seek him every part of the day and night, I pray, I try to be a good person, I try to give, forgive, love, and all the things he asks of me. I am far from perfect but God has usually supplied me with most of my dreams and more.

Jeremiah 33:3 "Call unto to me and seek me and I will show you great and mighty things with thou knowest not." I have adopted this verse and God really has done this for me." 

I feel like a spoiled brat. I am kicking and screaming and nothing I can do will ever bring Ariel back. Nothing, nothing nothing,
I am not strong enough to fight for her.
I can not run fast enough to catch her.
I can not pray any harder, plead anymore or be any more obedient.
I feel like a failure.

Around and around the track I went. 6 miles, 7 miles my legs were on autopilot. I tried to run hard to feel the physical pain and not the heart ache. I wanted to wipe the sweat off my brow not the tears down my cheeks.
I could feel my stomach unfold.."No God, please. No more tears, not right now, please God."

I tried to teach Ariel STRENGTH. If you could see our messages back and forth. I always told her to "Stay Strong."
"Believe in YOURSELF and what God has placed in you."
"We are More than Conquerors."
She would come to me with problem after problem.
"Aunt Nita, how do I......?  Aunt Nita, How did YOU...."
I would share my stories, from growing up in Dysfunction Junction to my marriage and all the chaos 16 years can birth and everything in between. She always wanted to know about the Obstacles, the Challenges, the Heartache and How I got Through.
What would she think of me now?  I was drained. I felt so weak.
I miss our talks so much. I miss having her inquiring. She showed me how God carried me through everything.

I am not sure what unleashed my heart the last couple days....
My other niece "Sarah" called about how she colored her own hair, that could have been it. I was the only one that EVER touched Ariels hair. She trusted NO one!
I had to go to Hurley 2 days in a row..this brought back terrible terrible memories. I don't know how Andy does it working there.
I picked up my necklace from the jewelers for Ariels hair...that probably didnt help..all this in the same 2 days...
And like the cherry on top the song Blessing by Laura Story.
I have not recovered real well.


Dear Lord, Hear my cries, Comfort this brokenheart. When I am confused and searching remind me that you will give me peace in my storm.  When my heart wanders off please Lord reign me in. Set me under your arms, Wipe my tears, Comfort me and Forgive me for my selfish thoughts.
And Thank You Lord..Thank you so much for every perfect moment I had with her.

When I am weak He is Strong.