Charlevoix Marathon Recap.

"I'm always nervous. If I wasn't nervous, it would be weird. I get the same feeling at all the big races. It's part of the routine, and I accept it. It means I'm there and I am ready."

Allyson Felix, Olympic Gold and Silver Medalist 

Saturdays Charlevoix Marathon was not my first marathon and to be honest I have lost track of what number it is, numbers and memory have never been my strong suit! 

Before cancer I was just cruising through life. 

I was not done living when I was diagnosed with TNBC. 

I still had more dreams. 

How was I going to run again? Would I be able to run the way I used to? 

I struggled emotionally. After a few weeks, I decided I would read about other athletes with cancer and study their training. 

 In between chemo, radiation and multiple surgeries and a very broken body I questioned my dreams. I kept moving whether it was biking, hiking, going to the gym or running in the capacity my body allowed me. 

I tried to navigate myself off of the pity pot and continued to reach for optimism. 

Charlevoix Marathon was a dream I had. 

My ugly is Gods Glory. I saw myself running again, running strong again. 

But the only way to achieve that was to not quit and work harder than I had in years. 

Charlevoix Marathon:

Start: 6am

My alarm went off at 4:15 am. I hit the snooze only once before jumping out of bed to get the coffee going for Lacey and I. 

I had taken a "PM" the night before to help me sleep, however my measly 4 hours of sleep was as good as it got. I had everything laid out, I grabbed my coffee, the bagel Chris gave me and began to get ready hoping I would be able to go poo poo. 

Chris was kind enough to drive us last minute. We were staying in the Bay Inn in Petoskey, 14 miles away. Funny thing, the race course actually turned around just a couple miles from our hotel. 

STARTING LINE: 

Runners, runners everywhere! The music was loud, the sun was shining, the temps were perfect at 59'. 

Runners were shoulder to shoulder, laughter and excitement surrounded us. 

We saw Antonio and Doug and jumped in the corral behind the 3:45min/mi pacer. I had to pee so bad but knew I didn't have time to wait in a port-a-jon line so I tried to ignore it in all the hype. 

As the National Anthem was being sang I closed my eyes and prayed. I humbly prayed for favor. 

READY, SET, GO

We separated quickly from Doug and Antonio who tucked in behind the pacers. 

GOAL "C" s a Boston Qualifying time, not a time I knew I would get in with but the official time, 3h50min. 

GOAL "B" was 3:49, this was a 8:44/mi. 

GOAL "A" was a frightful secret to many, 3:45. My dream goal. 

Within the first 2 miles we found Joel, a runner friend of mine from CRU. It was his first marathon. We discovered his goal was similar to my "C" goal so we thought we would stay with him and hope to encourage and help him. 

Joel was doing incredible but I was getting concerned I might be running too fast. 

Mile 1, I was proud of myself seeing a 8:40min/mi, but then mile two was a 8:16 min/mi. I slowed it back down the next 3 miles at a 8:54, 8:39 and a 8:52. 

The course it relatively flat and Lake Michigan was beautiful when we finally ran next to it at mile 6ish. 

Our pace sped up again and I didn't slow back again until mile 9. We had made a few friends out there and we were chatting it up. Joels family were cheering him on almost every 2 miles. Their motivation inspired you to move faster. 

Mile 10, I hit my targeted pace and quietly prayed I could hold it to the finish line. The  temps were warming up and I had some of the elevation rehearsed in my head that I would have to do again on the way back. 

I just wanted to get to the turn around. 

HALF WAY POINT. We all made it to the 13.1 turn around. Joel, Lacey and I were still laughing it up. I was feeling good, just scared I would fall apart any moment. 

We were concealed in between the trees most of the time, hidden from the sun. 

Joel began to break away, running strong. I hit mile 13 at 8:41 and 14 at a 8:46. Doubt was seeping in. Doubt and fear. My body felt pretty good but I was still scared of the pain that would be up ahead of me. I fumbled for my IPHONE. My hands were sweaty and sticky from GU's as I tried to find a playlist to revive me. 

About mile 15, as Lacey shared a GU with me she said she didn't know of she would be able to hold on to the pace all the way to the finish. 

"Lacey, GET me to 20, just get me to 20 miles..." I asked. I knew I was asking a lot. Lacey had only trained the last 8 weeks but I knew she would help me. 

I still had to pee. "Lacey, I think I just tinkled, ohh no, when it happens the flood gates are going to open..." 

Thank God Joel was still ahead of us. At mile 18, there was no holding it, no stopping it, no slowing it down, my bladder exploded. Lacey couldn't stop laughing. She could hardly breath as she watched my shorts begin to drip like a three year old. Then I got tickled laughing as my shoes squeaked with pee pee. I looked around me, "Lacey, can you tell...." she could hardly respond, "OHH YEAH!" she laughed now holding herself from peeing herself too. 

We lost Joel around mile 19. 

Mile 20, with my music loud I went to say something to Lacey and she was gone too. 

Mile 20, where the race begins. 

Truth be told I had been steadily holding a sub 8:30min/mi. 

I prayed again. I gave thanks for every perfect detail and asked God to bless me with perseverance. 

"Hold on Nita, Hold on!" 

The sun was beating on me, I was running on the bridge when my ankle was not responding well. 

As I came off the wooden bridge, I remembered the incline I had ahead of me. I took a deep breath and headed up the half mile incline. 

1, 2 ,3 people, I kept passing all the runners that had passed me the first 5 miles. As I came onto mile 22, I saw Chris. 

I pierced my eyes on his florescent yellow shirt and dug deep to catch him, 8:32, 8:24, 8:21 min/miles to catch him. I reached him at mile 24, a 8:15min/mi. I tried to drag him with me but my pace was dialed in and I knew I had to hold it. 

It was a finish like no others. DOWNHILL. I was so tired, my quads were on fire but I knew I had to bring it in. I continued to pass runners, "Your doing great, keep moving.." I would say as I passed another runner. I felt my belly flip the last half a mile. I felt the vomit churning. 

I came into the downtown of Charlevoix. I saw people on both side cheering me on, "You look so strong, your almost there." 

I saw the Finish Line, I tried not to face plant as I turned my legs over. 

I crossed the mats with pure JOY. 

I heard my name, I felt the tears, I swallowed back my sour belly and saw Debbie M. like an angel cheering me on. I couldn't hear or  think, she smiled at me, brought me water and was so kind. 

I closed my eyes, "OH LORD, thank you, thank you." 

Each minute that passed another friend of mine came in, Chris, Lacey, Nicole, Doug, Antonio, and Joel, all a sub 4 hour marathon. 

In Conclusion. I stepped to the starting line confident in my training. I felt courageous, setting goals that scared me, realistic yes, but just out of reach. I knew I had to be resilient, holding my resent failures close. Using them as a training tool to work harder and overcome. 

KEEP DREAMING. 

I needed to feel Alive again. I wanted to qualify for Boston because it represented strength again to me. I don't care if I get in or not. It was just a representation of OVERCOMING. 

Thank you to Chris and Lacey for the training runs the last several weeks. 

Congrats to all those that ran Charlevoix, Joel, Chris, Nicole, Christina, Brian, his first marathon too, Trisha, Tracy Lynn, Joe B, Antonio, Doug, Lacey, the Wickams and  Kathy. 

You all did great! 

Lacey, Chris, Debbie, Doug, Me, Nicole and Antonio

Lacey, Doug, Me, Antonio, and Joel

"The one training tool I couldn't live without is my training partners. It's so much easier to get out the door when you have someone to run with and push you on workout days."

 Kim Smith, 3 time Olympian 

Anita~

Glory To God. 

Phone it in or..Charlevoix T-6

"Shift from thinking to feeling-feel yourself accomplishing your goal. Take that feeling out of your head and put it into your heart. Embrace it as reality." 

Erin Taylor, founder and head coach of Jasyoga 

The adventure is at single digits. Charlevoix Marathon T-6 days. 

The great debate; fight with every cell in me to see what I have, 

OR play it safe, call it in,  run Nita run, save a little back for fun, smiles and no great failure?

If you don't set your goals too high then you never fall that hard.  

The harder you fall, the more it hurts. 

What to do? 

We must ask ourselves this a dozen times a day. 

Just the thought of lining up to the starting line rattles me. The early morning sun creeping over us as the runners line up, quickly filling up the corrals. The clamor of excited runners chattering, laughing and studying you. You see the eyes look you over and settle in on your bib. In seconds, you notice they are  exploring your age and distance and then their eyes glance back at you, matching it all together. 

You just smile. 

That's what I do. I smile. 

Nervous, I smile. 

Anxious, I smile.

Excited. I smile. 

In 6 days,  I will be running next to Lacey. I am so tickled. 

We had our final long run, a whopping 8 miles Saturday. We met at GAC, starting slow we quickly picked up our pace. We were all a bit foot loose and fancy. Chris kept gauge on our pace reminding us to slow it down. 

I was happy we had started early and finished early as the temps kept getting hotter. 

Lacey, Chris and I, That's a wrap!

There is Joy in the Journey. 

I find myself trying not to get discouraged as I have tried to clean up my marathon failure back in February. 

Charlevoix is a chance to recover. It is a out and back, Lacey, Chris, Antonio and Doug are going to be lined up with me. I am really hoping I don't give Doug and Antonio any material to tease me and hoping they give me some so I can tease them! 

The weather looks AWESOME! 71'! 

I have had so much fun training for Charlevoix with these two. It felt great to feel a little bit of normalcy with last few weeks. Between feeling human again, and Covid taking a back burner running gave me so much joy. 

Timing is everything. There is a season for everything and a time for every matter under the heavens, Ecc. 3:1. 

Course Description: "All courses start and end at the Draw Bridge in downtown Charlevoix.  The course is primarily fast and flat, unless you're from Florida, then you will feel like you're climbing Everest around the 11 mile mark.  We have an incredibly high rate of Boston Marathon qualifying times  (18% of the entire field) on this course because it is very fast. 
The courses venture through the historic neighborhoods of Charlevoix which provides great shade especially early in the morning, and then out onto our paved trail system which follows the shoreline of Lake Michigan.  There is approximately four miles of running on our wooden bridge which is a great relief for the knees!  All courses are an out-and-back style course which keeps the course feeling energetic but not over crowded." 

RUNDOWN:
Monday: 6miles
Tuesday:REST
Wednesday: 4m
Thursday: 14.5 ( Laceys long run) 
Friday: REST
Saturday: 8.3
Sunday: REST

TOTAL MILES: 32.8

Final touches: 

I have my shorts for the marathon. I have to find a white tank top now. I will try to share it later this week when it is all put together. Lacey and I decided to sneak out early! we are leaving now Thursday night. 

Anyone have any suggestions on a good place to eat in Charlevoix or Petoskey?

So do I phone it in for fun, or die trying to see what is in the tank? 

Anita~

Preparing for Charlevoix Marathon: Simple list.

 "Fear is gradually replaced by excitement and a simple desire to see what you can do on the day." Lauren Fleshman

Charlevoix Marathon is Saturday June 19th. I am not going to lie. I am nervous. I always get nervous when I have a goal. And I get especially nervous when I have already failed that goal already once this year. 

THE GOAL: 3h 49min. 

THE FEARS:

1. That I am not going to be able to accomplish it. 
2. That I am washed up, beat up and burnt out and my faster marathon days are gone. 
3. That I need to accept reality, start acting my age & if I fail again maybe I should start knitting. 

MY HOPES:

1. That the weather would be kind to us at 6am, our start time. 
2. My legs and lungs would work like they did in my 30's. 
3. That I don't get lost or stung by any jelly fish....:) (A1A)
4. That nobody notices when I pee my pants at mile 20. 

MY PREPERATIONS: 

1. This year, I have ran a marathon in February & a 50k in April. 
2. I did Yasso 800's twice hitting my target pace. sucks
3. I scheduled my prerace massage next week. 
4. May 24-30=38 miles, May 31-June 6= 69miles (step back week, last peak week)
5. Hill repeats, targeted pace for 12 miler and biking to cross train. sucks
6. I purchased my nutrition for race day and new sunglasses!

MY FAILURES

1. I ran too may miles this week. I needed extra mental health miles this week. It was better than throat punching people or drowning in emo tears. 

MY DIET

1. Protein smoothies after every workout, a MUST and a Probiotic. 
2. Whole wheat waffles in the morning...just started this lil routine. 
3. Been drinking water...(I only like water with coffee grounds in it) 

MY TO-DO

1. Figure out my race outfit
2. Work on play list
3. Figure out if I am going to carry my own water.

Rundown:

T-12 days. 

I did my 12 miler on the trails at Holly Rec. The training program called for 12 miles. Chris wanted to change it up and run trails at Holly rec, 2 loops, 2 hour 15 minutes was his goal. Andy and I met him and the heat was picking up faster than my legs were. We hit the goal, that was exciting. 

That should have been my last long run. 

Andy wanted company running the following day back at Holly rec for some loops he is training. 

HIS GOAL: 4 loops= 16.5 miles. 

I knew it was going to be a challenge due to the heat, but you run them slow and smart. 

YOU have to PREPARE for the sweat fest. We set out chairs and made it a aid station with towels, clothing, a cooler, a bag of food, salt tabs, and GU. I drank water and sugar free Gatorade, 16 Oz on each loop and I peed every loop....this is a good thing, it gauges if you are properly hydrated. 

I know I shouldn't have ran those miles but Andy needed company. We should never be miserable alone, you know misery likes company! 

SIDE NOTE: 

Last weekend, I was a HOT MESS of emotion. Sorry for the emotional post. This weekend was a another emotional weekend but I managed it better, hence why my miles were up! 

But I want to make it very clear. No matter how sad, how upset I get, God is GOOD all the time. 

No matter how dark the days, how broken I may feel, I know that life is GOOD. I have no ill feelings, no bitterness, no unforgiveness in my heart. I am joyful in my sorrow, grateful for Gods plan for my life. I am loved and I love. I love my family, I love my mother and father. They had a terrible disease. They loved me and my siblings. My parents were beautiful people, kind, loving, funny, generous, adventurous, addiction just interrupts that. My mom and  dad were beautiful on the inside and out. 

ANITA~

Catching my Breath, abandoned

 "Col. 1:11 "Strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience."

My recovery after my run, protein smoothie, latte from Biggby and I finished my book, tearfully. 

There are things in this life that do not just "GO Away".  Days can pass, years can tumble into each other but no matter where time stands the heart does not respond to the added sunrises and sunsets. 

I finished my May book in 3 days. As I closed the final page of "Where the Crawdads Sing" I couldn't stop crying. I had emotions that resurfaced. Childhood pain that tugged then tore my heart apart. 

I caught my breath and made it through the afternoon as normal as possible..

Until..

We sat at the dinner table finishing a dinner of grilled chicken, smoked ribs, home-made potato salad, baked beans, green beans, corn bread and my sister in loves amazing applesauce chatting about movies. Alec has begged us to watch his favorite, "When a star is born". 

I refuse. 

"Alec, my eyes just quit being swollen from crying over my book, I'm NOT watching that. 

They all started on me to watch it. 

I walked away and came back a few minutes to them watching it and harassing me again to watch it as a family. 

Andy wouldn't let it go and finally I said, "When you guys grow up with my childhood you will understand.." 

My book set me into a emotional tangled mess. I couldn't watch another movie where addiction is a vital component of relationships. Where addiction hurts the very thing we love. 

I sit here so burdened. I am 47 years old. My GOD, when does it stop hurting? It took everything from me. 

I should have a father to look deep into his eyes and see myself. I should be able to have coffee with my mother, should be able to buy her flowers or help her plant a garden. I should be able to ask my father to help me understand my history or tell me stories of when I was a baby...

I don't have any of that. And I never did. 

I have a hole, a deep abandoned hole. I was left to fend for myself. Left to grow up by myself when the other girls were shopping at the malls with their mom or eating birthday cake I was forgotten. I was a shadow of addiction. When families gathered together for dinner I was hiding in closets or jumping out my bedroom window hiding from chaos. 

I see the looks of people when I openly share my voice. I see the judgment of them. I see their eye rolls. I hear their whispers when I voice my heart. 

And it is days like today I am reminded they can judge me, whisper about me, they can turn their backs from me because none of them know abandonment the way I do. You don't just "Get Over It". 

When you loose your father at 11 and your mother at 18 without even a "Good Bye", without a "I love You", you forever feel abandoned. 

*****************************

Catching my breath

Even when my body is still my mind continues to race. This is reason #155 why I run. 

My Kodak moments do not depict my tortured soul that surfaces and sometimes, like today lingers, haunting me with painful yesterdays. 

Rundown:

Last weeks miles: 38 miles, a step down week

Todays is 3 weeks until Charlevoix Marathon. 

We did our long run today. 20 miles on the Polly Ann Trail @ a 9:19 min/mi. 

"Col. 1:11 "Strengthened with all power according to his glorious might so that you may have great endurance and patience."

I know God had a plan for me. He strengthened me to prepare me for His will. 

You can't compete in a race with out strength and you can't get to the starting line without patience. 

Some of you may not be putting on a bib and running a race but most of you are running a life race of endurance, strength and perseverance. 

Things don't often happen over night. Be patient with yourself and with others. Some people in your life will never "Get it". That's OK. Its energy you can not afford to loose on people that don't want to understand. 

The enemy of your soul is firing flaming arrows at you, especially when you are down. 

Stay strong, stay focused, never quit loving. 

And Remember, don't let your pains of yesterday dictate your tomorrows. Overcome, never give up and believe of beauty. 

Training TIP:

* When it is meal time a good general guide is to have one quarter of your plate covered with quality protein, one-quarter with a minimally processed whole grain carbohydrate source, and one half with veggies or fruit." Lauren Fleshman  

Anita~

Mercy on Me

"Gratitude isn't anchored in ease, Its anchored in intimacy." 

It has been a painful process, Pruning is painful. 

Todays sermon brought comfort to my suffering. It was on God pruning us. I have never been bitter for all the pain and suffering I have had. 

Suffering as a child, a hollow and evil path to adulthood. 

Suffering with cancer, physically God brought me to the brink of death. He cut me back to barely breath. 

But I knew and I know He IS doing it for me to bear fruit. To glorify HIM. 

The worship music saturates my soul, carving out the ugly, softening my heart in praise and humility. 

God removed my pride, envy, dispute, my bitterness, my dreams He pruned out all the things that didn't belong there. Weeds can look pretty from far away but they are death. 

As I listened to Pastor Wes preach I was so grateful God had mercy on me. 

RUNDOWN: 

I ran 18 miles yesterday. 4 weeks out from Charlevoix Marathon. Chris is following Hal Higdons plan. 

His plan had him only running 12 at a 8:28 pace. 

We ran 18m at a 9:30 pace. It ended up in a unplanned group run with both Andy and Rachel. We discovered Rachel on the backroads and she joined us for 8 miles. Andy met us after running 6 miles at at Lost Lake park on Evans Rd. 

But it sat with me. Hals plan is a plan for a 3:40 marathon. 

A VERY lofty goal. 

And it sat there seeping into my mind...

After Church, refreshed by the spirit I was excited to see what God had planned for me. 

I wanted to hit the 12 miles Hal had. 

MOMMA BEAR: 

My first mile I saw a runner out there. I felt my blood pressure go up. This runner I knew, I am not fond of him. He had hurt my son many years ago. Without sharing too many details I wanted to throat punch him, how quickly the Holy Spirit had left me. 

Many bad thoughts ran through my mind as the gap between us closed. 

I thought the best thing I could do was keep running and not trip him. I caught up to him at the corner of Grange Hall and E. Holly. We both stopped our watches waiting for the light to turn. Against my will, I smiled and gave a thumbs up, secretly begging God to turn the lights. AND HE DID. 

I hit my Garmin and bolted across the intersection. 

Fighting for It:

I took off at the intersection too fast. I hit my third mile at a sub  8min/mi. "WHOA Girl, slow your roll, its 82' out and you have 9 more miles." 

I tried to bring my pace down. Steady breathing and drinking. I felt incredible, thanking God for my Latino blood allowing me to tolerate the temps. 

By mile 8, it was on. I was coming up my largest hill on Fish Lake rd. I was struggling. I looked at my pace and it fell apart. I was determined not to walk against my better wishes. 

I had to fight. The clouds were separating and the heat was beating down on me. I was burning up so I kept drinking. I tried to calm my self down.

 I looked down at my pace begging myself to hold it. I extrapolated the numbers and knew I could just phone the last couple miles in and still be OK. 

I had so many ways out:

*it was hot

*I had time banked

*Everyone else that day had bonked

*I ran 18 the day before

By mile 11, I could feel the lactic acid churning in my belly. I thought of my XC kids who had vomited in the heat last week and kept running. I thought of the temps on marathon day and how I needed to train in it. 

I thought I was running in sludge. I couldn't feel my legs but my feet felt like 10lb weights. My heart was beating so hard and I just kept waiting for my Garmin to BEEP. 

I fought all the way AND DID IT! I found a tree to hold me up and rested against it. I still had a mile back home. I walked. 

By the time I arrived home I was so excited. I DID it, I fought all my excuses and DID IT. 

Conclusion: 

So thankful God had Mercy on me, He pruned me back and I am watching him do miracles in me. 

He is putting me back on course, His course. 

Some of you are being pruned, being cut back. It is painful and I am sorry, But you will grow in the process. 

There are things in all of our lives that could use pruning back. I challenge you to start weeding out and pruning back things that are not helping you to grow. 

Anita

Mighty Ways

 The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing. Zeph. 3:17

I ran my fasted 10 miler in months and months at Indian springs last week. It was so hard, I could hardly talk as I tried not to puke. Thankful for Danielle's constant encouragement . 

Last week, I had a physical with Dr. Abraham. I waited 45 minutes for him to come in the room. I found myself getting frustrated but when he looked at me it all melted away. He sat down and casually spoke to me for the equal amount of time I waited. 

My Dr. looked me in the eyes, like he was looking at my soul. His expression showed compassion and kindness. He asked about me. And not the kind of ask that you interrupt or hurry up for a answer. The kind of conversation that truly showed love. 

After over 20 minutes of catching up on life he presented my blood work to me. 

With 18 months cancer free, I was curious about my numbers. All that chemo can really do aa number on you. I have been struggling with fatigue, rapid weight loss and bruising. 

If I didn't burn you all out with my cancer, I burned myself out. But as I waited for my results, it was like a trigger an addict might get driving through a neighborhood they once bought their drugs. 

I felt my heart in my throat, my ears were ringing and I was scared to hear what Dr, Abraham was going to share. 

"Anita, I am not an oncologist so I do not understand how some of these number work but your white blood count is still very low..." 

I smiled and responded, "You have to look at my neutrophils...." 

Truth be told after circling numbers of praise I am extremely healthy. My white blood is low because I am burning the flames at both ends. 

"I will rest when I get to heaven Dr. Abraham." I smiled after rehearsing my weekly schedule. 

Between work, running, coaching, ministry and family I am tired but refuse to cut anything out. 

"Dr. Abraham, God gave me life, I have to use it for Him, I coach these kids because someone has to stand in the gap for them. We are to be "weary in well doing". I love these kids.  And my addiction ministry, families are being torn apart, drugs are being so desensitized....." 

He just stared at me. "How did you get into that ministry?' 

I smiled, I survived 2 parents who were addicts, I know what it did to me...." 

My take away on my Dr.s appointment had nothing to do with the results of my test and everything to do with how I need to be better, a better listener, more compassionate, more patience, genuinely LOVE. In my day to day life, rarely do people inquire about me. Dr. Abraham was genuine. A beautiful representation of selflessness and kindness. 

RUNDOWN: 

May 3-9th: 57.6 miles

May 10th-16th: 68.77miles

I get up every morning early enough to enjoy my coffee and quiet time. 

I value my quiet time. I often evaluate all the failures, mistakes and insecurities I am struggling with. I battle crazy dialogue. I see my failures, my weaknesses, and try to detach from the judgments of others that rent way to much space in my head. 

God reminds me in these quiet moments that he fills my love tank and secures a place in Him where others can not. 

In these private places, invisible to all, He is doing a work in me. 

Gods power is presented in might ways invisible to the modern man. 

WHY DO I SHARE THIS? 

Many can not understand how God has not just healed me but strengthened me. In so many ways I feel like a little miracle. 

How I have gotten faster and stronger in my running.

Its easy for me to share. 

While this world rests on their own abilities, their own strengths, their own pride, I humbly can not do that. I am A NOTHING. Insignificant to most, an annoyance to many, a shadow to others but a somebody to HIM. 

I have seen more miracles in my 47 years than many will ever see in a lifetime. And the unexplainable is understandable because of my Faith in Him. 

 

RUNNING IN THE HEAT: 

• Dehydration often leads to slower times.  The last couple days the temps have risen. Do not get discouraged when you run in the temps and you struggle to get your pace down. High temps can lower you pace up to 10%. 
• Running between 10-4pm is when UV rays are most potent. Remember sunglasses, sunscreen or a hat if you are running at these times. 

Anita~

 CHARLEVOIX MARATHON T-4 WEEKS!!  I sure hope I can get a sub 4 hour this time!

The Grind

 "So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

 1 Cor. 10:31

Someday is not a day of the week. 

This Monday made the passion a grind. Rainy, overcast and otherwise dreary day. The schedule to run and bike had to be adjusted and I was not motivated. 

I am good at procrastinating. I was dragging. The slumber had settled in. I struggled to come up with a new plan. 

Out of sorts, I gathered myself, my pack, my music and coaxed myself out the door. 

Grind it out. 

Less than 2 miles down the road, I was already drenched. I was coming out of my skin. My sugar had dropped and I could hardly think. I heard a car come up along side of me. It was Andy, "Do you want me to take you back home?" 

Without out thinking, I responded "No, No, I'm good..." I smiled and waved him off. 

LIES. LIES. 

I was not good. I was trying to convince myself I was good. I was walking down Grange Hall road trying to find my trail mix. My legs were heavy and sluggish. My heart was racing and my head felt like a bowling ball,  I felt like I was going to just fall over. I wanted to lay down in the ditch. 

The cars flew past me, whipping up wind and rain. I pulled the rim of my hat down and shoveled the trail mix in my mouth, begging my body to recover so I could run and get off that God Forsaken road. 

I walked a half a mile and carefully turned my legs over into a jog. By the time I got to Hess Rd, my body had recovered but was lethargic. I was so tempted to quit and go home. 

 

Almost 5 miles to Holdridge, I decided to run the West loop. Dripping wet, I cautiously headed to the trails hoping I wouldn't slip, trip or flip. 

5 miles later, 4 deer, 2 bunnies and 1 sand hill crane I was heading back home. 

15 miles total. They weren't pretty, no bragging rights or breaking records but I did GRIND em' out.

The Audience of ONE

"So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God." 

Today, as I ran quietly with myself. I reminded myself of how far God has brought me. How He has healed my body from cancer and strengthened me. I feel closer to my precancer self everyday. I am humbled by how much God has brought me out of sickness and weakness. Even on my weakest day I am stronger than I was. 

Saturday, we had a group run out at Holly rec. The group took off fast, too fast for me. But I put my speaker on and ran my little heart out. I couldn't keep up with them but I ran the fastest I had ever ran on those trails that day. I felt great coming out of the woods. Strong, confident, joyful in the Lord.  I have learned to run for an audience of ONE. Myself. Even on my loneliest of runs, I am never alone.  God took care of me when I was sick and He has never left me.  

Somedays its not a passion, its not a pleasure, its a GRIND. There is more of a lesson in overcoming the GRIND than quitting. 

For me, its an opportunity to Glorify God. To remember where He has brought me from and give thanks for where he has taken me. 

Anita