Grit!

I was talking to my client "Rose" a few weeks before Fathers day about gifts to get "Bill" her husband who is a runner and also my client. "Bill" is the gentlemen who I ran the Angels Place Race  with. He wants to run a marathon. It is on the bucket list. Well there was this new book coming out that "Runners World" put together I thought would be a great gift.
Well guess who got the book?? Now guess who was jealous?
If you Answered "Bill" got the book and I was jealous you are a Genius!! I wasn't completely jealous until He came  in talking all about it. Then I was really green with envy!!

So I had a little package mailed to me last week while I was at camp. I would have liked to have opened my own package but Andy got to my mail first and opened it....

None the less...there it is..isn't it pretty!!! I have been so busy that I have only gotten through part of the introduction. And I love it. Runners World is offering a 21 day trial offer for the book
Runners World Big Book of Marathon and Half Marathon training.

There is something for everyone at every stage of the game in running. It was a reminder to me there are No Excuses. If you want something bad enough you can do it. You have to first see yourself there and believe yourself to get there. You have to grab every tool that there is available to you. This is one of those tools.
I have seen runners or all shapes and sizes with all kinds of ailments and reasons to never even put one foot forward. For that matter I have seen runners with out feet to put forward! 
Running a half marathon or a marathon takes hard work and determination. It takes inner strength and as this book puts it.." It takes GRIT".

I knew that it was going to be over 90 degrees. But that was not going to be my excuse. I got my 7 miles in at 8 am this morning. No it wasn't easy. Alec got sick last night and I didn't get to bed till after midnight. It was hot and sunny which meant I was going to be sweating like a stuck pig.
I could run taking it easy during those 7 miles but I just signed up the CRIM!!
I not only signed up for my traditional 10 miler, I signed up with a team which is something I have never done before. Now I have people depending on me. There is no slacking on training, I am going to be in the hurt locker a lot in the next 7 weeks. If the weather stays like this it is going to be gruesome.

To those Michiganders if you have never ran The Crim I encourage you to check it out. This year is like my 7 or 8th year running it. I really enjoy the support and the crowds that come out. And the Kenyans come out to run it every year and that alone is something to watch. There is a race for everyone. This was my very first race that I ever trained for.

Anyone out there running the Crim?? If so what do you like about it??
Also has anyone purchased The Book I just received? Any other reviews??
Also when looking for tools to put in your running toolbox my greatest tool is Gods Word.

"Be of good courage and he shall strengthen your heart..."Psalm 31:24

"My flesh and my heart faileth but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever" Psalm 73:26

"A man's heart deviseth his way but the Lord directeth his steps." Proverbs 16:9

Anita

So Sweet..

After church than breakfast at Panera we headed home. With a full belly and hanging on the tail skirts of camp I talked myself into a nap with out much hesitation.

Even though the nap sounded good and was going to feel amazing I knew that there would be consequences to pay.
I knew I had to run and I knew it was going to be a painfully hot run.
Mom and dad wanted to see a movie but there was not much out so we decided to go over there and go swimming. Even though I have seen a lot of family in the month of June I have not spent a lot of time with mom. I wanted to be with her. Enjoy her and feel comfortable in our relationship. Mom doesn't mean to be different around others but she gets really nervous around all her family because she wants everyone to get along. She knows I don't get mad at her for her small change in personality.  I am very secure in our relationship even when she sometimes takes that nervous energy out on me. I usually lay back away from her and let her do her thing. I love mom and know she loves me no matter what the circumstances are.
Getting off on a rabbit trail there the whole point was I wanted some quiet time with her. So I decided I would run over to moms and meet Andy there.
Austin out of the blue offered to ride his bike with me while I ran. This was so sweet because it was so miserably hot out. I knew he just wanted to hurry and get to moms and was hoping we would get there first so he could jump in the pool.

Andy came down the road to check on us!!

As we got to mile 2 I asked Austin "What would you do if I passed out right here on this dirt road?" Austin replied "Well I would probably not do anything for a millisecond trying to figure out what just happened! But then I would pour cold water on you and run to a house and call dad."
I thought it sounded like a pretty good plan. Especially because I was not feeling so good. I didn't feel like I was going to pass out but I did feel like I was running in a inferno. Just having him near me, talking to me, encouraging me and telling me goofy things was such a life line. I looked over at that 13 year old boy who is ahead of his time and just fell in love with him all over. "Austin I am so thankful you came out to be with me while I ran, I don't think I could have done it without you." I said to him. I didn't see a little boy next me with training wheels and a over-sized bike helmet asking me "Are we there yet?" No I saw I young man, strong and tall, thoughtful and concerned for his mother in the heat. Where does the time go? BLINK...." Come on mom, shorten your stride and get up the hill." Here he was sharing his running advice and asking me if I was ok.
I wanted time to stand still. I was physically miserable in the heat. I wanted to get to the end as fast as I could. My legs were tired from the hills and the temperatures and I was having a hard time controlling my breathing. But every agonizing feeling  during my 5 mile run was trumped by the love I was receiving from my son. He made my pain not only bearable he made it embraceable.
I wish I could bottle those moments up.
As I finished with several rolling hills I kept repeating "Focus and Finish" "God give me Strength"

Well I finished. I am plum tuckered. There is so much more I want to share.
I got a package in the mail this week.......
I signed up for a race......
Well I will save that news for tomorrow!
Sweet dreams, God Bless.
Anita

New Life Camp

Austin and I

Austin and I left for Rose City Sunday afternoon heading to New Life Camp, he took the bus and I drove up.
We came home Thursday night about 11pm.
My body feels like it has been put in a blender and turned on to "puree" and I sound like I am a 3 pack a day smoker.
This week I was a counselor for junior high girls. I had 14 girls and was so thankful to have "Maria" there as another leader in our cabin to not only help me but also to be there for me.

FLASHBACK..

I remember my youth camp days. Actually it was this very camp that I met my husband, 22 years ago. I was 15 years old and we were cleaning the camp up from the summer sessions. I can still remember what he was wearing...

It was a sunny fall day. We were all equipped with rakes and bags. We were raking up the leaves and cleaning it up for the winter. He stood tall and confident up on the hill. He was working feverishly..almost snobbishly in his snow white sweat suit. He never looked up away from his task. All the girls I was with noticed "Andy Harless". How could you not. I mean who comes to clean up a camp  in WHITE?? I was just going into the 10th grade. I was short and awkwardly skinny. I had kitchen haircuts and clothes compliments of Kmart. But somehow he noticed me on that hill when I thought no one especially HIM noticed me.

That is where I met the man that I have now been married to for 16 years!

I didn't see any relationships that looked long lasting coming out of New Life Camp this past week!

It was a great week. I loved crawling into my own bed without spiders or 3 inch mattresses. The comforts of air conditioning in 90 degree weather is priceless.

BUT...Life is so much more fulfilling when you fill it with others. I love those kids. I wish I could save them. I wish so much for them. So many tears and heart aches this week.
But also so much bonding, laughing, sharing and loving.
I reverted to 13 years old again. If the kids were playing it I WAS PLAYING IT.
From Octoball, Volleyball, Wiffleball, Army Basketball, Paintball, every ball used every way to the basic camp swimming and zip-lining, I participated in them all. I am beat up, bruised, battered, wiped out and thankful for every sore and blunderer up body part.

This picture does the hills NO justice!! The hills were so steep the buses were only able to do about 30 MPH up them!

Aside from playing hard I continued to run every morning. As the week went on I struggled getting up before 6 am.
Day ONE..I ran 6.5 miles. I ran this alone. Dad had me a quite nervous about a bear coming after me. The first mile of my run was covered in trees down a thin dirt road. This is where I expected the bear to attack me. I ran with caution but the only wild animals I saw were 2 rabbits, and a barking hound dog. The most ferocious thing I encounter was the elevation of the hills at mile 2 and 3. I think getting attacked by a bear would  have been less painful then running up and down these inclines.
Day 2. Ran a warm up mile ALONE..Then I actually had 3 others join me!! Camp Counselor fun RUN!
Scott, Sarah, and Jeff met me at 6:40 and we ran 4 miles together. Ran 5 miles all together.
Day 3. "Sarah" is the only one who joined me this morning. It was another beautiful morning for a run. It was really hard to get up. We ran walked 3 miles. "Sarah" and I actually found a stray kitten and we brought it back to camp! So cute..Camp Kitty now!

"Sarah" My Camp Running Partner!

Day 4 Finally getting used to the 3 inch mattress...Final run. great run, definitely beat up and worn out..but being with all those kids was worth it!! Ran 1 mile warm up alone. I met back at the camp to see if I had any joiners. And "Sarah" came out to join me. She was a trooper. I loved having her company. She is quite the Brick house. She is a tough cookie and as I found out she is also very disciplined. We were all running on about 5 hours sleep a night and she came out to run 3 of those days. I dropped her off after 3 miles and ran another mile alone totaling 6 miles total.


I got to know a lot of the leaders more closely. I was nervous going in the beginning because I didn't know the other leaders very well. We all go to the same church but I am about 10 years older then most of them. I reminded myself I was going for the kids. It was not about me or my comfort. I had to get over my insecurities and fears. When we get over OURSELVES it is amazing what we are capable of. When we DIE to ourselves, our hurts, our hang ups, our mindsets, traditions and whatever we let Run the Show for us we are more fulfilled then anything this WORLD had to OFFER. To put my arms around that 15 year old girl with a sister who tried to commit suicide, a alcoholic mother and a deadbeat dad was more impact full then living my life in the same old routine in the comforts of the world I create.
To cry with that 6 foot teenager who is a tough as an ox on the outside but soft as a baby on the inside will sit with me forever.
I can not save them. I wish I could. I wish I could protect them and tell them everything is going to be OK. But the reality is my little 5 days is just a blink in their life. But even that Blink, that Breath can plant a seed. And that is life Worth Living. To share their tears, to hold their hands, to listen to thier heartbreak and confusion, to have my heart cry out for them will always be worth it.

Counselors!

Beth and I ..Firepower!

Life is Bigger than just YOU...So get OVER yourself and be something to someone else..if only for just a Blink or a Breath~~

Anita

Sometimes there just isnt a Easier Route.

“All winged insects that go on all fours are detestable to you. Lev:11:20

I Thought I would run on the dirt roads today to get out of the blazing sun. By 7 am it was already 78 degrees out. 

Every part of that idea sounded inviting. The quietness of the dirt roads, the minimal traffic from cars, the shade covering the road and even the cooler temps were without question the route I wanted.

Only the first 10 minutes of Rood Rd was enjoyable. I was just embracing my brilliant plan when I slowly felt like I had just walked into a trap. 

I pictured my self as "Katniss" from The Hunger Games. I had just discovered this strategic plan to finish my last 5 miles and from the outside looking in it appeared perfect. It happened slowly...and suddenly it all went wrong.terribly wrong.

I found myself being bit and attacked by what felt like "Katniss's" TRACKER JACKERS! Bugs swarmed me. They were buzzing from all directions, running into me, getting caught in my hair, biting me and really irritating me. There was no way to get away from them. I even tried to out run them, but that only lasted a minute and I knew it was futile.

THE ONLY WAY TO GET THROUGH IT IS TO HAVE TO GO THROUGH IT!!

Devotion

James 1:3 "..because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Sometimes there is no easy route. There is no trap door, short cut ect.. No matter which direction we run there are obstacles that challenge us no matter what direction we go.  There is pain in every direction..it is inevitable. It going to hurt no matter what, But we have to remember that the only way we are going to get though it is to GO through it. I wanted to quit several times on that 3 mile stretch of dirt road. The Black flies were fierce. The pain from their bites left seering pain across my shoulders and back. My swatting was futile.  I knew it wouldn't last forever but at that direct moment it seemed like it was never going to end. 

This picture doesn't do it justice..the welts were everywhere.

As I was writing this at 8:30am I was thinking about Persevering. I was thinking about digging deep and getting through it. Never give up, and know that getting through our pain is so difficult but we are going to come out OK. 

But what I wasn't thinking about was my poor cousin "Kristin" who lost her Grandma today. I got the text a little while after I had closed down my laptop. My heart goes out to her and the Gaard family during their time of loss. Death is never easy. It hurts. So bad. 

They were just here visiting from Iowa. "Kristin" was sharing beautiful memories of her Grandma. These are memories she will treasure forever. Prayers go out to the family.

The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit (Psalm 34:18).

Anita.."Katniss" want to be!

You know its HOT when....

 "Out of the silver heat mirage he ran.  The sky burned, and under him the paving was a black mirror reflecting sun-fire.  Sweat sprayed his skin with each foot strike so that he ran in a hot mist of his own creation.  With each slap on the softened asphalt, his soles absorbed heat that rose through his arches and ankles and the stems of his shins.  It was a
carnival of pain, but he loved each stride because running distilled him to his essence and the heat hastened this distillation."
          - James Tabor, from "The Runner," a short story

You know its hot when:

• You get into a argument with your spouse because he is begging you to not run.
• You pull every stitch of hair off your head and even wet it down hoping it will cool you down.
• You fill a water container up with 75% ice on a little 3 miler!
• You take your 9 year old out on his bike with you in case you keel over he can drag you home.
• You pee your pants....
• Your sweat starts sweating!
• You forget how to get home and know you are only a mile from home.
• You look like a underwear runner you have so little clothes on. 
• Your watch is like a slip and slide on your wrist.
• The sweat is dripping like a sprinkler off every peak on your body.
• You don't see any other runners out there.
• People look at you like you have lost your marbles.
• You ask strangers for a drink of their water or to be hosed down as they are out watering their flowers!
• You think to yourself...Why didn't I go to the GYM?? 

I didn't experience all of these today on my little 3 miler but the majority I did. 
I DID take Alec with me bribing him with Dairy Queen. I did NOT pee my pants...this time!

But it was 93 degrees and my sweat was sweating!!
Unfortunately Andy and I did get into a argument about me running outside today. He gets very concerned. I think he forgets that I have been running long enough to be careful. On HOT days you have to play it safe. I am not foreign to hot weather. I know how to recognize when my body is going into distress. I HAVE BEEN here too! And it is not pleasant. 
Be safe runners. Prepare for the heat if you are going to run in it. Hydrate, sunscreen, take walk breaks, bring a phone and be careful out there.

How Do YOU Know its HOT???!! What Have I left out?!

  Ah, summer, what power you have to make us suffer and like it.  ~Russel 

Baker

Anita

Family on the RUN~

"When you teach your son, you teach your son's son."

It is officially summertime for the Harless Family!! Austin said it best today "This is the first full week of vacation."
A morning 10k to start the summer off sounded pretty good! We had big plans to get up and out of the house by 8am to run our 6 miles at Indian Springs.
We showed up at 10am, better later than never.

Alec looked awkward on my adult size mountain bike and  Austin was prepared to tackle his farthest distance yet.

I think Austin knew I was fibbing about the hills at Indian springs. They are more like rollers..but not to a 12 year old.
We took the first Mile at a very steady pace averaging 9:51. "Austin had made the comment several times "Mom, I do not want to go fast, I just want to see if I can run 6 miles."
The first mile of the Run is always the most difficult. It takes time to get into your GROOVE!

I thought mile 2 was never going to come. My Garmin beeped right as we were running over the 2 mile marker. We somehow managed to slow down on our 2nd mile running it at a 9:52 minute mile. I think Austin was nervous he wouldn't finish if he went out to fast. He actually got into a king baby temper tantrum on mile 2. I actually considered leaving him for a half of a second.

By Mile 3 we were sweating and getting attacked by bugs. Alec was riding ahead of us about 10 feet and seemed to be getting attacked the worst. His little arms kept flaring in the air as he attempted to fight them off. Several times I thought he was going to biff it on the bike because he would get so out of so of control swatting bugs away. Somewhere between bug fighting Austin says "Mom, I feel like I am into it now."
This was pleasing to my ears. He has his GROOVE on at a steady 9:53 pace.

We were consistently getting slower, I was going to slowly increase our pace as we turned around at the 3 mile mark. Emotionally I knew "Austin" was in a good place. He knew he was heading back in, and this alone gave him more confidence.

By mile 4 Austin had removed his tank top. He was sweating through it. We both were sweating pretty bad. It seemed like a trade sweat for bugs! But hey, maybe that sweat was the perfect payoff for a 9:36 mile!! He was speeding up and didn't even know it!

As we approached mile 5 we were moving pretty fast. It was fun to see Austin holding his own and now moving at a 9:11 minute mile. He was still talking and even laughing.

There was no doubt in my mind at mile 6 that Austin was going to not only finish his farthest distance but he was also going to rock The Solstice run next weekend. He not only was running his farthest distance he was also blowing his 6 mile at a 8:28 minute mile!!!
We had that enormous hill at the end. I had been telling Austin, "Whatever you do, do not be afraid of the hills, own them, conquer them and they will be your best defense in a race."
So as we were scaling our way up I was shouting forward "GO, GO , GO .." Only Alec thought i was talking to him so Austin actually yelled at his brother to move. But I said to Austin, "No Austin, I am talking to you, Go come on, get up the hill!"

We finished out 6 miles at 56:55. Right before the skies opened up. As we walked it off we couldn't help but notice the deep gray blue sky overtaking us. The skies looked angry and Alec looked petrified!

Yeah...He is taller than me and only 12...But I can still out run him!!

SUMMER Running with the Family:

"How do you spell Love to your children? T..I..M..E " (Source Unknown)

• Take the family to the track and do Indian runs with them. Make a game with the track getting the whole family involved. Ice cream is a good prize!
• Find a park, bring a bike for the family member that might not be able to keep up and a picnic for after. 
• Vacation..Run on the beach together..Little runs make Big memories!
• Sign up for a family 5k and train together a couple times a week. It gives everyone incentive to play together~
• Family fun game of Capture the Flag.

 "The mark of a good parent is that he can have fun while being one."
-- Marcelene Cox

 

Anita

Fathers Day Run...Dear Dads

Happy Fathers Day~

All of Andy's siblings sat around honoring their father on this special day with love, laughs and gifts. "Deb" in love posts a question "I want every one to gather around and say a special memory about their father." ..
That is where is started for me. I didnt want to participate. She even was kind enough to say "Well Anita you can say something about dad, or someone influential in your life." Yeah, that sounded good to open ears, but not to my broken heart. I plastered a smile across my face but wanted nothing more then to be home in my safe place. This day was bigger than me and I didn't want to be self centered or selfish but for some reason or another this year it really hit me.
Yesterday Andy bought a new shirt and the collar didn't seem right and my comment was "Well, I am not sure how it should go, I never had a dad that showed me."
I have been without a father for over 25 years. It is all I know. As I sat there listening to the others tell stories about their father I looked across from me and (my other sister in law..married into the family also) had a perfect grin across her face as her father was absent from this Fathers Day event too. She caught my eye as if to say "Its gonna be OK."
But it sucked. I didn't have a amazing story. Not even hardly a story, Like a handful of memories, not enough to even fill a chapter in my life. I didn't have a legacy. What if I said "Yeah, Here's a story, I remember when I was 11 and it was a hot summer and my dad came to stay with us after many many years. See he knew he was gonna die and wanted to have my mom take care of him in his last days." GREAT STORY!
Or how bout "I remember it was that same summer and I went outside in my  robe and my dad got mad at me because I didn't have any clothes on and I thought "Huh, Why do you care now...you have not been around for years." Yeah, that's a epic Fathers Day Story, one that will just set the mood.

****The Run
 The sun was settling down and the temperatures were cooling off. I wanted to run in the dark. I didn't want anyone to see me or see anyone for that matter. I even left my Garmin at home. It wasn't 2 miles as I made that turn unto Elliot road it all hit me. Maybe it was the way the sun was setting across the sky. Or maybe it was the tree covering across that dirt road. It was quiet, secluded and without the presence of anyone. I felt my body heave forward in tears. Even as I write this I feel the heaviness in my chest. I recounted the question.."Even someone of influence.." SOMEONE of influence!!! There were NO men in my family that made a Loving and lasting influence in my life. They all loved the bottle, the pills, the pot, and the World and the things of it. Everyone of the men thought of their selves first. I was not a SELFLESS decision for them. It was right here on Elliot road I sobbed. The tears running down my cheeks as I grieved the memories everyone else had. I wanted to share those memories. I wanted a father who went to everything for me. I wanted a father who sacrificed for me. I wanted a father who just put his arms around me. Just one memory to share. I wanted one memory of a man in my family even who put their arm around me and said I love you, You are special, I believe in you..anything. I cried out loud away from everyone. No one could hear me, no one could see me. As I came out to the paved road I saw a father with his daughter on a golf cart. My throat filled up with another knot and the tears came streaming down my cheeks again. I wanted to say  "Love that little girl, spend time with her, let her know you love her and you will always be there for her, Give her beautiful memories that will stay with her forever so that she isn't sobbing alone down some dirt road crying over something she never had and should have had."

Dear Dads,

You stretch and roll and prepare for the next Race. You run repeats, hills and long distances in the blazing sun. You eat foods that you wouldn't feed your infants, take supplements that your belch up for hours and have every running trinket there is.

Do you put that much time into being a father???

Do you work and train that hard to be the best dad you can be???

I just want to remind you what legacy you leave behind..Your medals collect dust, get lost and carry a value greatest to you. 

Take your role as a father as the most influential race you could ever run.  Leave a legacy of love, honor and time with your children. 

Sincerely..

Anita..

I am thankful to have gotten out of the generational mess of addiction. I am thankful for Andy for being such an incredible father to our children. It is awesome to see how Andy performs as a father to not only our kids but also to my nieces and nephew.   I am thankful for the fathers that did influence me. 

Andy's dad has been very good to me.