Tuesday, May 20, 2008

challenge: accepted

Challenges. Why do we accept them? Why do we want to take on something that we know we may fail at? I've been wondering about this the past few days as I think about the challenges I have ahead of me.

In June, I'll be heading to Trinidad with a group of students and leaders from my church. It is not going to be an easy trip. There are many things that are going on with the team (in and out of meetings) that are going to make this trip a challenge.

In October, I'm going to be running a half marathon. It's still 5 mos away and yet I'm questioning if I can do it.

So what's my reason for taking on challenges? Because I know that I can't do it alone and it is an opportunity for me to allow God to work thru me. I am not going to be able to make a dent in student's lives with out allowing God to work along side me. I can not run long distances with out giving Him the credit for giving my body the ability to do so.

I believe that we are called to take on challenges to force ourselves to rely on God. Without Him, we would fail miserably or just never try new things because we knew we'd not accomplish them. I'm trusting that God will be with me as we prepare and go to Trinidad and I believe that He is with me and giving me strength as I train for the major races I've set before myself.

I accept the challenges because I have God on my side, that is so cool.

Saturday, May 17, 2008

the pretty side and the ugly side

This was a very good week! I was able to get a run in every day but Tuesday and two of the days were the lake loop. Thursday and Friday I was able to get to the gym and ran 4mi and 5mi, respectively. Today I was going to go to the gym early with a friend and do an easy 2mi but my friend had to cancel so I reasoned that I'd already gotten my 20mi in for the week that I didn't have to do any more...

Well after doing some errands and attending a friend's bridal shower the weather had turned so nice that I couldn't pass up the chance to go out for some fresh air. Sunny and 70...perfect!

Here's the thing about the lake. There is a pretty side, with the water on one side and houses on the other and near the end of the loop is a beautiful green with a park and a gazebo... Then there is the ugly side, you can't see the lake, it's behind the neighborhoods and you're right on a main road (it's especially bad when trucks or buses go by, the exhaust is nasty!).

What has been happening lately is that the wind is at my back for the ugly side which I like to run first to get it over with so that by the time I get to the pretty side the wind is full on pushing against me. And that is one thing that I hate about running outside...the wind. And it seems that it's usually blowing the opposite way I'd like it to...

That all being said, it is still enjoyable to get out of the gym and take advantage of the wonderful day.

Mileage for the week: 24.2

Thursday, May 15, 2008

magic number 20

An update on my leg...After running 4mi on Sunday and 3.2mi on Monday, my knee had completely gone stiff. I had to hobble out of the gym on Monday afternoon, I was thinking "there goes my hope for 20mi this week..." So I (wisely) too Tuesday off to rest the knee and hoped that it would feel better.

I woke up on Wed with nearly no pain and no stiffness at all! PTL! So, instead of relegating myself to the eliptical, I hopped on the treadmill and ran 4mi with no pain, no stiffness! I have been stretching better as well as doing some squats and lunges to try and build strength in my knee. I believe it may be working... :)

I still feel great today and am looking forward to getting to the gym after drama rehearsal tonight again. As I still have the magic number of 20 in my head, I'm hoping for another strong 4mi tonight.

Monday, May 12, 2008

wearing lazy pants

So, yesterday was the first day since Wednesday I went running! Thursday, I decided it was more important to spend time with some friends that I hadn't seen in a while than go to the gym after drama rehearsal. Friday and Saturday were spent hanging out with some awesome girls. Their parents went away for the night and I got to spend time with them. It was a lot of fun but the late night (movies!) and early morning (sports) left me exhausted. When I got home on Saturday I crashed! Watched a couple of tv shows and went to bed. I decided on Saturday that I'd had my lazy pants on the past couple of days and that had to change!

Yesterday was the first Sunday in a while that I didn't have to do anything extra...no Trinidad meetings, no dramas, nothing! It was awesome. The sun was shining, a breeze was blowing, and there was not a cloud in the sky. As soon as I got home from church I got my running gear on and went around the lake (4mi). It was very enjoyable! There was a ton of people out also enjoying the day but it wasn't too crowded.

I'll be hitting the gym tonight, it's not a particularly nice day at all here and rain should be moving in shortly. Tomorrow will also be a full day but I'm hoping to get to the gym after spending time with some very special people, Dawn and her new baby, Savannah; as well as our respective mentors, Ellie and Ruth. It's sure to be a wonderful time!

All this is to say that I have taken my lazy pants off and put them aside...I've got my racking-up-some-milage pants on this week and am shooting for 20. :)

Thursday, May 8, 2008

fitting in

This whole "going to the gym" thing has been far more enjoyable than I anticipated! I have been 3 times in the past three days and have loved switching up the treadmill and eliptical.

Another thing I am really enjoying is the fact that during the week, the gym is open 24hrs. Which means on Wed nights when I am bound to Grace Chapel for 12hrs, I can still get my work out in at 9pm! Which is what I did last night. I got over 4miles in on a treadmill after MS craziness! Likewise, tonight I am also bound to GC for another long night as I have drama rehearsal. I make it sound like I am a slave to these things, I'm not! I love doing both ministries so much, but when life gets so busy, it's hard to fit everything in. I'm just thankful that I don't have to sacrifice my workout to be involved at church.

An update on my leg: It's feeling much better as I've been continuing to work it out. I think it helps that I'm not JUST running but mixing it up has been really good.

Hopefully in the next couple of weeks, life will slow down a bit and I'll get to run outside again...I've been anxious to get around the lake again. Someday.... :)

Tuesday, May 6, 2008

pulled leg muscle

As evidenced by my lack of posts lately, you can tell I've been busy! Last week was full of preparing for a Missions Training Retreat, the weekend was the Retreat, and yesterday was sleeping off the Retreat.

Unfortunately, I believe I have majorly pulled a muscle in the back of my knee. You know the one that connects the back of your thigh to your calf...that one. It's hard to extend it, but also hurts to have it bent. I'm hoping that if I rest it during the day then work it out for half an hour, it will get better and stronger. If not, I suppose I'll have to go to the doctor, which is not something I enjoy!

Despite some pain with that I have continued to work out. Last Thursday was a really nice day so I took advantage and ran the lake, 4mi. This was prior to my leg hurting... It was during the retreat that I started noticing stiffness.

Yesterday, I went to the gym thinking that the Eliptical machine would probably be the best because it's not as intense as running. After 35 min of that, I felt good so I hopped on a treadmill and ran for about 15 min and walked for 15 min. I immediately regretted that as my leg was hurting pretty bad near the end.

I do plan on going to the gym tonight because a friend of mine is coming too! Should be fun! But I plan on walking on the treadmill or doing the eliptical...no running for me until my leg feels better. Blast!