We're Back!!!

Today was good, we hit the trail did 3 miles with some rain but enjoyed it. We are happy to report that Manda was not in pain and didn't want to stop running at only 3 miles. Yay... so happy to be running again!

Slowing Down Right Now

We are supposed to be two weeks away from our marathon today, but a couple of weekends ago we were out for a 16 mile run and had to make a call to get picked up after only 11 miles. I have had my fair share of injuries and Manda has gone without anything except for a blister up to this point, I guess it is her turn now. Her knees were killing her to the point of not being able to run. However, she didn't take any anti-inflammatory before running which our training manual states is very important when you are just beginning long distance and are building up muscle. So... It was very sad at first and a little hard for her to swallow the fact that we weren't going to be ready for the full in two weeks. She fought it and said she was going to run it no matter what, but then gave in to good sense and agreed to postpone long enough to let her body heal and go in strong. Just as in all things as of lately, another valuable life lesson. We are not going to quit just because it didn't work out the way we had been planning, we will just allow ourselves to grow and take it at a slower pace if that is what will be best. We will not quit!!! We will just set another goal and works towards it, see you on the path!

Texas Angels

Sometimes in life the good Lord just sends angels to help you out. That's what I consider my Texas friends who were willing to walk the walk. It made our day a million times more special to be able to share it with some of our friends who decided on their own to walk 13.1 miles in Texas the same day of our marathon in support. It was such fun to get updates via text messaging along the way. Rhonda and Alexa started out together and were joined along the way by Alex, Olivia, Savannah and even the dog! Thanks Y'all... I look forward to the updates along the way during the full marathon. Hopefully, one day we can all walk/run it together in the same state at the same time.

1/2 Marathon.... DONE!!!

13.1 miles. Finished. It was beautiful weather and fun to run on a new course. I was pretty nervous about looking like a whale running amongst the beautiful people and I am happy to report that I didn't feel out of place at all. It amazed me to see the different shapes, sizes, ages and skill levels of the participants. Now a lot of the fear is gone that I was feeling towards the full marathon. However, I have to say that a whole new fear is there. I felt really good during the marathon (besides the fact that I super-hydrated and had to go to the restroom at the 1/2 mile mark... no joke!) and felt really positive at mile 7 when I still felt really strong and could keep going for several hours if needed.

Manda and I reviewed our training manual the day before and covered some really important mental techniques and the power that your brain has on your physical performance. We decided to stay really positive and run some mental videos through our head when needed. I have to say that it worked amazingly. Manda was ahead of me pretty much from 1/4 mile to the finish line. I really didn't see her at all except for around mile 6 when she was passing me because she was a couple miles ahead of me and had hit the turn around point and headed back to the finish line. She had offered to stay with me the entire time but I really wanted her to do the best she could and not stay behind with me and my much slower pace. She did great. She finished the marathon with an average of an 11 minute pace. For a 13 mile run, she did awesome!!! I was so proud of her for making that run on her own.

Our training book emphasized how important it is to feed yourself positive thoughts and mental images. We were taught to construct video's in our heads of our favorite runs, times that we felt happy, strong, beautiful weather, remember what we were wearing, how we felt and so on. Once we have that in our head we are to play it over and over and over again and there would be a positive physical reaction that comes from playing this " mental-video". As we remember those times and things we can actually become stronger and thus creating more energy. It is amazing to experience these things as an act of faith but see the actual results from experimenting with it and see the proven results. It did work, but only if we were willing to implement them and really concentrate. Manda came away saying that it was a difficult process for her because she didn't want to relive what were once some of her favorite memories of running, she really felt the need to not relive them and create even better ones. A huge blessing came from the half marathon in this aspect for her, she was able to create a new favorite run. She said the half marathon is now the new "mental-video" for her as she continues to work through the full marathon.

I had to pull out my mental video at mile 9. I was pretty amazed at how good I felt up until that point. At about 9 1/4- 9 1/2 miles my knee began to hurt. I knew I had to concentrate on my breathing pattern, mental thoughts and just make my legs keep going. By mile 11 I was completely discouraged in getting absorbed in the pain. The more I thought about the pain, the more the pain increased. I slowed down and found myself walking a lot by mile 11. Those last 2 miles seemed huge and I wasn't sure for a few moments that I was going to be able to run anymore at all. My legs started cramping and shot upward. That is a pleasant feeling--- cramping in the bottom! NOT. I started to remember the mental video and began to make my feet run just a little bit further. Soon I found myself crossing that last bridge and seeing the crowd cheering. It was both a feeling of accomplishment and discouragement to be honest. I felt good that I did it and discouraged at the thought of running even further the next weekend and then the thought of that run only being our half-way mark felt overwhelming.

I guess it is like life. If we don't take one step at a time and allow ourselves to become stronger over time it can seem impossible and even make us want to give up, feeling discouraged. I just had to tell myself to think of the accomplishment and remember that it wasn't that long ago that I never thought I would be able to jog 13 miles. That is huge!!! I just need to worry about accomplishing that day's goal and do one training run at a time. Easier to say than do but look how far I have come already. Even if Manda and I didn't run the race step by step together, the journey is what we have taken together and I am so grateful for that. I look forward to continuing on this journey and being inspired and reaching one accomplishment at a time.

Beautiful Day, Beautiful Run

WOW... something amazing has happened with the weather! Sunshine, blue skies and 70!!!!!! It's a gift straight from HEAVEN for Northern Idaho to see such incredible weather in April. I love it, I love it, I love it. On top of the sunshine, we had a great run very early this morning. I love getting it over with and being totally done by 7am. It just feels good to not have to worry about it the remainder of the day. Tomorrow is our rest day and the next morning is our half marathon. I am trying not to get too psyched about it and really I am just considering it another training run since next weekend is 14 miles. =) I can't think about it too much or I get stressed when I remember that the full marathon is only 2 months away. All I need to concentrate on is making each day successful, following the plan, one day at a time. Do the training and no complaining. There is so much happiness and accomplishment out there for us as long as we don't surrender ourselves to what can be our biggest enemies- ourselves- the natural man. Another life lesson.... I love this life and I am SO grateful for this journey!

P.S.
All the happiness does not come natural for me, it only comes after the accomplishment. In case you are wondering, I didn't want to run at all this week. I didn't even want to do the marathon. Sometimes, I just feel tired and things start to feel pointless and I lose track of what my goal really is. However, when I reach that days goal, I remember all of a sudden how good it feels. Thanks to my training book, I have learned that when I feel that low and don't want to do it, it actually makes my training physically harder. If I take control and change my internal thoughts, I get amazing results physically. I can apply this to so many different areas in life, what a gift this training has been. If I can do this... ANYONE CAN!!!!

Half Way Mark... HERE WE COME!!

4 Days and counting until we reach our half way mark! It is so exciting to see how far we have come. It is kinda scary to think that a half marathon is our HALF WAY mark. Oh goodness, it can be overwhelming if I think about it too much but exciting at the same time. Once again I have to stop and count my blessings. It has been such a difficult year in so many ways and yet as hard as the trials have been the blessings have been greater. I think back to several years ago and how Manda was the child who wanted to go running with me and how thankful I am that she and I have shared this journey together.

I can draw so many parallels to life and this journey of accomplishing something that seemed as huge as a marathon for us. I can also see the Lord's hand in growing this desire within both of us, this is a journey that we needed to take together. In His wisdom, the seed was planted that way. There are not enough ways to count all the blessings that have come from it. First, just the physical feeling of being on the way to accomplishing something so monumental. I cried the day that I ran my first mile! I honestly never thought I would ever be up to 13 miles. I am learning a little bit more each day what it means to be the master of your own body. It isn't easy, but I can see that it is possible. One of the saddest things in life is to not accomplish this especially when we are blessed with the ability to do so but make the choice not to.

Second, I am also in the process of learning that some of the greatest power we hold is in our thoughts. I have learned through the running process that I can make my body have physical results simply in controlling the way that I think. The training book that we use is written by a few different authors. One author being a physical fitness professor and the other being a psychology professor. It is amazing how they really go hand in hand. My running partner has once again been my biggest teacher in this area as well. From the time she was born she has seemed to have struggles that my other children didn't have such as her struggle with balance and dyslexia. From this she has gained a greater insight on the power of positive thinking and overcoming life's challenges. This year has been no exception for her, but in a very different way. I have watched her go through one of the most difficult life challenges that I have ever witnessed. She has every right to be bitter, angry and hurt. She has been wronged in a very serious way and has had to face the dishonesty of another and attacks on her character. As a mother, it has been such a horrible thing to witness. As a student, I am in awe.

In running you are taught to pay attention to pain. Some pain you can ignore, some pain needs to be treated and then with the right training it can make you stronger. In life, it is the same. We can choose to let our pain defeat us or we can simply learn from our pain. I often think of the inspiring story of the soldier who lost his legs in battle and came home and completed a marathon with prosthetic legs even though it was painful. Or the story in my training manual of the lady who ran a marathon even though she was going through chemotherapy anf fighting the battle for her life. We are all going to face pain, we are all going to face trials. It is our choice if we choose to yield to the trial or grow from it. Running has been the source of letting out our stress and bonding in our relationship.

Not only did I watch the physical release of stress happen with the running, but I have watched the mental strength and the clarity of thinking that happens with physical exercise. And then to take it a step further, I have seen the abundant blessings of self mastery and choosing to be the master of your own thoughts. I have watched her exercise that ability to choose to be happy, choosing to pray for your enemies and choosing to forgive. She is amazing. I am grateful for her being my partner in running but most of all in being my daughter.

Now, here we are only 4 days away from our half marathon and I am looking forward to the rest of the journey and the lessons that will come with it. Each step we take in training for this marathon seems to be a step we take in learning an even greater lesson in life. Each training run we go on seems to teach us that we are the only ones who choose to let others destroy us. We each hold the key to holding our heads up high and bending our heads in prayer regularly... and following Joseph of Egypt's example and "running" from temptation or wickedness. We are taking one step at a time and not being caught in the overwhelming feeling of the long journey ahead. That finish line is looking pretty doable if we will both do our part and continue to train and follow the counsel!

My Texas Friends Rock!!!!

I have the best friends in the whole world! My good friend Rhonda messaged me the other day and said that in honor of Manda and I doing the half marathon she is going to walk 13 miles that day! She is also inviting some other friends to do it with her. That is awesome! She knows what a long road this has been for me to get to this point. Oh, as much as I appreciate my friends walking, could y'all please not walk too quickly since my jog is so incredibly slow? It would be rather humiliating to have y'all beat me while supporting me! =P Now that it is less than two weeks away I am getting pretty nervous. But I am looking forward to checking it off as we are on our path to a full.


I sure miss and love my Texas friends!

10 Miler

Winner's Train- Loser's Complain. That's what we kept telling ourselves as we set out Saturday to get our 10 miles in and drove through rain, sleet and then finally snow as we headed to one of our favorite trails. That saying only got us so far, then we decided to head South to the warmer weather. It was worth the risk to make the 30 minute drive South. Although we were a little discouraged as we were driving and we saw what appeared to be rain falling in the general direction we were headed we decided we were just going to have "man-up" and run in it no matter what. As luck would have it, it ended up being a beautiful run in sunshine, none the less!

It might not have been our best run as far as the actual "running" part but it ended up being one of our most memorable and adventure filled. It's always nice to run on a new trail just for a change of scenery. However, this trail was full of excitement. It follows along a river that separates Idaho and Washington so half of our run was in Idaho and half was in Washington as we made a loop crossing bridges and then circling back to our car. We can now say that we ran from Idaho to Washington and then back to Idaho! =) We stopped and took pictures on my cell phone as we reached Washington- the quality isn't very good but at least we have some pics!

The sun was setting towards the end of our run and it was such a great way to welcome in Easter. Funny enough we were commenting on how beautiful the Washington side of the trail was and out popped the Easter Bunny. =) Then 3 more. They were not wild rabbits, they were clearly domesticated bunnies that had been dumped off there at some point and found refuge in the berry bushes. A couple of them were black and white with spots and a couple were big fat tan bunnies. They were so cute. Amanda just couldn't resist and ended up feeding them half the trail mix we carry in an effort to catch one and take it home for Easter. My loud laughter as I was rolling around watching her try to catch them didn't help the situation. She had one within reaching range and just about eating out of her hand right when a guy and his dog ran up and scared them away.

Following running into the family of bunnies we found 4 deer right on the trail, just staring at us and calmly looking around as if it were perfectly normal for them to be there and wondering why we were in their territory? So we took pictures of them as well and then took off jogging again. That didn't last long before we came across a bush full of little yellow chickadees. They were the cutest little birds and just made us smile. The wildlife was amazing and somewhat shocking considering that we were in town in comparison to where we usually run! Not long after our little yellow bird friends we came across a park with the most lush green grass that just called you to enjoy it. Manda quickly dropped to the ground and began rolling around in it and stating how much she loves the color green and has missed it so much all winter long. Of course, I took pictures.

After dragging my running partner away from the park we began to cross the last bridge heading back to Idaho and then to the parking lot where we had parked. It was a while later that Manda realized her MP3 player was no longer in her jacket pocket... can you guess where we found it? Yep, you probably guessed it- back in the lush green grassy park which was quite a ways from where we were when we realized it was missing. Well, I guess we got all of our mileage in! Too bad so much of it was spent laughing and not running, or maybe it isn't too bad. =) We ended up meeting a couple of very nice people, enjoying wildlife, took in the scenery, witnessed a couple of near accidents (guys are so dumb to watch a girl running and almost wreck, and since she is always ahead of me I get to witness it) and laughing a whole bunch. It was a great 10 miler- next weekend is going to be 11 miles but it is going to be hard to top the 10 miler!

P.S.
I am happy to report that I had NO pain in my leg or knee at all! I love my new shoes and just can't believe that shoes can make that big of a difference!!!!!

WOO HOO!!!!! I'm in LOVE!!!!!!!

Don't worry, I still love the old fella but I just so happened to find a new love as well. The old guy doesn't mind sharing me for an hour or two a day with my new love, we have worked it out. I lace up and head out the door with my heart attached to my feet... my new running shoes! (Sammy was getting really worried there for a moment and found a lot of relief that I was talking about my shoes)

Ahhhhh... it is simply amazing to once again find out the difference a new pair of shoes can make. I admit, I feel a little guilty retiring my old shoes. They once gave me the feeling that I now have with my new shoes... if only it could of lasted. The feeling of floating on air, total support and just plain comfortable from the first touch. I know, it's disturbing- but true. It was worth every penny. 10 miles down, without a bit of pain- except from laughter but that's a whole different blog. Yay, for quality shoes even if they come with a big price tag. I love you Brooks!

Shared Trials

Okay, when I said, "Why can't we share some of the same problems?", I was talking about losing TOO much weight. Manda just can't keep weight on even though she has no desire to lose any during the training and I would like for weight to drop off. That is the problem I would like for her to share with me not the knee problems! The poor girl is taking a college Health/fitness class and a couple of other classes in preparation to graduate and for college credit. One class is particularly hard on her and is leaving it's mark but it is not stopping her from her training. Once again, she is showing me just exactly what she is made of! Although my knee pain was for an entirely different reason, I find myself inspired and not complaining if she can make the runs with the bruised and swollen knee that she has.

FRUSTRATION

I am SO frustrated... we did our 6 mile run- easy. Next was our 7 mile run which wasn't too bad except the day before my knee started bothering me. I wasn't going to let it stop me though and headed out for my run. My knee didn't bother me too much and I was able to complete it. However, by the following Monday my knee hurt pretty badly. I went out for a 3 mile run that evening and just couldn't do it, ended up walking most of it. By the end of the 3 miles, not only did my knee hurt but I had a shooting pain down my whole left leg. I decided to cross train for the rest of the week and did the elliptical for the same amount of time as I would run. I felt like I still got a pretty good cardio work out and I would increase the resistance and work my legs out too. I didn't seem to bother my leg and I felt strong enough to attempt my long run on the next Saturday. I headed out and did pretty well. I stopped a few times and walked for a few minutes but overall felt really, really good about my 8 mile run. I considered it a great success. By Sunday afternoon, my whole leg felt pretty tight, a little swollen and a lot of pressure around my knee.
Rick talked to a guy he works with who asked how well I was stretching out afterwards. He said he had a similar problem several years ago and found out he wasn't stretching good enough and also needed to build his core strength more. Imagine that? I have been a lot more diligent with stretching and found that my knee pain goes away if I stretch out the right areas. It's amazing! However, the problem I am facing now is that I just can't seem to stay stretched out. As soon as I stretch out, the pain leaves, I feel good but I can feel my leg tighten right back up very quickly and then all the pain comes right back! Once again Amanda has shown me what a blessing it is to have her as my training partner. She has this incredible talent of knowing how to find stressed muscles and massaging them out. She went right to the spot in my leg and within seconds had found some tension and massaged it away. My leg felt better than it had in days within seconds. Now if I could only make it last.

I am so,so, so frustrated!!!! I haven't been able to complete one single run this week. I have done my mileage but most of it has been walking. When I am on the treadmill I can only run a lap and then walk a lap. Tomorrow I am supposed to do my first 10 mile run. Between my leg and he snowflakes falling from the sky, I am feeling very discouraged. I think I will start shopping around for a sports medicine Doctor.... I must find help. I will NOT give up, even if it means I walk the whole darn marathon- I am going to do it! I will be very sad if I can't run it. Please say a prayer and send any advice you have my way!!!!!

On a happier note, Manda is doing amazing. I have assured her that I want her to keep going and not stop and walk with me when I have to. Her time is decreasing with each run and she is thriving. She is getting stronger and stronger and it is really impressive. If we could just figure out how to get her to stop losing weight while training I would be even happier. I keep forcing chocolate milk and everything that I can't have down her and she keeps losing... why can't we share some of the same struggles? LOL

7 Week Countdown....

We did a 1 hour run today in the most BEAUTIFUL sunshine and warm weather! Loved, loved, loved it! I also hit my goal for the week, even with traveling so much I still lost 3 pounds! Yipee.... Now I just have 37 more to go and lot more running to do! Gotta love Monday's.

8 Week Countdown- day 3

Did good the last two days on my ww points. =)
1 Hour Slim in 6 workout- it was intense, bet I'll be sore tomorrow!
2 more days until weigh in.... yikes!

Personal Responsibility and Accountability.... Uhhgggg!

Part of the WW journey is logging everything that goes into your mouth... Yuck! Nothing like a good, hard look at reality. I was traveling today and went WAY over in my points. Dumb fast food, it is evil. Subway is my friend. However, I did find out that you can ask for nutritional info and every place is really good about giving you a chart of info. Sadly, I now have Panda Express' (or Panda Oppress as Emma refers to it) menu memorized in WW points.

I had way too much time to think as I was making my way down the road and was just struck by how similar something like logging ww points and food intake is to so many choices in our lives. It is hard to realize the impact of a single choice that we make has. We make multiple choices throughout the day, each and every day and yet how aware are we of the direction that each choice we make will have? So many times we may think "Well, this isn't really the best choice but I will do better next time" or how many times do we get caught in the trap of just not caring. When in fact most times we really do care but it can just be overwhelming. There is something to be said about having goals and then being accountable. It really is near impossible to reach a goal if we do hold ourselves accountable and measure where we are and where we want to be on a regular basis.

So today, I am starting off the day knowing the bad choices that I made yesterday and will try to remember that not only did I not feel good physically but they did not take me in the direction to meet my long term goal. It reminds me of the same message that I have heard two different ways recently. First by Manda from her college health/fitness class said, "I learned an important lesson from physical education, everyone who wants a healthy life must give up bad habits. More then often we go back to the bad habit before we give it up completely, but don't get discouraged just keep pushing forward. Something is better then nothing". Second, from our Stake President saying that change is a very difficult thing and conversion is a long, growing process. He said that the statistics are extremely high that someone will turn back to old habits before they can completely abandon them and become more converted. It is all a growing process. What a great message. Thank goodness for each new day and brand new starts!

8 Week Countdown

DAY 1
Turbo Kick Class- not pretty
2 miles on treadmill- running was hard today but did my miles
Signed up for online WW to keep me accountable in the food dept

Turbo Kick My Rear

I decided to up the training and include a few classes each week along with the running in hopes of increasing my strength and my chances of hitting 40 by 40. So I go to this class called "Turbo Kick" in which the cute old lady in the pink shirt who had to be much older than my mother in law kicked my rear (Okay... so the picture isn't really her but she could probably do that and she just happens to be wearing pink. Maybe I should wear pink?). Apparently it helps if you know your left from your right and can move front and back while moving your arms and feet at the same time. Way too advanced for me!! Not only do I have no coordination but I am SUCH a people watcher, it's pathetic. I sat there amazed at the girl across the room who could not only do every move flawlessly as if she were actually calling out the moves but she could chew gum at the same time! Where can I get some of that kind of coordination, really? The rest of the time I kept my eye on the cute older lady in front of me trying to make sure to hide so that no one else could see me. It was useless though since I was the only one going the opposite direction of the rest of the class. So, I humiliated myself through it and ran out as fast as I could (which we all know isn't very fast!) and thought about how much I love that treadmill and am grateful for left, right, left, right, left, right....

40 by 40!!!!!!

In addition to running my marathon, I am losing 40 lbs by my 40th birthday! That is 20 weeks away, which is only 2lbs a week average. The training should help, along with healthier food choices and sleep. On that note... Goodnight, I have a 5:45 am class.

9 Week Countdown- Wenatchee

Day One
1 1/2 mile- didn't have much time but had to squeeze in a run.

Day Two
3 miles- It was hard to get my breathing under control at first but was okay after about 10 minutes. Felt really strong the last 1 1/2 miles, very happy to get my running partner back, even if it is temporary. She even asked me to slow down a couple of times! WOOT!! I led a good portion of the way, but as always the little stinker kicked my tail at the end. We are kicking into high gear for training this week! The countdown begins for the half. Two months later we are heading to the full marathon!

Day Three
Manda was sick so took all the boys along to run instead. It was fun running with the boys, even Sammy went and enjoyed it. I am going to have to take him along with us more often. It was freezing cold because I waited too long and it got dark and cold. But no excuses... went anyway. Breathing was a little more painful due to the cold but I HAD to get my run in. Next week will be really hard to get my runs in since I will be traveling so much but again... no excuses!

Training Without My Regular Partner =(

It has been a long month without my running partner. She has been doing her runs in Texas, enjoying the mild warmth and humidity (which she loves) that January offers. I have been running in the cold, dark basement on my treadmill. But I will still take that over the humidity! =)
Last week we had a couple of BEAUTIFUL days which were really odd for January but who am I to question such a gift? So Emma and I hit the trail with her scooter in hand. It was so nice after doing nothing but runs on the treadmill. Em's asked if we could go all the way to the bridge. I was a little concerned since that was about a 3 mile run round trip, so I asked if she was sure she wanted to go that far? She insisted that is what she really wanted to do, so we headed out. It was the best run that I have had for months. My breathing pattern was good, my legs were strong and the weather was perfect! It felt so good. We got 1 1/2 miles out and got to the bridge and I started to turn around. Emma asked if we could sit on the bench for a few minutes and have a little picnic (eating her granola bar she stashed in her pocket). I really didn't want to because I was in a great pattern but told myself that I needed to make this moment about her and enjoy some time and the weather with my baby. So, I cuddled up next to her on the bench and took in some of the scenery.
After a chunk of time passed I told her we needed to start heading back to the car. She informed me that her legs were just too tired and she didn't think she could do it. Frustration... I knew this would happen! We didn't have much choice since the car was 1 1/2 miles away! So, I talked her into giving it a try (explained that she had no choice except for being left on the trail- motivation!)and asked her to ride her scooter to the next bench and we could sit and rest there. With just a small amount of whining (only all the way to the next bench) she made it. Once again, just when I was feeling like I was in a good pattern it was time to stop. LOL. But I had promised so I sat down on the bench with her. She quickly noticed that someone had used chalk on the trail and made a hop-scotch. Em's instantly jumped up and bounced all over that hop-scotch! It was so amazing to me that her legs were strong enough to enjoy such a thing. =) After watching her for several minutes, I suggested we start heading down the trail again. The poor little dear, all of sudden she lost all of her strength and had to sit down again! Shocking, huh?

After several more rounds of hopscotch and the sun getting ready to go down I convinced her to make the last stretch to the car. We eventually made it back to the car. It was not the best run but it was time well spent with my littlest angel who needs time on the trail with her mom too. It did make me miss Manda that much more and look forward to running with her later in the Spring. It's days like that when I just have to get on my knees and thank our Father for the blessings and the beauty in my life.

A Saturday Half and It is ONLY 200 Miles Away!!

Ahhhh... it feels so good to have a date and time in mind. We have learned our lesson about waiting to register. The course looks awesome!

Week of January 10th

Only ran twice this last week, but it was better than the week before. The first two miles were so hard- it is amazing how quickly things can deteriorate. However, it felt so good to get running again. Accomplishment and self discipline just feel good. Now, it is time to kick it up a notch- training.

Talk the Talk OR Walk the Walk?

I often have mothering moments that make me stop and think. Recently I was having a very short conversation and the mom in me came out and I got after someone for talking the talk but not walking the walk. It made me think about myself and wonder how many areas I am guilty of talking but not walking.
This year our family grew and we gained an amazing son-in-law who has taught me so much through his love and example. He is just a real, genuine, compassionate good-guy. It isn't because he hasn't had trials, it is because he held on during those trials, learned, grew stronger and was shaped through them. Did I mention he is amazing? =) (He got a pretty amazing girl too =)) Through his example and words he has taught me the real meaning of accountability and has made me want to be more accountable in every area of my life. My mind has been going a million miles an hour and I have thought so much about walking the walk and being accountable.
If I want to succeed in this life, and in particular in my goal of completing a marathon this year with the best running partner ever, it is going to take some accountability and walking the walk. Or in other words, running the run. =)
So, this year I am going to include on my blog such boring reports as the miles that we run each week. My plan is to run four days a week and be ready for the marathon by May.
If I say something really is the way that I feel, then I better be living up to it. The things that are a priority to me need to be treated as such. This year I would like to knock out the things in my life that are important first thing in the morning. If they are important to me... words are empty and action is everything. So my plan at this point is to read my Scriptures first thing in the AM, get my run in and then dedicate myself to the most important people in my life for the remainder of the day. I would also like to schedule regular trips to the Temple and show my Father that He is more important than miscellaneous things that come up and fill my calendar. Be true to my God, my family and myself. Talk is empty if all it is, is desire. I am so grateful for so many real life heroes that I have met who I constantly see on the trail of life walking the walk, or running the run. The walk says everything... here's to more walking and less talking!

A New Year, New Lesson, New Start... 2010

"Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome."

Booker T. Washington



Those of you who have followed along our journey (all three of you! lol) know that running has been so much more than exercise to us. It has been a journey of lessons, spiritual awakening, healing, empowerment, self-discovery and the list goes on. It seems like the longer we work at running the more we can apply those lessons that we learn through running to the very challenges that we face in life. Please bear with me as I run through some of the ways that we have had to learn to apply these lessons in our life.

One of the first things that you learn about while doing long distance running is the different kinds of injuries that you can sustain. Sometimes the pain is just part of the training and should be expected. Other times the pain is something that is a warning and you should listen to, take a break and allow your body to heal. Part of the trick to endurance running is learning the difference and when to push through the pain, welcome it and allow it to make you stronger and when to take notice and just stop. As I go through life I find that once again there is a lesson in running that I can apply to my life.

One thing about blogging, it gives you the opportunity to present a picture that is so amazing and beautiful and often unrealistic or to paint a picture that is so real that as a reader you feel like you have taken the journey with the author whether it was a pretty one or not. That has always been my goal... we aren't perfect, life isn't always pretty and sometimes you just need to work things out and learn as you go.

Clearly from a running point of view, it isn't always a pretty picture for us. As far as life goes, it is the same. That's just life, it can be an endurance run, we just make mistakes,others make mistakes and we get injured- sometimes worse than others, grow, learn, change, become better (hopefully) and have to make a choice to keep going-giving ourselves time to allow the injuries to heal, keep training, finish the race or give up on our goals, accept total defeat and call it quits. OR... there is also the option to not learn the lessons from our injury, keep making the same mistakes, re-injure ourselves, get wounded more severely and possibly even cause permanent damage and ending any chances of ever being able to complete the race we want to run. I guess the answers are found in the things that really are important to us... sometimes that can be a process to figure those out for ourselves.

I think some of the hardest injuries in life to recover from are those we really just don't understand. The ones that seem like the intent was really to hurt you or the ones you love. That is pretty hard to swallow, especially when it someone that you and your loved ones have let so near your heart. Now, having said that, I have to admit even though I don't understand everything I always want to believe the best in people. Maybe, just maybe, others are so lost in their own world and pain that they are just thoughtless to the havoc they are reaping upon those that they come in contact with. Or maybe they think they are being less hurtful by not revealing the truth. Or there is the question that I have to ask, "Are people really so sick that their desire is to hurt others?" This is so foreign to me. I mean, don't mistake... I understand anger. I understand hurt. I understand even lashing out in pain. But I don't understand "pre-meditated" pain inflicted on others- especially those who love you. I guess I hope I never understand such misery. Maybe that is just part of the trial, never understanding and never getting the answers? Or maybe we do have some of the answers...

For now, the training in running and life will go on. Every day we get stronger, even though the pain is there and not understood completely we are better people for it and one day will look back and be grateful for the lessons learned. Every day there is the hope and comfort of the Atonement and the many ways in can affect each person in life, it is real and it is what we have to hold on to. Every day there is a new goal to achieve a new hill to climb. The hills are hard but we sure love the downward run after climbing up. It will all be worth the training, the dedication and the commitment. For now it is time to lace up our shoes, breath in and out and get going down the trail. We say goodbye to 2009 and welcome 2010, with a lot more knowledge, love, understanding and hope.