6 days to go

January 5, 2014......Rest.  :-)

One week to go!

January 4, 2014......16-miles (15 miles in 92:21, then a 1-mile shag).  What a gorgeous day today!  When I woke up this morning it was around 8 degrees, and by the time I got out for my run at 1 pm, it was up to 41 degrees, which almost felt like 61!  The run itself went really well.  I hadn't planned on running as fast as I did, but I felt so good, and so strong, I just let it rip a little bit.  The good news is that I never felt like I was straining.  I was definitely working hard on the uphills, but never felt strained or weak.  From here on out, the longest run I will probably do will be about be around 8 miles.  I will need to make a strong effort this coming week to stay hydrated and get plenty of rest.  I want to do everything I can to do my part in preparing for the race, and leaving the results up to God.  I'm just really believing that He is going to do something with this race that I could never achieve on my own.  To Him be the glory.

Down to 8!.......Days and Degrees!! :-P

January 3, 2014....6 miles recovery....home treadmill.  I had thoughts today of breaking out the Yak Trax (a piece of rubber with metal coils to help with traction) and running easy in the snow.   After thinking about it though, I felt the best decision was to stay off the ice and snow...the last thing I need right now is to slip and fall, or get some weird soreness or injury from running in conditions I'm not accustomed to.  Also, running at 70 degrees inside the house would probably do more to prepare me for the possible warm conditions at Disney.     
         Speaking of competing in possible adverse conditions, I can't help but be intrigued by Sunday's NFL playoff game between the Green Bay Packers and the San Francisco 49ers.  I believe the high temperature in Green Bay is supposed to be around -5 and the low is around -20 with the wind chill a mind numbing 20 to 50 below zero.....ouch!  I cannot imagine competing well in such conditions and certainly cannot imagine sitting outside and watching a football game in these conditions.  Sitting inside and watching a game like this is intriguing though.  I guess only a cheesehead would understand exposing themselves to such adverse conditions.  I would imagine almost every square inch of your skin would have to be covered with something.
          When thinking about equipping and preparing yourself for adverse conditions, I can't help but bring up what God has been stirring in my heart bringing in the new year.  As we pull out our winter jackets and layered clothing almost daily in the winter to prepare for the mostly frigid temperatures outside, it's almost as if God has been reminding me that there are much more than physical adverse conditions that we must prepare and equip ourselves for.  There is also a spiritual battle that we all face each and every day.  In the Bible, Ephesians 6:10-18 adequately explains this battle, how to prepare for it, and how to fight it.  It's a battle we cannot fight in our own strength or ability.  The battle exists whether we acknowledge it or not.  To not acknowledge the battle is to lose it, while winning the battle takes the full armor of God.  Turn on your sound and check out the video I posted from youtube.

         

THE FULL ARMOR OF GOD (Ready Yourself For Battle)

9 Days to Go!

January 2, 2014.....The last few days of training have gone pretty well.  On Monday, I did 10-miles with 6 x 30 seconds hard (but relaxed) w/1:00 recovery jog between each one.  I felt some 'pop' in my legs on the 30-second intervals, which was very encouraging.  On Tuesday, I did an 'easy' 6-mile run on the treadmill.  Our family then loaded up in the car and headed for Charleston for a family New Year's celebration.  This was a lot of fun and definitely worth staying up until 1:00 am.  Later in the day (2 pm) was a New Year's Day 5K run in St. Alban's, WV.  This was to be my last tune-up race before Disney.  In my 2 previous 5K's, I had run 15:57 (Shinnston Turkey Trot on Nov. 28th), and 16:01 (Ryan Jobes Memorial 5K in Williamstown, WV on December 21st).  I wasn't too happy with my time in Williamstown, but was encouraged that I ran 15:28 in St. Albans.  My mile splits were 4:51, 4:57, 5:04, then 37 seconds for the last 0.1.  Although, my miles were progressively slower, I felt relatively strong throughout the race.  My first 2 miles probably would have been close to even splits had there not been a nasty little uphill right before the two mile mark.  That sucked a little of my momentum, and I had a difficult time getting it back.  It was an absolutely gorgeous day for the race (50 degrees and sunny). 

Today, I ran a relatively easy 12-mile run on the treadmill.  From here on out though, I plan to cut my mileage back in hopes of freshening up for the Disney Half.  As of right now, the long range forecast calls for a high of 78 and low of 64 the day of the race.  I would be thrilled if between now and then, each of those numbers drop about 15 degrees....at least the low.  The race starts at 5:30 am, so the temperature will probably be on the low end anyway.  However, mid-60's is pretty warm; especially when most of my training has been in the 20's and 30's.  I can't worry about it though.  It's all in God's hands.  Whether it's a perfect 45 degrees at the start of the race, or a sweltering 75 degrees, NOTHING IS TOO BIG FOR GOD.  He can change the weather and/or provide strength to prosper no matter what the weather.  I want to believe God for BIG things for HIS GLORY.  Nothing is too difficult for Him, and He lives inside of me!  I really want to lock in on Him.  He can do soooo much more with the race than I could ever do on my own.  I want to live in daily surrender to Him and His purposes.  I often get in the way of this, which is frustrating, but I am thankful for His mercy and grace.  He's not going to give up on me........nor will He give up on you.

Let's try this again.

December 30, 2013.......so......I thought it was bad that there were 2 months between the 1st and 2nd post on this blog.....well.....I guess it can be worse......let's try over 4 months between my 2nd and 3rd post!  I am disappointed in myself that I basically haven't followed through with blogging about my Disney Half Marathon preparation.  In blogging about my preparation for the Boston Marathon,  I started 12 WEEKS before the race. Well.....today will be an attempt to start blogging about the Disney Half Marathon 12 DAYS before the race.  I guess it's better late than never.                             Anyway, to quickly summarize the previous 10-11 weeks, I have averaged between 60 and 70 miles a week.  There was one week where I ran around 45 miles rather lightly b/c of a setback where I fell over top of someone at the start of a race, and landed almost squarely on my hip/glute area. Although I finished the race, I could barely lift my left leg an inch off the ground after the race.  I couldn't even do my cool down jog.  (On a side note, I want to throw in that something is either wrong with this website and/or my computer b/c it will not let me hit 'enter' or start a new paragraph.  Therefore, everything will be running together...sorry about that).  Anyway, as I sit here 12 days before the race, I am VERY EXCITED FOR THE RACE.  God has been so faithful.  There have been times over the past 3 months where training has been less than ideal, and I simply felt like I was in a 'rut' where I wasn't improving much. In fact, I felt as if I was getting slower.  Also during that time, I believe I was in a 'spiritual' rut as well.  My heart's desire is still to run as a worship to God, to empty myself, and let Christ be lifted up through my running and my life.  There have been times over the past 3 months where my heart has strayed from that desire.  It's really a miserable place to be.  Whenever I do this, I start to feel the pressure of performing to a certain standard, instead of just working hard, and surrendering myself and training  to Him.  I believe God wants us ALL to live our lives in surrender to Him b/c He wants His best for us; and His best might be different than what we think His best should be.  He wants our hearts.  He wants us to love Him with wreckless abandon.     When we do this, it certainly does not mean life is perfect, but we are equipped to walk in His fullness and purpose; as well as being able to face any adversity that inevitably comes our way.   My ultimate desire....and I know His desire for us is to walk in His fullness and purpose each and every day.  This is also where I want to be when I toe the starting line 12 days from now.  To Him be the glory.

Ouch!

August 18, 2013.....WOW!  It's been almost 2 months since my first post!  Ouch!  Speaking of ouch, that's what my hip is feeling a little bit right now.  Since June, I had worked up to running between 50-60 miles a week.  The good news......my foot keeps getting better!....Thank you Jesus!  The not so great news.....last week my right hip area started bothering me.  I continued to run for a few days hoping and praying it was something that would just go away.  It hasn't.  The pain is not excruciating, but I do not want it to get to that point.   I had plans of running the 5K that coincides with the Charleston Distance Run 15-miler, but those plans are definitely in question now.  I also had thoughts of running the Great Race 10K in Pittsburgh in late September.....hopefully this will still be possible.  I am disappointed, but at peace.  Again, this is the wonderful thing about my Ultimate Source being Christ.  I know He has a plan, and it is GREATER than my plan.  I just have to keep trusting.  He is faithful.  He is good.