10k Number Three

Today I ran my third 10k race... my fifth race over all. If you had told me two years ago that the Summer of 2009 would be filled with running races, I'd have thought you were crazy.

At any rate, I've been enjoying myself. The race I did today is apparently the toughest 10k in the area. On the website it tells you how it is a race filled with hills, and it also informs you that you will not get a personal record on this race (how's that for intimidating?).

Getting there an hour early, I had plenty of time to people watch. At first, I felt like the chubbiest girl here. Women showed up in tank tops and short shorts with unreal tans, thinner than maybe they should have been. Men were jogging around, working up a sweat. Now, I ask myself, WHY would you run before a race? To warm up? I happen to think that's what the first five minutes of a race is for... but I won't be winning any races, so what do I know? Eventually, more "real" people showed up, making me feel more normal.

I have noticed a direct correlation between the length of shorts and the ability of the runner. The shorter the shorts, the better the runner. I wore mid-length capris.

The weather called for rain and possible thunder storms. It was clear until they told us to go to the starting line. That's when it started to rain, and it didn't stop until after everyone had completed the race. The good thing was that I didn't feel too hot during the race.

As we began the race, runner after runner passed me. I'm ok with that - I seem to always be in the last 1/4 of runners. The hills were very difficult, though not as difficult as The Hardest Race of All Time (I ran a race in Vancouver, Canada, that was literally 2/3 uphill and 1/3 downhill. Hardest. Race. Ever.). I managed to run up most of the hills today, though I did walk up a couple.

At about mile 2, I noticed a girl turned around, walking back. She must have decided these hills were too awful to do 4 more miles of. I felt bad for her, but hills really are awful.

There comes a point in every race where I ask myself what on earth I am doing. I think about how I could just stop at the curb and sit down, or lay down, even, and nobody would care. I wouldn't fail Gym class if I stopped. I also think about how I could cut through someone's yard, or through the parking lot... not to have a better time, but so that I can stop. Enter the coolest guys at the race.

There was a group of about four men, all wearing the same shirt. A maroon shirt, that, on the back said: "Finish the course. 2 Timothy 4:7" Awesome. What great encouragement!

At close to mile 5, I strongly consider walking the rest of the way. I had my iPod on with my Nike Plus, and calculated that if I ran the last 2 km at 7 minutes per km, that I would beat my best time, and indeed get a personal record. Instead, I seemed determined to sabotage myself, and took a walk break, and then slowly loped across the finish line. Unfortunately, I did not break my personal record. The official results are yet to be posted, but I think I was about one minute slower than The Hardest Race of All Time.

I have run five races now, and after every one I'm disappointed. I feel like each race should have a better time than the last. I'm not sure what went wrong today - whether the rain hindered me, or because I was sick on Thursday, I wasn't 100% (Although, UFC fighter Matt Hughes says you never fight at 100%, so why should I expect to ever race at 100%?).

My husband says I have high expectations for myself when it comes to racing. While that's not necessarily bad, I have to be more realistic, and not beat myself up for days after every race, thinking, "I could have run faster. Why didn't I push harder?"

All in all, I really enjoyed this race. I'll do it again next year, God willing. I came home and registered myself for a 10 mile race and the half marathon I've been looking at. I'm excited and intimidated by both races.

Also, 10k races apparently give me the rhea. And that's all I have to say about that.

Four Months Later

I always think of blogging while running. I think of the many things I could blog about, and crack myself up at some of them.

I was thinking I could blog about running, and how I did my first 5k race in April. I could blog about how much fun it was, and how, during a race, it seems one can run minutes faster per mile with ease. I could blog about how I'm doing a 10k race next weekend, and how exciting that is. I could also blog about the half marathon I'm hoping to run in October, and even about how I'm considering a full out, all the way marathon next year. I could blog about how exciting and scary it is to think of running for 26.2 miles.

I also thought I could blog about the squirrels in Michigan, and how they remind me of New York City sewer rats. I could say how the squirrels should be given the acronym SOUS - Squirrels Of Unusual Size. I could tell you how, when I'm running, I pass many of these SOUSes, and I am frequently terrified that one will jump off a tree and attack me. Someday, if I muster the courage, I will take a picture of one to share with you.

I could also blog about how I hate when people stare at me or say things to me while I run. I mean, honestly... mind your business. This seems to happen frequently, and it's not cool. At all.

I could blog about Frieda, and how she just had her first birthday. I could tell you how wonderful she is, and how thankful I am for her. Maybe it's odd to love a dog this much, but I think God gave us pets on purpose - to love and be loved. I've never met a more loving, happy dog.

Instead, I'll ignore the fact that it's been four months since my last blog entry, and just go about my day.

Monster Stories

I love my little Monster! She has such a sweet personality! She also has a destructive side! Yesterday we were in the living room, relaxing after a long day. Frieda had come and laid on my lap for a few minutes. We exchanged hugs and kisses, and then off she went. Strange, I thought, that she'd want to be alone after being alone all day! I dismissed it as just becoming more independent. A few hours later, when we were going to bed, we found out what she was doing in the bedroom: tearing apart her bed!! I made her stay in there while I took a picture, and boy, she looks sheepish, doesn't she? Since we couldn't very well leave all those pieces of dog bed on the floor, we put her bed in the hall and went to sleep... she, of course, HAD to sleep on the bed, because the hardwood floor is not comfortable enough for a growing 7 month old puppy... you know, this might have been her plan all along!

I added the second photo to show what her favorite morning activity is: showering! She frequently climbs INTO the shower with me and licks my toes. She actually laid down yesterday, in the tub while I showered... how bizarre is that?!

Your body called: it wants its endurance back.

I started running in November 2007. By October of 2008, I was running between 5-6 miles, 3-5 times a week. Michigan winters are not friendly to runners, though there are some freaks that still do it. My favorite is the guy we see on the way to church on Wednesday evenings. Not only is he running in the winter, but he's also flailing his arms about and bringing his knees up so far I think it might give John Stanton a heart attack. Anyway, I always watch that guy run, and almost always say something like, "his form is all wrong..." You know, it's my attempt to prove I know something about something, because I don't know much about anything. Truth is, that guy should be applauded. Such dedication to be out running in all kinds of weather. Inside, I feel a commeradery with him.

At any rate, I am not one to run outside in the snow. Knowing me, I'd slip on ice, smash my face and also get frostbite. No, I made the decision to purchase a treadmill, as my last one died last May.

Because of the winter, I haven't run since the end of October/beginning of November. My weight has been slowly creeping back up, and my cardio has flown south.

Today, my first time on the new treadmill, I only ran 3.2 miles, and it took me 43 minutes to do so. When I say "ran" I actually mean: run for .25 miles, walk for 2 minutes, repeat for 43 minutes. I couldn't even run a whole mile without a walk break. Harumph! By the end, I felt like my heart was going to come up my throat, jump on the treadmill and hit the "STOP" button!

It's weird how easily one loses cardio, and likewise, how easily you can increase it. It's all about consistency, which I lack!

I think that's my most important resolution this year: to be more consistent. In all things. Eating, exercising, cleaning, reading my Bible, praying for others... and the list goes on.

Christmas Eve Service

This is the first Christmas at our church. Ever since we came to candidate here for the youth pastor position that snowy February weekend, we've fallen in love with TCC. Today, that love deepened.

Our pastoral staff is amazing - men and women who so clearly love the Lord and desire to do His will. Our senior pastor is such a blessing; incredibly talented in so many ways, and "oozes" God.

My husband and I had the privilege of serving communion tonight, along with our Assistant Pastor and his wife. We stood on stage as people came to kneel at the altar, and offered them the bread and the wine.

What a beautiful, humbling experience. Who am I to offer this sacrament to God's people?

Husbands and wives came forward together and knelt; single women and teens... a married couple came forward with their 6 year old son, knelt together, took the sacraments and showed their son what to do. Then they all held hands and said a prayer. An elderly woman came forward, unsteady on her feet despite her cane. She couldn't go up the steps to the altar, so we went to her. Hands shaking uncontrollably, she blissfully accepted the bread and wine and gave thanks for the Lord's suffering on her behalf.

The Assistant Pastor's son is home from college for Christmas. His mother went forward to give him the bread... she bent down to place it in his hands, and her body convulsed in a sob as she realized the beauty and privilege of offering her son communion.

Another elderly woman came forward, nearly desperate to experience the Lord; her adult children held her arms as she stumbled up the steps and nearly fell at the altar. What a wondrous sight, to see such love for Jesus and thankfulness for what He has done for us.

May we all celebrate in the birth of our Lord, Jesus Christ, and what that means for us - undeserved grace and salvation.

It's Beginning to Look A Lot Like Christmas!

Metro Detroit had the first big snow storm of the season on Friday, with up to 10 inches in some places! We got quite a bit, as you can see! YAY, Winter!!

If the city would plow our road I'd be even happier!

The Cuban Cookie Crisis

I posted in another entry about how I worked in Cuba at a cookie factory. I left it at that, and allowed your minds to wonder about the details of such a statement. How on earth did I get to that place?

It was only for two weeks. I would get up and get to the cookie factory by 6am, and be finished by 1pm. I worked the assembly line, taking four cookies of one kind and shoving them into a plastic container. Down the assembly line they would go, as the next person would take their own kind of cookie and find the right slot for it. Sounds like kindergarten, doesn't it? It was much less fun.

Despite the hairnets and gloves, you'd go home smelling like sugar. And that's not always a good thing.

Oh, and I should probably mention it was Cuba, New York. Not the communist country.

Disappointed in the story? I would be.