Marathon: Why?

If you haven't spent any time with me in person over the last few months, and if you haven't seen any of my Facebook posts, you likely don't even know that I ran the Athens marathon a week ago, let alone why I did it.

So, a brief word as to the reasoning. When I picked up running again after our move to Las Vegas in 2005, I found myself pushed beyond my typical 2-3 mile jog when my crazy running partner talked about doing races. I thought only hard-core athletes did races, people who were competitive enough to think about winning! (My first "race" was a 10K! Go big or go home, I guess!) It was this crazy racing friend who first planted the idea of doing a marathon in my head. After experiencing the trauma of my first miscarriage, I found running to be therapeutic and couldn't let go of the idea of someday running a full-length marathon.

But life happened. My running partner moved. My motivation and desire to run 26.2 miles really flagged. I did do a half-marathon in December of 2007, but a back injury shortly after put me off running long distances for quite some time. Moving to Ohio where winters were much more extreme definitely didn't help, yet I'd visit the idea now and then and tell myself that before I was 40...it would happen.

Then we got orders to Italy. And the wheels started turning. We'd be overseas for my 40th birthday...and if I were to actually attempt a marathon, why not the original course in Athens?! So before we even got on the plane to come to Naples, the idea had taken root. It seemed even more appropriate when I realized that the full marathon takes place in November, and my birthday is November 22.

November 2012 wasn't an option...we were finally just getting settled into our new house after months in an apartment, not to mention I was just starting to run again after Ted's deployment and Zaden's arrival. November 2013 found me nursing baby #7. With only one year left, it was November 2014 or bust. And...wouldn't you know?! This is the year I turn 40!

As the days ticked by, I realized that my purpose for completing a marathon wasn't simply to mark the momentous occasion of a milestone birthday. No, I had to have a bigger purpose than that, something that would weather the difficulties of training and pushing my body in a way that it hasn't been pushed in a long time...or ever.

Ted's participation (as a spectator--I never expected him to do this with me!) was never an option, as November is an extremely busy time for him at work, and taking leave during that season isn't possible for him. I needed community, and I wanted the race to be a platform. I figured if I were going to invest this much time and energy into something, it better be for a high calling and purpose! Since I've been involved with the Mission of Light (Missione di Luce) ministry team here in Napoli for the last couple of years, it made sense to fundraise for the efforts to minister to victims of human trafficking that we see on the streets right around us.

I started asking people probably a year ago, maybe more, if they'd be interested in running the Athens marathon. It seemed as though the idea was appealing, but I couldn't seem to get any commitment for awhile. And then, maybe sometime after the new year, my friend Julia confirmed that she would do this thing with me. She hadn't run a full marathon before but has definitely been a runner. Her enthusiasm at the start was invaluable, as she set up our Facebook group page and got the ball rolling that way. One by one we started to hear from other people who took the plunge and said YES to this crazy venture.

Understandably, we had some who initially committed but had to back out for various reasons, but then we also had some who joined us much farther along in the journey. All in all, we ended up having 12 runners who represented Mission of Light in our orange shirts! All of us shared links and talked to people and encouraged folks to donate to our case. I have no idea how many funds have been raised at this point...and honestly, I'm at peace with that! I do hope to hear a total before too long, but right now the fact that WE DID IT seems more important than any numbers!

A brief, different write-up of our reason for running the marathon appears here at the Mission of Light blog.

A Marathon of Thanks

At some point I will journal about this whole experience from start to finish, but at this time, I feel some special thanks are in order. And how appropriate as we prepare for Thanksgiving! Each of the following represents an opportunity for me to give honor and glory to the One from whom every good and perfect gift comes.

1.       To our great and awesome God, the faithful God who keeps covenant and steadfast love, for His enduring faithfulness and graciousness. His power and mercy sustained us during the long hard process of training and especially during the race itself.

2.       To my amazing family—immediate and extended—who supported this endeavor from start to finish, even if they didn’t understand it! (Ted constantly reminded me that “the first guy to do this run fell over dead after delivering his message!”) Their prayers and encouragement were vital during the whole process. Special thanks to our 5 older kiddos who prayed for me and cheered me on from home while their daddy worked long hours…and thanks to my hubby for stalking me online the day of the race, praying for me as I crossed each checkpoint. Without his love and support, I definitely would not have even attempted this endeavor.

3.       To Hannah and Tuba, who took care of our little boys the entire time I was in Athens, allowing me to rest easy knowing they were happy and healthy and having so much fun they barely knew Mama was gone.

4.       To Mission of Light, a ministry close to my heart, for giving me a passion and purpose for running this race…not for any personal or earthly glory or crowning achievement, but for God’s eternal kingdom.

5.       To my amazing and incredible teammates, who deserve their own line of individual thanks! But as a team, I am grateful for the group dynamic that pushed each of us to achieve our goal: physically, mentally, spiritually.

6.       To Julia, the first one to actually agree to do this marathon with me! Without her agreement, I may not have pushed forward with this crazy plan! She even got the ball rolling by setting up our Facebook group page, which was a valuable means of communication and encouragement. Her enthusiasm and passion for both running and battling human trafficking was a huge encouragement to me.

7.       To Lisa R, whose knowledge of the human body helped me tremendously in deciding how to handle the times when my body wasn’t functioning properly and whose indefatigable spirit served as a reminder of just how powerful our mental and spiritual states are when it comes to attempting the nearly impossible. Lisa’s previous marathon experience was invaluable in so many ways to all of us.

8.       To Tirzah, my running partner during the race itself, who graciously pulled back her pace during the first ¾ of the course so that we could pray together for 40+ women whom Mission of Light has served. Songs, Scripture verses, and prayers shared during our time together enabled me to push far beyond where I have EVER gone before and gave me the mental edge to pull out a finish at the end. I am forever grateful for the opportunity to spend that time with Tirzah and the Lord together—I know that if I had been on my own, the experience would not have passed as pleasantly or as easily! THANK YOU, dear friend!

9.       To Emily, whose “keeping it real” personality kept us smiling throughout the ups and downs of training. Despite struggling with her own doubts, she was a constant cheerleader for her sister as well as our whole team, and the radiance she showed while be-bopping into the stadium at the finish line proved that perseverance is its own reward. What an amazing example she is for her own family and everyone around her!

10.   To Libby and Grace, whom I had never met before we piled in the Suburban to drive to the Rome airport, for providing a constant stream of witty remarks that kept us all in stitches. Laughter truly is the best medicine, and these girls are forever part of my fondest memories of this whole trip. Their willingness to join this crazy journey without knowing anyone but Emily and without really knowing much about Mission of Light has blessed me beyond description.

11.   To Thea, our natural encourager, who kept assuring me that if I had birthed 7 children, completing a marathon would be a piece of cake (even though she had done neither of those things prior to this experience!!). Thea’s love and concern for everyone around her oozes out of her very being, and her support for our cause helped us spread the word to the ladies of PWOC and beyond.

12.   To Abigail, who truly did throw off the things that hindered as she persevered to rock her THIRD marathon this year! Her participation in the ministry of Mission of Light as well as teaching a PWOC class AND balancing her roles as wife and mother all serve as an example of walking by faith and letting God’s grace be our guide.

13.   To Lisa and Nate, whose tidbits of experience were so extremely helpful as we packed and planned for the actual race. Lisa’s encouragement was especially meaningful to me as I struggled through my foot and back injuries and questioned the wisdom of even attempting this marathon. When she helped me think through the idea of simply walking the course and still finishing within the allotted time, I was strengthened in my resolve to just do it!

14.   To Erin, who joined us later in the planning stages and was a delight to our team and a special encouragement to her aunt Lisa R.

15.   To Shauna, my dear friend, hotel roommate, and organizer of our actual travel details. Without her fortitude and commitment to planning the perfect agenda, we would have experienced so much stress and heartache! Instead, the whole journey was SUCH a blessing and a memory-making time that we will never forget! What a joy to take a trip that I didn’t have to plan myself AND to spend it with such a dear sister in Christ!

16.   To Susan and Rachael, who, along with Shauna, were wholeheartedly committed to cheering for our team. It was SO wonderful to see them at the finish line! And all the little details like buying us treats to enjoy after the race, bringing food back to the hotel when we could hardly walk, and so on…THANK YOU, ladies, for the in-person cheering!

17.   To Mackenzie, whose commitment to our team was absolutely God-inspired. Though she chose not to race with us, she remained a part of our Facebook group and offered support, information, and encouragement. Her marathon “care kits” full of treats for the PWOC racers blessed us all, and the idea for a marathon relay on Support Site the day of the race was definitely an inspiration that provided a unique avenue of prayerful support for the racing team as well as the fundraising efforts for Mission of Light.

18.   To all those who participated in the SS relay team—you have no idea how much you blessed and inspired us! You may think it was “just” 5K that you ran, but your efforts represent so much more.

19.   To all the wonderful women of PWOC, who prayed for us and supported us in amazing ways. Special thanks to Brooke for praying over our team before we left.

20.   To Dr. Silva, who assured me that I would, in fact, run this race!! Thank God for a wonderful chiropractor!

21.   To Ersilia, my new friend and physical therapist, who helped me get through the back episode that set me back in training but allowed me to learn and experience growth I wouldn’t have otherwise.

22.   To Regina, whose spiritual marathon this year was definitely inspirational as I prepared for this physical marathon. Chap. Keith will always have a special place in our hearts, and more than once I heard his voice in my mind, quoting Scripture to keep my eyes focused on Jesus.

23.   To Audrey, who encouraged me to try the Couch to 5K program when I wanted to start running again after feeling so out of shape following pregnancy, bed rest, and delivery of another baby. Audrey, I thought of you when I reached the 37K marker as I told myself I only had a 5K stretch left to the finish line! To think that I started C25K in January and just completed a full marathon!!! To GOD be the glory!

24.   To Nick, the kind Greek man who asked if I needed help when I stopped to stretch a cramp in my calf toward the end of the race. Upon hearing I was turning 40 and had 7 children, he encouraged me by telling me that the finish line of the Athens marathon would be an incredible experience…and he was right!

25.   To the wonderful people of Athens who lined the streets and cheered us on, particularly toward the end of the race! Though we were far, far away from the elite runners, their unflagging support was such a boon to weary bodies!

26.   To all the volunteers who passed out water, iso drinks, bananas, and more to help us refuel. What commitment!

27.   To all those who prayed for ANY of us at ANY point during this journey…I truly felt we were carried along on the wings of all those prayers during the race.

28.   To those who have financially supported the ministry of Mission of Light—you have helped us feel that our efforts were not unnoticed or unappreciated. May God bless you for your generosity.

29.   To our church family at Il Faro for their prayers, blessings, and encouragement.

30.   And finally, to Jeff Galloway, whom I do not know personally, for all the information in his book about the walk-run approach to marathon training. Despite my injuries, I was able to complete 26.2 miles, in no small way due to my decision to run 4 minutes, walk a minute. Though I dropped the walk breaks at the end (it hurt too much to start running again, so I just ran!), they helped me tremendously during the training that I did complete and during the race itself.

“Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, 

let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles us, 

and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us.” Heb. 12:1

“To God be the glory, great things He has done!”

P.S. If you wanted to support our team financially, it's not too late! Go here to donate. Thank you, and God bless!

Names of 40 women we prayed for during the race. Shown with our team shirt.

Feeling at Home

Not only are we pretty much unpacked and settled into our new house, but we are also thoroughly enjoying our new location and assignment. We figured coming back to a place we had been previously assigned would make another cross-country move less traumatic, and it did indeed. But I personally didn't realize it would be just as easy to find the little, life-enriching blessings that have flowed our way in the recent weeks.

Yesterday I was simply overwhelmed with God's goodness. He has answered so many specific prayers, and I can't help but sing His praises! I hope you'll indulge me as I share some of my answered prayers.

* A Christian neighbor--I prayed I would find at least one believing family close to our new home. God planted us just a couple of houses away from Sidra (pronounced See-dra) and her family, and we've already shared some times of deep conversation that let me know we will be good friends. She and her family moved to this neighborhood from another area in Dayton just about 3 months ago, and since their move was basically across town, they are also finding new friends, a new church, etc. She has a 4-year-old boy and 2-year-old girl. Our boys enjoy getting together to play Star Wars, and yesterday I held Lucan and chatted with Sidra while Kenna and Sarah played alongside each other.

* A Christian family with whom our family can share fellowship and encouragement--A few Sundays ago Ted and I attended the 11:00 service, during which we met Andy and Susie. We chatted awhile after church, and Susie was kind enough to invite us to their home for dinner last week. They actually live in our neighborhood, and we have quite a bit in common, including the fact that both the guys are USAFA graduates. They will be moving to CA in April, but I know we'll be good friends in the meantime!

* A running friend--During one of my first runs in the neighborhood, I specifically prayed that God would lead me to a believer who maybe could be a running partner for me. I haven't run with anyone (consistently) since Sarah B. and her family moved from Las Vegas to Texas, and while I've done a pretty good job of getting out the door consistently, I know it would be much easier to go regularly (and farther distances) if I can run with someone. Well, God is good! Susie is a runner also, and last night she introduced me to another lady in the neighborhood who is training for a half marathon! There are actually 3 of them who run together, and I look forward to jumping in with them before too long! (They're doing 10 miles today...I'm not quite ready for that yet!)

* Homeschool friends--Last night Susie picked me up and we went to a scrapbooking night at the home of a sweet Christian lady who is a CM consultant. (And she didn't even mind that I used all Stampin' Up! products on my own project!) No sooner had I sat down and pulled out my supplies than I heard a lady at the end of the table discussing the fact that she had just ordered her first Sonlight core!!! Wow! We started chatting...she has homeschooled several years, but this will be her first with Sonlight. Two other ladies there also homeschool! As it turned out, all of us who were in attendance (6 plus the consultant) are 1) believers and 2) affiliated with the military. Several of us attend FairCreek Church, several of us are runners, and several are homeschoolers! What a blessing! I'm just so thankful God allowed me to meet Susie, who has in turn introduced me to some other wonderful people!

Hoping I Don't "Kneed" Treatment

So I was going for a slow jog on Sunday, trying to get back into the routine after being sick all last week with a cold. I had run 2 miles on Saturday and felt pretty good, so I thought 2 miles on Sunday before church would work well. However, as I got started, my right knee started to feel a little sore. Weird. I've never had knee problems before...but then again, I WAS running downhill. Not fast, not hard, mind you--but still. I stopped and stretched a bit, wondering what I should do. I tried jogging again, very slowly, and it seemed OK. So I kept going. By the time I got home I had forgotten about the incident, as both my knees felt just fine.

Unfortunately, during my quiet time and throughout the morning, I began to notice that things were not fine. My knee was stiff--I couldn't completely bend or straighten it, and if I tried, it hurt. Not good. I didn't have much time at home before I had to zip to church to serve at the 9:00 service, and by the time we got home after 12:30, I was definitely limping. I iced the sore area and put some muscle cream on it...took a nap...and woke to find that it was definitely swollen. More ice, more cream, an Ace bandage, and lots of prayers--I don't have time for knee problems, Lord!!

Yesterday morning (Labor Day) it was still sore and swollen. We had plans to go to Mt. Charleston to picnic with 2 other families, and we decided to go ahead and go, as the walk to the picnic area wouldn't be any more strenuous than trying to get up the stairs in our own house. (I'll post more later about our Labor Day activities.) I iced my knee before and after our trip and wore the Ace bandage while we were out and about. I took another nap yesterday afternoon...and when I woke up...PRAISE THE LORD!! The swelling was noticeably down, and the pain was very much subdued.

I had decided that if nothing had changed by Tuesday morning (today), I would call the doctor, but things are noticeably better. I'm still trying to be careful not to bend too deeply and taking it easy on the stairs, etc., but I'm cautiously optimistic that I won't need any major therapy!! No running for me for at least the rest of the week, though I hope to walk a little here and there to keep it strengthened.

Thank you, Lord!!

Thus Endeth the Streak

Well, I made it 27 days! Amazingly, I exercised every day we were in Salt Lake City except Sunday, our travel-home day. I had hoped to walk on the treadmill at home, but despite Ted's herculean efforts to maneuver the treadmill into the family room, we realized that the "key" to make it work is MIA. By that point it was too late for me to consider doing anything else, so I gave up. I haven't been exercising every single day since then, but perhaps I can give a streak another shot later. :-)

I'm a Streaker!!

I'm on an exercise streak! I've purposefully exercised for 23 days straight now. This means that I don't count walking from the parking lot into the store as exercise. :-) I've been running 5 times a week and doing some low-impact exercising such as walking, biking, or swimming the other 2 days a week.

I feel great and as a bonus have lost 5 pounds. Woohoo! Mostly, I just felt convicted that I needed to be careful and purposeful about how I take care of my body. Ted and I are going through Beth Moore's study on the book of Daniel, and when we were reading about Belshazzar and the handwriting on the wall, she talked about treating holy vessels as unholy. In the case of Babylon's leader at the time, the vessels were those stolen from God's temple in Jerusalem and used for heathen purposes, but in my case, my vessel is my body...and if I'm not taking care of it the way I know I should, I am treating it as unholy.

So...I began a journey of daily exercise--minimum goal, 4 weeks, but ideally it will lead to a more consistent routine, even more so than I've been doing (which, don't get me wrong, is a MUCH better record than I had prior to moving to Las Vegas!). God continues to "waken me morning by morning" (see Isaiah 50:4 or my post about this here) and has strengthened me to do what He wants me to do.

Pounding the Pavement Again

Over the last couple of months I've been working to become more consistent with my running again after taking what seemed to be quite a bit of time "off," even though I did run here and there. It just seemed that there would be a whole week at a time with absolutely no activity, and it even got to be 2-3 weeks in a row for a couple of stretches. I finally decided I was tired of feeling lethargic, and realizing that I have gained 5 pounds was also a motivating factor to intentionally plan an exercise routine.

Ted's TDY last week did kind of throw a wrench into my plans, but I just returned from a 5-mile run this morning, so at least I took advantage of his homecoming to get my body moving again! (I also got to enjoy listening to some tunes for the first time using my Mother's Day gift!! Thanks, Honey!)

The week before Ted left I ran 3 times, with my long run being 6 miles, the farthest I had gone since a 10-mile run back in February. That week was probably the 4th or 5th week in a row that I had run at least 3 times. (I'd have to look at my chart for sure!) At any rate, I'm realizing that the time has come to begin my long runs before 7 a.m.! It is WAY hot out there, and the forecast for this week includes multiple days of 100+ degree temperatures. Yikes! Actually, it's coming later than usual, it seems. We're halfway through May, and we've had a number of "cold snaps" over the last couple of months, just as you think spring is coming.

The Race--After

After crossing the finish line we herded through and were given "space blankets" (which were surprisingly warm), finishers' medals, and an assortment of samples ranging from foot cream to pain relief patches. Somehow I missed the food tables, having gotten in line for water and Gatorade, and had to turn around and go "upstream" to load my arms up with bananas, cookies, and power bars. Ted and I did find my sweat bag, which I had hidden in some bushes before the race since I hadn't been able to locate the storage that was supposedly in the parking lot. We walked back through Mandalay Bay and headed right to the parking garage after a stop at the bathroom. (I hadn't wanted to stop during the race, as EVERY port-a-potty I saw had a line in front of it!)

It was much easier driving away from the city than it had been coming in that morning. I was feeling great, having stretched before we left, but I could tell my legs were going to be hurting later on. We arrived home just before 10 a.m., and Debbie said things had gone well with the kids. Since we were home earlier than we thought we might be, we decided to attend the late service at church. (I took a hot bath first, and Ted showered. Later on I realized I really should have had an ice bath.) I'm glad we were able to make it to church, since we hadn't made it to a Saturday evening service. At home we enjoyed some yummy chicken pot pie, and then I crashed for a nap.

That evening we went back to church for a pre-school leaders' Christmas party. Charis had play rehearsal, and the other kids went to child care while Ted and I joined the adults for an evening of Bunko. We didn't win any Bunko prizes, but I did get a nice Christmas dish as a door prize, and it was fun to visit with the folks at the tables we were at. Getting up and down, however, was NOT fun, as my knees by this time were protesting at every little move. We were more than ready to call it a night and head home for bed. Ted massaged my legs with massage oil, and that helped tremendously.

I took some Motrin before bed, knowing that my body was no longer feeling the rush of accomplishment. Instead, I was feeling the effects of running farther than I've ever gone in my life. I woke at 4 a.m. feeling like someone had whacked my kneecaps with a baseball bat. For whatever reason, I thought it would be good to get out of bed, even though I couldn't straighten my legs without nearly screaming in pain. Somehow I managed to get up and started walking to the bathroom, but I was overcome by a wave of nausea. Ted realized something was wrong and asked if he could help. I asked for water, a large bowl in case I threw up, and some crackers. I ended up only drinking the water and made it back to bed for a couple more hours of sleep.

Monday was a painful day. Believe it or not, we actually did do home school! I found the pain relief patches I had received as samples after the race and plastered them on my knees. Wow, they really did help a lot--I don't think I would have been able to make it through that day at all if it weren't for them. The stairs were killers! Going up and down with the baby was interesting, but praise the Lord we made it through the day! Thank God for Motrin and pain relief patches. I did also get a nap, so I should also say, "Thank God for DVD players," ha!

Tuesday was much better. My knees were almost completely back to normal, but this time my hamstrings were feeling sore. It felt as if there were a spring tied from the back of my leg to my heel, as it was difficult to completely straighten my leg without feeling an uncomfortable pulling. I kept trying to stretch and massage the muscles, and of course Motrin was again my friend.

Wednesday I hardly felt any pain, and Thursday I went for a 3-mile run! I'm actually surprised that I even felt like doing that, as I hadn't expected to do ANY running for at least a week. My lower back has been hurting the last couple of days, but I'm not sure that's from running. At any rate, I think I'm back to "normal" and am thankful for the experience of running a half-marathon. I would definitely do another one, and hopefully next time I will be more prepared beforehand!

Someday I would like to do a full marathon...I think the Disney World marathon would be very fun! Anyone want to join me in planning?!

The Race--During

Ted stood right near the starting line and heard the announcer say that last year it had taken 12 minutes for everyone to cross the line. I was toward the back of the pack, and Ted actually found me and watched me cross the line after 17 minutes! The timing chips we wore on our shoelaces started the clock from the time we crossed start and stopped when we made it to the finish line, so I wasn't too concerned about how the delay would affect my overall time. However, I didn't anticipate how many people would be walking or jogging very slowly from the beginning! I was never so glad to just RUN as I was when I actually got across that line and was able to separate myself a bit from the throng. I don't do well in large crowds, as anyone who has been with me at a Stampin' Up! Convention knows. :-) I tend to find the path of least resistance and zip right through it!


So there I was, running down the Strip with multitudes of people. People in Santa hats. People in elf hats. Running Elvises (208 of them), trying as a group to gain the World Record for the highest number of running Elvi. (They did it!) Brides and grooms, preparing for their ceremony at the Run-Through Wedding Chapel at mile 5. People running for causes--leukemia, stroke, heart disease, cancer, children's tumors, AIDS. People running in memory of loved ones. People walking, people laughing, people sight-seeing. Old people, young people, skinny people, not-so-skinny people, handicapped people. I loved being there and just taking in the sights, sounds, and even smells. Around mile 2 a man passed me saying, "It smells like Disney World here," and indeed the air did carry the scent of a theme park, with deep-fried goodness wafting about.

I heard the Blue Man Group playing music as I approached mile 3. I skipped this water station, as I was hoping to get past more of the crowd, but the crowd really didn't thin out until well after the full marathon split off from the half. Thereafter I stopped to walk while I drank either water or Gatorade, forcing myself to breathe and take it easy for a half-minute or so. It was hard--I had more energy than I would have thought possible! Running on the flat streets downtown seemed so easy after running around the hills close to home. I wondered when it would start to get hard but decided to just keep pressing on until that point came.

The scenic part was all at the beginning. After we split off from the full marathon folks, we wound around some not-so-great looking streets, places I certainly wouldn't be walking around any other time. (Don't worry, Mom, I was perfectly safe! Tons of people around, and police at every intersection!) It was so neat to see people cheering us on at every mile marker. Obviously some were there looking for specific people, but they cheered everyone on regardless. Race volunteers were overworked and definitely underpaid, ha! We had to fill our own water cups at several stops because they just didn't have enough volunteers. The ones that were there were frantically setting out cups and opening jugs of water and Gatorade. No matter, most of us weren't out to set any world records anyway.

Mile 8 caught me by surprise--had it really been 8 miles already?! That was a good sign. Mile 10 was even better--the full marathon loop met up with us here, and we saw the first runners coming through the tunnel and heading down the last stretch. We joked that we were "running with the elite!" Wow. We got lapped at mile 23!! Those guys are amazing. Every time a full marathon runner came around the corner you could hear the half-marathon folks cheering him on. (And I say "him" literally here, as I didn't see any women runners...they had been given a head start in order to account for the time differential for the first place finisher overall.) I saw a wheelchair racer come around as well, having nearly completed the full marathon in approximately 2 1/2 hours. So inspiring!

In fact, so many people inspired me that morning...older folks that whizzed by some of the young ones, as well as older folks who were wheezing and plodding along. The woman with two prosthetic legs, leaning on her husband at mile 8. The cancer survivor. The kid who didn't look a day older than 12. What an accomplishment, to be committed to health when so many in those situations would excuse themselves from pushing hard physically.


A couple more bands were playing as we headed down the home stretch. I didn't pay much attention, as I was antsy to get to the finish line by this time. I knew my time had to be better than I expected, having seen the clocks at various points and realizing I was close to 10-minute miles consistently. As we rounded the corner to head into the parking lot at Mandalay Bay, I started scanning the crowd to see if by chance I could find Ted. And I did! His Avalanche ballcap, plus the fact that he stood head and shoulders above the spectators nearest him, made it easy for me to pick out my best friend and lover! I felt like a teenager, as my heart leaped and I could hardly catch my breath for a moment! I could see on his face how proud he was of me, and I loved that he ran toward the finish line with me, trying his best to get some pictures of this momentous occasion.

Ted took the picture above, and here is the link to the professional ones taken. I had my sweatshirt on for all but the last mile and a half of the race, as it was COLD outside, so not too many pictures are posted. And they probably won't be there past this month, so hopefully you'll read this post and be able to see the pics before they disappear!

Crossing the finish line was exhilerating! To think that I, Beverly, who couldn't run more than a mile in high school without having to sit down, could actually run 13.1 miles in 2 hours and 12 minutes! It just goes to show that anything is possible. I've learned that I have, for much of my life, completely underestimated the abilities God has given every human being. Our bodies are simply amazing. I thank God for my health and energy and pray that I will stay committed to a healthy lifestyle so I can be ready for any opportunities that He brings my way.

The Race--Before

On Saturday I had to pick up my bib, timing chip, and other stuff at Mandalay Bay's Quality of Life Expo, so we drove downtown after Kenna's morning nap, hoping to be able to get the stuff, see the fountains at the Bellagio, and be home in time to do some Christmas decorating and maybe even attend one of the Saturday night church services.

Ha! I think we were downtown for at least 4 hours. First of all, the city was a mad house. I'm sure lots of extra people were there because of the marathon, in addition to it being a weekend. Simply GETTING to the Convention Center was stressful, and then we had to fight our way through the crowds all the way to the back corner (of course) to get the required items, then wind our way back through all the vendors to get out. Had I been alone, I may have enjoyed looking at the stuff and possibly purchasing some things...I loved the girl-y running shirts that said things like "Find your happy pace" and "I run like a girl!" I was also seriously considering purchasing some running tights. Our weather had been quite good, and I was doing fine with shorts and a sweatshirt in the mornings. But Saturday was a different story--after our first rain on Friday since July, some cold winds swept in, and I was worried about what it would be like on Race Day.

But the crowds got to me, and I just wanted to get OUT of there with our kids intact! So we drove to the Bellagio, having promised the kids that they could watch the fountains. Ted dropped the older kids and me off so we didn't have to walk as far, and we found a good viewing point and stood, shivering, waiting in eager expectation. By the time Ted came pushing Kenna in the stoller, an announcement was being made that, due to high winds, the show was cancelled. Grrr. We did get to see some smaller fountain displays as we walked through the Bellagio Conservatory to get to the parking garage, and it was neat to see the area all decked out for Christmas. By this time we were all starving, so we went through the drive-through at In 'n Out Burger for a healthy pre-race meal of cheeseburgers, fries, and chocolate shakes.

Since we were eating in our van, we began crawling down the Strip, as my "brilliant" plan had been to drive the route of the race so I would know what to expect. However, we realized before long that I would be able to run two miles more quickly than we were driving them, so we bailed out about half-way through the route and just headed home. By this time Kenna had been awake for about 5 hours and was more than ready for her nap. I actually took a nap myself in the afternoon, knowing that I would likely not be able to sleep all that well at night. We had a relaxing evening, though it did not include church or decorating as planned, but that didn't matter so much after all.

My friend Debbie arrived around 9 p.m., and after chatting with her about instructions for the kids the next morning, Ted and I headed to bed while she made herself at home in our "Stamp Suite." I tossed and turned for nearly an hour before settling into a fairly good sleep, then woke at 3:15 a.m. and dozed off and on until about 3:45, when I finally got up and turned off the alarm (set for 3:50 a.m.). I took a quick shower to wake myself up more, ate a banana, checked the weather conditions (no wind--praise the Lord!), and dressed and braided my hair for the race. My sleepy but supportive husband awoke about 15-20 minutes after I did, and we were on the road by 4:30.

Getting downtown was no problem, but we did encounter quite a bit of traffic at Tropicana, where it seemed that most other people were exiting in an attempt to get to the parking garages. We found parking plentiful at Mandalay Bay, where the race was to begin, so that was a blessing. We walked back inside through the Convention Center where we were the previous day. Participants were everywhere, causing the whole building to smell like a nursing home with all their patches and cream for pain relief. Had I known how I would feel after the race, I may have been slathering myself up as well, ha!

After eating another banana and hitting the bathroom a couple more times, we were ready to head outside. Ted and I separated, and I was left clutching my "sweats bag" that was handed out at the Expo. We had been told that we would receive labels and be able to put the bags in a holding place in the parking lot, but alas, the location was nowhere to be seen, and a sort of official-looking person told us the area was actually inside. I'm not sure he knew what he was talking about, as everything had indicated otherwise, but as I couldn't find the area anyway, I joined with a couple of other runners in hiding my bag in some bushes, hoping to find it after the race. One more quick trip to a port-a-potty, and I was ready!


"Elvis" was singing the national anthem as I joined the throng pushing its way to the starting line. Fireworks began going off, and I could hear an announcer, but only the fact that he was speaking--I couldn't really distinguish words, nor did I try, preferring to just take in the sight of 17,000 people gathered in one place for one race. The sun's rays were just beginning to shine light over the horizon, but I still needed sunglasses for the stadium lights that were shining over us.

I was positioned towards the back, but I didn't mind so much, as I didn't plan to worry about time. Besides, the new state-of-the-art timing chips would give us exact times from when we crossed the actual start to the finish line. It was an amazing thing to be standing there, waiting, with so many people with so many different aspirations, goals, and dreams. I could have people-watched all day, but before long my focus would be elsewhere...the race itself!

To Be Continued...

I Did It!

I finished the Las Vegas Half-Marathon, and I'm still alive to tell about it! I will write a separate blog entry telling about the fun sights, sounds, and (yes) smells of the race, but for now, since we're getting ready to attend the late church service, I shall just say that I DID IT!

And by the way...in case you're wondering...my time was 2:12:19!! WOW! I surprised myself AND my wonderful husband, who was cheering me on at the finish line. He was confident that I had reached my rather humble goal of finishing in less than 2 1/2 hours, but neither of us expected that good of a finish, particularly since I have never run farther than 10 miles before.

WOOHOO!!

Call Me Crazy...

...And please pray for me today and tomorrow! I'm officially registered for the Las Vegas half-marathon! I am probably insane for even attempting this. With various illnesses in November, I lost at least 2 weeks' worth of training time. The farthest distance I've ever run has been 10 miles, and I've only done that twice, the most recent of which was about 4 or 5 weeks ago. I didn't run for 8 days straight leading up to Thanksgiving, so I've only been back into it for a week and a half. I did make it 8 miles last Saturday, and it wasn't so bad.

So, I have no idea what tomorrow will hold, but Lord willing, I'll be able to post that I made it the whole 13.1 miles! Right now my only goal is to finish and have fun. I don't want to worry about my time at all. I know I'll probably be finishing around the time some of the elite runners will be crossing the line having finished a FULL marathon!

My friend Debbie R is coming to spend the night so she can be with the kids when Ted and I leave EARLY in the morning to get downtown. The race begins at approximately 6:07 a.m. Please pray for good weather as well as for safety for all the participants. I'm excited to see what the morning will hold!

No Race

Well, after getting a head cold or something of the sort a couple of days ago, I ended up not doing my 10K this morning. I woke at 5 a.m. to go to the bathroom and thought, "I could throw on my clothes and walk out the door right now and still make it!" Then I thought, "Who am I kidding?!" and went back to bed.

It's kind of a bummer, as I had already paid the $25 to be in the race. But between the congestion, sniffles, sneezes, and some knee pain that has been going on for about a week, it's probably best that I didn't run. I'm still trying to decide about the half-marathon; it's in two weeks, and between this cold and some stomach issues last week, my mileage has just not been where I thought it would be this close to the marathon date. THAT race is $85, and the deadline to register before the price goes up even more is in just a couple of days. So I'd better decide soon!

The Hills Are Alive...With the Sound of Panting

I'm back in the running routine. I do miss our flat roads around our old neighborhoods, but I'm getting used to running around here. Unfortunately, though, what goes down must come up, and I can't run much of anywhere without starting by going DOWN hill, which means I end by coming UP hill!! The good news is that I'm getting conditioned, slowly but surely. It was a great day when I realized I ran about a mile and a half uphill without stopping once--the first time I ran that route I stopped at least 3-4 times!

Last Saturday I did a 10-mile run, the second time I've gone that far. Ted and the kids picked me up at Smoothie King--I treated myself to a nice smoothie for breakfast. I finished in 1:45:10, which means my average time per mile was 10:31. Not bad, if I do say so myself! I was pleased to note that a hill I had run on occasion closer to our old house was a piece of cake after running the hills around this area! I'm hoping this conditioning will help me run the half-marathon in a few weeks.

Next Saturday I'll be running a 10K race, so I did a 10K run around here just to check out my time. I've only run one other race in my whole life, and that was a 10K about a year and a half ago with Sarah. It started out going uphill and was a pretty tough course, plus it was a very windy day. As I had only run 6 miles one other time previously, I wasn't expecting much. When the day of the race dawned and I was having stomach issues, I figured I'd be lucky to even finish. My time was a few seconds under an hour and fifteen minutes. My time today was 1:05:15. Woohoo! And that's even with running hills. I think the course may actually be flat, but I'm not too familiar with that area of town, so we'll see.

Day o' Packing

Yesterday I went for an 8-mile run in the morning, which was actually harder than the previous week's 10-mile run because of the horrible winds. At one point when I was running west and feeling a bit like a cartoon character that runs but doesn't get anywhere, I finally stopped and walked while singing at the top of my lungs, "Oh, no, You never let go, through the calm and through the storm, oh, no, You never let go, every high and every low, oh, no, You never let go, Lord, you never let go of me!" Food for thought that as I approached the cinder block fence to a subdivision, I was immediately sheltered and could continue my run. Thank God that He is my Refuge, my Rock, and my Strength!

Back at home, we accomplished quite a bit, though it didn't feel as if we were actually packing that long. During the morning hours we had several home school families stop by to pick up some items I had advertised for free and also sold our Total Gym, which I had bought from Sarah over a year ago and had never even used! (Sarah, you can rest easy knowing that it will likely be a great clothes rack for Hilary R. now!) I was glad to unload some kids' items to friends as well as other miscellaneous things that I just didn't want to move anymore.

So far, Ted has completely packed all of our books, CDs, and movies. I've packed several boxes' worth of kitchen materials and almost all of the office, including stamping supplies. We unfortunately didn't have anyone who could come over and help us yesterday, so our work was frequently interrupted by short people. We did try to stop and do stuff with the kids now and then as well as involve them as much as possible. Charis is a great helper--she helped me pack some office items and is a great runner when I need stuff moved. Arden packed the ABC magnets, and Tobin helped tremendously by occupying himself with another 1000-piece puzzle. If he's not bothering his siblings, life is generally much easier for us all! Packing is difficult enough without having to serve as a referee every 5 minutes, which is what it seemed like we were doing on Friday. The kids also all helped clean up the backyard, which somehow had accumulated a lot of trash--mostly recycle-able materials that the kids had snagged from the recycle bins to put rocks and dirt in.

Today we'll attend church, but I've requested today and next Sunday off from the pre-school ministry. Every hour is important as we count down to October 11.

I've also made the difficult decision not to go to my Homecoming. I'm very sad about not being able to visit with my friends, but I simply can't pick up and leave for 4 days in the middle of all this mess. It's frustrating on so many levels, not the least of which is having already paid for plane tickets. They can be changed to use anytime in the next year, but with $130 in total change and processing fees for non-transferrable tickets, Kenna and I would only get $95 each in credit for a future flight. At least we have the option for the credit, I guess. Sigh.

A New Record

We had a storm blow through Friday night, bringing beautiful weather this weekend. I had been planning a longer run for Saturday anyway, so I was excited that I'd be able to exercise in cooler temperatures. My schedule had not worked out for me to run Thursday or Friday (in other words, I was a lazy bum), so I was further away from my 20-mile goal for the week than I had wanted to be. A crazy thought entered my head...if I could go 10 miles in one shot, I'd hit that 20-mile mark for the week! My longest run ever had been 8 miles, which I hadn't done since we were in Idaho at the end of June. I had done 7 miles just a few times over the summer since then.

I got on the computer to play around with mapping routes, thinking maybe I could plan a route with several options depending on how I was feeling. My final route allowed me three options: run 8 miles with a one-mile cool down, run 9 miles and end at the gated entrance to our subdivision, or come through the gates and make a loop around the neighborhood to actually hit 10 miles.

I didn't leave the house until 8:45 a.m., which tells you (if you're familiar with LV weather) that our temperatures were nice indeed Saturday morning. It was a wonderful time to run! The air was crisp and clean and smelled so nice with the scent of rain, flowers, and trees. (This was obviously before I made it to the bird sanctuary or the horse boarding areas.) I felt great at the beginning. Between miles 3 and 5 the route was pretty much all uphill. (Sarah, I forgot how steep that hill is by the bird sanctuary! But at least I got to see some emus and ostriches to keep me amused!) Miles 5 and 6 were a nice coast downhill, and I noted with pleasure that the breeze was blowing in my face as I headed back east. Perfect for keeping me cool now that my body was so much warmer! I passed the orchard and resolved to bring the kids back to pick up some melons and squash. At the next stop sign I found a veritable lake and ended up having to run south on the gravel to the side of the road, altering my route just a bit so I could cross the water without getting my shoes completely sogged out. It didn't change my distance at all, and trust me, living in the desert makes one appreciate seeing that much water anyway!

I was still feeling pretty good at this point, just about 8 miles through the route. My legs were only slightly burning, and I didn't feel a need to stop at all, though I was taking quick walk breaks at about every mile to mile and a half to rest just a bit and chug some water from my Fuel Belt. I made it to the gates of our neighborhood--9 miles!!--and reveled in knowing I had already run farther than ever before in my whole life. So I had to keep going! I made the loop around the neighborhood, and the final stretch had me going west again, so I could see the mountains, which had been covered completely by clouds when I had first begun running. It was neat to see them so clearly (and to see snow on top of Mount Charleston!) with the blue sky in the background. Wow! What a rush! I ran 10 miles and made it to my 20-mile goal for the week!

Now do I think I can do the half-marathon in December?! You bet!! What's 3.1 more miles?!

Running Update

I'm not sure when the last time was that I posted my weekly mileage, but probably just before we left for our Colorado trip. Though I had good intentions, I did NO running that week we were gone. I ran 4 miles the week after we returned, and that was it. The following week I was sick the latter part, so I only went 4 miles one day and 3 1/2 miles two days later.

However...(drum roll, please)...I did manage to run 4 days in a row last week, and that's despite Ted's being in Virginia! I absolutely hate running on the treadmill, but I did it anyway. Mileage: 3 1/4, 3 1/4, 3 1/2, and 3 miles, for a total of 13 miles. Slowly but surely I'll work my way back up!