Saturday, July 11

My New Stretch with the Naughty Name

Last night we went over to a friends house for dinner and an opportunity to meet a couple of men who are visiting from Myanmar. My husband and another man from our church are going in December to visit a native missionary and his family that our church supports from Myanmar. It was really interesting and helpful to hear about the customs as well as some of the obstacles my husband and this other man will face as they go. The man that my husband is going with his wife is a physical therapist and a runner. I told her about my hip and she rambled off this super long name and told me that that was a common muscle for runners to complain about. She showed me this terrific stretch that she said they call the "hooker" stretch. I call it the owie stretch. This stretch HITS THE SPOT! I was quite sore this morning before my run, I think from doing that stretch. While I was running I ran into a friend and we ran together until my mileage was done. It was fun to run with someone but I have definitely gotten out of shape for talking and running, I was asking a lot of questions so she could talk while I was trying to breath...After my run I did my new little stretch while hoping no one was wondering why I was standing like that =D I am thankful that this stretch already seems to be helping with the soreness that I experience after a run. I hope you are all having a blessed weekend!


update: I actually found a picture of this stretch on-line that was too funny not to post. My physical therapist friend told me to lean my elbow on the wall which doesn't help this stretch to look any less silly doing it.

Wednesday, July 8

Sisters in Arms

What has happened to my life...I seem to have no free time and I feel like I am running from one thing to the next... I have been making random stops at each of your blogs but have had no time to reply. So this morning I am making myself get on the computer and catch up with you all, and that sounds so weird because just a few weeks ago I had to watch out not to spend too much time on the computer Facebooking, blogging and planning for our vacation to Florida in September. Oh well such is this season and I need to rest in it.

So to catch you all up on my schedule I have been running 3.5 miles consistently. Unfortunately since having recently increased my mileage by .5 it has re-irritated my hip. So I will hold on increasing my mileage any more until it resolves itself again. I wish I knew what is causing my hip to get irritated...It's getting a bit bothersome but I am trying to not let it take up too much of my mind right now.

I recently purchased this dvd to give myself something extra to do while my mileage is so low. I was specifically looking for a strength training dvd verses cardio because as I am getting older I'm becoming more, eehem, flabby. I'll let you know how I like the dvd once it arrives.

Yesterday mornings run started out a bit different. The first thing I noticed on my run was there were no rabbits out foraging like they normally are at 5am. The next thing I saw was a huge fox. At first I thought it was a small coyote, but it was a large red fox. This explained why all the bunnies were hiding. Their adversary was lurking around. I thought about the verses in the bible that talk about being on the alert and watchful. I thought about the instruction in Ephesians 6 for the Christian to put on the full armour of God so that we can stand firm in the battle. My life lately has had some very difficult battles. I am at war with an adversary that would like nothing more than to crush my faith. I have been reading "The Christian in Complete Armour" by William Gurnall. In the chapter entitled, The Saint's Call to Arms, he writes; "The outcome of the battle rest on God's performance, not on your skill or strength!" When I consider that it is the Lord who underwrites my battle then I can march on in the hope of His power. He also writes; "To encourage our trust, the Lord often intervenes in mighty ways on behalf of His people. Sometimes He allows an opposing force to arise, so that at precisely the right moment He can raise up a more magnificent pillar of remembrance to Himself. This pillar will stand in the very ruins of that which contested His power. Thus, when He intervenes all must say, Almighty power was here" Wow! doesn't that just make you want to want to say "Praise God." So today I am thankful for that visual picture on my run the other morning, and standing, somewhat wobbly at times but non-the-less with my face fixed to His strength, power and purpose in the battle. So let me encourage you my sisters or as my friend from Alabama would say my "sistas" in arms, in whatever battle you are facing "...be strong in the Lord, and in the power of His might" Pressing on with you...

Tuesday, June 30

Pressing On

Okay this summer is already proving to be super busy. I have had very little time for posting. This past weekend I hosted a baby shower for one of our young adults. I love to decorate so I had so much fun putting it together. It was a wonderful time of fellowship and a joy for me to do for one of our young gals. Below are a couple of pictures.
I have been running pain free! I am upping my mileage this week a half mile to 3.5 This is will give my hip a chance to ease into it without putting on too much stress by adding a whole extra mile. I have a bit of a slower week so hopefully I can catch up with you all. Might the Lord be an
ever present help and comfort in your lives this week.



Thursday, June 25

Running Taught Me How To NOT Spit Like A Girl...

I had a couple of titles for this post, 1. Running Taught Me How To NOT Spit Like A Girl...
2. Mmmmm Protein...

Okay so this crazy title came from me simply inhaling a bug this morning on my (3Mile) run. Something black with wings flew directly into my mouth. Thankfully, I was able to get rid of him before he was able to kamikaze down my throat. I have sucked in many bugs over my years of running and it is always so gross. As a result I have become very good at spitting while running. I know, cool, right! Not really but I thought that you needed to know this about me... Right after my run when I was walking in the front door I inhaled some other gross thing that I didn't even see coming! My husband was staring at me as I walked in the door hacking and coughing trying to get that bug out of my throat to no avail. On today's menu, bugs, icky bugs. Have you ever had a bug fly in your mouth while running? Do you try and spit it out?
I say let the spitting commence.

Tuesday, June 23

Running 3's (part 2)

I am starting to sound redundant, but some times redundancy is good. I am so excited to tell you my hip pain is almost completely gone!!! Praise God!!! I don't understand how I can still be running and yet experiencing less and less pain every day but I just thank God it seems to be working!
When I went running last Friday I decided to try a new part of the trail and ended up unexpectedly coming upon some hills. After clearing 2 hills I could see ahead of me there were quite a few more. I noticed right away from the first hill my hip pain kicking in and I probably should have turned around before taking the second one. This is exactly why I don't like to divert from my normal route...I am a creature of habit and change is well, change and I don't like change :D Who knew there was a part of the river trails that had hills! I plan to continue doing my 3's on my nice flat, REGULAR, I know whats coming, trail this week :D. I might try and add a mile on Saturday but I will just have to see how my hip is feeling. I am sooooo, sooooo thankful this is going away.
I have a very busy week so posting again will be at a minimum. Besides there's only so much you can say about running 3 miles unless you fill it in with lots of exclamation points and extra oooooooo's ;)
Have a great week of running or resting!

Thursday, June 18

Running 3's

I have been limited on time this week to do much posting but I did want to go ahead and post my runs so far for the week. I have run 3 miles every morning this week down at the river. I have cut back on trying to increase my mileage and have completely stop all hill training until this hip issue resolves itself completely. I do not want to end up with a full blown injury so I am being very careful not to push this pain too much. I am very encouraged that even after a week of consistent running my hip issue is actually starting to ease up. I have not felt the need to take off a day in order to allow my hip some rest. This is encouraging and the first time in weeks my hip has not caused me to take a day or two off. I have also been more purposeful with my stretching and discovered that a side bend really hits that spot. I am certainly not where I want to be right now with my mileage but I am extremely thankful to still be out pounding the pavement. I know you all have been praying and for that words cannot express my heartfelt thanks.

Monday, June 15

There's No Place Like Home...

This mornings run was pretty eventful as far as weather is concerned. I watched the weather last night and knew there was a chance of rain in the morning but when I got up it was clear and just a little windy. Unfortunately it wasn't until I was at the end of my turn around that the storm started to blow in. Now I've run in the rain but not with winds this strong. There was only a light drizzle but when you added the strong winds that slight drizzle felt like needles going into my legs. I picked up the pace quite a bit. Because I live in Oklahoma the chance of a tornado is always out there and it certainly crossed my mind. Funny thing was the movie The Wizard of Oz popped in my head and the tune that plays in the background when the witch blows by on the bicycle was playing in my head also. The video below has the scene in it. It was a crazy run.