Do you Know What your Running Shoes Taste Like?

Well my new running partner loves running so much he actually ingested part of my running shoe this morning. Unbeknown to me he chewed off the top eyelet section of my current running shoes!!! I use that top eyelet! I only caught him when he happily trotted past me with the insole in his mouth. I guess that was the second course. I am so sick about this I can't even bring myself to try them on to see if the damage means I have to but a new pair. They are not that old, ugh! I haven't been able to run or even walk him for a couple of days because I have had a terrible head cold. But, we will get out for a walk today! The idea of having a running partner that can eat your shoes is kind of funny, kind of...

I'm a Running Clothes Horse

Okay, I will come out of the closet and admit whenever I am in a sporting goods store or running store my heart rate rises, all that spandex and thermal stuff just gives me a rush. There I said it and I don't regret it! So being the running clothes horse I am this hat is on my list of "must haves" I have pretty long hair so in the winter I am usually pulling my ponytail low on my neck to get my hat or running head band from riding up and being uncomfortable. This hat solves the problem and its pretty too. Oh be still my beating heart!

A New Kind of Speed Work

My husband and I had promised the kids that we would get a dog this year. About 5 weeks ago we held up our end of the promise and got a dog, well, actually, ahem, we got two dogs. When we started looking at dogs we found two we really liked but we couldn't agree on which one so we got both. We purchased the dogs from a rescue group. The yellow lab is between 2-5 yrs. old and the black lab is 1 year. I had it in my mind to make one of the dogs a running partner. I used to run with my German Shepherd. He was a good companion, but died about 9 years ago, so it's been a while. So last night I decided it was time to start the black lab (Shadow) for a training run. He as well as the yellow lab have turned out to be really terrific dogs. The yellow lab is more of a 65lb. lap dog so she all snuggles and sugar. The black lab on the other hand is the athlete. I knew Shadow had it in him to run at least 2 maybe 3 miles but I wasn't sure how he would handle a steady no time for sniffing pace. So last night on the trails near our house we started his first training run. He surprised me and did very well! Everything was fine on the mile out, we could hear a few coyotes off in the distance, but on the mile back it had gotten much darker and the coyotes were out in number. The howling and barking was much closer and at one point Shadow and I realized we were being tracked by one or more coyotes. We could both hear something following us in the tall brush! I was freaking out and so was he! Our training run kind of turned out to be a speed training lesson. My husband told me I could not run with him on the trail again at night. I have no problem submitting to that! Shadow did great stayed on course and kept a steady pace. He's gonna make a great running partner!

Seasonal Groaning

Sorry I haven't posted in a while, it just seems I am saying the same thing over and over. I continue to run my 4 miles consistently and without pain. I was planning to do 5-6 miles on Saturday but missed my long run because I let to many thing squeeze out my time, things that were not as important as a good run, ugh. The weather was beautiful this week until the weekend then it got really cold. With the time change coming and winter just around the corner my morning runs will become more challenging. The regular runners will begin to thin out making my runs more isolated combined with the cold weather it will be harder to motivate myself to climb out of my nice warm bed to face the dark chilly air. I have a treadmill but find it hard to do more than 3 miles without going crazy=). I don't mean to sound like I'm complaining I just like running in warm weather so much more than winter running. I have been actually thinking about running my first marathon in April but it would require me to put in a lot of winter miles...I keep talking myself out of it for that reason and also I'm just not sure I have the mental fortitude to run that long...anyway enough about the weather and my humdrum attitude about winter running. For now I am enjoying the fall colors and mostly seasonal weather.
The changing seasons always remind me of this verse; Romans 8:22-23 "We know that the whole creation has been groaning in labor pains until now; and not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the first fruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly while we wait for adoption, the redemption of our bodies".
If creation longs for glory how much more we who are His children should long, groan, for the redemption of our bodies, which will mean we will be with Christ in glory! Next time you are out running look at the trees and all of creation and think upon this verse.

Oh, How I Love Those Trails!

Yesterday, I ran 4 miles of hills, slippery mud, deep puddles and I'm going back today for more! Since my husband was off work yesterday I decided to try the 4 miles I had planned for Saturday on Friday instead. I was a little anxious to see if that lower back pain would make a showing. Actually I never felt anything in my lower back but did feel a stiffness in my left glute but it was not that bad. I could tell after my run while I was stretching that this is an area that I need to watch. I ran my 4 miles on the trails near our house which after several days of rain meant I was faced with numerous obstacles of puddles and mud. When I got home I showed my shoes and socks to my husband and he said, "those trails will make you tough" he's right. After my run we got ready to go to the Tulsa State fair. We spent about 5 hours eating our way through the fair and having a really good time just hanging out together. I am planning to run another 4 on the same trails today and hoping for the best regarding this pain.

Thinking about and sending best wishes out to you all who are racing this weekend!

Trust for Today

So I've been doing 3 miles consistently for going on two weeks and I have not had that lower back pain since! It really does make a difference when training is on a consistent basis. Toward the end of last week I started going back to the river in the morning to run because, I simply don't like to run in the evening! It has been a bit of a drive for just 3 miles but it has helped me to stay consistent. I am hoping to do 4 miles on Saturday and if this pain does not return then I hope to continue to step up my mileage again. Running this year so far has come with more challenges than I really care to think about. Some of these challenges I am sure are related to me getting older, but even so, the unfamiliarity of these issues has not been easy to handle at times. As I have struggled this year to have a "normal" running life, it has made me appreciate so much more the gift of running. I am so thankful for the joy running brings, the solitude, the time alone with the Lord, the opportunity to re-group and of course pray and sometimes even cry. But these challenges have also brought with them some new anxieties, thought about my running that I have never had to consider... the "what ifs." What if I cannot run with out some pain issue, what if I can't find that "normal" again... So I comfort myself with Matthew 6:34 "Do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Sufficient for the day is its own trouble" and I press on, taking thought only on what has been given for this day and I move forward in the confidence that I serve a Great God who has a perfect plan and perfect time and perfect pace for my life.

Piper says:
Part of saving faith is the assurance that you will have faith tomorrow. Trusting Christ today includes trusting him to give you tomorrow's trust when tomorrow comes. Often we feel today like our reservoir of strength is not going to last for another day. The fact is, it won't. Today's resources are for today, and part of those resources is the confidence that new resources will be given tomorrow.
A Godward Life, (Multnomah Books, 1997) p.25