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

Painless=Progress!!

I am crazy when it comes to self-diagnosis! Although I am usually right on spot about it, I can get obsessive to an annoying state trying to figure out this pain or that ;D. So in my normal way of attempting to self diagnose my recent back/hip pain I concluded that it was related to about three weeks of poor running habits, not running my long runs consistently, and then trying to jump right into a 8 week half-marathon training schedule. All of the above combined is why I think anytime I ran over 4 miles I was experiencing serious pain. So this week I have set a goal to only run 2-3 miles, but to do it everyday instead of my recent hit and miss schedule. So last night (its not worth driving to the river in the morning for just a couple of miles) I ran 2 miles of hills and I have no pain today!!!! This is indeed progress although small. My friend that I was helping in the morning to get back into running has had some medical issues arise and will not be meeting me in the morning for a little while, so this allowed me to move my running schedule to the evening while I work this problem out. I still woke up at 5:15 this morning on my own, but I thoroughly enjoyed that extra hour sleep. So I am happy today with my 2 small miles of hills and hoping after tonight's run to continue to be pain free. Don't you just love how running so often mirrors life in the sense that we must keep moving forward even though at times our path can be uncertain or we become weary with what seems at times very little progress...we must continue to press on, to move forward, to not be side-lined by the difficulty of the race, by discouragement, or whatever our trials are. Our theology and what we really believe about God is lived out in each and every step of this race. I pray for you today as I do myself that we can press on toward the goal...press on past that part of the race that has already been run...press on with our eye upon that which we have been called.

Run today that you may win!

Running a Race I Cannot Register For...

Well, I return to my running blog after a five week break and not with the reports I thought I would have. As some of you know who are also friends with me on Face book we ended up cancelling our Disney trip due to the unexpected diagnosis of cancer in my husbands father. His dad was diagnosed with a serious high grade parotid gland cancer that has spread throughout his body. The Disney vacation was to be a family trip which included them. Although we could have taken the trip without them, it would have been hard to detached from the current circumstances. Cancelling our trip also allowed my husband more time and opportunity to minister to his mom and dad without the looming pressures of a big trip. Having to cancel the trip was extremely disappointing for the kids but they have had an experience of seeing faith and trust in an always good God personified in ways that will stay with them long after the thrill of such worldly amusements are gone. As of right now our trip has been postponed until April 2010 but we will see as time goes on. My husbands father is currently receiving chemo and will start radiation treatments in the next week or two. His treatments will continue until the end of February next year. This cancer is not curable but the doctors are optimistic that they can slow down the growth while still giving him a quality of life however long that is. As for the number of day well that is in the Lords hands and written in the book. Until then we are living life with a greater appreciation and a deeper faith in the good providence and dealings of our Great God. My husband set up a caringbridge site here if you are interested in reading the details. Be warned my husband is one for details...comes from his finance background=)

Okay on to running. My running has been pretty hit and miss these past few weeks due to two reasons. First issue that happened was I was asked by an old friend who just moved back here(actually my old running partner) if I would help her get back in shape and meet her in the morning for some runs. This messed up my mileage a bit because she was only able to run a few minutes and then had to stop and walk. My running turned more into walking with her. I wanted to do this for her because I care about her and really it was a blessing for me to have the companionship in the mornings. Second reason is I have been dealing with a new hip/lower back pain. This pain is in my other hip and is totally different. I had started my half marathon training squeezing it into my morning runs, when I started having this pain anytime I ran up to 4 miles distance. Although I have run on the pain it has been very hard. The pain is mostly in my lower back and radiates into the hip and even the hamstring. It is by far the worst pain I have experienced in all my years of running. I have been taking large amounts of ibuprofen to help deal with the pain and help me sleep. Reducing my mileage and taking more rest days seems to help reduce the pain but this means I will not be able to train for the Tulsa Run or the Route 66 Half Marathon. It has been discouraging to say the least and I cannot figure out what is causing it other than some inconsistency in my running the weeks preceding. Which it very well could be something that simple. If there is anytime I NEED to be able to run it is now, yet the Lord has seen fit to make this another thing in my life that I cannot control. I am a creature of habit and the past two plus months have been nothing but things, people, circumstances, taking over my life...would I have planned to return to blogging this way? absolutely not, but I would not change a thing right now because I know that to be in the center of His will no matter how challenging that is to me personally is really the most blessed place. I have this one life, this one opportunity to respond to this time in a way that will please Him. There will be other races but there may not be another time I can grow in my faith and trust and learn to glorify Him like this time. So where does that leave me?..right now, I don't know even what tomorrow will bring...if I will wake up and be able to run or if I will get a call from a needy friend or if someone dear to me will receive difficult news...what I do know is that I have a Loving Father that deals with me in very personal and intimate ways and will help me to do and live in a way that brings Him the most honor even if this was not what I had on the schedule for the day or the week or the month...
I do look forward to being back blogging and communication with you all and especially reading about how you are growing in your training and faith as we all run this race whatever path we are given. So for now I am running a race I cannot register for but it's the best race of my life...It's good to be back!

Im Doing The Same and....

I have tried and tried to find time to blog and I have come up short on both time and the motivation to do so. I will be taking a break through the rest of August and most of September.
Hopefully I will come back in late September with lots of fun pictures of our vacation to Florida. I plan to visit and will try to leave comments on your blogs during this break. I will keep you all in my prayers and think of you often as I press on both in running and in His grace.

Grace and Peace to you all,

Terri

Calgon, take me away!

It is hard to believe it's already the middle of August. Since we started back homeschooling the days are just ticking away. It doesn't feel much like summer anymore but it doesn't feel like fall either??? It is a crazy time around here and I am trying not to feel overwhelmed by all that is going on. We haven't gotten in a grove yet and it seems like nothing is getting done and things are out of sorts. I even misplaced a photocopy of my vacation "to do list" and I can't find the master list! It's almost becoming comical how upside down life is right now! For example, a friend of mine was telling me how good salt baths are for removing toxins and softening skin. So I thought I would try it. So yesterday my 5lb bag of "official" dead sea salts arrives filling my mind with visions of being like the"Calgon, take me away" lady only to discover last night that our hot water heater broke. I just had to laugh. Well on to other news...running is going better this week and I am not feeling so drained. I think part of the problem last week was I was not getting enough to eat, so this weekend I tried to be a little less strict with my food choices. I have been fasting breakfast since this difficult time has come in our lives (is it okay to share that??) and I am going to continue to do so but will be more careful to get some additional complex carbs. I have not been working on increasing my mileage but know that if I am seriously going to do a half in November I need to get moving on a more planned out schedule.
I've been enjoying reading about how everyone is doing on your training schedules and it really is a joy for me to read about how your training is going. Pressing on.

The Fruit of Someone-else Labor

This is what's on the menu for dinner tonight. I would like to say that this is the fruit of my labor but in reality this was given to me by others who are much better at gardening. I am thankful for their giving spirit! I will add some chicken for my meat loving family, but will enjoy mostly vegetarian for myself. I love eating this way.

I took the day off from running because I have just felt so sluggish this week. I don't know what is wrong if anything but I am having an off week. Even after sleeping in this morning I still feel real tired...I am hoping to feel more perky in the morning. Hope you are all having a terrific week.

Mug, Mug, Muggy

If muggy was a soup I was swimming in it this morning! I could hardly breath and had to stop and walk for a couple of minutes. It wasn't my best run but I still did 4 miles total. My mind was struggling this morning on some trials my family is enduring. Before my husband left for work he told me he is seeing God working in my life in good ways. That was so encouraging I shed a couple of tears. I think half my struggle this morning running was stress related. I feel so weighted down when I don't trust Him as I should, when I don't see that He is good and when my thoughts are not more eternal and redemptive in their purpose...I covet your prayers.
I plan to start homeschooling today to get a jump on my month since I figure we will need to take off about 3 weeks in September for our vacation. We will be studying Oceans, currents, estuaries, sea life, and the such in preparation for our trip. If I don't run out of time I would like to do a unit on Florida for 1 week, but I already feel like I've been overly ambitious in my schedule. This week will tell me a lot.
I had you gals on my mind and heart this morning as I was running and can't wait to read about what God is doing in your lives.
Love this song...

Blessed Is the One
Blessed is the one whose sins are overcome
Whom God has sheltered deep within His grace
Blessed is the one who trusts in God the Son
His steadfast love the sinner’s hiding place

Jesus, Your blood covers all my sin
Jesus, Your love draws my heart to sing
What a Savior, Jesus

I will always hide at my Savior’s side
I find my refuge in His sovereign care
When the waters rise, God will hear my cries
His steadfast love will hold me safely there

The Computer Hospital

My computer will be in the shop this week so I will not be able to post. I will miss reading about your runs this week but hopefully the repairs will only take a few days and I can catch up with you all on Saturday. Have a blessed week!

Trails, Trials and a Trip

Well, I have been extremely tardy with my posting. I have been spending a lot of my time planning our vacation in September. I am looking so forward to being in Florida. I love the tropics and the beach. It would always be my first choice for a vacation. There is something about the ocean that is in my soul. If all goes as planned we will be staying here .While we are there we plan to visit here, here and yes I am going to ride this!
My husband is planning this part of our vacation as a kind of surprise. After the almost month of trials and afflictions the Lord is taking us through this time will be a much needed rest for us. I look forward to the memories we will make.

I have been running pain free even with increasing my mileage! I know it is that stretch that is doing it. At first it really hurt to do it but now it feels good when I stretch that area. I am so so thankful to be back in the grove. I even ran the hilly trails near our house Friday and Saturday without any flair-up. The trails near our home have a certain sacredness to them. I have poured out my heart to the Lord on these more rural trails. It's nice to be back on them. I am planning to increase my mileage but very gradually and am so thankful to be moving forward again in my running.


Who will separate us from the love of Christ? Will tribulation, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? Just as it is written,
“FOR YOUR SAKE WE ARE BEING PUT TO DEATH ALL DAY LONG;
WE WERE CONSIDERED AS SHEEP TO BE SLAUGHTERED.”
But in all these things we overwhelmingly conquer through Him who loved us. For I am convinced that neither death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor things present, nor things to come, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, nor any other created thing, will be able to separate us from the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.

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.

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...

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.

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.

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!

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.