Bigger Fish To Fry

There's been so much more than running going on these days. Things to really keep me in check and get my priorities straight.

As a family we were able to help load a few of the 1 million plus meals with Numana Inc. We loaded meals on Sunday 1/24 and saw pictures by Thursday 1/28 of Haitian's carrying these meals to their families. Incredible feeling!

We took Judah to his first hockey game. The new Intrust Bank Arena has opened and the Thunder moved in for their first arena game. While we're not big sports fans (we won the tickets at public television raffle...just to give you an idea what sort of sports fans we are) it was fun to take Judah. And he's still a boy, so fighting, funnel cakes, and face painting were right up his alley!

For me, running has to be lower on my list. While it's high enough, there are still many more important things. In the past I've missed the blessings right in front of me by devoting myself wholly to running. I respect the marathon distance and pray for an incredible dream come t

rue. However, it is just a race after all, and my baby will only be six once.

Running is ...going. I'm getting the miles in, one way or another. The weather

has been making that kind of difficult. Last weekend's long run followed an all city "snow-day." Therefore 16 miles were clip clopped through several inches of snow. But the run was completed and another week of training was marked off.

In the middle of these last two weeks I started feeling a tiny twinge of pain in my right upper leg. In the hamstring/groin area. Two years ago I ignored pains of this nature and found myself with a stress fracture two days before a marathon. So, I called up my PT (who is just too good to me) and he had me lie on his table. His pushed, pulled, stretched, pushed some more, and then we noticed how awkward it all looked to the other patients and closed the curtain.

I was hooked up to a weight machine and had my strength tested. I went back over the two stress fracture tests. Jump on one leg: no pain? OK. Bend over and mimic putting pants on: No Pain? OK.

We set down and discussed an official training plan and my need to stretch my super tight muscles like it's going out of style. I was instructed to follow the guide and stretch my hamstrings at any opportunity I could find. It's an accepted occurrence for my family to find me throwing my leg up on the bathroom counter in mid-sentence or reaching for my toes while on the phone. I have a yoga mat permanently out on the bedroom floor. I took his advice to heart.

We're going to Boston whether I'm hurt or not, but going and not running? (*Holding back tears*) Don't even talk to me about it!

I'm not feeling any worse, but I hate that this little nag is still there. It's amazing how little problems like this can really magnify when you've got so much riding on it. Trying to keep it all in perspective, but still being consumed with fear, I've really been learning to cry out to my God. He heard me too. After being honest with my fears in prayer, my pastor randomly came up to me after service to talk about my running. After I explained how Boston is coming and how my fear of injury was looming, he shocked me with a gift. With tears in my eyes I was "invested" in.

I was given the funds to see a massage therapist. My tear filled eyes and dropped jaw were so thankful for a response from God. Running has been a never-ending faith journey for me.

I'm going to a sports massage therapist tomorrow after my long run. Amazing.

Here's my latest numbers:

Saturday 1/23: 16 miles

Sunday: 3 Miles

Monday: 10 Miles

Tuesday: 6 miles on Elliptical and Weights (PT Appointment)

Wednesday: 10 miles

Thursday: 5 miles and weights

Friday: SNOW DAY! 5 miles (treadmill) and 5 miles on Elliptical

The picture doesn't really capture the snow blowing down. This was after Judah and I trekked to the gym, Marathon training doesn't take snow days!

I had to scrape the windows before we could leave the gym. Judah was mad because I wouldn't let him do it with his hands. He's such a trooper. I love that kid. He's my muse. In so many ways Boston is all about him. I want him to see proof that going after your dreams is worth the trouble. Even inching along at 20 MPH in a snowstorm kind of trouble.

Saturday: 16 miles on the snow 15 degrees

Sunday: 3 miles

Monday: 10 miles

Tuesday: 3 miles to the gym, weights, 3 miles back

Wednesday: 10 miles

Thursday: 3 to the gym, weights, 3 back

Friday: 5 miles and 45 minute spin class

I'm trying to stick to the guide and throw in more cross training. If I can lessen the impact on my bones, I'll be better off. I guess we all have our limits and I will just have to accept, I'm not an ultra marathoner and my body won't let me run more than 50ish miles a week.

And it's all worth it. Whether on foot, on a machine, in the pool, or on a bike that goes nowhere. When the waitress at Tsunami puts the heap of coconut curry in front of me, all the early mornings, aches, cold limbs, and endless heaps of sweaty laundry blissfully disappear!