Memory loss

Ooops!! With all this running, I forgot to do my 20 mile training run for the March 30 marathon.  So, I will be running an hour in the morning, another hour with the run group, and then one more for good measure.  Why do I procrastinate?!!!  Praying the weather is good or at least tolerable.

The run groups are at Westside Baptist at 9:30 on Tuesdays and 10:00 on Wednesdays.  They are open to everyone and every fitness level.  Great way to show what TEAM413 is about.  Sharing and caring.  There is no mile run too slow... only the mile never run at all.  So, enjoy the run!!

Shamrock Shuffle

Great race for all of us.  Very cold and windy.  All four of us pictured set a PR.  Praise God, I came in with a 21:46.  My best 5k ever.  Thinking the minimal shoes are helping turnover.  Makes me toe strike more and, of course, they are lighter.  Met some new friends too!    TEAM413 was represented today and to God be the glory.  I am so humbled that He sees fit to use me.  I pray that I never lose sight of the reason I can run.  It's by His grace.  With every breath, I will give Him praise.  My God is wonderful.

ultramax race

ultramax race, a gallery on Flickr.

More pics from the Ultramax race on March 10th. What a great day!!

DSC_7475

DSC_7475, a photo by Ultramax Sports on Flickr.

Absolutely great race today!  We ran the Duramax half marathon trail run at Innsbrook Resort near St. Louis.  Met some great people and made some new friends!  God was so good to us today.  The morning started off very cold and raining and I was forced to wear a rain jacket covering my TEAM413 shirt.  Prayed that the rain would stop.  After mile 1, it stopped!  I handed my jacket to a race worker trusting that God would have me find it.  The car key was in it!  I did!  

3 of the 6 of us were new to half marathons and did amazing!  All finished safe and to God be the glory!  Mark, the announcer even did a shoutout to TEAM413 when I accepted my medal of 1st in my age division.   There are some good things to moving up to the 40-44 bracket.  Lol  

As I've learned from experience, I packed extra rain gear, gloves and hats which I shared.  Just reminded me of Ephesians 6:12 where God instructs us to put on "his armor".  As with running and being ready for any condition you may run in, I was reminded of the many times I had run cold, wet and unprepared.  Like with my spiritual life, I learned from experience how to "dress".  This is not a one time lesson but one learned from life and the experiences it brings.  How thankful I am that God has brought me this far.  I have learned to never leave without the appropriate running gear and to always follow Ephesians 6;12 instructing us all to  "put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.  Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace.  In addition to all this, take up the shield of faith, with which you can extinguish the flaming arrows of the evil one.  Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God."

Weekends run

What a cold day Saturday was!!  I talked the kids into doing a 5K with me to benefit the local animal shelter.  The Temperature was about 20 on the windchill and it was wet and slippery.  There was no chance of a PR on this course for anyone.  It was snowing and there was ice on the roads.  

I ran it with Luke, my son (14).  He underestimated his physical condition and the weather conditions.  Unless you run outside often, it's quite a shock to your system to breathe in the cold air.  We walked about half of it and it was priceless!!  It's not very often that a teenager will be seen in public with his mom, much less actually talk to her and not pretend to puke.  Luke told me he was sorry that he couldn't go faster to which I replied, "are you kidding me?  this means i get more time with you. this is the only reason i'm out here."  He thanked me and my heart melted.  I absolutely love my children and I so thank God for them.  I try to commit these times to memory.   Speaking of kids, Hope (my 7 year old) walked and ran with her little friend, Melody Gan.  They had quite the time.  Went back to check on them after Luke and I were done and they ignored me!  Lol  So, I just watched her go and smiled.  God is so good.  His blessings are amazing and I am truly humbled each time I run with my children.  Thank you Lord for that gift and I pray there will be more.