When you're scared to run-Dogwood Canyon

Psalm 34^[a][b]

Of David. When he pretended to be insane before Abimelek, who drove him away, and he left.

¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.

Completed Dogwood Canyon 50K Sunday, October 20th.  Actually was 32.03 miles according to my GPS but who's counting after 31?  I will admit that I am afraid of heights and that I'm also having some vision changes that impair my hand/eye coordination and my ability to react as quickly as I used to.  I sometimes get so freaked out about it that I'm almost scared to do trail runs as much as I'd like.  This was one of them.  There were many obstacles, hills and rocks along this course, the worst being a drop off I had to slide down. Rather than letting fear stop me, I prayed OUT LOUD!  And kept praying until I had gotten to the bottom.  Then I praised OUT LOUD! 
⁴ I sought the Lord, and he answered me;
    he delivered me from all my fears.
Just a reminder that there's not one mountain or valley that the Lord will not get me through if I only trust.  What a great promise that is! 

The course was definitely challenging and very damaging to the quads with all the downhills.  After the 25k break off point where the runners doing the shorter distance finished, the trail became quite lonely.  And, this was what I was waiting for.  Alone time with my Savior. 
¹ I will extol the Lord at all times;
    his praise will always be on my lips.
² I will glory in the Lord;
    let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
I honestly don't know if I would run ultras if I wasn't a Christian.  I sometimes wonder what people that don't know Christ can possibly think about or do for that long of a time period alone.  And where do they draw their strength?  Why is a medal so important to them?  To me, it serves as a testimony to what God has done in my life, nothing more or less.  So much to ponder when you're running for 7 hours in the woods. 

By the end of the race, about mile 30, I was so enjoying spending time with the Lord, I was almost sad to see it ending.  About that time, the bass pro guy who rides the trails in his SUV came by to see how I was doing.  I smiled and told him what a beautiful trail it was and a God given day for sure.  He responded by telling me that I was glowing.  Wow!  Did the absolute joy I felt on the inside show on the outside?  Apparently so. 
⁵ Those who look to him are radiant;
    their faces are never covered with shame.
 Then this was our bible study verse.  Wooohhh!  I'm still sore from this race but I am ready for Sunday's marathon at Rock and Roll St. Louis.  I am 100% sure that His strength will get me through and just as sure that I will praise Him every step of the way and give Him glory.  Met several people along this race and I pray I was a blessing to them.  I know my job is to simply plant a seed.  God will send someone else to water it. 
 ³ Glorify the Lord with me;
    let us exalt his name together.

                Lord, let your praise forever be on my lips.  

 Dressed as runaway brides for this one!!  Managed to keep the veil and garter on the whole way.  Love how this strikes up conversations and brings attention to the message that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." 
But more importantly, I can do NOTHNG without Christ and I am NOTHING apart from Him!!!!  Better calm myself down now, LOL. 

Mother Road Marathon

Took Second place at the Joplin Marathon on Sunday, October 13, 2013 with a time of 3:43.
 

Two new members race day morning

Saturday at the expo at the Joplin City Hall

 

 

Had a great race Sunday in Joplin.  This 26.2 mile course was mentally challenging as most of the run, I was alone.  There were only 179 runners which had quickly thinned out by mile 5 and was very spread out by mile 13.  Last year was a unique experience for me, and, not in a good way physically.  I knew I was in trouble my mile 3 when the Lord was quiet.  I have never had that experience when He was so totally absent.  I now know that when He does that, He is preparing me for something.  At the time though it was horrible. Made it through that race by the skin of my teeth and a lesson in obedience.  But I made a new friend.  And that's a whole other story!

So, my prayer this year was for Him not to take His presence away from me.  I could handle anything else He needed me to do except that.  To my relief, His presence was stronger than ever and I knew it was going to be a great day.  The first 13.1 miles was flat and pretty boring as there's really not much to see.  However, we were blessed with cloud cover and a spot or two of sunshine which kept the temperature down.  There was a very strong headwind the whole race.  Sometimes blowing so hard, I could not hear my music.  That served to be a big annoyance throughout the entire race but manageable.  Followed two girls until mile 17 when they slowed their pace.  One of them was Grace Garcia who went on to place 3rd in the womens division.  There was a huge hill at that mile which slowed a lot of people down.  After mile 17, it went flat.  Then it was upward to some extent the rest of the race, being a hill or upward grade.  Between the wind and the constant going up, it seemed many of the runners were struggling... including me.  But, made it through and then stayed around to cheer on some of the other runners I had met at the expo and had been praying for. 

All in all, a fantastic day.  I am forever grateful for the ability to run and for God's grace upon my life.  I am truly blessed beyond measure. 

Psalm 23 from a Runner

The Lord is my pacer, I shall not stumble.

He stills my fears and doubts.

He leads me mile after mile and strengthens my legs.

He guides me in my race and life for His name's sake.

Even though I run through hard times and difficult courses, I will not fear the wall.

I will fear no cramps or fatigue for you are with me.

You send me gels and Gatorade to strengthen me. 

You prepare a medal for me in the presence of my mockers.

You anoint my body with endorphins, my pain you take away.

Surely boldness and assuredness will follow me as I run all the days of my life,

and, after my last mile,  I will rest in the house of the Lord forever

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-contentment.html

http://www.gotquestions.org/Bible-contentment.html

In Christ Alone - Brian Littrell (with lyrics)

I had someone comment that I must have a lost of medals and trophies at this point.  I responded by saying they were all testimonies to the faithfulness of God.  I can pick up each and every one of them and tell you a story of how God worked through me at that particular race or how He gave me the strength to finish the race.  They remind me to never doubt His presence in my life and how important it is to share that as often as I can.  I am truly blessed beyond measure. 

Rockbridge Revenge 25k-9/28/13

Race day began with a 4:30 alarm.  Girls got to my house at 5:15 am ready for coffee.  I met Sandra for the first time who rode with Kelly.  This was to be her first ever race.  Nothing like starting off with a challenging 25k trail race.  I knew she would either love it or leave it after something like this.  I so admired her determination to try it. I later found out that Sandra had a disorder that would eventually leave her wheelchair bound. Her right arm and hand had already lost all feeling. She told me that she wanted to do "all she can until she can't."  I've found myself thinking of that mantra frequently since then and am reminded that "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me". 

This course proved tough with 100 foot drop-offs with maybe 12 inches between the trail and the cliff's edge.  Quite scary.  The single track was varied.  Very rocky in spots and definitely single track the whole route.  I am deathly afraid of heights and was almost paralyzed with fear running by the drop-offs.  I had to stay in constant prayer to keep going.  I had to stay focused!  At one point, I was taking deep breaths and mentally saying, "breathing in your grace, breathing out your praise."  I gave praise after every small victory of keeping my feet moving. 

Even while paying attention, I got snagged on a curved small stump which managed to rip off my toenail and hurl me to the ground.  Kelly fell right after me on the same stump!  We brushed it off, laughing to keep from crying, and then marked the stump with rocks so no one else would get tripped up.  Wooh!  Was I sore the next day.  Overall, loved the course!!!  Kelly and I finished in 3hours 9 minutes and Laura and Sandra finished in 4:12.   Sandra ended up loving it and plans to run with us again!  Guess she's as crazy as us.  She had bought her first TEAM413 shirt that morning, and found, like us, that witnessing gave you power!!!

Posing before the race with Laura Murietta, Kelly Scarborough and Sandra Ortiz



Kelly managed to snap this picture after everyone realized we were lost and we turned around
 

Found someone to take our pic after finishing.  What a great day!  Busiest race schedule ever is coming up. 4 marathons and an ultra marathon in the next 5 weeks.  God has proven His faithfulness to me and, in the words of Sandra, I will do all I can until I can't.  Forever striving to share Gods love and give Him praise!!!

Britt Nicole | Set the World on Fire