ISAIAH 40:31

I need this for tomorrow, my longest run to date, I'd like to cross the 20 mile obstacle, but my mind keeps getting in the way, filling itself with doubt. I will run & not grow weary. I WILL run & NOT grow weary.

Reading up a bit further, verse 26, and while you are at it, you might as well read all of Isaiah 40, it's a powerful part of the Bible...

26 Lift up your eyes on high, and behold who hath created these things, that bringeth out their host by number: he calleth them all by names by the greatness of his might, for that he is strong in power; not one faileth.

Today marks the 1 month point of training remaining. ONE MONTH LEFT is all I have left to work towards this goal. I don't know why I'm so repetitive today, its just been such a shock. I was notified of my bib # this week, #17459. Wave 3, Corral 2, my run starts at 10:50 a.m.

Another cool thing that happened this week, I had written a short tweet to Heather Lieberg (US Elite Marathoner) about her inspiring me and she actually responded to me, which was super special. 

I'm focusing on the good things today, I will prepare, I might drop a few water bottles around town, instead of doing this one without as well as making & bringing my energy bars with me, instead of GU, (gosh that stuff makes me nauseous) and just keep running. 

I've had a rough work week, I have a couple people in my work relationships that for some reason I just rub them the wrong way...every time. I stood my ground when I knew I was right and was just stonewalled. In this situation, as in my long, sometimes very difficult runs, I have to turn it over to God. If I don't, I just get bitter, and yes, I let so much of this anger out on my husband last night, who knew I just needed to get it off of my chest & just took it and even gave me some wisdom for my situation. Thank you Ryan.

So...how does this all come back around, I guess I don't really know what to do right now, in this situation and over the mental nerves about running tomorrow morning, so I will offer this prayer to my heavenly father...

Heavenly father, I am burnt out, I'm tired, run down, listless, I'm unpoopular, and I pop out at parties...(God is a sucker for Lucille Ball references)

I wait on you, please renew my soul. I need your comfort & all of the qualities that you've given to the Eagles. I need their faith in you to take care of them, the wisdom they have to succeed despite the odds they face, their strength to cover many miles following only where you lead them, & their nurturing heart for their families, to care for and raise them up in your likeness.

Fitting Tunes & Refreshing Motivation

Saturday basketball is over so I was able to sleep in for the first Saturday since December. Not to mention the temps being around -24 over night, -4 still at 7:30 when I dragged my lazy behind outta' bed.

Everyone was home, eating breakfast cereal, sitting at our kitchen table which in itself was a small milestone. The table had been out in the elements on our back porch during the majority of our kitchen remodel. Maxim, Walter, Ryan and I all worked together on it to sand it down the weekend before last. I joked that after doing this project as a family, we've now created an heirloom that the boys will fight about some day, with regard to who gets to keep it. Ryan since then had put down 1 tung oil application & rubbed that with steel wool. Then, this past Friday night he finished it with the final tung oil rub before we went to bed. So Saturday morning she was ready for use. Maxim celebrating with his "Finding Nemo" spoon that came in the Froot Loops Box and dribbling milk down his front while he ate, onto the table and his pajamas of course. :)

My looming long-run cloud hung over me, my stomach in knots, as it always is before I just go get it done. We talked about the appropriate time for me to go, Ryan checked the temperature, which said by 2 pm it was supposed to be 24 degrees. Hmm, for some reason, in my crazy mind, that didn't seem cold at all; what temperature does water freeze at? I layered up after prepping lunch and supper, and headed out around noon. The sun was shining, which made it seem not to bad, initially, but the wind was strong, and from the west, and I turned straight into it after 2.5 miles. Not far into this portion, my vision kept blurring and I realized that my tears were actually freezing while they were still on my eyes. What a weird sensation that was. I tightened down my hood, pulled up my cowl neck scarf so at least I'd breath warm air, and pressed on. It was pretty tough, even for this stubborn girl.

About 1.5 miles before I got to turn & head North, Whipping Post by the Allman (Almond) Bros. came on and I thought to myself, how fitting is this song right now. The first words of the song are, "I've been run down..." to which I respond OUTLOUD, "Preach it, Brother!" and laughed a bit...

The mental battle of a long run is so strong some days, you gotta' be tough to continue,  but I did keep on, keepin' on and was treated to the warmth of the sun on my back, instantly making me realize how greatly I wish my sweatshirt was black, but the  winds now were at my left side & the next batch of miles were very decent, compared to what I'd been through. I never took out a GU gel once over these 17 miles, I didn't want to get my fingertips chilled. I felt extremely fatigued with about 3 miles remaining, but recovered and even had a hitch in my giddyup over the last 1.5. However I did get home & tell my husband, "That was THE hardest 17 miles of my whole life." I lost 9 lbs of water weight in that time, just to give you insight into the drain that amount of miles has on the body.

Violet - Willy Wonka

MILLION DOLLAR IDEA this girl had 1/2 way through this trek: GU should create a gel that warms in your tummy after you ingest it, for us in northern climates. But then I thought of all the ways this might go wrong...





Training for Boston & running in these conditions has been the hardest thing I've ever done physically and mentally. I look forward to race day so much, we're staring down 6 weeks now. I know its going to be emotional to look back at all of the literal blood, sweat & icy tears I've put into this thing. I can't wait to talk about it with my sons & encourage them in similar endeavors later in their lives.

So...that being said, RE-MOTIVATION. I needed a kick in the pants. I just watched this video and it makes me want to run out the door right now & hit the snowy pavement. SO many people just like me, same love and passion, training in a variety of conditions, with the same goal, pretty cool to see. Enjoy & be motivated today, whatever passion you have, morph this to fit your medium.

Speaking of this, (as if I talk about anything else...) I'm looking for suggestions relative to my playlist for running on April 20th, please email/facebook, comment here with your suggestions for tunes that get you moving & push you.