I just love to run

I love running. I don't really like stretching or eating right or speed training. I just LOVE to run! Today was just one of those runs for me. One of those runs where everything in my life is just perfect. I'm out running and it's me and God and Nature. Even though I don't really like to stretch and I don't like to pay such close attention to what I'm eating. I know that it's important and I'm trying to get better at those things. I want to be perfect at training this time. I want to do all the right things...eat right, speed train, cross-train etc. But I'm reminded of when I set out to run my first marathon....

When I started training for my first marathon, I asked around to see if anyone knew anything about training for a marathon. I asked my "Frisbee" friends and others to see and I couldn't find anyone. So being the determined person that I am, I found a training schedule on-line and began training. I knew nothing really about long distance running, but I wanted to know everything. I wanted to know what type of shoes I should have, what I should be eating, when and how hard to run. Soon into my training I realized that I definitely could not learn everything and I actually ended up just doing a half-marathon cause the full was just too much at that time. I guess I'm a more "hands on" learner cause I have learned alot about running just from doing it. I now actually have "runner's shoes" rather than Nike.

As I set out to pre-train for the upcoming Marathon I have such high hopes of doing thing right, knowing that I will be better than last time, but probably not necessarily where I'd like to be. Aren't we like this in our Christian walk. We want to do ALL The right things. We want to be the best marathon runners EVER. but we have to take it one training run at a time. Some days we have the best 3 mile runs where it's just us and God and the troubles of life just melt away and others are like the hard 2 mile speed training runs or that horrid stretching that I just don't do. Each plays it's part though in the scheme of life. None is more valuable, they just have different roles.

Running is where I meet God...I wish everyone had this gift

Random pre-training thoughts

Mel here.
It amazes me how difficult 2 miles is. I amazes me how my body "feels" like I haven't ever run before. I ran two miles today and decided to push myself. Mostly from the encouragement of Amber. I know Amb, you said nothing, but just your eagerness to make a good time on our marathon makes me want to already start working on speed. So I decided I would run faster than normal and try to keep a steady pace. I intended on running the first miles really fast (for me anyway) and then I would slow down, but I ended up running my first miles really fast and then walking for a minute or two and then running the last mile pushing myself, but not as fast as the first.

So anyway towards the end I wanted to slow down. I was tired and wanted to stop and I thought of how I also slow down at the end and I wanted to get better at that, so I tried to maintain my faster pace and I DID! Then I started thinking about how so many times I have such a hard time pushing myself. It's difficult for me to go out and run and push myself, but if I have someone running with me, or I set a goal before going out then I'm more likely to be able to push myself. Then I thought about how I am usually pushed by my circumstances. In life I have a difficult time pushing myself, but the right circumstances and pressure reveal that I could do much more than I thought.

ps- i love the pink! you're so girly!!!

Let's do it!!

I will absolutely blog with you. haha, that sounds kind of funny... Anyway, I have a new burst of energy just thinking about signing up for the race! What a blessing it is to be able to run- everytime I'm running, I am so thankful for the opportunity! And it is even more amazing to run with my bestest friend, Mel! Mel and I ran a half marathon last year together (my first and she had already done a full before that) it was a great race. We were able to encourage eachother throughout the entire race- Mel was stronger in the beginning and I was stronger at the end. It was perfect! We even sang songs and learned a new phrase from some fellow runners along the way "big hills, small butts!" :) Not that we care- we're BB's Quarters! (it's a Russia thing....) But every race I did after that on my own, I had Mel's encouraging words going through my head and kept on going because of her! I am so excited to start training for a full marathon! There's nobody else in the world I would rather do it with than Mel! Even though we are millions of miles away, it works for us to train "together." Can't wait to get started!