A Strong Resolve

Do you ever feel like there are forces "bigger than you" that try to hold you back? The question of whether these forces are good or evil remains to be seen but I'm talking about when you set out to accomplish a goal and just when you think the goal is accomplished...BAMM...a setback occurs.

You all know that I enjoy running (I know, it's a crazy thing to enjoy) and back in the spring I set out to train and complete the Country Music Half Marathon here in Nashville. Training for me is following a detailed 12 week (that's 3 long months) schedule of running, running, stretching, running and you guessed it, more running! It takes dedication and discipline to adjust your schedule to make the time for all this running but the accomplishment of crossing that finish line & having the endurance to do so is worth it. I was only 3 weeks away from this race when POW...I was so sick I found myself in the ER with the "stomach flu". The "stomach flu" turned into some mysterious illness that lasted about 5 weeks thus forcing me to miss the Half Marathon and deal with the disappointment and frustration over a failed goal.

Once I felt back to normal, I hit the treadmill as fast and furious as possible and got back into a running routine. I was determined to run a Half Marathon by the years end and what better one to do than in my own hometown. By the end of July, I started back with the same 12 week training schedule and have been plugging along ever since...nothing but smooth sailing that was until this week. First the tumble in a stairwell and then today I wake up with this stupid head cold. Germs have been flying around this office and despite my attempts with hand sanitizer, I woke up to sneezing, running nose, congestion and headache. You have got to be kidding me?? Tomorrow is my last long run (a 15k/9.3 mile run) before the Evansville Half Marathon which is in 9 days. My foot is feeling better just a little sore and I can suck it up and run through the pain but not being able to breathe...that's a much bigger obstacle.

Is something in the universe telling me that yet again I will miss another race or is it just trying to tests my determination? Well I tell you this, my resolve is strong and I will cross that finish line! (even if i have to pull an oxygen tank with me)

Taking a Tumble...

I guess I was way overdue for doing something totally clumsy but now I think I have paid my dues. On Tuesday afternoon I went running down the stair well at work trying to beat the rain from flooding my car as I had left my windows cracked at lunch. All was going accordingly to plan until the last 3 or 4 stairs as I somehow slipped out of my heels, missed a step and started to fall. I would have ended up face flat at the bottom of the stair well had it not been for my quick reflexes and grabbing the metal handrails on both sides of me. When i landed on solid ground, uprightly I might add, the only immediate damage was a broken fingernail and that twinge of my pride even though there were no witnesses. Whew!
It wasn't until about mile 3 of my 6 mile run later that night, that I noticed the slightest twinge in my right foot. And as I continued to run, the twinge became more of an uncomfortable pain that slowly crept up to my knee. By the time I was finished I was mostly limping. It wasn't until I got home and took off my shoe and sock that I realized the brevity of my stairwell plunge. My right foot (arch and top of foot) was bruising and swollen. "That's just great...my half marathon is in 10 days...You have to be joking." Common sense would tell you that I probably shouldn't have been running but I promise there were no symptoms pre-run. So like any "athlete" would do, I iced it down, elevated, took Ibuprofen and lathered my foot with BioFreeze(deep muscle pain relief gel) . Despite the fact that I should have run yesterday, I gave my foot a day of rest and thankfully I think I'm on the mend. My foot is still incredible sore but it won't be enough to take me out of the race. My resolve is much stronger than that and I will cross that finish line on Sunday, October the 7th.
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Just another week...

Well it's only Tuesday of yet another week and I'm already wishing it was Friday. This past weekend was busy but not that "I'm so exhausted and it's Monday" kind of weekend. Friday night I worked at Pottery Barn Kids with Caron. Some would say "NO" to working on a Friday night but I only work about once a month (and love keeping my discount) and it's always a blast to work with Caron and the gang from PBK.
Saturday started out fairly early with a nice 7 mile run. And there's nothing better to follow a run with than a nice hour massage. Jen and I got this promotional package from the Brentwood Day Spa & Salon so we each got a hour massage for only $40 (which is a great price). From there it was back to the house to relax and watch the Cubs play. My friend Jen, who I nicknamed Alabama Jen, was in town so she came out to the country to relax with me and we had a great time just hanging out, catching up and sampling these mini-quiche I was baking for my Sunday School Class Progressive Dinner later that evening. I had never attended a progressive dinner before but it was such a good time of food, new friends and fellowship.
Sunday of course was church and then yet another visit from out-of-town friends. Robert, Melissa and Erin (friends from Pensacola...also friends of my sister...what can I say, I have to borrow Amy's friends to have friends :-) just kidding) had been in Ohio for the weekend and were kind enough to stop and lunch with me. I had to introduce them to Jonathan's Grille as it's one of my favorite Nashville spots to eat and for their sake, was also right off the interstate. It was fun to see them all again. From lunch it was back home to watch more baseball and then a whole lot of nothing. The perfect ending to another good weekend.

Faith

What does the word "faith" really mean? I was talking with my friend Cathryn last week about this little word called "faith". Webster's Dictionary defines "faith" as allegiance to duty or a person (i.e. loyalty); as fidelity to one's promises; sincerity of intentions; a belief and trust in and loyalty to God; belief in the traditional doctrines of a religion; firm belief in something for which there is no proof; complete trust. Those definitions can be a lot to digest and take on several different meanings.

For me, I have complete trust in GOD. It is a beautiful mystery. I once heard in a movie where someone was describing their faith and compared it to the wind. You can't see wind but you can feel it. I can't see GOD but I can feel him, His presence in my life, I can see Him everyday when I step outside. I have faith!

But what about faith in others?? Definitions like "compete trust" and "sincerity of intentions" is a tall order for some people. And let's face it, we've all come across those individuals. People you have trusted/had faith in, friends...maybe lovers or spouses... people that you felt were genuine and sincere but they let you down, break promises, and are unfaithful thus causing damage to your own faith. I personally would say that I am a trusting person. I will trust most people until they give me cause not to and even sometimes that trust can be restored. But sometimes I find that it may be easier to not put so much faith in others...call it an act of self preservation. Why does there have to be risk in relationships? In the investment world, they say greater the risk, greater the return. Perhaps this is true in relationships as well.

So as I continue to ponder "faith"...Do you think the risk is worth taking?

Take me out to the ballgame

I told you that Sunday deserved it's own blog. That's right, after watching 3 Chicago Cubs vs. St. Louis Cardinals games over the weekend, my dad scored great tickets to the final game of their series and gave them to mom and me to enjoy. Of course it was a great game which could only mean the Cubs won and took 3 of 4 in the series and at this moment in time, the Cubs are sitting in First Place in the National League Central Division. (and if you know anything about baseball and the Chicago Cubs, they are a team who have a curse involving a goat hanging over their heads and own the nickname of "Lovable Losers" so you might be able to grasp the brevity of what being in 1st place means...even if it's only for the day) Here are some pictures for your viewing pleasure.

This pictures is the view from our seats looking straight out

Me and Mom....GO CUBBIES

Busch Stadium (above) and St. Louis Arch (below)

I'm baaack...

You would think I sort of disappeared from the world of blogging but alas I am back. The past two weeks of a major proposal deadline at work combined with house/Chewy-sitting just zapped my efforts to keep up with my blog. Needless to say, things have been a bit busy lately and I have felt a bit out of sorts having not been in my own place and trying to make and adjust to temporary routines. I'm glad to report that the proposal deadline was met with flying colors and I think we submitted the best proposal we could despite the lack of experience or expertise we have regarding the specific building type. And I'm glad to report that the longer hours or drive time to/from the country did not detour my dedication to training for this half marathon. After struggling in August to fight against the running "burn-out", I kicked off Labor Day with a 10k race and am back on track to finish my training strong and cross the finish line in 20 days!

Anywho, I am back at home but I just returned from a somewhat busy weekend in Indiana. I got in around 8 o'clock on Friday night just in time to catch the end of yet another Chicago Cubs victory over the St. Louis Cardinals and celebrated with my mom at Starbucks. And in case you haven't visited your local Starbucks in the past 3 weeks, they have all of their delicious "Pumpkin Spice" drinks back on the menu. Which is always a sign to me that the fall season has arrived. I then returned home to my niece who having just consumed a chocolate glazed donut was roaring and ready to watch High School Musical 2. YEAH! Of course, once we got settled into watching this show (and it's quite the musical event...as only Disney could create) we both fell fast asleep.

Saturday started at 5:30 a.m. with a nice and cool (like 49 degrees "cool") 8.25 mile run with my dad...nothing like a crisp fall morning run to kick off the weekend...and I so enjoy the quality father/daughter time and conversation. (see, I told you I was rededicated to my training) I then spent the better part of the day running around doing errands with my mom. Since Holly and Elaysha had a work picnic to attend, my parents and I decided to eat dinner at Shyler's Memphis Pit Barbecue (one of my favorite spots back home). AND as if we even had any room left for dessert, my grandparents had everyone over for one last batch of home-made ice cream along with brownies, angel food cake, fresh cut strawberries, pumpkin bread and zucchini bread. I managed to show a little restraint and only had half a cup of ice cream and a brownie. And despite the belly aches, it was the perfect ending to a perfect day!

Then came Sunday, another full filled day that deserves it's own blog....stay tuned for more!

A House Guest

Sweet Chewy

No, he is not my house guest but I am his. Since last Saturday I have been staying with Chewy while his mommy and daddy are on vacation and I must say that it's been very fun. He has to be one of the most precious dogs I know! He also lives about an hour outside of Nashville so it's been rather relaxing to wind down at night with him in the country...and yes, it truly is the country. I cant even begin to count how many pastures I drive past on the way to/from work...pastures that hold horses, cows, goats, sheep and even ostrich. It can't get any more country than that. Ye-Haw!