Good bye to the year 2010

The last week of the year is usually a time of reflection for me.  It is that time of limbo that just seems to hang between Christmas and New Year's, just like the lights, ornaments, garland and tinsel.  They have served their purpose and are somehow, not bright and shiny anymore.  No one has come along to put them away, so there they are.  And here we are. 

We are anxiously waiting for the new year to begin.  Anticipating what's next.  Looking back at 2010 - sad that it's over or happy to welcome a new year, hoping to leave behind the obstacles, problems or heartaches of the past 12 months.  It is time to look forward.

As the calendar changes and we step into 2011, what new challenges will it bring?  For me, it means that I will welcome a new training team of couch potatoes and spend the next 40 weeks or so, taking them from walking 1 mile, to finishing a marathon.  I truly have one of the best jobs in the world.  It is such an amazing thing to watch someone transform before your very eyes.

In a couple of weeks, I will come face to face with a room full of people wanting a change.  A big change.  They will be looking to me, Mark and the other Marathon Makeover team of leaders to help get them there.  It is a huge responsibility that I do not take lightly.  I strongly believe that we can help someone make a major life change in a matter of a few months.

What changes are you ready to make in 2011?  What are you doing now that's not working for you?  Now is the time to change that.  I was asked this question this week, "What do you want to do that you haven't yet accomplished?".  Wow.  That made me think.  My answer?  I want to make a difference in peoples' lives by getting them up off the couch and get them moving.  I want to show people that there is more to life and we do not have to settle.  We are in control of our lives.  We make our choices.  What do YOU want to do?  If you are not already doing it, WHY?

There are steps you can take today to get where you want to be!  I'd love to hear what your answers are.  If you dare, please share!

In the meantime, Happy New Year!

Are you hearing voices?

I have to admit that sometimes I do hear voices.  In my last blog, I talked about the "shallow voices" in our lives and how important it is to tune those out and listen to the positive, honest voices instead.  This lead me to think about the voice that we hear every day and how important it is.

That voice is important for a couple of reasons.  The first reason being that it is our own voice.  The second is because it is something we can control!  There are so many things in our lives that are beyond our control, but this is not.

For 40 weeks out of the year, my husband and I train people to go from walking one mile to finishing a marathon (26.2 miles) with Marathon Makeover.  We talk a lot about this little voice.  By the way, why on earth do we call this a "little" voice?  It is a big voice and it is a powerful voice.  I think it is because many times it comes as a whisper and we barely even notice it.  It whispers, "you can't do that", or "what are you thinking???"  It deposits doubt and insecurity into our minds.  I wonder why that is?  Well, I have my ideas, but I'll have to save them for another time.

The point of this blog is to ponder this voice and what yours is saying to you.  I have heard mine this week, so I know what mine has been saying - or trying to say.  Mine has said, "You're tired, just stay in bed."  Or at other times it has said, "If you feel this lousy on a short run, how are you going to do 13.1 on Saturday?".  I could go on and on and tell you some other things my voice has said, but I think you get the picture.

When I start hearing this voice, there's only one thing to do - shut it up!  I remind myself that I AM ready for this 1/2 marathon.  I've done it lots of times before, and I'll do it again.  It's not important to beat my last time because finishing is winning.  I have raised over $700 for St. Jude Children's Research Hospital.  This will be the first time I run a race and have my own cheering team!  I have a lot to look forward to Saturday and everyday.

Has your inner voice turned negative?  Well, you are in control of that voice so change it!

Shallow voices

I had a tough run today.  10 miles and all of them hurt.  I got into a cold bath and even added ice.  I felt a lot better when I got cleaned up, dressed and ready for the day.  I felt good because I had done the 10 miles.  I stuck it out even when I really wanted to quit.  That's what marathon training has done for me.  


I was feeling good about the day, about myself.  And then.  And then it was brought to my attention that there had been some hurtful things said about me.  Some judgments made and careless thoughtless words spread about my life, my business, my intentions.  Ouch.  I know - it's business and it happens, right?  Don't take it personally.  When someone can show me exactly how this is done, I'll do it.  I haven't yet seen anyone accomplish this, really - not when your character is questioned.


This made me think how easy it is to hurt someone with a sweeping broad stroke that is neither thought out or checked out to see if it's true.  It seems that, often times, we expect the worst of people.  Why is that?  We expect the worst, we observe a situation and think we see it objectively, but we don't.  As Dr. Phil says, "No matter how flat you make a pancake, it still has two sides."  I just love that.  How often do we look at the other side?  How often do we give someone the benefit of the doubt?  Do we ever try to walk in their shoes?  When we make a statement about someone else, is it based on fact or feeling?  How many assumptions are made?


Words are powerful.  Words can hurt. Words can heal.  Words cannot be taken back.  Words turn into voices in our heads that direct our paths.  Jim Rohn said, "Don't spend most of your time on the voices that don't count. Tune out the shallow voices so that you will have more time to tune in the valuable ones."  People who spend their time, or any time at all, tearing down someone else do not have a voice worth listening to.  I will continue to work on listening to the valuable voices in my life.  I will work on my weak spots without beating myself up or tearing someone else down.


Maybe this isn't the most uplifting blog post, but it's what's on my mind and I think it's worth sharing because I know I am not alone in this experience.  I encourage you to tune out those shallow voices and turn up the valuable ones!

Do it

The question of the day, "How do I run faster?" The answer is...............you run faster.

I am asked this question A LOT. I have answered it many times and have blogged about it before. And, I am sure that I will blog about it again. The answer seems simple and frustrating. Yes, simple. Yes, frustrating. I like the simple. I do not like the frustrating. Why is the answer frustrating? I think it is because the only way to do something is to DO IT. The problem - we want something when we want it, how we want it and where we want it - and, we want to do it perfectly the first time.

Working hard and having patience are not up there on the "want to" list. Sure, we all want to have patience and we want to benefit from hard work, but do we want to do what it takes to get either? I'll take the hard work over the patience exercises any day. Both take consistency, commitment and an acceptance of delayed gratification.

I started out my marathoning by walking. No running. Walking. I have very slowly gained speed for the last 7 years. This morning, as on most Tuesday mornings, I went out for my "speed" run. Now, understand, I am a threat to no one out there. I race against myself - no one else. When someone sees me trotting (slogging) down the road, the last word they would use to describe me is "fast". Even so, I go out each week to work on my speed, so that I become a faster runner. Some days, I am slower than the week before, some days I am about the same and then there are days like today when I finally see some progress. How exciting! I see that the hard work I am putting in is paying off. If I am patient and I work hard, I will reap the benefits.

Aren't there many other things in life that work the same way? How many times do we want to improve in a certain area, but are unwilling to put in the work and patience necessary to reap the benefits? It is too easy to give up and move on to the next thing. Is there something you want? Something that is going to take hard work and patience? The only way to achieve it is to start working on it today, right now. Do what you can today to move closer to your goal. Tomorrow, do the same thing - take another step towards that goal. Don't let the sun go down without moving forward, even if it is a small step - every one counts!

In Marathon Makeover, we help people get up off of the couch and take that first step towards better help by walking ONE MILE. You have to start somewhere. By consistently building on that very first mile, they are able to finish a marathon. We build slowly and consistently. By continuing to get out there and do what each day requires, lives are changed and marathons are finished. It really is as simple as that.

What is it that you want to change, do or achieve? What do you need to do to get there? You can't get it done if you don't show up, so show up.

10 miler AND 11.5 miler - DONE!

When I last wrote, I was preparing to get a 10 miler done. I got it done - by myself. I do a lot of my miles by myself, but it has been a while since I've done that many alone. To go out and spend a couple of hours walking and running can be a challenge. However, it is also a blessing.

This has to be the most difficult thing I have found since I have become a distance runner. When I began training for my first marathon, I was 37, married, worked part-time from home and was the mother of 11 year old twins and a 4 year old - all girls. I spent the first 6 months, mostly walking, so I was spending a good amount of time training. It was not the easiest thing I've done in my life, but it was definitely one of the most worthwhile investments I have made and continue to make.

It took a while, but I learned to value my time out on the road. I had time to think and pray and breathe! I stopped feeling guilty about this time and started enjoying the benefits of investing this time in me. I learned to budget my time during the rest of the day, so that I had time to train. We all have the same amount of time in each day. I am always surprised, when I take stock of how I spend my time, how much time I actually waste doing unnecessary things. What I found at the end of the training season, is that I had more energy and seemingly more time (because I used it more wisely), I had the most successful year in my business than I'd had up to that point, and most importantly, I had more energy and an overall better sense of well being that, in turn, benefited my family and others around me.

Each time I come upon a long run and am not feeling up to it, I remind myself of all of these things and I know that it is worth it to get out there and do it. This past Saturday, it was time for an 11 miler. I was not looking forward to it because I thought I'd have to go it alone again and the weather was supposed to be very cold. I don't always do well in the cold because of asthma. At the last minute, I checked with a running buddy to see if she wanted to brave it with me - she did. Whew! We had a great run together - it was cold, but the asthma didn't act up. It was a beautiful day and I ended up going about 11.5+ miles.

I will be ready for St. Jude's 1/2 on 12/4. In fact, I am going to try another strategy this time. I am actually going to train up to 14 miles, so that the 1/2 is a drop back. I have never trained this way, because I have never been up to the right mileage in time. I am interested to see if it helps on race day. We will see.

Next stop, St. Jude Half

It has been a long while since I have blogged. It is a continuing challenge to become a regular blogger, but I am working on it. I must schedule the time, right?

So, a lot has happened since I last blogged. Our 40 week Marathon Makeover Class of 2010 "graduated" at the Run For Life Marathon and Half Marathon. All went well, except for the fact that it was HOT! I will take that as the only "hitch", though. It was a great day, for the most part. It is always such an inspiration to see my people cross that finish line. I have watched them work so hard and start with that initial mile. Sometimes - most times, in fact - they start the race not knowing if they will finish. Then they round that corner for the last stretch and you can see on their face - "Is that really the finish? Have I really done this?".

I remember turning that last corner in Chicago and seeing the finish line. I felt the same way. The closer I got to that line, the more real it became.

Well, I am headed toward another finish line now. Next stop for me is St. Jude's Half in Memphis the first weekend in December. I fell behind in my training, preparing for our race and then fighting to recover from a bought of bronchitis. Now the weather changes, irritate my breathing further, so we will see. I will finish, but I don't know that I'll be able to improve my time any. That's ok. I plan to do the Mardi Gras Half in February. I can work on my time for that.

The important thing really is the finish. Especially with this one. I opted to be a St. Jude's Hero, which means that I am raising money for the research hospital. I am very excited about it, but am still trying to reach my goal. I am not the best at raising money - I am getting there, though.

I am back to good training this week and plan to do a 10 miler in the morning. It has been several weeks since I did some decent mileage like that. It will feel good to get it done!

That's all for now - I'll let you know how the 10 miler goes!

Curve balls

Have you ever been on the receiving end of a curve ball - literally or figuratively?

You think things are going to happen one way and they end up turning out differently?

It seems to happen around here all the time. It happened this week. Mark and I lost a good friend the other day. This is one of the worst kinds of curve balls. He wasn't a friend we saw every day or even every week. He is someone we met a while back through one of our race events. It was our 2nd race event that we had ever directed. We were still quite new at the whole thing. I remember it clearly:

The race was going well. We were directing a 5k walk/run and half marathon. We were very excited. Outside of a few hitches, it was turning out to look like a successful event. The 5k was wrapping up, the winner of the 1/2 had come across the line and here came #2 and #3, running fast and strong. It was a beautiful day - hot, but beautiful. 2 and 3 come across the line and I instantly know something is wrong. They are frowning and fussing. Something went wrong out on the course. We didn't know what exactly went wrong and who was to blame. At the same time, there was a problem with the 5k race results and people were getting antsy to find out how they placed. We were at a loss and did not know what to do. We were on the brink of having to deal with a lot of frustrated people and no one really knew what was going on with either situation.

In steps Richard. Come to find out, Richard, who had volunteered to help out at the start and finish, knew exactly what to do. Unbeknownst to us, he had the very race experience that we needed at that moment. He got to work and helped us figure out just what was going on with the race results and was able to deal with the aftermath of a 5k (it can be quite hectic!). He worked tirelessly that day to guide us and help us through a very frustrating experience. From that moment on, Richard became part of our race team as well as our friend.

We worked together to put on 2 more successful races. We were just about to start the final stretch for our next event in October and received the sad news that Richard had passed away. Richard was always ready with a smile, a laugh, a word of encouragement and always the truth. I will miss him.

There are some people in this world you may not see often, but are always blessed when you do. Richard was one of those people. I will be forever grateful for his willingness to step in and help. I will forever cherish his encouragement and belief in what Mark and I are trying to do with Marathon Makeover. Thank you, Richard. Your life blessed mine and I am a better person for knowing you. Thank you, God, for Richard.

Time passes and we don't do or say the things that really matter. Then we get one of those curve balls and it reminds us what is truly important in life. People don't know if you don't tell them. I told Richard "thanks" many times. I just wish I could tell him one more time.

They're gone...and so am I!

Well, it is done. Both girls are off to college, are getting settled in and have started classes. Within the span of a week, we moved both girls to two separate campuses and said good-bye. It was definitely a bittersweet experience. I know they are ready and it is time, but I still marvel at how fast the time passed. At times during these past 18 years, it seemed that I would always be running after them, always have a mess to clean up and never have any time to myself. While I do still have a child at home, I do not have 3 at home, which is a HUGE difference. I have never had 1 child at home. NEVER. I was blessed with 2 the first time, so we have always been a group.

It is quiet now. Quiet. Hmmm.....I'm not sure that I like it. I like times of quiet, but I also like a houseful of people. I guess I'll get both now - just more quiet than full for most of the time. I can deal with that.

I said they are gone, but the really good news ;-) is that I am, too! I am back out on the road running. I have had to sit out for the last couple of months due to some tendonitis in my foot that just refused to go away. It feels good to be back out there. I have needed it. Nothing replaces the feel of running. There's something about being out there on the pavement in the open air.

I am still working on becoming more regular with this blogging thing. I am never sure which direction to take. So, I am going to start blogging most days about life and the many turns it is taking. Hopefully, whoever might read this will enjoy, relate to and possibly find some encouragement in it. We are, after all, in this thing called life together.

:-)

Until next time, or should I say "tomorrow",

Robin

Sunrise, sunset...

So, can someone please tell me where the time has gone?

As I look around my house I see piles and stacks of stuff. Sheets, towels, pictures, bookbags, mirrors, lamps, all of the "stuff" that is ESSENTIAL in making a dorm room a home. As usual for us, it is x2! When you have twins, you grow accustomed to multiplying everything times 2. Preparing for college is no different. We buy twice as much of everything and we say goodbye to twice as many.

I know they are ready. It is time. I have wondered for the last 12 months if I have prepared them properly. I wondered if I had taught them everything they need to know. The answer, I have discovered, is "No.". The worry of what will happen to them when they are gone has been replaced with the knowledge and peace that I have done all that I could, the best way I knew how and now it is their turn. It is their turn to get out there and see what's what. There are just some things they will have to learn on their own, in their own time. From the time they were born (and before) I have prayed wisdom for them. I will trust in those prayers and, more specifically in the One who answers those prayers.

People ask me all of the time, "How are you going to manage letting them go?". Well, I suppose I will manage it like you manage a disappearing rope, gradually slipping through your fingers. I'll hold on just enough to know it's there for as long as I can and when it is gone, I'll be thankful for the time the Lord entrusted to me the task of holding tight and hope against all hope that I fulfilled my purpose.

All the while I'm feeling this rope slipping away, I am looking towards new days. I look forward to the visits, the phone calls, watching them grow into who they will be and all of the fun we are yet to have together.

Just another season...

Seasons

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall. Seasons. Do you expect to walk outside on a summer day and find snow on the ground? Not in most places, especially Mississippi! Do you rush outside on a winter day, expecting to find the hydrangeas in full bloom? No. Then why do we expect our lives to never change, always expecting the same thing from ourselves and others?

"To everything, there is a season." This can be applied to nature, as well as to our own lives. It is acceptable to behave childishly when we are a child. It is not acceptable to behave the same way as an adult. We must accept that life comes to us in seasons. I am in the middle of a changing season. I have two children about to leave home for college. Things are very different than they were a year ago - even 6 months ago. I can see that they are getting a bit nervous about leaving and at the same time, they are ready to try. It seems like an abrupt change, but it really isn't. For their entire lives, we have been working towards this time. We have taught them practical skills for surviving in the world, as well as teaching them who they are. They have gradually earned more responsibility and freedom. They are ready and it is time for them to get out there on their own.

This may sound strange for a blog about being a reluctant marathoner, but I do have a point. Just as in life, we encounter different seasons, so it is in our training. If we don't recognize that there are seasons of rest as well as seasons of work - speed training, long runs, etc. we run the risk of burnout and/or injury. With burnout and/or injury comes the risk of stopping altogether. That's not good. The goal is to keep moving, right? It just might be at a slower, less intense pace. I am in a resting season right now. I am not doing long mileage and am cross training more than running. Part of this is due to an injury - a overuse injury. I got too caught up in the schedule and making sure I got it all done. Now I have to sit it out for a while. That's what can happen when you get out of balance. In life and in running this holds true. They are both balancing acts. When one thing gets out of balance, something else suffers.

When I step back and remember that life is a series of seasons, I know that it is ok to take some time and slow down. It is in slowing down that we gather strength. But as Jim Rohn said, "Make rest a necessity, not an objective. Only rest long enough to gather strength." Rest is not a permanent state of existence. It is a tool to be used to accomplish great things, but it seems that some only find it in the too extremes - too much or too little.

For now, I am in a season of gathering strength and healing for what lies ahead. In a few weeks, I will send my first two to college, have one child at home (a first for me), prepare for another big race event and take some time to get back out there and train for a 1/2 marathon in December - my running goal for the rest of the year.

What season are you in right now?

Be still

Psalms 46:10 NIV

• "Be still, and know that I am God;

Well, this is how I was ending the blog that I just wrote. I am beginning with this verse because the blog I just wrote, just disappeared!

I was talking about fuel. Fuel for running, fuel for cars, fuel for life. Of course, I can't remember exactly what I wrote - I was on a roll.

This week's topic for our 5k training group is Diet and Nutrition. So, I have been thinking a lot about fueling ourselves, not just for running, but for life as well. We live at such a break neck pace much of the time. Sometimes we come up empty. I am feeling a bit like that today. There is so much going on and has been going on for quite some time. I need some refueling time.

We take good care of our cars. We make sure they have gas in the tank before we pull out of the driveway. Why? Because we know the car won't work unless it has the proper fuel. Do we treat ourselves the same way? No, many times we don't. I wonder why.

When I am speaking with our training groups, or to anyone about running/walking, I always tell them how important it is to properly fuel your body. You don't put bad gas in your car, so why would you put bad food in your stomach? We all do from time to time. In the same way, why do we neglect ourselves spiritually? God made us to be relational beings. Relational with Him! When we neglect ourselves by not refueling with that relationship, we suffer.

In this busy world, it can be a challenge to be intentional about our spiritual health. However, we are intentional about so many other things that do not give the life like our heavenly father does. He is the supplier of all things good, especially life itself. Let us go to the source to rest, refuel and re-energize. Let us do that by being still and knowing that He is God.

Why so negative?

I have been doing some thinking lately. My question is this: Why does it seem that we tend toward the negative, rather than the positive in our thoughts?

"I'm too this..."
"I'm too that...."
"No one understands."
"I'm not good, thin, pretty (fill in the blank) enough."
"I can't do this or that."

Not only are we thinking the negative, but we also think OTHERS are thinking the negative about us! Gee whiz! The truth is, they probably are not thinking of you nearly as much as you think they are. We can be consumed with what others believe or are thinking about us.

So. Why have I been giving this a lot of thought? I have three daughters. This is a topic of conversation almost daily. I try to teach them to give someone the benefit of the doubt. Don't assume you know how they feel or what they are thinking. And then, I find myself doing the exact same thing! I misinterpret a look, or comment - or lack of a comment and go off the deep end, reading more into a situation than is there.

When I think on these things, I realize why we are told to take every thought captive. Our thoughts can be like a runaway train. Once you start heading down a path, you're gone! Being out on the road is a great opportunity to review what we believe. Whether it is a particular situation or life in general, it's a great time to think things over. We can choose a lot, if not most, of how we feel. Take the time to look at it, sort it out and set it straight.

We are our own worst enemies. Why focus on the negative on our lives? Let's focus on the positive, work on what we want to change, forget about what others are thinking and certainly don't assume that we know what they think or believe.

Mental block

It has been too long since I last blogged. Almost 4 months, to be exact. I have been blogging for our MM site, but not here. I don't really know why. There's lots going on, but it seems every time I sit down, I go blank. There's nothing there. Or maybe there is something there, but I don't know if or how to share it. That's what happens when you are a thinker. Sometimes you overthink things. I do that. I think way too much sometimes and end up getting nothing done. Nothing. That's not good.

Now that I am finally writing.....all of my children walked in the door and so I shall go talk with them for a while.

BUT. I will be back :-)

Cold weather running

Another confession of this reluctant marathoner is - I HATE cold weather running! When I say "cold", I mean below 40 degrees. I just don't like it. I have a hard time warming up, I don't like to wear sleeves, much less turtle necks, I get cold when I stop and cannot enjoy visiting with everyone after the run as much and it really aggravates my asthma, ugh!

OK, enough complaining! The question becomes how I overcome it, right? Well, I learned yesterday that if it is below 30 degrees, I am staying inside and cross training. I went out yesterday for a few miles and it was 25 degrees with a pretty good wind. I made it through, but last night and today I am paying for it. I am whooped! It feels like an elephant is sitting on my chest! So I know my limits now. Knowing your limits is key. There are always other options. Next time, I will just stay inside and cross train.

I do, however, enjoy cold weather running if it is between 40 - 60 degrees. I love THAT kind of cold - and for this runner girl, that is cold. In case you are new and want to get out in that cold - whatever is cold for you - here are some of the things I do to make a run more enjoyable.

With good technical gear and proper coverage, you CAN overcome the cold. A good hat, gloves, layering your clothes are all good strategies. Wear slightly less than you think you'll need because you will warm up! Most people love to run in the cold and many run in it everyday. But, I am a southern girl and am used to warm temps most of the year.

I do something in the cooler months that I don't typically do the rest of the year. I do a lot of afternoon/evening runs because it is warmer. At other times of the year, I get up first thing in the morning and get my miles in. It is nice to change it up a bit and run at another time of year. I find it challenges me and makes me a stronger runner.

The very best part of cold weather running, for me, is the low humidity! It is nice to feel the crisper air. Once you get warmed up, it feels so good! Remember, though, that it is just as important to hydrate when the temps are cooler. It is easier to lose track of hydrating when you are not dripping as much sweat!

Enjoy the cooler tips, get out there and move!