Pre-Training Complete. Real Training in Progress!

After a couple months of jogging lightly to ease into the real training, I can say Day 1 accomplished! It's crazy really, I never imagined my first training run to feel so good!  I switched to a post-workday time today, right after a light dinner (grilled chicken salad).  I don't think I would have performed the same at 5:30am on an empty stomach.

Today's training run consisted of the following format:  15 min warm-up, 1 mile run, walk 1 min, 1 mile run, walk 1 minute, 1 mile run.  Total of roughly 3 miles total run time.   I was tempted to skip the walk but figured it was likely key to the interval training, so I honored the plan.  I decided as a first time marathoner trainee that I would skip focus on time.  I'm going to take it slow, easy, running only the speed that feels good on this spine of mine.  And with every mile I conquer, I think about the days when I couldn't run, and for so many out there who still cannot run.  Humbly reminded if I do nothing more than the training in the plan for Day 1, it's still more than I once believed I'd be able to do.  I'm not taking that for granted.

My playlist was running strong with Busta Rhymes, Black Eyed Peas, Kim Walker, Mandisa, Israel Houghton, finishing the last .25 mile to O Fortuna!  The battle of the mind was a fairly manageable one today.....as my dear Kristy Christenson was on my mind and in my heart, her faith so tested and pushed over this past year, and she inspires so many by finishing strong every day.  Yes, today was easy to find inspiration just thinking about this birthday girl.  Blessed to have such an amazing, loyal, faithful, and encouraging friend.

Feeling quite fulfilled....

Mile by Mile Motivation

Was so excited to stumble across this!  I need to figure out a way to work these into my playlist for a little extra kick.  Not that I'm trying to kid anyone, as I would only need the first two verses at this point!  But it's all about the journey, right?  I will try to remember that next time I'm tempted to slow down the treadmill!

                                                                                                         
Mile 1: Be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of age. Matthew 28:20

Mile 2: The Lord will work out his plans for my life. Psalm 138:8

Mile 3: I tell you the truth, if you had faith even as small as the mustard seed, you could say to this mountain, “Move from here to there,” and it would move. Nothing would be impossible. Matthew 17:20

Mile 4: To those who use well what they are given, even more will be given. Luke 19:26

Mile 5: I can do everything through Christ, who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13

Mile 6: Faith is the confidence that what we hope for will actually happen; it gives us assurance about things we can not see. Hebrews 11:1

Mile 7: ‘I know the plans I have for you,’ says the Lord. ‘They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and hope.’ Jeremiah 29:11

Mile 8: Be an example to all believers in what you say, in the way you live, in your love, your faith, and your purity. I Timothy 4:12

Mile 9: We know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them. Romans 8:28

Mile 10: Let us run with endurance the race God has set before us. Hebrews 12:1

Mile 11: Commit everything you do to the Lord. Trust him, and he will help you. Psalm 37:5

Mile 12: With God’s help we will do mighty things. Psalm 60:12

Mile 13: We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. Romans 5:3

Mile 14: We are hunted down, but never abandoned by God. We get knocked down, but we are not destroyed. 2 Corinthians 4:9

Mile 15: The Lord is faithful; he will strengthen you. 2 Thessalonians 3:3

Mile 16: Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10

Mile 17: It is not that we think we are qualified to do anything on our own. Our qualification comes from God. 2 Corinthians 3:5

Mile 18: Be strong and courageous, for your work will be rewarded. Chronicles 15:7

Mile 19: Whatever you do, do well. Ecclesiastes 9:10

Mile 20: He will order his angels to protect you wherever you go. Psalm 91:11

Mile 21: Anything is possible if a person believes. Mark 9:23

Mile 22: The amount you give will determine the amount you get back. Luke 6:38

Mile 23: I have not achieved it, but I focus on this one thing: Forgetting the past and looking forward to what lies ahead, I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize… Philippians 3:13

Mile 24: Our present troubles are small and won’t last very long. Yet they produce for us a glory that vastly outweighs them and will last forever! 2 Corinthians 4:17

Mile 25: I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you.

Mile 26: Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed. Proverbs 16:3

Mile 26.2: But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint. Isaiah 40:31

Visualize this one your next run!

At least it will help get me through the first 30 minutes!

http://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/running-body

Staying Inspired

The first week of January in Minnesota is, well, cold.  Very cold.  Top that with a treadmill at 6am before an insanely crazy work day and evening full of family commitments. Never did I think I'd be looking forward to temps in the 20s, just so I can get off the treadmill!  Yeah, so it's hard to stay inspired!  Meet my first born, she's one of the many reasons I stay inspired.....

I think I'll keep my shoes on....

I think I'll keep my shoes on, but I did enjoy his perspective and plan to take a closer look at his book.  I don't buy in to the fact that we evolved from a pack of hunting dogs either, but, I like the idea of further exploring why we have this crazy passion and hunger to run!  I fully admit, where I'm at, running involves shoes and a killer playlist!  Take 15 minutes to view the video if you so wish!

Be blessed!

Setting my sights....high!

I definitely love planning goals and the process of achieving them.  I can't say I was always this way, but have definitely learned how valuable patience and perseverance are when going through the ups and down of my back surgeries. It was often one step forward, fifteen steps back, or so it felt.  I learned the hard way that pushing yourself too hard will only prolong the painful journey.  Slow and steady really is the ticket.

So in the spirit of setting goals....how about a marathon?  I mean, why not, right?  Actually my list of the reasons not to run a marathon is longer than the list encouraging me to do it.  But, this has been in my mind now for many years....and I'm going to approach this goal with discipline and continuing to listen to my body every step of the way.

Minneapolis Marathon, here I come!

Be blessed!

The Precarious Jogger's Look Back

Let me share the very short version of my background....When I was a sophomore in college, I woke up one morning and literally couldn't feel my legs, and ended up undergoing a microdiscectomy of the L3, L4, and L5 levels in my lumbar spine.  A pretty straight forward surgery, I was blessed to have an amazing neurosurgeon who was able to remove all the bone fragments pressing on my nerves.  I spent the next 6 months in physical therapy, refused to take a break from school, worked my hardest to juggle both demanding schedules.  I made a near complete recovery and my back was steady state for a few years.  When I was 25, I unfortunately had to undergo a fusion from L4 to S1.  Sparing the details here, I underwent two additional surgeries with painful complications and attended over 500 physical therapy appointments.

Finally, today.  I'm feeling really good!  I have an amazing husband and three awesome kids.  I've learned to live with just a short list of restrictions, which is OK.  I'm quietly haunted by the fear of ever having to go through even an ounce of this all again.  But all in all, I have so much to be grateful for, and I thank God every day.

But there's just one thing.  I have a relentless passion to run again.  I started jogging again in April of 2012, and I'm ready to set my goals higher in 2013.  I aspire to move past jogging a few miles.  I want to push myself, but remain injury free.  One thing I know, the more I run, the better I feel.

Join me, the precarious jogger, to journey to my aspirations of running, and wherever God takes me in between.  Be blessed!