Run (Walk...Hike) For the Fallen

I know I've had a chance to tell some of you about this, but I don't know why I didn't think to use this is a platform, either. I guess I forget that people really read this, and don't put a lot of faith in my reach. But oh well, it's never too late.

Today, we'll be participating in the Run for the Fallen final day event, which basically involves anyone, wherever they are, running or walking one mile (or more) for a fallen soldier service members killed during both Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. The organization's goal is to have Americans run together, with a common purpose, across the nation. Their hope is to have everyone who goes out to contact them to let them know how far, where, and for whom you ran. They've already done a run across the nation where they placed a flag in honor of a service member at every mile along the route. It was a hot and blustery day when they came through here, but I had planned on at least doing something on the final day event.

Our plan is to run/walk/hike in honor of my cousin, Michael Glover.
We had planned to count our normal workout, plus a little more as our time. But instead, we're going out to the trails at Henry Horton this afternoon with some friends of ours and it should be a good time. It's not often that I take time out like this to remember and to honor Michael, but something like this is a great way to do so.

I would encourage you all, if you know of any service members to walk/run in honor of or if you go out for your usual run and decide you want to honor Michael with us, please feel free to do so. It would mean a great deal...

The Finish Line

I just took my 764th sip of water for the day and the boys are out getting a movie at Blockbuster, so I thought I'd steal away for a quick update on today's milestone event. You know, that half marathon thing we were running.

Well, we finished and it was awesome! Had I not been close to being on the brink of a small asthma attack when I crossed the finish line, I probably would have cried a little harder than I actually did.

And I am pretty certain that my eyes will be closed or bloodshot in my official photographer pictures from the race. My wonderful husband and his best friend were so busy cheering me on at the FINISH they forgot to whip out our high speed digital camera. Oh well.

Back to the point... Never before have I experienced so much pain and yet sheer joy at the ability to rise above that and to finish strong. We started with rain and ended with sunshine. Never once were either of us too cold, too tired, too wet, too lonely or too miserable to at least keep moving forward. Cliff ran every step of his 13.1 miles and if my memory serves me correctly, I ended up walking close to 3 miles of the race in bouts along the way and ran the rest.

Here are the official results for Cliff and I:


I was so proud when I found out his final time and equally as joyful to have exceeded my own expectations for myself, today. I'll have you know that time includes a four minute long break at Mrs. Winners on West End (within the first mile of the race) to use the restroom.

Every sore and pain-laden step we've taken since racing has been a wonderful reminder of something I said last "I could NEVER do" this same time last year.

We got Jimmy John's for a celebration lunch, took showers and stretched for awhile, and then enjoyed the beautiful weather and spent a couple of hours at the Zoo. Walking around was humorous, but probably a much better idea than sitting around at home and locking up. It's bad enough after 20 minutes of sitting in one position... I couldn't imagine more!

There's so much I could reflect on, like the course, or significant moments along the run, or how I'm actually really sad about having to get new running shoes, considering how much these current ones have been a part of taking a 2-mile runner to finish a half marathon. But there's time for that later I guess.

In the mean time, I just want to say thanks for all of your prayers and support. I saw so many familiar faces today and was grateful for everyone who cheered us on. We couldn't have done it without you!

A Small Request

PLEASE PRAY FOR US STARTING AT 7AM CENTRAL TIME, TOMORROW!!!

Pray that we'll both:

• finish
• not get hurt
• not get sick
  
• enjoy the run
• see the rain held off
  
• not get too wet if it doesn't
• not be miserable if it gets too wet
• let God work in our bodies, hearts, and minds

Okay, I think that's it, unless you think of anything else. We appreciate everyone's encouragement along the way and hope we'll have something to report back soon!

...and let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us. -Hebrews 12:1

The Land of Gu and Sport Beans

Well, it's official, we have our race numbers and we're nearing 40 hours until race time. And by race time, I mean when Corral 1 will be let loose to roam the streets of Nashville and Cliff will be waiting in Corral 22 for at least another hour. Me? Oh, I'll be in Corral 27, wondering if I should just set up a tent where I am and forget the whole race thing altogether.

I jest, I jest. Well, at least about the setting up a tent part. It'll be close to 8:30 or 9am by the time I actually start running, so I'll see you at 6pm. Okay, okay, someone's got the funny bug. My stretch goal is 3 hours (shoot, I shouldn't have admitted that), but my cinch goal is just to finish. I can handle that, don't you think?

Anyways, most of the people we're around who are running are Cliff's co-workers (who have these awesome blue wicking t-shirts that I'm totally jealous about). Cliff took a trip down with Shane to visit The Land of Gu and Sport Beans, otherwise known as the Health & Fitness Expo where race participants pick up their race number, info packet, time chip, t-shirt, goodie bags, and any other free gear they can fit inside said goodie bags. I braved lunchtime car and people traffic and headed out there just in time to pass them going out the door and ventured in alone.

The whole system is rather painless, and I was pleased to see that there are at least several Corrals behind my own and that I was not the only person in my line. I told Cliff yesterday that I wish he ran slower or I ran faster so this didn't feel so much like a solitary endeavor. We laughed when I said "solitary" though considering the thousands of people who will be out running/walking/etceteraing as well as those who show up to cheer and provide musical entertainment.

This is going to sound so hokey, but when I left Vanderbilt's campus this afternoon to head to the Expo, I was driving part of the course (on West End) and the reality of what this race means and stands for hit me so hard I burst into uncontrollable tears. It was like everything I have ever been or hoped to be in this city, from Belmont, to Vanderiblt, and every place in between that has held some memory or some meaning in the last near decade (from the time I started coming to Nashville on trips with mom) will be my backdrop on Saturday. And not only that, but the sense of accomplishment and achievement - determination and follow-through, and the very idea of crossing a finish line nearly a day after turning in my final assignments of grad school, after 19 years straight... man. I'm getting choked up just writing this.

I'm just so grateful for this opportunity. And I'm going to go ahead and say I'm grateful for the hundreds of people that show up to cheer friends and strangers alike along their way. My heart brightens everytime I think of that and anxiously await my first experience on the other side. I'll see you there. Just look for the girl with the pomegranate-colored face (because I really turn purple when I run) and the big block letters spelling KRISTINE on the front of her tank top.

Signing out until then (possibly),
27050

p.s. my 24th birthday is in a month to the date.

A Training Update

Praise be!

I ventured out to Pinkertorn Park this morning for this week's "long run Friday". Cliff had an early team breakfast at Cracker Barrel with the folks from his work, so I was on my own for today. (Believe me, though, he's running this evening while I'm at class because now he doesn't want to be shown up!)

As most folks in middle Tennessee know, it rained cats and dogs last night, so I was a little hesitant to actually run outside. I knew the treadmill was an option (it always is, isn't it?) but just couldn't bare the thought of four miles on rotating rubber. Fortunately, the air had warmed to just nearly 47 degrees or so, the sun was peaking through the clouds, and the only sign of rain was that which remained in pools on the uneven pavement. So I decided to give it a shot.

And boy, were those ten minutes of prayer I had on the ride there useful. It was an incredible run. I ran two miles and then made a pit stop at the Gatorade bottle waiting by my car to stretch and refuel and then ran the last two miles just reminding myself with every step that I was (after the 3 mile mark) going further and proving myself (and mostly the Lord, who was with me the whole time!) stronger than I've ever been. I stretched and sipped on Gatorade for awhile and then hopped in the car and the tears just came. I bawled like a baby. I just couldn't help it.

I was just so grateful, and not because it was easy. That run was hard. But that's not the point. This is physical, spiritual, mental, and emotional, for real. I pray this is making me a better person in all ways, because I can't help but notice the small ways each of those areas are affected by these runs.

Thank you for praying for me... for us... if you are. It makes such a difference!

13.1

That number is starting to a feel a lot more weightier in my mind than it used to. But everytime I see that sticker on the back of someone's car, I have this welling of emotion, because I know I can do it. And it's a no-brainer that Cliff can, so I'm not even going there.

Needless to say, the weightiness comes from that fact that we're a little bit behind on training like any normal couple who works, goes to school, has one looking for a job, teaches FPU, gets the flu, enjoys sleep, (etc.) could. After having such a great run last Tuesday, Friday's run should have been a breeze. But it wasn't, and half of those four miles were spent walking. Which is okay, it's movement, right?

Anyways, we've got either a four-miler or five-miler on Friday (I don't have our training schedule in front of me) and either way, my biggest challenge is not making it out to be a big deal. Because I think, for me, the mental part is setting myself up to think it's such a big deal and then I quit, for whatever reason. Whereas, when I just go to go, without the distance or the challenge in mind, I take it a step at a time and push only so far and somehow my body just takes my mind where it needs to go instead of my mind keeping your body from guiding (and subsequently finishing) the run. That's not to say the mind isn't important, because it is especially useful in reminding you that pain is only temporary and that I am, in fact "stronger than I think I am."

I had this moment, last Tuesday, when the cold air was rushing past me and the warm afternoon rain fell all around that was pretty surreal. Running through a quiet neighborhood with I don't even remember who (Coldplay, maybe?) on my iPod, I just watched my feet glide over the dark glistening pavement. I watched so intently, it felt as though those were not my feet and I was watching someone else run so effortlessly. Kind of weird and "out-of-body"-like, I know, but it was such a rush. And I loved every second of that run.

I wish every run was that easy. Now, I pray every run is that enjoyable, because easy is not necessarily the goal and wishing only gets you so far. So, if you find it in your heart and think about it ever, I could use your prayer too!

Long Run Fridays

So we woke up and did our long run today at the gym. We got off the running horse over the holidays, and officially got back on last weekend. Cliff is now surpassing me with his endurance and previous running abilities, and therefore pushes himself further than our allotted training schedule requires. But it's been a good week for both of us. We started with just a 10 minute interval run on Sunday, a 15 minute run on Tuesday, and a 2 mile run today.

Fridays are designated our long run days because Thursday is our off day. Two miles may not seem very long, but it's been over a year and a half since I've run that distance and that period of time alone was the first time I had ever run that far. We'll gradually increase our distance over the next couple of weeks, and while Cliff ran his two miles today at a pace of about 9:33 (not his personal best, he says, but definitely something I'd love to one day achieve),mine was at about 12:45, and I'd really like to work on that. So, we'll see. It's hard to believe I'll be running more than six times the length I've currently worked myself up to, so pace may be the last of my worries.

I said this morning, I'm probably going to start having a love-hate relationship with Fridays. I love the way I feel after running, even when my face is a strange mix of lavender and red with white splotches and I'm sweaty and gross. I think the biggest hurdle for me is the mental part, as it is for most people. Not to make light of the physical part, considering my history with sports (or exercise-induced) asthma. Where the two meet for me is keeping my breathing in line with my pace and staying on top of that as I'm thinking while running, which will probably mean I'll never be one of those PR (personal record) runners.

But I'm really looking forward to the Half, because I said it was something I could never do, and it's something Cliff and I are doing together. Granted, with his pace, we'll probably split, but even that doesn't bother me. I know he'll be waiting for me at the finish line, and that's just as exciting. We're no longer running the Zoo Run Run, but we'll hopefully be able to fit in a 5 or 10 K sometime in March.

Good times! (for now...)