7 MILES....

So the Olympics obviously started tonight and i have to use these Olympic athletes, who are amazing, to by my inspiration for tomorrow...I hate to say it...BUT...running has not gotten any easier. I've been struggling through my weeks and 7 miles sounds scary. But these Olympians have trained and practiced and have given their all to be where they are...and i can do the same for this run...right!? :) i may not win a gold medal in this race, but i can be an Olympian at heart! I'm starting to sound real gay, but i think i have to. I've discovered this running thing is kind of a mind thing...a lot of my run consists of my mind saying...just cut it a block shorter today...and then the other side says "are you kidding me!!...keep going.!!" It's like i have the little devil on one shoulder and the saint on the other side and they like to argue...But as the speaker tonight said...may we all aspire to be Olympian!! So tomorrow THAT WILL BE ME!!

Helder Winter Fest 2010

Every winter my Helder Family looks forward to going up to Lake City for a weekend of fun in the snow. This year's festivities consisted of: the most intense broom ball game that has prolly taken place on the frozen waters of Lake Missaukee, A visit to the infamous Helder Hill where the craziest sledding ever (grandma even broke her ankle one year), and of course eating all chili, chips, hot dogs, and hot chocolate one could desire.

As much as I was looking forward to going, I was nervous that my running of the 6 miles might get pushed to the back burner. BUT, my dear husband decided to encourage me by running right along with me, AND that he would run at my speed...and believe it or not, it worked! Let me tell you that we have tried to run together before and it ends up that he would enjoy running backwards as I am running forward, or it was a time to take the opportunity to shows how his walking pace is equal to my run, BUT yesterday instead of running backwards he serenade our run with sweet songs like "I would do anything for love" as we were running into the freezing 50 mile an hour wind. It definitely helped and i loved it...plus the run actually went pretty well. So not only did we get a good run in at a new location, we also spent the rest of the day in the participating in the competitive festivities...here are some pictures to get a little glimpse of the fun.

My Partner for life before the run...you don't want to see us after :)

The Helder Broom Ball Teams...we even use mallets...and no one even got hurt...that is talent.

Sledding on Helder Hill

Can I take the day off??

I have to remind myself that i choose to do this. Today is the 45 min run and honestly that sounds like forever, even if running 3 miles prolly takes about that long...45 mins feels like forever. So I'm procrastinating...which makes me not want to go even more. Excuses are quickly coming to mind like...it's getting dark and you don't want to get hit by a car, and i haven't seen teddy all day i should play with him (p.s. he still isn't allowed to go for runs due to his 'operation'), and i really should do a load of laundry, and what if i just did a work out video, and...and..and....i need to stop this right now...I'm pathetic...my run could be at least half over if i would have just started........ok, I'm going to do it.....

HAPPY GROUND HOGS DAY/only 6 more weeks till Spring!!

So Happy Ground Hog's Day...what a wonderful day it is...I heard the Ground Hog saw it's shadow so we only have a few weeks left of winter, right?!! Man I certainly hope so. I must say, I do believe that the snow makes everything SUPER beautiful...however it makes running rather tricky. Today on my run most of the streets were snow covered so each step was like running in sliding sand. But as I trudged further and further I truly was thinking about how thankful I am that race day running is not in snow (please pray it won't be), or sand, or dirt, but just nice roadway. I really don't think I care too much if it rains, well I'd rather it be a nice sprinkle to cool me off just a tad...no torrential rains, or cold winds. Actually PLEASE pray that it is just the perfect day! Birds chirping, blue skies, about 65 degree weather, and the smell of sweet flowers filling the perfect air. It sounds like a dream, but that is what I'm praying for...please pray too!



Around me lately, many reminders of the frailness of life causes me to stop and realize none of us know if we even have tomorrow. It has made me look at my life a little closer and those around me. Maybe I might be gone, or maybe a loved one, or maybe even someone I really don't care for. Have I done everything I could to show them love? Am I spending my days in ways that carry out God's plan, God's love, God's desires? I've been reminded to give it all, so I have nothing to regret later. Sometimes it's hard to find the strength but this Bible verse has encouraged me today.

Ephesians 1:17-22

17 I keep asking that the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the glorious Father, may give you the Spirit of wisdom and revelation, so that you may know him better. 18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints, 19and his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is like the working of his mighty strength, 20 which he exerted in Christ when he raised him from the dead and seated him at his right hand in the heavenly realms, 21 far above all rule and authority, power and dominion, and every title that can be given, not only in the present age but also in the one to come. 22 And God placed all things under his feet and appointed him to be head over everything for the church, 23 which is his body, the fullness of him who fills everything in every way.

Lord WHAT POWER YOU HAVE!!! Help me to remember that you have given us that power so that we might be able to live and love fully each and every day just as if we knew it were our last.

Thank the Lord for Boatwerks...

So I AM still running, despite the lack of blog entries. On Saturday I actually even ran 5.5 miles!! the farthest I've run in my whole life! It was obvious that my body didn't quite know how to handle it b/c after about 3.5 miles my system was about to experience "runner's trots." I will not define that for you....but I will just say I was sooo thankful to see that the restaurant Boatwerks was open to serve breakfast. I've never been so relieved! Despite that experience the run really went great...better than expected. I was encouraged.

The weather in Michigan today is rather snowy. I don't mind the snow and I thought to myself that this will still be nice to run in. Today's assignment: 2 miles. The first half was great, running with the wind usually is...but the second half I under estimated the wind powerIi was running with and how much it was snowing. I think I looked like a drunk runner b/c I could not run with my eyes open due to the snow pelting my eyeballs. There were a few times I found myself running up on peoples lawns. It felt good to see our little home again at the end of the run.

For an update on my running partner Teddy. He got a new hair cut and is looking Handsome. Nolan took him into FV last night so we could show him to some of the residents, once again he shared some love with the residences and thankfully didn't pee on the floor. Currently he is at the vet today getting neutered. The vet said that actually only one of his balls dropped, the other seems to be stuck, so they will have to do a more extensive surgery. Teddy now he has to stay over night. Poor Guy.

After running today I found an encouraging passage for when we feel we are running through life blindly.

Isaiah 42:16 says:

"I will lead the blind by ways they have not known,
along unfamiliar paths I will guide them;
I will turn the darkness into light before them
and make the rough places smooth.
These are the things I will do;
I will not forsake them."

Lord, help us to trust in you even when the path feels rough, unfamiliar, and dark. Thank you for promising to never forsake us even when we might choose the wrong paths ourselves. Help us to keep running toward your guiding light.

I don't get how to blog...

So i have spent some time today trying to make my blog have a few "fancies" or extras on it...however i see they aren't working. Like that countdown thing...do i have to reset the darn thing each time i come to the page? I also tried to make a link to the YFC/River Bank Run info page...but that doesn't seem to work either. I don't know if I'm cut out for this blogging...or at least being a cool blogger...but I'll try not to give up yet...Maybe blogging will be the hardest part of this event...ha. i wish that was true :)

But to conclude today The scripture reminder is Ephesians 5:15-17

"Be very careful, then, how you live - not as unwise but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the Lord's will is."

Today i don't feel I've made the most of every opportunity. Heavenly Father, help me to live each day more like this passage no matter what the circumstances.

New Running Partner

Anyone want to be my new running partner??

This morning i enjoyed being able to sleep in b/c I have the day off. So after eating a pig-in-the-blanket, I bundled up and headed out with Teddy, my dog, for a run. Goal today: run a mile, walk 5 mins, run 10 mins.

I was looking forward to today's run b/c it sounded a little easier, getting a break with walking,however, i made a mistake by choosing the wrong running partner. I love my dog, but he really is a stupid runner, especially since we can't really run on the sidewalks. They are caked with ice. So here we are running on the road, and for some reason every street we would run on was super busy...cars everywhere. Even with teddy on the leash he just doesn't understand why, and how, to stay on the side of the road instead of running in the middle...right into traffic. To avoid the traffic I held him close causing him to run around my feet forcing us both to about go down.

By the end of the run i was about ready to just leave the dog in the snow banks and wish him good luck. I was also forming a letter in my head to write to who ever is in charge of keeping the sidewalks nice. Trust me it wasn't a nice letter. To sum today's run up in a few words...frusterating "PO"ness. But hopefully getting a new running partner will help solve a few problems.

Highlights left for today: Doing Yoga with Nolan :) That's right... it's part of his P90X work out...I can't wait to see him yoga it up!