Perfect Timing!

I started participating in EveryMove, which gives you points and rewards for exercising. One of the first rewards I chose was an Elite membership in Runkeeper (I've been using the free, limited version since last fall). It's been a back-and-forth for a couple weeks now trying to redeem the reward and get the Elite version working on my account, but today it went through and I got to look at the fitness plans and goals they offer. I picked a training plan for an "under 2:15 half-marathon." Rich and I had previously set a goal to participate in the Lakefair half-marathon in Olympia, WA and as I looked at the training plan on Runkeeper, if I started next Monday, I would have exactly 16 weeks (the suggested training plan schedule) to the day of the event!

Marathon updated

It was a foggy, cool morning. Got up at 6, ate a half banana and a tablespoon of almond butter, then dressed/stretched quietly so as not to wake any Fillmores. but Brandolyn got up to see us off. We found the park easily and got one of the limited parking spots, which soon filled up. Temps were about 33 degrees as we started out across the bridge, which was pretty slick. I decided not to wear my jacket over my running clothes and carried just my waist belt with my 16 oz. of chia-honey-lime water, some clif bloks, my iphone for Runkeeper, and my facecloth (don't ask...). The first 1/2 (down and back to Woodinville) passed quickly. I decided not to change out my liquid fuel for the second bottle, diluting the one I had at the Gatorade stops instead. Rich called me a few times with words of encouragement but I found it to be a distraction and awkward to have to dig the phone out of my pocket and break into my breathing rhythm to answer. ( I'm afraid I wasn't very polite the third call when I asked him not to call back. Kinda like a woman in labor though, right? Excusable?) With only about 100 runners, I quickly felt like I was running alone, which was great, as this was a run against only myself, what I can do, what my goals were. I wanted to run the whole way, and I wanted to finish under 5 hours. I accomplished both, only walking in and out of the bathroom stall twice, and finishing in 4:53:56.
The best part of the day was rounding the last corner and seeing 7 grandchildren jumping up and down on the bridge yelling, "Yay, Gramma! Hooray!" They all raced with me to the end, then made an archway of hands for me to run through--a gauntlet of love. I felt very supported and loved. A great way to start the new year!

Ask and ye shall receive

My first opportunity today to see the extended 10-day forecast covering New Year's Day. It reminded me of when I received Divine assistance in selling my house in Texas. There was no doubt that it was with His help. After weeks (and weeks...) of continuous rain, the chance of rain on the day of my race is 0%. I did ask for His help with this challenging adventure but did NOT presume to ask for sunny skies and perfect temperature. The fact that that is precisely what is predicted is a testimony to me that it is a lovingly bestowed blessing. My first thought was not to blog this yet for fear of "jinxing" it but immediately following was the thought that that would show a lack of faith. So I am thanking Him in advance for His help and love.

Consecration

 

I've been searching for over a year for a marathon to run. I've done one half-marathon and several 5ks but this would be my first 26.2 and I had a lot of criteria. That criteria has changed over the past few months. At first I was training in my Vibram 5-fingers so I was looking for a trail run, but then I developed foot pain from running wrong and had to wear shoes with inserts so trail running was out. I was looking for something close by, relatively flat, not on city streets and not on a Sunday. Then in September, Rich and I began our callings as temple workers, which is every Saturday morning. Now I had to look for a marathon that wasn't held on a Saturday as well. Good luck with that, you say? Well, I strongly believe in the promises in 2 Nephi 32:9 so I asked for Help in finding a marathon and then accomplishing the goal to run it. I soon found this one and have felt inspiration and help all along the way as I prepare:

• I was worried about what to eat before and during that long of a run, and then I got the same advice from two different people on the same day to use Chia seeds. My son-in-law got me a great recipe for chia/honey/lime water and that has proved to be the best fuel for all my long runs so far.
• I'm not very good about warming up before runs, and I started getting some knee pains. The next day I found in my inbox a video from Care2.com about the best routine for warming up: The Lunge Matrix. This has helped tremendously with my knees.
• After I began using DoTerra essential oils on my feet, my arthritis and foot pains have been greatly diminished and actually go away while I'm running.

Tomorrow is my longest of the training runs before the marathon on January 1st: 20 miles. I'm more excited than nervous and am confident things will go well, as I "run the race set before [me]" (see Heb. 12:1).

There's nothing like new warm-weather running gear to provide motivation to get out and run in the chilly, damp Northwest. I knew my outfit was cool, so I put forth the extra umph to my run so I'd look cool to match. I ran 5 miles and could have kept going...Now I just need a marathon to train for!  Awesome!