Running on Faith

The most frequently asked question I get when someone finds out that I am going to run a Marathon is “What makes you want to run 26.2 miles?” Then the statement “you are crazy” follows.  Call me crazy I probably am on some level but not in running this Marathon. I could give all kinds of reasons why I am running a Marathon, but here is the main one so let me explain.

Mason had to get his hair cut tonight so while I was waiting on him I over heard the other hairstylist and her client talking. I picked up on when he was showing pictures of his daughter. The hairstylist asked why she had no hair at such a young age.  The man said that they found out she had cancer at two and he preceded to tell his daughters story. If you have never heard a parent tell how their child was diagnosed with cancer and what they have and are going through then you may not understand just how much this tears my heart in two. There is hope, pain and just the over all love that they still have their child to hug and hold. I think this man said it best when the hairstylist said” I don’t know how you do it?” His response was “you just do what you have to”.  I introduced myself and asked his daughters name, its Alexis Brignac. She along with Claire LeGrange and all the other millions of kids who have cancer are why I am running 26.2 miles.

That is why I am running in the St. Jude Marathon and raising money. I am “just doing what I have to”.  My kids are healthy and living a normal life. I am not a Dr. or a nurse, I can’t heal people. But I can pray and God gave me the ability to run. So through running I will do my part to raise money so that Alexis Brignac can have the treatment needed to cure her cancer.

Until next time keep looking up because that is where He is.

Big shout outs go to Wyatt and Roni Sanders, Dr. Fruge’, and Tari’s School of Dance for your generous donations to St. Jude. Thank for making a difference in the life of a child.

God Bless

Christine

Tim and I decided to go run around the LSU lakes this morning to get a change of scenery.  Now, I have never been running at the lakes only drove around them. I already knew the scenery would be pretty and I had an hour run and Tim had about a 2 hours tops.

We drove into the parking lot and it was crowded. People circling to get a parking space. I felt like I was at a night club except it was daylight and the popular drinks were water and Gatorade. Anyway Tim and I found a parking spot and got all our “club gear” on and I realized my I pod was dead. This just cannot be I just charged it Wed. Oh well back to the truck to put it up. Tim took off with out me. I did not mind that because we were not running together anyway. I finally head out and it was a great morning to run, the sun coming up over the lakes BEAUTIFUL!  I felt like I have joined a new club of exercise junkies. People everywhere running, walking, and biking. I cannot tell you how many times I said”hello” or “good morning” to people. I crossed paths with Caroline Owens and Megan Andrews some Tri friends. Said hello to the same little old couple about three times and before I knew it I was back at the truck. Six point five miles in an hour and eight minutes. Feeling good about that run. I was hoping that Tim was having as good a run as I had. Can’t wait to go back next weekend to the “Club”.

Until next time keep looking up because that is where He is.

Saturdays Twightlight Classic 5k was great. I think everybody had an awesome run and it was so nice to get with the other members of the team. What a great group of individuals all willing to go thru a little pain for such a wonderful cause. Thank you God for all of them.  It is so exciting to see the team growing from last year. As of last night we have eleven people and four more have said that they would sign up. This means more money for St.Jude Children’s Hospital. Yeah!!! I plan to really hit the fundraising this week. As of right now I feel like I am behind in this area compared to last year. I am doing all the same things but no response from  people. So I will try something new. I know it is all in God’s time and I will do my part and let God take care of the rest.

My training is paying off. After Saturday nights run, I am very pumped up about training for the race. I ran the 5k in 29:10 which puts me at  a 9:07 mile pace. That is good for me, not that I will be able to hold that for 26.2 miles but that’s okay. This mornings run was very humid and I was still riding the small high of Saturday’s run. Nothing like a good run to keep you motivated.

If you have not donated yet then hit the donate button. It will be greatly appreciated. Until next time keep looking up because that is where He is.

No animals this morning so I guess animal week is over. My run was not what I had hoped for but I did enjoy a great sunrise. Thank you God!

On another note, Mason is starting a new school on Monday. It is a private Christian school in our area and last night we went for orientation. I found out that the school has been raising money for children in Africa. This school is not very big so the amount of money and what they have done is awesome. The have bought book sacks with school supplies and big cooking pots for cooking meals. This made me think of my own mission of raising money for St. Jude and how people need help everywhere. It is nice to know that human kind still reaches out to help others. But this morning while running it came to me that we do not have to raise money or go out of the country to do a good deed.  You could have a personal mission of just, saying hello to someone, opening a door, letting someone in traffic or just a smile. You never know the one person you smile at today may be having a bad day and your smile just might help. They say a smile is worth a million words. Sometimes I think it is. God is everywhere so why not let someone see God in you today. SMILE! 

Until next time Keep looking up because that is where He is.

A big thank you goes out to Jonette Buker for her generous donation. May God bless.

Okay it’s animal week in my training world. Monday there were cows. Tuesday I headed out on my run and about one and half miles in I came upon garbage. Not just any garbage but seafood remains that someone dumped in the middle of the road.

Stinky does not describe it. I had to run past this twice. In order to do that I had to hold my nose and run. I’m sure I looked pretty funny. Hey, I’m running for the kids at St.Jude, a girl’s gotta do what a girl’s gotta do.

Today I am on my run and I come along…..Are you ready to guess what animal?

a SNAKE! Thank God it was dead. I could see it from far away. Good thing I put my contacts in this morning. Anyway I kept on watching it but it never moved. I though what if it saw me, then a car passed and the snake stayed put. I knew it was dead then. It’s a big one. I hate snakes, it gave me the creeps to run past it. Tim said it may be poisonous. Don’t know, don’t care, it’s dead.

My next run is on Saturday can’t wait to see what animal I encounter. Until then you can just hit the donate button if you have not done so already.

Keep looking up because that is where He is.

Ready set train. My training plan started today and it called for a cross training workout. Bike ride sounded perfect for this. If I ride close to home then I can get in any where from 3 to 5 mile loops depending on which way I go.

My ride was going along great. It was good to be on the bike. I was on my last loop and I came around the curve and there were 5 or 6 cows. Funny, I don’t remember them being there the first three loops. I am looking at the cows and they are looking at me. I turn around, cows and bikes don’t mix.  I bet you are thinking where does she live. I live in a rural area outside of Gonzales and we have a lot of cow pastures out here. In fact lots of animals. Today was cows. I finished the rest of  my loop and headed home.

I sure hope this is not a sign of training sessions to come. Oh well, keep looking up because that is were He is.

My training plan starts tomorrow. This means so many things on so many levels. No more “pick your mileage runs” or “do cross training because you do not feel like running today”. I have a plan and I am going to “Just do it”. 

I am excited about it and it also means lots more blogs and news letters. I will share a secret with you. I do not like writing and I am a bad at spelling and grammar. Writing was not my best subject in school. I am a right side of the brain person. If I could draw it all to you I would. I have to step out of my comfort zone and write. I often think about the children at St. Jude who have to go thru all the tests or the ones afraid of needles and how they have to step out of their comfort zones. Although for them it is life or death. When I look at it in that perspective my not liking to write seems very small.  So I blog and write news letters.

I am asking you to pray and donate to the children at St.Jude. It can be a big or small donation every dollar helps. So while I write blogs you can write one check to St. Jude.

God Bless and keep looking up because that is where He is.

Wow, Today I was able to run over 5 miles!!!! The heat has been so bad that it has been zapping my energy. Today was cooler and I put in 6.3 miles in an hour. Go ME!! I have been wanting to step up my running miles but it has just been too hot. Well starting August 7th no more excuses, my training plan starts on that date. I will have no options but to do it. I should tell you that my mantra is from Nike “Just do it’. I have to tell myself that some days just to get it done.

I am also not signing up for any Triathlons until after the Marathon. It is just too hard to train for two things and keep up with two active teenagers. Ido have some running events I will be doing and  I will still do some biking and swimming.

Until next time keep your feet moving and keep looking up because that is where it all its.