Today was my taper run so I was not planning to set any records, but to my surprise when my run ended I had set three. I ran my fastest mile, fastest 5K and fastest 10K today which was pretty cool. My total distance was 8 miles in 73 minutes, so about an average of a 9min/mile. It's been a fun journey getting to this spot in my training, and I am both excited and nervous for my race next week!
I was stretching before my run started today and was staring at the playground that is at the beginning of Keystone trail thinking about what my dedication should be. I was looking at the slide when my favorite little angel came to mind, Carson. I decided that todays run was for him and all of the love he gave to so many people while he was with us. During my run I thought about all the happy memories I have of him in my heart. I remember the first time I saw Carson at Comeca I was amazed at how tiny he was, but also how perfectly God had made him. It was so much fun to be able to watch Carson grow into the fun loving, dancing, mischievous, happy, silly little 4 year old he was until he was called home.
I know that technically Carson was not my nephew, but it still felt like I had lost a nephew when I got the call about what had happened. There are so many different emotions that surround the death of a loved one, and not a whole lot that can be done to bring peace to those who are hurting besides being there for support. I remember everyone kept thanking me for being at the service which surprised me because I would not have missed it for anything.
It's funny how God knows what you are thinking about. I was at the very end of my 8 miles, so almost back to the playground which brought Carsons memory to mind in the first place, and when I hit 8 I was stretching facing away from the playground. When I finished, I turned around to see a smiley, bouncy little blonde haired girl playing on the swings. I could tell she had down syndrome and when she saw me looking at her she gave me a great big smile and blew a kiss to me, just like Carson would do. Our God is so awesome.
Saturday, May 30, 2015
Saturday, May 23, 2015
Day 90
I have not forgotten about my blog, the last month has just been a crazy whirlwind of finals, moving, moving again and starting new jobs that I simply have not had the time to sit down and write! The last few weeks my mantra has been about the same every time I run--finish strong. I had been dragging for awhile, thinking that this seemed impossible. My negativity showed in my run last week where it took me 1 hour and 50 minutes to run 10 miles when my goal was 11 but I simply couldn't do it. Today I ran 12 miles in 1 hour and 57 minutes, a great improvement from last week and a mental confirmation that I can do this.
Todays run was dedicated to my number one fan and the human that I have literally known the longest in my entire life, my Mom. I think that running for her today was what made me able to run all 12 miles with each mile being under 10 minutes.
I have heard the story of my untimely birth time and time again from countless relatives, but had never really put a ton of thought into what it was really like for her to go through. I can't imagine carrying the promise of a new life for 7 months and then not knowing for the last part of pregnancy what my child was going to be like all while being bedridden. That's terrifying. By some miracle everything was ok and I am here today thanks to my mothers doctors and her strength.
At one point in my run I tried to think back to my earliest memory of my mom. If you have never tried to do that, do it. Thinking back that far is interesting and I have no idea how old I was in the memories that I brought up, but I remember sitting on the couch with pillow and pink bear and mom reading the book "Are you my mother?" to me in all the different voices. I remember playing on the little tikes slide outside under a tree that used to be where the gazebo is now. I remembered mom sewing me a dress with little lambs all over it and lace on the pockets, and I remember her later then patching all the holes I put in it accidentally while riding a tricycle. I remember mom taking my picture outside while using a little plastic watering can to water flowers and how I could not use the watering can right and it kept coming out the top. I remember laying in a gray stroller next to her on the 4th of July watching fireworks explode in the sky. I remember holding on to moms hand while our neighbor dropped off her little girl who was crying because she did not want her mom to leave, and by the end of her visit Carissa and I were great friends. I remember going to Hobby Lobby with her and her buying me crafts to create everything and anything because that is what I loved to do. I remember beading with her. I remember mom spending countless hours on making me birthday cupcakes with adorable little flies on them wearing party hats to match the awesome piggy cake she made me, and then the flies accidentally melted by the time of my party due to storing them in the hot tub room and then they were piggy poop cupcakes. I remember going to the store in Holdrege with her so she could shop for new beanie babies because they were going to make her rich in the future. I remember going to Island Oasis, to Pioneers Park, to Breckenridge, to the Capitol building, on picnics and on fishing trips with her my sister and our close friends the Freeds. I remember how her and dad would alternate tucking me in to bed at night. I remember making homemade ice cream with her. I remember her playing with playdoh with me and cecelia at the kitchen table.
There are so many more memories, I could create a book. She never missed a volleyball game, a basketball game, a dance recital, a gymnastics meet, a track meet, a tennis tournament. Even when I was in 5th grade at R-4 and was completely terrible at what I was trying to do. I know that everyone says this about their mom, but my mom is truly the best mom out there and I could not have been more blessed by getting to be her daughter.
Todays run was dedicated to my number one fan and the human that I have literally known the longest in my entire life, my Mom. I think that running for her today was what made me able to run all 12 miles with each mile being under 10 minutes.
I have heard the story of my untimely birth time and time again from countless relatives, but had never really put a ton of thought into what it was really like for her to go through. I can't imagine carrying the promise of a new life for 7 months and then not knowing for the last part of pregnancy what my child was going to be like all while being bedridden. That's terrifying. By some miracle everything was ok and I am here today thanks to my mothers doctors and her strength.
At one point in my run I tried to think back to my earliest memory of my mom. If you have never tried to do that, do it. Thinking back that far is interesting and I have no idea how old I was in the memories that I brought up, but I remember sitting on the couch with pillow and pink bear and mom reading the book "Are you my mother?" to me in all the different voices. I remember playing on the little tikes slide outside under a tree that used to be where the gazebo is now. I remembered mom sewing me a dress with little lambs all over it and lace on the pockets, and I remember her later then patching all the holes I put in it accidentally while riding a tricycle. I remember mom taking my picture outside while using a little plastic watering can to water flowers and how I could not use the watering can right and it kept coming out the top. I remember laying in a gray stroller next to her on the 4th of July watching fireworks explode in the sky. I remember holding on to moms hand while our neighbor dropped off her little girl who was crying because she did not want her mom to leave, and by the end of her visit Carissa and I were great friends. I remember going to Hobby Lobby with her and her buying me crafts to create everything and anything because that is what I loved to do. I remember beading with her. I remember mom spending countless hours on making me birthday cupcakes with adorable little flies on them wearing party hats to match the awesome piggy cake she made me, and then the flies accidentally melted by the time of my party due to storing them in the hot tub room and then they were piggy poop cupcakes. I remember going to the store in Holdrege with her so she could shop for new beanie babies because they were going to make her rich in the future. I remember going to Island Oasis, to Pioneers Park, to Breckenridge, to the Capitol building, on picnics and on fishing trips with her my sister and our close friends the Freeds. I remember how her and dad would alternate tucking me in to bed at night. I remember making homemade ice cream with her. I remember her playing with playdoh with me and cecelia at the kitchen table.
There are so many more memories, I could create a book. She never missed a volleyball game, a basketball game, a dance recital, a gymnastics meet, a track meet, a tennis tournament. Even when I was in 5th grade at R-4 and was completely terrible at what I was trying to do. I know that everyone says this about their mom, but my mom is truly the best mom out there and I could not have been more blessed by getting to be her daughter.
Saturday, April 25, 2015
Day 62
Today was the first time I did an evening run and the weather was absolutely perfect. It was overcast, barely any wind, about 60 degrees and due to the rain everything was green, flowering and beautiful. I ran 7 miles in 1 hour and 9 minutes and three of my seven miles were under 9 minutes! It was a hugely successful and rewarding run and now Im eating pizza because everything needs balance, right?
Today I ran for my Cristina Yang, my Monica Geller, my Kimmy Gibbler, my Carlton Banks, my Kurt Hummel, my Stacy Barrett, my best friend, Katherine Weed. This time of year with there being only 2 weeks of school left, multiple moves coming up in my future, a new internship starting soon, I'm starting to get stressed out and feel overwhelmed. I know that God never gives us anything we can't handle, and a lot of the time I look to Katherine as a role model. If you don't know Katherine, she is a full time student, a full time mom to the worlds cutest baby, she works full time, and she STILL manages to keep most of her sanity and finds time to see me either in Lincoln or when I visit home. She is basically a rockstar. So many obstacles have been thrown her way, yet she still shines as a fantastic human being and is always there when I need to talk.
Growing up, Katherine and I were literally attached at the hip. First it was dance classes, then I started going to Holdrege for school and from that point on basically where there was Charlene there was Katherine and vice versa. She is the person that I can do everything, anything, and nothing with. Just being around her makes me feel so happy and I feel so blessed to have a friend that I can confide in 100% and know that she will always be there for me. We were going to take on the world together when we went to college together. Life happens though, and plans change. Don't get me wrong, we are still taking on the world together. There's just more distance between us than planned and one more tiny beautiful soul to love (Mason is seriously perfect).
So 7 miles gave me quite a bit of time to think about everything that is awesome about Katherine and I could sit here and type forever about all the memories we have made (from going through drive throughs with masks on, to when we needed the troops, to all the cakes we've baked, to how we were each others rock freshman year of college for various reasons, to how our lives changed when we ordered our life planners, to all of the tennis matches, dance routines, senior dance, laughs, smiles, tears, fears, and dreams) I simply can't convey how great she is through words. I know that she is my best friend and always will be, from now until that day where we both are married living on the beach with our rich husbands with houses that connect with underground tunnels with private tennis courts, to the day we die (hopefully we both die at the same time because I can't live through the thought of her funeral), she is my person. Love you bestie <3
Today I ran for my Cristina Yang, my Monica Geller, my Kimmy Gibbler, my Carlton Banks, my Kurt Hummel, my Stacy Barrett, my best friend, Katherine Weed. This time of year with there being only 2 weeks of school left, multiple moves coming up in my future, a new internship starting soon, I'm starting to get stressed out and feel overwhelmed. I know that God never gives us anything we can't handle, and a lot of the time I look to Katherine as a role model. If you don't know Katherine, she is a full time student, a full time mom to the worlds cutest baby, she works full time, and she STILL manages to keep most of her sanity and finds time to see me either in Lincoln or when I visit home. She is basically a rockstar. So many obstacles have been thrown her way, yet she still shines as a fantastic human being and is always there when I need to talk.
Growing up, Katherine and I were literally attached at the hip. First it was dance classes, then I started going to Holdrege for school and from that point on basically where there was Charlene there was Katherine and vice versa. She is the person that I can do everything, anything, and nothing with. Just being around her makes me feel so happy and I feel so blessed to have a friend that I can confide in 100% and know that she will always be there for me. We were going to take on the world together when we went to college together. Life happens though, and plans change. Don't get me wrong, we are still taking on the world together. There's just more distance between us than planned and one more tiny beautiful soul to love (Mason is seriously perfect).
So 7 miles gave me quite a bit of time to think about everything that is awesome about Katherine and I could sit here and type forever about all the memories we have made (from going through drive throughs with masks on, to when we needed the troops, to all the cakes we've baked, to how we were each others rock freshman year of college for various reasons, to how our lives changed when we ordered our life planners, to all of the tennis matches, dance routines, senior dance, laughs, smiles, tears, fears, and dreams) I simply can't convey how great she is through words. I know that she is my best friend and always will be, from now until that day where we both are married living on the beach with our rich husbands with houses that connect with underground tunnels with private tennis courts, to the day we die (hopefully we both die at the same time because I can't live through the thought of her funeral), she is my person. Love you bestie <3
Monday, April 13, 2015
Day 50
The thing I've learned from running so far is that the days where I would rather do anything else except run are the days that I benefit from it the most. Today I ran my four miles in 37 minutes and every mile leg I ran was under 10 minutes and I also set a new 5k record of 29 minutes. When I am in Lincoln I usually run on the trails behind Goodlife Fitness. There are three trails to choose from, and I have ran on two of them often. Today I chose to run on the trail I have only ran on once and it was the trail I ran my first training run on when I started this. I remember my first run. There was still snow on the ground, it was windy and cold, I could barely go over a mile without being out of breath and my side hurting.
I set out on this trail with no particular dedication in mind. Recently I have had a lot on my mind as far as school and internships that I have been stressed about those subjects to think of much else. Within the first few hundred feet of my run, I passed three robins who were standing on the trail. They didn't fly away when I ran by and seemed content on being on the trail.
I decided to dedicate todays run to the man who I fell in love with first, who always has my back no matter the circumstances, and who is never afraid to tell me when I'm being stupid and I love him for it. Seeing the robins on the trail reminded me of my father (his name is Robin) and I know that I am incredibly lucky to be blessed with such an amazing daddy. As my run went on I was surprised by how many elements I passed that reminded me of my dad. All along the trail were what I would call wild flowers, but my dad would call weeds. After the first mile and a half I passed a man and his daughter fishing on the river bank off of the trail. If you know anything about my dad, you know he loves to fish and I have spent many hours on a boat or on a shore casting lines and catching fish (I believe I had my own pink fishing rod at some point.) As my run went on I started paying more attention to the trail itself and realized that there were many cigarette buds on it. I do not judge my dad for his habit, but he has smoked for as long as I can remember. It's not my favorite thing about him but recently he has been trying really hard to cut back the amount he smokes. I know that that can't be easy and admire him for trying. After I reached the halfway point of my run I turned around and almost started laughing because on the road up ahead that intersected the trail a bright yellow four door ford truck was passing by. The odds of that truck (which was the exact same style of truck my dad drove for years and just recently got a new one) being right there as soon as I turned around were crazy. With about a mile left of my run I realized that there was absolutely no wind on this trail today. Dad hates wind, like most farmers do.
I've been praying for my dad extra for the past couple days. He has a doctor visit tomorrow to hopefully clear his conscience of a few things. I know no matter what the outcome my dad will be strong because after all, he is the best dad in the world.
I set out on this trail with no particular dedication in mind. Recently I have had a lot on my mind as far as school and internships that I have been stressed about those subjects to think of much else. Within the first few hundred feet of my run, I passed three robins who were standing on the trail. They didn't fly away when I ran by and seemed content on being on the trail.
I decided to dedicate todays run to the man who I fell in love with first, who always has my back no matter the circumstances, and who is never afraid to tell me when I'm being stupid and I love him for it. Seeing the robins on the trail reminded me of my father (his name is Robin) and I know that I am incredibly lucky to be blessed with such an amazing daddy. As my run went on I was surprised by how many elements I passed that reminded me of my dad. All along the trail were what I would call wild flowers, but my dad would call weeds. After the first mile and a half I passed a man and his daughter fishing on the river bank off of the trail. If you know anything about my dad, you know he loves to fish and I have spent many hours on a boat or on a shore casting lines and catching fish (I believe I had my own pink fishing rod at some point.) As my run went on I started paying more attention to the trail itself and realized that there were many cigarette buds on it. I do not judge my dad for his habit, but he has smoked for as long as I can remember. It's not my favorite thing about him but recently he has been trying really hard to cut back the amount he smokes. I know that that can't be easy and admire him for trying. After I reached the halfway point of my run I turned around and almost started laughing because on the road up ahead that intersected the trail a bright yellow four door ford truck was passing by. The odds of that truck (which was the exact same style of truck my dad drove for years and just recently got a new one) being right there as soon as I turned around were crazy. With about a mile left of my run I realized that there was absolutely no wind on this trail today. Dad hates wind, like most farmers do.
I've been praying for my dad extra for the past couple days. He has a doctor visit tomorrow to hopefully clear his conscience of a few things. I know no matter what the outcome my dad will be strong because after all, he is the best dad in the world.
Saturday, April 11, 2015
Day 48
Today I set two records on my watch! I ran my fastest 5K and finished my longest run of 6 miles in 1 hour. After a week of gloomy misty days today was very much appreciated. 73 degrees, sunny with a slight breeze is much more fun to run in rather than 40 degrees, wind and misty rain.
Today I dedicated my run to something I am horrible at and always have been: patience. I remember growing up my mom always would tell me to be more patient with just about everything. I don't think I will ever be good at being patient, but at least now I understand that it is a necessary part of life. I know that God always has a plan and he knows what is best for me, but it can be frustrating when I can't see how the future will unravel. Right now I am struggling with having patience in finding an internship for the summer. Many places it is a waiting game for them to call you back, I have heard countless "We will let you know hopefully by the end of the week's" that I may lose my mind if I hear it again. I am very hopeful for one opportunity at the moment, I have been 'patiently' waiting since Tuesday for a call back. All I can do is wait and trust that there is a right time for everything.
By mile 4 of my run all physical hardships seemed to leave and I felt like I could keep at that pace for the next six hours if I needed to. It was an interesting experience that I have not had that early into a run yet, so instead of concentrating on form, breathing, and cadence, I started to let my mind wander. It brought back an article that I remember reading a couple months ago that I found online. The article was from a sons perspective as he sat talking with his father who was in the hospital dying (optimistic, right?) The son remembered his father telling him to not spend his life waiting for the future to get here and for the next big thing to come but to rather live in the present and appreciate the god given moments of life that otherwise may pass you by. It was a sad, but interesting article that relates back to being patient. If I am constantly waiting for tomorrow, a call, the semester to be over, this mile to be over, summer to be here, to move, to graduate, to start a big girl job, I may miss out on little moments of life in the here and now that make life so meaningful. My grandma Eileen always tells me to be careful with life because you'll blink and 50 years will go by. In high school I would laugh and shrug it off, but now I am close to graduating college and I feel like I haven't even blinked yet.
Today I dedicated my run to something I am horrible at and always have been: patience. I remember growing up my mom always would tell me to be more patient with just about everything. I don't think I will ever be good at being patient, but at least now I understand that it is a necessary part of life. I know that God always has a plan and he knows what is best for me, but it can be frustrating when I can't see how the future will unravel. Right now I am struggling with having patience in finding an internship for the summer. Many places it is a waiting game for them to call you back, I have heard countless "We will let you know hopefully by the end of the week's" that I may lose my mind if I hear it again. I am very hopeful for one opportunity at the moment, I have been 'patiently' waiting since Tuesday for a call back. All I can do is wait and trust that there is a right time for everything.
By mile 4 of my run all physical hardships seemed to leave and I felt like I could keep at that pace for the next six hours if I needed to. It was an interesting experience that I have not had that early into a run yet, so instead of concentrating on form, breathing, and cadence, I started to let my mind wander. It brought back an article that I remember reading a couple months ago that I found online. The article was from a sons perspective as he sat talking with his father who was in the hospital dying (optimistic, right?) The son remembered his father telling him to not spend his life waiting for the future to get here and for the next big thing to come but to rather live in the present and appreciate the god given moments of life that otherwise may pass you by. It was a sad, but interesting article that relates back to being patient. If I am constantly waiting for tomorrow, a call, the semester to be over, this mile to be over, summer to be here, to move, to graduate, to start a big girl job, I may miss out on little moments of life in the here and now that make life so meaningful. My grandma Eileen always tells me to be careful with life because you'll blink and 50 years will go by. In high school I would laugh and shrug it off, but now I am close to graduating college and I feel like I haven't even blinked yet.
Thursday, April 2, 2015
Day 39
What a week this has been. My long run last Saturday was probably one of the best runs of my life. I ran with my cousin Terri in Florida and we ran on this really pretty running trail close to where my aunt and uncle live. I ran 5 miles in 51 minutes and never felt winded, never had a side cramp and the thought of stopping never crossed my mind. I don't know if it was because I was so excited by new surroundings, but it was a great run.
Monday was my short run and leg day and I ran my fastest three mile ever (27 minutes!) I also changed my lifting pattern this week. Instead of my usual 12 or 15 reps for three sets I did 5 reps for 5 sets and upped my weight by a lot. Like a lot a lot. I surprised myself multiple times during legs and also the next day with upper body by how much I can lift when I try to go heavy!
Today was Zumba day (yay!) which also meant short fast run (boo!) but I managed to beat my record last week by running a 7 minute mile! All sorts of good things have been happening this week, I hope my luck continues tomorrow with my interview for an internship.
Friday, March 27, 2015
Day 33
Between spring break and getting ready for spring break and internship hunting, I have not posted in awhile but I still have been training! It's been pretty smooth sailing these past two weeks, plus I also have had running buddies every now and then (thanks Anna and Rachel). This week in Florida my schedule has been a bit different, but I still have managed to workout all of my scheduled days except one. Monday was my shorter run, Rachel accompanied me and ran most of my run with me. We ran 3.5 miles in the rain around the neighborhood where my aunt and uncle live, and my time was exactly 35 minutes. Yesterday there was sadly no Zumba, but I managed to do my fast mile which I usually aim to run in 8 minutes in 7:25 minutes! The week before this for my long run my little Anna ran with me, and we ran around the section at home which is a total of 4 miles. Once again, I ran it in 40 minutes. Next week I plan to go back to my normal routine.
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