10/25/13

A Runner’s Prayer for the Marine Corp Marathon

1380072_10153425004155014_998868383_n

Two Days. Sunday.

 

YES, WE CAN!!!

 

Ever since coming back from IM 70.3 Cozumel it has been a roller coaster of emotions – with a bout of bronchitis, then another problem exacerbated by the intense coughing – I have been relegated to the sidelines of training for the Army 10 Miler followed by the MCM.

 

I had nothing but fear, doubt and uncertainty that I would be able to run the MCM let alone the Army 10, but last weekend I went out there with no expectations. All I wanted to do was beat the cutoff times and get in some kind of training – some version of distance before the MCM.

                  photo 2  photo 3

AND IT WAS A GLORIUS DAY FOR A RUN. I felt great, refreshed. I actually looked up and looked around to take in the beauty of the city, talk to other runners and since I was all back of the bus – offer some encouragement to those who had their heads down. Si Se Puede. You CAN do it. It made my day and quickened my steps when I say Princess Erin at mile 6 and 7. When I saw BK with the cow bell (you NEVER have enough cow bell) at mile 7 right before going across the 14th St. Bridge and off to the finish line, I KNEW I had it in the bag.

ATM2013b

photo 1Now, as I approach Sunday and 26.2 miles- I pray. I pray for me and I pray for my run buddy as well as all the runners who are winners in my book for getting up Sunday morning, lacing up their shoes and putting their toe on the line. WINNERS.

 

Search me, oh Lord, and try me; test my soul and my heart.
For your kindness is before my eyes, and I [run] in your truth.
Psalm 26:2-3

I know I will be tested, but He will be with me every step of the way.

 

The Runner's Prayer 
Father God,
Watch over me Sunday as I run. 
It is the day
and it is the time for the race.
 
Watch over my body.
Keep it free from injury.
 
Watch over my mind.
May I listen to the signals from within
as I enjoy the scenes from without.
 
Watch over my spirit.
Keep my heart and ears open for your voice.

Give strength to my steps

 
Watch over my fellow marathoners.
Remind us that we all are struggling equally.

I believe I am not running or struggling alone. 
 
Lord,
Let me win.
Not by coming in ahead of my friends, but by beating myself.
 
Let it be an inner win.
A battle won over me.
 
And may I say at the end,
"I have fought a good fight.
I have finished the race.
I have kept the faith." 2Timothy4:7
 2timothy4_7
Adapted from The Ultrarunner’s Prayer by Carolyn Erdman & Jay Hodde

 

See you out there! God BLESS!

10/7/13

Being Relentless - Working through Another Challenge

Relentless- to be a firery, driving force that let's no challenge or obstacle get in the way of a noteworthy goal.
So...I conquered a tropical storm to finish the IM 70.3 Cozumel and was rewarded a few days later with line horrendous, painful sore throat followed up with a chest crushing cough.

I made it through the rest of the week on a bag of cough drops and two bottles of cough syrup. Came home on a Saturday, ran 16 with my MCM buddy, Misty. Everything went south from there with me ending up in the doctors office and having her throw the kitchen sink at me; tsk tsking me at not getting in there earlier; glad that we MAY have caught it (bronchitis) early enough - blah blah blah.

She got my attention when she said no running till I finish the antibiotic. 10 days. NOT GONNA HAPPEN DOC! I have the MCM in 23 days. Ummm, yeah that's not gonna work. More sucking of teeth, a rescue inhaler added and you can try on Sunday.

I get up and go for what is supposed to be an easy 8 miles...and didn't make it 2 before I was sucking on my inhaler and it wasn't doing anything. I coughed my way back 2 miles and spent the rest of the day wishing I'd actually crack a rib instead of just feeling like it.

What to do? I'll put it to you exactly as the FireMarshall did...SIT YOUR AZZ DOWN SOMEWHERE AND BE STILL! Woman, get well, trust that you have a base of training, trust that you are tenacious enough to finish and pick it up when you can friggin breath. *stomps out of room*

Mmmmm...it is damn near killing me to sit still. After training damn near every day for months, going 2 days - 4 days doing no more than going to work...I'm pulling my hair out. 

This has been the absolute worse racing years. Sick or injured more often than not, I have felt like I've been behind the power curve making no forward progress at all.

...and perhaps I should back this bus up, regroup, get healthy and start again. 

I will run the Army10 and the MCM. Will I have put in all the mileage - no. I know I can do the distance but it won't be fast by any stretch of the imagination. If I don't make the bridge, I'm okay with that. I can only do what my body lets me and I believe I'm getting a strong message - LISTEN or ELSE. Keep pushing and we gonna push back. I'm trying to listen...sigh.

Off to take my Meds and go to bed. Ya know, there is nothing cute about a bag of drugs by your side. Not a single thing.

Being RELENTLESS!