Week One of Monster Dash Training

Well, I suppose I should do an actual update.  I have been feeling very uninspired as far as blogging goes lately, I'm hoping that changes shortly.  I have a lot of thoughts swirling around in my head, but not nearly enough time or energy to get them composed.

Monday I started Week 1 of Monster Dash Half Marathon training.  This is what my week looks like:

• Monday - 3 miles (A gorgeous evening run around Lake Phalen)
• Tuesday - 2 miles (Tried a new trail, planned an easy two miles...took a wrong turn somewhere and ended up doing half of it on hilly trails.  It was brutal but kind of fun.)
• Wednesday - Weight Training
• Thursday - 3 miles (Pushed myself HARD on the treadmill at about 9:30pm....dripping sweat.  I eeked out an 11:04 min/mile pace which is by far my best for 3 miles.  Slow for some, fast for me.)

• Today - Rest Day....I did 30 minutes on the elliptical which is pretty much rest as far as I'm concerned
• Saturday - 4 miles
• Sunday - Cross Training

I've been listening to a sermon series from Elevation Church called Treatment during my runs lately.  

It is a four part series that deals with depression, anxiety, addiction and insecurity.  I highly recommend giving it a listen if you struggle with any of those things....and let's be honest, who doesn't?  I frequently need a reminder of who God says I am and these were so helpful with that.  

Outside of that, we've just been enjoying as much of this awesome weather as we can.  There have been many picnics and playground trips lately.  

On Saturday I had a fun Mommy/Daughter day with Rory.  We took Lena for a "run" in the morning, which was a lot of fun.  We only went about 3/4 mile, but she ran quite a bit.  Rory really wants to run with me and I promised her that if she could run/walk 3 miles with me by next summer, she could do the Color Run with me.  She is built like me and loves to eat anything with sugar and flour so I am bound and determined to make sure she doesn't end up just like her mom.  I don't want her going through the pain of being the "fat kid".  It would break my heart so I'm doing my best to get her excited about eating healthy and getting exercise. 

The scale hasn't moved much lately, which I am kind of ok with and kind of not ok with.  I don't want to be stuck here permanently.  I know that my body is very comfortable with the weight I am right now.  I spent most of my high school at this weight, but I don't want to stop here.  I want to take this body to places it hasn't been before and I'm trying to keep moving forward, no matter how long it takes.  I'm not giving up.

I hope you are all enjoying August.  This summer is going so incredibly fast!        

The Number One Preventable Cause of Death

I don't know about you, but this doesn't sit very well with me.  I thought it would be obesity or lung cancer.  Instead it is something that we have an abundance of, clean water.  Nearly everyone in this country has access to clean water with the turn of a knob or the push of a button.  It is simple for us, but it isn't that way for everyone. 

Here are some facts from World Vision:

• More than 6,000 children under age 5 die each day from diseases spread by unsafe water or lack of basic sanitation and hygiene. 
• Almost 900 million people lack access to safe water.
• 443 million school days per year are lost to water-related illness.

But, do you want to know the good news?

World Vision is doing incredible things to reduce those numbers and ensure that kids and families in Africa and Haiti have access to clean and safe water.  The people at World Vision partner with the communities and uses the resources available to come up with effective and sustainable solutions to provide clean water.  They get the community involved and invested in the projects, which I believe, is the best way to help people.

For all of these reasons, when I heard about the opportunity to join Team World Vision for the Monster Dash Half Marathon, it was a no brainer.  I have been looking for ways that God can use this journey that I am to help others, and this is undeniably a way that I can do just that.

I have a goal of raising $1,310 to help provide access to clean water.  That is $100 for every mile that I will be running.  $1,310 is enough to provide clean water for 26 people for an entire generation.  

Here is where you come in :-)

I would be extremely grateful if you would be willing to support me financially and help me reach my goal of providing water for 26 people.  I know that $50 is a lot of money and most of you don't have that kind of cash sitting around.  No worries!  A donation of ANY size would help get me closer to my goal.  $1, $5, $13.10....whatever you feel called to give is getting us one step closer to helping our brothers and sisters in Haiti in Africa.  If it doesn't fit in your budget right now, no problem, you can donate any time between now and October 26.  (I won't hound you, but the link to give will stay in the upper right hand corner of my blog.)

Everyone deserves clean water.  Everyone needs clean water.  You can help them get it.

Click Here to Provide Clean Water

Thank you!

(P.S. It isn't too late to join the team.  Please let me know if you would like to join our team and run for water!)