The Snowman....He Mocks Me

I am half way there.  This is what my training schedule looks like

I'm one of those crazy list people that adds things to a list just so I can cross them off.  Being able to cross off each of these runs/workouts gives me great satisfaction.

Saturday was a long run day - six miles at a slow pace.  I've run six or more miles quite a few times at this point, so I wasn't expecting it to be as difficult as it was for me.  It was the longest six miles I have ever run, that is for sure.

I think I spent over half of it either walking or in tears because I was just so frustrated.  It was pretty humid and getting warmer by the time I got out for a run, but it wasn't horrible.  I really didn't understand why I was having such a difficult time.

I was really excited when I made it to my turn around point.

I have run by this snowman many times and I swear he mocks me every single time.  I had to run up the hill that the snowman sits on top of to then go down a little hill to get to my turn around point and every single step up that blessed hill was torture.  I was happy to turn around and get him out of my sight.

The second half was just as brutal as the first and about a mile from home I finally realized why I was struggling so much and why I have been struggling so much with all of my training runs lately.  I feel like I'm failing.

I was so excited to start training for this race and to run this race because it was a chance for me to combine my efforts at improving my health with making an impact in the lives of others.  I didn't realize how difficult it would be for me to find motivation to train for my second half marathon.  The first time around, I was running purely on the motivation of doing something that I had never done before and thought I could never do.  Now that I know my body is capable of it, I'm finding that I really need something outside of myself to keep me going.  As of Saturday morning, I had only received one donation. 

I have a really big goal, but this time it isn't a running goal, this time it is a goal to provide clean water for people who aren't nearly as fortunate as we are, simply because they were born in another country.  People who are forced to drink water from the same place that animals bathe and drink.  Water that is not at all fit for drinking.

Photo from John Warren/WorldVision

 



I want the fact that I am making a difference to be able to keep me motivated when my runs get difficult.  I want to know that I'm doing this for someone else and not just for me. 

This is where I'm at today - 13% to my goal.  So much progress to make.

I'm not saying any of this to guilt people into giving, that isn't at all what this is about, and I really only want people to give if they are excited about it.  I'm just being honest and letting you know that training for this thing is kicking my rear, in a really big way.  So if you aren't able to help financially, I would love it if you would consider praying for health, endurance and peace.

I'm not giving up.  I will be crossing that finish line.  One step at a time. 

Therefore do not throw away your confidence, which has a great reward.  For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.  Hebrews 10:35-36

I am confident that I am supposed to be doing this.  I know that God will get me through it.  I will overcome.



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!)