Monday, June 4, 2012

Why I Run

I began this blog when I thought it would be good for me to write about our adoption experience. It's still alive but just not moving. I know God has not forgotten about us and with each monthly update and pictures of our precious daughter I long for her more. My newest update on Friday just made me break down and cry because I'm missing out on all the new learning experiences. But today I'm reminded of Psalm 115:1 "Not to us, O Lord, not to us but to your name be the glory, because of your love and faithfulness." So, I continue on with life. Blaire is entering her high school years and Jacob is entering his senior year! We are planning some summer fun and of course, training for the Chicago Marathon this Fall. I run with a group from our church , all running for World Vision and raising money for clean water in Kenya! So, when we meet each Saturday for our group run we listen to a team member to tell us 'why I run' and this Saturday was my turn. I was running the 6 mile loop one gorgeous, sunny, calm morning when I noticed I was running with a grin from ear to ear. I started to think about why I run and three words came to me. They all conveniently start with the letter 'M'. So here they are; MOTIVATION: I have loved running since I was a kid. I ran track and cross-country but didn't begin running races in my adult life until about 7 years ago. I started out with 5K's and 10K's then a few duathalons but a marathon was never on my radar. Scott came to me two years ago and announced he wanted to run the Chicago marathon and did in 2010. I followed him around the city and spotted him four times and at the end he saw the look on my face (it must have been that ear-to-ear silly grin) and said,'you are so running this next year'. He signed me up and motivated me to train all summer. After my marathon a friend told me that I motivated her to run her first marathon and she did this past February. Jacob is also running his first in Chicago this year and I'd like to think we had something to do with that decision. I get motivated every Saturday morning running with our church group and listening to their fabulous stories. You never know who you are motivating so keep sharing your running stories. MUSIC: I love listening to my music! If I'm not running and talking to someone I have my earphones in. I remember mile 24 in Chicago and I was ready to quit. Pressing On by Reliant K came on and got me moving again. The song Running Down A Dream by Tom Petty is great any time throughout a run. Sometimes certain songs remind me of certain people so I find myself praying for them. I listed my favorite 10 songs to run to on Saturday so here they are; Discotheque - U2, Black and Gold - Sam Sparro, The Veil - David Crowder Band, Everybody Wants You - Billy Squier, The War Inside - Switchfoot, Rebel Yell - Billy Idol, Whyyawannabringmedown - Kelly Clarkson, Pressing On - Reliant K, Runnin' Down A Dream - Tom Petty, Feel So Close - Calvin Harris MONEY: Last year I ran for ME but this year I have a better cause. Clean water for Africa. I have had the priviledge of seeing a water well go in in Tanzania and see the faces of the people who are delighting in it. A healthy convenience we take for granted. This past week in our city we had a water main pipe break. We were told our water could be contaminated. So, it didn't really change my life. I grabbed a few water bottles from my garage cupboard and was fine for a few days. At mile 4 in Chicago I remember the sea of orange World Vision shirts and grabbed a bottle of water they were handing out. I carried it throughout the whole race and now I run with a bottle of clean water to remind myself why I'm training, remind myself why I'm running, remind myself why I'm fundraising. What a great cause! My three M's: I run to motivate, I run to listen to my music, and I run to raise money for clean water in Africa!