I Finished the Race!

I crossed "run a marathon" off my bucket list by conquering the Chicago Marathon on 10-10-10. I've since learned to have a new respect for anyone who has ever ran a marathon. It was the hardest thing I have ever done.

Starting off the race was easy, the day was beautiful and fall was in the air. At mile 9 the toes on my left foot began to throb. Around mile 13 the shade disappeared and the sun began to beat down with a vengeance. At mile 15 the pain in my left my toes moved to my knee. I prayed and spoke encouraging words to myself. I visualized Jesus carrying my daughter, Amber, across the finish line. So giving up was no longer an option.

At mile 20 I was thinking "this is the furthest I had ever run" in my training runs. It really felt like a good place to stop as runners all around me were giving up. It was then I overheard a pacer speaking words of encouragement to another runner. "If you feel like stopping, don't. Just slow down your pace and keep running." I grabbed a hold of those words.

How I finished I'm not really sure, it just happened by the grace of God. I had been meditating on, "I will run and not become weary, I will walk and not faint or fall down." I thought about raising money for Mercy Ministries and how I did not want to raise money for a race I did not finish.

As I crossed the finish line I was overcome with joy, I did not quit! I fought the good fight, I finished the race!

Carry Me to the Finish Line

Today I am quoting from Mercy graduate Kristin Johnson, who spoke to my running group before their half-marathon. "I would encourage you to think on how Mercy Ministries is a vessel of God's love that's transforming the lives of young women who desperately need hope. You are standing in the gap for them to reach that finish line that seems impossible to them.
There will probably be a moment your run that might be challenging,and in that moment the most powerful strength that God is going to give you is by envisioning Jesus carrying a weak and exhausted Mercy Ministries girl in His arms crossing that finish line with the prize of restoration and transformation for these woman who deserve their freedom, and ultimately defeating the enemy".
I will visualize this when my marathon is challenging, Jesus carrying a Mercy girl across the finish line! Thank you, Kristen, for sharing these words. You are my hero! You inspire me!

Today's Training Run

Today's training run taught me I can't do the Chicago Marathon on my own strength, but I can do all things through Jesus Christ, the one who brings strength to me! I have had my right knee locking up on my last 3 training runs. I've tried massage therapy, rest, and now prayer! The race is in less than two weeks and as I am typing this, I'm standing upright in a calf -stretch position. God will have to see me through! I am again reminded of my total dependence on Him.
Please check out my website www.runformercy.org/runformercy to donate to my Run for Mercy. It makes running worthwhile when I run with a purpose! The attached picture was taken at recent Mercy graduation. These two beautiful young ladies, Elyse and Hilary Joy, are the reason I run for Mercy! They have now found freedom from life controlling issues are are ready to live a life filled with purpose and meaning! It is an honor to run for Mercy!

Lewis and Clark: September 2007~My Running Journal

Decided to get my mind set on running the race with joy and enjoying the journey. I didn’t keep track of my time and ran my fastest half marathon yet. I learned to take time, enjoy the moment and enjoy the journey. Worship leaders Jill and Charlie LeBlanc were also a part of Team Mercy. I raised about $1,000 for Mercy. God is good!

September 11. 2010

United States. Land of the free. What makes this country great is our freedom and it has come at a great price. Today I would like to thank all our men and women in uniform, including firefighters and police officers, who have worked tirelessley and often risked their lives to protect the freedom that we enjoy. I will not forget the price paid by so many on 9-11-01 to serve the citizens of New York and those who were in the WTC. Today I ran a 5K in honor of Bradley Smith of the USAF who fought to maintain our freedom and was killed doing so, leaving behind his young wife and newborn baby. God bless our men in uniform. Thank you for your most honorable sacrifice. God bless America.

Things I've Learned from Running

Running is not a passion, it's a hobby for me. I really do love to run but I can't always say that at 4:30 am when it's time wake up for the long run. I know I can't make it to the end of a marathon without relying on Jesus. He is the strength of my life and the one I will continue to trust in to get me through the difficult times. If you are reading this and feel discouraged or ready to give up, don't fear. Jesus will never leave you or stop loving you. Not now, not ever. So press in to the things of God and be sure to do something hard. That is when you can really activate your faith. That's why I like to run, it keeps me humbled before God and desperate for Him.

Run for Mercy 2006-07

Lewis and Clark, St. Charles, MO, 2006
Had the privilege of having ultra marathoner Dean Karnazes as our Pasta Party keynote speaker. It was a huge honor to have him speak to us before the first of his “50 marathons in 50 days” feat! I ran with my good friend and running mentor, Mary Ann Thomas. It was a very emotional race as I was running for Mercy in memory of my daughter, Amber, who went to be with Jesus on June 24 of that year. The Mercy girls were scattered throughout the race route cheering us on. I kept a picture of Amber in my mind and visualized girls who are captive being set free. If they could break free and overcome immense obstacles, I could finish the race!

Country Music Marathon, Nashville, TN, April 2007.
My goal was to beat my Land C time and run the race in under two hours. I was confident that I could do it, especially since I had my Nike iPod chip in my shoe that had Lance Armstrong’s voice encouraging me on. Little did I realize that I had failed to calibrate my stride with my Nike chip in order to get an accurate mileage count. I finished the race ten minutes slower than my Land C time and I felt like a loser. Then I remembered that I was running the race to raise $ for Mercy and that things don’t always turn out the way you think they will. Kyle and I raised about $3,000. My good friend Carol Bridges also ran her first half marathon for Mercy.