Here we go again

So, I started this blog earlier this year to keep me motivated to get healthy and reach my goal of being in the best shape of my life by my 40th birthday next January.  I'm not really a writer and blogging is not my thing, but it was fun and helped keep me focussed.  But somewhere in July life got busy.  I haven't posted since the end of June.  July and August were not healthy months for me!  So, I've realized how important regular posting was to keep me focussed and motivated.   And now with only 20 weeks until my 40th birthday I can't afford "not healthy" months.  I must stay focussed and motivated.  Fortunately I have some friends who are eating healthier and losing weight so I've been re-inspired by their success.  And fall weather is here, which means I actually desire and look forward to go out and run or ride a bike.  So, here we go again.....

Colorful Summer Salad

I know I need to eat more fruits and vegetables.  So this weekend, I decided to make a fruit salad that would be handy for snacking.  I used watermelon and blueberries (because a friend recently told me they were great together) and grapes (because my mom was in town visiting and had some left from her drive).  The result was a beautiful and refreshing fruit salad!

The colors make the salad so pretty and much more enjoyable to eat.   But there's more - colors of fruits and vegetables are natures way of telling us what health benefits that particular fruit or vegetable has.

Based on some info I got from an article in Taos News, this salad has the following health benefits :

Grapes - Green produce indicates antioxidant potential and may promote healthy vision and reduce cancer risks.

Blueberries - Purple and blue produce may have antioxidant and anti-aging benefits and may help with memory, urinary tract health, and reduced cancer risks.

Watermelon - Red produce may help maintain a healthy heart, vision, immunity and my reduce cancer risks.

Consistency leads to Success

I've been working towards getting into the best shape of my life for 23 weeks now.  I've run and biked 1171miles and I've lost 17 pounds.  I've been exercising more and have learned some tricks for eating healthier.  I'm proud of what I've accomplished.  But I've lost less than 1 pound per week.  The truth is I have probably lost more than 17 pounds, but I have lost and gained the same pounds over and over.  I have had weeks of healthy eating and working out followed by weeks of lying on the couch and eating fast food.  If I had been consistent, I could have lost up to 46 pounds.  I can't undo the past 23 weeks, but I can make the right decisions day in and day out for the next 23 weeks. 

Bike Out Hunger

I'm not the best when it comes to counting the cost.  I'm not sure I would have committed to participate in Bike Out Hunger if I had really realized how difficult and painful it would be.  But I thought it sounded like fun and a good cause and I jumped right in.  And truth be told, even after all the pain and difficulty I'm glad I did it.  I just had no concept of how difficult all the hills in East Texas would be.

I joined almost 30 others who were crazy enough to commit to riding our bikes from Beaumont to Texarkana to raise awareness and money to help those who are hungry.  Over the course of the 6 days I rode over 400 miles, saw some beautiful scenery, met amazing people (some who were part of the ride and some I met along the way), and burned a bunch of calories.

DAY 1 - BEAUMONT to WOODVILLE (65 miles78 miles)
I'd been preparing for and anticipating the ride for a couple of months now.  It was hard to believe it was finally time to begin.  We started from Buckner.  The day before the ride, I had the chance to meet some of the other riders.  I was very intrigued by Morgan and Ryan who had participated in last years ride after giving their cars up for lent.  Here's their story

Early in the ride, we took a wrong turn that added 13 miles to our ride - heck of a way to start.  It was a long, hot day.  The ride ended at the America's Best Value Inn in Woodville, TX.  I could see our hotel, but was forced to stop at a stop light one block before it.  As I stood waiting for the light to change I could feel darkness coming on and told Brandon (the guy riding beside me) that I thought I was about to pass out.  But there was nothing we could do since we were in the middle of the road and the light had just turned green.  So, I sucked it up, started pedaling, pulled into the hotel, and laid on the ground to rest.  I eventually got up to take a shower, ice my legs, and go to dinner.  The first day was complete.  The heat and the hills made it harder than I expected.  But I made it.

DAY 2 - WOODVILLE to NACOGDOCHES (67 miles)
My legs were sore from the first day.  But as I pedaled on, my muscles stretched out and I settled into the rhythm of riding again.  It was a beautiful day.  I loved picking up speed as we raced down the hills; I dreaded pedaling back up them.  I've often complained about living in Texas and the lack of trees.  But there is no lack of trees in East Texas.  The roads were lined with gorgeous pine trees.  I rode with a guy named Steve for a long portion of the day and had some great conversations.  The last 10 miles seemed longer than they should have been and were rough, but I made it.

DAY 3 - NACOGDOCHES to TYLER (80 miles)
I expected this to be the toughest day.  I told myself, if I could get through day 3 I could make it all the way.  There were lots of hills and it was the second longest ride of the week.  Of course the scenery was beautiful and the hills were even bigger than the previous days.  But amazingly, I felt wonderful throughout the ride.  I really enjoyed the country roads we were riding on and was mesmerized by all the different types of fences and how each one was beautiful in its own way.  It was a rough day for some of the other riders in our group and there were lots of flat tires in the beginning of the ride.  As a result I saw some of the faster riders during the ride and at the first rest stop.  When I finally made it into Tyler, I was encouraged by a fellow rider to take an ice bath.  Apparently, it helps with muscle recovery.  So, I got 4 buckets of ice from the hotel ice machine and piled it in the front of the tub.  I turned on the cold water and waited for the freezing water to rise and cover my legs.

DAY 4 - TYLER to MARSHALL (62.11 mils)
This was initially a longer day.  But because of safety concerns we loaded our bikes on the trailer and drove  miles out of town to start our ride.  Because of the low mileage and the pride I had in having accomplished the previous three days rides, I thought that today would be easy.  But it was still 62 miles!  It ended up being my most difficult day.I can't even begin to tell you how happy I was to reach Marshall.   I was wiped out.  The hills were even bigger than the previous days.  But still I made it.

DAY 5 - MARSHALL to TEXARKANA (84.69 miles)

I had 4 days under my belt.  My body ached.  And it was time for the longest ride of the week.  Really?  We headed out from the dorm at East Texas Baptist University and immediately came upon a hill.  My legs ached.  Then we had a nice stretch of beautiful relatively flat road.  And then the hills came.  I hate to sound like a broken record, but these hills were bigger than the previous days!  In addition, there was a headwind.  Ugh.  I struggled up the hills.  For a few of the hills Steve came alongside me and put his hand on my back to give me an extra push up.  But the hills kept coming and getting bigger.  Even worst, I felt like we were always going up and not getting the thrill of racing down the hills.  We were less than 20 miles into the ride and I was beginning to bargain with myself about getting to the rest stop and taking a break to ride in the truck to the next rest stop.  A couple of my fellow riders had already called it quits and were riding in the sag wagon.  And then my chain came off.  It would have been easy enough to put it back on and I did.  But I also decided that this was the perfect time to take a break.  So, we loaded my bike in the trailer and I took a break in the air-conditioned truck watching the hills continue to get bigger and bigger.  I had told myself not to give up and that I would only be disappointed if I got in the sag wagon.  But I must admit as I watched the hills get larger and larger, I had no regrets in taking a break.  At the rest stop, I and a couple of the guys who had also taken a break decided to get back on our bikes and give it another try.  I'm so glad we did.  I had a great time for the rest of the ride.  We rode along a mile long bridge crossing a beautiful river.  And the group I was riding with seemed to be working together so well.  We rode in a group calling out warnings from behind like "car back" and warnings from ahead like "hole"  The weather was perfect and we were happy on our bikes.  We just kept pedaling and covered the rest of the miles.  Texarkana came quicker than I expected.  And unlike the other days, I had a rush of adrenaline and plenty of extra energy at the end of this ride.  I had made it from Beaumont to Texarkana!  It had taken us all day and we were arriving around 5:00 so traffic was busy.  Fortunately for us, we had a van in front of us guiding us to our hotel and a truck behind us protecting us form traffic.  We made it!

DAY 6 - ASHDOWN, AR, Ride for the Cure (30 miles)
We had one more ride before heading back home.  We were participating in a local ride in Ashdown, AR.  The distance options were 12, 30, 40, or 65.  I was pretty tired and didn't really feel like going far so I decided to ride the 30 mile route.  There was a group of 5 of us that rode this distance and took this opportunity to practice riding in a paceline.  We rode in a line with our wheels as close to each other as possible taking turns being in front.  The person in front breaks the wind and essentially pulls the other riders along.  By riding in a paceline, cyclists are able to go faster while expending approximately 20% less energy.  We flew past the first rest stop - we were going faster then we had previous days and feeling good.  We stopped at the second rest stop, which consisted of two older women sitting in a front yard working on crosswords near the table with homemade cookies, snickers bars, and a cooler with water and orange juice.  The woman informed us that they are also part of the volunteer fire fighters for their community.  I loved the small town hospitality.  But we still had just over 13 miles to go so we got back on our bikes and in our paceline to finish.  We finished the race putting my total at 404 miles for the week!

A FEW LESSONS I LEARNED ALONG:
1.  It was critical to have a good supply of water and gatorade on my bike and drink it regularly.  The more water I drank the better I felt.  And it is not just the amount of water you drink, it is important to drink the water consistently through out the ride.  Keeping plenty of water on the bike and drinking it consistently is far better than drinking a couple of bottles at each rest stop 2 miles apart.    This experience gives me deeper meaning to the fact that Jesus is our Living Water and that I need to be spending time with him in a consistent manner.      

2.  Hunger ministries provide help and hope. One day I was struggling to get in the miles.  I was hungry and thirsty and anxious for the next rest stop (well, let me be honest, I was always anxious for the rest stops).  And then I saw one of the ride support staff who told me that the rest stop was five mies ahead.  Just knowing that the rest stop was coming in five miles gave me the hope that I needed to press on.  There are thousands of people in Texas and even more around the world who need to know there is someone who cares and will direct them to their next meal.

3.  Suffering is tough, but its worth it.  It was not easy to ride 404 miles.  And there were many times that I wondered what I was thinking when I signed up for the ride.  But I can't begin to explain the feeling of riding into Texarkana and knowing that I rode my bike from Beaumont!  It is never fun to suffer, but in the end it is often worth it.


 

MS 150 - together we're unstoppable!

Sandy and I participated in the MS 150 this weekend.  It was an amzing experience and a reminder of the powerfulness of working together.  Almost 3,000 people lined up to ride our bikes from Frisco to the Texas Motor Speedway and then on to Sundance Square along a 2 day 153 mile route.  We raised $1,249,848.45 for the National MS Society (you can still donate at MS 150).

As the MS 150 website claimed:

Individually we can move; Together we are a movement

Individually we can make a difference; Together we're unstoppable 

We decided to drive out Friday night and stay at a hotel so we would be there for the early start at 7:00 am.  We left my car at Sundance Square so it would be there at the end of the ride.  But we needed someone to drop us and our bikes off in Frisco.  Fortunately for us, Erin Trahan was willing to help.  So, from the very beginning we knew our ride would not be possible without the help of others - thanks Erin!

Lining up to start the ride.
We were near the Dr Pepper and Cisco teams.

One of the unique things about the MS 150 is the team dynamic.  Different companies form teams to ride and raise money together.  The teams design and wear matching jerseys.  At the end of the first day, each team has a tent where they can gather, eat, and get massages.  Its good to ride with a team.

The weather was perfect as we started the ride.  It was cool but not cold and we had a tail wind.  All was well - we were feeling so good that Sandy and I decided to skip the first rest stop that was at 14 miles and decided to wait for the second rest stop at the 18 mile mark.  We were both pleasantly surprised by how good we felt and how quick of a pace we were keeping.  We were definitely ready for a break at mile 18.  At the rest stop we ate some orange slices, a banana, Grandma's Peanut Butter cookies and filled my bottle with Gatorade to give me the energy I needed to continue.  I am so thankful for the volunteers who made this stop and others along the way possible.

We continued to pedal and put more and more miles behind us and continued to be surprised with how good we felt.  We also enjoyed the scenery and open fields along the country roads.  Who knew there were so many ranches, fields, and open spaces just north of the metroplex.  As we rode past Lake Ray Roberts, the view was so nice, I couldn't resist the photo opportunity.  While stopped to take a picture, many of the support crew stopped to check if we needed help and make sure we were okay.  It was good to know that if we did have a problem, help would come quickly.

We continued turning our legs in the repetitive motion, enjoying the sights along the way, and stopping to refuel at the rest stops.  It is fascinating to meet people along the way and hear their story.  There were several people wearing jersey's stating "I have MS and that is why I ride" - so inspirational.   Each person on the ride has a story.  And it is natural to start a conversation and here their story along the road or at the rest stops, unlike when standing in a elevator.  Maybe it is because we are all bonded by the fact we are wearing spandex shorts.

There were a few teams who passed us as they rode together in a pace line.  It was a beautiful thing to watch a group  of 5 men riding the same speed in a line wearing matching jerseys.  They were so in sync.  And as they rode together in this fashion they were able to draft off of each other and save at least 15% of their energy.  Its the beauty of a shared effort - working together to meet a common goal.

At 3:30 in the afternoon, 8 hours after our early start in Frisco, we arrived at the Texas Motor Speedway.  Day One was complete.  We were worn out, but very satisfied with the day!  We ate some dinner, got a massage, and found the shuttle to take us to our hotel.  After a walk to a nearby convenience store for tylenol and snacks we made a quick trip to the hotel hot tub and were in bed by 9.

Severe weather caused Day 2 to be cancelled

We were hopeful the weather would hold out and we would be able to ride for day 2.  We took the shuttle back to the Texas Motor Speedway at 5 am just to find out they had cancelled the ride because of the severe wether.  Then we realized the logistical nightmare that was beginning.  In the midst of all the bad weather, MS 150 volunteers had to find a way to get everything packed up and get bikes and people back to Frisco.

But we didn't want to go to Frisco.  Our car was parked less than 30 miles away at Sundance Square, where we were supposed to be riding to that day.  So, we relied on a friend once again.  We called Xergio Chacin because we thought he would be up that early and he had an SUV to fit our bikes.  While we were waiting for Xergio to pick us up strong winds and storms forced us to take shelter in the bathroom.  

Sandy reading the comics while
seeking shelter in the bathroom
 

Posing with our rescue crew
after loading the bikes

I had a great ride and was honored to be one of the many riders and volunteers who gathered to play their part to work together to find a cure for MS.  There is something special about being a part of something so much larger than myself.  Thanks to everyone who encouraged me along the way, donated money, and helped make this possible.

All this talk of working together reminds me of a video I saw several years ago.  Its a great video about a father and son team.  It is beautiful and well worth watching again and again.  Enjoy!
 

Where does the time go?

I've been spending a ton of time on my bike lately to prepare for my up coming rides (MS 150  and Bike Out Hunger).  The past two weekends I have spent almost 10 hours on my bike each weekend.  And that's just the time I spent on my bike - that doesn't include the time spent getting all my gear together or putting it away or napping and eating afterwards to recover.  The bottom line is that most of my free time lately has been focussed on biking.  And it has caused me to reflect on how I'm spending my time.  Sure I am spending alot of time on my bike, but I am also reaping many benefits:

• I feel better because I am exercising regularly
• I'm soaking up the Vitamin D and enjoying some great spring weather
• I've enjoyed and have almost covered the entirety of the trinity trail system 
• I am a part of something bigger then myself - the chance to commit with others to ride and raise money for great causes
• I am making progress towards my larger goal - to be in the best shape of my life when I turn 40

So, I think this has been a good use of my time and given the choice, I would do it again!  Now, I need to consider all the ways I spend my time when I'm not biking.  Am I being a good steward of the days the Lord has blessed me with?

If we would only give the same amount of reflection to what we want out of life that we give to the question of what to do with two weeks’ vacation, we would be startled at our false standards and the aimless procession of our busy days.” 

— Dorothy Canfield Fisher 

 

What a ride!

Monday evening Sandy, Lauren, and I decided to go for a ride.  It was a little windy, but other than that it was a perfect afternoon for a ride.  We rode from Lauren's house to Trinity Park.  We had to cross University, which at the time seemed like the most dangerous part of the ride.   We followed the trail north to the stockyards.  Then we backtracked a couple miles and headed west to Gateway Park.  We had gone about 15 miles and were feeling great.  The sun was still up, the river was full, the sky was perfectly blue with white accents, and we practically had the trail to ourselves.  As we headed home, we approached an area of the trail that formed a "u" with the bottom of the "u" going under a bridge.  The three of us were engaged in conversation and riding in a clump as we curved under the bridge.  We were stunned to find two men heading straight towards us.  The next few seconds was all a blur as 5 bikes tried to share a space made for 2.  Lauren had to maneuver towards the right to avoid a collision.  She didn't quite make it and hit one of the men and was flipped over her bike and onto the ground in front of me.  I swerved to avoid her.  Sandy wasn't able to avoid Lauren and went down as well.  I got off my bike and stared at Lauren and Sandy in shock and disbelief.  My moment of frozenness was broken by Sandy asking me to get the bike off of her.  So I did.

Showing off Sandy's scraped knee and my hand

Then one of the 5 homeless men who had been sitting under this particular bridge enjoying the weather and the river, jumped down and screamed emphatically "Oh my gosh!  Are you okay?  I've got a cell phone you can use" repeatedly.  Then the men who we had collided with, who seemed to have fared better than us, came to assess the damage, apologize, and help.  Lauren fell mostly in the grass and didn't have any scrapes, but bruises and swelling quickly followed.  Sandy's leg and knee were scraped and covered in blood.  One of the men rushed to get the water bottle from his bike and began squirting her leg down.  Then one of the other homeless men offered Sandy some antiseptic.  Is it "Hydrogen Peroxide?" she asked.  "Well, its just like it" he answered as he rushed off to where he had been sitting under the bridge to retrieve it.  He had a hard time finding it and Sandy decided she didn't really need it anyway.  I was shocked when I looked down and saw my hand covered with dark red blood.  I asked for some of the water to squirt my hand off and wondered aloud "Why am I bleeding - I didn't fall off my bike?"  After much discussion, I realized one of the guys' bikes or possibly Lauren's bike must have brushed me and cut my hand in the chaos.

Lauren and Sandy had the worst injuries, but they were still
willing to pose for a picture as we waited for a ride 

Amazingly there were no broken bones.  So we rode off and debated whether to ride the full distance back or cut through downtown.  Lauren's bike was making a strange noise and was difficult to ride so we stopped to reevaluate.  When we tried to spin her front tire, it went less than 1/100th of a rotation.  Her wheel was bent and therefore rubbing against her brake.  The men had turned around, saw we were stopped, and came to help.  They were able to loosen the brake and make the bike rideable.  So, we began pedaling again when Sandy called out, "I have a flat."  We decided that about 15 miles was plenty long enough for this ride and called a couple of friends to come pick us up.  Thanks Janel and Brooke!          

Biking for good!

Taking my sister, Allison, for a ride

There is something special and freeing about riding a bike.  I love the feeling of racing down a hill with the wind blowing through my hair or exploring new trails and roads.  When I was a kid I loved riding my bike around the neighborhood.  And I remember how proud I was when I was old enough to ride my bike to some stores less than 2 miles from our house.  I would ride to the grocery store to play my favorite video game,  Galaga, and then stop by Paper Chase, the local stationary store, to buy new stickers or Steve's Sundry to buy a magazine.  And because of my bike I was free to do it without having to ask my mom for a ride.

Even as an adult I have experienced the freedom that comes with riding a bike.  When I moved to Thailand one of my first priorities was to buy a bicycle from Carrefour (a European owned Wal-Mart type store).  And I can still remember how I felt riding my new bike around the city the evening I bought it - I was so free and happy.  I even learned how to strap printers and chairs to the back of my bike when needed.

Getting around Chiang Mai by bike 

There is something special about riding a bike.  And now I am going to be a part of a couple of events that allow me to help others by doing something that I enjoy so much!

On the weekend of April 30 and May 1st, I will be riding 153 miles along a route from Dr Pepper Park in Frisco to Sundance Square in Fort Worth with an overnight stay at the Texas Motor Speedway for the MS 150.   I will be participating in this ride with my friend Sandy Hennip, whose brother in law was just diagnosed with MS.  The money raised will go to the National MS Society to fund research, advocate for change, and help people with MS and their families lead powerful lives.

Then a little over a week after that, on May 8th, I will travel to Beaumont, Texas for Bike Out Hunger.  We will embark on the 9th of May for a five day and approximately 365 mile ride up the state of Texas to Texarkana.  The money raised will go to the Texas Baptist Offering for World Hunger to support people and organizations who are meeting hunger needs and sharing the hope of Christ at home and around the world.

So, in the course of 2 weeks I will be riding my bike over 500 miles to raise money and awareness for two great organizations that are helping to bring freedom to those who need it dearly!


If you would like to sponsor me for either of these rides, you can go to the following pages:
Click here for MS 150 and then click on the donate to Jennifer button that is just above the thermometer  
Click here for Bike Out Hunger and then click on the Sponsor Me button on the right side of the page  
  

Tri Cowtown

I volunteered for the Tri Cowtown Sprint Triathlon at Benbrook Lake.  Since I have benefitted from the help of many volunteers over the years in various events that I have participated in, I figured it was time to give back.  So, I, and 3 SMU students who were required to volunteer as part of their beginning triathlon class and a couple who had just trained for a marathon and wanted to volunteer to see what a triathlon is all about were the volunteers for the bike course.  As with many volunteering opportunities, it was a matter of standing around until the woman in charge who had all the info but was also responsible for a billion other things could get us started.  We waited patiently until we were asked to follow her and load a truck up with direction signs and orange traffic cones.  I was surprised by the frantic activity of so many folks running around trying to ensure that everything was in place for the race.  And then it hit me.  I've never noticed this before because I've never been around when they were setting the course up.  As a participant, I just had to arrive and get my stuff set up in the transition area and wait for the start of the race.  Little did I know there were many other people running around to ensure that I would have a good race.  Now, I was one of those other people.

My peaceful pretty lake view 

We placed the signs and cones in critical spots to direct participants how to remain on the course.  And then the next round of waiting began.  There was a gate that usually remained locked to keep people from the day use area of the lake separated from the overnight camping use area of the lake.  The gate was opened so that bikes could go through for the race.  So, I was asked to remain there before and through the race to ensure that no one drove through from one part of the lake to the other.  I began manning the gate around 7:30 - the race started at 8 with the first biker projected to come through the gate at 8:30.  So I had some quiet time with a pretty lake view.  Its too bad I was freezing cold.  But fortunately I had my iphone and was able to pull up some music and even read Philippians while I waited.

As I sat and watched the bikers pass I had two interesting thoughts.  First of all I was amazed by the connection that could be established within the few seconds that it took a rider to pass me.  As each person passed I shouted words of encouragement such as "way to go" or "your looking good".  And I got several smiles, thumbs up, and thank you's.  One guy even joked when he came back past me, "Do I still look good?"  The second thing that was interesting was the diversity of equipment and type of triathletes that were out there.  I saw everything from guys on bikes that looked like the Tour de France with fancy jerseys and clip in pedals to a guy on a mountain bike wearing a t-shirt and board shorts and tennis shoes.  Each athlete had their own goals for the race - some just to finish and some to improve their time.  For some this will be the only triathlon they do and for others this is training for a longer race.

I was also surprised by how many people I saw that I know.  A girl from my church was participating in the race.  And a friend from my book club was part of a relay team.  Then there was a friend from work who was not in the race, but was riding his bike on the same road to cheer a friend on.  All in all it was a great day. I really like the camaraderie and excitement of an event like this and think I will be calling myself a triathlete (which means participating and volunteering) for quite some time.    

Fruits and Veggies

I haven't been perfect, but I've certainly been more motivated to workout since I set the goal of a half ironman and hiking to Macchu Picchu.  With all the workouts, I have found that I am even more tired than normal.  The problem is that I eat horribly.  I'm not really a fruit and vegetable kind of gal.  I think they look beautiful in the store.  But too often I buy them with good intentions just to find them rotting a week later because I forgot to eat them. And yet the food I buy that could last for decades because of the additives and preservatives is gone within a week.  Today I went to Sprouts Farmer's Market - a new grocery store near me that sells organic and healthy food and local produce.  Just walking into the store made me feel twenty times healthier.  I wonder if making regular visits to Sprouts will cause healthy eating habits to take over my not so healthy ones?

If I am going to continue to train and get to the best shape of my life, I’ve got to give my body the nutrition it needs.  So for the next couple weeks, I'm going to focus on getting more fruits and vegetables in my diet.  The food pyramid suggests 3-5 servings of vegetables and 2-4 servings of fruit a day.  However since there are days that I have had 0 fruit and 0 vegetable servings for the day I think I will start with a goal of 3 fruit or vegetable servings each day and work my way up from there.

Lat week, I had an interesting conversation with my cousin Anna (she has run a half marathon and completed a triathlon).  She was asking me for advice on putting more fruits and veggies in her diet.  Really Anna, do you think I’m the one to offer advice in this area? Shockingly I had several suggestions for her:

• make fruit smoothies for breakfast
• cut up vegetables (like sweet potatoes, onions, squash) and bake them with rosemary or other spices
• carrots or broccoli with hummus for a snack
• raw snap peas for a snack
• make a soup (8 can soup is one of my favs)

So, now I need to take my own advice!  Do you have any other suggestions for me?

Run the Race

On February 12th I participated in the Texas Motor Speedway Duathlon along with my friend Sandy.  The duathlon was a 2 mile run (2 laps on the practice track at the speedway) followed by a 16 mile bike ride (3 laps on the roads surrounding the speedway) and concluding with another 2 mile run on the practice track.  It was a great venue for a race and just being there made me want to go faster. 

My first run went well.  I was not as prepared as I would have liked to have been.  The ice storm and having family in town gave me excuses to skip a few workouts.  But I went out and gave it my all and finished the run in 22 minutes and in 4th place out of the 6 people in my age category.  I was happy with that.  Then I entered the transition stage and got on my bike.  I wanted to keep pushing it and was looking forward to picking up the pace even more on the bike portion. 

I started fast and was inspired as I got to ride through the tunnel exiting the speedway.  But then I ran into a strong head wind.  And my energy drained.  I struggled through the bike portion.  As I was plugging along one rider passed me and encouraged me to dig deep.  A phrase I continued to motivate myself with through the remainder of the race.  Fortunately for me we were riding in a circle around the speedway so, for half of the loop that fierce head wind was at my back.  But then I came around and it was in my face again.  On my second lap I began to wonder why I was doing this and if I really wanted to finish.  Which lead me to thinking about the goals I have set.  This race is the first in a line of physically strenuous activities I have set for myself to get into the best shape of my life when I turn 40.  I began to think about the need to focus.  I set the goal to do this duathlon, but then I was distracted by other things in life and lost focus on the finish.  I realized that if I want to achieve the goals I have set, it will take daily focus.  I need to fix my eyes on the goal and not let other things come in the way.  It reminded me of Hebrews 12: 1-3 and the fact that Jesus focussed on the end and was therefore able to endure the suffering because of the joy that He knew was to come.  In the same way, I need to have that undivided attention to Him and to the goals I have set.  I survived the bike portion of the duathlon, but had dropped to 6th place in my age group and division.  I was exhausted and still had to run 2 miles.  I put my bike up and headed back to the track. 

While we were running there were race cars driving around the race track (the actual race track; not the practice track we were on).  That was fun and distracted me from the pain and exhaustion for a couple minutes.  A fellow duathlete passed me saying "they should offer us a ride".  I smiled.  The run was difficult and I was slower than my previous 2 miles, but I did it!  I finished the race!

After the race, two different women came up to me and mentioned that I was their inspiration to keep going and to go faster.  The first woman told me that she was running behind me on the final run and just kept looking at my pink shirt and tried to keep up.  The other woman, also named Jen, was someone that I was near for most of the race.  Her family was there cheering for her and when we passed her family at the same time I benefitted from the "Go Jen"s her family shouted.  I couldn't believe it.  I was struggling through the race myself and had no idea that in that state I could be an encouragement to anyone.  But apparently I was.  This was all a good reminder to me that we do not have to be absoutely perfect to be inspiring to others.  In fact, we just need to be obedient and honest and do our best. 

I think one of my favorite things about triathlons and other athletic events is the camaraderie of the participants.  This race was no different.  I benefitted from the comments of other participants and was able to encourage a few others along as well.  Having completed this duathlon I am even more motivated to press on for the other goals I have set!

Do you see what this means—all these pioneers who blazed the way, all these veterans cheering us on? It means we'd better get on with it. Strip down, start running—and never quit! No extra spiritual fat, no parasitic sins. Keep your eyes on Jesus, who both began and finished this race we're in. Study how he did it. Because he never lost sight of where he was headed—that exhilarating finish in and with God—he could put up with anything along the way: Cross, shame, whatever. And now he's there, in the place of honor, right alongside God. When you find yourselves flagging in your faith, go over that story again, item by item, that long litany of hostility he plowed through. That will shoot adrenaline into your souls!

                                                      -Hebrews 12:1-3 from The Message

Virtual Exercise

 It’s been a very unusual week in Fort Worth.  Late Monday night we received sleet followed by snow.  We’ve had ice and snow in North Texas before.  Typically the temperature warms up later in the same day and it melts away without much of a disturbance.  This time, however, the temperatures remained below freezing for the majority of the week.  And although there were sand trucks working like crazy to prove that DFW was worthy of the Super Bowl, many roads remained covered with a sheet of ice.  As a result, schools and many businesses were closed for most of the week.

With ice covering the roads and temperatures below freezing, I couldn’t get out to run or ride my bike.  And the YMCA was closed.  So I had to resort to the Wii Zumba game my sister gave me for Christmas.  I did two twenty minute workouts and worked up a sweat and some extremely sore calves (note: I can still feel the soreness 5 days later).  The following day I decided to try Wii yoga.  It was so fun that I continued on with some other workouts and games that worked on my balance and core.  There are running and cycling games on the menu.  While they provide some sort of aerobic exercise, they are really nothing like running and cycling.  I even decided to go to the driving range and hit some golf balls.  At the completion of the bucket of balls I was given to hit the Wii pronounced me a “professional”.  I’ve never felt like much of a professional when I have hit balls at a “real” driving range.

  

Finally on Saturday the sun came out, the ice and snow began to melt, and the Y was open.  Although it was a gorgeous day and I would have loved to run outside, I decided to play it safe and go to the Y and avoid the possibility of hitting a random ice spot and breaking my tailbone. 

I had no idea what was in store for me at the Y.  The treadmill was different from ones I had been on previously.  It took me several minutes just to figure out how to start it and increase the speed.  Then I noticed there was a connector for my iPod.  So, I plugged in my iPod and began to run.  I watched others around me and found out that I could use the touch screen attached to my treadmill to pick a TV station and watch it on my individual treadmill.  ESPN was available.  I don’t have cable at home and have to invite myself to friends’ houses or go to sports bars when I want to watch Mizzou games that are on ESPN.  Now, I can go to the Y and workout during the games!  Then a woman stepped on to the treadmill next to me, pushed a few buttons, and suddenly her screen looked like she was running through downtown Chicago.  I tried to find the button she pushed.  She noticed and offered to tell me how to do it.  She explained that you had to choose the option before starting.  She continued to tell me that you can run through Chicago, LA, the Sierra Nevadas and Rocky Mountain National Park.  As if that wasn’t enough the screen would add trivia facts about the places you were running and included the sounds of rivers, birds, and background music if you had your headphones plugged in.  Upon completion of my workout I stayed to hike ten minutes through the Sierra Nevadas.  I was able to walk up and view two waterfalls along with many gorgeous views!  Working out at the gym has never been so fun!  I am certainly more motivated to go to the gym and run through each of these courses.  Then my new friend running next to me shared that the Elliptical machines had the same sort of system with a whole different set of places to go.  I can’t get back to the Y soon enough!

I’m a traditionalist.  I prefer to exercise outside in natural settings.  I remember reading an article in Runners World a couple years ago about all the machines that they have at the gym that simulate the outdoors.  I thought, why not just workout outdoors.  And while I still prefer to workout outdoors, I realize there is a place for the gym and I appreciate all the advances in digital technology that make it more fun to run and bike in a gym!   

Rough Start

I had hoped that starting this blog would give me extra motivation for at least a week or two.  And in some ways it did.  But this past week has been extrememly busy and I have had work or other activities 4 of the 5 week night evenings.  Somehow, beginning the blog just didn't give me enough motivation to get out of my warm bed before sunrise.  I signed up to train with a training group, Trident Sports Fort Worth, and my coach emailed the following training plan:

Mon Weights
Tues swim 45 min. Run 30 min
Wed bike 60 min or spin class
Thur swim 45 min run 45 min
Fri bike 60 min
Sat swim 1 hour. Brick bike 1 hour. Run 15 min
Sun bike 1:30

So far this week I have run 30 min and biked for 40 minutes.  Oops.  Rough start.  But its a beautiful day in Fort Worth and I'm off for a bike ride and run!  And hopefully next week will be better.

 

 

 

Taking Stock and Looking Ahead

Tomorrow is my birthday. I'm turning 39. And that means 40 is just around the corner.

I can't help but be grateful for a pretty amazing 39 years. But still, approaching 40 I realize there are some things I haven't done yet and I always thought I would. Still to be fair, there are also a lot of things I have done and experienced that I never expected I would.

Dreams Realized

• taught and coached in an inner city high school
• earned SCUBA Certification (and have been fortunate to dive in some amazing and beuatiful places places - Koh Phi Phi, Thailand; Palau Perhentian, Malaysia; Cozumel, Mexico)
• skydiving
• pledged Kappa Alpha Theta
• ran 3 marathons (Twin Cities, San Diego Rock N Roll, and Fort Worth Cowtown)
• lived in South East Asia for two years working with the Church
• skiied a double diamond slope (I fell alot - but I made it down!)
• read through the Bible in a year
• enthusiastically cheered on my favorite teams at special sporting events
• Mizzou at the Big 12 Basketball Tournaments in KC and Dallas and the football team at Cotton Bowl. Not to mention many games in Columbia and even a few in Lawrence
• Texas rangers in a World Series, and the KC Royals in regular season games

Unexpected Dreams Realized

• worked with refugees and refugee minors - some of the most amazing people from all over the world. A refugee is someone who has had to flee their country because their lives are in danger because of persecution. There are way too many refugees whose lives have been turned upside down and find themselves living in refugee camps around the world. A small percentage of refugees get the opportunity to resettle in the US and other countries. I have had the privilege to work with some of these amazing folks as they begin a new life in Fort Worth, TX. If you want to know more about what I do, check out this video
• bought a house
• played in the TN high school state champonship soccer game
• rode in a hot air balloon
• attended Mizzou - My years at Mizzou were amazing and it was there that the foundations were laid for who I am now. But I never wanted to go there. I had intentions of going to a small private school. Fortunately my dad (a Mizzou alum and a banker who I'm sure was considering the price difference too) didn't give up on the idea of me attending MU and took me on a campus visit when I was visiting him for Christmas. During the tour he took me to a part of campus that resembled a private school campus to me and I decided it couldn't be all bad and just might be worth more consideration. I'm so glad it all worked out the way it did.
• spent a summer studying at Oxford and travelling to Scotland and Whales
• proud owner of a sweet dog, Judson. I don't dislike pets. But I certainly wasn't looking for one. Many who visited my house would say someting about how great my back yard is for a dog. And I would always respond with something about how much time and money they take and I'm just not ready for that commitment right now. But then I noticed two cute puppies at work. I and several coworkers took a break to go check them out. And one of my coworkers took them to the vet and to find homes for them. How could I not take one? And Judson has turned out to be a great pet!
• became a licensed foster parent. Another thing I never would have expected. But through working with refugee minors, I've learned about the foster care system. I was challenged when I heard someone talk about true biblical hospitality as welcoming strangers into your home. Having bought a house and having extra room and having a history of helping youth (teaching, coaching, working with church youth group) it seemed that foster care was the direction God was leading. I haven't had any kids placed yet, but am ready when the time is right.
• hiked to the highest point in Texas. Inspired by an article in Texas Monthly magazine I and two friends, Janel and Rebecca, headed to the Big Bend area for a vacation that included Big Bend, Marfa, the Fort Davis Observatory, and Guadalupe National Park. Rebecca has documented the trip wonderfully on her blog. Guadalupe wasn't on our original itinerary and I had never heard of it. But Rebecca's Aunt had, and she said we had to go there. So, we did. And we climbed the mountain. It was amazing. It was also a realization to me of how out of shape I was but how much I loved hiking. That was the beginning of the idea to do something physically challenging for my 40th birthday.

Dreams Yet Realized

• travel to all the continents - I'm well on my way but still lack South America and Antarctica. Hopefully I will check off South America when I hike to Macchu Picchu in Peru. Then only Antartica will remain.
• to be married
• become an astronaut - that was an early dream. And I started college as a mechanical and aerospace engineer in search of that dream. But my path lead another way. I think this one will remain unaccomplished - but there's always the hope of space tourism.
• travel to all the states - I still need to visit Alaska, Conneticut, Delaware, Hawaii (I did touch down once in an airplane but since I didn't get out of the airport I'm not going to count it), Indiana, Maine, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, Oregon, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Utah, Vermont, West Virginia, and Wisconsin.
• compete in the Escape from Alcatraz Triathlon
• participate in the The Texas Independence Relay

This is in no way a complete list. And there is no way to put into words all the moments of friendship and grace I have experienced throughout my life. But it is a good quick summary of some of the defineable highlights. And it reminds me that I have had a good life. I want to continue to enjoy my life and be able to do the things God has called me to do - I need to be healthy and in good shape to do it. So, out of gratitude for the gifts God has given me and out of a desire to continue to live well, I'm going to focus for a year on developing habits that will lead to a healthier lifestyle.