Come Home Running

Hey Friend=),

Hope your week has been going really great! Only 2 more weeks until the 1/2 and then another 5 weeks after that for the Full. Jay's doing awesome...getting stronger every time he runs! I can't wait until he gets the chance to experience a 1/2 marathon race...it's going to be so cool!

Sometimes I listen to music while I run. This week I've been listening to a lot of Chris Tomlin. There's a particular song I keep coming back to...it's called "Come Home Running".

I went on Youtube to see if there was a video I could post here to let you hear the song. I found something really cool...check it out:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RLasO1Qxn0w

You've probably seen the story before...Derek Redmond -a 1992 Olympic Runner- trained for the race of a lifetime. Pumped up, ready to go, he starts the 400m race but soon after the race begins he sustains an injury...a major hamstring injury. He watched all the other runners run past him as he fell to the ground.

I really admire Derek's tenacity and determination-he got up and limped his way down the track- he didn't want to give up- he wanted to finish. But, what inspired me even more was when his dad came down out of the stands and came along side his son to help him stay on course and finish what he started. It was in his dad's arms that Derek just broke down and wept. With his dad's help, Derek finished what he started- he and his dad crossed the finish line.

Running long distances is really hard. It takes a lot of physical and mental discipline. You've got to have the determination to not give up. I really want to have that mentality and discipline in my spiritual life too. To stay "on course", don't stop, don't give up. God has been so faithful to me. He has picked me up when I have fallen. He has carried me when I have been weary. He has warded off those who have attempted to pull me off course. And the best part? He takes me just as I am...tumbles and all.

All I really need to know is that He's got my back and I'm not running alone. I can finish any "race" with Him by my side...and so can you =)

So....those are just some of my thoughts this week while I "run on course".

Thanks for running with us! It's great to have you by our side=).

Running In His Footsteps-

Jay, Vicki, Hannah and Grace

1 Corinthians 9:25

Have you seen the movie The RUNNER?

It's the story about ultra-marathoner David Horton. Here's a short clip from the movie.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ejs09vhj1x4

If you haven't seen the entire movie, you should... especially if you are a runner or an outdoor enthusiast of any type! This movie will inspire you, challenge you and by the last scene you'll be thinking about what dreams you will want to conquer!

At least that's how I felt after watching this with Vicki last night. (We borrowed the movie from Pastor Jon Wimmer, a friend and a fellow runner...). Although I'm not sure I'd ever tackle the The Pacific Crest Trail as David Horton did in the movie, it has raised my sights to see what challenges I could seek to conquer. Perhaps one of the following would be in my future:

- a full marathon

- a 90 mile backpacking trek called the Wonderland Trail around Mt. Rainier

- Rainier to Pacific team race (152 miles from Ashford to Ocean Shores)

- a mini - Triathalon (I think I'd like the variety of 3 different challenges)

- the opportunities abound....

For me at least, I think it starts by getting the whole family more experiences in outdoor adventures including camping, backpacking, and more hiking. I really enjoy doing things as a family and it creates some lasting memories. Speaking of lasting memories....

Last year, Vicki and I were so proud of our girls for hiking with us on some of the beautiful trails out of Paradise @ Mt. Rainier. We took two trips two weeks apart in Aug. '09. The first trip featured beautiful high mountain meadows in rare form. The fragrance alone told you this was a piece of heaven. Added bonuses included high glacier-covered peaks that loomed ahead of us on Mt. Rainier (Glacier point) and the views of distant Cascade peaks such as Mt. St. Helens, Mt. Adams and in the far distance Mt. Hood in Oregon. It was spectacular!







Our second journey had us going even higher to Panorama point @ 7,000 ft.. The view was worth the 3 hours hiking up and around totaling 7 miles, but that's not all we saw. Marmmots, shale rock, and a glorious sunset, with the darkening sky illuminating a crescent moon. It was one of the highlights of our summer! We can't wait to go back together and find more parts of Mt. Rainier to explore.

Speaking of getting back...I need to get ready to run 6 miles today. Vicki is currently running her 10.5 miles (a shorter run for her!). She's doing such a great job at pacing and preparing herself for the 1/2 marathon on her birthday (5/16) and then for the full 26.2 m. in the Rock 'N Roll Marathon in Seattle on June 26th. I know she'll do great! After she completes her 2nd full marathon, I wonder what adventures she'll be dreaming of next?....

In the meantime, we'll keep our eyes on Jesus as He keeps us on course. . . . (Hebrews 12:2)

Running in His Footsteps-

Jay

The Starting Block

Jay and I are training for a 1/2 marathon- which we will run in May! I am so excited=)! I love long races!!! I'm not very fast...but just love the challenge of running the distance. In June I will run a full marathon. Wish Jay would run it with me- but I'm so grateful he'll run the 1/2...it will be a lot of fun =)!

The start of any race- is the best! Everyone is totally pumped up to run and filled with great anticipation of what is to come. When Jay and I race in May hopefully we will have trained well enough to be able to manuever the course with strength and stamina and to finish well. There's nothing like running a race and knowing you gave it your best!

For me, running is a lot like how I see my life. I have great anticipation of what is to come- because I know Who has laid out my course. Everyday God gives me a new "work-out" plan from His Word- and then puts me on a "run" to show how His plan is to work. All of this so I can run well for Him, for His Glory. He is so faithful to me-and I am not ashamed to run for Him.

I titled this "The Starting Block" simply because this is the starting of a blog about the course God has given our family to run. He started each of us on "The Course" at different times. We will be sharing more about our starting times in a future blog =)!

In the meantime, thanks for running with us as we "Run On Course"!

1 Corinthians 9:25

Running in His Footsteps- Jay,Vicki,Hannah and Grace