On Sunday I had decided to rest in many things. I had to refocus my mind on God to discover why I was called to run this race. Many answers came through that week. I did not run at all. I did a lot of ice, stretching and strength workouts. I also prayed more directly than I had in a long time. I'm not good at praying for myself, for my needs. I suppose I think maybe I'm not deserving, I can't ask for specific things, and also that God knows my heart so why ask. Oh how flawed those thoughts are. Why? Because that first week (and second) I banished those thoughts of the enemy and prayed feverishly for myself. I don't think I've ever felt such peace. I did not freak out that I wasn't running (which is huge for me). On Saturday I was supposed to do a 10 mile run, I decided not to push it and do 5. I didn't really do 5. I took Sydney to the dike, she found a couple pug/boxer friends and played with them. I saw a great blue heron on the shore and stopped to watch it. The bird gracefully took off in flight then dove into the water to catch a fish. Then it came back to the shore and flipped the fish around in its beak to swallow it head first. It was such a revelation of how we are perfectly created to do the things we are called to. So Sydney and I finished our brief run walk and went home satisfied. The final week was upon me.

This is the first of a many part series. There is so much to express. Rather than exhaust your eyes at once, hopefully you'll return thirsty for more.
Two weeks before the race I found myself at a crossroads. I had stopped praying for God to be faithful and deliver the money I had left to raise My credit card would be charged that monday anyway and I just couldn't ask another person. For a long time coming I had let negative thoughts consume me, leaving me feeling lonelier than I have ever been. I felt undeserving of so many things and I felt pain.
Let me pause here for a brief discussion about the IT band and running. At least 3 people told me they had to stop training because of it. The book I have on running injuries says it takes about a year to recover. If it happens, it is impossible to run out the pain, you can do no further damage, but the pain will be debilitating. You can walk, but not run.
Back to the story. Over the summer I did a bunch of rehab on my left IT band, and trained as much as possible. My 16 mile run was the best training run thus far, no pain. The weekend 2 weeks before the race was my 20 mile run. About half way through the IT band pain in my right knee hit. HMMM, I finished the 20 miles, walking most of it. Anger doesn't begin describe the feelings. 2 weeks before, what could I do? The first time this kind of pain hit was one week before my half marathon and that was a painful run as well.
On Sunday I was still limping a little bit, and I described what was happening to a friend. She immediately said you're going through a spiritual warfare and apparently called and got me on just about every prayer list she had a connection with. That afternoon I was torn up with bouts of rage interjected with prayer. It would begin with a little yelling, what does the pain mean, why now, it's not supposed to be this way. Then it would end with me saying I feel like you called me to do this, please carry me through, I can't do it alone. By the end of the day I was so exhausted, but I felt like my gaze had shifted. I had peace and was finally able to pray for the healing of my heart, what was this really all about, and also to help me refocus my eyes on God. At the end of the day I sent an email back to my friend, thanking her for interjecting in my life that day.

for celebrating my life today. God has blessed me with the best set of friends ever, I felt very loved. I truly carry you with me in my heart.

to the person who wrote that I have nice shoes, I will take you shopping any time you want.

I know you are dying to hear about my marathon story and, just to build the suspense, it's quite the story. However, I feel the need to tell my dear friends in person so they don't have to read about me on the great www. Unfortunately you millions of blog fans out there will have to wait for a little while, but rest assured the story will be revealed. It's a story that continues to be worked in my heart daily. I will say, oh my goodness do I have some serious soreness in the parts of the legs (quads and calves) that control everything revolving around sitting, standing and walking.

Ok, suspense starts today!

pray, advil, ice, repeat!

This month, a month from today, a long journey will culminate. This passed year has been pretty tough on me. Physically and mentally I have been witness to intentional changes in my life. I decided to live healthier and I set goals I never before thought were achievable. These changes have not come without setbacks. I've faced the feelings of stagnation at school/work (in a holding pattern I can't escape), loneliness, doubt, and literal pain so severe that sometimes I wondered how I'd make it home. Often I sat questioning how and why I could feel so called to be a part of something at one moment and then feel so defeated and unworthy the next. Definitely spiritually taxing. So here's my attempt to banish the voice of the enemy and choose to look back over the passed year and discover why I've been called to do this.
1. I still have some weight to lose and toning to do, but after reviewing some old photos this afternoon I'm looking good so far.
2. Goodness me, in one year of my life I've run further than I ever thought possible for this body.
3 Madalyn's father, we met and live together for a reason and we will be finishing this marathon in honor of him.
4. Alex's mother has been fighting Leukemia for 6 years. Alex came to the coffee house concert.
5. Angela Kaye's father has been fighting myeloma for about 7 years. She is the wife of my youth pastor while in high school. I just recently visited and reconnected with them.
6. The husband of one of my sister's friends passed away a couple years ago a few days before his daughter's second birthday. His heart was weakened by the chemo he had to fight Leukemia as a child.
7. A woman came to our yard sale fund raiser a couple weeks ago and told us the story of her young niece who lost her battle to Leukemia the night before.
8. I just met a woman in Gatlinburg who survived breast cancer for 16 years and then was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer everywhere, lung and bone marrow especially. As the owner of the shoe store whose only complaint was the loss of her long hair, she was just full of life. In response to an apology for being dealt that card she said don't be sorry, I'm here for a reason and can live and love life for as long I'm given. Her teenage son often takes her hiking to keep her strength up.
9. I finally started collecting my dissertation data in July, and so I may just be able to get a job next year after all.
10. Since the beginning of the summer I've been co-leading a family group. From that I've enjoyed dinners, sitting by the pool, breakfasts and especially running with those in our DCF community.
11. My sister came to visit with my niece and nephews, it was great to share SC with more family than my parents. My other sister has been, but unfortunately she was interviewing and couldn't really enjoy it.

To the upcoming month:
1. I'm going to run my data and get my dissertation mostly finished.
2. Sydney is getting a friend, pray it works out ok (and please don't shake your head at me, Elfie's not mine)
3. I'm supposed to start working 30 hours a week for military 4H.
4. I get to meet one of the first people to donate to my Team in Training account. We graduated in the same class and so we'll meet at a mini-class reunion in a few weeks. During the weekend I am taking my niece and nephews to midnight yell, and then will watch them play soccer and football the next morning.
5. Fund raising has been the most draining aspect. Thank you to the family, friends, and others who have supported this journey. I would not be here without your help. I trust that God will provide the rest of the $4,100 I need, and also the thought that the rest is probably going to come from the support of strangers (or at least strangers purchasing a pendant, my friends Joe and Lori are so deeply generous to have made and donate all the proceeds of this pendant to Team in Training, limited edition 25 made). www.silverevolution.com. If you'd like to help, remember for every $10 you give by this monday, you will be entered in a drawing for an amazon gift card or pendant and earring set (go here).
6. I'm going to run a freaking marathon on the same day I turn 30. There's a lot of emotion wrapped up in both of those. Hopefully I won't be a blubbering fool while running, but I probably will, haha.
7. I also just found out about the actual SF plans. Of course there's this thing about running and spaghetti social, but I get to see a few friends I haven't seen in a while. I will also be enjoying dinner and drinks on sunday then brunch, massages and wine tasting on Monday. Maybe 30 won't be so bad after all, at least not day 1 :).

one month people, one month. suppose it's a little too late to be asking myself whether I accomplised everything I wanted to accomplish in my 20's, but at least I'll welcome the new decade with a bang.

Hi! I just wanted to send a little update on training and fund raising. Training is definitely beginning to get more intense. I'll be running 16 miles miles this week in preparation for the Nike Women's marathon (October 18th). That's farther than I've ever run. I've just about overcome my knee issues with the rest, stretch, and strength I've incorporated.

As far as fund raising, I'm about half way to my goal and really need your help to raise the rest. Thus, for every $10 dollars you give either online or by mail in the next three weeks (by 9-25), I will put your name in a drawing for either a pendant and earring set (see photo below) or a $100 gift card to Amazon. http://pages.teamintraining.org/sc/nikesf09/cvadala



The pendants above and below were designed by my friend Lori Morrow (www.silverevolution.com). The second pendant was designed for me using the emerald to represent Team in Training and the shape to represent the theme of the marathon, "for women who live outside the box." The pendant and chain retail for $150, and Lori is donating 70% of the profit to LLS. It is hoped that these pendants will be ready to ship in two weeks. If you would like to pre-order this meaningful pendant, for yourself or a gift, you can contact Lori through her website or just let me know.

Thanks for your support and prayers!