A lesson in patience

If you're even a little bit familiar with the Bible, you know there are many, many passages about patience.  If you know me even a little bit, you'd think I'd never read the Bible.

Yeah, I hear you laughing.  It's not even a little bit funny.  Patience is the one thing I lack.  I'm a 'do it now' kind of woman.

It's not that I have absolutely no patience.  After all I'm a marathon runner.  Training takes time.  Lots of time.  You don't go from 0 to 26.2 in one day.  It takes time... translate here to :  patience.

Let me tell you a story.  It's a sad story with a happy ending and a moral.  You see, one day I was doing some cleaning up.  My husband and I travel quite a bit and my housekeeping skills are, well, lacking.  Plus my adult daughter had just moved back home.  We had lived in our house for a little over 10 years and I never lived anywhere for that length of time. Deep cleaning was done twice in my lifetime - move in and move out.  Needless to say, our home needed a thorough deep clean.  After much discussion, my husband and I decided to hire a cleaning crew to do it for us.  To be honest, I hate to clean but I love a clean house.  Toilets are just gross.  Of course, what do you do when strangers are due to arrive to clean your house?  Clean of course.  I called my son the morning before and asked him to come help move a very large and very heavy coffee table from the downstairs living room to an upstairs bedroom.  He was due around 1:30.  At about noon I decided to move said coffee table from the dining room to the staircase.  A distance of about 15 feet.  It was to save time of course.

Once the coffee table had been slid to the staircase, on a bath mat because it was heavy, I looked over at the other, smaller and lighter coffee table to decide which one I really wanted to haul up the stairs.

In a split second, the coffee table fell over and landed on my left foot.  BAM!  Impatience just broke my foot.

Seriously.  It was bad.  I screamed and cried.  Not because I was in pain, which I was, but because I had a marathon to run in Montreal in 2.5 weeks!

To make a long story short.  I was diagnosed with a small chip fracture.  Boot, crutches, no running were prescribed.  Many tears were shed.

I pulled up my big girl, impatient panties and decided I was going to heal fast.  Two weeks fast.  I kept the boot on and no weight bearing for as long as I could stand it.  6.5 days.  Exactly.  The boot was heavy and the crutches were dangerous.  I nearly fell down the stairs twice, nearly fell getting in and out of the shower several times, and even with using two different types of crutches I was a danger to myself just standing up.

On day 6.5 I took off the boot, threw away the crutches (not literally, they are still in my closet), and stood up.  Carefully.  My heart pounded with fear.  What if it hurt?  What if I couldn't walk?  What if I put a little weight on it and made it worse?

To alleviate my fears I requested a copy of my x-rays.  Got the CD.  Not films, a CD.  It was blank.  I wanted to scream.  However, the official report was in the envelope and it read, ahem... "may be an avulsion..."  MAY BE.  I loved those words.

"I'm going to run!" I said to myself excitedly.  "I'm going to run!"

I tried.  Didn't work. Sure, I could walk, but there was pain in my arch.  "You're calf is tight, roll it," came advice from strangers.  I rolled it.  Still hurt.  Felt better, but still some discomfort.  I stretched, rolled, wiggled and moved my foot as much as possible.  Hit the floor and did every floor exercise that didn't require weight on my foot that I could find.  (My abs are rock hard!).

Monday before I was to leave for Montreal I tried to run.  First, I walked for three miles.  Then I took a few running steps.  My gait was short and there was pain.  Walked another mile.  Didn't feel good.  Took a break and stretched my foot.  Walked some more.  Tried to run again.  No go.  Stride was like a little tiny trot and it hurt.  I cried the rest of the day.  That was that.  No running in Montreal.

My husband, saint that he is, decided to go to Montreal with me to make sure I didn't run.  That, in and of itself made the whole ordeal worth it.  I got my husband all to myself for five glorious days.  The weather was cool and sunny except for Friday morning.  We went sight-seeing, walked the underground city, went shopping, ate - a lot.  And, for the first time ever I got to see the winners of not one but four races - 5k, 10k, half marathon and full marathon.   Plus, I took some awesome photos of the city and recalled a little high school French.

Today, I saw the orthopedist.  He said my x-rays were fine, normal.  However, the foot still needed a little more time.  That's okay, I have a little time.  A little, 37 days to be exact.  I'll be able to participate in the New York marathon if I can just be...oh...what's that horrid word ......

PATIENT.

Right.  Patient.  One day at a time.  God's time, not mine.  I'm slowly realizing I'm not 18 anymore.  I'm 51.  I physically cannot do some things I used to do at 18, 30, and even 40.  However, I couldn't run a marathon at 18 and I've already done 7 starting at the age of 40-something.  I'll ask for help now and then and not try to do it all, all by myself, right now.

Patience is a virtue.  Maybe I'll have that virtue, one day, maybe.  I'm getting there.  For now, I need to memorize and live these verses:

Whoever is patient has great understanding, but one who is quick-tempered displays folly.  Proverbs 14:29   (moving a 75-pound table displays folly)

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.  Romans 12:12   (Affliction demands patience, demands prayer.)

Pray for me while I'm attempting to be patient.  I need it.  If you need me to pray for you to have patience I certainly will.   Attached is a video of some of my many photos.  Enjoy.

Carrot and Zucchini Nut Bread

Valentine's Day is right around the corner.  It's a day where tradition and the card companies tell us that we must show people how much we love them by buying cards, flowers, and candy.  An expensive dinner out is usually a plus.  I say, why wait?  Why not tell the people you love every day? Why not show them acts of kindness and give expressions of love as often as possible?  Showing someone love doesn't have to be expensive.  Oftentimes, it's the little things that say I love you so much more than jewelry.  My husband tells me he loves me every day by going to work, coming home, and genuinely wanting to spend time with me.  His greatest act of love was when he married me - a broken, insecure woman who felt worthless and unworthy.  His next greatest act of love was when he made it possible for me to retire from a job that was sucking the life out of me.  I do my best to reciprocate and show my appreciation.  One of the hardest things I did for him was get on an airplane.  I used to be terrified of flying.  I would have anxiety attacks and use all available air-sickness bags.  That being said, it took great courage on my part, and his, to get on a plane for a 13+ hour flight to S. Korea.  He now has me hooked on travel.  (see some of my travel videos on YouTube).  

What has this to do with bread you ask?  I'm getting there.  After writing and publishing 11 books (Amazon.com) I decided to take a break and focus my attention on photography, and baking of course.  I've become a bit of a food mad scientist as you've probably seen with my previous recipes.  It's been fun looking up ingredients and adding them to a bowl to see what happens.  Below are two recipes.  One is Carrot and Zucchini Nut Bread and the other is my gift to my husband - Bacon Chocolate Cheesecake.  Enjoy:

CARROT AND ZUCCHINI NUT BREAD
2 cups whole wheat flour
1 c ground rolled oats
1 TBS ground flax seed soaked in 2 TBS water
1 TBS chia seeds
2 TBS amaranth
1/4 c ground raw nuts:  almonds, cashews, sunflower, pistachios
1-1/2 c ground carrot (grind or grate before measuring)
1 to 1-1/2 c ground zucchini (grind before measuring)
1 tsp each baking soda and baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 c unsweetened plain almond milk

1.  Put ground flax in water and set aside.  Set oven to 350 F.
2.  Grind oats and nuts.  (I use a Ninja chopper but you can hand chop the nuts or use a food processor)
3.  Grind or grate the carrot and zucchini, very fine.  
4.  In large bowl add all ingredients 1-3 and stir.  Add the soda, powder, and salt.  Next, stir in the almond milk.  Once incorporated, shape into a ball and let sit for 20 minutes.  
5.  Spray a large bread tin with nonstick spray.  Alternatively, you can hand shape and bake on a silicone mat.
6.  Bake at 350 F for 30 minutes.  Cover with foil, lower temp to 300 and bake another 10-15 minutes.  Cool  for 10 or so minutes before slicing.  It will be slightly soft in the center.  Best not to over bake or the crust will be too hard.  If you prefer, slice then toast.  

Hot out of the oven, Carrot and Zucchini Nut Bread

Carrot and Zucchini Nut bread ready for eating

Bread

Did I mention it's vegan?

Now for the husbands, and other bacon lovers.  Bacon Chocolate Cheesecake.

Step 1:  Bake 4-6 strips of thick bacon in the oven.  Time and temp varies.  350 for 10-12 minutes is what I did.  Bake it crisp and flat.  Pat off the fat and dry on paper towels.
Step 2:  Melt 4 squares of semi-sweet baking chocolate and 1/4 tsp coconut oil.  Double this if you want more chocolate.  In a double boiler, melt the chocolate.  
Step 3:  Get your baking pan out.  I used a cupcake tray.  Cut your bacon to the size of the bottom of the tray.  Next, put the bacon into the bowl of chocolate, using a fork to coat well.  Line a flat plate or cookie sheet with plastic wrap or foil.  Using your fork transfer individual pieces of bacon onto the cookie sheet.  Put into freezer or refrigerator to set.  Reserve the remainder of the chocolate for later.
Step 4:  Make the cheesecake.  I used the Philadelphia 3-step cheesecake recipe.  This part is up to you.
   1 package Philadelphia cream cheese
   1/4 c sugar
   1/4 tsp vanilla
   1 egg

   Blend on high until creamy.  Take strips of parchment paper and make an X in the baking pan.  This will help remove the cheesecake.  Put in about 1 inch of batter.  Bake 25 minutes if using cupcake tray.  Remove from oven and allow to cool until warm.  Don't cool all the way.

Step 5: Line cookie sheet with plastic. Place bacon pieces on top of warm cheese cake and immediately invert onto plastic.  The bacon is now your crust.  Drizzle the top of the cheesecake with more chocolate and add an additional piece of bacon, if desired.

Bacon Chocolate Cheesecake

Bacon Chocolate cheesecake

P.S.  I am still in training for my upcoming races.  Saturday and Sunday the 20th and 21st I am running at Disney.  September I'm headed to Montreal for a marathon and finally the TCS NYC Marathon.  I will keep you posted on the fundraising efforts for New York.  I also am loving my new camera zoom lens.  Check out some of my photos for sale Twenty20 and FOAP.

The Road to Deseret doesn't end at the Finish Line

It is hard for me to fathom that it has been ten days since my 6th marathon.  Six!  I still remember my first and the vow to NEVER ever run a marathon again.  Today, after six I cannot wait until the next and am daily searching for where and when.  Who's the lucky city? State? Country?  Lucky for me, that is.  On the calendar now is the Disney Glass Slipper, a 10k on Saturday followed by the half marathon on Sunday.  I will have to be satisfied with that and focus on getting faster in the half...for now....

We left off on my last post, The Road to Deseret, on workout day June 3rd.  I kept a loose log after that as follows:

6/5 8.5 mile run.  Had some ankle pain.  Walked 6.5 miles.
6/6 stadium circuit x8, total 4752 steps (stair steps)
6/8 run, didn't log the distance
6/9 to 6/15  trip to Panama.  I went on two mountain hikes.  No run. Lots of walking.
6/17 Core, treadmill with the back end hiked up on cement blocks
6/18 20 miles on the West Orange trail.  It was hot!
6/19 walked to the high school track for stadiums.  It was locked up.  Walked home and did treadmill, strength for hip and core.
6/20 treadmill walk with negative incline (because my race is downhill)
6/21 9 miles.  Sprint intervals then 1.5 miles on treadmill.
6/22 9 miles then 2.5 miles on treadmill
6/23 core and strength
6/26  24.3 miles HOT!  Can you tell I'm preparing for a heat wave?
6/27 ITB routine from StrengthRunning.com
6/28 - Guess what I did?  Kicked a plastic stool in the kitchen and broke right 4th toe. Gimme a break!!
6/29 6 mile sprints, squats.  I'm so used to broken toes, it doesn't slow me down.
6/30 Core workout.  Treadmill neg and positive inclines
7/1 Sprints to prepare for 4-mile race
7/2 walk
7/3 2-mile job with my husband 
7/4  Race!  4-miler  32:43.  2nd in age group.
      Okay, there's a story here that goes like this.  During the race I see a lady whom I've seen run in my neighborhood many times.  She's frail-looking and has an awkward gait.  Around mile 3 she catches up to me and we run together until the last turn to the finish line.  I think to myself, "she's not in my age group, there's no one else around and I'm well below my goal time.  I'll coast."  Joke is on me.  She IS in my age group, younger than me by 4 years. So I'm at the top of the category and she's at the bottom.  I could kick myself!!!  

After the race, I noticed a vendor, looked like a sports therapist, trainer, or masseuse.  The race director had never allowed vendors before (I know him personally) so, curious, I talked to the guy.  His name is David Petersen.  See the link for full info.  He tested my core strength, which I think is good.  I was wrong. I made an appointment to see him because I had been having left foot and ankle pain along with right hip pain.  I had been thinking about seeing a sports physician.  Knowing Jerry Pegram and gut instinct, I made an appointment.  David is unconventional and his methods work!   He uses acupressure and posture training. (See his link for further information).  Long story short, after five sessions I had no more stiffness, much, much less pain, and I was taller (yes taller) and running faster.  

My training continued with runs 3-4 days a week with the long runs generally on Friday.  The Florida heat and humidity kept me from running as far or as fast as I would have liked, However, after my sessions with David I was feeling much healthier.  That gave me confidence.  

The hubby and I left for Salt Lake City in the wee hours of July 18.  Arrival was hours earlier than hotel check in time so we decided to head over to Antelope Island.  My mother told me about it a while back.  I like islands, animals, and hiking.  Perfect place to stretch my legs after our flight.  See my YouTube videos #1 and #2 for video and stills of the island and stills of the rest of my trip, except the race.  I video the course from the car, however, I didn't like they way it turned out. Too much car in the video.  I should have placed the GoPro on the dash instead of holding it out the window.

Tuesday and Wednesday I ran on and near the race course to get accustomed to the altitude.  So pretty! And so difficult!  Going uphill at altitude gets you winded quick! Thursday was my 50th birthday.  We spent it doing as little as possible gearing up for the big day.

The race itself was awesome!!  We took a bus from the university stadium to the start line at the top of the mountain.  At 3:30 am.  AM!  I planned ahead and kept my clock set to Florida time.  My body felt like it was 5:30 am.  My meals and sleep were also kept to Florida time.  Bed at 7 pm (Utah time), awake at 3 am, breakfast at 3:30, lunch at 9 am, etc.  This kept my internal and externals right where I needed them to be. (Runners know what I mean). 

I joined the 4-hour pace group hoping to qualify for Boston.  Realistically, I knew it was not likely since my prior fastest time was 4:36.  I stayed right with them until just past mile five when we hit the uphill.  I had never run uphill at over 6,000 feet.  I slowed and never caught back up.  

My pace group was within site until we got into the city.  They were my rabbits and I was chasing them down!  It worked, too, because I finished with a time of 4:10:35!  Blasted 26 minutes off my time.  Hu Ya!!! as they say in the Marines.  Great race.  I expected heat, only got up to about 80 and almost no humidity.  The lack of humidity was a hindrance for the last half hour.  Made it difficult to swallow.   

The event itself was well organized.  The route was clearly marked with plenty of volunteers and police to keep us on course.  I didn't see many port-o-potties but then again, I didn't need them so I wasn't really looking.  Water stops were stocked with volunteers and with water and sports drink.  At on point, near mile 20 or 22 a mom and her little boy handed out ice water!  Ice water!  I grabbed a glass and stuffed my mouth with ice.  The crowd at the finish line was loud, cheering me on.  The last corner I was out of breath and walking until a woman yelled, "only 800 yards to go!"  I yelled back, "seriously?"  She confirmed and I ran to the finish.  My husband said the DJ announced my name and wished me a belated birthday.  That was cool.  I didn't hear it, but it was cool just the same.  I was handed a water bottle, a finisher medal and grabbed a banana after crossing the finish line.  Then, here's a really neat aspect that I didn't expect.  At the results tent, a monitor listed the top three in every age category.  I saw my name and nearly fainted.  Inside the tent I went to a computer and typed in my bib number.  A little machine printed up my time and placement immediately.  I then showed that paper to a woman at the next tent and she gave me my 3rd place award.  Super high tech!  Buses shuttled us back to our car at the stadium.  Overall, I was impressed with the race.  My strength training and downhill running paid off.

Finisher award and Garmin time

I was in shock when I saw this!

I'M A HAPPY RUNNER GIRL!

What to do after accomplishing a huge goal?  Why go to a ropes course in Park City, Utah at the Olympic training facility of course!

It's been a trip, a journey, an adventure, and a birthday celebration that I will never forget.  My husband has been my support team and my cheerleader the entire time.  Oh, I have to give him props, too, for signing up for the 5K.  He said he needed something to do while I ran.  Go Mark!  I love that man.

What should I do next?  I'm up for suggestions.

I also have to give all the glory to my God without whom I would not be breathing much less running down mountains.  

Hebrews 12:Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, 2 fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. 3 Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart.

1 Corinthians 9: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever. 26 Therefore I do not run like someone running aimlessly; I do not fight like a boxer beating the air. 27 No, I strike a blow to my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize.

Crossing the finish line, see video below

Today's Thoughts and a Recipe

Today didn't go as planned.  It happens.  I'm not terribly disappointed.  Last week my long run was an awesome 21 miles without stopping and I had hoped for a repeat and maybe push it to 22 miles.  Didn't happen.  At mile 8 my left ankle began to hurt.  Same ankle and same location as two weeks ago.  Because I'm leaving for Panama on a mission trip in four days and I have a marathon in a month, I decided to call it quits and walk.  It didn't hurt to walk so I didn't even think about calling someone for a ride home.  So, mile 8.5 I begin to walk.  Then I realize - I'm a long way from home!  Sure enough, I walk 6.5 miles.  It wasn't too hot (I had started at 5:30 am) so I wasn't miserable.  Things like this happen and I got the time on my feet, which is good for my training. I think praying during the entire 3+ hours really helped me stay positive, no, I know it did.

I prayed about such things as the state of this world, how people get so wrapped up in other people's business.  I don't really care who's doing what to whom or what someone I don't know is doing to their body, what this country is doing or if the sky is falling.  What other people do is between them and God. 

Let me re-phrase this:  I care, I'm simply not going to let outside forces manipulate my thoughts and behaviors. I had a long discussion with one of my children the other day about control.  Do what you can, not what you can't.  You have control over your own thoughts and words and actions. Nothing more. The rest is in God's hands.  The battle isn't between ISIS and the world, between this person or that person and the media, it IS between God and Satan.  I know for a fact who has already won (God) and, therefore, I don't sweat the little stuff - such as what other people/governments/media/political groups do or think.  

This does not, however, mean that you should not be involved and sit on your thumbs.  Do what you can, not what you can't.  Volunteer at a homeless mission, vote, plant seeds of the Good News, teach people truth, do a good deed, be kind and love one another, etc.  

So, read the news, listen to the media, listen to your family/friends/neighbors then think "What can I do that is positive?"  Gossip about him/her/the situation?  No.  Worry?  No.  Post inflammatory comments all over social media?  No.  

Do one good thing.

Then do another.

Love your neighbor.  

Trust in the one true God that has already won the war.
John 16:33 "I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace.  In this world you will have trouble.  But take heart!  I have overcome the world."


Now, back to today.  

I'm sitting here on my couch, feet up, craving chocolate.

I've got my compression socks on, feet propped up after my "long run" and I'm craving something sweet.  I eat a few jelly beans, but that doesn't do it.

Cookies!!  I want cookies, but not just any cookies because I'm allergic to dairy and don't eat store bought cookies.

Mixing up a batch. 

I decide to whip up a batch of double chocolate, espresso cookies.  Dark chocolate chips, cacao powder, espresso powder, and lots of love.

Almost ready for the oven.

You have to press them down because they don't spread.

Fresh out of the oven.

Yummy double chocolate chip espresso cookies!

RECIPE:

2-1/4 cups whole wheat flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1/2 cup plus 2 TBS all-natural applesauce
1/2 cup plus 1 TBS coconut oil
1-1/2 cup agave or honey
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large eggs
8 oz dairy-free dark chocolate chips
1/2 c cacao powder (not cocoa powder)
2 tsp espresso powder

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Cream together wet ingredients then add the chocolate chips.  Add dry ingredients.  If the batter seems dry add more applesauce.  
Spoon batter onto parchment paper
Spray your fingers with non-stick spray and press the batter.  These will not spread out.  You can leave them in little balls if you want, just turn temp to 325 and cook a little longer.
Bake for 8 minutes, let cool, then enjoy with a cold glass of almond milk or other non-dairy milk.

Here are a few more pics of some recipes I've recently tried:

Spinach crackers

Frozen banana bombs

No bake vegan carrot cake

Hope you enjoyed the blog and the recipe!  

The Road to Deseret

Friends and family have often asked me how I'm able to run a marathon, much less a 5K.  It's no secret - one foot in front of the other.

Seriously though, it takes training, time, patience, and the right resources.  I have used several training logs/plans/programs including Galloway, Runner's World, and my all-time favorite Strength Running.  I've learned a lot from each plan - schedules, nutrition, injury prevention, strength, and keeping a log. 

This is my log.

I've never kept a running log, at least not a detailed one.  I kept on my mirror a list - 
Sunday - rest
Monday - short run
Tuesday - strength
Wednesday - short run
Thursday - core
Friday - Long run
Saturday - cross train

I generally adhered to that, tweaked it as necessary, but didn't really think about keeping a journal until this race.  The upcoming race, in July, will be my sixth marathon.  I want to look back and see what worked, what didn't, how I can do better the next time without spending hours looking over Facebook posts.  

If you're a runner looking for a training plan for your next or first race, read with the following in mind - This is how I trained, it worked for me (I hope).  It is not your perfect textbook training plan.  I've made mistakes, slacked off when I should have pushed and vice versa, and I've had setbacks.  Read my journal, laugh, cry, shake your head and think 'well that was dumb', applaud, whatever, then go back up to the links and find a plan for you.  

Be warned - it is long.  The log/journal started way back on March 30th.  The workouts listed such as Sabre, Stiletto, Ballista, etc. come from Strength Running.  You can look them up online and on YouTube.  I don't list specific abdominal exercises.  Again, find them online.


3/30/2015 - Sabre Warm Up.  10-mile run, 1 mile walk
3/31/2015 - Standard Core, Stilletto, Treadmill 40 minutes
4/1 - Sabre
4/2 - 11 miles, strength
4/3 - abs
4/6 - Warm up, Clay Loop 9.79 miles.  Clay Loop video
4/7  - Treadmill, strength
4/8 - 10.3 miles with hills, Pike
4/9 - 14 miles Clay Loop.  On this run I met Desiree Linden and her training team. Quite the honor.
4/10 - Strength, abs
4/11 - 6 miles treadmill with negative incline.  Explanation - My next race is about 90% downhill.  So, I raised the back end of my treadmill up with 2x4 boards, initially, to give me a constant downhill.
4/13 - 10 miles Clay Loop, squats
4/14 - Ballista, Core, Stilletto, treadmill walk
4/15 - 10 miles easy.  Didn't sleep well the night before.  Saw a noisy crane during my run.
4/16 - abs, 10.3 miles Clay Loop, squats
4/17 - treadmill - 45 minutes easy; 7 mph 2 min/4/4; 8 mph 1/1/1:30; 6-7 2 min - total 9.5 miles
4/20 - core (abs and core are basically the same)
4/20 - Apopka Loop with a group 12.7 miles.  Saw lots of wild critters.  Apopka Loop Trail video.
4/21 - West Orange bike trail 12.72 miles
4/22 - core, strength, sprints 7 miles
4/23 - core
4/24 - 16 miles around my neighborhood in Apopka.
4/27 - rainy day.  strength, 10 miles on treadmill up to a 5 incline
4/28 - rainstorms again.  Treadmill, stairs in my house, core, strength, negative incline walk.
4/29 - Sick on the couch.  Nothing.
4/30 - 10 miles easy
5/1 - Sick day again.  I don't like being sick!
5/2 - High school stadium stairs.  

Running the steps

Strength Training

See the blue steps?  I ran a lap around the track then up and down all six sets of steps.  Repeated the circuit four times.  Plus, there are 9 steps up on each side and two set of nine steps in the center.
5/4 - Core (Bob Harper's YouTube channel), Apopka Loop Trail 12 miles.

Saw 12 gators on this run.

5/5 - Hill Repeats on Clay Loop. 11 miles.  The cows were not happy with my choice of music.  Then, I was stuck in a traffic jam on the way home.  

My companion on Clay Loop

Calves in a pasture on Clay Loop

Traffic Jam for miles!

5/6 - Core.  That's all today, I'm tired! Recovery day.
5/7 - 18.5 miles around neighborhood.
5/9 - Stadium step circuit
5/11 - 8 mile easy run with a few sprints.  Sore from step run.
5/12 - 45-minute walk on treadmill with negative incline.  Core.
5/13 - 10 miles.
5/14 - core
5/15 - 19 miles on the West Orange Trail at 9:49 pace.  Not bad!  Core.
5/18 - Sprint Intervals with my son as coach and time keeper.  10 miles.
5/19 - core.  Walk on treadmill to break in new Teva hiking shoes 1.5 hours.  Later in the day, I twisted or strained the top of my left foot/ankle.

Here's where things get interesting.  Almost every training cycle, when I reach the week I'm to do 20 miles, something happens.  Illness, injury (usually not run related), travel.  This cycle is no different!  Ugh!!  

5/20  - Ankle hurts on treadmill attempt and road attempt.  Stationary bike for 20 minutes.  Core.
5/21 - Bike 45 minutes
5/22 - 16.8 miles.  Took it slow because of ankle soreness.  That evening - I accidentally kicked the stairs and broke my left 2nd toe.  Can you believe it!?
5/23 - Toe looked and felt fine.  Question break or bruise.  Ran 7 miles on the Recreation Field with my husband.

Broken toe.

5/24 - Toe doesn't hurt with shoes on.  3.5 miles on treadmill.
5/25 - 6.6 miles at the Recreation Field.
5/26 - Elliptical, walk on treadmill, mow grass (yes mowing grass counts as a workout with my yard)
5/27 - 11 miles neighborhood
5/28 - Core, hamstring curls
5/29 - 21 miles at a 9:55 pace and no walking.  Not going to let a little thing like a broken toe slow me down.  Besides, it doesn't hurt.
5/30 - Stadium step circuit - 3 circuits of up and down all blue steps; 8x up and down the same blue staircase; 4x up and down the silver seats, walk 2 miles
6/1 - Chakram, Standard Core, hamstring curls, treadmill with a high negative incline 4 miles (concrete blocks did the trick)
6/2 - Core and warmup, 10 miles with 0:45 sec/60 sec/0.5 mile run/sprint/walk repeats with hills
6/3 - Easy day.  Core, 3.5 miles on treadmill.  Mowed the lawn.  

I'm going to stop here for now.  I leave on the 9th for a mission trip to Panama. Please pray for me and the team I'm going with. The plan for 6/4 is rest and 6/5 is 22 miles. Also plan to hike a mountain in Panama.  I'll let you know how it all goes next post.  I'll leave you with a few random photos.  God bless and Have a Nice Run!

Core workout with my shadow, Oliver

Icing my feet after a long run

On the bike after injury

Early morning run at the Recreation Field

#RunForCharity #TEAM413

Post-run recovery smoothie

#Runergy bar before, #Smoothie after

So, what are you going to do now?

This was the question my husband asked me as I hobbled up the stairs yesterday.  My answer was, "Take a shower and then a nap."  That wasn't exactly what he meant, however, I was too brain dead to comprehend.

You see, I had just completed a marathon. My second, in fact.  This was the RunDisney marathon at Walt Disney World in Florida.  I had been training pretty much since the disastrous race in Melbourne eleven months ago, but I won't rehash that.  

If you've been a follower of my blog for any length of time, you know my story.  I love to run. I have had shoulder injuries, knee injuries, hip injuries, a broken toe, stomach flu, food allergies, and lost many toe nails.  Yet, I still run, still persevere.  Why?  I'm not really sure.  I like the competition but I'm not overly competitive.  I like to stay in shape, be healthy, but I'm not obsessive.  (My family may argue otherwise).  

I believe I run for the following reasons:
1.  Health.   I'm 47 years old and I want to stay active and enjoy a healthy life, live long enough to be able to play with my yet unborn grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
2. Prayer.  I began praying on my runs just to get me through the next mile.  As time went on and my runs became longer I incorporated prayer into my routine.  It became habit.  Two steps into my run my thoughts immediately start with, "Good morning God, beautiful day." I can pray for hours now.  In fact, 4 hours and 38 minutes.  
3. Thrill of the chase.  I'm a bit claustrophobic in crowds.  I always line up as far to the front as I can and often to one side or the other.  When the gun goes off, I go as fast as I can to get away from the crowd.  In doing this, I found it was kinda fun to pass people and zip in and out of traffic like a gazelle running through a herd of zebra.   My favorite races are those in which I am able to pick a person to pass and do so.
4.  Satisfaction and feeling of accomplishment.   My goal in a race is to a) beat my last time and b) be satisfied with the time.   B is really hard to attain because I always look back and think about what I could have done differently, should I have stopped at that water stop, tried to speed up even more at the finish, etc.   I start my running prayer with Good morning and finish each race with "Thank you Jesus!"  

 Deep down, I know God doesn't really care about who wins the race, however, as it says in Corinthians, he cares about winning the final race, the one that lasts forever.  This past week on my computer screen has been 1 Corinthians 9: 24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. ²⁵ Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

On my wrist during the race were bands that read, "Can do through Christ."   This is a verse from Phillipians 4:13  I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.  

I suppose I run to be closer to God, to strengthen not only my physical body but my spiritual one as well.  When I'm in pain, whether from running or life in general, I turn to Him for strength.  When I succeed, it is God whom I thank.  When I fail, I still give him thanks and ask for strength and for lessons learned.  

So, what am I going to do now?  I'm going to turn to God and ask Him.  We'll let you know.