Marathon Training 101

Marathon training is in full swing and I am loving every minute of it. Well maybe not every minute of it. It has been a challenge this season for some reason. I think in part to the fact that I have been strapped to a treadmill the past month or so due to the frigid tempts. we have been having here in Oklahoma. In fact it was so cold last week school was out due to cold weather. Yes, you read that correctly. Now I don’t think it has been life threatening cold in order to shut down school, but it was cold nonetheless. I will blame my slow start to training this January on the cold weather rather than the few extra pounds I have gained, the lack of motivation, the massive busy schedule I have, or the fact that I am so sleepy due to lack of sleep. Yes, the weather it is!

On a more positive note, I have been having a great time meeting new friends, running new routes, and watching those training for their first ½ marathon bust out with all the drive and motivation one can muster. I am training with Fleet Feet this year which is different than last. There is more structure, more encouragement, more motivation, more education, and more incentive with Fleet Feet than what I have gained in previous training sessions. A few pointers Coach Judy shared with us this week.

1) Runners should run in the middle (hump) of the road as often as possible. When running along the side of the road near or on the shoulder, which slants, a runner will find they start to have knee problems. For example if a runner always runs on the left hand side of the road, they will begin to develop left knee issues, and vice versa on the right.

2) Runners always want to cut the tangent when rounding a corner. Meaning run as close to the side of the road as possible, but only on corners. Also make sure a hand gesture (no not the one you are thinking of) is given so that runners behind will be aware of the runner's movement in front of them.

3) When running up hills runners want to lean forward just a bit, and engage their arms. Using arms will help to propel a runner up the hill. Also slow down, shorten the gate, but add more steps.

More fun tips from coaches, books, articles, and past experience as the training season progresses.

In my thoughts and prayers

I know that any of you reading this post today share the same heavy hearts as I do thinking and praying for those lives torn apart by the horrific tragedy in Haiti. A country that is scared by tragedy, the people of Haiti again on Tuesday January 12 suffered an unimaginable loss of love and life in a magnitude 7.0 earthquake.

Haiti is the poorest country in the Western Hemisphere, more than half the populations living on less than $2 a day. Many Haitians had very little and now most have nothing. I can’t imagine searching helplessly for my loved ones, listening in the night for faint cries of life under the ruble, and living on the streets with an entire nation that in seconds became homeless, helpless, and hopeless; yet this is a reality for people of Haiti.

I have spent some time doing research on humanitarian charities; I have found great respect in the charities listed below. For what it is worth anyone who resides in a place in which they are able to make a charitable donation towards the humanitarian relief effort in Haiti, I highly recommend one of the following organizations, or one that your heart follows.

Doctors Without Boards
UNICEF
American Red Cross
World Vision

May we all keep the victims, families, doctors, volunteers, military personnel, humanitarians, and those who feel led to serve in whatever capacity they can, in our thoughts and prayers during this unspeakable catastrophe.

Love ya,
Jen

Adventures of Dylan, Harley, Dude, & Thorfine!

Now that it has been exactly two weeks since Meegan, Paul, Jeff, and I had our oober fun outing to the bowling alley and singing our hearts out at karaoke I feel it is time to wrap up my Oregon adventures.

I would like to be the first to mention I have not been bowling in ohhhh…..7 years or so, as a result I was a tad apprehensive. In addition I do not partake in liquid courage so I was required to act “cool” and pretend I knew what I was doing being I would not have anything to blame my bad display of bowling on.



After picking up our rockn’ bowling shoes, (I think mine might have been glow in the dark, something they didn’t mention to me and something I never got to determine), Paul gave Meegan and I a fun bowling gift. He said he bought them that day at the store, but I am convinced he had them since high school. Meegan received a candy necklace that when she went to put it on the elastic busted and little candies went EVERYWHERE! I found candy in my non glow in the dark shoes at the completion of the bowling extravaganza. I received a ring sucker, I took it out of the wrapper and found that it appeared to have melted and as a result had reshaped and was cocked to the left.



Once we got past the hysteria of not one but both gifts being dysfunctional we got set to bowl. I am not sure how it came about and with this crew I am not even going to take a wild guess, but we used code names rather than our given names.


Dylan


Harley


Dude


Thorfine
Please don’t ask.








We all did very well……………..






In fact the non bowler Harley is got a strike first time out of the gate. Beginners luck………..please check out that form, I am most certain it was not because she had any idea at all how to bowl.

After 2 games we were ready hang up our bowling shoes and head out to sing some karaoke. After all Thorfine challenged Dylan to a sing-a-thon, he could not back down now. Dude and I were simply along for the ride to watch this story play out at least that is what I thought!!

Dylan had to liquor up before he could join Thorfine to belt out a crowd fav. So in the mean time Thorfine got up on stage to loosen the vocal chores and shined as she sang “All That Jazz”. It was a show stopper and her talent made Dylan even that much more nervous. However, we all convinced him that she would carry the team if he should get weak in the knees.



“Dylan”…………..“Is Dylan here”…………….okay so we were not quite use to our code names. Dylan and Thorfine went running to stage…….it was their turn to show what great karaoke is made of.

They were awesome, although we really could not hear them too well for the entire bar was sing “Sweet Caroline” in unison.



However, Dylan had a fun time he was hooked, singing three more songs that night.

Thorfine and Harley closed out the night singing “Earl Had to Die”. I know it was not a super uplifting song, but being from the honky tonk state it had to be a country song for Harley to partake.



We had the best time, and for the second night in one week this sistah was out late enough to again close the bar down. Who is this person that has invaded Jennifer’s body, oh yeah it is Harley and she LOVES to have fun and burn the midnight oil. I was thinking 2pm was late to be heading home but the rest of the week proved even later.

Love Ya,
Jen

What?

Being a single gal in a somewhat good side town provides for strange experiences and odd approaches by men from time to time and sometimes in random places, like today. While hurriedly trying to get in my car after work I saw a vehicle out of the corner of my eye pull up behind me and a man was waving at me. The man spoke something to me but I could not hear him, so I walked over closer to the open window fully anticipating this man will be asking me for directions. However, the following conversation transpired:

I am sorry I was unable to hear you.

Jennifer right?

Hiiiii???

I was concerned about you; I have not seen you around in a while. How was your Christmas?

My thought: I think this guy thinks he know me……

Good and yours?

Good. So do you go to any events at the BOK Center?

My thought: That is a super random question.

Is there an event tonight?

No, I don’t think so. I was just wondering if you ever go to events.

On occasion. In fact I was supposed to go to the George Straight/Reba concert but I think I may be out of town that weekend.

Are you not from here?

My thought: How does my comment of being out of town signal I am not from here?

No, I am not.

Where are you from?

Oregon.

What brought you to Oklahoma?

College

My thought: Where is this guy going, and oh I think I may have talked to him in the elevator at work one day. Hummmmmm, how did he remember me?

When it gets warmer would you like to walk down to the taco place for lunch?

My thought: Did this guy that is my father’s age just ask me out? Oh yicks!!! What do I do now?

Well it will be awhile till it gets warm. (Yes this is the best thing I could come up with at the time, I realize I should have just said no, but that is not what came out of my mouth)

Well if I come up to your office I am sure all the guys up there are really protective of you.

My thought: This is possibly the oddest conversation I have had, and why would you need to come to my office?

Yes they are, they are like my big brothers. Well I better go!

Okay have a great evening.

You too.

My thought: What just happened? I am confused; I need to call my friend Debbie ASAP!!


There are many aspects of this conversation that caused me great discomfort and made a potentially flattering, well as flattering as someone your father’s age asking you can be, turn into a disaster faster than I can eat a sugar cookie.

Good night,
Jen

I am blessed!

I really wanted to spend today finishing my Oregon adventure, telling you the remaining stories filled with pee your pants humor, perplexing experiences, sleepless nights, but most off all a boat load of fun. However, I went to small group this evening and the entire story line of this post changed in a split second. My small group, oh how I love thee, the girls are amazing, have I mentioned that before, they are so full of life, laughter, drama, stories..ohhhhh the stories. But what would 8th grade be without stories oozing with drama right. Well for some of us who were not quite so “hip” in 8th grade (me) we may not be able to relate to a 13 year old all the time. I also have to say the stories I hear each week makes me really glad I was a huge dork when I was younger. Who am I kidding I am still a huge dork! Anyway, I don’t know if I could have hacked it in the jungle that is public and private (to a degree) school today.

Amidst all the chaos that these girls face daily at school, it is our job as co-leaders of their small group to help guide them, encourage them, hold them up when they are weak, and pray for them all the time. It is not our job to be their parents they all have an incredible set of those; it is for us to be wonderful mentors. Very rarely do we know when or if we have impacted someone’s life or helped them to reach their full potential. I was very blessed this evening to receive this thank you card from one of the girls in my small group…….

Dear Jennifer,
You have been such a great friend and role model to me, I know I can tell you everything and get great advice. I am so glad that we have really gotten to know each other this year. I hope to be like you when I grow up. Love ya,

I have so many people that have guided me and were great mentors at certain turning points in my life. I just hope that I can truly be that role model and mentor to these girls. I love you Carly, Madeline, Sarah, Maddie, Emily, and Kelly you ladies certainly make my life better by being part of it!!!

Thank you!

I was not able to get 10 hour of sleep last night, I got 12 HOURS and could not be happier. I feel rested, happy, and ready to face the world, or simply facing putting up my Christmas decoration and finishing my thank you cards to all the amazing friends and family that were way too gracious to me this Christmas season.

Speaking of thank you cards I read this amazing devotion the other day on the Extraordinary Women website, I have placed a link to the website in the right hand column of my blog. I know that for myself personally I get so wrapped up in the day to day activities that I neglect to thank the people in my life that have truly impacted, influenced, and shaped me into who I am today. With that said, I mention with a shameful heart that I do not thank God nearly enough for the amazing blessings and life He has given to me. I found this devotion to be quite powerful so I wanted to pass it on to all of you......

"Isn't it so much fun to receive a "thank you" note? There are so many different types of "thank you" notes that have been designed. Many are simple and sweet...colorful and full of zest...stripes and polka dots...flowers and scenic landscapes...and so much more! And, the note itself is written from the thankful heart of the writer. A note that exclaims you are appreciated and you are noticed!

Have you ever made a list of the things that you are thankful for? If not, I encourage you to begin that list today. You will be amazed at how your mood will be uplifted. Counting your blessings is a sure way to take your eyes off of the things that appear to be going wrong and focuses them on what is right. After making the list, invest a dollar or two in a card or note. Then, write a "thank you" note to God. Just the mere fact that you are reading this devotional means that God has given you life for today! Thank Him...praise Him."

"...rooted and build up in Him, strengthened in the faith as you were taught, and overflowing with thankfulness." -Colossians 2:7

I am so incredibly thankful for so many things in my life. But I would like to take this moment to thank my family and friends for putting up with me, laughing with me or at me..whatever, encouraging me, but mostly for simply loving me for who I am. I love you all dearly!

Love,
Jen

One of my many loves.

Ohhhhh.....the weekend is here!!! One of many things I love in my ordinary life are weekends. I love them for many reason and the reasons differ from weekend to weekend. This weekend I am in love with:

OSU basketball
Sending time with my Aunt Mimi and Uncle Jim.
Not waking up to an alarm.
Not going on a long run in negative wind chills and snow.
Seeing my amazing 8th grade girls at small group on Sunday.
Sleeping in.
Going to the gym.
Taking a naps.

Can you tell I am sleepy.........most of my loves for the upcoming weekend involve sleep. With that said I am heading off to curl up in lots of blanks because it is COLD outside, and enjoy the land of dreams for next....ummmmmm, 10 hours if I am lucky.

Love ya,
Jen