I wasn't able to work on my food project over the weekend. Between my birthday, Yom Kippur, the Jenkins wedding, running, and Kingdom Living, I ran out of time. (notice I didn't say sleep. I am sleep deprived at the moment.) All of that and I need to purchase a food processor. Craig's List here I come.

Yesterday I went on another 1 hour 45 minute run. I was nervous about this run. The week before I didn't know how far I had gone, nor had I been on that particular part of the trail before. Yesterday I went to Shawnee Mission Park where Jacklynn and I trained last year. I have been on the trail a number of times in the past, but this would be the first time on it by myself. My body felt rather sluggish when I woke up and as I ate and prepared to run. The weather was decent. I wasn't up and out as early as I initially planned, but that was because I was up until 1 am-due to the wedding. When I started my run, at 11, the sky was cloudy and the air felt nice. That didn't last long. The sun broke through and the humidity and temperature rose. That was the hardest 10 mile run I have done to date. I felt heavy, tired, my energy had been zapped, and I walked a few different times. This shows how important sleep and diet are to successful running and a happy body. Hopefully that will be the last "bad" run I encounter. At least during this training and 1/2 marathon. After my run I was streching by my car and a woman asked me if I was training for the Waddell and Reed race. I told her I am and found out that she is, too! After she left I couldn't help but be a little excited at how running bring people together. :) Who knows, maybe I will spot Valerie in the sea of thousands of people on race morning. On my way out of the park I passed her running. I honked my horn and cheered for her. Fun times.

Today is the day I turn 25. I really like my birthday. I kind of don't mind being in the 'spotlight' one day of the year. I like opening my presents, and one of my FAVORITE birthday things is blowing out candles.

I am ready, with the L-rd's help, to continue growing.

To live.

To go hard after what I want.

To try new things.

To not fear failure.

Here's to today!


Also, Happy Birthday Carlye Cochran!!

I am going to start trying something new with food. I will let you know how it goes as well as give out samples to those daring enough to try. I will let you know when samples are available. I'm not going to reveal what I am doing just yet, so hang in there. You will know soon.

I CAN STEAM MILK!!

No more practicing with water and soap I am ready for the real deal. ; D

More important than running.

I quit my job! I put in my two weeks notice and have 9 days left!! I have been at this job for just short of 29 months. About 27 months too long. I look forward to being excited about life. This jobhas been draining, stressful, I don't smile as much as I did in the past, my body feels gross, when I say stressful I mean I overwhelmed to the max, I have had more than one breakdown. Maybe a job shouldn't have that much influence over a person, but it has up until now. My last day is September 24. A most excellent birthday gift. I am gaining courage to do new things. To step out and actually try. I am excited. I know that my job isn't where my ultimate fulfillment comes from, but it makes a huge impact. I desire to enjoy what I do and not be held back by myself or others.

Thank you to all of you who have prayed for me, encouraged me, and helped me. Things in my life are changing. More than just a new job. Stay tuned.

The half marathon training schedule that I am following is extremely helpful. On my own I know I need to increase mileage as the race date approaches, but without a schedule I would most likely be under-trained or exhausted from over-training. When I looked at my schedule last week and saw my next long run didn't give me a number of miles but a time, so instead of running, let's say, 9 miles, I was supposed to run for 1:45 minutes with the last 1/4 of the run at a slightly faster pace. On top of that the schedule claimed that I should feel 'refreshed and not fatigued' at the end of the run. Well, to be honest, I was nervous about the length of this run. So far I have only run for an hour to an hour and fifteen minutes. Plus I was running on my own. In the end I was just fine. The last 25 minutes of my run was rough. I wanted to be done. I was ready to be done. I think it was more mental than physical, though. When I finished I made sure I did plenty of strecthing before I did anything else. I have been plenty sore in the past because of poor stretching.

Next week I will make sure the trail I run has mile markers the whole way. That's right. There were two on my trail then for whatever reason there weren't any more. Hmm...Oh well.

I have decided to sign up for the Waddell and Reed Half Marathon on October 16, 2010. I haven't registered yet though I plan to soon. One of my goals for this race is to beat my PR from my first 1/2 marathon last October. If anyone wants to go on a run call me up and I will be more than happy to have a buddy for a run.

Countdown to half marathon:

38 days

Inspiration

"I learned... that inspiration does not come like a bolt, nor is it kinetic, energetic striving, but it comes into us slowly and quietly and all the time, though we must regularly and every day give it a little chance to start flowing, prime it with a little solitude and idleness." Brenda Ueland

What inspires you?

Is it rays of sun light beaming from behind a cloud? A photograph? The pitter-patter of little feet? A specific person or piece of art?

This morning on my way to work I could tell rain had fallen during the hours of darkness that had very recently changed to light. As I drove down the highway I could see fog in the distance. I was reminded of the sunrise the L-rd had on display as I drove through northern Missouri on my way home from Canada. Not only was the sky tinted with a warm orange glow, but a sea of fog covered the fields for miles in every direction with the treetops peaking out to be warmed by the sun. The most breathtaking sunrise I have ever seen. (One of my desires as a photographer is to take amazing pictures of a scene like I just described.) I don't know what it is about fog covered ground, but it is one of the things that excites me.

The star infested sky, highly contrasted black and white photographs of mountains, the Aurora Borealis, laughter, rainbows, lions (The Great Lion), story, friendship, French decor, Mandarin script (China), storms, an evening run, seeing a butterfly on its journey, the wind, the violin, cello, (ok, an orchestra in general), trees, calligraphy, rainy days, crisp autumn air, the incomprehensible love, justice, and mercy of HaShem, spontaneity, the list of what inspires me goes on and on and sometimes I am introduced to something else that causes the same stirring within me. Not every item on this list yield the same levels of inspiration. Often times how I am impacted depends on my current mood. Nevertheless, the existence, and presence, of the L-rd is clearly portrayed throughout the earth. The one true Source of all that inspires.