Tomorow is the beginning...

It's true, tomorrow's the beginning. I'll be running from now on with one of my rock-star co-workers, Erin! We are training together. Not gonna lie, I'm a little nervous to run with someone else. I fear I will be too slow or won't be able to keep running while she be able to go and go and go. Ugh, lame. I know it's not true, but somehow I find that my brain thinks that way. Who needs to be optimistic nowadays?! ha, kidding. I am excited to not have to run by myself anymore. That when I do want to quit, which I'm sure will never ever happen (riggggghhhhhhtttttt), and I'll have someone there to keep me motivated. So here's a cheer for tomorrow! Oh hey 2 miles, I will kick your booty! :)

2.11 miles

Yes! My longest run to date! Holy cow, it was a doozy of a run. I think my battle will be mostly about pushing myself to keep running. I still have no idea how to pace myself, have no clue on how fast I am going (or slow for that matter, haha!), or really the proper technique of running. I bet that matters if you are going for time. I'm going for survival running...with the idea of making it to the goal of that day.

The good things of my run today: It was sunny outside! Yippee! I couldn't pass up the opportunity to run outside while the sun was up. It is Eugene after all where the sun barely comes out during the rainy season. People were friendly as I passed them by, which is pretty sweet of them because I'm sure I look like death as I pass them. The best thing about today is that I made it. I really made it. Phew...now does that mean I deserve starbucks later?! ;)

All I know is that 13.1 miles seems like an incredibly LONG run...

Yoga

Today was my "rest" day for running. Thank goodness! So I absolutely forced myself to get out of bed at 9:30am (pathetic, I know, but I'm on break so eh!) to make it to the Y by 10:15. Yoga was really good. I was incredibly tight and the stretching actually hurt a tad bit. I couldn't stretch as far as I usually can, but that's ok. I did some weight machines, biked, and an eliptical for a tad bit after yoga. It was good, but I'm a little tight. I think it's bad that I am already dreading my 2 mile run tomorrow. I was told that the first 3 weeks of running are pretty tough. So tomorrow I will defeat you, you lame 2 mile run!

Funny story of the day: At the Y you are supposed to hand the desk worker your Y card. Well, as I was leaving the Y today the worker handed me my license! Talk about awkward! Here's our conversation.

Me: This is what I handed you guys?
Worker: Apparently, it is.
Me: Man it must have been really early for me. I'm pretty special. (In my head I'm thinking I'm an absolute silly person, haha.)
Worker: *Crazy look on face* Yeah, that's special.

Good job, Stace. You are that "guy" who does weird, awkward things and makes the situation even more awkward by talking about it. Good work. haha :)

Here's a fun running article. Check it out!

http://www.runnersworld.com/article/1,7124,s6-243-297--11733-0,00.html?cm_mmc=training-_-2009_12_29-_-training-_-MOTIVATION%3a%20In%20a%20Rut%3f

Peace.

New direction

I've made the very exciting and scary decision to run a half marathon with some co-workers/roommate/friends on Sunday, May 2nd. I'm not a typical "runner". I don't own the fancy clothes, have the right body type, or natural ability. As a matter of fact, I struggle at it. So I've decided that I will update this blog with my successes and struggles through my training. Mostly it is to keep my motivated when I feel like it's too hard to keep on running.

Things to know: 1. I've been running 2 miles every other day since the 19th. Pretty stinkin' good for me and my runner friends here in eugene say it's really good. so yay me, go me. high fives all around! 2. Running on a treadmill is actually like death to me. I've done 3 runs on the treadmill and I think I'd rather barf blood than keep that up. :) It's been so cold out that I just don't have the right clothes to run outside in. I did suck it up today and ran outside and it was glorious! I just enjoy running a lot more while being able to look around and see things. I think the runs go by a lot quicker. 3. I'm slow and it's ok. I can run a 2 mile in 24 minutes. That will most likely change when I start to run more. This is all pre-training for the half so I'm not pushing it. 4. I will probably not push it ever. I just want to be able to finish the half marathon. I don't care how long it takes me. Just get me to the finish line!

I'm starting to do a lot more yoga now and will continue doing that on my "off" days when I'm not running. Well here goes nothing... :)

passions

there are so many noble people in the world that are doing some awesome things to better this world. it only makes me wonder more and more what i am supposed to be doing. some people just know what their passions are and what they are meant to do with them. i think i'm a little bit different in that because my passions seem to change and i'm not really sure what my biggest passions are. the obvious ones are teaching, music, and following Jesus. those are awesome passions and i love them, but somehow i feel like i am created for more. there are so many battles out there in the world that i want my mind to be open to. for instance, love146 and to write love on her arms are both things i've been looking into a little bit lately. i feel that i look at something, it breaks my heart, and i then don't do anything about it. i then think well maybe my passion is about learning how to be healthy and follow that a little bit more closely. i wonder if i'm not alone discovering what my passions really are. i want to make a difference in this world one little step at a time. i don't want to sit on my couch just thinking about it. let's see where God takes me. :)

it's going to be alright

The lyrics below speak so loudly to my soul right now. i am struggling right now with some stuff that i just feels is too much to handle. i'd rather rewind and start over to be honest. i've cried so much during these past two days. my brain won't shut off and i don't know how to just "get over it". i'm ever so thankful for my community out here. i'm thankful for peace, even when i don't always feel it. i'm thankful for hope, even when it seems so beyond my reach. i'm thankful for tears, for they make me feel human. i'm thankful for hugs because of the comfort they bring. i'm thankful for friends who drop everything when you call them bawling on the phone to come over just so you don't have to be alone. i'm thankful for my weaknesses because somehow i am made strong through them. i'm thankful that Jesus spoke that his burden is light and his yoke is easy. and through all of those things i realize how much the lyrics to the song below ring true. it is going to be alright. i am going to be ok. we aren't meant to live this life alone and i've gotten another glimpse of why these past two days.

It's going to be alright - Sara Groves

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

I can tell by your eyes that you're not getting any sleep
And you try to rise above it, but feel you're sinking in too deep
Oh, oh I believe, I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

I believe you'll outlive this pain in you heart
And you'll gain such a strength from what is tearing you apart
Oh, oh I believe I believe that

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

When some time has past us, and the story if retold
It will mirror the strength and the courage in your soul
Oh, oh, I believe I believe,

I believe
I believe

I did not come here to offer you cliche's
I will not pretend to know of all your pain
Just when you cannot, then I will hold out faith, for you

It's going to be alright
It's going to be alright

christmas far from "home"

this is the first christmas that i will be spending away from my mom and home. it definitely feels weird to not be in indiana. i'm thankful that most of the eugene team is going to be here for christmas, which makes it way easier to be away from home home. it's sometimes still hard to believe that i am so far away from everything that i once knew as home. today i was writing christmas cards and wrote one to a good friend here in eugene. in that card i wrote that i was so glad that i am friends with her because friends like her make eugene feel a lot more like home. i know God has blessed me so much since i've been to eugene. i have an awesome job, GREAT co-workers who are now my friends too, friends i've met through singing in a community choir, and i still love this city. seriously, it's a great city. through all of that i know it's made living so far away from indiana that much easier. i can only thank God for providing and blessing me. i am loved.

it might be a hard christmas this year, but i am surrounded by my "family" here. that makes it so much better. i'm so thankful.

:)