Journey to the Finish Line

I don't even know where to start, so I guess I will just start with Friday and go from there...

Friday.... We left early in the morning (thankfully we were able to drop our kids off Thursday night to my friend Monica's house - who took all 4 kiddos for the weekend - she's AMAZING!) and headed to Chicago.  We went right to the Expo and I picked up my race bib, train passes for the family, and found my name on the "wall".

After that, we went and got checked in at the hotel.  We hadn't even been at the hotel 10 minutes and Mom and Dad arrived there.  We got ready and Jeff and I headed out to the Team World Vision Dinner.

At the dinner, they just gave us some tips for the morning so things would run a bit smoother, and then they also announced that they were acknowledging the TOP 100 Fundraisers!  I could not believe my name was on the list!  Now, I just want to point out... my name is the one that is on the paper - but it is those that donated and supported me that put it there.   In recognition, back at the tent after the marathon they were giving the Top 100 a medal that said "Impact Award".  AWESOME.
After the event was over, we walked for like 20 - 30 minutes trying to find a cab to get back to the hotel.  Not. Fun.

Saturday Morning.... The Marathon starts at 7:30... I had to be at the Team World Vision tent by 5:45. What?  I was only used to getting up about an hour before I would run.  So much more time now!  I ate a little more than usual, and tried to space it out some.  A group of us met in the hotel lobby at 4:55AM and walked to the tent.  Probably not the best idea... it was literally like a 2 Mile walk.  We get to the tent... we all get ready, check our bags and then we walk to the  Corral where we were to start... no lie, almost another mile walk.  I would definitely redo that whole morning thing, if given the opportunity!

And we start....

It started off good.  SO MANY PEOPLE!   Crazy ridiculous!  Jeff and my parents were planning to see me at the TWV (Team World Vision) booth at mile 3.  Jeff realized that we would be running right by the hotel soon after the start and I was able to see him at about Mile 1.   Before he left the hotel he got this awesome shot from our hotel room.

 

After that I saw them all at Mile 3.  Here is one of the best shots my mom got of me.  I am in the middle with the black headband if you can't tell.

 

 Our group kept on trucking along.  It "seemed" to be going so fast.  One of my favorite moments was we were running right past a senior citizen home and all the residents were sitting in the windows watching and waving and giving thumbs-ups.  Seriously one of the clearest memories I have was seeing them.   Team World Vision had a group of people cheering and they got a pretty good shot of me too. (with the exception that my chin and my neck look like one)

 

I saw Jeff, Mom and Dad again at 11.5.  At just about the half-way point (13.1) I really started dealing with some pain in my left hip and knee.  I had experienced on again/off again pain in my knee during my training... but really hadn't had much recently.  While talking with Bev, basically our Mentor Runner who has run like 7 marathons, she said she was feeling a little something too and was attributing it to the slant in the road.  Our training runs were on a paved trail, and here we were running on the side of the road that was pretty slanted.  The pain was hurting and I had to slow it down some.  It really crushed me to not be able to stay with my group.  Thankfully, right after I backed away from them I saw my parents, and Jeff again.  As soon as I saw Jeff I went over and started to cry.  He hugged me, told me I had this, and sent me on my way.  He was not entertaining any pity party and I am thankful! I did just need that affirmation that I could still do it even though I wasn't with my group.  I think this shot was taken and it is basically when I first saw them.

 

I was able to keep going with a slower run, but the pain kept getting worse even though I was trying to be intentional about running in the middle of the road.  I saw Jeff again at 21.5 in China Town, however he and my parents had split and I missed seeing my parents even though they were in China Town too.   A little past mile 22, I just couldn't run anymore.  I would walk and my knee would start to feel OK, so I would try and run again and the pain just got worse.  Thankfully, I could walk pretty comfortably with no pain.  Then I even thought "well, I can power walk and it's not hurting too bad."  It was really the impact from running that was causing the pain.  So I decided to just power walk it.  Even though most of the people around me were walking at this point, it did feel pretty good to finally pass people!  : )  My times from the check in points even report that I had a faster mileage at the end when I was power walking, than when I was running slow! 

 

Right after I passed the 26 Mile marker and rounded the corner to the finish line I picked it up and started to run.  I saw Jeff and my parents in the stands and they were screaming like crazy.  I saw the FINISH line and as I got to it I raised my hands in the air and crossed it.  26.2 Miles.  I did it!  I finished it!!!   I will not bother you with the craziness of getting back to the tent and then trying to find a cab because I was not walking one more step, mainly because I do not want to recall it.  Crazy, just crazy!  Here is a picture my friend Angie got of me when I got back to the tent.

I have to be honest, I do not think I could have done it by myself.  Only because I was doing this to bring clean water to those in need got me across the finish line.  There were many mornings when I just did not want to run, but knew I had to, to stick with my training.  Knowing that I had people who not only believed in me, but also believed in the purpose for which I was running kept me going. 

The days after the marathon up until about Friday night, I do admit were very confusing for me for some reason.  I really struggled with feeling like I accomplished something...that I did it.  I knew I never really cared about my time, I just wanted to finish, but I was really just feeling down in the dumps about the whole thing.  I asked Jeff if it happened...  if we went to Chicago and I ran the marathon.  It just didnt' seem like it happened.  I did a little "googling" and found that there is actually a thing called Post-Race Blues. You can read an article here  about it if you'd like, and also, two blogs I found which made me realize it is just normal... here and here . Whew!

 

My great support team in Chicago

Another thing I need to mention is that Jeff put two playlists on my phone.  He did it like a week before, but I never listened to them, I wanted them to be fresh.  One playlist was songs, and the other was scripture.  When he told me he downloaded 26 scriptures, I just assumed it was from an audio Bible.  No!  When I played it for the first time, I heard his voice.  It sent chills through me and I about lost it.  Then, a couple different times, the kids were on there yelling, "go Mommy!" Is he the best or what?  At one point when I was feeling really defeated because I was having to walk, the scripture playlist kept playing the same verse.  Kid You Not.  God was all over my iPhone and wanted to drive a scripture home to me...

2 Corinthians 12:9-10

New International Version (NIV)

⁹ But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. ¹⁰ That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong.

 

I am So thankful for the opportunity I had to do this.  I am thankful for the many people that supported me.  I am thankful that we are bringing life change to 51 people and for generations to come!! 

 

Thank You!!! Thank You!!! Thank You!!!

 



 



 



 



 

 



 



A Little Marathon Humor

Here are my TOP TEN MARATHON SIGNS....

10.  This seemed like a good idea 4 months ago

9.   WTF?  Where's The Finish?

8.  Your Training Lasted Longer than Kim Kardashians Marriage.

7.  If this were easy, we would be doing it.

6.  Someday you will not be able to do this.  Today is NOT that day.

5.  Welcome Back To Your Friday Nights

4.  26.2  because 26.3 would be CRAZY

3. Worst Parade Ever.  Throw us some candy

2.  Punch anyone who says you are almost there.

1. Kenyans are lazy, they only run for 2 hours! 


I especially like #1 because I would like to believe that it is true, and that being said, I am so NOT lazy because I ran for 3 times that!! : )

20 MILES

On Saturday September  15  our group did our 20 Mile Training Run!  20 Miles... or as we like to refer to it as 4 - 5's.  That's it.. just four 5 mile runs!  Seems a little less intimidating right?  : )

What was so awesome about this run is that the church did a volunteer request and we had Hines Drive (the course we run) filled with members from our church cheering us along and doing water and Gatorade stations.  It made it so much fun, not knowing who we were going to see at the next stop!   Along with cheering us on along the way, there was also a ton of encouragement in chalk on the course. As well as a huge crowd cheering at the Finish Line!  How great is that!!

The cherry on top was that Jeff came out to one of the cheer/water stations with ALL 4 kids!  My hubby ROCKS!  It was so awesome seeing them and seeing the kids cheer me on. Cole quote, "Cheer Mommy, Cheer Mommy!"  Love it! 

Having had pretty crappy 16 and 18 Mile runs, I was a bit fearful going into the 20 miler, however, I changed some things up... better carbs before the run and better fuel during the run, and honestly - the 20 mile run was my best run ever!  Praise God!

As my group approached the finish line, we held hands and started singing... We are the Ridge Runners, God's mighty Ridge Runners, everywhere we go, people want to know, who we are, so we tell them.  We are the Ridge Runners!!

(Stacy, Heather, Julie, Gaby, Bev, and Shannon)

 

The Good, The Bad and The Ugly

So it has been a little over a month since my last update and I wanted to update you all on my training. 

The Good - At the beginning of August we went to TX to visit Jeff's family.  While we were there, we were able to run together.  Although the "lows" there were in the low 70's, Jeff and I were able to run together.  Something we do not get to do here at home.  He ran all my runs with me in the morning, including a 15 mile long run on a Saturday.  He is such an encouragement to me, that honestly they were the best runs I had, had in awhile - even the 15 miler! 

The Bad - So this is not really "bad" but it was another "AH HA" moment for me in my running, and again, God just really brought some more things into perspective for me.  While running with a friend on a mid week 6 mile run, I made the comment that I had forgot to put my water bottles in the fridge the night before therefore my water was not cold, but warm and it was not refreshing.  She replied with - that's ok, you think that is bad - I only drink bottled water.  We both just kinda looked at each other and basically said we needed to get over ourselves.  Here we were complaining about our CLEAN water - when we are running to help provide clean water for others who are not as fortunate. 

The Ugly - Ok, if you have an easy stomach - just skip this part.  Last Saturday, I had my longest run to date.  16 Miles!  Worst. Run. Ever.   From the start I was feeling a bit "off", wasn't sure what, but just felt like I had no energy.  At about mile 11 - it hit.  I got the runs during my run.  Yuck, I know.  Thankfully, it was along a portion of the trail that had a lot of restrooms.  I visited 3 of them!  Although that happened, and after that I felt like I had even less energy - I FINISHED!  Another thing was that I forgot my phone that day and the girl I was running with didn't have her phone.  I know if I had had it I probably would had called Jeff to come get me and would had just called it a day.  I didn't have that option and therefore I pressed on.  I didn't finish strong - but I finished! Thank You Jesus.  This past week I was much more intentional about what I ate and made sure my body had the proper fuel.  Much better run.

I am doing this for one reason - because God laid it on my heart to do this to help raise funds and bring awareness to those in need.  Will you please help me build water wells in Zambia, Africa?

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!! Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me! Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Running Water

A couple of weeks ago, we traveled to NJ to visit my family.  We arrived on Friday evening June 29th... the next morning was our scheduled 8 Mile Run.   During the night we had a massive Thunder/Rain/Wind Storm.  It was reported that winds were higher than that of Hurricane Irene that struck the area last year.  During the night the electricity kept flickering, I know this because my phone was plugged in next to the bed and kept making noises!  However, when the alarm went off for us to get up and run everything seemed fine... then the power went. Nothing.  Jeff and I went out for our run and when we returned there was still no electricity... in fact, there was no electricity for 4 days!  It did not return at my parents house until Tuesday evening.   However, where they live, everyone has well water, which needs a pump, which needs electricity... so no electricity means no running water. 

I can not even begin to explain what an eye opening experience this was.  I have no doubt that it was something that God wanted me to experience.  So we had no running water to drink, to brush our teeth, to flush our toilets.  Every time you had to use the bathroom we had jugs of water (that we got from family members who had water) that we had to put in the toilet to flush it.  We had to go to the Acme and buy bottled water and bags of ice - can you imagine!!! I mean we had to get in the car, drive 10 minutes to the store, and buy water and ice because we were unable to turn one of the multiple faucets in our house on to get it!!!! People... do you hear this?  Do you hear this???

What was an inconvenience for me, my family and most of the surrounding area was just that an INCONVENIENCE!  There are people living on this earth, God's children, that do not have clean water to drink!! We can do something about this!!  I am running for water!!!  I am training to run a marathon, to help raise money to fund water wells in Zambia, Africa.  Will you PLEASE, PLEASE support me.  I am a little over half way to my goal.  I can not reach it without your support!

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!! Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me! Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Water? Water!

This past Saturday I ran my second race.  I ran a 10K which is 6.2 miles.  I did my run/walk which is 4 minutes of running then a 1 minute walk and I completed it in 1 hour and 15 minutes.  I am happy that I completed it without needing to take extra walk breaks outside of my timed ones, and that I didn't feel like I was going to die afterwards.  I even did a "Phoebe Finish" (If you do not know what I am referring to search Phoebe Running Friends on YouTube and you will see!)  Here are some of the awesome ladies I got to run with!

The 10K had an unusual late start of 8:30 and it was already hot.  For the first 3.5 miles of the run we were running neighborhood streets in the direct sun.  It was HOT!!  Thankfully, there were several houses that had their sprinklers on facing the road and some were even holding hoses and just spraying you if you wanted it!!  I am not sure I would have survived without being cooled off by that water!  The remainder of the race was on a trail in the woods, which thankfully was shaded, however, I had never trained running trail, so I was more cautious in my running.    At one point when I was running and really hoping I would come across another house to hose me off, I had another "slap in the face" moment.  Here I am, wanting someone to spray me with a hose of cold clean water... and there are people living on this earth - the same earth - that we are living on and they do not even have cold clean water to drink!!!!  If you are familiar with Two Word Story, this came to my mind - Water? Water!

To those of you that have made a donation to Team World Vision in support of me - THANK YOU!!  Your support means so much to me and helps me to keep going! If you have not yet made a donation, I ask that you would please consider making a tax-deductible donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! It would mean so much to me!  Here is the link where you can donate online http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing



Training!

Our "official" training for the Chicago Marathon began two weeks ago.  I can't believe I have already been at this for 4 months (CRAZY!) but now it is official.  I was doing a different program, but then when this one started I switched over to it so I would be running the same as everyone else.  Here is our training program:

I would greatly appreciate your prayers as I continue to train.  The miles are starting to add up, as are the pains.  I have been having issues with my right knee and my left foot.  Thankfully I rarely feel pain while running, it is mostly in my recovery.   Saturday afternoons are full of ice packs and Ibuprofen!



My Verse

God is SO Good!!! So, a little while ago I was searching my YouVersion App and I was highlighting all the verses that had the word "run" or "running" in them. I highlighted a few, but one really stood out as my favorite. Isaiah 40:31

A couple weekends ago, I went away to a homeschool conference for the weekend. I bought a book and the authors were one of the speakers I went to go listen to. After the session was over I went up and asked if they would sign my book. This is what I saw when I got it back:

How awesome is that?!! I love when God just thinks so much of you, that he orchestrates something like that to happen. God Rocks!!!

And let me not even get started at how this verse now speaks to me about mothering... Whoa!  : )

I am Running the Chicago Marathon with Team World Vision to help raise money to build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! Will you make a tax-deductible donation to support my efforts? Together we can help change lives in Africa!

http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Thanks so much!!!

My First 5K

On Saturday, April 14th I ran my first race ever - The Martian 5K!! I can not even begin to express the joy of this accomplishment, yet at the same time, I am still struggling to enjoy it - if that makes any sense!

So I have been training faithfully - with huge support from Jeff!!! Not sure I would be able to do this, without his encouragement, support, and willingness to take on the kiddos while I go out for my runs!! As for my training I was following a basic run/walk training. Run for 3 min and walk for 1. Then I bumped the running up to 4 mins, and then 5 mins. Up until my last training run, I had yet run continuously. I was hoping to be able to run the 5K without walking, but had yet attempted it, so on Wednesday night for my last run, I decided to give it a try and I DID IT!!! It felt so good going into the race knowing that I had done it and that I could do it! My average pace on my last run was about 11:50 min/mile. Which I thought was pretty good b/c when I was running on the treadmill I was running a 12:00 min/mile pace.

Well, I am happy to report that I finished the 5K in 32:38 with an average pace of 10:30 min/mile - Woo Hoo!!! I came in 29th out of 72 in my age group (top half!) and 399 out of 783 runners overall (almost top half!) I must admit I was blown away with how well I did.


As exciting as it is to have this accomplishment, I am still struggling to enjoy the actual running. I battle a LOT of negative talk in my head (even after my great run on Saturday, my next run on Monday morning was hard and I again didn't *feel* like a runner) As I was running on Monday, I was praying to God and just asking Him to help me enjoy this. That I didn't want to continue going through these next 6 months NOT enjoying this and as I was praying this - the thought came into my head, "do you think THEY enjoy walking over 6 miles twice a day to get dirty water" Wow! Conviction! I am not sure what the next 6 months will look like. If this process will continue to be a struggle, or if I will be able to find some enjoyment and fulfillment out of it on a personal level. What I DO know, is that I am doing this for something so much greater than myself. This is NOT about me, it is about bringing awareness to desperate needs and about raising money to help those less fortunate.

I am Running the Chicago Marathon with Team World Vision to help raise money to build water wells in Zambia, Africa!! Will you make a tax-deductible donation to support my efforts? Together we can help change lives in Africa!

http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Thank you so much for your support!!!!

Best. Parents. Ever.

I recently found out some very awesome news!!! My parents 40th Wedding Anniversary is October 6th - the day before the Chicago Marathon! I was talking with them and was asking them where they were planning on going for their Anniversary. My Mom starts off with how they were talking about going to Bermuda, possibly doing a cruise and so forth and then ends with... but then when we heard you were doing a Marathon in Chicago, we decided we would be going to Chicago. How Awesome Is That??? I was moved - SO much! They said, that it was a huge deal and a huge accomplishment and couldn't imagine not being there. Let's face it - I never really gave them a lot to be proud of in the athletic department - I was a Cheerleader, and I mean I was Captain and all... but really only so much can be said about a good Rah, Rah!!! Can not wait to see their faces alongside Jeff's at the finish line! So thankful for them and for their support! Love you Mom and Dad!!

Walk

I am currently doing a Couch 2 5K Training program through an app on my phone. It is very convienent! I hit the start button and I start my warm up, then a beep and a voice tells me to run. I run until I hear the beep and the voice tells me to walk, then I walk. Repeat the process.

As I was running the other day, my legs were getting tired and I was breathing hard. (Have I mentioned before that I am NOT a runner!) Then like a voice desending down on me from Heaven the voice from my app told me to WALK. What a sweet, sweet word in my ear! I was SO thankful that I could stop running and walk.

As I was walking, and relishing in the fact that at that very moment was not running, I was hit with the reality once again why I am doing this...

So those less fortunate than I will not have to WALK miles upon miles for water. Every. Single. Day.

If you have not yet done so, I would greatly appreciate it if you would make a donation to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa. You can visit my personal page http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

Thank you so much!!

Going Radical

This past weekend our Pastor started a new series titled, "Radical" and with this he announced the new partnership that Northridge church has with World Vision. It has been 2 years in the making and there was excitement building over the last month as we knew this was coming.

Our church is basically taking on two communities in Zambia, Africa. The money raised from the marathon that I am running will go directly to building water wells in these two communities. This past weekend, Pastor Brad asked people to be radical and take on sponsoring a child from one of these communities. They had the Activity Center, and other areas in the church filled with photo's of 2000 children from those communities that needed sponsored. Our church responded. By the 4th service this past weekend, people were turning in blank support cards and are now awaiting to hear who their sponsor child will be.

Jeff and I knew that the ask was going to be made to sponsor a child and we had talked about getting a girl close to Hayley's age. We actually had decided this at the beginning of the year and put this on our 2012 Gerwing Goal list before we even knew the church was going to be doing this partnership. It was meant to be. We had received word that the response was good from the Saturday evening services so we got to church early on Sunday morning and since Jeff was volunteering that day he was able to get into the room and go pick out our child. As we sat in the service and I listened to the talk, I really felt God was asking me (us) to sponsor another child. As I saw the pictures and watched the video of our Pastors trip to Zambia I knew we could do more. Sponsoring one child is very doable at $35 a month. Sponsoring two - $70 a month is a bit more of a stretch, we will feel that a little bit more in the budget. Not fully, but a little more "radical". As the Pastor was wrapping up, Jeff snuck out to go get to his station for volunteering. I wasn't able to talk to him about what I was thinking, feeling... I grabbed my phone and texted him..."I think we need to get another child." And as soon as I sent it, he replied, "OK". Followed a minute later by, "got one". Jeff, my financially minded husband who needs to create an excel spreadsheet for every financial decision we make responded without question or discussion. God obviously was speaking to him too. Go God!

So with great pleasure I introduce to you Mary and Faustina (girls call her Tina)



Now when I am training I have a more personal reason to keep going. Actually two.

If you have not yet made a donation to support me, you can check out my Team World Vision personal page here: http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing

I would greatly appreciate it!! Go Radical!! Thank you so much!!!

Progress

So we joined our local "rec" center. It is actually where the girls go for gymnastics, but we never had a membership to go there. We priced a few different places, and for the added benefits that the rec had (swimming pool, tree fort, outdoor pools) we decided to go there. It has been nice to be able to go to their indoor track and start my running.

My first morning I went there to run it was about 5:30am or so. I admit, I didn't want to go. But I did. As soon as I got on the track I got right behind a gentleman in a World Vision "I care. And so I Run" shirt! Well, if that didn't put a little skip in my step. Speaking of which - I wonder if anyone has ever "skipped" a marathon? Hmm?? Anyway, back to my point - God is so faithful!!! As soon as I saw the shirt, I was reminded - this is not about me. I am not doing this for myself.

After I came home from my third morning there, Jeff asked how it was. My response, "I feel a little less like I am going to die". True story. I am amazed that after only my third time there I am seeing improvemnt. It is small and it is slow, but it is improvement none the less.

Here is a quote I came across today... take it in:

"Sometimes I would like to ask God why He allows poverty, suffering, and injustice when He could do something about it."
"Well, why don't you ask Him?"
"Because I'm afraid He would ask me the same questions."
~Anonymous

I would greatly appreciate it if you would consider sponsering me. Here is my link to my personal page:

http://support.worldvision.org/goto/heathergerwing


Thanks so much!

Registered!

Well... it is official! I registered for the marathon! It opened on February 1, 2012 and noon, and I was waiting for it to open! It sold out in a record of like 5 days! So, me and 44,999 people will be running the marathon. Of those other 44,999 about 300 are from Northridge!

I will admit that I am a bit conflicted. On one side I am excited to be on this journey, yet on another it is for such a sad situation. I am also conflicted with realizing the expense that this is going to cost... $150 registration fee, new sneakers and the appropriate attire, hotel cost in Chicago, etc, etc, etc... I mean if I didn't have all these extra costs, that could just be $ I donated directly to World Vision. So, I have decided to track all my expenses related to training and actually running the marathon and match that cost as my personal donation.

If you haven't yet, you can check out my donation page here: http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1205795&pg=personal&fr_id=1670

Please consider making a tax-deductible donation to World Vision! I truly appreciate your support and encouragement!!

Glory to God!

So, I started working out some! I really need to get a schedule going!! With a nursing baby and 3 other little ones running around - timing is crucial!

Anyway, I was on the elliptical (at this very moment I am regretting the decision to get an elliptical over a treadmill, but oh well...) and I was listening to "Glory to God Forever" by Fee on my iPod. As I was ellipticaling (is that a word?)I had my eyes closed and was just worshipping God. {side note - I need to remember that I will NOT be able to close my eyes when I am running outside , point for the elliptical I guess!} As I was worshipping I just began to see the children in Africa in need of basic necessities, like CLEAN water, that we take for granted each and every day. Let's be real - I put my 2 year old in the bath, and no lie 8 out of 10 times he pee's in the first few minutes he is in there. What do I do? i empty the tub, and fill it back up with clean water. These children are drinking water that animals bathe in and who knows what else in!!

If you feel led, I would appreciate your support either financial or prayer, or both. Believe me, I want to raise as much money as I can for Team World Vision, but I do not discount the power of prayer! I need your prayer support and encouragement to be able to do this! So over these next 9 months, send me a note, a text, an email, a facebook post... let me know you got my back in prayer!

Here is the link if you would like to make a donation:
http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1205795&pg=personal&fr_id=1670


Here is the song:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h64opCwLZCw


~I am Running!

What am I doing?

So, here it is - I am putting it out there... I am running the Chicago Marathon on October 7, 2012 with Team World Vision with my church {Northridge Church}.

So let me start from the beginning. A couple of weeks ago a very good friend who is a marathon runner mentioned to me that our church was going to be partnering with Team World Vision to run the Chicago Marathon to help build water wells in Zambia, Africa. My initial thought... "Wow, that is great. We will totally support you!" My second thought which followed immediately after that, was a tinge of jealously, "I wish I could do that."

I find it so hard in this life stage (4 kids - 5 1/2 and under)to actually DO more for the Kingdom. Let's face it... over the last 6 years, there has not been a whole lot of time where I wasn't either pregnant or had a baby attached to the boob. No oversees mission trip was going to happen. And life with 4 little ones is just busy!

The more I thought about this, the more I mentioned to my friend and to Jeff that I really felt like I should do this, the more it felt right. I really felt like God was pulling on my heart to do this.

Here's the kicker... I HATE to run! No, really I hate it. True Story. I have tried at different points in my life to get into the running thing, and it just never bloomed (probably b/c of my hate for it!)

So, here I am... two months since Blake's birth, I have not worked out (with the exception of some pretty relaxed prenatal video's)in close to a year and I just signed up to run a marathon.

Here's what I know. This is so much bigger than myself. I am doing this for God and for HIS children. It will be hard and it will be a sacrifice to me and my family (thankfully Jeff is my BIGGEST encouragement!) but God's children are dying and he has placed it on my heart to try and do something about it. It might not be feasible for me to go away on a 2 week mission trip right now, but I can give a couple hours a week to train and to ask friends and family to support me on this journey.

Will you please consider to support me financially. All money raised through Ridge Riders (our NRC team name) through Team World Vision will go specifically to help get clean water to those in need. Team World Vision suggests we set a goal of $1310 ($50 for every mile we run)but I would love to exceed that! I covered my first mile, will you cover one?

Please also pray for me. This will be hard. I am sure at some point I will loose sight and want to quit. I am sure Satan will have a field day - but I will not let him win!

Here is my personal page where you can make a donation:
http://support.worldvision.org/site/TR/TeamWorldVision/General?px=1205795&pg=personal&fr_id=1670

I will do my best in keeping this updated so you can see how I am doing in my training!! Thank you so much for your support and prayers!