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!