where has this year gone...?

is anyone else as tripped up that it is about to be November? I can't believe that this year has FLOWN by. only 2.5 months till the big Race...wow.

So, in typical Type A/anal/planner/organizer fashion...I typically set goals each year and on each Birthday for myself...today as we changed the clocks again, I was surveying my goals, and wondering how I am doing...and isn't it silly, because I am only judging against myself...but I am proud of what I have done so far...as I get older, my journey becomes more and more internal rather then external...trying to figure out who I am and what I stand for. That can be painful, but it is good...

well i know that the next 2 months are going to go by in a blur...Tim and I have several trips coming up, so time will really start to fly...anyway...running is going well...I did a tough 14 this weekend, but happy to say the knee and the shins are getting much better...and I finally swam a mile last Thursday night in about 45 minutes, it was freakin hard, but I was really proud.

let me know how you are doing..shoot me a message!

14.5 miles...and being able to "See The Morning"

Today I ran 14.5 miles...wow, it was tough. I told my mom I had a street fight and the street won!! It is amazing that you can start the run, and go for a certain distance and feel so great (today it was about 8 miles)...then start to wonder why on earth you are running in the 1st lace. The great thing about our training is that we run out to the halfway point, then turn around and run back to where our cars are parked. So basically, around the 8 mile mark, I was pretty much screwed, and realized I had to get back to my car...so it was me and my iPod and my weary legs pushing it out for 6 more miles...I finished, and I am proud...but I am also in pain!

But the best thing about this morning was the 1st 3 miles...we started at 6:45 am, it was about 38 degrees, and the sun was slowly rising over the Tennessee pastures...it was beautiful...one of our artists is Chris Tomlin, and he put out a new record called "See The Morning", and his message is all about hope ... and the joy in knowing that God is faithful and has the sun rise every day and all things begin anew and afresh each morning...and running out in the farmland today, I knew what he meant...it was good to know that God was with me, and to experience it in a visible way as the sun rose and the fog lifted and the trees were all different beautiful colors...it was a good reminder for me.

And then there is always that comical moment...or rather, the humility that has come along with this training...coming home, getting in to an ice bath with 22 pounds of ice (thanks tim for buying the giant bag!), and crying like a baby because the water was so cold...ask Tim, he got a GREAT laugh out of that.

Hope you are doing well...

LH

need a little advice...any ideas?

hello reading public, what is up? I just got done watching my beloved Bulldogs take a beating from the Vols...oh well. It's gonna be a long season, unfortunately we started 5-0 so people believed the hype about us...tonight the truth came out...we ain't that good. anyway...that is not the point of this blog...

OK...here is where I need a little help...I have to raise $1000 more for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society...and I need some fundraising ideas.

Do any of you know of any ideas for how I can get the last $1,000? I need some "low hanging fruit" (thanks Kat for the phrase) ideas--things that I can accomplish with minimal effort/investment.

I plan on sending some postcards out to my family members who still have not given...but beyond that...I am struggling.

So idea people, please send along some thoughts...My deadline is November 10th...I am in the home-stretch

So any help is appreciated!

Thanks!

Leigh

PS: I ran a 10k today in 71 minutes, my best time yet! My knee and shins are still hurting though... :( but I made it!

What do sore legs look like...

very sexy... :)



This has been the story of my life lately...4 ice bags, and I ice 3-5 times a day...

sweet...

What I love about Running...

So.....the bad news is that I am injured. I have tendonitis in my left knee and shin splints, much worse in my right leg, but really in both. So it has been a PAINFUL 2 weeks...I have had ice on my legs non-stop...even at work! But it has given me time to reflect about why I love to run...(note: about 4 months ago, there was nothing I LOVED about running...but it sure is addictive!!)

#1: The feeling of accomplishment when I finish...for a girl who loves to achieve, it feels great everytime I finish a daily jog...

#2: The feeling of FREEDOM when I am out running...seriously, waking up early and jogging, listening to my favorite music on my iPod...helps me feel FREE to do whatever I want...and be the peson who I want to be...

#3: Sweating...a good sweat really makes me feel accomplished...

#4: The Community of Runners...it is like a little world of people who speaks their own language...it is nice to be a part of it!

#5: The Confidence...when I am done running my long runs on Saturday, I feel confident that I could accomplish anything I choose to do...

Anyway...there is something spiritual to me about running, and I think it is because it encompasses that whole list above...I love it.

I have to "aqua jog" in the pool this week as part of my recovery from the splints...that leaves a little different feeling then running does (ie: boredom)...but I hope to be fully recovered in a week to 10 days!

Leigh

PS: here is a recent photo of Tim & I...