Category Archives: half marathon race

A runner’s dream day…

Posted on by

3

Cap city

Yet another Saturday morning, another great morning for a run.  Except this Saturday, May 4th, I would be allowed to run in another race.  I do not write the word allowed lightly because as anyone can testify, simply to be ABLE to run is a gift in and of itself.  Simple fact is bodies do wear down.  This feat defies time.  It defies logic.  In fact, I dare say this feat starts first in your mind, then your legs simply obey… mostly.

For me, this particular race had me backtracking…. in my mind anyway.  For this race, run in the streets of Columbus, was the first first time I towed the line for a long-distance event ever, seven years ago.  It’s been a privilege to run this one every year since.  And not only did the day bring about perfect weather conditions, but I was privileged to experience yet another start with a friend who’s “run alongside” me in various ways for over six years now.  You cannot actually see her giant-sized heart in that lean and healthy body of hers, but I’m telling you, not sure how it fits in there.  She has a heart of a champion, not only in her hard work efforts, but more importantly in her compassion and generosity for others. To many more years my friend!!

I could share many memory-pictures of today.  Some have meaning to me alone, some have a greater meaning to us all, some just celebrate the family-hood that comes from enduring the hard and cheering on it’s members.  I simply share so that I can remember.  I want to remember these lessons to share them with my children.  I want to remember because when things get hard again (and they will), I want to trace His faithfulness, His strength, His lavish love.

And it was for this reason that I have one crystal clear memory.  It was mile 7.  My mind celebrates the past-half-way point, but my body begs to differ.  In the excitement of race day, in the flow of being surrounded by the mass of others, I run faster than my typical pace.  And in that excitement, I start to think about numbers.  And when I start to think about numbers, that becomes my focus.  And the mind games begin.  I really don’t want to settle there, but in the flow it happens.  And so, just ahead, I see a sign.  It’s held up strong and high by it’s owner.  It has three simple words written on it.  And it rocks my thoughts.

Run For God.

That’s it.  That was this is all about.  That’s why I began, that’s why I continue.  I run – FOR God, BY God, IN God.  And my countenance shifted.  And the sun seemed a little bit warmer, and the sky appeared a little bit bluer, and the breeze was a little bit cooler, and my smile was a little bit wider.  Pain?  Yep, still present.  But therein lies a blessing in pain, it’s a reminder of the work I’m putting in.  Work that is worth it each and every time.  So much so, that I keep on working, until He tells me otherwise.

And I finish.  And I celebrate with my family who have come to support, and friends who have traveled the journey as well.  I also celebrate those who have finished this course for the very first time, with a story each their own.  And I receive a medal that serves as marker #19 in my count of half-marathon races.  And I cherish this day to honor my God who has blessed me beyond what I deserve.  And I return home to a full family day that includes shopping for and planting flowers with my girls, hearing my boys talk about their games of pick-up basketball, and jumping on our bikes for a ride to DQ, and my heart is full.

And to top it off, I receive an email from Cap City.  I hadn’t seen a time of 1:52 in quite awhile.  I was happy with thinking I hit the 1:53 range, because for a long while I couldn’t break the 1:54 mark.  And what number did I see flash across my iPhone screen?

1:52.59   Boom!  I celebrated like a 2 year old on Christmas, just God and I in that moment.  So fun.  I’m so grateful.

And through our current family situation, His words ring loud and true:

Philippians 4:11-13

11 I am not saying this because I am in need, for I have learned to be content whatever the circumstances. 12 I know what it is to be in need, and I know what it is to have plenty. I have learned the secret of being content in any and every situation, whether well fed or hungry, whether living in plenty or in want. 13 I can do all this through him who gives me strength.

May we all continue to remember.  Thank you Jesus.

Another day, another race!

Posted on by

0

Here we are again!  A week after battling both the inclines and the heat of Nashville, we suited up and headed out to hit the streets again.  This time – our hometown of Columbus!

As with any race, or journey for that matter, there is always something to learn.  I found myself a bit reflective with this one.  This journey for me started just about 6 years ago.  As you can attest to, lots of things happen over the span of 6 years.  Within these crazy years of running, I decided to take some inventory.

The Lord has allowed this flesh & bone body to endure 4 full marathons, 17 half-marathons, one quarter-marathon, a hand-full of four-milers and 5ks, 2 triathlons, shoes too numerous to count, and mileage in the thousands.

I say all this not to be puffed up, but instead to boast in the One who gets all the credit.  I say this not because it “sounds great” but that I fully know my weakness.

It still hurts every time.

Yes, I know, the questions begs, “well then why do you do it?”

Simple.

I do it because He asked me to.

I do it because in my weakness, there is the reminder of His strength.

I do it because to Him, it matters.

Every time I want to quit, I remember.

I remember the days of training in which my mind was focused on the preparation for race day.  I remember that I don’t need to look too far ahead, I just need to take the next step, to reach the next “marker”.  I remember that if it was easy, the rewards would not be so great.  I remember that today, I can, especially when many others can’t.  I remember that my children are watching.  I remember that in doing my best, I win every time.  I remember that it matters.  Pain, for the moment, is temporary.

I needed to remember.  I read past thoughts.  I viewed past pictures.  I recalled lesson upon lesson.  You see, somewhere along the way, that same joy, the one I could in the faces of the first-time racers, had somehow fizzled out.  This wasn’t just another race, this was another mile marker in life.

Today, we came together as a “team” with 30 other participants and spectators wearing a shirt that said – Rock City Church.  In the heart of a downtown city, God was reaching out.  It’s not about the building where we gather, it’s not about the denomination, it’s not about worship style, it’s not about preaching.  It’s about the team.

In a silly analogy, at this moment in our lives, we all take a position somewhere in the “race”.  We might be at the starting line of our faith, we may be a spectator, we may be running at mile 2, we may be leading the pack, we may be serving at a water stop, we may be cheering others towards their finish line, we may be the announcer calling out the finishing times.  No matter where we are, the finish line of our life will come.  What happens to us at the finish line?  It all depends on what “team” we’re running with.  THAT’s what matters.  That’s why I run.

Aaron, I can’t thank you enough for having the courage and the persistence to join me in this adventure.  Sharing this part of the journey with you has lifted me up more times than you will ever comprehend.

Amanda, you are a priceless treasure to me.  Picture after picture, we have stood together at a starting line, some at a finish line, always there in celebration of the experience of a great finish.

To all the girlies, you continue to inspire me as your commitment to your health, your families, and your pursuit of life lived to the full, help me celebrate on race day in new ways every time.

To my Jesus, I love you.

1 Corinthians 9:24-25

24 Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. 25 Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last, but we do it to get a crown that will last forever.

 

Nashville! What a trip!

Posted on by

1

It’s so hard to know where to begin in a humble attempt to recap this magnificent weekend with my husband.  I found myself making an assertive effort all weekend to “document” so that I could remember. I wanted to remember ALL that my senses could take in for a few reasons.

1. My memory seems so fleeting more times than I care to note…. where was I?

2. Even more than my insatiable need to soak in all the details of my children’s thoughts by asking a myriad of questions, I desire to share with them the details of all that God shows me when they ask questions of their own.  Therefore, documentation.

3.  I want to remember years from now.  I want to recall the hard, because within the hard, there is God.  When I recall, His faithfulness unfolds in my mind just as the moment it happened.

So. Friday morning, we wake, enter our usual weekday routine, yet add one more task: load the car with extra stuff.  We gave extra hugs, extra kisses, extra instructions (only a few extra times), dropped the kiddos off at school, and headed for the freeway.

6 hours.  Seems like a long time to be in a car.  It honestly felt like 2.

I have truly enjoyed this stage of marriage.  There is such peace in simply being in the presence of one another, without the need for words.  We’d listen to country music… a lot.  We’d share about funny tweets (only me, he was driving).  We’d joke about the way he we always end up on an unplanned road at some point during our trip.  We’d recognize little blessings (due to said detour, a Chick-Fil-A could be located right off the freeway – score!).  We’d talk deeply, we’d talk lightly.  We didn’t talk at all.  Sheer bliss.  Sometimes we don’t realize just how much we need something until it is placed right in our laps.

And… before we knew it… Nashville’s unmistakable skyline came into view.  For the third year in a row, we found ourselves in the same parking garage, headed to the same convention center to pick up a similar race packet, and to meet the same dear friends.  We walked down Broadway, took in all the sights and sounds of the Honky-Tonks, had some dinner on the patio, and headed to our hotel to get to bed early.

4:30 am our alarm went off.

5:00 we headed downtown.

6:00 we parked and stood in line for a shuttle.

6:45 we arrived at the starting line

As we walked to our corral, we saw a sign.

At 6:50, a sweet, southern gentleman’s voice spoke the name of Jesus over a small group of us.  My emotions rose at the sound of His name.

Here we go.

The next name I heard echoed was my own.

35,000 people there, and right behind us, in this sea of runners were our friends.

I’m not making this up.

We listened to the National Anthem.  I snapped a few videos with my beloved iPhone.  We turned on our tunes, and off we went.

The first 2 miles of this race are great.  You head downhill for the most part, crowds are large, sights are fun, it’s the celebration of it all.  And then, you turn the corner, and it’s uphill, uphill, and uphill.  Now, having already stated that this is our third go-round on this course, one would think I would remember this, but no, I don’t.  Maybe it’s a little bit like labor.  Anywho, the hill part leaves you with one word – humbled.  It takes your breath, brings muscle fatigue, and kicks you out of any type of rhythm you were hoping to hold onto.  In a nutshell, you come face-to-face with your human limitations.

Then, the mind games kick in.  You realize how short of a distance you’ve thus traveled, and how much further you still have yet to go.  You try not to panic, for as you know in training, panic does you no good.  So, you do your best to distract yourself.  You look around at the people, the signs, you focus on the next water stop, you try to get lost in a song.  Some attempts work, others leave you muttering, “Nice try”.

Yet, somehow, onward you press.  The sun was warm, fluids were in dire need of being replaced, people around were either walking or passing you, yet somehow our bodies kept stepping.  Somewhere in the midst of all the sweat and the insanity of how you got yourself here, a peace remained.  Somehow I knew that I knew that I would finish.  Somehow I knew that one more step would eventually lead me to the place where I wanted so desperately to be, at the finish line.  And somehow is mattered.  It mattered that I not only finished, but that I ran the race well.

Not for a time, though that is how it’s measured.

Not for a medal, though they are favorite markers of remembrance.

Not for man’s approval, but for my Lord’s.  He matters, so this matters.

I have realized that my pain is temporary, but how I responded in the hard would make a difference in the”after”.

In calling out my irrefutable weakness, His strength was acknowledged.

I did finish.  His unfailing strength, with grace I do not deserve, had me finish well.  My goal was to squeak in under 2 hours.  He gave me the gift of 1:58:18.  His blessings, through obedience, never fail.

The rest of the weekend was simply more showering of blessings.  A little rest, a little food, some great company surrounded by friendships that only come from a bond through unity in Christ.  We received hospitality, fellowship, and time in abundance.

Aaron, I look forward to doing this again in 5 days!  Some may call us crazy, I consider myself pretty darn lucky.  Thanks for “hangin in” with me in life’s adventures.  May we have many more!

Feel free to hop over and read Aaron’s take.  He has such a way with words…

 

Another fabulous Columbus race…

Posted on by

0

 

What a crazy adventure yet again!  I’ll say one thing, when you decided to say yes to God, he never disappoints with boring!

We began with a 5 am wake up call, dressed for success, and headed out to pick up 2 neighbor friends before heading downtown.  We knew 17,000 people would be running today, but it didn’t quite sink in until we saw the line of red tail lights all getting off at one exit.  After a 40 minute wait, the girls decided to jump ship to head to the starting line in time.  Aaron so kindly gave up his on-time start to locate a parking spot (which he had no money for since it was in my pocket, gulp).

With a warm-up under our belt, we were ready to start, weather was great, spirits were high, and then… the people.  So many people, in fact, there was no more room in the starting corrals.  We had to wait for the race to start and the herds to move in order to make room for us to jump in.  But before we knew it, we were off!

Right away, I was given a gift.  Four years now, I have had a friend experiencing the same adventure.  As we ran alongside each other, my mind repeatedly relayed glimpses of sights, sounds (and smells) that have transpired over those same roads.  What a joy!  My legs were treating me well as we zigged and zagged around people and road obstacles.  At times I felt like we were in a video game, a familiar one at that.  The miles ticked off, one after another, and the thought that washed over me was this…

What a joy.  What a privilege.  I hope I do not ever take for granted the gift of the ability to be ABLE to run.

Pain free?  Not so much.  I had a nagging injury related to my sciatic nerve.  It reached up and grabbed me at mile seven.  What it didn’t reach was my mental stamina.  I found myself at peace.  One mile at a time.  I ran just as my training runs have been, running in the moment how my body could handle.  Amazingly enough, I was able to maintain a pretty steady pace.  Some may call this tenacity, I know the source of this capability, and it’s not my weakened body.

I found myself praying throughout the streets.  I wondered how Aaron was faring.  You see, he decided just two days prior that he would run.  Many would say he was crazy, just now coming back from an injury, but he had been taking great care of and listening to his body, and ultimately, He was trusting the Lord.  His story is one for the books.  He has such a marker for the remarkable power of the Lord’s ability to restore despite the odds.  He too ran with peace.

I prayed for my friend Amanda, you see, as I was veering off to finish, she was only half-way done.  She ran with such peace when I saw her.  Just one year ago, she experiencing a crushing blow from a car, and here she was again today, just content to be able to finish such a task.  She finished well.  She finished with her best time to date.

I also prayed for my friends Jen and Richard.  We ran for Gracehaven today due in part to their passion in getting the word out.  This was their first.  They finished well.  I prayed for my sister-in-law and her sister, running together.  I prayed for friends Heather, Keith, Dave, Chris, Angela, Stan, and Trevor.  A few of the many who had trained for this special day.

The race ended with a time that exceeded my expectations, but more than that, I realized what God was intending to show me today as both Aaron lifted me high in a hug, then my father who wrapped his arms so tightly around mine…

God sustains.

Psalm 54:4
Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.

Running for Gracehaven

Posted on by

0

Gracehaven is a faith-based non-profit organization started in 2008 for the expressed purpose of providing shelter, security, and rehabilitation to girls under the age of 18 who are victims of commercial sexual exploitation in central Ohio. Gracehaven is a long-term rehabilitation facility allowing girls to stay as needed until they reach the age of 18. We will then help them transition to the next step in their life.

While at Gracehaven, the girls will be able to earn their GED, as well as receive counseling and treatment for the horrible trauma and exploitation they have been forced to endure.

With God’s grace, I will be running a half-marathon here in Columbus on Oct. 16th.  After 5 years of running with my Lord, he has asked me to run with a slightly different purpose.  A purpose that allows others the opportunity to give to others, strangers in fact, without expecting a thing in return.  This opportunity fulfills a human desire given to us by our Creator – the fulfillment of giving from the heart, to extend a hand, to make a difference in another’s life.

Would you do me a favor?  Would you pray about this opportunity?  There are many amazing passions and callings that come into our lives over the years.  Sometimes it’s an opportunity to pray, sometimes an opportunity to give of our time, sometimes an opportunity to give of the resources the Lord has given to us.

After praying, take a moment to click over the donation page.  They really do make life easy.  Amazing people, with an amazing vision, and a doubly amazing passion to do what Jesus would do – extend a hand, a heart, a hug, and some pogniant words to young girls who have some deep scars.  These girls are not even oversees, they’re right in our backyards.

Thank you for taking the time to pray and to consider giving.  Every penny counts, every dollar will be put to use.  I appreciate you.  Have a heartfelt day.

A weekend to remember

Posted on by

0

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Ever have those days that just seem to fly by in a blur, and in a moment of “sitting down” you realize all that transpired and then your body truly SHOWS you all that transpired? It hit, hard, but it was such a good feeling. In the spirit of simply sharing the good news, just wanted to journal a short recap of the events in the Conrad household.

Thursday, my dear friend Rachel sent me a text – Scored some free tickets for Women of Faith, can you go? CAN I? Let me check with the hubbie…. – I’m IN!!!! To wrap up the experience in one word I would call it a gift. Plain and simple, I did not earn it nor deserve it, yet we simply drove, parked, picked up free tickets, and walked down to the floor section, fourth from the stage. Yep, I literally felt like Mandisa was giving us a personal concert. We were even close even to see her sport her blue snuggie in between times (rock on!) Incidentally, there are only a few CDs that I actually listen to all the way through, hers is one of them, AND I so happened to be listening just that afternoon as I walked the puppy! It also just so happened the Lord placed a book in my mailbox, WHICH just so happens to be the book that author Lisa Whelchel spoke about THAT NIGHT! (review soon to come!) As if that was not enough blessing, Rachel was tweeting with a very special lady, who we just so happened to walk a few feet to meet right after the session. None other than the wife of Michael Hyatt, president and CEO of Thomas Nelson Publishing – beautiful Gail herself! Yes, I was giddy to take a picture with her!

Continue reading →

Another day…another race

Posted on by

0


What an absolutely gorgeous, and truly perfect, day fo r running a race. There are several factors in life that are out of one’s control, and weather is just one of them. When the Lord just seems to pause for a moment, in the midst of all creation, and hand-picks a day made especially for you, you can’t help but he completely grateful for his love.

Aaron, Jeff, Tom, Gordon, Matt, and Jeff’s friend (don’t you just fret you can’t remember someone’s name!) all gathered this morning at 6:30 am and headed to Tuttle Mall for the start of a 13.1 mile race. Doesn’t that sound just so appealing? I have to tell you, I didn’t even mind being in the estrogen minority, it was such a ball to hang out, joke, and stretch together before the 7:30 buzzer set us off in motion. And that it did, the beginning where legs are still fresh, goal time are in your grasp, and your heart is pumpin. Just wanted to share a few highlights from today.

1. Gordon, I can’t thank you enough for the conversation those first few miles, it really helped push me along, more than you know.
2. Aaron, I’m so thankful for the time we ran together. You helped me set my sites back on Jesus in the midst of my human desire to focus on the pain. My heart melted to pieces when you handed me your water because I missed mine in the fly by, THEN ran back to retrieve some for yourself. I love you more each and every day. Thanks for the song, “He carries me…”
3. Lord I thank you for confirming your presence to me over and over today – answering my prayers for strength, filling me with your living water, sending an “eagle” overhead at mile 7, allowing me to drop some baggage at mile 9, then giving me an amazing spilt time, reaching through the cheers of the crowd, bringing me to the finish line – in my fastest time yet – ONLY YOU!
4. To all the men – congratulations first timers! Congratulations on many PRs! You inspire all those around you. Kuddos to your healthy hearts.

Thanks so much for spending a few moments reliving the memories of today. In my humble opinion, we all have “marathons” that we run, some daily. All the races look a bit different, but we’re all in a race to make our lives count. What do you want to do with yours? Are you currently doing it? “Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but who gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.” 1 Corinthians 9:24

I press on towards the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:14

Pictures to come. Have a wonderful Sunday in and with Him!

My ultimate teammate

Posted on by

0


What an amazing day! After days of rain, and an evening of thunder and lightening, we awoke this morning to blue skies. Such a gift. Thanks to my amazing sister-in-law, we loaded up two vans full of kids (4 of hers, 3 of ours), and backed out the driveway around 6:30 am. Weeks of training (several runs in mounds of snow), a few lost toenails, several blisters, and too many aches and pains to list, we headed for the start line near Nationwide Arena.

Aaron is a newer participant to the running scene (or the craziness as some label it), and though I’ve been able to shed a bit of light on some aspects, nothing really prepares you for the reality of the shoulder to shoulder start line and the countdown to what lays ahead. My amazing and ever faithful friend Amanda was running the race as well. Such a privilege and a blessing to be able to understand each other, no words needed at times, with one who “walked the road(s)” alongside you. For us, another day for a morning run, another chance to run a “leg” of the journey together. As with each day, each race in my journey thus far has had it’s unique qualities, lessons, and actual purpose. Today was no different.

In the training runs I participated in prior to this morning, I chatted with the Lord as to the plans he had for me. Before the sound of the “bell”, I would have told you that he intended for me to run with my husband, the whole way, that he would guide us along together in whichever way he intended. I have no expectations for us to share in this experience together, and I am just blessed beyond words to be able to grow closer together in this way. This truly has taken our marriage to another level. Up until this morning, Aaron has mentioned on several occasions that he wanted me to run my own race, and each time I would tell him in complete peace, my race is with you. After the sound of the bell, I looked over, and I just knew I was supposed to run with Amanda. Somehow, the I just knew, I was to “go”, and in a sense, get out of the way to allow Aaron to run with God.

And so, I did (though I do admit that I glanced back once with the intention to encourage him to join, but the “locked and loaded” lock on Aaron’s face was my confirmation). And so, Amanda and I “went”. We both together commented on this being the best beginning of any race thus far. There was no pushing, no dodging, no scrambling – plenty of room, and a comfortable very comrade-ish feeling to the crowd. The sun was comfortable, the breeze was cooling, the scenery was perfect. We were able to keep the exact same pace together for the first 5 miles, pretty unbelievable.

Around mile 5, I just knew it was my time to settle into a pace that my body was comfortable with (struggling IT-band issue with my left leg), and I began my next leg of the race just the Lord and I. My mind was at peace, my breathing not labored, my desire to simply keep pursuing. Some of my favorite memories along the way are the people I see. I could give you several examples, yet one will stick with me the longest. Around mile 8 I remember a feeling of sheer thankfulness just wash over me like the sun’s rays. Thankful simply to be able to participate in this event, thankful for the amazing weather, thankful for just this sense of being in his presence in the most tangible way. I heard his thoughts aloud as I was able to thank the policemen who gave of their time to be our protectors, thanks for the hundreds of people who gave of their time to cheer and encourage, thanks for every single “little” hand that was extended out to be “hi-fived” by those who passed by. I’m not kidding,only a few seconds after I had these thoughts, a lady passed by and said, “Thanks for what your shirts says.” As in anything I “checked in” when choosing my shirt today. It reads,

“I can do all things through God who strengthens me.” Team 413 (Philippians 4:13)

He is THAT personal of a God.

Aaron, thank you for joining me toady. Thank you for your desire above all to be a man of God. Thank you for doing business with Him today. Thank you for loving me in ways I never thought were possible. I couldn’t be more proud of you today. I am blessed to carry the name Conrad. I love you.