Today made day 367 of my running streak! A year ago on April 29th, I was sitting at the kitchen table reading the latest edition of Runner's World. It was about streaks, and I was inspired. I put the magazine down, grabbed my running shoes and took off. Every day since then I've run anywhere from 1 mile to 30 miles. The world record for the longest streak is held by Ron Hill, three-time Olympian for Great Britain who retired in 2017 after running at least a mile every day for 52 years and 39 days. I still have a ways to go! It takes a lot of dedication, and stick-to-it-iviness through better and worse. There were plenty of days in the past year where I didn't feel like it, but when you have a goal, you've got to stick with it. One night I was out with Bethany at a Maddie Poppe concert at the county fair until after 11 p.m. I still hadn't gotten my mile in and I had less than an hour left! So on our way home, Bethany dropped me off on the road and followed me while I ran my mile in the dark. There were also days when I was sick and felt like I was on my death bed. (It really wasn't that bad...I just felt like it was.) Still I had to grab those running shoes. Then there are the good days, where the sun is shining, and you run downhill with the wind at your back. A little run can make any average day an amazing day!
To celebrate my 1 year anniversary let's do a little Bible study on running!
The word "run" is included in 65 verses, "running", 24 verses, "ran", 61 verses, and "runneth" 11 verses (KJV). Though some of these times are referring to running water, blood, or tears, there were plenty of amazing runners in Bible times.
Here are a few characters who you may not have known were into running:
Abraham, Eliazer, Rebekah, Laban, Rachel, Esau, Moses, Aaron, Jotham, Samuel, David, Cushi, Ahimaaz, Elijah, Gehazi, Zacchaeus, Peter, John, Philip, Rhoda, Barnabas and Paul.
I won't explain the circumstances of their runs here, so you'll just have to read and find out yourself!
Now that you know what I've been up too lately, since I obviously haven't been spending any time blogging, let's catch up on my marathons. I have completed 8 marathons in 8 states in the last year and a half. Here they are!
To celebrate my 1 year anniversary let's do a little Bible study on running!
The word "run" is included in 65 verses, "running", 24 verses, "ran", 61 verses, and "runneth" 11 verses (KJV). Though some of these times are referring to running water, blood, or tears, there were plenty of amazing runners in Bible times.
Here are a few characters who you may not have known were into running:
Abraham, Eliazer, Rebekah, Laban, Rachel, Esau, Moses, Aaron, Jotham, Samuel, David, Cushi, Ahimaaz, Elijah, Gehazi, Zacchaeus, Peter, John, Philip, Rhoda, Barnabas and Paul.
I won't explain the circumstances of their runs here, so you'll just have to read and find out yourself!
Now that you know what I've been up too lately, since I obviously haven't been spending any time blogging, let's catch up on my marathons. I have completed 8 marathons in 8 states in the last year and a half. Here they are!
IMT Des Moines Marathon, Des Moines, Iowa, October 2018
This was our 2nd year running this marathon, and it went really great! I set a PR of 3:49:49, and that time is still waiting to be beat.
This was our 2nd year running this marathon, and it went really great! I set a PR of 3:49:49, and that time is still waiting to be beat.
Otter Creek Trail Runs, Brandenburg, Kentucky, December 2018
This was an unforgettable experience. It was muddy...maybe you can notice that in the picture. At about the half way point I fell through a bridge by the side of raging Otter Creek. I just sat there for a minute and started to cry. It was a fun one. It was a three lap course around a loop and each lap was muddier and scarier than the first. I reached the end, and my watch read it was only 25 some miles! I needed my 26.2! There were a few of us who just kept going till we got what we needed to make us happy.
This was an unforgettable experience. It was muddy...maybe you can notice that in the picture. At about the half way point I fell through a bridge by the side of raging Otter Creek. I just sat there for a minute and started to cry. It was a fun one. It was a three lap course around a loop and each lap was muddier and scarier than the first. I reached the end, and my watch read it was only 25 some miles! I needed my 26.2! There were a few of us who just kept going till we got what we needed to make us happy.
Scheels Med City Marathon, Rochester, Minnesota, May 2019
We had signed up for this marathon in 2018, but it was cancelled due to extreme heat. We were stuck with doing the half then, but not this year! It was a beautiful day for a long run. It was a painful one however. I had the super great idea to run a 10k race the day before, and I had been struggling with knee pain for quite some time as well. The morning of the race we drove there, and when I got out of the car I could literally barely walk. I somehow limped along and got it done. It was slow, but it happened. My knees eventually recovered thankfully.
We had signed up for this marathon in 2018, but it was cancelled due to extreme heat. We were stuck with doing the half then, but not this year! It was a beautiful day for a long run. It was a painful one however. I had the super great idea to run a 10k race the day before, and I had been struggling with knee pain for quite some time as well. The morning of the race we drove there, and when I got out of the car I could literally barely walk. I somehow limped along and got it done. It was slow, but it happened. My knees eventually recovered thankfully.
Juneau Marathon, Juneau, Alaska, July 2019
I loved Alaska! Support for this race stopped at 4 hours, so my goal was to beat that time. It seemed like there was a lot of down hill and the lovely Mendenhall Glacier could be spotted across a lake. I heard there were bears around, but I did not have the pleasure of running into any. I was on a pretty good pace the first part of the race until I hit the wall. I managed to finish in 3:57:53. After a nap that afternoon, Mama, Bethany and I hiked up Mt. Juneau. I thought the mountains were marvelous.
I loved Alaska! Support for this race stopped at 4 hours, so my goal was to beat that time. It seemed like there was a lot of down hill and the lovely Mendenhall Glacier could be spotted across a lake. I heard there were bears around, but I did not have the pleasure of running into any. I was on a pretty good pace the first part of the race until I hit the wall. I managed to finish in 3:57:53. After a nap that afternoon, Mama, Bethany and I hiked up Mt. Juneau. I thought the mountains were marvelous.
TBK Bank Quad Cities Marathon, Moline, Illinois, September 2019
Look at my halo in this picture! When we drove down to Illinois on Friday night our hopes of actually getting to run the next morning were pretty low. The forecast was for thunderstorms, but we had already signed up, so we figured we might as well pick up our packets. We enjoyed touring the expo, and I took part in the Pump N Run, a weight lifting competition combined with the races. It was great, but I was sure sore the next morning. A lot of prayers were being said, and there was no lightning in sight when the runners took off for the race! It did rain a whole lot, and we were soaked, but we all were happy! I especially enjoyed running by the Rock Island cemeteries.
Look at my halo in this picture! When we drove down to Illinois on Friday night our hopes of actually getting to run the next morning were pretty low. The forecast was for thunderstorms, but we had already signed up, so we figured we might as well pick up our packets. We enjoyed touring the expo, and I took part in the Pump N Run, a weight lifting competition combined with the races. It was great, but I was sure sore the next morning. A lot of prayers were being said, and there was no lightning in sight when the runners took off for the race! It did rain a whole lot, and we were soaked, but we all were happy! I especially enjoyed running by the Rock Island cemeteries.
Pilgrim Pacer Marathon, Lenexa, Kansas, November 2019
The hills, the huge medals, and the pumpkin pie were the highlights of this race.
The hills, the huge medals, and the pumpkin pie were the highlights of this race.
FITTEAM Palm Beaches Marathon, West Palm Beach, Florida, December 2019
Florida is flat. It was a hot race, but the lovely palm trees provided some shade. I absolutely loved the ocean and beaches. We had a great time kayaking and biking as well. We toured the Everglades, and a new animal gained a spot in my top 5 favorites--alligators! It was hard to leave the Sunshine State.
Florida is flat. It was a hot race, but the lovely palm trees provided some shade. I absolutely loved the ocean and beaches. We had a great time kayaking and biking as well. We toured the Everglades, and a new animal gained a spot in my top 5 favorites--alligators! It was hard to leave the Sunshine State.
Louisiana Marathon, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, January 2020
And then there was Louisiana! This is a nice picture, except it says my finish time. We left our home in Iowa during a raging blizzard to fly down to 70 degree temps in humid LA! It was a good time to go to the home of the LSU Tigers after their football championship. We even got to see Mike the live tiger mascot. Climbing to the top of the capitol building--the tallest in the nation-- was fascinating the day after the race. So much history there.
And then there was Louisiana! This is a nice picture, except it says my finish time. We left our home in Iowa during a raging blizzard to fly down to 70 degree temps in humid LA! It was a good time to go to the home of the LSU Tigers after their football championship. We even got to see Mike the live tiger mascot. Climbing to the top of the capitol building--the tallest in the nation-- was fascinating the day after the race. So much history there.
"Wherefore seeing we also are compassed about with so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which doth so easily beset us, and let us run with patience the race that is set before us, Looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith."