This Magic Moment 2022

Today, I make this vow. On this blog. Very public. Cause I need you to hold me to this.

I promise that every even numbered year, I will travel to Disney with friends, and I will run a Disney race.

Did you think I was going to reveal something more serious?

Well, this is serious! 

A seriously important self-care decision.

I love LOVE traveling to Disney. An I love LOVE running at Disney. I need NEED this in my life.

So with 2024 on my mind, I'm here to report about my 2022 trip to run the Disney Princess 10K!

This year, I traveled to Walt Disney World, and seven other ladies and I ran the 10K. 

When I started planning this trip, word quickly got around within my church Connect Group, and multiple ladies expressed an interested in joining the adventure. My perspective concerning this turn of events was simple: more females, more fun. So with the help of Ellen at Magic on Main travel company, we started planning our experience.

After securing our rooms, we had to secure our individual race entries. This may not seem like a big deal, but Disney races are notorious for rapidly selling out. That being said, I'm happy to report that each lady was able to snag an entry into the Princess 10K!

After traveling down from North Georgia, visiting the runDisney running expo, checking into the Art of Animation hotel, shopping at Disney Springs, the Princess 10K experience was quickly next on our agenda.

You wake up early to run these races before the parks open. I'm talking like 2am or 3am early. And while that initial wake up alarm is a bit... um... alarming, you quickly get past that. Cause you are about to RUN DISNEY!

Nothing else matters as you run through this magical place. You are with friends. You are having fun - yes, even though you are running at the break of dawn. For the 10K, you run out of the Epcot parking lot, through Hollywood Studios (which was a surprise to us), and back through Epcot to finish.

All the while, you keep your eyes open for the runDisney photographers. Gotta get those pics!

Traveling to run a Disney race is magical. But the magic does not end there. You are AT DISNEY! And if you are a mom on a ladies' trip, you are at Disney WITHOUT CHILDREN! You must - MUST - capitalize on this.

At least, my friend Jaimee and I share this perspective. And so because of this shared view, and the difficulty of navigating a Disney park with a large group of ladies, she and I split from the other chicas to DO Disney. Specifically, Magic Kingdom. It was awesome!

And again, you have to keep an eye out for the Disney photographers. Capture those magical moments!

Like they do on the rides, hehe...

When all is said and done, you leave when the park is close to closing. That is how you DO Disney. 

You leave exhausted. But exhilarated.

In short, it's magical.

America's Sweetest Race

Hello, friends! Long time, no blog post.

What's that you ask? Have I been running in 2022? Well, yes! And today, I'm here to report what my first race of the year was... drumroll, please....

The Atlanta Hot Chocolate 5K - America's Sweetest Race!

And I ran it with my sweetest running buddy - Jaimee!

This race is a fun February favorite of ours. It's always a great time.

The best part about this race is the end - where the chocolate awaits and they bring you your bling!

These are a few of my favorite things (cue the song) about this race. It is truly why you run America's Sweetest Race.

They time the event, but it really isn't about how fast your run it. That being said, Ms. Jaimee and I are averaging a 15 minute mile. Our plan this year is to focus on the 5Ks and try to improve that running time a bit. 

That being said, my second race this year was a 10K at the most magical place on Earth. More to come on that very soon... Keep an eye out for that report. You don't want to miss it!

LOCOMOTIVE SERIES 5K - The Final Race

I finally accomplished what I set out to do back in May: complete the 2021 Locomotive Race Series Challenge.

I ran the four 5Ks in this series and secured each of their race medals which then joined together to form the above train. 

Bling! I'm in love!

I signed up for this challenge as a way to keep me running. I have not been running as consistently as I would like to be running, and I knew I would need this - the desire to secure all four medals - to keep me motivated to get out there an MOVE!

And I was right to assume I would need this motivation. I had not run regularly in a month before this race. I thought my time for this event would be pretty pathetic, but it turned out to be comparable to my other most recent 5Ks. Just a couple minutes slower.

At the end of the day, I'm glad I got out there in the cold and ran the race set before me.

I woke that morning, warm in my bed, and really REALLY did not want to get out and run in the cold. But I pushed through that mental road block and got my lazy butt to the race.

Sometimes, that's how you have to do it. Some days, that's how you make it through.

Just move! You won't regret it!

And there is my word for 2022 - MOVE!

Long Overdue Race Updates and Happy Thanksgiving

Long time no...blog posts. 😮

You know how the story goes. Life got busy, and I just forgot to write about my September and October 5Ks. 

And that is no Bueno!

So here is the race I ran in September: The 5K Express. 

 

This race was the third out of four races in a series I am running to complete my medals train in this "locomotive" race series.

I initially delayed writing about this race until my medal came in the mail. Due to a shipping delay, they did not have the medals available on the day of the race, and I didn't want to write the post until I could take the above pic. So, I blame the tardiness of this post on USPS.

My October race was an event I have run previously: The Smile Run.

Always a good time, this race is in the memory of a sweet little boy, Christian, the son of the children's pastor of my church.

This year, I ran it with a new 2021 running chica who is planning on running the Disney Princess 10K with a group of ladies and myself this upcoming February. 

Give it up for, Bekah!

My Strava stats say we ran this in 42:52 with a pace of 13:28. And that's about as good as I can muster these days.

Running, right now, is simply about moving. 2020 was the year of rest - sitting at home. 2021 has been about moving again. 

I don't know if I'll ever get back to running times in the 30s, but it's okay if that never happens. I just want to keep moving. Keep running the races before me.

As Thanksgiving approaches, I think it's important to be grateful that the good Lord has given us the time we have. So many lives have been cut short these past years.

Yet, we are still here. To God be the glory. And when it's not, may He take us home to be with Him. 

Until then, keep running "with perseverance the race marked out before us, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith." (Hebrews 12: 1-2)

3.1 Miles and Covid

Ran another 5K this past Saturday. It is one I have run before, but it was canceled last year (for obvious reasons - #2020).

The Chick-fil-A Moo've It 5K raises funds for organizations within the Cherokee County School District. It's a pretty big deal in our county - and it is now dubbed the largest 5K race in North Georgia. 

Why and how did it grow so large? Well, I'm pretty sure it has something to do with Chick-fil-A. I mean, we are talking about the Lord's chicken. Who wouldn't want to run for that, right?!

That's just my humble opinion.

I ran this recent race with a few of my friends I am training with to prepare for the Walt Disney World Princess 10K in 2022. 

You heard me right. We've got our sights set on Disney in February!

Us "princess prep" ladies did a pretty good job, I think.

It has been so nice to again regularly run in-person races. So thankful we've learned that Covid is not as transmissible outdoors as it is indoors. Running races outdoors is something that can be done safely. Plenty of open air/ventilation and room to social distance. It's a win!

Right now, I so need these wins. These races. Running. 

The Covid Delta variant is raging in our community. Going to work, sending the kids to school, attending church all feel like walking into a raging fire while singing, "Kumbaya, My Lord." It's like a death march, and you're not sure which soldiers will fall.

This past Friday, my youngest was fell ill with Covid. She likely got it at school where she came into close contact with a peer who had it. Thank the Lord, her case was mild, and I was able to manage her blood sugars fairly easily (she's a type one diabetic). Also a praise, thus far it appears my husband, myself, and my oldest daughter have escaped the cursed contagion. All this is not surprising as we are vaccinated, and my youngest daughter is too young to get the shot, just yet.

I guess I'm typing all this for the post's historical context. For me, now, running has been a great escape from the sad reality that is the current spread of Covid in our community. It offers opportunities of safe human interaction during a time when we should be practicing social distancing and engaging in quarantine when necessary. 

I'm looking forward to training and running as many races as I can in what remains of 2021. Right now, running the races laid out before me - with Jesus - is the only thing keeping me sane in a world that has seemingly lost its ever lovin' mind.

In short, keep running, friends. Keep running.

Run For It!

My second in-person race of 2021 was completed on the morning of Saturday, July 17th. This race was the second in a series of races sponsored by Run For It! Productions; the races are included in what is known as the Locomotive Race Series. 

I ran the first in this series of four races on May 17th, and the second race was in the same location - at a local mall.

The coolest thing about completing these races is that each time you finish a race, you get a medal that connects to all the other medals you will ultimately obtain.

I'm super excited to collect all this bling and complete the set! Next race is September 26th, and the final race is on December 12th.

It was a good run. My time slightly improved from my last 5K race by about 15 seconds. I'm averaging a 13 minute mile for 5Ks.

Current running goals are to complete the 5Ks in the Locomotive Race Series and train up to run the Disney Princess 10K in February of 2022. I've got a team of seven other ladies who are working toward the Disney running goal with me. It's going to be an epic ladies trip, for sure!

All I got left to say at this point is KEEP RUNNING! To slightly modify what Dory in Finding Nemo says, "Just keep running.  Just keep running."

New Today

On the way to my first in-person race since March of 2020, Micah Tyler's song "New Today" started playing on the radio.

I’ve been hard on myself lately
Every morning I feel the weight
When it’s hard to just get out of bed
Tell my heart
Cause sometimes I forget

That Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new today
I can rest on Your shoulders
There is grace to start over
Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new today

It struck something deep inside me. 2020 was rough. My youngest daughter's diagnosis of type one diabetes and then a pandemic. Man. I'm beat. 

And while 2021 brings with it the light at the end of the pandemic's tunnel, type one diabetes is forever. There is no light at the end of that tunnel. It's like being sucked into a black hole - you ain't getting out.

This past week brought with it some tough diabetes moments, and my novice ninja insulin usage skills just could not secure the wins we needed. So when that song came on the radio and I heard the words "I've been hard on myself lately," I really FELT that!

But I was driving to a race. Finally, a real race!

There's nothing like the adrenaline that starts pumping at the starting line to a race. And as my mind drifted to my destination, I was thankful for the distraction, the therapy, the time alone in my head that only a race can bring. I was thankful for God's mercies: "Your mercies are new today...There is grace to start over. Your mercies are new today..."

I got to the race location, and the entire time I was there, reminders of God's mercies were everywhere. This included the virus vehicle or Covid car - as it was referred to by the run administrators - that started the race.

Our family, by the grace of God, has avoided that damned virus, and now nearly all of us are vaccinated against it (still waiting on approval of the vaccine for those under the age of 12). Also, the spread in our community is really low right now. We are drinking in the blessings. The mercies anew each morning.

Not gonna lie. This race was pretty emotional for me. I was so thankful to be running again! So thankful my family has remained healthy this past year! So thankful for new days and their new mercies!

I ran the race that day. I mean, I really RAN it. I wasn't sure what my 5K time/pace would be, but I was pretty pleased with the results.

It was a great morning! I so needed that race. When I found out my running chicas wouldn't be able to join me, I almost didn't sign up, but I'm so glad I did it anyway. I feel reborn. The washing of a 5K and some tears of joy done me good.

Get vaccinated. Get out there. Get running again.

Help me rise like the morning sun
Help me see that Your works not done
When I’m less than what I want to be
Lord I need You to keep reminding me

Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new today
I can rest on Your shoulders
There is grace to start over
Your mercies are new today

I kept thinking you were angry
But you were fighting just to hold me
And pick me up every time I fell
If Your love is here to lift me
And Your blood says You forgive me
Show me how I can forgive myself
Cause Your mercies are new today
Your mercies are new again and again

Sloth Running Team

I just realized that I never blogged about the virtual race I ran on April 3rd. Wha?! 

Better late than never, right? So, here we go...

Aptly, the title of the race was "Sloth Running Team: We'll get there when we get there." I guess you could say I adopted that attitude for the writing of this post.

I'll write it when I write it. hehe

The virtual race entry came with a shirt, a bib, and a medal (whoop whoop). Love me some running bling.

My running chicas and I chose a day (a cold day) and eventually got it done. It being a "sloth" race, again appropriately, we had planned to do it in March but ended up running it in April. See?! Everything surrounding this particular run was slow to happen - not just this blog post.

It was a good time at a familiar local park, but I must confess, I'm ready for some face to face 5Ks. In fact, I found one and have already paid for the race registration. Fully vaccinated and ready to get out there! Join the team, get the vaccine!!

Next blog post coming at you on May 15th. Get ready to "go loco."

Live, Run, Eat Chocolate

Today, I ran the Atlanta Allstate Hot Chocolate Race for the seventh time. Every time I run this race, I find it's the perfect event to make new, beautiful memories. And this year was no exception!

This first thing that made this year's run unique was its virtual nature. Because we are still in the midst of a pandemic, there was no race in the city. So my local running buddies and I bought virtual race entries complete with running swag and began to train for the 5K we planned to run at a local park.

The morning we decided to run, I took the hot chocolate mix I got in my swag bag, put it in my favorite hot chocolate drink tumbler with some hot water, and started the day with some yummy liquid juju. 

              

AFTER the chocolate - I mean, priorities man! - then it was time to get my gear on and head out to meet my chicas!

It was a good run. I'm really not interested in hitting a certain time for my races this year (although, I will track it); my primary focus is to have a good time and enjoy all that running brings to my life. Including the ladies I get to share it with!

It was a good race day, and I look forward to when we can travel to Atlanta again to enjoy all that is the Allstate Hot Chocolate Race with all my fellow chocolate lovers/runners. 

Until then, live, run, and eat chocolate!

Happy New Year!

I hear people make statements like, "I can't wait for things to get back to normal."

And I wonder, "Was 'normal' really that great? Should we want to return to that?"

I would suggest that the answer to those questions is a resounding NO.

In my life, the Lord has used 2020 to make some pretty intense revelations. About everything. 

What has He shown you?

When I take the time to fix my eyes on Jesus, He shows me things in my life that need to change. And that's just about everything.

This should not come as a shock because Colossians 3:10 teaches that our new self is constantly "being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator."

We are a work in progress.

For 2021, the Lord has given me this verse: Isaiah 43:18-19 "Do not remember the past events, pay no attention to things of old. Look, I am about to do something new; even now it is coming. Do you not see it? Indeed, I will make a way in the wilderness, rivers in the desert."

It's exciting, truly, to see what He is going to do. Something new. Not a return to something old. We are constantly being renewed, and I am ready for new! For His glory!

I don't want to go back to the way things were. It can be better. Jesus makes things better. 

Watch for it. Embrace it. Get excited for 2021!

~~~

If you or your family is currently experiencing hardship due to Covid-19 or something else, I fully acknowledge that, for you and yours, getting excited for 2021 is not feasible. Have faith that joy will come again one day (Psalm 30), and until then, please know that you are in my thoughts and prayers.

Turn Your Eyes

Where has Jamie been? Is she still running? Did Covid-19 get her?

All great questions.

Where has Jamie been? Well, I have been distracted. Before Covid-19 came on the scene in March, 2020 hit us with some serious punches. In January, my youngest (Hannah) was diagnosed with type one diabetes (an autoimmune disease that has made her insulin dependent for life), and in February, my husband battled with C. diff (a nasty bacteria that causes inflammation of the colon). Those two months were filled with a pediatric ICU stay, multiple ER visits, and a multitude of trips to doctors of varying specialties. 

Then March 13, 2020, the United States went on lockdown, and we all entered a new reality permeated by Covid-19.

For us, the lockdown was somewhat of a blessing. It provided us the time we needed to begin healing from the wounds we incurred in January and February. We, our entire family, had time to wrap our heads around Hannah's diagnosis and learn how to manage it. My husband could work from home and give his body the time and attention it needed to heal. And I got the time I needed to begin to process all we had just endured, and would continue to endure.

So, that is where Jamie has been. Distracted. By a lot.

Am I still running? Yes! I have been running (or walking) when I can get it in. No races to report because Covid-19 shut down most of those for awhile, but I have signed up for The Virtual Hot Chocolate 5K for February 7th. 

I need to make running more of a priority in 2021. Since 2012, the year I started running, it has provided me multiple opportunities to work through all that life has thrown at me. And I could use more of that right now!

My family has, thus far, successfully evaded the virus that is Covid-19. At least, we think that is the case. Physically, aside from the drama of January and February, we have been healthy - praise God!

Emotionally? Spiritually? Well, as many can report, Covid-19 has taken a toll.

And yet, I can rejoice.

Philippians 4:4 "Rejoice in the Lord always. I will say it again: Rejoice!"

You may ask, how?! And I would answer, well, Philippians 4:5b "The Lord is near!"

He is near. And He is in control of all things. God is orchestrating moments. He is moving. And that is something to rejoice about.

My prayer, of late, is best articulated by Matt Chandler in his book To Live Is Christ, To Die Is Gain:

"Lord, I don't understand what You're doing, and I don't know how things are going to work out. But help me to acknowledge that if I have You, I have everything... 'Though he slay me, I will hope in him' (Job 13:15) - and Jehosephat's - 'We do not know what to do, but our eyes are on you' (2 Chron. 20:12)."

My eyes are on Him.

Now, I get distracted, no lie! My emotions can steer me all over the place. 

But then I return to prayer: Holy Spirit, help me keep my eyes on Jesus. My hope. My everything.

It is in those moments, I think I see Him moving. He is moving me. And my family. Preparing us for big changes.

I'm not sure what 2021 has in store for us, but whatever it is, I'm excited for it. 

Are your eyes on Jesus? Are you running in the right direction?

Turn you eyes upon Jesus
Look full in His wonderful face
And the things of earth will grow strangely dim
In the light of His glory and grace

A Happier Time

I want to take some time today to remember a happier time.

Now, I am NOT saying I am depressed. That is not the case!

I'm just trying to say that given the current reality we all live in - a global pandemic #COVID-19 - I want to take time to reflect on a different time. One before this current time. A happier time.

A time when I traveled to the happiest place on earth to make a dream come true. A time that inspired a proud, smiling face and produced shiny bling.

After many months of training, my friends and I traveled to run the Disney Princess Half Marathon in February of this year.

Walt Disney World in Florida is my ultimate happy place. And traveling to that happy place with Jaimee and Kayla (#runningbuddies) to accomplish a goal I wasn't sure I would ever have the courage to tackle, well, it was a dream come true.

We awoke early (like 2:00am, I think) the morning of the race to prepare to run, and the magic started as soon as we arrived at the race venue.

We met up with another friend while there (Hi, Amy!), and we scored another magical pic.

Then we just had to wait for what seemed like forever for the race to begin.

After the fireworks finally went off for our race to begin, time flew by, and before we knew it, we were entering Magic Kingdom and making our way toward that gorgeous castle. 

About mile 5.5

Running through the castle while tackling 13.1 miles, I just can't explain it. My cup overflowed.

Getting ready to run through it...

  

Dream Come True

I was in the happiest place on earth, my ultimate happy place, doing something that makes me happy (#running), with ladies that make me super happy.

Me in my element.

Running to and through Magic Kingdom was THE best! Running back to and through Epcot, was, exhausting  - to say the least.

But the race ended with super shiny bling and a bus ride back to the hotel to prepare to spend the rest of the day in my happy place - Magic Kingdom.

After eating great food, enjoying a parade, and riding some rides, the day ended as it should when you are at Disney. Watching the best fireworks show around.

Truly, magical. A happier time. One of the happiest you could have on this earth.