Back on track!

In spite of a horrible "corn pollen hangover" on July 4th, I got my training back on track this week. Mondays are planned rest days so I was supposed to start on Tuesday the 3rd, but after my errands I didn't have much time before going to friends to watch fireworks. So, I was going to start Wednesday. However, after spending the evening next to the corn fields my allergies were terrible in spite of all my efforts. I couldn't have picked a hotter week to get myself back on track which certainly didn't help matters. Thankfully I have a gym practically in my backyard.

I didn't feel great after my workouts Thursday and Friday, but I got the miles in and sought to resume my routine of regularly working out. Saturday I really wanted to try to get my "long" run done outside, but the triple digit weather with ridiculous heat index continued so I managed 6 miles on the "dreadmill". I got some new shoes on Friday, Asics GT 2170's (thanks Tammy for the tip). So far I can tell a real difference in the amount of support they give me so I am encouraged that I have found "the shoe" for me. After my 6 miles, my heel was bothering me quite a bit, but after icing it while rolling it on a water bottle I found great relief and it was much better this morning.

I finished up by hitting the gym again this morning before church for my "recovery" run/walk and got 3 more miles in. I did a total of 15 miles this week. It's hard to believe that in 6 weeks my long run is a planned 15 miles which is the total I did this week! I am not running/walking very fast at this point, but am just concerned with getting my miles in. I am trying to ease myself back into my routine while at the same time not doing damage to myself so that I can accomplish my goal of completing the marathon on October 21st. (105 more days in case anyone wondered!) My original goal was to finish in under 5 hours 45 minutes. Then I started thinking under 6 hours was a more reasonable goal. At this point, I'll be satisfied to just finish and thrilled if I manage to take even one second off my time from my first marathon (6:56:29).

This morning at church our Pastor began a series on "Living for Gold" from 1 Peter 1:3-11. He made a comment based on verses 5-7 which say, "For this very reason, make every effort to add to your faith goodness; and to goodness, knowledge; and to knowledge, self-control; and to self-control, perseverance; and to perseverance, godliness; and to godliness, brotherly kindness; and to brotherly kindness, love." (emphasis added). He commented that we should seek after our relationship with Christ with the same diligence as Olympic athletes training for gold. I was convicted about the hours I spend on physical training compared with spiritual training. I don't think my issue is spending too much time on physical training, but in comparison with the effort I put forth in spiritual training I definitely see MUCH room for improvement. It's all part of the process and I'm just going to keep working at it. Just as it takes time once out of the habit, to get back into physical training, I can't expect to change habits overnight. However, it was convicting and something to take note of and seek to improve upon.

Continuing on in the process,

Sherri