A break and reflection

I recently (sorry I started writing this a week ago) returned from my last race of this track season. I decided I would seize the opportunity to run one more race in Indianapolis, and race 5K on the track. I flew to Indianapolis with my teammate Meghan Peyton, and then waited all day to run at 11:29 PM! To say the least, it was a rather long day! I felt like a caged animal; it was so hot outside, you didn’t want to go for a stroll for fear that your energy would be zapped and our hotel had little around it. The joke was that we had the option of either going to Denny’s, Waffle House, Super America, or stay in the hotel room. I would try to settle in the hotel room, then wander the long hallways, then return and read, then wander the hallways, then journal, take a nap, read, watch a movie, then wander the hallways…You get the point. In retrospect, it really doesn’t sound so bad to have an entire day of having to do nothing. It really is a unique opportunity to get to devote an entire day to preparing for an event that you care so much about and try to do it to the best of your ability. Despite the anxiety and pit in your stomach, I really do want to cherish race preparation and this season of my life.

            The race did finally arrive. Unfortunately it was not ideal 5K racing conditions being over 80 degrees and very humid. I went into the race with a goal of running under 16 minutes, which I think I am capable of on the right day, but ended up running 16.37, a few seconds off of my PR. I was actually proud of my mindset during the race, but very frustrated that I did not run a PR. I so desired some indication that my investment in this year was all worth it.  I wanted a strong indication that continuing to train post-collegiately would lead to leaps and bounds of improvement, but this was not the case this year, and especially difficult to expect after a stress fracture. As you probably can imagine, this naturally led to a lot of tears and reflection on my year.

First, I acknowledge that this year has been a transitional year. I am officially one year out of college, and enjoying/struggling to figure out how to live in “the real world.” Nonetheless, I have made ends meet (with the help and support of so many) and have become a much stronger runner after putting in many more miles than ever before. I have not even been training with my new coach, Dennis Barker, for an entire year, and should expect some time for transitioning and an eventual pay off for all of the strength work.

Second, despite my disappointment, I want to celebrate what good has come out of this year. I did run a small PR in the 5K after only running for four weeks after my stress fracture, and then was very near it on a very hot and humid day. Also, I want to celebrate that this year I completed many long and challenging workouts that I have never done in the past. I know I am getting stronger. Finally, I have to celebrate that had a group of people to train with that make it easy to love the sport and to want to continue to improve and compete at a high level.

Third, and probably the most important question I have to ask is: “Is this the direction in which I believe God wants me to continue? And am I becoming more like Christ in this endeavor?” Sirach 33:12 says, “Some he blesses and makes great, some he sanctifies and draws to himself.”  Of course I dream and want to be the one that God makes great, but ultimately I want to draw close to the Lord. I truly believe that each day that I am training and competing, whether it is a great and encouraging workout, a humbling blow that I didn’t reach a goal, a carefree run with people that I love, etc., I do feel as though I am being drawn to the Lord. Thus, for now, I know that I want to continue to train and compete.

What does this look like? For the sake of brevity, I will share more in the future about how I plan to tweak some components of my training and lifestyle. Logistically, I do have some semblance of a plan for the fall. I recently got a part time teaching job in the fall at St. Louis Park as a Geometry teacher. So, yes, I am officially MISS YETZER! It seems to be the perfect opportunity to have some structure in my life and to get to pour some thought, energy, and love into a classroom in the afternoon and still meet with my training partners in the morning. I am very excited about the chance to get to do two things that I love!

In the mean time, I am taking a few weeks of being a “normal person.” I took about a week off of no running and just “playing.” I have been going for bike rides, hiking, doing yoga, etc without worries that it will affect my training. It has been a lot of fun and it is refreshing me so that I am ready to start training again soon. I plan to get a good summer base and hit the roads this fall.

Some of my great support Crew!
(Annie, Dan, Me, Cheever)

I want to thank you all for your continued love and support. This week, particularly tonight, I will be supporting my two teammates and best friends, Jamie Cheever and Heather Kampf, as they run in the Olympic Trials! Later this week Gabriele Anderson will be racing as well! Good luck to you guys! Watching the trials and the fierce competitiveness in each runner is always a source of inspiration. I know my teammates will run with courage!

A penny for your thoughts

Well, I am headed home from Indianapolis. When I had envisioned this trip home, I thought that I would be celebrating that I had a new PR and qualified for the Trials. Unfortunately, I cannot deliver such joyous news. Last night I ran my third race, and again ran a 4.20… They say, “Third time’s a charm,” but this was not the case last night. For now, I am not sure what is next. I may try to get one more track race in, or I may hit the roads and do some road races. I will let you know shortly! I am prayerfully considering what is best. I currently am a little sick, so I am hoping that I can quickly get better in the comfort of my own bed and be ready to race soon.

No matter what, I have to continue to believe that God is still good. Not only this, but God has what is best for me. The morning of the race, I had read in Mark about the widow who places only a penny in the offering. People scoff at her “minimal” offering. Jesus rebukes them and praises her, for she has just offered all that she has. All the Lord wants is our best. I don’t always understand why I run, or what competing has to offer the Lord, but I want to be like the widow, and offer up whatever I have for his glory. For this weekend, I offered what I had. This does not mean that I am content with my performance, but it means that I will not allow myself to be defeated; that I trust that what I am doing is refining me and those around me somehow. Thank you for your continued prayers and support. I know I am not competing alone!  Press on!

Mini - 1500 meter Series Update

I believe I am due for a racing update. I am currently in Indianapolis waiting for my third and final race of my “Mini 1500 M series.” I raced last Saturday in Boston and ran a 4.20.9. As I had mentioned in my previous blog, it was very rainy, so not ideal conditions, but I was pleased with how I competed. After completing the race, I knew I needed to make sure lap 2 and 3 moved, and had confidence that I would be able to put it all together in Indianapolis.

After arriving in Indianapolis, I was none but thrilled to see that the race entries were very competitive, and there would be a rabbit that would take the leaders through at a 2:12 for the first 800 Meters. I planned to come through at 2:14, and be right off of them and then focus on closing well. In reality, I had a better first half than last week; I came through at 2:16, but had a hard time closing. After the race, I was very frustrated (for lack of better term). Some of the girls in my race ran qualifying times to go on to the Trials, and it really stung to realize that I missed out on a sweet opportunity to reach that goal.

A good night sleep, lots of love and support from people around me, and a simple, but encouraging phone call from my oldest sister Bekah helped to make me feel encouraged and excited to race again with confidence on Saturday. First, a huge shout out and thank you to my sister, Annie, and my boyfriend, Dan, for driving all ten hours to cheer me on in my race! I am so blessed to have people that are so supportive. It was a small glimpse of God our Father’s love when I received a hug and a reminder that they love me no matter how I raced. Today, Dan and Annie spent this morning with Jamie Cheever and I. We went to a delicious breakfast café on the canal in Indianapolis and then they hit the long road home. Later, Bekah, my other sister called. We had a brief conversation, but she really encouraged me. She reminded me of some of my workouts the past few weeks; how some went really well, and how some went really not-so-well. Some days you feel great, while other days, just are not as fluid as one would hope. To clarify, I acknowledge that my race yesterday really was not horrible. It was actually the second fastest time I have ever run, but I was just hoping for more. Thus, I have to believe, that yesterday was not my perfect race, and I am ready to step to the line again on Saturday for one more attempt at qualifying for the Olympic Trials!

In the mean time, I get to hang out here in Indianapolis with Jamie Cheever and recover from yesterday, and prepare for Saturday. In the Picture above, you can see us doing one of our favorite activities, Ice Bathing! When we are not ice bathing, we are trying to be very creative with how we spend out time in Indianapolis without a car.... I am so grateful for her companionship! In a future blog, I plan to share with you some of our recent escapades:)

Race Day

I am ready for my fist 1500 race here in Boston. It looks like there is a really great field. I am just waiting on this rainy day for 7:50 PM to arrive! I have had a great trip thus far. I got to stay with an old High School friend, Beth Ohrt last night. It was so fun to jump back in her life and get a glimpse of the Boston lifestyle. I was very proud of myself for navigating my through Boston using Public Transportation…until I realized this morning I never called my parents and they were very worried…enough to trace all of my phone calls and contact everyone that might have heard from me! I guess I am not as independent as I would like to think:) 

Today I am staying with another runner, Joanna Murphy, who has been so generous to let me stay with her. It is so fun to get to stay with other runners and hear about their lifestyle and training regime. I am always encouraged and inspired to keep training when I am surrounded by other passionate runners. I hope that I can host athletes that come to race in Minnesota. The invitation is always open!

            I just finished visualizing my race, which I believe you can watch live on FloTrack at 7:50 ET. Here are the words of affirmation I plan to focus on during each lap of the race.

Lap 1: COURAGEOUS ~“Be strong and of good courage, be not frightened nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you may go.” Josh. 1:9

Lap 2: I am strong and Confident ~ “Do you not know? Have you not heard? The Lord is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the Earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint!”  Isaiah 40:28- 31

Lap 3: I am tough and will stand firm~ "Therefore, my dear brothers, Stand firm. Let nothing move you. Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain." 1 Cor. 15:58 

Lap 4: I am a FIGHTER! “I have fought the good fight, I have kept the faith, I have finished the race!” 2 Tim. 4:7

Here is a link to the meet website: NB Boston Twilight