You just never know what will happen from one
day to the next. Each day, week, and month can be perfectly planned, ...but for me, being flexible with plans has been the theme of this year. Actually.... when I really think about it, flexibility has
been the theme of my whole life?? To anyone that knows me, it may seem as if I have lived out of
bags, cars, airports and different homes since birth. And seeing I lived in about 8 different places before the age of 17, that is pretty much the truth. I start to lose count after college, so we won't even go there!!
This year being no different than usual, has included changes in my running, professional and personal life. The last 10 months have been a whirlwind of activity with moving back to Charlotte from AZ, starting to work with Mark Hadley as my coach and attempting new distances in the sport.... among some other unforeseen events! But no matter how much instability and craziness is going on in my life or the circumstances surrounding it, I know that the Lord is always there and He His promises never change and His plan never changes.
With that said, I thought I'd give a little tidbit of what's been on my plate the last 7 months, knowing the whole time that God's promises never fail. One week after making the USATF National Steeple Chase finals in Eugene Oregon last June, I thought it was time to take a break from a long track season that had been mixed with a bunch of road races ranging in a variety of distances. Although I had a good race in the first 3k Steeplechase race and was happy to make the finals, my second Steeple race in Eugene did not go as we all planned. I wasn't really satisfied with my 13th place finish. Seeing that racing in Europe was not a viable option for me, the next logical step was to take some down time, get ready for some fall road races, and then reevaluate the whole Steeple endeavor. The day after the finals, I was physically beat up with aches and pains from doing 2 Steeples within 2 days. Mentally however, I felt something stir up that I was not expecting. It was the same feeling I had my senior year at Penn State when our #2 Nationally ranked Soccer team lost in the 2nd Round of playoffs in a total fluke of a game. Our season dramatically got cut short that year, and I had lots of negative energy to contend with!! So in an effort to keep my body moving before summer soccer, I decided to try out for the spring track team as a senior at Penn State. I didn't know I would still be competing in the sport 7 years later!!
So just like at PSU, after the Steeplechase finals, I was hungry for more competition and wanted to
keep going. I found the opportunity to run in the all-famous Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA quite appealing and also a chance to win some $. Less than a week after Track Nationals, I decided last minute to accept the invite and go. What I didn't know is that that particular race would lead to another.... and to another.... and to another. 7 months and 17 "unplanned" races later, I find myself still running and racing, traveling all over the country! It's been quite a fall/winter and thankfully the month of February has included a small break from training with no races.
Now, in an effort to get ready for the New York city Half Marathon in March and Track Season 2012, I look back and do not regret putting my body on the line these past 7 months. Taking one day at a time, one race at a time and trusting that God is in control is the only way that works for me. I've learned so much more about this sport and have been humbled and blessed to meet such amazing people and go to such cool places. But most of all, I have learned that my biggest support and closest relationships are right here in Charlotte. Where they have been since my junior year in college. A handful of families, mentors and very close friends that show more LOVE and KINDNESS than I ever knew existed. And it is these people that spur me on to keep going at the ripe age of 29:)
day to the next. Each day, week, and month can be perfectly planned, ...but for me, being flexible with plans has been the theme of this year. Actually.... when I really think about it, flexibility has
been the theme of my whole life?? To anyone that knows me, it may seem as if I have lived out of
bags, cars, airports and different homes since birth. And seeing I lived in about 8 different places before the age of 17, that is pretty much the truth. I start to lose count after college, so we won't even go there!!
This year being no different than usual, has included changes in my running, professional and personal life. The last 10 months have been a whirlwind of activity with moving back to Charlotte from AZ, starting to work with Mark Hadley as my coach and attempting new distances in the sport.... among some other unforeseen events! But no matter how much instability and craziness is going on in my life or the circumstances surrounding it, I know that the Lord is always there and He His promises never change and His plan never changes.
With that said, I thought I'd give a little tidbit of what's been on my plate the last 7 months, knowing the whole time that God's promises never fail. One week after making the USATF National Steeple Chase finals in Eugene Oregon last June, I thought it was time to take a break from a long track season that had been mixed with a bunch of road races ranging in a variety of distances. Although I had a good race in the first 3k Steeplechase race and was happy to make the finals, my second Steeple race in Eugene did not go as we all planned. I wasn't really satisfied with my 13th place finish. Seeing that racing in Europe was not a viable option for me, the next logical step was to take some down time, get ready for some fall road races, and then reevaluate the whole Steeple endeavor. The day after the finals, I was physically beat up with aches and pains from doing 2 Steeples within 2 days. Mentally however, I felt something stir up that I was not expecting. It was the same feeling I had my senior year at Penn State when our #2 Nationally ranked Soccer team lost in the 2nd Round of playoffs in a total fluke of a game. Our season dramatically got cut short that year, and I had lots of negative energy to contend with!! So in an effort to keep my body moving before summer soccer, I decided to try out for the spring track team as a senior at Penn State. I didn't know I would still be competing in the sport 7 years later!!
So just like at PSU, after the Steeplechase finals, I was hungry for more competition and wanted to
keep going. I found the opportunity to run in the all-famous Peachtree Road Race in Atlanta, GA quite appealing and also a chance to win some $. Less than a week after Track Nationals, I decided last minute to accept the invite and go. What I didn't know is that that particular race would lead to another.... and to another.... and to another. 7 months and 17 "unplanned" races later, I find myself still running and racing, traveling all over the country! It's been quite a fall/winter and thankfully the month of February has included a small break from training with no races.
Now, in an effort to get ready for the New York city Half Marathon in March and Track Season 2012, I look back and do not regret putting my body on the line these past 7 months. Taking one day at a time, one race at a time and trusting that God is in control is the only way that works for me. I've learned so much more about this sport and have been humbled and blessed to meet such amazing people and go to such cool places. But most of all, I have learned that my biggest support and closest relationships are right here in Charlotte. Where they have been since my junior year in college. A handful of families, mentors and very close friends that show more LOVE and KINDNESS than I ever knew existed. And it is these people that spur me on to keep going at the ripe age of 29:)