one mile/day at a time.

Yesterday was exhilarating, inspiring, exhausting, & FUN.

Josh & I did the Rock Creek 11 Mile Stump Jump, a trail run that also offers a 50k option.
The night before, we were soooo grateful for Asher's Chattanooga Grandma, Dodie, taking him & passing him off to our friend Megan Saturday afternoon.

(All of our dates for the past months have been spent on trails, as our jogging stroller doesn't handle the terrain very well. So, this was another date, on trails.  We love it.)

  Trail running is it's own kind of beast.  It is unpredictable & unforgiving. (This is what makes it the perfect love/hate relationship.)  You're miles into the middle of beauty not everyone sees; which, being miles out makes bowing out of the race almost impossible.  You would have to at least hike to the nearest aid station, & chances are, they hiked out to put that aid station there.
There are times you feel completely alone & it is inspiring... it's a break from hearing the person behind you breathing easy as you pant along, discouraging, yet pushing, your every step.
Then, there are moments of being alone & you are desperate for another runner to be that motivation, as you are dreading the upcoming hill.

I was so grateful at mile 5 to be with a group when there was a dead stop on the trail. Yellow jackets were furiously stinging runners who ventured down their path.  So, we bushwhacked through waist high thorn bushes, fallen trees, & the unknown to ignore these monsters.  The girl in front of me & guy behind me both were stung multiple times!  And, if you know me... I am NOT a fan of bushwhacking. I am not a fan of the unknown.  I want to see where my feet are landing. Mile 5 marked coming together with "opponents" to face, together, a challenge I could not have done alone.

After that, my whole "game" was thrown off. Up to that point I had a plan.  I was coaching myself through hard climbs & intense downhills.  For whatever reason, I just could not get back my competitive nature.  Leading up to mile 5 I had been focusing on closing gaps & picking off whoever was in front of me.  I was counting girls as I passed them because I knew I could break a 1:50:00 time!
(I didn't break that time.  More like 2:12:08.)

Around mile 6 I saw the most beautiful glass of fresh, glorious, sweet water waiting for me...... My husband!  Standing on a rock calling out to people if they had seen a runner in pink.  He was so worried about me getting through the yellow jackets that he stopped & waited.  (He was running with the top 20 pack at that point & had been stung about 20 times by the yellow monsters!)  I felt so loved.  So in love.

We finished together.  I was beyond grateful for his encouragement-- physically & emotionally. He coached me through each climb.  I love him.
Miles 8-10 were all uphill & uuuuuugly!

here we are, about 30 minutes after our run at the finish line. whoop!

I will say... We did work hard to get here. A year ago, we had just given birth at home, Josh was waiting tables, & groceries were put in our fridge by friends, family & food stamps.  It felt hopeless at times.  

I remember trying to run for the first time after giving birth... it felt how my heart did... hopeless. Like, no matter how hard I tried to gain some ground, I was always back at square one.  I wanted SO badly to retreat to the familiarity of a long run, but the heaviness of our world weighed down each step. 

When we moved to Chattanooga, for a job that demanded my husband's law degree instead of his table waiting skills, it was a breath of fresh air.... fresh mountain air, at that!  It was opportunity, inspiration, & freedom in our empty "hope bucket". 

After settling in here, I was actually able to really run again. To run without any heaviness. To enter back into a world of self-discipline, adventure, & worship that I have loved for years.  

So, we have slowly upped our mileage & can now do 13 mile runs... runs that we did not just wake up & do... we worked to get here.  We sacrificed, spent hours on trails, & prioritized runs over extravagant dinners & relaxing family time. 

We aren't up there with the 50k'ers....yet.  But to even get that kind of mileage, you have to take the first step........ or walk them, or jog.    

Don't be discouraged about where you are, or where you are not.  Trust that whatever heaviness is holding you back, if you allow it, will make you stronger.  I mean that physically, emotionally, & spiritually. 

And, hear me when I say... a job at a law firm did not change our world, faith, or hopes.  

Our trust is ultimately in Jesus.  He holds our hearts.  This world is not our home.  I do believe God lead us here, though.  I do see His handprints covering these plans.  I do believe He knew we would be here to bring honor to His name.... on trails, around our dinner table, at Enzo's Market, at the park, etc.

As we continue to put one foot in front of the other, may God be glorified... whether that be in our running shoes, work shoes, barefoot, or chacos. 

(i was 22nd overall in the women's! not the time i wanted... but, this is just race one!)

I encourage you, wherever you are, find your strength in the Truth of Jesus. And, maybe go lace up your shoes & run. 

One mile at a time///One day at a time.  You can & you will.