Running Update: 145 Mile Challenge

I am still planning on doing a total of ten races in 2020 for 10 10 Ministries.  I have learned to appreciate and even be motivated by virtual races.  The last race I completed was the PDX Sprint 145 Mile Challenge.  I had thirty days to complete it and I did it in 26 days.  They encouraged competitors to incorporate all three triathlon activities (swim, bike, and run).  I also included some hiking and walking.   

The highlight of this race was hiking and walking in Arizona especially in Prescott where 10 10 Ministries is located.  I had the honor of spending part of Labor Day weekend at one of 10 10 Ministries' retreat suites.  The rest, relaxation, visiting with Joey and Robyn, and basking in the beautiful southwest was what I needed.  I had no idea that a little over twenty-four hours after I came home, my beautiful state of Oregon would get ravaged by wildfires.  This is why last few workouts were indoors except for one walk in the smoke wearing a mask.  I felt like my neighborhood was ghost town.

Below are all the workouts I completed.  I kept track of them mostly for the sake of entering them correctly on the Why Racing website.  I did 3 miles of swimming, 84.71 miles of biking, 41.97 miles of running, 9.4 miles of hiking, and 6 miles of walking.

I had not run in 19 days.  After being stagnant for that long, it is difficult to start up again.  It is amazing how quickly motivation goes out the window.  I managed to get a run in this morning.  My next race is a virtual 5k on October 3rd.

Tuesday, August 18: Day 1

0.5 miles swimming at the Battlecreek Courthouse

1.5 miles biking back and forth from Salem, Swim & Tennis Club

Total = 2 miles (143 to go!)

Wednesday, August 19:  Day 2

27 miles biking with Salem Bicycle Club

Total = 29 miles (116 miles to go!)

Thursday, August 20: Day 3

4 miles run outside in the neighborhood

Total = 34 miles (112 miles to go!)

Friday, August 21: Day 4

5.4 mile hike in the Mc Donald Dunn Research Forest

1.6 mile bike ride to and from the pool

Total = 41 miles (104 miles to go!)

Saturday, August 22: Day 5

6 miles ran in the neighborhood

Total = 47 miles (98 miles to go!)

Sunday, August 23: Day 6

3 mile intervals at Wendy Kroger Park

Total = 50 miles (95 miles to go!)

Monday, August 24: Day 7

Rest! (Still 95 miles to go)

Tuesday, August 25: Day 8

Ran 4 miles in the neighborhood before work (it was hard to get up!)

Total = 54 miles (91 miles to go)

Wednesday, August 26: Day 9

Biked 20 miles with Salem Bicycle Club

Total = 74 miles (71 miles to go) - Over halfway!

Thursday, August 27:  Day 10

Ran 9 miles in the neighborhood (planned on doing 8 but it turned into 9!)

Total = 83 miles (62 miles to go)

Friday, August 28: Day 11

Biked 4.11 miles to and from the Crossler Track.  Ran 3.47 miles doing sprints/intervals around the track

Total = 90.5 miles (54.5 miles to go!)

Saturday, August 29: Day 12

Swam 1 mile at the Battlecreek Courthouse (it was tough--felt slow!! Also did weights)

Total = 91.5 miles (53.5 miles to go)

Sunday, August 30: Day 13

Ran 2.5 miles at Bush Park with friends.  Heather's first run!! 

Total = 93 miles (52 miles to go!)

Monday, August 31: Day 14

Rest

Tuesday, September 1: Day 15

Rest

Wednesday, September 2: Day 16

Biked 20 miles

Total = 113 miles (32 miles to go!)

Thursday, September 3: Day 17

Ran 10 miles (about 2 miles with Heather...starting to get hot...really struggled on the Mildred hills)

Total = 123 miles (22 miles to go!)

Friday, September 4: Day 18

Travel day to Prescott.  Was hoping to get a hike or walk in but too much traffic in Phoenix.

Saturday, September 5: Day 19

Hike = 4 miles

Hiked in Sedona.  I climbed up near the base of Cathedral Rock and walked along a the Easy Breezy trail.  Also walked up to the Chapel of the Holy Cross.

Total = 127 miles (only 18 miles to go!)

Sunday, September 6: Day 20

Walk = 4 miles through Prescott Lakes neighborhood

Total = 131 miles (14 miles to go)

Monday, September 7:  Day 21

Rest

I have to get 14 miles completed this week.  Should be doable but the air quality is terrible right now due to fires.  

Tuesday, September 8: Day 22

Swim = 1/2 mile

Total = 131.5  miles (13.5 more miles to go)

Wednesday, September 9: Day 23

Rest...a lot shut down due to the fires

Thursday, September 10: Day 24

Bike (stationary bike at the gym--air quality still bad) = 10.5 miles

Total = 142 miles (only 3 miles to go!)

Friday, September 11: Day 25

Walk two miles in the smoke with a mask on

Total = 144 miles...only one more mile!

Saturday, September 12: Day 26

Swim one mile!

Total = 145 miles.  Complete!

All that I could want but nothing that I need...

There's tarnish on the golden rule

And I wanna jump from this ship of fools

Show me a place where hope is young

And a people who are not afraid to love

This world has nothing for me

And this world has everything

All that I could wanted

And nothing that I need

(From This World by Caedman's Call)

    I live in one of the most beautiful states in the United States.  Oregon has breathtaking mountains, a picturesque coast, countless waterfalls, and miles and miles of hiking trails.  We do not have to travel far to bask in the beauty and flee from the busyness of the city.  A week ago we witnessed how gusty warm winds and the spark from downed power lines can ignite our wooded areas.  Little recreational towns we know and love were completely destroyed.

    When I go through challenging times in my life, God often puts some type of verse or song on my heart.  More often that not, it is a CCM song from the 1990s.  This time it was Caedman's Call "This World."  I found myself singing it often around the time the racial riots broke out in our town and the COVID pandemic continued to delay reopening our schools and businesses.  Now our beautiful state is on fire and our air quality is hazardous.  We have not seen a blue sky or a full yellow sun in a week.

  

        As beautiful as this world is, it will not ultimately give us everything we need.  The true hope of this world is only through Jesus Christ, the son of God.  If I don't have that, what else do I have? 

    Paul said in the book of Philippians that he learned to be content in all circumstances.   We do not stop and consider that world "learned."  It did not come naturally to him.  Yes, we are learning too.  In COVID, in rioting, in forest fires, in hazardous air quality, in numerous schedule changes, and in personal struggles we are learning to be content in every circumstance.  It can only be gained through a relationship with Jesus Christ.  

    This crazy season has caused much waiting.  I hear people constantly asking, "When?"  When will schools open?  When will I be able to go back to work?  When it will rain?  When will they be able to put out the fires?  When will there be a vaccine for COVID?  and the ever popular "When will life get back to normal." Whatever "normal" is or will become. We don't know.  Every day is simply a waiting game.  

    The love of the God the Father is not something we have to wait for.  It is guaranteed and it is freely given to us today.  Right here.  Right now.  Everyday.  No matter what we are going through.  There is no "When?" question about that.  When will God show up?  He is already here.

From Summer to Fall

 We are nearing of what has felt like one of the longest summers that I can remember.  Even though COVID 19 changed the summer we were dreaming of back in January, we made the most of it.  We managed to create some special memories.  

We did many outdoor activities including exploring local places.  I do not think we would have taken the time to do this had we been traveling extensively.  We spent many...in fact most...afternoons at the pool as a family.  It always allows us to bask in the sun, open up a good book, cool off, and play water games.  This summer  in particular, it allowed us to do something normal and forget about COVID 19.  I am grateful our local pool was able to open in mid June. 

Now on to fall where "back to school" is very different.  We are extremely grateful our children's school is offering in person schooling even if it is limited.  The oldest will be going to school two hours a day but all her course work will be in person.  There are no electives yet and very few sports or activities.  But we will take what we can get.  The younger two will be in regular in person school with some COVID 19 regulations in place.  I am teaching preschool but am a float teacher.  I will be circulating between four different classrooms.  If it were not for COVID, I would have my own classroom.  I see how everything is part of His plan for the fall...and maybe into the winter and spring.  Rob is still of course dealing with opening up our church one program at a time while keeping people healthy and safe.

I failed after the ninth week of summer to take a photo for each day as my daughter had challenged me in June.  I did take quite a few photos and I am posting them in order by date with a few stories behind the pictures...

Tuesday, August 11: When the pandemic hit in March Rob and I were playing Euchure online--a Midwest game I loved playing in college.  Not many Oregonians know how to play it much less have heard of it.  Then we ventured into learning Spades which we love even more.  We play a couple nights a week.

Wednesday, August 12:  I got a new tent for Christmas.  I took the younger two camping in early August.  Then they decided to set it up again and sleep in the backyard.  They slept in it two nights in a row and attempted a third night.  They did not make it all the through and slept most of that third night in their own beds.

Thursday, August 13: When Rob and I were doing the Oregon Coast challenge I did a few rides on the stationary bike.  I tried to take a picture of my mileage so I would remember.  Guess it helps to take the picture before the numbers change.

Friday, August 14:  Derek unsuccessfully trying to get Rob out of his lawn chair at the pool

Sunday, August 16. I am slightly obsessed with huckleberries.  They are very difficult to get because they only grow on high elevation.  I am told you have to watch for bears when you pick them.  Rob somehow got me some rom a mysterious person.  He baked them into cinnamon rolls and they were amazing!

Monday, August 17:  We took one of the little girls Hailey nannies to downtown and spent some time playing near the Willamette River.  

Thursday, August 20:  One of my favorite days of the summer!  Playing in Butte Creek in Scotts Mills.  Jumping and climbing off rocks.  It was such a refreshing afternoon.

Friday, August 21:  Rob and I did an intense hike in Corvallis.  We had no idea a lot of it would be uphill.  I was not even wearing hiking or running shoes. It was still nice to get away.

Saturday, August 22:  Celebrating Rob's birthday at the Yard.  Even though I did not take a picture of Rob.  Sad.  Will need to go back and try the waffle truck Derek and Kara went to.

Monday, August 24:  Beautiful red tomatoes from the garden that Hailey took care of while the owners were on vacation.

Thursday, August 27:  Loved this "cookie dessert flight" Rob and I ordered at one of our favorite restaurants in downtown Salem.

Tuesday, September 1: Beautiful day with friends at Neskowin.  Started the summer here and ended it here.