“Are you a runner?”

A bit of background – I started running again last year in an effort to complete another 1/2 marathon with my sweetie.  It had been a couple of years and that’s how I roll. 

 The year before (20008) I had given up running due to continual aches and pains and I convinced myself “I’m too old – my body can’t handle it anymore.”  That was a stupid conviction.  I can run and I do.  Thank God! 

In the year off of running my body grew sluggish, my mind grew cranky, and my pants grew tight.  It sucked! 

Here is what I found; I didn’t always have enough inspiration and passion.  I would run for a year, take a day or two off that turned into a month or two and before I knew it I was working to “get back into it” and noticing that as I aged, it was taking longer.  That sucked too.  Last summer, as I was training for the Chicago 1/2, I started to hear it again “this hurts. this is boring. this is taking too long. blah. blah. blah.”  And then this happened….

I’m at the D6 Conference in September – fresh off a PR at the Chicago 1/2 – minding my own business – walking from one information booth to another trying to look like a good little Christian mommy and wife* – and trying to spark conversation with anyone and everyone in hopes that some of their greatness would rub off on me.  I kept passing a booth called “Rice Bowls” – I thought “that’s a weird name” – but I was drawn back to it … over and over.  I noticed the girl in the booth and felt like I had to talk to her.  (this has happened two other times in my life – both eventually ended up being two of my best friends – watch out!)  I casually walked up to the booth without making eye contact, just fiddling with stuff asking crazy questions like, “What are rice bowls?”  she gave some crazy answer like “wah, wah wah, wah wah…” (I tend not to listen/hear when I’m surrounded by squirrels people)  “Oh. Cool.” (I’m wicked witty like that) then she said….wait for it…. “Are you a runner?”  (WHAT!?? OMG – she thinks I’m a runner – what do I do? – what do I say? I must really look good and fit and awesome!) “Uh. Yeah.”  “I thought so.”  “Why did you think so?”  “Because of your necklace.”  (notice how I’m able to listen because we’re talking about me?  It’s a gift really.  If you want to talk about me – I’m in!)  You see, I had on this necklace:

and this t-shirt:

and a hat that said, “Ask me about my Running!”  (not really the hat…or the shirt…but truly the necklace) Insert nervous laugh and a “So do you run?” (again with the wit?) Yes.  Yes, she does.  Katie does run.  Katie also runs Rice Bowls.  We talked a couple more times that week.  I left that conference with a full brain and full heart and vowed to live my life, from that point forward, as the perfect Christian parent/wife/leader/etc.  Then promptly drove home and forgot most of what I had learned. 

I spent the next weekend at a craft retreat (oh how I love craft retreats) creating items for the Water4Christmas etsy shop (side note – the crafts I cussed worked so hard at sold out before any others – must have been all the love I put into them).  I heard the Water girls talk about, well, water.  I was inspired, moved, amazed, awestruck, and such.  I wanted to help.

Again, I got home and life returned to normal.  However… something in me was changing, growing, developing, and I could feel a little movement (and it wasn’t a baby).  In two weekends I had heard about starvation and lack of clean water.  I had visions of orphaned children who’s basic needs were not being met.  I had thoughts of mommies who were burrying their children because of starvation or lack of clean water.  I had the convictions of two new people in my life who were changing the world and how I am looking at it because their hearts are so HUGE!  Through it all – I ran. 

All of a sudden I got it.  I felt a nudge – more like a shove – to do two things – run & give.  It was simple but totally not me.  So I started running & giving.  I started this blog. I trained for and ran the Women’s 1/2 Marathon – recording my miles, donating $1/mile to Charity:Water and water4christmas – and continued to run through December for others. 

Do you know what has happened?  My running has gotten easier.  My running has gotten faster.  My running has been pain free.  And my running has meaning. 

Want to know the weirdest part?  My running is no longer about me.

I have kept in contact with my new friend Katie at Rice Bowls and I have asked her if I can run for rice for the next 3 months as I train for RnR 1/2 in Dallas and/or Birch Bay 30k.  Her answer, “Of course!”  (she’s wicked cool like that)

At this point in my life this is what I have to give.  I have my legs, my feet, my time, my energy, and my faith. 

I am working with Katie to help bring food to orphanages and starving children around the world. 

I’ll share more soon.  I’ll tell you what RiceBowls is doing to change the face of charity and the needs that I tend to forget. 

What I’m afraid of?  I’m afraid I’ll lose some of you.  What I’m sure of.  It isn’t about me.

Run on Friends!

* I struggle with being a ‘public-Christian’ – you know, the kind who use all the right lingo and who don’t laugh at dirty jokes or talk about sex? But, only in settings with 5,000 others who speak ‘clean’. 😉