training update

Many of you know that I've been training for a triathlon for a few months now. Having done a few running races in the past, I wanted to try training for some again that was new and different. Triathlon seemed like a good bet since I knew how to swim, had a bike, and kind of liked running maybe.

So in October, I started training for a Sprint Triathlon, which means a 750m swim (15 50m laps in a pool if you are counting), 20k bike (12.4 miles), and 5k run (3.1 miles). I quickly realized that I could do all those distances, and I could do them all together. Not that big a challenge. The next logical step was to jack up my distances and go for the Olympic distance, which is a 1500m swim, 40k bike, and 10k run (double the Sprint). That has definitely been a little harder. Ok, a freaking lot harder.

I began training individual events and getting my distance and speed up on those. I'd run 9 miles one day then bike 20-30 miles the next then swim 2500m the next...that sort of thing. Training was going well, but it was really exhausting, as you can imagine. I began to lose weight, which was OK until I realized that part of the reason I was so tired was that I wasn't eating enough to be training this hard. Upping my caloric in take with fruits and whole grains (lots and lots of cereal) slowed my weight loss and helped me feel like a normal person again. Coffee helped too. It always does.

Then I got sick about a month ago. I'm not talking about just a cold. This was full on sinusitis/bronchitis with coughing up a lung and fever and all that. No training for a whole week--no nothing for a whole week except laying in bed watching old episodes of 30 Rock.

When I finally made it back outside and began to train, I kind of got freaked out. Only 11 weeks till my big race and I was SO far from being ready. I started praying and training really hard. Instead of just individual events each day, I began doubling up. Instead of going beyond my distance on a run, I'd do an even 10k after a swim, or hit the running trails after a 25 mile ride. I've also added a day of conditioning, a mixture of yoga and football drills--hmm, strange combination. Downward facing dog one minute, then 50 up-downs the next 10 minutes. Its a great workout for endurance, lung capacity, heart rate, and flexibility, and its a change of pace from the pool/bike/road.

That's where I am now--doubling up workouts as best I can and focusing on the upcoming race. I'm nervous, that's for sure--its a lot of ground (and lake) to cover.

My goal is to do it in less that 3hrs and 20mins. We'll see I guess.

Some might wonder why in the world I would do this--all this training and time put into preparing for a race. I wonder that myself sometimes. However, yesterday I remembered why I do it. There are a few reasons. One is discipline. It takes a huge amount to get out there day after day in rain and wind and even sunshine. I realize that I don't have it in me, but with the help of the Lord, I can. So I guess its really the discipline of dependence, and I hope He gets the glory when I cross that finish line.

Two, I feel alive when I've hit a new milestone like doing a 40k bike then running a 10k back to back. Even though I want to die afterward, the satisfaction is incredible. It means that I've changed, that something is different. I'll take the pain and dehydration for that feeling anytime.

Third, I feel strong and undefeated. Like, I dare someone to chase me.

Four, I always want to be trying new things, no matter how hard they are. Whether that comes from walking with God or from being human or from how I was raised, I don't know, but I do know that so much joy is found in even trying something different. Shoot, even if I fail, at least I tried, right?

Five, this training has given me a chance to live locally in a way that I never did before, I run around the city and my West Club/Trinity neighborhood, I get my bike fixed at the Bicycle Chain on Broad St. I swim at Edison Johnson Community Pool. I get to run with girls from my small group, I shop for all this food I'm eating at Whole Foods and our neighborhood Kroger, and I get an after ride coffee at Joe's on my way home. Walking around in bike clothes always stimulates conversation too :-) Word.

So those are a few reasons why I'm doing this crazy thing.


Thanks for reading about this little part of the greater journey. I'll keep you updated :-)

Babies galore

As of late, I can't escape the babies. Let's take, for example, my job. Three of my coworkers are out on maternity leave with their precious little ones. One is 24 weeks pregnant and glowing. Several have kiddos less than a year old.

Let's also take my actual work--every patient I have is pregnant. You have to be pregnant to be on Labor and Delivery. Some are full term, healthy, and ready to deliver. Some aren't there yet, but they are close. I see babies born just about every day I'm there--I get to see the joy and excitement in parent's eyes when they are presented with this new life, complete with a hat and diaper, and wrapped like a little burrito in baby blankets. I can't escape them, ever.

Let's also take my sweet cousin, who is 10 days younger than me. She's preggers after trying for some time, and she is having a boy.

Then there are the 5 staff wives at church who are pregnant, a friend from seminary who is about to pop, two others who just did, another two here in Durham who are due in a few weeks...the list goes on. All in all, between Chris and I, we know 13 people who are pregnant, and five who have had a baby within the past 2 months.

What the heck. I'm surrounded.

And its catching...

No, I'm not pregnant, but dangit if I don't want to be. So bad.

For the first time since we've been married, I want a baby. Real bad. Right now please.

And while Chris and I aren't trying to get pregnant yet (probably next year), I keep thinking to myself, "It wouldn't be the end of world you know, if it happened early."

We'll keep you posted.

Living Locally

So we've been challenged by our pastor to live locally, meaning to do our "lives" within the neighborhood around our church so we can really get to know people, know what they might need, hopefully meet their needs, and pray for them. It got me thinking--how am I going to live locally? What can I do in my neighborhood?

Here's some ideas that I ganked from Brad (my pastor), and some that I came up with on my own.

Eating at Bhan's, Elmo's, Jimmy John's, and Chubby's Tacos.
Coffee at Bean Traders or Mad Hatters. Both have wireless.
Books at Nice Priced books on Broad Street.
Haircuts at the Garden Salon (I think its within 5 miles of the church)
Violin repair/maintenance at High Strung on Broad St.
Bike repair at the Bicycle Chain on Perry St.
Soy milk and goat cheese at Whole Foods.
Other groceries at Kroger on Hillsborough Rd.
Gasoline at the BP on Broad St. The guy in the mornings is super nice.
Running around East Campus and the Club/Hillandale neighborhood.
Gift shopping at Morgan Imports and Zola's.
Swimming at Edison Johnson Pool off of Murray Rd.
Satisfying my Indian food cravings at Dale's.
If I had a dog I'd go to the dog park in Northgate Park. Someone should!

That's all I can think of right now...I'll keep the list going as new things come along.

Maybe its good for all of us to think about how to live locally so we get to know our neighbors and can participate in our community. It matters!

Our Wedding

I've finally begun to go through our wedding pictures, and they brought back so many memories that I'd like to share with you.

When Chris and I began discussing getting married, about 3 weeks into dating, I finally felt the freedom to really think and imagine what I would want in a wedding. Most girls start planning their wedding around the age of 8. I didn't do that very much, and as I got older and remained single, I was afraid to even think what I'd want in a wedding, fearing that the disappointment of never having one would overwhelm me.

Having been to a number of weddings, and never being one to conform, I definitely knew what I didn not want. I did not want invitations with multiple layers or vellum. I did not want matching bridesmaid dresses in some outlandish color that requires getting shoes dyed. I did not want the preacher to present his 10 points on how to have a successful marriage. I did not want the wedding march. I did not want special music. I did not want a cake cutting ceremony because I knew it would be too tempting to shove cake in my new husband's face despite thinking that is kind of tacky. I did not want to throw the bouquet because it turns lovely, sweet girls into scary linebackers and it doesn't work anyway. And finally, I did not want prissy food that requires four trips through the line with a plate in each hand to finally feel full. Not that these are bad things. They just weren't me things. Thankfully, they weren't Chris things either.

So we decided to break the nuptual mold and do it our way, regardless of expectations, and it worked. We set our wedding on a horse farm, with green pastures and white fences, under a huge white tent. Our guests sat at tables during the entire ceremony and reception, drinking sweet tea from mason jars. Gerber daisies and candles brought color and light to each table.





Chris and his guys wore black suits with no ties (they LOVED that), and my girls wore black dresses of their choice. You've got to be able to wear it again, right? My sister, Connie, played Come Thou Fount of Every Blessing on the banjo as my both my parents walked me down the aisle, alight with white rose petals my four flower girls so gently drizzled along the way. Our friend, Rick, prayed for us. Then we, the happy couple, sat on a rod iron bench, raised on a platform and facing our guests as my adopted aunt and uncle read scripture. Then Danny, a friend and mentor to us both, talked briefly about us and about how we hoped our marriage would represent God's grace and bring Him glory for the rest of our lives. Then we stood and said our vows, before our Lord and our friends and family, exchanged rings, and finally, Chris kissed his bride. Booya.





Finally, we were married, and the party began. Danny's BBQ provided a bounty of meat and beans, and people filed through the farm's pretty barn, filling their plates. A huge basket filled with the makings of smores invited people to the fire pit to make dessert. A game of corn hole started by the barn as Rift filled the air with bluegrass tunes. A table filled with baskets of candy provided our guests with a little take home gift, and opposite that sat another table, towering with gourmet cupcakes topped with sugared daisies, replacing the traditional cake.





One of my favorite moments in our wedding oddly enough didn't involve my new husband. My mom's family, from western Kentucky, made a huge effort to come to our special day. They drove over 10 hours to be there, and I wanted to thank them in a memorable and meaningful way. Muhlenberg County Kentucky, where they live, where my mom grew up, and where I spent some of my best summers and Christmases, holds a very place in my heart, and in the heart of John Pryne who wrote a well known bluegrass song about his own love for this place. So, to honor my family, Connie and I sang it for them. It was hard to not cry during that song, but we made it through, and I think they liked it.



Finally, Chris and I made our big exit, surrounded by a sea of our friends and bubbles. We drove off in an antique car borrowed from a friend of a friend. That was the start of our marriage, and it definitely began with a bang. It warms my heart when people still talk about how fun, easy, and different our wedding was. That was kind of the idea, you know?





I would also like to thank Poiema Photography (www.poiemaphotography.com) for our amazing photos. They blessed us with their talent, their work ethic, their creativity, and their dedication to capturing everything about our day. Thank you!