kissing our medals when the race was OVER!
WE DID IT!
We had no idea what the day would hold but we were excited and anxious. We jumped in a taxi at 5:45 and got to “Charity Village” around 6. All the World Vision team got togehter before the race and had a little photo shoot before we headed to the start line. Rebecca and started the race together for the first 9 miles. Right around then I began to get sick from being overheated (it was 15-20 degrees hotter than what we trained in and hotter than expected for Chicago). Without going into the gory details, I was forced to basically walk from miles 10-20 with stops at the Portapotties every mile (DISGUSTING). By mile 20 I had recovered from being overheated for the most part and ran the last 6.2 miles. It was definitely a challenge and one I am glad that we tackled. I would like to do another one at 100% to see what I can do. We’ll see when/if that happens! ; )
Betty, Katie and Scott finished around 4.5 hours, Rebecca finished a little over 5 hours and Amy, Emily and I finished after being tortured running for over 6 hours. We’re all thankful that we finished and that we can all walk as of 4 days out!
We had a blast in Chicago too! It’s a great city, one that I want to spend more time in for sure. The people were incredible and the city is beautiful. Lincoln Park was my favorite part that we ran through and the water front is so cool. We took an “Architectural tour” by boat on sunday night where we heard all about the main buildings in downtown. Trump’s new building going up in the city is spectacular. I reccomend taking that tour next time you’re in Chi-town.
Thanks for supporting us through the process of the marathon! Thanks for giving toward our goal to raise money for World Vision! Thanks for cheering us on and praying for our ailments! We couldn’t have done it without you!
Pre race (5:30am)
In 11 days a group of us will run the Chicago Marathon! It’s hard to believe that it is already here! It seems like yesterday I was visiting my parents (in May) and got a call from Betty. As we chatted I suggested do a particular Half Marathon and she said she was thinking of doing Chicago and asked if I wanted to do it to. Without much thought I agreed… WHAT WAS I THINKING?!
Training has been challenging but good and I think we are ready for the big day. Our team (8 of us) have raised over $7000 for World Vision. The money will go to some water projects in Africa. So exciting!
So October 12th is the big day! We head to Chicago on the 10th and will do a little site seeing and hanging with the other 40,000 marathoners. If you’re in the area, come out on sunday and look for the World Vison Runners in orange! I’ll be the one with an oxygen tank and walker! ; )
It has really come to an end...
As of July 31st I am officially off the YL staff. It’s a little hard to believe that the page has turned and now I am onto a new chapter. It feels freeing and a little surreal. I am so curious to see what the next pages hold!
I am working at the children’s furniture store and also working with a friend (Johnny) who does residential design and drafting work. JPCADD Services is the name of his company (www.jpcaddservices.com). I am helping him market the business right now because it is a new start up… so some cold calls to contractors and realtors… funtimes! Johnny is also (re)teaching me auto cadd which is a huge blessing and will be valuable in this next chapter.
As mentioned a while back I’ve decided to run the Chicago marathon with a group of friends from Charlotte. We are in the middle of training and it has been a real adventure so far… aches, pains, power gels and LOTS of water! We are not just running for the fun of it though, we are on the WORLD VISION TEAM. We’re raising money for water projects in Africa. Each person is raising $900. So our team alone, made up of 8 people, will raise $7200 for World Vision. This is so motivating when there’s no desire to train, we just remember why we’re doing it, so people can have clean water and live!
This weekend we run 14 miles, one more mile than I’ve ever run in my life! I’ll let you know how it goes!
Freedom
Galatians 5:1 says, “It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.
A friend of mine is working at a YL camp this summer and gets the privilege to hear gifted men and women everyday share about following Christ. She shared some thoughts recently that have stuck with me…
” Jim Branch, our speaker for Session 1 talked about our identity and how it isn’t achieved by what we do, but rather bestowed upon us. He talked about freedom being found in truth and talked about how if we aren’t feeling free, then we are believing a lie. This along with trust has been my prayer this summer. That I would trust God, believe and live out the freedom that is in Christ, and that I would stop trying to perform and live as who God has made me to be.”
What an amazing goal: to live as who God has made us to be rather than who the world says we should be. It’s my hope that today I (and you) can live out of the confidence of being a beloved child of the King… we are free to live, love and laugh a whole lot at how much we fall short!
I started working part time this week at a children’s store called Nesting. They have a design department and one full time interior designer. Their hope is to build the business to the point of needing 2 designers so… I am working there right now doing more of the retail side and may be able to grow into the design position.
If you want to check out the store come by! (in the specialty shops bedind South Park beside Williams Sonoma) or check it out online www.imnesting.com!
