Training in Texas

Training in Texas is TOUGH!
I've been learning this week all about hydration.  And did you know that you're supposed to take salt supplements when running here?  Running in Texas is crazy!
I've been listening to the suggestions about what to eat, what to drink, and how to fuel on a run, and I'll tell you, it's making a big difference!
Today I had my 5 mile run.  Now, let me tell you, I am not ready for 5 miles!  I know I should be getting ready for 10 miles this weekend, but I am just now hitting my stride and finding the joy in running again.  I am slower than a herd of turtles tromping through peanut butter, but I'm out there! And, with each run, my time is getting better and better.  Today I shaved almost a minute/mile off my run time.  With times like these, I'll have no problem crossing the marathon finish line this year!
Now I just have to keep going and build up the endurance.
I've got my joy back, I'm learning how to fuel for these, and I'm enjoying the process once again!

Today I was working on a few projects for our "summer share" event that we had tonight.  Because I was trying to get so much done, the only block of time that I had to run was at noon.  So I laced up, ran a few errands, and headed to the park.
There was this one curve that every time I passed it I was reminded of the woman at the well.  I think it was something about the heat of the day, no shade, and how no one was in that area.  I began to think about that woman and how she was shunned from society to where the only time she could get water was in the heat of the day.  That must have been miserable.  Then I began thinking about how many girls can't go to school because they have to trek to dangerous areas in the heat of the day to get water for their families.  I take so much for granted.
I've felt hated before, but I've never been shunned.  I've never had to trek in the heat of the day anywhere, I've always had a car, public transportation, or a friend to help out.  I've never had to fetch my own water.  Even when we went backpacking, I had others to help.
Then, as I was having these thoughts, I passed a dry creek bed.  I thought about how people pray for rain just so that they could have water fill up a creek bed and they could have something to drink.  I noticed the signs for flash flooding, and realized that I have a safe way out, but people fetching water don't.  I also crossed an area of standing water that looked disgusting, but was water.  If I were desperate, would I drink it?  Probably.  Others do it every day.  There are so many dangerous situations that they are going through, be it terrain or disease.  Hydration?  They don't have nuun.  They don't have shot blocks.  They have a job to do, and they do it.  I have no idea of what they go through.  I've seen it, but I've never fully experienced it.

When in Uganda, we would take our morning walk and often times see people come out of the brush from a nearby pond with jerry cans of water.  Children were carrying the cans, sometimes on bikes, sometimes on their heads.  Even then, I watched, but I went back to a well.

I need to do something.  I want to help.

All of these thoughts made me push harder and keep going.  I'm not running for myself.  Yes, it feels good making better time than last year, but it's never been about me.  I'm running so that these people don't have to miss school and hike in the heat of the day.  I'm running to bring life to individuals, to families, to communities.

I'm running for water and running for life.

I've made a crazy goal this year to raise $3,000 for World vision.  My team goal is $26,100.  If $50 brings sustainable water resources to one child for life, imagine the impact we are making!  I have the chance to raise money to save 60 lives.  Our team can save 522 lives!  Can you imagine!  That's a whole village!  That's many villages!!!

Consider sponsoring me!  With each donation, I will write your name on my shirt and you will run with me.  Your donations are going to change the world and save a life!

Thank you for joining me on this journey!
http://www.teamworldvision.org/participant/carlypowne

 

Flood warning

 

Would you drink this?

  

Standing water

 

Ironically, this came on when I wanted to quit.  Nope!  We are far from over!

 

The Dry creek bed

Why?

6 years ago I lost my grandma to what we thought was Rheumatoid Arthritis.  My dad and my aunts also have RA, so when we lost my grandma, I decided that I wanted to do something to honor her life, and also somehow help my family who suffers from RA.  I ended up finding the "Jingle Bell Run" which raises money and awareness for the Arthritis foundation.  During this run I found a love for running, which I never thought I would have.  It ended up being the healthiest year of my adult life, and I lost 50 pounds and loved running!
I thought that love for running would stick around, and the weight would stay off.  But, as life happens, we know we don't always get what we want.  I ended up gaining my weight back, and although I still thought I was a runner, I had quit and not even noticed.
Last year I was challenged to join Team World Vision and participate in the Rock'n Roll marathon and half marathon.  My pride got the best of me, and because I had done a marathon before, I knew I could do it again.  So I trained.  I went running every day like I was supposed to, did most of the group runs (or at least the distances), but when it really came down to it, I wasn't really trying like I had hoped.  I had trained to walk uphill, and run downhill, which isn't always helpful.  I ended up with plantar fasciitis for the first time, but figured that was from the weight I had gained back.  Anyways, even though I thought what I was doing was enough, it turns out on race day that it wasn't.
Race day came, and I thought I was ready.  I was excited and nervous, but knew that I could finish the 26.2 miles, even if I walked more than I wanted to.  I had spent the night before looking up old times and comparing them to my current times, and all was good.  Or so I thought.
The morning of the race, everything went wrong.  I cramped.  I had to stop at the bathrooms every mile (even though I wasn't sick, I just couldn't hold my water!) and thing after thing set me back.  But I wasn't about to give up.  The moment of truth came when I hit the split mark, where marathon runners go straight, but half marathoners turn left.  Something didn't seem right, but I had been watching the clock, and although behind, I had just hit my stride and should have still been okay time wise.  But I wasn't.
The officials had closed the course just minutes before I got there, and I was rerouted to finish the half.  I was devastated (which is kind of frustrating because a half is still incredible and something to be VERY proud of!)  But I had set out to finish a marathon, and had donors who had supported that last mile.
I finished the race (in tears) and thought about what I was to do.  People had paid to see me finish, or so I thought.  So, I called home and got the greatest advice.  Go finish.  So I did.
I went to McAlister park and walked (at a nice, slow pace) 11.1 miles, until the sun went down.  Then I went to the gym to finish my final 2.  All in all, I went to bed having finished that 26.2 miles!
But what I learned is even greater.  The race isn't about me!  It's not about me crossing the finish line.  That's just pride!  The reason why I did this was to bring children in Africa clean water...and I did that!
So, I'm doing it again!  This is my redemption year!  But that part is just for me.
The real reason why I am running is because I believe that every person deserves clean water.  I'm running for water for children in Africa, and running for their life and my life (because I need to make some changes to my health.)  I'm very excited to begin this journey, but I am stepping out on faith.  There is a fear in me that I will not finish, but this time, that's okay, because it's not about me.  It's about the children, and I run for them.
Speaking of that...I'm running late, so I'll finish up later, but continue to follow me on this blog as I take you along my journey.

 Our Northern Hills Team on race day

At the "finish" after many tears.  I wasn't done yet!