Red Lights

I have a confession to make....I run red lights. No, no, no, not all the time. Only a little before 5:30 a.m. on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays on my way to boot camp. I know it seems dangerous but let me explain. Every morning that I wake up for boot camp and head out, I get stopped by the red light crossing highway 84 at 5:27 a.m. I wait and wait; I watch the lights change for the opposite side of the road, but nothing for me. So by 5:30 a.m. (when I'm supposed to be at boot camp) I get tired of waiting. Since there's no car in sight, I look both ways and make a run for it.

Why, you may ask, are you confessing now? Well the truth is it almost caught up to me today. No, I wasn't almost in wreck or anything life-threatening but here's what happened! I was sitting as usual waiting for the light to change knowing it wouldn't (but I always give it a chance) when I see a car coming. I thought "Okay, after that car turns, I'm going run this red light to get to boot camp." The car turns beside me and I see that it is black and white with lights on top. Yes, you guessed it--a cop! I thought "Okay, a cop, I'll wait til it's gone down the road some before I break the law." I was getting ready to run the light again when I see another car! I wait for it to turn and by goodness, if it isn't another cop! After the cop turned, a car pulls up beside me in the turning lane and the light finally changes! I hit the gas and in 2 minutes I'm at boot camp (late again).

I'm telling you this training for a 5K comes with more risks than I ever thought. But boot camp is part of my continued training and not even a red light can stop me from getting to my goal!!

Shake-up

Okay, so of course today is Wednesday and that means early morning which means boot camp! Boot camp started off like any other day (except for the election results buzz) until Coach Danny did a shake-up meaning shifting people down and moving these people and that person. So when the shake-up was all said and done with, who did I end up beside? None other than the "other" Danny whom likes to refer to himself as Evil Danny. Evil Danny Hendrix recently became a certified personal trainer through COGI and loves it and doesn't mind letting you know it.

Danny H has great sense of humor but I honestly didn't realize how crazy he was until this morning with his humorous commentary on each exercise. I don't know how his wife puts up with him--just kidding, Danny, you know everybody on the boot camp team loves ya!

But really the shake-up created a fun environment for everybody or at least where I was anyways! Danny H really is an encourager so I didn't have time to slow down on the exercise routines this morning--no slackin' off this morning! What a fun start to my day!

Pushing Forward

Wow, I've been a slacker these last few days when it comes to blogging. I haven't completely neglected training for my first 5K but must admit that over the weekend I was doing a different kind of running. Busyness pushed its way in over the weekend with fall festivals, family reunion, work, church and more. Okay, okay so I admit it--I did not run over the weekend (and I ate me some sweet treats).

Boot camp resumed yesterday. It's awesome to have new faces join us. Today I quit putting off running and hit the loop. I was afraid I might have found myself in a running in a downpour by the looks of the cloudy sky but I pushed forward. The cloudy sky mirrored my anxious spirit. For any of you who know me know that I am very passionate about my country and the need for a return to our Christian foundations and principles. Therefore understandably this day--election day is a very exciting yet nerve-racking day to me! As I believe that this election day may be historic for conservative victory, my anxious spirit is like that cloudy sky awaiting the unknown. Will it rain or will the skies hold back? I've voted, prayed and now I'm doing the hard part--waiting!

While I was running, my legs felt so tense and my mind screamed for me to stop but somehow my legs and heart refused to listen. My legs charged ahead as though they were running into battle. When I crossed my finish line for the day, I wanted to throw my hands up in victory. Each day at boot camp, Danny Copeland reminds us that we are beating our flesh into submission. We don't immediately see the benefits of doing that but it's days like today that I'm so glad that I've pushed forward through momentary discomfort to a disciplined heart and body. (Eventually the mind will get there too--it's also in training.)

COGI Boot Camp

Yesterday afternoon my running buddy, Charity and I started pounding that pavement around town. Charity is also planning to run the 5K November 20th so we pushing each other to the next level and eventually across the finish line. As we were running through mud and water (after the much needed rain, Hallelujah!), I realized how much easier it is to breathe now. At the beginning of the year I was gasping for air after just a short distance; now I can run 2 miles without crying "Air, I need air!"

This morning the alarm was going off at 5:00. I was up and out the door and greeted by this incredible blast of cool air--50 degree temperatures are the best for Boot Camp! Today was the final day of this session of COGI Boot Camp but no worries another one starts Monday and there's always room for people who are wanting to take it to the next level! It's a great workout with great teammates and encouragement. Check out this video to see what COGI Boot Camp is all about. It is sure to take ya to the NEXT LEVEL!!!

2 Miles!!

Yes, I did it! 2 miles--I ran 2 miles!

This morning in the muggy weather, I was out at boot camp bright and early. It was bit more challenging this morning, not that we did anything unusual from our normal routine but the humidity was kicking our butts! As we were leaving, I looked around at all my boot camp teammates and saw I wasn't the only one drenched in sweat.

After I got off work, my mind was made up that today was going to be the day that I crossed the 2 mile marker. I wanted to make sure that I ran a full two miles so I headed to the track at CHS. I've never smiled when I've arrived at a track but I actually did today because I knew today I would leave it having ran a full 2 miles for the first time.

The track was definitely different than running around town. The surface of the track is different and there's no zooming cars or people to watch. The track just goes round and round. It takes four times around the track to make a mile. On my 7th time around, my legs were feeling it. Thankfully, no one was on the track at the time so I started encouraging myself and quoting "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." and "Nothing is impossible with God." On my final round, I was ready to celebrate but kept it together until I crossed the 2 mile marker! My right leg started cramping after the run but after some stretching it felt okay. I was thrilled as I'm sure you can tell.

Just getting closer and closer with each step to that final goal.

Choices

Attitude has so much to do with how my day goes and that includes my 5K training. Today was one of those days; I woke up on the wrong side of the bed and I was immediately in a mood (and not a good one). I was late to bootcamp. I started feeling a little better after some of the exercises. But when the crab crawl came, I could hardly move more than a few feet at a time and I honestly felt like just crying right there in the middle of the field but I kept on with the encouragement of my "team mates".

When I got back to my house and sat down to eat my breakfast, I felt God reminding me that I get to choose my attitude. In all reality, sometimes it's hard to choose a good attitude when you're having one of those crummie days but I truly believe that we have a choice. In Deuteronomy, it says that "I set before you blessings and cursings, life and death. Now choose life, choose blessings." That scripture tells me the way I live my life is my choice. Are there days that my circumstances or my emotions try to tell me different? Absolutely. But it's in those days like today that I remind myself over and over again that I am choosing a good attitude. It's not easy at first and sometimes my emotions rage and tell me that I can't really choose. But I know the truth and I do have a choice.

This afternoon, I went for my run around town. I had worn heels all day long so my legs felt tense when I started running. Thoughts ran through my head telling me "I won't be able to make it", "Why are you even trying?", "Maybe I should just quit" but I made my choice. And I ran--further than I had before and in less time too. (1.8 miles ran + .4 miles walked for warm-up in 26 minutes)

25 Days Until...

Two Days

It's been two days since I've blogged but it has not been two days that I've neglected training. Thursday after work my friend, Charity, and I hit the loop around town. We ran a mile and walked another. It was a lot of fun and we chatted the whole way making the time fly!

Friday morning I was at boot camp at 5:30. I had seriously considered not going because I had coughed all night and my head felt so congested but I determined I would get up and go in faith that I would get better. And I really did feel so much better afterwards!! Plus I did 40 "man" push-ups. I couldn't believe it! I was so excited to have done that many; of course, today my arms are really feeling it.

I have been a slacker today. I wasn't able to go to boot camp this morning because I had to work. It was a disappointment to miss today because Saturdays are run days and for some reason, Saturdays are always my favorite! Boot camp on Saturdays is more like a family run and I love the camaraderie of it all--next time!