I Swam a Mile & I Ran Around an Island

Swimming a mile doesn't sound like a whole lot, but swimming is considerably more effort than running or biking for me.

I'm sorta like a brick in the water, not too graceful.  (Kinda like how I am on land.)  I'm a clumsy fool, but at least my body is starting to compensate for this, and my endurance is improving.

I can be clumsy for a longer period of time!  In fact, I can now swim a clumsy mile!  Sweet!  :)

Today, however, I timed a gentleman in the infamous "Annual One Hour Swim" event that the Masters Clubs across the country participate in.  This guy swam a total of 4525 yards.  That's over 2.5 miles!  In an hour!!  It took me the good part of an hour just to do my one mile.

Also, last Sunday, David, the wolfpack, & I met in Marblehead at Heather's house to watch the game that shall not be discussed, and have dinner.  The dinner part was excellent, the game, not so much. I'm not really a football fan, so during the game, I took off for a run around the Island for 3 miles.  It was totally awesome!  A little chilly, but very beautiful.

I also got to use the flashy LED in my gloves!  It got dark while I was running, so I turned on the LED to warn cars there was a clumsy brick running up ahead.  I didn't get run over.  Mission accomplished.

This is just passed the causeway looking south towards Boston (you can see an ity bity Boston in the middle of the photo).

One thing I still have trouble with is seeing snow on a shoreline.  That just isn't normal in the world of a South Florida Girl like myself.  It is a beautiful sight, though.  :)  Praise God, you make some purty stuff.

And, in looking at the beautiful white snow along the shoreline, I kept singing one particular song in my head the whole time I was running:

JESUS PAID IT ALL

I hear the Savior say,
"Thy strength indeed is small,
Child of weakness, watch and pray,
Find in Me thine all in all."
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Lord, now in-deed I find,
Thy power, and thine alone,
Can change the leper's spots,
And melt the heart of stone.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

For nothing good have I,
Where-by the grace to claim;
I'll wash my garments white,
In the blood of Calvary's Lamb.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

And when, before the throne,
I stand in Him complete,
"Jesus died my soul to save,"
My lips shall still repeat.
Jesus paid it all, all to Him I owe;
Sin had left a crimson stain,
He washed it white as snow.

Are My Legs Snobs Now? Plus 310XT Giveaway via DC Rainmaker

Really, legs.  What gives?  You're just too good to walk like normal legs?

Do you remember being a kid and having the urge to run as fast as you could for no reason?  I've been getting that feeling lately.  :)  It feels nice.

On an exciting note, DC Rainmaker is giving away a Garmin 310XT!  Wow!  Generosity to the max!

I tell you what, if I win this 310XT, I'll turn around and give it away to another triathlete and I'll throw in a foot pod or bike cadence sensor, because that sounds like fun!  :D

"Remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: 'It is more blessed to give than to receive.'"   Acts 20:35

My 2011 Race Schedule

I told David I was going to make this blog work.  I would be consistent, write regularly, and devote my time to documenting my triathlon training experience.

I stink at blogging.

Okay, that out of the way, this is a new year, and I'm recommitting myself.  After all, I'd hate for you all to think I gave up on my training!  I didn't!  In fact, I have since attended a swim clinic with Karlyn Pipes-Neilsen, had two sub-max anaerobic threshold tests, and I have officially signed up for a couple races already.

Here is my planned 2011 schedule:

• Gate City Strider's Trail Series runs on Monday nights @ Mine Falls.  They are 5K or 5 mile runs, and go for 12 weeks.

• Jun  9, 2011 Hollis Fast 5K  (Signed up already!)
  

• Jun 12, 2011 Nashua Y Tri, Sprint Triathlon
  

• Jul 10, 2011 Black Fly Tri, Sprint Triathlon  (Signed up already!)

• Aug  6, 2011 Give Peace a Tri, Sprint Triathlon

• Aug 11, 2011 Cigna/Elliot 5K in Manch

• Sep 24, 2011 Hollis Applefest Half Marathon, this will be my Crowning Jewel of the 2011 race season, my first half marathon!

In addition to all this triathlon business, I've got a pretty exciting and busy Faith Building schedule too.

TWIGs (Tuesday Women's Inspirational Group) has started back up for a quick 6-week study followed by a more intense 12-week study.  Both studies look amazing.  The first is a study by author, Timothy Keller, called The Reason for God: Belief in an Age of Skepticism.  It takes you through a series of discussions with non-believers and how to answer some of the questions they have about why we believe what we do.

David and I have joined a new Small Group for Monday nights.  The two other couples in this group have been meeting on a regular basis already, and they opened their group up for more folks, so the Millers joined!  We are reading and discussing a book by Christine Caine called Stop Acting Like a Christian, Just Be One.  I like this book so far, it talks about exercising your inner spiritual core muscles in order to change yourself from the inside out.  Then, being a Christian will come naturally, instead of trying to just act like one all the time.

And we are continuing to teach the 3 year olds each Sunday.  It has been so much fun serving the children with my husband.  I get to see a softer side of him as he teaches our precious little ones how to love Jesus.  It fills me with so much joy; I can't even describe how wonderful it is.  :)

I will be pretty busy in 2011!  God, you got my back, so I ain't scared!  Let's do it!!!

With God all things are possible.  Matthew 19:26