My Best Friend

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4.89 miles

Temperature: 56 degrees

Tonight I got to run with my best friend and sister, Anna. I absolutely love that Anna has started to enjoy running. I can remember this past summer constantly asking her to run with me, and every time she would say "no". The great thing about running is that it can be whatever I want it to be. Sometimes I just need to be alone so that I can think or just listen to my feet hit the pavement. Other times I want to share my experience with a friend. Tonight was one of those runs where I just wanted to be with someone. It was dusk, which is such a beautiful time to run. I wish that dusk would last longer so that I could spend more time in awe of my surroundings. Anna and I ran through neighborhoods and on golf cart paths. Running has been such a great way for me to strengthen the relationships that I have with the people that I love.

My Spa Day

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 8.12 miles

Temperature: 59 degrees

Today I didn't have any plans. I woke up and decided I was going to go on the long run that I had been planning to go on for some time. I kept telling myself that I was going to go on a 1o mile run over the break, but I haven't gotten around to it because I often limit my runs on account of my somewhat busy schedule. Matt ran the first 3 miles with me, and I ran the last 5 by myself. Matt and I ran to Christ Church and Ft. Frederica. We stopped to take pictures. I felt like I was site seeing and just enjoying a day off. In no way was the run strenuous. It was enjoyable and relaxing. When Matt and I parted ways, I ran down Frederica Rd. and through Sea Palms. I kept thinking how pictures wouldn't do the day justice. It was beautiful, and the time seemed to fly by. I was gone for about an hour, but it only seemed like 15 minutes. When I got home I was thinking about a good title for the entry, and finally, I settled on My Spa Day because this run was so therapeutic. Running keeps me sane.

A Spiritual Experience

Overlooking the Marsh

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 5.5 miles

Temperature: 45 degrees

I took the past two days off of running. I didn't feel like running outside in the cold weather and I didn't want to run inside. I really want to enjoy running, so I've told myself that when I don't feel like doing it, I shouldn't force myself.

Today I ran outside. I started out as the sun was setting and ended in the dark. I felt great. The first thing that I love about running in the dark is that I feel as though no one can see me. I'm all alone, and I can just "be". As I was thinking about no one being able to see me, I started to think about C.S. Lewis' quote, "You don't have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body." As I glided through the night, all I wanted was to be a "soul". I want to see and believe through the eyes of my heart and not the eyes of my flesh. I constantly find myself controlled by my outside eyes. This brings me to the second thing that I love about running in the dark, which is that I get a glimpse of what it is like to actually be a soul.

Merry Christmas!

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4 miles

Temperature: 51 degrees

Merry Christmas everyone!!! This Christmas Anna and I asked for a lot of new running gear. We are both running regularly, so we thought it was only fitting for us to get new shoes, socks, spandex, tops, and head lamps. Decked out in new clothes from head to toe, we decided to take a night run with our head lamps and our mother on her bike. Anna and I ended up wearing pretty much the same thing unintentionally. I'm sure we scared people who saw us because we looked like robbers.

The run was really nice. We were able to see all of the Christmas lights down our street. It was very peaceful, and I often feel like running is easier at night. It drizzled a little, but it didn't bother us. I think Anna and I both needed a run tonight after some of the stresses that Holidays can bring. I couldn't have asked for a better Christmas run.

3 Barrows

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4.83 miles

Temperature: 49 degrees

Today was so awesome!!! I got to run with Matt and Landon. We missed you, Anna! I enjoyed every bit of this run. Man, I am so blessed. Not only do I have siblings who will run with me, but they are also a joy to be around. Landon is fun to run with because God has gifted him with great endurance. This run was full of great memories. I kept seeing places that reminded me of things that Matt or Landon and I had done. Memories can be so sweet. I'm so glad that we were able to talk and enjoy the crisp air tonight. Also, we ran a little on the golf cart paths, which is one of my favorite things to do. It truly is a wonderful time of year.

Dec 22nd

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4.78 miles

Temperature: 67 degress

Sorry that the post is a day late! I forgot to upload the photos yesterday. My brother, Matt, came home from school three days ago, and I am so happy that we got to run together yesterday. It was pretty warm, so we were able to run in t-shirts and shorts. It was so nice to be able to talk and catch up. I see Matt the least out of all of my siblings, so I cherish the time that we spend together. We talked about school, work, and what we love about being home. We were able to run my favorite route which was just the icing on the cake. I thank God everyday for Matt.

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 5 miles

Temperature: 49 degrees

As I ran today had a song by Phil Wickham in my head called "I Will Wait for You There." The part of the song that I kept singing over and over again was

"And with outstretched arms

I will sing out melodies

And my beating heart

Will pour out a symphony

Hallelujahs in the morning

Hallelujahs in the night

I will wait for you as long as I have life."

The first time that I heard the song was today and the lyrics really struck me as powerful. About a mile into the run I started thinking about something that I had read this morning in The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. In the chapter titled "The Speaking Voice" Tozer says, "It is my own belief (and here I shall not feel bad if no one follows me) that every good and beautiful thing which man has produced in the world has been the result of his faulty and sin-blocked response to the creative Voice sounding over the earth." I remember the first time that I read this I wasn't really sure what he meant, but this morning I saw this quote in another light. I think that Tozer is trying to say that much of the art that man produces, whether it's performance, painting, drawing, film, photography, theology, writing, philosophy, etc, is man's way of trying to capture a longing that he vaguely understands. This longing is God himself, but we often miss this truth because we aren't listening to God's speaking Voice. I have been challenged to recognize and adore the art of our great Savior spiritually transforming lives. The art of Jesus Christ raising men and women from the dead. The art of the saints singing:

"And my beating heart

Will pour out a symphony

Hallelujahs in the morning

Hallelujahs in the night."

December 18, 2010

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 4.5 miles

Temperature: Inside

Today I went to the gym with my dad before going to my friends' wedding. I was kind of having a blah day, so I thought that running would help improve my mood. I love the way that running makes me feel afterwards. I feel tired and energized at the same time. After my run today, my mind was cleared, and I was ready to be around all of my close friends at the wedding. I needed this run to jump start my day.

December 19, 2010

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 5 miles

Temperature: Inside

Today Anna and I were on Sea Island for orientation for Junior Staff. We brought our workout clothes just in case we got done early and wanted to go to the gym. Orientation only took an hour so we decided to run on the treadmills. My body was feeling a slow run today, but sometimes when I get on the treadmill I feel as though people are looking at me and then I feel like I should increase the speed. Today I tried my best to stick to not only what my body wanted but also to what my body needed. I think that running fast is just part of my competitive nature. I wish that I could go out and just run slow, but it's hard for me. I can't take a watch with me when I run unless I am trying to get a PR. I'm glad that I ran slow today, and hopefully, I will be able to do more of this in the future.

Perfect Weather

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4.75 miles

Temperature: 63 degrees

Finally, Anna and I were able to run outside today!!!! It was wonderful. The weather was perfect for running. I was never too hot or cold. It was so nice having a great running partner with me. The run went by so quickly, and at the end, I wished that we would have kept running. Something that I noticed today was how much I love the smell of St. Simons. I told Anna and she laughed at me... which is totally understandable. How does a place have a smell? I'm not really sure, but I know that St. Simons has a distinct smell. It reminds me of live oak trees and Spanish moss. Live oaks are my favorite trees. They really are incredible. It was such a blessing that most of our run today was covered by these massive trees. When I run underneath them, I feel as though God put them there for me to enjoy.

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 4.5 miles

Temperature: Inside

Anna and I ran on the treadmills again today. I felt a little tired during my run. I'm longing for some variety. Hopefully, it will warm up soon so that I can run on the beach and through Sea Palms. The high tomorrow is 63, so I think I will be able to share some pictures and more interesting thoughts on my run. I look forward to writing tomorrow.

A Pleasant Surprise

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 5 miles

Temperature: Inside

Today I ran on the treadmill again due to cold weather. When I got to the treadmill, much to my surprise, there was a class going on. The instructor said that I could jump in and do the running class if I wanted to. I decided that it would be fun to do it and I would probably get a very good work out. It turned out to be great, and I am so glad that I did it. It was like a running version of a spin class. The class pushed me to run faster and increase the incline on my sprints. I felt great when it was over. This may be the beginning of a new routine for me.

The Weather Outside is Frightful

Location: Sea Island, Ga

Distance: 5 miles

Temperature: Inside

It's windy and cold, and the thought of running outside today was miserable. Anna and I decided to run inside on the treadmills. I get really bored on the treadmill, but I had no other choice haha. I have hopes of running a half marathon in the Spring and I want to run 8 minute miles. Last week I read some half marathon training guides and one started out with a 5 mile run. The run consisted of a 1 mile warm up, 3 miles at 8 minute mile pace, and then a 1 mile cool down. I thought that it would be a good run to try, but two miles into the run I got bored... surprise, surprise. For the next mile and a half I did intervals.... it seems to pass the time quicker. I make running inside sound like the death of me, but I think it just shows how much I really enjoy being outside. It's beautiful, and when I run I can see so much. On the next treadmill run I will make a dank play-list. Let me know if you have any suggestions!

Home Sweet Home

Location: St. Simons Island, Ga

Distance: 4.8 miles

Temperature: 60 degrees and windy

So yesterday I didn't run because I worked all day and then babysat at night. I got up early today to finish packing for home, and then I spent five hours driving home from Athens. Once I got home. The first thing I did after I unpacked was put on my running gear and grabbed my camera. After taking a day off, I was craving a good run. I was really excited about the weather because it was 60 degrees and I was finally able to run in shorts and a t-shirt! It felt great outside. On today's run I did a lot of thinking. I was going to speak at an FCA Christmas party at 6, so I thought about what I was going to say. I was a little nervous about speaking in front of 25 or so middle school students. I spent most of the run praying. I kept thinking about His sovereignty, and how He has worked throughout my life whether I am aware of it or not. Of course my prayers and thoughts were jumbled but overall, God gave me a thankful heart for all of the many blessings that He has given me. He didn't have to give me anything, but He did. I am thankful for the ability to run and to see His glorious creation.

Thanks

Location: Athens, Ga

Distance: 5.14 miles

Temperature: 49 degrees

Today was a slow run. My legs were a little heavy and I had a long day at work so I decided to take it easy. I enjoy running slow because it allows me to notice the things around me more than when I run fast. Before I set out for my run, I decided to make a 'running' play-list on my i-pod so that I wouldn't have to spend the majority of my run pressing the next button while the songs shuffled. My play-list consisted of songs by David Crowder, Dave Matthews, Colbie Caillat, Jon Foreman, and Dierks Bentley. Throughout the run I was overwhelmed with gratitude that the Lord brought me to Athens, Ga. It's beautiful, eclectic, and most of all the people that I have met here are amazing. I thought back to about a month ago when I was wrestling with why I was even living in Athens. God reminded me why tonight. On my way home I made a short stop in Jittery Joe's to say hey to my friends who have made Athens so great.

Look GaGa, I Found a Partner

Location: Athens, Ga

Distance: 5.5 miles

Temperature: 45 degrees

Before my run today, my roommate asked me if I wanted to take her dog, Juno, with me. Juno had never been on a run before, but I was willing to take her with me because she has a lot of energy. I was pretty excited to take her with me because I'm always envious of other people who run with their dogs. I decided to run to the trails today because it's such a fun and scenic run. Time seems to fly by while I'm in the trails, and at the end of my run, I find myself longing for more. Juno was (to my surprise) the perfect running partner. I found myself running faster than I usually do, and Juno kept up with me or led me the entire way. The trails were beautiful because the sun was about to set. Right before the sun sets is my favorite time to run because the weather is perfect, everything looks so tranquil, and I feel relaxed. Juno and the sunset were the ultimate combination.

Psalm 19:1
The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.

Inside

Location: Ramsey (Athens, Ga)

Distance: 5.5 miles

Temperature: Inside

Today it was really cold outside so I decided to run on the track at Ramsey. I have to say that I really don't like running inside especially on treadmills, so I ran on the inside track. I put my i-pod on shuffle and told myself that I would run for 8 songs. I figured that 8 songs would last me somewhere between 40 and 45 minutes. I needed something to work for since it's not as easy to motivate myself while running indoors. I get bored easily and find myself longing for a change of scenery. During the run, I felt really good.... no cramps, which is always a good thing. I couldn't seem to find songs that I liked very much today. I'm picky about the songs that listen to while I run. I may really like listening to a certain song in my car or in my room, but once I start running, I don't want to listen to it. I like mellow music when I run. That's kind of the opposite of what most people like to listen to. I enjoy John Mayer, David Crowder, and Third Day while I run. The last song I listened to was Innocent by Third Day. It's such a great song. I'll leave y'all with some lyrics from the song: "I am innocent and I have been set free

I no longer have chains around my feet
And no matter where I go or what they say
I am innocent"

A Little Road and A Little Trail

Location: Athens, Ga

Distance: about 5 miles

Temperature: 39 degrees

I wasn't sure if I wanted to run today because it is so cold outside. I'm not used to the cold.... I'm a south Georgia girl! I decided to brave the cold weather because I didn't run yesterday. I really enjoy runs after a day or two of rest. I feel energized and less fatigued. Today's run was really nice. I only saw one other person on the trail. You would think that I would have a lot of time to think while running alone, but I actually didn't think about much. Sometimes I think about anything and everything when I run, but today just wasn't one of those days. I needed some solitude, and I definitely got it. Now I feel refreshed for the rest of the day. I titled today's entry: A little road and a little trail because I rain from my house to the trails behind the IM fields. Here are some pictures of the beautiful trails that I ran.

The Beginning

Location: Athens, Ga

Distance: 5.7 miles

Temperature: cold (aka 37 degrees)

So tonight was my first run with my camera. The run was cold but good. I don't know why, but I've been running at night a lot lately. I enjoy looking at the lights and running under the stars. Something that I noticed tonight was the smell of winter. The air was crisp and every now and then I could smell someone's fire burning. It was refreshing and peaceful. The thought of fire soothes my soul. While I ran, I thought of how mesmerizing it is. Just how the light of Christ mesmerizes and guides those who wander down the narrow road. "And we rejoice in the HOPE of the glory of God." Romans 5:2b