On The Training Route Again

Well, here I go again. Making new goals for the New Year. We all do that…at least for a while. This year I am continuing several goals including running a bigger race. I’m shooting for a half marathon in Canmore, Alberta in the Fall. It made sense to me to go back to Alberta for this monumental goal in my life because it’s where I accomplished a HUGE goal last year.

I started training in November but I’ve been sidelined for a while due to a knee injury. Thankfully it hasn’t totally taken me away from my workouts and I”m getting better.

So off I go. There’s something amazing about accomplishing goals and getting healthy. It gives me a “High” I can’t explain.

We often get used to doing the same old thing day after day, hoping, waiting, wishing things will change. And unless you determine to take a step FORWARD, you’ll be wallowing in the mud for another year.

With that said, I encourage you to do what Nike says, JUST DO IT! And you can because God is with you and He lights the way.

Be back with updates
Diane

FINISH LINE

I DID IT!
I arrived at the Calgary International Airport on Saturday May 28th, deplaned and began my journey to the Finish Line.
After picking up my car, I drove to the Marathon Expo and picked up my race packet. Then settled into the Westin Hotel. What a hoot! I was on my way.

On Sunday, I took the train to Bridgeland where the race began. It was loaded with other runners and I was in good company. It was a bit nerve racking as this was my first run. But all I had to do was follow the crowd to the start line.
7:30 ticked closer. The announcer stirred everyone up. All of us 10K-ers were lined up ready to go. I chatted up a storm with a fellow runner, Jeff who is a Canadian. Standing there was no big deal to him. He was a seasoned runner and expected to finish in less than an hour.

It was our turn. The crowd thickened and we were ready. The horn blew and we were off.
I set my pace and most of the other runners ran ahead of me, but I didn’t care. Making it across the finish line was my ONLY GOAL. I ran. The kilometers ticked off…1K…2K…3K…Lord have mercy! Was I every going to see the turnaround? Along the way there were people clapping and cheering you on. That was fuel for my legs and I continued. Finally…the turnaround! It reminded me of the “horse to the barn” thing and all I had to do was get there.
I kept going until I saw the “One Mile to Go” sign. It was the longest mile on the planet. My legs were beginning to wear out. BUT I KEPT GOING! The end was in sight.
At the two blocks to go” milestone, a race official hooted and hollered an opus at us becasue we were almost THERE. “Around the corner,” he shouted. “Almost home.”
So I picked up the pace and rounded the corner. People were packed on either side and my eyes fixed on the “Finish Line.” I was going to make it to that sign running…not walking.

And I DID IT! Made it to the Finish Line and collected my medal. Thank the Good Lord Above…He put angles on my feet.

Thanks for following my journey!

Diane

STAYING IN YOUR LANE

As I prepare to go to Calgary to run in the Marathon, I’m reminded a little about what it means to “Stay in your Lane.”
Marathon runners don’t have lanes. But our lives do. We set a course and sometimes that course takes us to places we don’t belong. Sometimes the opposite is true and we run a course that takes us exactly where we want to go.

I’ve been training for this run for 8 months. Along side that, I have been running a different kind of race…trying to find my Life’s Lane. The place I’m supposed to be. And doing the things that I’m Called to do.

In 1995, I started Meyer Photography. I began photographing weddings. Then moved to Editorial Photography. Wanting to increase my income, I learned to write magazine articles. And when God moves you on, you go. So I took on the challenge to write novels.

From novels, I ventured out into screenwriting. And I’ve had success along the way.

A writing career takes you many places and often requires a lane change. I love screenwriting. Love film and the message movies can bring to the audience.

But for a long time, I didn’t know where my lane was and that’s evident in the many different things I’ve tried. Sometimes it takes a Life Coach to help you find your way. I have one. Faye Webber at Onward Coaching… a delightful, Christian woman who’s helped me find my lane.

Running has been a goal. A dream. Something I kept to myself because I didn’t think I could do it. Certain that I couldn’t, in fact.

But through Faye, God has helped me to get out of my own way and move forward. To run this race called Life and to run in Calgary.

So what’s my next goal? Half Marathon then a Marathon. I don’t know where yet, but I’ll find one.

And I’ll let you know how it goes.

Best to You
Diane

The Final Week

It’s the final week till the Calgary Marathon. I’m getting a bit nervous. I admit, I don’t like to fly. But it’s the fastest way to Canada and it beats driving two days from Colorado and then back again.
As I consider what I’m about to do…my first official run, I think back on the last eight months that I’ve been training. I started out hiring my trainer friend, confident that she knew what I needed to do to reach my goal. Each week, Sharyl gave me a new workout routine that included running, core and strength training.
Running consisted of one minute run / one minute walk. I thought I would die from the one minute run. God bless the one minute walk!!
But I didn’t die. I PERSISTED and that’s what it takes to reach goals. NEVER GIVE UP! Keep going! Those were the words that I repeated to myself even in the hardest times of training. And even when I wanted to just forget it because the changes I was putting my body through were, at times, really difficult.
Last Friday was one of my run days. I have mini goals every time I get on the treadmill. I didn’t sleep well that night and running was the last thing I wanted to do. When I arrived at the recreation center, I had one simple goal in mind, WALK.
I thought I could talk Sharyl into it. She isn’t easily swayed so I didn’t bother to try. Instead, I stepped on the treadmill “hoping” to make it through one 20 minute run.
It turned out to be so much more than that. I kept GOING. And much to my own surprise, I did two 30 minute runs with one 5 minute walk in between and I got a big High Five from Sharyl.
She’s such an encourager!
Now that I’m only 6 days from the race, I’m ready. And I’m ready not because I sat on the sidelines wishing I could run. But because I had a goal, a desire to change, a Great trainer….and a lot of help from God above.
I’ll let you know how it goes.
Take Care.
Diane

Still Going Down Hill

I’m inching closer to my goal of running the 10K in Calgary. At my training session this week, Sharyl decided we needed to run outside so I could get used to running on pavement. It was a warm day here, so I followed her lead. After a ten minute warm up walk, we started. I always set the pace since Sharyl’s pace is a lot faster than mine. We ran through the city and around the lake. Then back to the rec center to do some core. I asked her how far we ran….oh brother, it was only a mile and a half. Felt like 30. Now I’m wondering what it’s going to be like in Calgary. What I do know is that I will be in the company of over 1600 runners in this even alone. Surely there will be someone to hold on to!!!

Down Hill Stretch

As I turn the calendar, I realize that it’s the countdown to the Calgary Marathon where I’m running the 10K. And thank God it’s only that. Next year, I’ll run the half marathon. But since I’m a first time runner, I’ll settle for this short run. I continue to train with Sharyl, my trainer at Carmody Recreation Center. She’s no pushover either. She never says, “If you can.” She loves what she does and it shows in her commands where she is like Nike….”Just Do It.”

And I do. Every step gets me closer to my goal of running the whole 10K. But there are days where I think I’m going to die. When you start running at age…oh, can’t tell you my age, it’s a lot tougher on the joints, not to mention other parts of the body. I love it, though!And I even went out and purchased a license plate frame that says that very thing. If I ever get to hating it, I’ll be sure to tear it off.

Today was one of my Run Days. I stepped on the treadmill at the Rec Center and wished I was back in bed. I persisted and made my goal of running every step on my training schedule. Now, where is my ICE PACK?