a life beyond running shoes.

i am not sure i even know where to begin. i think i am changed. i don't think i can go backwards. i think i am on a journey..... one that god is working and unfolding. i am pretty sure he has been working on these things for more than just this summer, in fact for years, but i think the books i encountered this summer are part of moving us forward and moving us deeper.  hubbie and i have always had this heart but i realized we have been okay just saying that we could not do it "right now."  i repent. i have been lazy. i have had a hard heart.  my heart does not look like jesus. it is not okay.  i have to move toward jesus and toward others.  he is calling me to himself.....  freedom of simplicity . by richard fotster. he takes the other two books from previous post and grounds them. he completely argues that simplicity is a spiritual issue.  it is a spiritual maturity issue.  it something to be cultivated, practiced, exercised.  i k...

three cups of tea . by greg mortenson and david oliver relin such a good use of my time. should have passed this one along. should have purchased this one for friends. then i saw the 60 minutes story . questions the accuracy of mortenson's story, his program, his finances. **sigh** i value truth. it is a priority of our home. now what? so, i read on line. i read the nytimes article that doesn't necessarily counter the other new program's story. mortenson defends his story. his friend published a story as an op-ed piece . i liked that point of view. kristof doesn't know what to make of the accusations. but he knows greg mortenson and also knows mortenson's limitations. mortenson never claimed to be organized or financially savvy. and yet he started a foundation, built schools, risked his life, and is changing the world. what have i done? frankly, if only half of what he has accomplished is actually true.... it is amazing, remarkable, incredible. it is hard to balanc...

2:15:20 i beat my last race time by 4 minutes. i loved my cheering section. they really helped for that last half mile. what a day. it was hard, but i finished. and the final fundraising total for team world vision was $250,000. way to go!!!

here is world vision team brooklyn: we ran 10 miles in central park today. it was 35 degrees. i was freezing. i had gotten very used to the warmer, spring weather. this was a terrible joke. but it was nice to have a change of scenery..... i keep having those moments of "hey, i live in NYC.... wow!" it was really fun and amazing. thank you to everyone that helped me reached my fundraising goal of $500. i decided to try and go for $700... they give orange (team color) shoelaces to wear on race day to those who hit that mark. i have never been on a team before. it is really fun to see other people wearing the team jersey.... it was super encouraging yesterday to see other teammates running.... especially on that second five mile loop as we were heading uphill. orange jersey - what a great sight! i think there are 600 (of the 3000 runners) that will be wearing jerseys. HOW COOL!! as much as i get nervous before a race, i am also getting excited. thanks for joining my jou...

i got the email this morning with all the race weekend info. holy cow!!! here is my fundraising page . i am over 50% to my goal. this has been an amazing journey so far. just over two weeks until race day. 13.1 miles. we have cancelled four long runs: 2 for snow, 1 for temperatures below 20, 1 for rain and wind up to 65 mph in central park. training in the winter certainly has limitations. but last week i had a great training week. two really hard run. one easy loop. this weekend we are doing three loops of the park. next weekend we are doing 10 miles in central park. then the race!!! WOW! i can't believe it is getting closer. some days i think i am ready. some days i think i am crazy for doing this. but having never done a race where i actually raised money, i am finding myself so much more motivated, inspired, and eager. it has been really cool to do this.....and for an organization that i really love. thanks for journeying with me! and for donating!!!

if you have three minutes..... check out this video . it gets me so excited about the half-marathon i am training for. i teared up thinking that because of amazing people, i have reached 30% of my goal. thanks for participating!!! thanks for helping the world. thanks for being supportive of my training by giving financially. i am thrilled to be doing this. it is a great motivator. i get excited about getting out there and running hard and training hard. thank you!!!!

i am running a half marathon in five weeks. the goal is to raise money for water filtration systems in kenya. i don't have to tell you that the need is great. this is my fundraising page . what is amazing to me is that the entire race benefits world vision's work. (an organization that i am personally fond of through the life and memory of my dear friend matthew) there are not many races out there that benefit christian organizations. i was pretty excited about this. i'm even coaching the training group on saturdays. it has been a really great experience to encourage runners who have never done something like this before. but while i can do the training, i need people to help fund the run. the cost of the race only covers putting on the race..... anything that is to go to world vision has to come through fundraising. please consider donating. so, how is my training going? i did 6.6 miles this weekend...... half way point. it was a spectacular day! i had a great run other...