Running as the Helpmate!

Hey, I know it's been forever, but emotionally I have been in what I feel like is a train on a track with no brakes! Unfortunately, life brings ups and downs to all of us. So no matter how strong or weak you are, no man is exempt from trials. It's what you do with them that counts!

Anyway, I had the awesome opportunity to run with my man! If I neglected to share with you, Marc is running in the Chicago Marathon . I am so very proud of him. It's something that he never thought he would do! So, because of his intense training schedule and the lack of having an A.M. babysitter, I haven't been able to accompany him on many of his runs. This week, however was very different.....

For two days, we got to run in the trails together, just the two of us and our garmins! Now, of course we have run together in the past, but it is something about those trails and God's ability to speak loudly in them to me that makes the whole difference. We ran the 5 mile loop and Country Lane and the 8 mile loop the next day at Swallow Cliff. God is so awesome in that during both of those runs, He reminded me of two very important things.....my commitment and my confession to Him regarding my husband.

As the helpmate my family I was given only two roles according to God's word....  1.Wives, understand and support your husbands in ways that show your support for Christ. The husband provides leadership to his wife the way Christ does to his church, not by domineering but by cherishing. So just as the church submits to Christ as he exercises such leadership, wives should likewise submit to their husbands. (Ephesians 5:24 MSG) and 2. However, let each one of you love his wife as himself, and let the wife see that she respects her husband. (Ephesians 5:33 ESV)

I have, too many times in my marriage, taken on more jobs than I was supposed to. I decided, without God of course, that I was the better leader, the better provider, the better, you fill in the blank! During those times of walking away from my two jobs of helping and respecting, I ultimately found myself emotionally distraught and spiritually flat. That's usually what happens when you walk outside of the plan God has for you. You can stay outside of the perimeter of His protection for only so long without getting hurt.

Anyway, I know you are like, "What does all of that have to do with running with Marc?".....Well, I can say these last two runs were probably some of the best runs of my life because I relinquished any authority that I thought I had over to him. He asked what pace we were going to run. I willingly said, " this is your run, I am happy to be with you. When you say run, we run, when you want to walk we walk, when you speed up, I'll speed up and when you slow down, I'll slow down." I made sure I stayed on his right side just a 1/4 of a step behind his step so that when he adjusted, I could adjust. I pretended that I was attached to his hip and that his run cycle was propelling my run cycle........Wow!  (I said that loudly to myself so, I placed an exclamation point behind it when I wrote it :)


Ladies, I didn't worry about what was ahead of me because I knew Marc had it. Yes, it was hard at times to stay in my place, there were times when the terrain was uneven, so I had to readjust my footing, but as long as I remembered I didn't have to lead and only follow, things got back on course pretty quickly.

I can't tell you how much of a revelation this was to me as a wife. God designed marriage as a source of protection for us, ladies. Now if you married the wrong leader, I understand why you are out of order!  However my next question has to be,is he the wrong leader because of you? It could be, like me for so long you have been neglecting your two jobs as a wife of helping and respecting and instead doing his jobs, that he doesn't know how to be the right leader!

God is in the business of renewal and restoration. As long as you are committed now, to running as the helpmate, He is willing and able to help your running team, run smoothly!

We are assured  and  know that [God being

                a partner in their labor] all things work together  and  are

                [fitting into a plan] for good to  and  for those who love God

                and are called according to [His] design  and  purpose. (Romans 8:28 AMP)

Until the Springbok runs with her man again!

The BC and a Shamrock Dream Deferred!

SOOOOOOOOooooooo, after 8 weeks of hard training....like I was getting it in y'all,  I didn't get to run the Shamrock Shuffle due to a technicality.  There was a mix up with my registration, and there you go..... I did have a bit of a pity party and I must say, I was also down right mad and disappointed.  However, after I came back to myself, I realized that in all things in my life, God works together, with those things to make them good.  My training was not for not.  Other races I shall run.  I am registered in full for the Soldier Field 10 mile during Memorial Day weekend and I will start training next week.  I am veering away from Hal Higdon's training this time.  I still think he is a running god. I just want to do something different.  I found a 10 week plan through Runner's World.com. I am already prepared to break my PR (personal record) from last year, so get ready for the updates about training.

I think my Shamrock blues tried to over shadow the fact that I finally did the BC!  Yes, y'all I cut all the relaxed hair off!  I AM FREE!  I can tell you that cutting off at least 6 inches of relaxed hair myself (my hubby helped too,) was completely freeing. DID I SAY I WAS FREE? My initial thoughts were, "Oh my Father, why did I do that,? I look like a poodle!...." Then I laughed and shook my head. For the first time in 29 years, I realized that I could be satisfied with the curls God gave me.(I had been getting a relaxer to straighten my hair, since I was 14!)  Like who told me that my hair was nappy? And if so, that nappy was a bad thing?  Why did I let society tell me that I was not good enough because my hair was not straight enough?  I know many of you might not quite get this whole thing about black women and their coifs, I don't know how to describe it other than, I was bound to the fact that if my hair was not straight, then I was not straight.  I didn't realize that was it, but that really was it. For me, it was not until I embraced the liberation that came along with cutting off the relaxed hair, did I really realize that I had been bamboozled and run a muck.  I challenge you to get along side a chocolate sister and investigate without offending her, why we do what we do.  Many people criticized Chris Rock's movie, Good Hair, but I thought the movie said something to us as a people in very profound way.

Don't get me wrong, I believe women are beautiful in many shapes, forms and hair types.  If a perm or relaxer is for you, go for it!  I am grateful that there are so many products out there that can help us do what we do.  But, this whole process helped me focus on why I was doing what I was doing and who I was trying to please.  At the end of the day, if we are not happy with ourselves on the inside, there is nothing we can do to enhance our beauty on the outside!  As the days go by, I am embracing my curls and I am learning how to do this natural hair thing. I got a great book from the library called Going Natural, How to Fall in Love with Nappy Hair  by Mireille Liong-A-Kong.  It is a great guide on how to get where you are going with natural hair.

Lastly, I was able to attend the 22nd Anniversary Christian Life Center, my church home, this weekend instead of running the Shamrock.  We had an awesome line up of anointed speakers, but I will just end with one nugget I grabbed from Pastor Gordan Banks.  His message was entitled, "The Closer."  The take home message for me was...Regret will always paint a picture of what never was or what will never be, so stop basing who you are on your regrets or your inadequacies.  Your failures cannot stop God's destiny for your life!  Wow....

Until the Springbok chops again.......

The Little Afro Springbok

A Prescribed Burning and the Ipod Void



OK, so I was siked about going to the trails yesterday to get a quick run in.  I dressed in the car on the way, just to make sure I had a few more minutes on the trail, since I had a 7:00pm appointment that I had to make.  I don't think anybody noticed....:)  Anyway, in these two years of running I have become a Garmin (my sport swatch) and an Ipod addict....Like, I don't feel like I will have a good run if I can't check my heart rate, pace and listen to some tunes.....So, I found out quickly that I was going to run with neither or not run.  I decided that I might be enough company for myself and headed out on the 4 mile path at Country Lane in Palos. 
Fortunately enough my quiet run and personal time with listening to my heavy breathing and my thoughts without distraction, did not disappoint.  As I approached the 1 mile marker, I noticed the smell of burning trees.  Sure enough in a few feet, several dead trees where being burned.  I also noticed several signs that indicated that this was a "Prescribed Burning." I figured quickly that this would be my running lesson for the day and started focusing in on why I might need  a prescribed burning in my life. 

Prescribed burns are used most frequently to maintain and restore native grasslands. Prescribed burning can recycle nutrients tied up in old plant growth, control many woody plants and herbaceous weeds, improve poor quality forage, increase plant growth, reduce the risk of large wildfires, and improve certain wildlife habitat. To achieve the above benefits, fire must be used under very specific conditions, using very specific techniques. Sargent, M.S and Carter, K.S., ed. 1999. Managing Michigan Wildlife: A Landowners Guide.  Michigan United Conservation Clubs, East Lansing, MI. 297pp.
 How often do we miss the forest because the trees of life have become too big?  I would have missed an opportunity to recognize that even good things need to be let go of in order for the best things in life to grow.  My ipod would not have taught me that.  What needs to be recycled in you? What needs to be restored?  Don't you want your "life plants" to grow?  Prescribed burnings only work, as written above if they are done under specific conditions and using specific techniques.  It makes a difference whom you are accountable to in life.  They just might burn you in the wrong place!  Nuff said! (Post your comments below as to what needs a prescribed burn in your life, whether its emotional, physical, spiritual or relational.)

I am hours away from my "BIG CHOP!" I am nervous, but anxious to be liberated.  I can't wait to post pics or video.  I am headed out to do sprint intervals today.  Somewhere in my hurry up, wait, hurry up wait of a schedule, I will find the time!  You make time for what you really want to do!  Shamrock in 10 DAYS!

"Put first things first and we get second things thrown in: put second things first and we lose both first and second things"

CS Lewis

Until the Springbok writes again....

Nirvana....4a, Sprint Intervals and Construction Hats

Helloooooo!

I have had such a busy few weeks, but I did not want to allow another one to go by without checking in. My Shamrock race training is going fairly well. I have unfortunately missed a few crucial training days, due to work, family or teaching commitments, but none the less, I feel pretty confident about the upcoming run. I have learned to listen to when my body says, its time to rest and when it's time to speed up. I refused to accept unnecessary injuries, because I won't to listen to her! Listen to the pain, folks! It means something..... Nirvana#1 (BTW...The Chicago Shamrock closes this weekend!)

 

I recently came to the conclusion that the "Big Chop" is in my near future. Why stay in bondage to this transitioning hair? (Clarification: Big Chop-to cut off all of the existing relaxed or permed hair and be satisfied with the natural stuff that is left. Transitioning- the period of time that a person moves from permed or relaxed hair to all natural hair.) FREEDOM!.......Nirvana#2

So, now I have also discovered or at least I think, I have 4A natural hair. I am a newbie to all of this so I didn't realize there was a natural hair scale. Wow! Times have truly changed. Nappy used to be negative and ugly to many. I think the days of hearing "good hair" are almost over or a least behind us. Amen somebody!

  My sprint intervals are pretty exciting for me these days! I am averaging approximately 7:30 min per mile splits for my 0.25 mile, of which I have to complete 6 to 10 during speed sessions. I'll take em! So Tina A. Swain, I might be closer to your challenge than I thought!.....Black Girls Run!....and can run fast!....Nirvana#3

And lastly, I had one more inspiring moment, listening just today to a podcast about a wonderful book by Dr. West Stafford of Compassion International called, Just One Minute......Basically, you never want to miss even a minute of an opportunity to impact the life of a child. When you are with them, put on your construction hats because they are always an opportunity at work!...Nirvana#4

........Until the  4A Springbok writes again!

"There is always one moment in childhood when the door opens and lets the future in."

Graham Greene

"Shamrock, here I come!"

OK, so today is the official start of my 8 week training schedule for Bank of America's Shamrock Shuffle If you want to run this one, you better sign up quick, it sells out fast. http://www.shamrockshuffle.com/cms400min/ I am doing Hal Higdon's 8 week advanced program. You ought to check the guy out. He has been running for years and posts appropriate training schedules for any type of runner. http://www.halhigdon.com/
Anyway, I had to switch the program today and I ran a 24 min tempo run at the park while my little one was in gymnastics. I would have gone longer, but I couldn't see in front of me and could my husband yelling at me in my head. I felt pretty good for my first official run. We will see how the rest of the week pans out.....My official chip times for the Shamrock in 2010 and 2011 were 50:24 and 44:42. What do you think I should shoot for this year?

Let's see, I am reading a good book called Rebirth and Rejoice written by a good friend of mine, Tina Swain Rebirth and-Rejoice. One of the key points I took away from it today was, how often I walk or run around without my full armor of protection on. In any arena if there is provided protective gear available for you to use and you don't use it, what does that make you?.....You fill in the blank! Currently my hair is standing straight up in the air! I guess the infamous bun will have to do for my birthday. Wow, a year older and I still don't have a good hair plan! Happy Birthday to me!

Your talk talks and your walk talks, the key is to let your walk talk louder than your talk!

-Pastor James Ford

Running In The Elements

Ok,
So I ran today in the snow. While it was a short run and a slow one, I can honestly say that it was one of the best runs I've had. The snow was falling, I had to run primarily in the street, through slush and defend my feet from the elements. Thank God for gortex! 3m 34:38 11:33 pace avg bpm 162. I know, nothing but....".SLOW! However, the reason I am reporting that this was a good run is because, I did it for me! I was able to have a full conversation with my spirit and my God! No, I am not crazy! I've heard other runners speak of it as a spiritual experience, but I don't think I've experienced many of them myself. Oh yeah, my hair is in a tight secure bun at the nape of my neck and as a result,I have a headache!! I miss my running buddies......

The 5 senses were given to us as gifts to help us enjoy this world and help us to be alerted of harm. They were never intended to govern the spirit man -C. Dollar

OK soooooo.......I feel like I need to apologize!

Hello,
I hate starting something and not finishing it!  The break is over from blogging.  I ran my last race in Orland Hills before Thanksgiving 2011.  25:51 5K, 8:19 pace....I'll take it!
Needless to say, since then I have been partying like a rock star....indulging in the fat of the land.  I enjoyed my holidays, but now it is back to work.  In fact, this year's motto is.....DO WORK! Put it in so you can get it out

2012 RUNNING GOALS:

• Sub 2 half....8:24 pace
• 8:30 pace for Solider Field Ten
• Do a half some place other than Illinois
• Sub 25 min 5K
• Run the Shamrock really fast! :)

I ran with my buddies on Saturday (1/7/12) and I felt like the old fat lady, slowing everybody down!  :) I'll get it together....

If you can forgive the person you were, accept the person you are and believe in the person you will become you are headed for joy, so celebrate your life

Barbara Jones