life and lazy runs.

This afternoon I went for a run. I have gone on tons of runs over the years, and I particularly enjoy longer distances (not always, ha). Through training for half marathons/marathons you really begin to learn about your body while you are running; how to pace yourself, control your breathing, when to push yourself harder, etc.
But in running so much, there are many days I run what I like to call "lazy runs". A lazy run looks something like this - you start running at an easy pace and then you just get numb. You maintain your pace, never really exerting yourself too much, your heart rate my not even be that high, breathing is very controlled, and you go miles and miles without even knowing what you're thinking about. Just running.

Today I had a lazy run. I mean really, I could've been napping while I was running!
I was sweating, but mainly because it was just hot outside. I wasn't even sure what I was thinking about - definitely not my run or anything of importance.
Well about 4 miles into the run, I stopped by my brother's grave site because it is on the loop that I was doing.
And I ran over and sat down, staring at my brother's headstone, barely even out of breath, and it just hit me.
Wake up, Tana!
Enough! Life is way too short for lazy runs. Run with purpose. Be aware. Get sweaty. Lose your breath. Go faster. Try harder.

I sat there and thought about my life. How many times do I go through life running a lazy run? I go through the motions, get complacent, never pushing myself to try something new or different or difficult.
And the scary part is...we can mask over our numbness because it appears as though we are doing something. Today, I was physically out there running and moving...but really, what was I doing? A lot of nothing. Yet I felt good about myself because I appeared to be. For a moment, I fooled myself that my going, going had some value to it...when in fact, it did not.

Too often I believe we fall prey to this type of thinking in our daily lives. I know I do.

Life may seem easier if we go through it with the lazy run mindset. But what worth does that have?
I want to wake up. I want to live life with intention. I want to end my days breathless, not because I seemed to be active, but because I really was. I loved better. Served more. Challenged myself. Got my hands dirty in the good, bad, and ugly parts of this world.

So today...on that run, you better believe I ran the rest of the way as fast as my little legs could go.

That's it folks. Let's leave behind our lazy run days.
Yeah.

irish bees

ran the McGuires 5k.
pretty pleased with our time, despite the mass of 15,000 people!!
it was a ton of fun! i've always wanted to run this race, but have never been in town.
ready to run another race soon!

we were bees.

running.

This past weekend I went to baton rouge to see my friend Travis.
We actually went to Kenya together the first time I went in 2007.
It was a fun weekend. I've decided Louisiana is alright. not the football team, but the state.
We ran the Mardi Gras 10k and it was a lot of fun. I hadn't been running too much, so I was pleased with our time.
afterwards we biked around LSU and ate fish tacos. :)

It got me really excited about running again though. I've said it before, but life really is better when I'm running consistently.

Next weekend a bunch of us are running the McGuire's 5k. I am pumped. because I'm Irish...obviously.
I'm excited to spend the weekend with a few of my best friends though. :)
The McGuires run is ridiculous - something like 10,000 people run it. Anyways, I'm thinking about making a costume like this to run in...

(monica, i'm hoping you can give me some pointers on the grape costume??)
I love St. Patricks day. it might just be my favorite holiday.

Speaking of 5ks - I am helping organize this one!!
If you're in the area, you should really consider running it! and not just because I'm helping with it - all the money goes to help orphans in third world countries. every penny. totally worth it. and bound to be a good time.

Things are good here. busy.
However, I miss Kenya. a lot.

getting back into running...finally.

a few of my current running jamz. because i know you were all dying to know :)





speaking of running...check out this event I am helping put together.



running. to help orphans. you should probably do it.
just saying.

better update later tonight!

home.

Tonight I was running listening to the song "ten thousand" by john mark mcmillan, and I forgot I wasn't at home.

And I remembered this:
2 Corinthians 5
"For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens. For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling...
So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord, for we walk by faith, not by sight. Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord. So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him."

So even though I may be 8,000+ miles from "home" I really am at home.
And tonight I felt that.

Over the past 3ish years it feels like the place I've called "home" has changed. A lot.
But as I was running I could think back to all the different times I have listened to that same song (the john mark one).
I remember jumping on the trampoline at the powerhouse, listening to that song endlessly on repeat.
I remember listening to it on long runs around Gainesville and sweating ungodly amounts in the humidity.
I remember listening to it in middle-of-nowhere New Mexico on my drive to Colorado.
I remember listening to it one evening running down the Barr Trail at Pikes Peak.
I remember listening to it rollerblading in West Palm Beach.
And the feeling was all the same - no matter where I was.
Listening to it, reminds me that this earth is not my home. That there is something greater to hope for.

That's all I got for you tonight, folks.
I hope this can be something of a "reminder" for some of you too.
Sending my love from my current "home". :)