Who Knew?!?!

Okay, think you get the picture that I've never been a runner, nor have I EVER particularly enjoyed it. I've talked about running for a while and made mention of it in two blogs:

1. Here: this is when I went to my first Houston Marathon as a spectator and actually wanted to try it!
   
2. Here: this is when I gave up on my training.

Since then, I got into an argument with a friend over running v. not running. It was RIDICULOUS! I've gone to cheer more friends at the Chevron Houston Marathon. I actually WALKED 5k in April in less time than I expected. And I've been training...like seriously training to RUN a 5k in August.

Ironically enough, I've gotten past the stage of dreading it. Okay, honestly the first 5 minutes when I get out there really suck but I LOVE IT and I wish I had started this sooner!

I'm so thankful for my friend Regina who jogged the last I don't know how many yards of the 5k in April. I told her then that I LOVED the atmosphere of a 5k, I loved how the self competition kicked in full gear when I was there, and I loved the challenge. I told her that if I could do a 5k I could do a half marathon. While I was mostly joking, she took me seriously and she said - Okay, let's train to actually run a 5k and we will go from there.

So here's the progress. In April I did the 5k in 47 minutes! Not too shabby for someone who didn't train. Okay - so I train on a track that's 2.88 miles and on June 1 I went around in 43 minutes and it was more walking than running. On June 18th, I did the loop in 40 minutes 6 seconds. 24 minutes of jogging and 16 minutes walking.

I write this not to boast and say LOOK AT ME! I write this because I didn't know I had it in me. And the things that have really helped are the following:

1. Accountability (insert Regina and this blog post)
2. SCRIPTURE starts flowing in my head. I wish I could quote it right now, but I've gone blank...I'm not running right now. I'll post in a future blog the scripture I use.
   
3. Prayer! OMG! Regina knows when I start getting tired or when I'm about to and she tells me - Okay, Mimi this is when you should start praying if you haven't already started!
4. Subscribing to Runner's World! TIPS GALORE!
   

I'm actually going to RUN a 5k August 7!

This is a bit of a selfish prayer request and a bit more personal than I like to get on a blog, but I'm going on a mission trip to Guatemala for three weeks. When I travel, I tend to gain weight which tends to make me blue. So, please pray that I can keep this up while I'm away. I really don't want to lose this progress. It really makes me happy and I actually DO enjoy this!!

Mona Lisa Smile

There's a scene from the movie Mona Lisa Smile that I often think about. In fact, I thought of it today. If you haven't seen it, it's about an art teacher who comes into a SUPER traditional and extremely conservative 1950's private girls school and challenges their way of doing things. This stirs up a lot of talk and trouble.

Well, this scene in this movie reminds me of something Jesus would do. No, this isn't a Christian movie, nor does it teach biblical roles of men and women, but this one scene...I tell you what! The scene is when the perfect little Betty Warren (who married this "perfect" man) comes into the dorm with a chip on her shoulder. She is cruel to one of her classmates to the point of making her cry. A mutual friend looks beyond it and just embraces Betty. She saw that Betty came in with a wounded heart. Betty falls apart and starts weeping! Turns out her husband was having an affair and she was taking it out on anyone she could.

I think of it mostly when people say things with every intention of HURTING me. I honestly want to hug them (just like this girl did in this movie) and tell them that they really aren't upset with me and that Jesus loves them!

Copperish Brown

Against popular belief, not all Mexicans have a natural tan. My legs are WHITE when they say hello for the summer. But now summer is here and I've been walk/jogging at the park and I spent all weekend outdoors and I can say now that I'm tan. I have a ridiculous watch tan line to show the contrast.

Anyway, I'm not on here to talk about my tan, per se. I remembered a story from a couple years ago when I went to a ball game with my brother, Tim. We sat directly behind the cutest little boy and his dad. Well, this kid turns around and points at me and says: IT'S HER, DAD! It's HER!

The dad was embarrassed and says: I'm sorry about that ma'am. My son and I were playing I spy and he spotted something copperish brown. It happens to be you!

HAHAHA! That story makes me laugh. Kids are fun!