There are a lot of reasons one might run. A child runs for fun. A fugitive runs for his life. An athlete runs for a touchdown, layup, or goal (not to mention endorsements). An idiot runs 100 miles for a bucket list. Yep, we are those idiots. However, I am a true believer that ignorance and bliss often collide. Typically there is a point in an ultra run where dileria and delusion set in and you are truly running because your legs don't really know how to stop ( or your brain is too glycogen deprived to send the right signals to stop them). You see a bear in front of you, but luckily your running partner is still in their sound mind and tell you its a trash can....and you are so thankful and happy. Suddenly a soggy banana the volunteer hands you tastes like filet mignon and the gatorade like champagne....again, life is great. Then at the next aid station you change your socks and shoes and it feels like you just visited the spa for an hour pedicure.....oh those wonderful Saucony designers, God bless them. You are so excited that you have only lost one toenail the first 40 miles..... I still have nine! THIS is when ignorance meets bliss!
Then there are the miles where you are still ignorant but not so blissful. It is during these miles that you must find your strength. Elissa and I laugh A LOT so I am not going to tell you that most of the miles are painful. Of course, I haven't ran 100 miles yet. I'm anticipating there won't be as much laughter miles 60-100. We have never ran until we had nothing to talk about. This race will truly test just how long we can talk :). Our training runs are becoming rather mentally tiring. You can only run so many times around the city of Evansville. We actually have been doing our long runs late at night and into the early hours of the morning in order to prepare ourselves to "run tired." The 100 mile race takes place in Umstead State Park in Durham North Carolina. It is a course of 8- 12.5 mi loops. Ok, we did a 50-miler that had 4 loops and the loops get really redundant. So on top of training from 8pm-3am we top that off by running a 5-6mi route over and over and over again just to mentally prepare ourselves for the boredom that will inevitably occur.
So it all sounds like so much fun, right? Actually, most of the time it is. There does, however, reach a point in the training run where we really want to just stop 2 hours early. In the early months of training, this problem seemed to be happening frequently just due to lack of drive. One thing I have learned is that running just to run does have numerous rewards. Obviously, it keeps you in great shape. It improves your attitude and energy levels. It relieves stress. But....you sure don't need to run or train for 100 miles to see these benefits. The running becomes just time on your feet to ensure that you don't drop dead at mile 60. While this a motivating factor, at midnight in the cold, it's easy to want to quit. This is what sparked 100 Miles for Myanmar.
In January of 2009, Brock and I traveled to Myanmar with a team from Bethel Temple. I did eye exams and Brock worked on a water system for the orphanages. The trip changed our lives in so many ways. I was so enthused about how God changed my heart on this mission trip that Elissa got excited as well. It was then that we started Pace with Purpose to use our love for running to help local non-for-profit organizations. Running became purposeful and we accomplished so many "bucket listers" along the way. We decided that our 100 miler should go back to where the idea for Pace with Purpose originated- Myanmar.
So on March 31st-April 1st, Elissa and I will be completing 200 miles (100 miles each (yes all at once) and together) raising money for our orphans in Myanmar. You truly have no idea how far even $10 goes in Myanmar. I could literally go on all day about the amazing work our church and missionaries have done to bring Christianity and hope to our orphans there. Still, there is so much work that needs to take place. Soon we will have a donation per mile set up on our blog site and if you feel inclined to give, thank you.
Here is a link to visit for more information about our connection with Myanmar:
http://1bethel.com/world-missions/myanmar/
Let the training continue.......
Then there are the miles where you are still ignorant but not so blissful. It is during these miles that you must find your strength. Elissa and I laugh A LOT so I am not going to tell you that most of the miles are painful. Of course, I haven't ran 100 miles yet. I'm anticipating there won't be as much laughter miles 60-100. We have never ran until we had nothing to talk about. This race will truly test just how long we can talk :). Our training runs are becoming rather mentally tiring. You can only run so many times around the city of Evansville. We actually have been doing our long runs late at night and into the early hours of the morning in order to prepare ourselves to "run tired." The 100 mile race takes place in Umstead State Park in Durham North Carolina. It is a course of 8- 12.5 mi loops. Ok, we did a 50-miler that had 4 loops and the loops get really redundant. So on top of training from 8pm-3am we top that off by running a 5-6mi route over and over and over again just to mentally prepare ourselves for the boredom that will inevitably occur.
So it all sounds like so much fun, right? Actually, most of the time it is. There does, however, reach a point in the training run where we really want to just stop 2 hours early. In the early months of training, this problem seemed to be happening frequently just due to lack of drive. One thing I have learned is that running just to run does have numerous rewards. Obviously, it keeps you in great shape. It improves your attitude and energy levels. It relieves stress. But....you sure don't need to run or train for 100 miles to see these benefits. The running becomes just time on your feet to ensure that you don't drop dead at mile 60. While this a motivating factor, at midnight in the cold, it's easy to want to quit. This is what sparked 100 Miles for Myanmar.
In January of 2009, Brock and I traveled to Myanmar with a team from Bethel Temple. I did eye exams and Brock worked on a water system for the orphanages. The trip changed our lives in so many ways. I was so enthused about how God changed my heart on this mission trip that Elissa got excited as well. It was then that we started Pace with Purpose to use our love for running to help local non-for-profit organizations. Running became purposeful and we accomplished so many "bucket listers" along the way. We decided that our 100 miler should go back to where the idea for Pace with Purpose originated- Myanmar.
So on March 31st-April 1st, Elissa and I will be completing 200 miles (100 miles each (yes all at once) and together) raising money for our orphans in Myanmar. You truly have no idea how far even $10 goes in Myanmar. I could literally go on all day about the amazing work our church and missionaries have done to bring Christianity and hope to our orphans there. Still, there is so much work that needs to take place. Soon we will have a donation per mile set up on our blog site and if you feel inclined to give, thank you.
Here is a link to visit for more information about our connection with Myanmar:
http://1bethel.com/world-missions/myanmar/
Let the training continue.......
This is such an awesome post. We are really excited for you both to get to do this race. You let us know when you are taking donations. We want to support this amazing effort.
ReplyDeleteKim Greenlee
Thanks Kim! We are excited and fearful all at the same time!! A link should be up soon and I will post it on facebook. Thanks!!!!
ReplyDelete